by N. C. Reed
“If we were much closer we'd be a spectacle spoken of for years to come,” Parno chuckled and she slapped his chest lightly with an open hand that closed on a fistful of his jacket.
“Stop trying to cheer me up,” she told him him. “And stop making fun of me,” she semi-protested.
“I'm not making fun,” he promised. “I wish were back at Cove Canton and the biggest problem we had was where we were going to build our home and whether to raise cows, horses, or both!” he said, softly kissing the top of her head.
“But we're not,” she sighed again.
“No, we aren't,” Parno echoed her sigh with one of his own.
“This war won't end soon no matter what,” she said suddenly, lifting her head to look at him.
“No, it won't,” he told her firmly. “There will never be peace between us again, in all likelihood,” he added. “Times of non-war may be the best we can look forward to.”
“I don't know if I want to raise children into that kind of world,” she admitted, then her face colored at what she had said implied.
“You won't have to,” Parno promised her and she looked at him, startled.
“I intend to destroy the Empire once and for all,” he told her flatly. “When I'm finished, there won't be an Empire for us to be at war with. Our generation may know only war, but the next will know peace. Our children,” he stressed to her, hands gripping her shoulders firmly, “will know peace. I swear that to you. If God grants me mercy to live long enough, our children will know peace on all sides.”
“Marry me,” she said suddenly. Impulsively. “Today. Right now. When you leave tomorrow, leave here as my husband, Parno.”
“No,” he shook his head, hiding his shock as best he could. “Tempting, but no,” he tempered his refusal with a smile. “What you ask is very tempting, Lady Stephanie, but I cannot.”
“Why?” she all but demanded.
“Edema would kill us if we married without her present, let alone without letting her plan the event,” he managed to get it out without laughing, but then broke into a broad smile as he lost his battle with laughter. Stephanie looked at him in near anger for a few seconds before she too descended into laughter.
“I suppose you're right,” she nodded. “But I meant it,” she insisted. “If something were to happen to you, at least I'd have. . .I mean I might have…” her voice died out as she looked away, face reddening once more.
“A child?” Parno asked her, and she nodded jerkily, fighting tears.
“No,” his voice was even more firm this time. “I would not leave you like that,” he told her. “I can't imagine anything less responsible than abandoning you when you were with child. I will not.”
“Even if it's what I want?” she asked him, not looking at him.
“Even if it's what you think you want,” he replied. “There is too much to do, Stephanie, and I know you well enough to know that you will be in the thick of it, no matter what. I can't and won't try to stop you, because that would be like telling you not to be the woman I fell in love with. But I will not add to that difficulty with something like that. But if the Lord wills it, there will be a time, I promise.”
“Before you go north,” she looked at him sharply. “Before you leave Soulan.”
“Yes,” he replied just as firmly as he'd refused minutes ago. “Before I go north. And that is something I must ask you not to repeat. Few know of my plans, and I need it to stay that way. They are for far into the future. Years, in all likelihood. So yes. Before I leave Soulan.”
“I will hold you to that, Parno McLeod,” she straightened herself, pulling at her clothing to straighten it as well. “You will do as you've promised.”
“I always have,” he smiled one more time. “I always have.”
~*~
“What do you mean 'no'?”
Senior Captain Andrew Case drew himself up, steeling himself against the onslaught he was sure to come.
“I mean no, My Lady,” he repeated, trying to hold eye contact with the smoldering green orbs that Winnie Hubel had turned upon him. “I have almost half my command at your disposal now, running errands and waiting tables. No more. I have to have enough men remaining to ensure your protection. As it is I am granting you more leeway with my command than I should, and that will end in a day or two.”
“Not all of them,” he indicated the refugees that were even now receiving their first good meal in many days, served in many cases by men wearing the green and black livery of the King's Own, “are ailing, My Lady. Some of them are able, and most likely willing to work. You must begin pressing them into service to help themselves as you yourself said before. My men have responsibilities that extend beyond this work. In fact this work is not what they are here for at all.”
