The Mage-Fire War

by Modesitt. Jr. , L. E.

  Beltur cleared his throat. “As some of you know, I was an undercaptain in a Spidlarian recon company when the Gallosians attacked Elparta. For the last few eightdays, I’ve been reconnoitering the terrain around Haven. There are four possible approaches and several places where we might be able to use our talents to facilitate ambushes that would reduce the numbers of attackers with less risk to our men.” He looked to Raelf.

  “Go on.”

  Beltur quickly summarized what he had seen and concluded by saying, “These are only my observations. I would suggest the first thing tomorrow that I conduct you to each of these possible sites and that you decide, based on what we can do, and what you feel is practical and possible.”

  “That makes sense,” replied Raelf. “Such an overview may also reveal either weaknesses or additional possibilities. We’ll begin early. Sixth glass at the East Inn.”

  The way Raelf handled that suggested that the meeting was over, and in less than a quint, he was the only officer left with Beltur and the other councilors and Taelya.

  “You knew something like this would happen?” asked Tulya.

  “Sooner or later. Lord Korsaen told me that we’d get a barely competent officer and the worst companies Lydiar could spare. The companies are much better than I’d hoped. Rojak is what we expected.”

  “How did that happen?” asked Tulya.

  “Competent officers can’t be blindly loyal, not and get their men to follow them. We were given the companies headed by officers who were considered less loyal to Duke Halacut. He saw that as a way of weeding them out. Lord Korsaen had thought that a possibility. I was less hopeful. He was right.”

  “Or perhaps Maeyora?” asked Jessyla.

  “There’s no difference between those two names,” replied Raelf wryly. “They act as one, and they’re seldom wrong.”

  “I’m sorry for creating a confrontation so soon,” began Jessyla, “but practically every word Rojak said was either deceptive or condescending.”

  “It’s likely better this way,” replied Raelf. “At least we know where we stand … and so do the Lydian captains. As does Rojak.”

  “He’s not the most trustworthy,” said Jessyla.

  “He won’t go against his captains. Not now.”

  Or not until and unless we’ve obviously lost. Beltur kept that thought to himself.

  “In time, that could change.” Raelf offered a lopsided smile.

  “I have one other question,” said Beltur. “You mentioned weapons based on what we told you.”

  “Iron arrows and crossbow bolts. It crossed my mind after our meeting in Weevett that developing such weapons might be a good idea. Montgren has very few mages and none as capable as you. I decided on the crossbow quarrels because iron arrows, even with thin shafts, don’t have that great a range. We do have almost two hundred iron arrow shafts and fifty crossbow bolts.”

  Once again, Beltur found himself impressed with Raelf, far more than with Rojak. “Those could prove very useful.”

  Raelf nodded, then said, “I do need to go. There are more than a few logistics to deal with.”

  “We won’t keep you,” said Lhadoraak, smiling as he added, “Not any longer.”

  Once Raelf had departed, Beltur looked to the others, and then, because he didn’t want to be the first to hazard an opinion, he asked, “What do you all think?”

  “Besides the fact that we’ve been set up, you mean?” asked Lhadoraak.

  “We’re not the only ones who’ve been set up,” said Jessyla. “Raelf’s been set up as well. I think Maeyora must have a druid’s foresight. I don’t like that. Foresight shows what is, but it’s colored by the desires of the seer.”

  “They must think we can win,” suggested Tulya.

  “No,” countered Jessyla. “They must think they can win. That doesn’t mean that it will end all that well for us.”

  “But they never lied to us,” said Beltur.

  “That might be because we didn’t ask the right questions,” said Lhadoraak. “We weren’t looking far enough ahead.”

  “There is one other thing to consider,” Beltur pointed out. “If we don’t survive, it’s unlikely they can win.”

  “There’s also another,” said Tulya. “What if there’s no foresight, and they’re just doing the best that they can, just like we are? What if Korsaen and Maeyora have just been trying to get the best people that they can?”

