Reign of Phyre

by Nicholas Cooper

  The man smiled a well-trained and practiced noble smile and said, “I alone can not maintain the network that I do, but I am honoured, nonetheless. Now, Legatus, please take a seat. You must be hungry, please, help yourself. There is no need for false modesty, you must be famished.”

  Arys knew enough of the rules of hospitality to decline his offer, but his stomach refused to accept this, and so he helped himself, mindful of not eating too much at once, as he knew he would need to talk. There were roasted chickens and pork, some vegetables that he had never seen on Lepcis, a soup which he thought would be hard to eat during a conversation, and some bread. He was content with putting the chicken on the bread.

  “Vaelynna confirmed what I heard from my own soldiers, that you are the one responsible for liberating Rulven from the yoke of Karzark. You have my eternal gratitude.”

  “My lord, I was but one of many. I alone could not have taken the city, but I am honoured, nonetheless.”

  Farrel softly smiled, “It is not a commander’s job to win a battle with a sword, but with the mind. And you did that.” Arys did not respond other than with a small bow of the head. He had not done much commanding in the battle.

  “Today is a busy day, so I will be brief. I am sure someone will fill you in you have time later on,” he said, clearing his throat, “For the foreseeable future, I will be interim governor of Rulven. It seems that during the fighting a group of Sons went headhunting and sought revenge against the governor, Narazan. My guards found his body thrown out on the streets. Those responsible will be dealt with for disobeying my order to take him captive. It would have been beneficial to wring as much information from him as possible, but alas. Regardless, as the interim governor, I will ensure that with the liberation of Rulven comes the flow of aid to the territories that continue to fight. We will set up a network throughout the territory to warn people of Khasari incursions and to detect any potential armies coming across the Desari, which we entirely suspect will be the case once news of this battle reaches the Karzarki interior. Any questions?”

  Arys shook his head, “None, my lord.”

  “Secondly, word reached us that Tyrellia has been raiding the western Karzark coastline. It raises questions, none more so than how the timing is so perfect to coincide with the deployment of the majority of the Karzarki forces in Euphyria. However, this question is for another day. For now, we need to make the most of this fortuitous happening. I have spread the news as best as I could so that it must have reached the Khasari legions marching on Yukone. As to their response, that is for Yelia to know. We can hope that it forces them to reconsider sending all their legions to Yukone. Now, Vaelynna?”

  Vaelynna shifted in her chair, uncrossing her leg and sitting forward. “With the liberation of Rulven comes a surge in those wanting to take up arms and join the Sons.”

  “That’s good news,” he said, knowing that they would need to replenish their number after their losses.

  “It is,” she continued, “but they will not become Sons of the Phoenix,” she said seriously, “And as of today, you are relieved of your duty.”

  He choked on his mouthful of chicken. Had he not done everything she asked of him? Before he could form a response, Vaelynna smiled.

  “That is because, from today, you will be responsible for the formation and training of the first of the new Euphyrian Legions.”

  He did not choke this time, because he hadn’t dared put another piece of food in his mouth. He was speechless all the same. The princess continued, with pride in her voice. “The Sons will still play a vital part in the battles to come, but now that we control Rulven and have territory to call our own, we need a standing army, one that can stand up to the Khasari in an open, pitched battle. I was there, fighting alongside you. It wasn’t just you who saw the discipline of the Khasari was superior to our own. It would have won them the day if it wasn’t for Farrel and the Rulven Sons’ attack. We need a proper army, and I can think of no one better to raise one than you, Arys. Winter has set in. There will be no more armies marching on Rulven until the spring. I suggest you use this time well.”

  He wished that he had worn his armour and helmet, so that it might cover his red cheeks. How life had changed in the past few months.

  “Yes, my princess.”