“Too good to serve the common folks?” Winnie asked, eyes narrowing even further.
“I am a commoner myself, My Lady,” Case's voice was chilly now; insulted. “I have no noble lineage to call upon or defend. I am where I am because I'm good at what I do and I work hard. And if I did think I was too good to serve, I wouldn't be in uniform,” he added tersely. “There is no higher service.”
Taken aback, Winnie was actually the first to break eye contact as she looked back to the refugees.
“It doesn't make sense not to use your men to help,” she told him.
“We are using my men to help, but we won't be using all of them,” Case said calmly, getting hold of his own temper. “Enough is enough, My Lady. Many of my men are working now and will have to stand guard tonight. Those lucky enough to be resting now and pulling guard tonight will have to work tomorrow. If I continue to allow all of them to be used in such a way, then soon I'll have troopers who aren't watching what they're doing. Not paying attention from lack of sleep. And all it takes is one mistake, My Lady.”
“You act like there's someone lurking about even now to kill me,” Winnie snorted.
“For all I know, there is,” Case surprised her. “There could be Norland spies mixed in with the refugees, or teams intending to use the ruse of posing as refugees to commit acts of mayhem and sabotage around them as they go. Once word gets out who you are then yes, My Lady, you become a target.”
“And you should also consider this,” he lowered his voice, looking around to ensure that no one else was near. “You are now the intended of the King of Soulan. Prince Memmnon is now King Memmnon and you are all but betrothed in the eyes of the palace. Word of that will spread, My Lady, and there are many fine young noblewomen whose families will not take kindly to missing the chance to marry into the McLeod dynasty. Families to whom intrigue and assassinations come easily and naturally.”
“You have to be joking,” Winnie snorted derisively. One look at his pensive face was all it took for her to realize he wasn't joking. He was as serious as he knew how to be.
“Perhaps you should discuss this with Lady Corsin, My Lady,” Andrew told her. “You are in a different world now, My Lady. Things are not always what they seem at this level.”
~*~
“We leave tomorrow?” Karls asked, standing before Parno's desk in the office that had once been Memmnon's.
“With the sun,” Parno nodded. “I want you to choose a small guard for Stephanie from among the Black Sheep,” he told Karls. “I know she has an escort already, but I want it strengthened. At least to Company level. In the meanwhile, I'm searching for suitable female escorts. I had hoped Winnie would be that for Stephanie, but Memmnon ruined that for me,” he snorted.
“I'm sure he's broken up about it,” Karls grinned.
“I'm sure,” Parno nodded. “I'm expecting Sebastian Grey any minute,” he continued. “I'm going to request a brace of female Constables to be her close escorts. While I'm thinking about it, I want good swordsmen among the men of her escort. By which I mean men who can serve as instructors. And men skilled in hand-to-hand as well. I want everyone around her well trained and that will include training the women.”
> “Very well,” Karls nodded. “Does that mean you want the man currently in charge of her escort replaced?”
“Who is it?” Parno asked.
“Winters,” Karls replied. “Jeffrey Winters, Senior Lieutenant.”
“One of yours?” Parno asked, by which he meant one of the original regulars that Karls had brought with him to form the Black Sheep.
“Yes,” Karls confirmed. “He was with us at the Gap and served with distinction, promoted from Third Lieutenant for bravery and then from Second for merit. He was brevetted Captain to command her escort after he recovered from injury.”
“He was wounded, wasn't he?” Parno asked, thinking back.
“Yes, but continued fighting,” Karls nodded.
“Are you happy with him where he is?” Parno asked.
“He's a good man,” Karls nodded.
“Then officially promote him to Captain and leave him,” Parno ordered. “Stephanie hasn't complained about him so I assume they get along. No sense in upsetting that balance.”
~*~
“What do I need with Constables?”