  “That’s possible, I suppose,” said Lhadoraak, his tone slightly dubious.

  “Maybe Maeyora has a vision, but it’s not complete … or what it means is unclear?” asked Jessyla.

  “That sounds more likely to me,” suggested Lhadoraak.

  “Does it really matter, right now?” asked Beltur. “One way or another we need to figure out a way to win … and survive.”

  “The troopers need to take the brunt of the attacks, and then we need to find ways to whittle the Hydlenese down,” said Lhadoraak.

  Although the three other adults all nodded at what Lhadoraak said, Beltur knew that, even if they won the coming battles, and there would likely be more than one, that wouldn’t necessarily end the matter, but there was little point in saying that because, unless they prevailed, they wouldn’t face that problem.

  LI

  As Jessyla and Beltur hurriedly ate oat porridge, cheese hunks, and bread for breakfast on twoday, Beltur said, “You should come with us.”

  “Who said I wasn’t?” asked Jessyla.

  Beltur managed not to wince.

  “I can do a concealment big enough for a company.” She paused, then added, “If it’s not too spread out. And the captains should know from the beginning that I’ll be accompanying one of their companies. It’s one thing to hear that; it’s another to see it.”

  Beltur was well aware of that. He was also aware that some of the captains might be more than a little reluctant.

  Possibly reading his expression, Jessyla went on. “Since there are only three mages and six companies, Raelf can see from the captains’ reactions where we might be most effective and most appreciated.”

  “That definitely would be for the best,” said Beltur as he finished the last of his ale. “We also need to fill our water bottles with ale. It’s likely to be a very long day.” In more ways than one.

  Even after dealing with horses and water bottles, the two arrived at the East Inn a little less than a quint before sixth glass.

  Cheld was waiting for them as they dismounted and tied their mounts to the hitching rail. “The majer’s in the public room. He wants to talk to you before he gathers the captains.”

  “We thought he might,” said Jessyla cheerfully.

  “Healer-Mage…” began Cheld carefully, “I had no idea … you also fought so effectively.”

  That statement, Beltur suspected, was about as close to an apology as the undercaptain could bring himself to utter.

  Jessyla laughed, a laugh both gentle and slightly bitter. “Until I had to, I had no idea that I could, either. I had no choice. With the number of Hydlenese we’ll face, I still don’t. None of us do.”

  “You’re all mages, though.”

  “We’ve had our lives threatened and disrupted in four lands,” replied Beltur, making sure he had the map that he and the others had worked on. “It would seem that wouldn’t change for the better if we moved on. Certainly not in Certis or Hydolar. Nor in Westwind or Sarronnyn. So … the only real choice is not whether we fight, but where we fight … and for what.” He offered a pleasant smile. “We’d best not keep the majer waiting.”

  “Oh … of course, sers.” Cheld turned toward the door into the inn and gestured for them to precede him.

  Raelf was indeed in the public room, seated at the circular table, perusing several maps, but he immediately stood as the two mages approached.

  “How are matters going?” asked Beltur.

  “As expected. I’d forgotten how poor the ale is, though.” Raelf shook his head.

  “By
thalt used to have a keg of the better ale,” ventured Beltur.

  “That’s what I’m talking about,” replied the majer. “The other stuff’s barely drinkable.”

  Both Beltur and Jessyla laughed, as much at Raelf’s near-plaintive tone as at his actual words.

  “There is that,” said Beltur. Then, gesturing at the table and the maps upon it, he went on. “Jessyla and I have scouted out the various approaches that the Hydlenese have used, and some others that they could use. We’ve also noted where we might be able to attack. To make it a little easier for you, we also put together this map.” Beltur handed Raelf the rough map that he, Jessyla, and Tulya had drawn up earlier.

  Raelf unrolled it and laid it upon the table, studying it for several moments before saying, “You’ve given this some thought.”

  “After what we’ve already been through, we’ve tried. We’re showing what we know, but we’re deferring to your experience, especially if you see problems or better opportunities.”

