Maelgyn raised his eyebrows. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to send a large force with me. It might be mistaken for an invasion.”
“We’ll be traveling under a flag of truce,” El’Athras reassured him. “And we’ll be very careful. So, how many of us can you use in Sopan?”
“I’m not sure,” Maelgyn said, considering. “Before I decide, I could use whatever intelligence you have about Sopan’s own forces. My last few years of education have kept me away from my duchy or even from meeting my generals firsthand.”
El’Athras frowned. “Do you need me to breakdown what’s in your own army?”
“As much as I hate to admit it, you probably know better than I,” Maelgyn grumbled. It wasn’t exactly politic to rely on El’Athras’ spies for an assessment of his own military abilities, but he really had no choice. “My father kept me away from learning much of anything about my own duchy. He believed I had ‘more important things to learn,’ first, and that I’d find out everything I needed to know when I got there. I’m aware we’ve got a significantly larger army than the other provinces. We’ve five and a half divisions of regulars, plus another division and a half of specialists. Also, the eighty ships of the Third Fleet are in ports in Sopan, and I’ve been hoping to use them to break the blockade of our major coastal ports.”
The Dwarf lord nodded. “Aye, all that’s true.”
“That said, I don’t know the breakdown of each division, I don’t know who most of my generals are. On the civilian side, I don’t know what my regent is like, and I haven’t even met the Baron’s Council or seen what the Senate in Sopan is like.”
El’Athras shrugged, shuffling some papers on his desk to find the right one. “As far as we know, your generals are untested. Your regent has been ruling ably in the years since the old regent retired, and your Baron’s Council is as good as any other in Svieda – it has its good leaders and its awful ones. The senators in your province are elected diplomatically every ten years, and so tend to reflect how things are going in Svieda during the period they were elected. The last election was two years ago, and things were moving along well then, so mostly they just maintain the status quo. As far as the breakdown of your armies go, well, they’re pretty standard for Svieda.”
“In other words,” Maelgyn said, “Sopan is pretty average, right?”
“Not quite,” El’Athras noted. “Sopan is the only Sviedan province which has had potential enemies on all sides, so it maintains a much more rigid state of alert and a more diverse training regimen than most. And while your generals lack experience in large campaigns, most of the Sopan standing army has seen battle at one point or another. Nothing major – skirmishes with smugglers, Merfolk mercenaries, and ‘resistance’ fighters of defeated border kingdoms who have turned brigand, for the most part – but most of the army has seen small action in that way. It won’t compare to the sheer fury of a pitch battle between roughly equal sides – which, unless I miss my guess, you have yet to experience yourself – but it has served to give them some taste of battle.”
“Well, given my lack of experience, what do you suggest I take with me into Sopan?” the Sword Prince asked petulantly.
“Don’t take that tone with me, boy,” El’Athras warned. “You may now, technically, rank higher than me, but I’ve got nearly two hundred years more fighting experience than you’ve had, so I’ve got the right to call it as I see it.”
Maelgyn drew back, abashed. “My apologies. I suppose that having two centuries of fighting experience would make any Human’s seem insignificant. With that in mind, for now I’ll look to you as my key military advisor. But then why ask me to make the decision? Why not make it yourself, or at the very least just give me some options to decide from?”
“Because you need to learn, somehow,” the Dwarf said, “And the best way to do that is through experience.”
Maelgyn quickly studied the papers in his hands. He discovered the true numbers of each unit in both the Dwarven and Sviedan armies broken down in even more detail than the brief “summary” El’Athras had given. In the end, he came to the conclusion that he didn’t really need any additional soldiers in Sopan. In fact, he had more there than was really needed, since the Mar’Tok and Caseificio borders were now reasonably safe. He’d thought that might be the truth even before he’d started reading the papers, but now it was confirmed.
