Fate of the Crown

by Paul J Bennett

  "The yellow flag," yelled Gerald.

  His aide pulled forth the signal, waving it in the air as high as he could. The mastiff handlers moved, ready to tame the wild dogs, but the animals had their blood up and were lost in their frenzy. Gerald rode forward, using his horse to push through the line of Orcs. He halted as he reached the front line, dropping from his mount. Tempus appeared beside him, his faithful guard, and the general moved into the field toward the scene of carnage and destruction.

  He had only taken a few steps when the mastiffs first noticed him. The nearest let out a loud howl, and they all stopped what they were doing to look in his direction. Gerald continued moving forward, and as he did so, the great beasts began to bow their heads before him. The handlers rushed in, reattaching the leashes and muzzles. Gerald called the Orcs forward, and they began to pick their way through the field, finishing off any knight that refused to surrender.

  The stench of death washed over Gerald, but he couldn't let it distract him. He turned back to the north. "Double Flags," he called out. The aide dutifully waved two of the pennants, the signal for the general advance. The entire line started lumbering forward.

  The Kurathian horsemen were heading for the main gate, which they could clearly see was now open. Gerald halted, letting the troops surge past him. He was immensely tired, and the loss of life, on both sides, weighed on him heavily.

  It was Anna that snapped him out of it. "We've won," she announced. "You've done it."

  He looked up at her on her horse. He tried to form words, but fatigue overwhelmed him. What tumbled out of his mouth made no sense, and then he fell heavily to his knees, bereft of energy.

  Anna called out for Revi, but Gerald couldn't focus, the whole world began twirling about. He felt himself fall to the ground, only able to watch as Anna bent over him. Revi came into view over her shoulder, looking down into his face.

  "What's happening, what's wrong with him?" asked Anna.

  "Exhaustion, I think," said Revi. "He needs to sleep."

  "Beverly," stuttered Gerald, "command..."

  "Relax, Gerald," soothed Anna. "Beverly will take over, you need to rest, you've overworked yourself."

  "Hardly surprising, really," uttered Revi Bloom. "I don't think he's slept properly in days. When was the last time he ate?"

  "I'm not sure," said Anna. "I haven't seen him at mealtimes for three days. He's been so busy."

  Sounds echoed in Gerald's mind as his vision left him.

  * * *

  Gerald awoke to a soft bed and a warm fire in a well-appointed room. The first thing he saw was Sophie, sitting beside him.

  "He's awake, Your Highness," she said.

  Anna came into view, "You gave us quite a scare there, Gerald."

  "What happened?" he asked. "I remember feeling...strange."

  "You passed out," she replied. "Revi says you've been missing too much sleep. You haven't been taking care of yourself."

  "The battle..." he started.

  "Is done. We were victorious. You're in the duke's quarters in Colbridge."

  "What's the tally?" he asked. "How many did we lose?"

  "Not as many as we feared. Beverly can give you a number later, but you need to rest. Here, have some broth."

  He smelled the hot liquid and then she lifted a spoon to his mouth. Sipping it gingerly, he felt its effects as he swallowed it.

  There was a knock at the door.

  "Enter," said Anna.

  "Your Highness," said Beverly, entering the room. "I have a full report for you." The red-headed knight paused as she took in the scene. "Gerald, you're awake!"

  "Try to hide your disappointment, Beverly," he said. "You're not the general, yet."

  The knight smiled, "I have no desires on that front, General, trust me. It's been a headache keeping things under control.

  "Why? What happened?” asked Gerald, pulling himself into a seating position and ignoring the broth held before him.

  "Nothing good, I'm afraid," replied the knight. "The men got a little out of control after we entered the city. I'm afraid there's been all kinds of trouble."

  Gerald felt sick, his stomach turning at the mere thought. "Out of control, how?"

  "Looting mostly, but also assaults. I'm afraid several women have been attacked."

  "We must round up those guilty," commanded Gerald. "Get my armour; this has to be dealt with at once. I will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in my army."

  "It's already been taken care of," said Beverly. "I had my cavalrymen round them up, and the Orcs were a great help. We've got several men in detention, awaiting judgement. There's really nothing for you to do that can't wait."

  "Get me Kiren Jool," demanded Gerald.

  "The Kurathian Enchanter?" asked Sophie.

  "Yes, he can get me back on my feet, can't he?"

  "I believe so," said Anna, "but surely it can wait."

  "No, it can't," said Gerald. "Discipline must be enforced as soon as possible, while the memory of the crime is still fresh. If the men think we'll look the other way to this kind of behaviour, we're just as bad as the people we're fighting."

  Anna turned her attention to her maid, "Go and get his armour, Sophie, I can see he won't listen to reason. Send one of the pages to collect Master Jool, and Master Bloom if he's available."

  Sophie scurried off on her tasks while Anna tried again to spoon feed Gerald. "You're not making this any easier, my friend."

  "I'm fine," complained the general.

  "Then show me by eating this broth, and I'll let you get dressed."

  Gerald knew he was outranked, "Very well."

  She handed him the bowl and spoon, watching as he devoured it.