  “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this and how valuable it will be. Do you mind if I bring it with me?”

  “Not at all,” replied Beltur, “but be careful. We didn’t have time to make a second copy.”

  “I’ll be very careful.” Raelf turned to Cheld. “If you’d tell the captains that we’ll be riding out shortly.”

  “Yes, ser.” Cheld turned and headed out of the public room.

  “Just the two of you are riding with us?”

  “We’re the ones who’ve done all the scouting. Lhadoraak’s skills are better suited to providing concealments and limited shields.”

  Raelf looked to Jessyla. “Some may question your riding with troopers. Not because you aren’t a warrior, but because you’re a healer.”

  “If we don’t win, there won’t be any need for healers.”

  The majer smiled. “Some may need to be reminded of that.”

  “Will Rojak be accompanying us this morning?” asked Beltur.

  “He wouldn’t have it any other way. Neither would I.”

  Despite Raelf’s hopes of a departure close to sixth glass, it was two quints past the glass when the party rode away from the East Inn, a party consisting of both majers, Beltur and Jessyla, the five company captains, and Cheld, accompanied by a squad of Montgren troopers, just in case they happened to encounter any Hydlenese scouts.

  The tour of Haven and its environs began with a ride east on the main street, with Beltur pointing out where the false Lydians had attacked, and then where the Hydlenese had fired dwellings and other structures. From there, they proceeded south and west to the lane that led to Samwyth’s stead, past Ennalee and Vortaan’s stead.

  When the group halted where the lane intersected the narrow east-west road bordered on the south by the rugged hills that led west past the overgrown forest, Beltur turned to Raelf and Rojak. “The first time, they brought just a squad this way. The second time, they brought a full company…” He went on to explain what lay ahead and how he and Jessyla had thought a small groups of archers might inflict serious damage, especially if supported by a company on the narrow road.

  Then the group rode west, and Beltur and Jessyla pointed out the foot trail up the hills and the narrowness between the hills and the forest.

  “I don’t know that I’d count on the Hydlenese to come this way,” said Rojak.

  “They might not,” agreed Beltur. “But they did twice before, and we thought you should know that.”

  Raelf just offered a noncommittal nod and said, “It’s good to see all the possible approaches. That way, when scouts tell us where they’re headed, we’ll be at least somewhat familiar with the possibilities.”

  After the forest ended on the north side of the road, Beltur pointed out the uneven rocky grassland and said, “That extends north for nearly three kays, and the narrow lane you’ll see ahead on your right winds through it and eventually joins a lane that leads to the main square of Haven. That’s also marked on the map. The Hydlenese have never gone that way, possibly because it’s narrow, uneven, and some of the turns are sharp.”

  Beltur then led them to the deserted encampment the Hydlenese had used for their raid on Samwyth’s stead, then along the better road to the second stead where the Hydlenese had established themselves. It was also deserted. Beltur did note that the entire barn where he’d set the fire had burned to ashes.

  From there, they proceeded to the Hydolar road and to the low hills on the eastern side before it joined the road that led west to Certis and east back to Haven.

  “We could conceal troopers on the back sides of those hills,” Beltur pointed out.

  “The western side isn’t much steeper than the east side,” observed Captain Deminaar.

  “We could charge at one side and be on the road,” replied Naajuk.

  “If they followed, we could attack their flank from that rise ahead,” added Reynaard.

  “We’ll keep that in mind, Captains,” said Raelf.

  Rojak said nothing.

  By the time the group reached the east-west road, it was past second glass, and Beltur had drunk all the ale in the first of his water bottles. He reined up and pointed west. “A little more than a kay west of here, there’s a narrow road that leads to a hamlet. Several days before the battalion attacked, a squad of Hydlenese attacked the hamlet. We scattered the squad and killed several of them before they did too much damage.” He didn’t mention that some in the hamlet hadn’t been all that pleased. “That road might link to the Weevett road, but we didn’t have a chance to follow it.”