The end result was that instead of moving new forces in, it would be his job to take Sopan’s armies to the front. It would take quite some time to organize and march them even as far as Largo, traveling overland. The sea may not be pleasant, even with the advances in navigation and ship construction the Sea Dwarves had evolved and passed down to the rest of the world, but at least traveling by sea took less time than marching over a difficult mountain pass like Mar’Tok. However, every Dwarf or Nekoji with him would increase the difficulty of shipping armies back into Svieda.
“Actually,” Maelgyn said, “I think I’d like it if you instructed most of your and Gyato’s armies to set up a rally point nearer the front lines, but which can be reached by ship. Take them east, to... to... oh! How about to a small riverfront town called ‘Rocky Run.’ My wife’s foster father is there, and possibly another military officer I wanted to meet with, as well. I suspect that, under a flag of truce and with a letter of introduction from myself and my wife, your armies could wait there for a few days while I determine how many of Sopan’s own forces can be spared to join them. Rocky Run will not be able to support the army alone, but the time your forces are waiting could be spent in building the town up as a military encampment, perhaps establishing a bridge to speed the transport of soldiers and equipment eastward. Take the time to establish supply lines, a temporary headquarters, and whatever else might be needed for when Sopan’s contribution to the war effort arrives. We probably need some time to adjust our formations to best incorporate my Human and your Dwarven armies together before sending them to the front, and that would make an excellent staging area.”
“But—” El’Athras started, though stopped when Maelgyn raised his hand.
“I need no reinforcements in Sopan, but I would nevertheless take representatives from both your and Gyato’s armies as an honor guard, and I’d like you to accompany me. Large enough to be impressive, but not so large that my people will view it as a threat before they learn of the new treaties. Say... about a score of Gyato’s infantry. From you, I think three packs of Wolf Riders, one each from the three different brigades. I’ll also want two platoons each of combat engineers, Llama Riders, and Archers. And... I think I’ll take Spearmaster Wangdu, yourself, Doctor Wodtke, my wife, and El’Ba’s son Tur’Ba as well. I’d prefer Gyato accompanied me as well, but someone needs to lead the bulk of the army – meaning the rest of his regiment and whatever you’ve determined Mar’Tok can spare – to Rocky Run, and set up camp there.”
The Dwarf grimaced. “Gyato will be displeased. He wanted to be with you when you arrive in Sopan.”
“I’ll talk to him about it. I need someone I can trust with the leadership of the main force,” Maelgyn noted, “And someone who can handle any diplomatic incidents which may occur. That leaves either him or you. Gyato’s not military, but he has been raised to rule and probably knows a thing or two about leadership and diplomacy. He’s also a Nekoji, and therefore will almost certainly have the ability to keep up with any army without additional training. I’ll take his second, the female Nekoji with him at our earlier meeting, into Sopan as his representative.”
El’Athras sighed, but nodded. “I wanted a show of strength from Gyato and myself to allow the people of Sopan to see how valuable an ally we are, but your plan has its merits. Very well, I will make the arrangements. Even with the army already mustered, it will take us a day to get everything set up, but by morning your escort should be ready to leave. I’ll have llamas prepared for you and your wife.”
“Thank you, El’Athras,” Maelgyn said, then hesitated. “May I ask you an en
tirely unrelated question, sir?”
“You’re my boss now – don’t call me sir,” El’Athras shot back sharply. “And of course you can ask a question. I just reserve the right not to answer.”
“Euleilla is a commoner,” the Sword Prince began, “And commoner-royal marriages, as I’m sure you’re aware from your association with Uwelain, generally aren’t very popular in Svieda. There’s a chance that, when the news gets out about our marriage, we’ll have riots in the streets.”
El’Athras raised an eyebrow. “Aye, that’s possible. My read on things is that it’s unlikely, given the current crisis with Sho’Curlas, but I wouldn’t call it an impossibility.”
“Well,” Maelgyn sighed. “How do you deal with it? I mean, you had to expect that your relationship wasn’t going to be very well liked when it comes out to the public. Euleilla and I are going to have to learn to deal with this same kind of trouble, as well. I just want to know... how do you manage to keep it from being too much of a stress on your relationship?”