  "There, that's better," she soothed.

  Sophie returned, a tunic in her hands. "I have his clothes here, Your Highness.

  "Thank you," she replied. "Beverly, go and collect all the leaders, they'll need to make their reports. We'll see them in the duke's dining hall, that way our general can sit and conserve his strength. Any word on the mages, Sophie?"

  "I sent word, Highness. The Kurathian should be here shortly. He is within the keep, but Master Bloom is in the stables down in the city."

  "What's he doing down there?" asked Gerald.

  "Healing the horses," said Beverly. "We're going to use them for our heavy cavalry."

  He was about to get out of bed when he paused, looking around the room expectantly.

  "What's the matter?" asked Beverly.

  "I hoped for a little privacy while I get dressed," said Gerald.

  Beverly blushed, "Of course, General, I'll wait for you outside."

  "Let's clear the room," said Anna. "Gerald will join us downstairs once he's dressed."

  * * *

  It didn't take long for everyone to assemble in the dining room. Gerald, the final one to enter the packed room, was about to sit down when Anna indicated for him to take the seat at the head of the table.

  "That's yours," he insisted.

  "Nonsense, you're the general. It only makes sense that you should be at the head of the table."

  He sat, looking around at the assembled guests. "Please, be seated," he said.

  They all took their seats while servants scurried about serving drinks.

  "Before we begin," announced Gerald, "I'd like to start by recognizing the actions of some of you. The battle could not have been successful without your participation this day."

  Those assembled watched in expectation.

  "Sir Arnim," continued Gerald, "you withdrew the assault at just the right time."

  "It was your idea," said the knight, "I would never have thought of a feigned withdrawal."

  "Nevertheless, your timing was perfect. It drew the knights out, allowing us to eliminate the threat."

  Arnim bowed his head in acknowledgement as the others clapped.

  "And of course I would be remiss if I didn't mention Dames Beverly and Hayley. You and your troops are the reason we a
re sitting in this very room today. Without your help, we never would have been able to gain entry to this city."

  "Yes," agreed Anna. "You have both displayed courage and initiative. When this war is over, I shall have many rewards to hand out."

  "I'm sure I speak for Hayley when I say we were only doing our duty," said Beverly. "It was the general's plan."

  "Nonetheless," said Gerald, "I am grateful that you were able to pull it off, it was a difficult task."

  "You surprised me today," said Anna, "though I daresay I shouldn't have been."

  "How so?" Gerald asked.

  "I knew about the river assault, but what inspired you to fake a retreat?"

  "I had to lure their knights out. I knew they wouldn't just blindly charge our lines without being tempted in some way. It had to look like our line was faltering. Kraloch and his Orcs did an amazing job of closing the ranks as they approached."

  "It is your training," offered the shaman. "We have adapted well to strict discipline."

  "You have all done a remarkable job," said the princess, "and I'm very proud of each and every one of you. Now, much has happened since the battle and we must get to the crux of the matter."

  "Beverly," began Gerald, "let's start with you."

  Beverly produced a note, passing it to him. "Here's a list of the casualties," she said. "Remarkably light, considering the circumstances."

  He looked at the numbers and then laid them down on the table. "I trust Revi is still healing them?"

  "Yes," she said, "though he's had a chance to rest and recover his energy, I suspect he'll be kept quite busy for another day or so."

  "You mentioned the horses earlier. How many of them did you manage to save?"

  "Enough for a company of heavy horse," she replied. "I've already picked the men, and we're making use of a lot of the knight's armour."

  "How many knights did we capture?"

  "Only seven, General, the rest were killed. I'm afraid the Mastiffs are deadly fighters."

  "Did we lose any of our dogs?"

  "Three were killed, though a number suffered injuries. They're on the list to be healed once our soldiers are tended to. We could really use another Life Mage. I wish Aubrey were here."

  "What of the duke?"

  "He died fighting on the wall," offered Hayley. "He was taken down by arrows when he wouldn't surrender."

  "A fitting fate for the man," declared Gerald.

  "His son, Lord Markham, is in custody and under guard," added Beverly.

  "I met him long ago," said Gerald, "and I must admit I don't have a very high opinion of the young man. Leave him there for the time being. Now, tell me about what happened when the troops entered the city."

  They all looked around the room, avoiding his gaze.

  "Someone must know what happened? Give us your opinion, Beverly."

  "Well," she began, "the assault across the river was a great success. My group captured the gatehouse while Hayley's Orcs cleared the northern wall. The gates were opened, and the Kurathian horsemen rode in."

  "Are you saying it was the Kurathians that caused all the problems?"

  "No," she retorted, "we didn't get any reports of trouble until after our footmen entered. The gates were getting crowded with our troops, and so a number of them decided to climb through the breach in the wall. I'm afraid we hadn't planned for that, and they got out of hand."

  "I confess," said Arnim, "that I must bear some of the blame. It was my idea to have them use the breach. I hadn't reckoned on their behaviour deteriorating so quickly."

  "What, precisely, happened?" asked the general.

  "They rushed the wall and were inside before I could get there," said Arnim. "A tavern nearby was their first destination. Once the ale flowed freely, there was no stopping them."