  Farrel cleared his throat again and brought the attention of the room back to him. “We will have time to talk later and discuss many things, but there is one thing I need to ask you before I talk with these gentlemen sitting around you. The Khasari that were taken prisoner. They present a problem. Killing unarmed men seems to offer nothing other than guarantee retribution and invite the same hospitality at the hands of Karzark. However, keeping men who are trained in war alive and in large number also seems problematic to me. I trust you can find a solution. With that, I must bid you good day.”

  He rose, followed by the other guests rising from their seats, and they followed him through a door at his invitation. He was left in the room with only Vaelynna.

  “Thank you, your highness. It truly is an honour.” She smiled as she walked over towards the table and took a piece of chicken.

  “This city is ours because of you. It’s the least I can do. If not for you, then for Euphyria. The best of us needs to train the rest of us. And the rest of us needs to use the bathroom, so I shall see you at dinner tonight once you have finished your duties for the day.”

  He could have sworn he heard her burp as she walked away, and it was then that he knew beyond a doubt that there would never be another princess like her.

  He rubbed his temples with his fingers. He knew he should spend another day resting before returning to his tasks, but time was a selfish mistress who waited for no one, and so he made his way down to where the Khasari prisoners were being kept. As he was escorted, he wondered how he should deal with them. What Farrel had said was true. Killing them was in bad faith yet sending them back to Karzark would simply mean seeing these men again on the field of battle. Slavery was also an unsavory option. It was still the way of the world in many parts as far as he knew, but this Neo-Euphyrian nation they were building should start off on the right foot, he thought. At least he wouldn’t be remembered as being the first.

  When he arrived, he saw a gated square guarded by around sixty armed Sons. The Khasari had been stripped of their weapons and armour, but were given blankets. Though today was not snowing, it was still freezing and Arys hoped that he could find some agreeable arrangement to get them some acceptable accommodation.

  When the Sons saw him, they saluted him the same was as the others had before, and some of them shouted at the Khasari to stand at attention. They stood up, fearful of any repercussions. They all faced him, waiting for him to administer their fate, their death.

  Arys took a deep breath. He hadn’t thought about what he would say. He was expecting to at least talk to some of the Sons first. It was too late now. He decided that he needed to appeal to their similarities first before they were willing to accept anything.

  “My fellow soldiers, please listen to my words carefully. I am a loyal servant of my country just as much as you are yours. It is an unfortunate fate that our love of home decreed that we must meet each other on the field of battle. As a brother of the sword, I pay my respects.”

  They were listening. So far so good. “I have been placed in an awkward situation, that is, on what to do with the two hundred and seventy-six souls that stand before me. As I’m sure you can understand, you present a problem to the city. You are trained soldiers who are loyal to an enemy of Euphyria. Releasing you would simply be replenishing the ranks of an enemy who will no doubt launch an attack to retake Rulven.”

  There were some nervous looks around the crowd, fearing what he would say next. “However, simply killing you is beneath the humanity of both myself and of Euphyria.” He was going to say Vaelynna but remembered that the existence of the royal line was not common knowledge.

  “With that, however, lies the proble
m. What to do with you. You have served your country as well as any one of these Sons here, and it is my desire to treat you as fairly as I would my own. Therefore,” the idea came to him, “I would offer accommodation and work for anyone willing to help with construction and repairs for one year, whereupon completion with no incidents will provide you safe passage home to Karzark to anyone who desires it, or resettlement in the city upon successful evaluation by myself, Arys Tullis.”

  The crowd stood still with a few murmurs.

  “For those who refuse this offer, I can think of no other solution other than to imprison you and send you to the east, away from the front, until a better time presents itself for your safe release. Now, those of you who are willing to work in the city, please step forward and line up to the left. Those who refuse, please stay where you are. You will not be judged, you will not be harmed. You will be treated with the respect a good soldier deserves.”

  The majority of Khasari began to move towards the left corner, and Arys was relieved. The stubborn, however, stood still. They may have passed judgment on their fellow soldiers silently but created no incident. Once those who were willing to work were accounted for, the Sons led them away, where they would work out how and where they would be sent.