“I’m still not quite sure,” the Dwarf said wistfully. “The best advice I can give is to ignore what you can, and laugh at the rest. Truth be told, you’ll have that same stress no matter who you marry or take as a lover – you’ll always have to worry about whether the public will like them or not. So what if your wife has the additional disadvantage of being born a commoner? I’m honestly not sure why that would make any difference, anyway.”
Maelgyn frowned. El’Athras made it sound so simple, but he knew better than that. If he didn’t defend himself in the court of public opinion, the chances were that his enemies would paint a picture of him to the uneducated masses that could lead to rebellion.
“I was hoping for a bit more,” he finally said.
“I can’t give you more,” the Dwarf said. “There’s no advice I can give which will be of any help to you. You’ll have to try and solve some of these issues on your own, friend Maelgyn, but I believe you are up to the task.”
“Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. I’m not as convinced as you seem to be,” Maelgyn sighed. “I’m not sure if the people of my province would have given me an easy welcome even if I wasn’t showing up married to a commoner. I can only guess how they’ll react now.”
“Relax,” El’Athras said. “At this point, it’s really out of your control. I gather you’re wondering if divorcing or dissolving your marriage would help things?”
“No!” Maelgyn snapped. “I wouldn’t do that. Not just for my sake, at any rate, but if things are too hard for Euleilla....”
“Trust me,” El’Athras sighed, understanding. “It’s already too late for you to do anything to make it ‘easier’ on her or ‘safer’ for her... or for you. Yes, some people might hate her for marrying you, but dissolve your marriage and the scandal will likely result in her being persecuted for the rest of her life. On your end, the very people who might hate her will still hate you for abandoning her, and the people who might have supported you in your decision to marry her will be disappointed in you.”
“Even if the... unusual circumstances of our marriage were explained?”
“Even then,” El’Athras said. Then he smiled toothily. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with her.”
Maelgyn laughed, half in relief and half in nervousness. “Well, good. I think she’ll make me a fine wife, despite the ‘problems’ of her birth. Being ‘stuck with her’ isn’t that bad. When Arnach or Brode become king – for I’m sure it’ll be one of them – I think I’ll retire to Sopan province, and hopefully get her accepted there.”
“Oh, I’m sure you can manage that, should you be able to retire to Sopan,” El’Athras said. “But I’m still hoping you’ll wind up the Sword King of Svieda. After all, I’m investing quite a lot of effort in giving you the tools needed to win the war in Sho’Curlas, and I suspect you’d be good at employing them.”
Maelgyn shook his head. “Brode and Arnach are both much better at tactics and strategy than I, at least if our relative skills at games of strategy are any indication. They would know how to lead you properly, rest assured of that.”
El’Athras shrugged. “I suppose. I still feel you will treat my fellow Dwarves better, in the long run, than either of those two. After all,” he grinned, “You’re asking me for advice. That’s more than most in your position would do.”
“Well, don’t start making plans for my coronation yet,” Maelgyn said. “To be honest, I fully expect that by the time I get my armies to the front of battle, one of my cousins will already be king.” He considered for a moment before nodding, “Probably Arnach. Arnach VII, Sword King of Svieda. Or maybe Brode IX. But I seriously doubt there’ll ever be a Maelgyn I.”
“You never know,” the Dwarf said. “I never believed that I would be named a Merchant Prince, much less that I would ever become the leader of the Free Dwarves. Or that I would use that power to become a Count of Svieda.”
“The first Count of Svieda, as a matter of fact,” Maelgyn laughed. “But you’re going to have to name a choice for another Count, to leave as your regent while you’re gone. And you’ll have to do it before we leave – you don’t happen to have anyone in mind, do you?”
“No,” El’Athras said. “I hadn’t even thought of it, to be honest. Who’s eligible under Sviedan law?”