  "What is the extent of the damages?"

  "Three buildings burned, seven townsfolk killed and a number assaulted."

  "Assaulted how?" asked Anna.

  "Mostly beaten up or stabbed but at least three women were molested."

  "You mean raped?" clarified the princess.

  "Yes, I'm afraid so."

  "Are these men under arrest?"

  "They are, Highness, I saw to it myself."

  The room fell into an awkward silence. It was Gerald that broke it, "We are fighting a war to liberate this realm from a dark presence. These people are Mercerian and deserve to be treated as such. The vast majority of inhabitants of this city don't support the king, nor do they care, one way or the other, who rules. They have the right to live in peace and safety. If our troops commit acts like this, we don't deserve to rule them."

  "What are you saying?" asked Commander Runsan, the Weldwyn leader.

  "I'm saying," said Gerald, "that justice must be seen to be swift and effective.

  "Our ancestors used to hold military tribunals when men were to be punished," offered Anna.

  "In Merceria it is usually the king that makes these decisions," countered Gerald.

  "Yes," said Anna, "but it might be seen as more merciful if the men themselves had a say. For too long our nobles have meted out justice on a whim. The people must see true justice, not just a commander's decision."

  "She has a point," offered Arnim. "We have a chance to change the way things work."

  "Yes," agreed Anna. "I want the men to understand that justice will be fair for all, not just the nobles. We must have the rule of law."

  "Very well," said Gerald. "We'll convene a court made up of captains and commanders. Have you a suggestion, Highness, on how such a thing might be done?"

  "As a matter of fact, I do. Give me a day or two, and I'll have it all organized."

  "Very well, in the meantime, keep your men on alert and away from the drink. Any man found drunk will stand duty outside the city walls, in the snow."

  * * *

  It took only two days to organize the trials. A tribunal was constituted for every major offense where the accused did not plead guilty. Each soldier would be judged by his own captain, as well as two captains from other companies. A senior officer, commander or higher, would act as the facilitator, making sure each trial was conducted fairly and in an unbiased manner.

  Minor offenses were to be handled by company commanders directly. In the end, trials were required for a total of six men. Two of these were found guilty of theft and damage to property and sentenced to hard labour. They were transferred to the city jail for their sentence to be carried out.

  Four men, however, had been found guilty of either murder or rape and were sentenced to death. Scaffolding was erected in front of the duke's residence, and a large crowd gathered to witness the event.

  Gerald watched in disgust. He was not a man to hand out punishment lightly, but these men deserved what they had been given.

  They were shaking and pale as they were led up to the scaffold. Each stood on a box and then a loop of rope was dropped over their necks. Anna stood beside Gerald, watching them intensely.

  "You don't have to be here, Highness," offered Beverly.

  "This is not the first time I've witnessed a hanging," she replied. "If I am to rule this kingdom, then I must be willing to witness the punishment dealt out. It is my responsibility."

  "This will send a clear message," offered Arnim. "No one will dare break the rules when they've seen the consequences."

  "I wish that were true," said Anna, "but my heart tells me otherwise. People have short memories; a year from now no one will remember this."

  The prisoners stood in a line with ropes draped over their heads. The hangman looked to the princess.

  "Carry out the sentence," she said, "and let all those present bear witness."

  The nooses were tightened, and then, one by one, the boxes beneath them were kicked out from under their feet. Two of them died instantly, their necks snapped by their body weight, but the other two twisted painfully as the life was choked out of them.

  Finally, they stopped twitching, and Geral
d turned to Anna, "It is done, Your Highness."

  "Yes," she replied, "but next time, let's make sure the hangman knows his job better. It doesn't look good when a man suffers in death."

  "Agreed," said the general.

  "Good," she replied, her sombre mood disappearing almost instantly. "Now that the unpleasant business is done, we have much to discuss."

  "We do?"

  "Of course, we still have a war to win."

  Eleven

  Albreda's Plan

  Spring 962 MC

  Baron Fitzwilliam called a council of war in the map room, insisting that not only his knights be present, but his captains and sergeants as well. Now, they stood, crowded around a map of Merceria, eager to see what the coming campaign season might bring.

  "I say we attack Redridge," offered Sir James. "The defences are likely weak, and it would cut off their only source of iron."

  "Impractical," refuted Sir Rodney. "While it's true we would interrupt their access to iron, it would have little effect on them for some time as their troops are already equipped."

  "We must attack somewhere," complained Sir James. “What would you suggest?"

  "I think we should wait on the king to make the first move," he replied, "then we can react without over-stretching our rather limited resources. What say you, Baron?"

  Everyone turned their attention to Baron Fitzwilliam, who sat, staring out the window. Upon hearing his name, he turned, stroking his beard absently. "I think there is merit in both ideas," he began, "but we must gather more information first."

  "Surely we must act!" burst out Sir Randolph.

  "And we will," appeased Fitz, "I assure you, but there is no point in striking until we know the location of the royal army."

  "Perhaps Albreda could help?" suggested Sir Gareth. "Surely her animals could tell us more?"