“They aren't here as Constables but as security,” Parno replied as both Stephanie and Winnie complained. “You need women to accompany you places a man really can't go. These ladies are well trained and have been part of the Royal Constabulary for some time. They will work in shifts and accompany you at all times. They are not runners,” he looked at Winnie, “nor are they orderlies,” this to Stephanie who had the grace to color a bit. “They are here to protect you and you will let them do it.”
“Or what?” Winnie demanded.
“There is no 'or what',” Parno said simply. “It's going to happen. Anything else?” Both women blinked at that but nodded agreement.
“Wonderful,” Parno tried to sound exuberant. “I'm sure you 'll all get along. Now, Lady Stephanie, may I escort you to dinner? I'm afraid I have to make it an early evening,” he semi-apologized.
“Certainly,” she smiled, taking the offered arm.
“Can we speak later?” Winnie asked, a hand on Stephanie's arm.
“Of course.”
~*~
Dinner was more subdued than Parno had hoped and still went better than he'd expected. The discussion earlier in the day in the garden hadn't necessarily ended on a great note after all, and Stephanie wasn't the most docile of people. Her quiet acceptance had therefore set Parno on edge.
They were having a private dinner, just the two of them, in the small dining room that Tammon had used for family only gatherings. The meal was excellent, the cooks going all out because of Parno's impending departure. Parno couldn't enjoy it for fear of the impending explosion he was expecting at literally any second. He was starting to wonder what she was waiting fo-
“So, you will leave at first light?” Her voice was deceptively mild.
“As soon as we can see well enough to travel,” he nodded carefully. “One of the reasons for such an early supper. I need my beauty sleep,” he tried a small joke, which promptly fell flat.
“And there is no way of knowing when I will see you again, is there?” she continued on as if he hadn't spoken.
“No, I'm afraid not,” he admitted. “Things have changed so much in the last three weeks that I don't know what I 'll find when I get back. I have a lot of movements to make and I need to see what's going on before I can make them.”
“I see.”
Uh-oh.
“I think I shall retire early,” Stephanie said suddenly, standing abruptly. “I can't do this,” she admitted softly. “I can't sit here and pretend nothing is wrong. That you won't be gone when I wake up.”
“I'm sorry,” Parno stood. “I really am. May I walk you to your rooms?” Technically his rooms, at least before. He'd never likely get them back, now.
“No,” she shook her head, clearly fighting to maintain her decorum. “No, I don't think that. . .that would be wise,” she said. “Please be careful,” she all but whispered as she hugged him tightly. “Please. And come back to me.”
“I will,” he stopped short of promising but tried to reassure her. “I will miss you,” he added.
“And I you,” she kissed him gently and then pulled herself away.
“Go with God, Parno McLeod.” Gathering her skirts in hand she then swept out of the room with a haste that belied her grief.
Parno returned to his chair though his appetite was now gone. He toyed with his food for a few minutes before shoving the plate away and standing.
Eating alone was no fun.
~*~
“Are your plans finalized?” Memmnon asked. Parno had gone to see his brother one last time before turning in.
“Yes,” Parno nodded. “At least for the most part. There will almost certainly be some changes I must make at some point, but no plan survives contact with the enemy.”
“True enough,” his brother tried to settle into a more comfortable position and failed. “Is there any hope?” he asked.
“There is always hope,” Parno shrugged. “We are not beaten. We aren't even close to beaten as things stand now, in fact. But for us, leaving so much of our growing land in their hands is the same as losing, really. Without that acreage, we will be in trouble. We've lost too much in the way of cattle and horses already, not to mention other stock that play lesser roles in feeding our population. I have at best a month to force them back or we will have to make do with what we have left. We will face a hungry time before next spring, which will leave our army weaker right when it should be stronger.”
“They are already planting, and they have more people than we do,” he continued with a sigh. “And they are determined. I don't know,” he shrugged finally. “We will do all we can.”