  Arys stopped one of the Sons, a stout middle-aged man, grabbing him by the shoulder. “Treat them well, feed them, provide them with winter clothes, make them feel welcome in the city. Many will disagree but do it. Do not turn a blind eye to any abuse. If any one of them makes a break for it or attacks anyone, then you have my permission to kill them without mercy. But offer them the path of humanity.”

  “Yes, Legatus.”

  “And get what information you can out of them. The war is still raging. There are still several legions unaccounted for.”

  “Yes, Legatus.” The man bowed and went on his way to inform the others.

  His own advice reminded him of the legions heading for Yukone. He wondered if the Yalean, Reisch, had reached enemy lines, and if the wall still stood.

  -------------------------------------

  The Commander

  The surge of the Karzarki legions eastwards into Yukonian territory culminated in the Siege of Lera in the 7th and final year in the reign of Phylax Torren Byr Yelianes. After taking Lyreport and the surrounding mines, Karzark had established its control all along the southern coast, providing a well defended supply chain that could be reinforced by both land and sea. The new Khasari legions were led by Kar Redmyre, one of Karzark’s 12 rulers, who had caught both the Sons of the Phoenix and the Yukonian Alliance unawares by the speed in which he appeared. Reisch Elestan, Commander of Yalea Aranth’s Elsgard, had come to reinforce the defence of Lera’s walls. It was here that the untested Yukonian military received their trial by fire.

  Janed Relan Aesop, Master-at-Arms

  Reisch had harried them for days. They attacked without warning and vanished just as quickly. They raided the baggage trains, killed countless Khasari without even a single loss, yet they abandoned their attack. The Karzarki forces were not fazed by their assaults. There were simply too many of them, and from what Reisch had pieced together, they had been given strict orders not to give chase. Instead, the Khasari would band together and cover themselves with their shields and wait for their own archers to return fire. The Elsgard managed to kill many of their archers who were unprotected and frantically running around, but all they were doing was delaying a small portion of the host marching onwards to Lera. Therefore, Reisch had decided, he needed to instead reach Lera with much haste.

  Fortune was on his side, as he had made it to the famous Stesian Walls, named after a Phylax of days gone by. Of all his years in Euparyen, he had never been to the Yukonian peninsula before. Where most of Eupayren was experiencing the winter snows, Yukone instead gave rain. It was cold and it was miserable, but it did not matter to him. In fact, he had probably only beaten the Khasari to Lera thanks to the four days of perpetual rain.

  The Stesian Walls were like no other he had seen. Though they stood tremendously high, it did not compare to Rulven’s walls. However, they were unique in two ways. To begin with, they were the first in a set of two walls that encompassed Lera. The inner walls were smaller yet would still make an attacking army have second thoughts about whether the city was worth capturing. But the Stesian Walls were designed to prevent the city being in range of bombardment and to prevent siege equipment reaching the inner walls. The walls achieved this through their second unique point in being surrounded by a large ditch filled with water. As the walls were built along the coast, channels had been dug to allow the sea water to provide a natural barrier to a besieging army breaching the Stesian Walls.

  Upon his arrival, he was greeted by a small entourage who sallied forth from the wall. He could not see their faces as they shielded their faces from the heavy rain with their cloaks, but he could tell that one ranked higher than the others by the armour that they wore. Fortunately, the Sons had told them in advance of his arrival, and so the Yukonians were not surprised by a small army of three hundred archers arriving amidst an expected assault by another.

  “Commander Reisch Elestan,” said the higher-ranking soldier, “Please follow us inside. The Phylax would speak with you.”

  Reisch was going to correct him on his title, but the rain encouraged him to wait until he was inside and dry. His clothes were soaked. Being in company aside from the Elsgard warranted greater caution with manipulating the elements.

  As they reached the walls, the massive portcullis was lifted up and he and his men were escorted through via the sole bridge that gave passage over the ditch, and greeted with general contempt hiding behind Yukonian helmets. He was not surprised, but it had been a while since he was reminded of it.