“Anyone who lives within the borders of your province, unless otherwise ineligible by the local laws. Once he is named, however, the title remains in his line, and his descendents will be your regents as well. If he dies, it will be your responsibility to locate his heir or, should he not have an heir, to designate a new regent.”
“Well, I’ve yet to establish a set of local laws that would make anyone ineligible,” El’Athras laughed. “Hmm... maybe I should name that innkeeper – El’Ba, I believe Wodtke said his name was – to the position. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders in a crisis, and it might tweak the noses of those idiot clan heads, now wouldn’t it?”
“Probably,” Maelgyn agreed. “If he’ll take the job.”
“Oh, he’ll take the job,” the Dwarf snorted. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Chapter 17
“I can’t believe you managed to rope me into this,” El’Ba sighed. It was his final meeting with the “royal entourage” which was being assembled around Maelgyn: Wangdu, Euleilla, Doctor Wodtke, Tur’Ba, and, of course, El’Athras. “I’m just an innkeeper, after all, and you’re sticking me with the job of rebuilding the entire Dwarven government from scratch!”
“Not from scratch,” El’Athras laughed. “After all, you’ve got Sviedan Code to consider.”
“Oh, right,” El’Ba snorted. “A multi-tiered system. Under the lord of the province is the lord regent, who rules in the lord’s absence. There must be a court system independent of the nobility. There must be a council of barons, who receive their titles through inheritance. There must be a representative council of civilians, who must be given at least the power to veto legislation. That’s a lot to go on.”
“Well, given that we Dwarves have managed just fine since the death of King Tur’Ma with a broken government, I figure you’ll manage to come up with something that doesn’t screw us up too badly,” El’Athras noted. “Besides, you’ll have help. I have appointed you an aide.... What was his name? That loyal blacksmith who braved the rioters to deliver me Maelgyn’s message. Tur’Ne, I think it was? He should be able to give you all the help you need.”
“Of all the people you could have appointed to help me with this task, why him? Tur’Ne is loyal, yes, and he’s a good friend, but he’s just a blacksmith, and barely out of his childhood,” El’Ba growled. “What does he know about politics?”
“Exactly,” the other Dwarf laughed. “He’ll have all of the strength, vigor, and impetuousness to implement anything you want done, without all the usual hang-ups from most of the career politicians who I might have otherwise chosen. You’ve got the wisdom and knowledge gained by running a successful business for
over a hundred years on your own. Together, you’ll make a great team. Besides, you’ll still have my entire advisory staff to help you, as well.”
“Bah,” the new Regent finally said. “Whatever. Just get out of here before I change my mind and turn down the job.”
As El’Ba marched away towards his new home inside the freshly dubbed “Count’s Estate,” Maelgyn turned to the building’s past and future tenant, El’Athras. “Hmm,” he considered as he mounted his llama. “How did you convince him to take the job, anyway?”
“I didn’t. I told his wife that, if she wanted to live in a nice big mansion with servants at her beck and call rather than live as the cook at a small, drafty inn that will be closed down while the riot damage was repaired, she’d better convince him to take the job for me.”
“Good plan, that,” Maelgyn said, restraining a smile from appearing on his face while he took the reins of his mount.
“Be warned,” El’Athras advised as he climbed onto his own llama. “A wife is a powerful tool as a weapon in politics. The problem is that weapon works both ways. A good woman is a strength in difficult time, yes, but they can also be a weakness.”
“Athy, dear,” Wodtke chirped sweetly. “Don’t fill the young prince’s head with nonsense, okay?”
“But I was just telling him the truth!” El’Athras protested. “I was just saying that women are a very effective weapon against their men. Not always because they’re being used, mind you, but if they, for whatever reason, decided they wanted something... well, any woman can be a danger to their lover, even the most loyal of them.”
“Indeed,” Euleilla agreed. “I could be, although I assure you I’ll be a most loyal danger.”
Maelgyn raised an eyebrow. “And just how could you be a weapon against me?” he asked.
In Treachery Forged (The Law of Swords) Page 20