  “Didn’t have a chance or didn’t choose to?” asked Rojak.

  “There are three of us who can do that,” replied Beltur. “We’re training several patrollers, but we’ve been stretched rather thin.”

  “I’ve also been required to do quite a bit more healing,” added Jessyla.

  Rojak didn’t quite snort.

  “We were brought here to be councilors,” said Beltur mildly, “not war mages. Councilors do have to deal with other duties.” Such as putting the town back together and protecting the people from overbearing bravos and greedy traders.

  “War mages are all that Massyngal will heed,” replied Rojak.

  “The mages are certainly aware of that,” interjected Raelf. “They’ve acquitted themselves well in that regard. I’m also quite certain Duke Massyngal and his commander will heed what we and our troopers do.” He turned to Beltur and Jessyla. “Is there anything else we should see?”

  “Just what we’ll see on the return to Haven.”

  Raelf nodded, then urged his mount eastward toward Haven.

  On the way, Beltur pointed out the hill overlooking the junction between the Weevett road and the east-west road as well as where he, Jessyla, and Lhadoraak had engaged the Hydlenese battalion.

  When Beltur and Jessyla reined up outside the East Inn, it was nearly fourth glass, and Beltur was sweating profusely. Obviously, the officers were more accustomed to the damp heat, because they didn’t look nearly as wilted as Beltur felt.

  Rojak rode straight to the stables, but Raelf reined up beside the two mages.

  “That was extremely helpful,” said the majer. “Your experience with a reconnaissance company shows.”

  “Rojak didn’t seem very pleased,” observed Jessyla.

  “His captains were,” replied Raelf. “That’s important, because they’re the ones leading their troopers.”

  “Has Rojak ever been in a real battle?” asked Jessyla.

  Raelf laughed, then said, “Very few of us have. I have, when I was a junior undercaptain. Naajuk might as well as have been. Reynaard fought Sligan marauders, as did Knutwyl. I don’t know about Deminaar. Most likely, your consort has more time in fighting than anyone. You, just by fighting against that battalion, have endured more intense fighting than most of our forces. Fortunately, the Hydlenese have only a few companies with any fighting experience at all. From what Lord Korsaen has been able to discover, in the f
ew times they’ve fought, they’ve often just outnumbered those they fought and taken tremendous losses. Then they hired more blade fodder. That might be why your strategy of removing officers and squad leaders was so effective.”

  “They’ll definitely have many more troopers than we will,” said Beltur, “and that will make it much harder.”

  “Not necessarily. There are a number of approaches to Haven. All of them have points where the number of riders that can pass is limited. If the Hydlenese mass their troopers, they can’t advance quickly. We can use archers to shoot into the middle of their men. If they split their forces, then it will be easier to target individual officers. There’s also one other fact. I doubt they know that’s what you did.”

  Jessyla frowned. “How could they not know? Not many officers survived. Maybe not any.”

  “Exactly,” replied Raelf. “How could they tell? Few if any officers survived to report that. Almost eight out of ten men died. With casualties that high…” A sterner expression appeared on his face. “We’re still facing a considerable challenge. I will say, since we’re alone, the last thing we need is any sacrifices by any of you. In short, stay alive. Make them sacrifice themselves. They aren’t going to attack full-out immediately. We need to be ready for that, in case they’re that stupid, but they’ll likely have orders to destroy us and Haven, and to do that takes more than a blind rush.” He shrugged and smiled ruefully. “I could be wrong. Very wrong. We’ll have to see.”

  “Tomorrow morning, then?” asked Beltur.

  “Every morning at sixth glass, starting tomorrow. While I think it will be several more days before their advance units appear, we can’t count on that. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to talk to Majer Rojak.”

  After Raelf turned his mount toward the stables, Jessyla looked to Beltur. “We’ll need to tell all of this to Lhadoraak and Tulya at dinner.”

  Beltur nodded, then gestured in the general direction of their house. “I could use a cooler ale.”