  “Ephilea Yaleae”.

  “Leadfoot.”

  He had told his men not to respond any taunts before they were greeted at the gate, but as he turned around and saw their faces, he thought that it wasn’t necessary. They had enlisted to make amends for the very thing Yukone despised them for.

  “Come. Your men will be taken to the barracks where they can dry off and eat. The Phylax is this way,” said the same soldier as before.

  Reisch passed several soldiers along the way as he entered a long, narrow building on the other side of the wall. The Yukonian soldiery were more uniformed than their Euparyen counterparts. The cities of Yukone provided their arms and armaments, and they were trained and disciplined to a much greater extent than the Sons. They also chose to fight with a spear and shield, more similar to the Khasari than their Euparyen bretheren. Their shields were much larger than the Khasari, and their armour was heavier, some with bronze, some with steel. They were much better equipped than both their enemy and their allies, but they were much fewer in number and were never deployed outside of Yukone. That was a more recent law, he reminded himself.

  His escort reached a door at the end of the corridor, knocked and waited for confirmation before opening it. “Phylax Torren Byr Yelianes, this is Commander Reisch Elestan of the Elsgard, sent by Legatus Arys Tullis,” he said, before turning to leave.

  “Sit down, Pharon. You should be present for this. You too, Yalean.” The Phylax gestured towards a wooden chair near the table. Phylax Torren Byr Yelianes had been Phylax for longer than Reisch had been in the Elsgard. He was a grizzly old man now, past his prime, yet still looked as though he had not only the strength of a bear, but also the appearance of one. His greying beard reached half way down his chest, which itself was twice the circumference of the next man. It was no small wonder how he earned his nickname. He stood up from his chair and walked over to where the wine was.

  “We must all be in trouble if they sent you to Yukone,” he said, before taking a large swig. The room was light up by a huge crack of lightning before the roar of thunder boomed moments later.

  “No doubt you’ve heard of the army about a day’s march from here.”

  “I have, and it’s a bles
sing that you have gotten lighter on your feet since Solace and arrived before they did. We could use your help on the walls.” The Phylax poured a cup and handed it to Pharon before continuing. “I have six thousand under my command here, two of which belong to the fleet anchored at Lera’s port. Four thousand will man the wall when the time comes, including one thousand Sons under Legatus Yuran. Lera has been well provisioned, with supplies being sent from the other cities in case we are besieged. The fleet will make sure the city’s lifelines will remain open.”

  “Only four thousand?” Were you not informed how many legions march against you?”

  The Phylax, despite his obvious dislike of Reisch, kept his emotions out of his answer. “I was informed, Commander, and in light of this, I must prepare for the worst. The Khasari have tried more than once to take Yukone, and they have smashed against our walls and never come off best. But I am not one to forever place trust in precedence. If, and I repeat if, they manage to break through the Stesian Walls, then it is paramount Lera stays within our control. Whoever controls Lera controls the entire peninsula. If they take the Stesian Walls, we must retreat to the inner walls and hold the city. That is my reasoning for four thousand men.”

  “Explain how committing only four thousand helps you achieve your goal,” said Reisch. He knew the Phylax had a reason for it. The man was not senile, nor a fool.

  “We will make a siege their best possible outcome. If I commit the full force of Yukone to the Stesian Walls, then I risk all of Yukone in a single outcome. If they take the Walls, we will still have soldiers to defend against the besiegers. Betting everything on one battle is a gamble, which I would be hesitant to take even if I knew how many I was up against.”

  Reisch sighed. He was not the Phylax. “I did not come here to question your judgement. I have been given orders to serve under your command, so please tell us what we must do.”

  Torren Byr Yelianes smiled. “Throwing yourself into the fire will not earn you forgiveness, Reisch Elestan. If you came here with that intention, then you came a long way for nothing.”