“I know that,” Memmnon smiled faintly. “Is there any word from your men about Therron and Sherron?”
“No, but I expect none unless they succeed or they run into trouble,” Parno replied with a head shake. “The two men I sent are excellent with independent command. They don't need constant guidance, just instructions and limitations, which they have.”
“I am hearing vague rumors coming from the south about an army unit taking by force from people as they go,” Memmnon mentioned. “Grey is convinced it's Callens trying to appease Sherron, based on the items generally taken. Dresses, vanity items, comfort items, that sort of thing.”
“She's learning that being in the saddle isn't quite as romantic as she thought,” Parno smiled grimly. “Maybe that will slow them down. We 'll see. But I've done all I can on that score,” he admitted. “This plot of hers has taken nearly a full division of fighting men away from the front when I needed them most. Well trained men at that.”
“I know,” Memmnon nodded. “It should all have been handled differently,” he admitted.
“Too late now,” Parno shrugged. “At any rate, I will leave at first light. I'm leaving a small detachment of my regiment as a guard for Stephanie. Please ensure that they aren't 'misappropriated' for anything else,” he requested.
“I shall,” Memmnon promised. “Be careful, Parno, and please take care of yourself. We cannot spare you. I don't say that lightly, either. We literally have no one who could replace you. So please, have a care.”
“I will,” Parno promised. “Take care of yourself and follow the doctor's orders,” Parno grinned.
“I will,” Memmnon smiled in reply.
With that Parno took his brother's hand and then left his quarters, heading for his own.
“A pensive look, my prince,” Cho Feng's voice came from the dark of the room as Parno closed the door.
“How can you tell in the dark?” Parno asked, turning up the lamp along the wall.
“You have just left your lady and your liege,” Cho shrugged in the growing light of the lamp. “It was not a difficult guess. Darkness has come earlier than I had guessed.”
“Not yet summer,” Parno nodded. “Days will get longer soon enough and we 'll be wishing they were sho
rter, to deny the light to the enemy.”
“Possibly,” Feng agreed, returning his gaze to the city below. Despite the war there was light everywhere showing from street lamps and windows.
“Bright place at night,” Parno observed. “Lights always drew me when I lived here,” he admitted. “Well, lights, lager and ladies,” he chuckled. “Life's necessities you know.”
“You have left those habits behind, I have noted,” Feng's voice sounded humored, though his face was still turned from Parno.
“Had to,” Parno nodded, removing his sword and then his tunic. “Especially now.”
“Yes,” Feng nodded. “What do you know of your enemy, Parno McLeod?” Feng changed the subject suddenly.
“He is more numerous than we are, and well trained,” Parno replied after a few seconds. “Moderately well led, at least on the nearest front to us, and fairly well determined. I believe that determination was shattered, or at least broken somewhat with our repulsing of their last attack, but that will not prevent them from attacking again. Having begun, they have no choice but to continue.”
“And your other enemies?” Feng asked.
“They are ruthless, bloodthirsty and highly intelligent, yet that intelligence is tainted with arrogance, disdain and not a little madness,” Parno's voice darkened a bit. “Sherron is mad. Therron is an ego stroked moron with delusions of grandeur.”
“Which of them is the more dangerous?” Feng asked.
“Sherron almost certainly, at least for now,” Parno replied at once. “It is her machinations and scheming that has made all this possible. We ignored her in favor of watching Therron, a mistake that cost us our King and nearly our Crown Prince. It also cost us several other good men.”
“What do you know of yourself, young prince?” Feng shifted gears quickly, testing his young charge.
“I am outnumbered and pushed against a wall,” Parno admitted. “My troops are better led, and moderately better trained, but far too many of them lay dead on the field and their replacements will not, can not, do as good as they did.”
“Too much of my grain and pasture lands lay in enemy hands,” he continued. “My army is too small and spread too thin. The enemy has the initiative and I cannot find a way to seize it back. I have made two attempts to do so but been stymied each time.”