The Desolate Empire Series: Books 1-3

by Christina Ochs

  “I’m sure you have done well with them.” Gwynneth was feeling charitable at the moment. “But they are a force of at least seven thousand and you cannot field over three. That needn’t be a disadvantage if we make the most of the terrain and our knowledge of the country.”

  She unrolled a map laying at her elbow. “They will come through the Garsten Gap, right here.” She pointed, and the duke leaned forward, clearly interested against his will. “You could post musketeers all along here to pick them off as they come through. At its narrowest, they’ll be able to ride no more than two abreast. It will be key to surprise them, but I’m sure you can manage that.”

  “But if we hold them off there, they will go south,” the duke said, now engrossed. “At some point, they will meet with Teodora’s army if she comes up through Oltena.”

  “Yes, they will. But it will give us a reprieve here, and if Kendryk is quick enough, he will meet Teodora before the hussars can join her. That will give him a much better chance.”

  Evard suddenly seemed to remember the situation. “That’s all well for you, but I don’t see how it benefits me.”

  “Simple. Balduin remains alive and well.”

  “How can I be sure you haven’t already killed him or he isn’t dying of a fever?”

  “Let’s pay him a short visit so you can see for yourself. I told him to expect you.” The eager, hopeful look that flashed across the duke’s dour features was almost touching. Gwynneth had been right in assuming Balduin was his softest spot.

  Leading the way, she allowed the duke to master himself on the way down, if he needed to. Guards flanked her and there were more when they reached the dungeon.

  It was a short interview.

  “Are you well?” the duke asked.

  Balduin’s expression was pitiful. “Father,” he gasped.

  Gwynneth hardened her heart.

  “Tell me how you are,” Evard demanded, his angry mask back in place.

  “I’m well enough,” Balduin said. “When can you get me out of here?”

  “Remember what we spoke of,” Gwynneth warned.

  “All in good time,” the duke said, calmer now. She was sure he was already devoting his thoughts to the coming campaign, now he knew his son was safe. “When all of this is over, I’m sure we’ll be able to come to an accommodation. Don’t you agree, Princess?”

  “Absolutely,” Gwynneth said. “I have no wish to keep you here any longer than is necessary. Now, Uncle, if you’re satisfied that all is well, it’s time to go. There is much to be done.”

  The duke nodded at Balduin, then turned away. He would never show his feelings. No wonder Balduin was such an idiot.

  The duke was silent until they were back in the courtyard. “We will resolve this, Princess.” His old manner had returned full-bore. “Of that you can be sure.”

  “I am. In the meantime, you will be on your way east by dusk tomorrow. I’ll expect your best efforts.”

  “I always give my best effort,” the duke sniffed, before turning to the gate.

  Once everyone else had gone to bed, Gwynneth sat down at her desk, alone in the library. She had saved the most important task for last. A shudder went over her when she pictured Kendryk at the head of an army facing one even greater. He would not stay back since he would never ask his soldiers to do what he was unwilling to. She pushed the thoughts of him dead and wounded out of her mind. She could not lessen the danger by worrying about it. Far better to distract the Sanova Hussars and get Arian Orland’s help.

  It was hard to begin the letter. Since he thought her well away in Norovaea, she started with why she had come back. She gave no names of those who had helped her, only saying they had done it out of loyalty to him and to Landrus.

  “I could not risk your uncle taking matters into his own hands. I have taken measures to assure the safety of Edric Maximus.” She detailed her plan to make Evard hold off the hussars, and Kendryk’s need to be speedy. “If you can meet Teodora before the hussars reach her, you will have a much better chance at success.” She didn’t mention her hope that Arian Orland would help. Then came the hard part.

  “You were very upset the last time we spoke, and I understand if you still are. But I do not know when we will next see each other and I cannot bear the idea of dreadful things happening to either one of us without some clarity. I beg your forgiveness, make no excuses for my behavior and understand if you find it unforgivable. I will love you no less and will always work tirelessly to help you in any way I can.

  “Do not fear for Birkenhof, the children or the maximus. I have made provision for siege and everyone here will be safe. Do not worry about us and think only about facing Teodora. No matter what happens, I love you more than anything. The children send their love and miss you terribly.”

  That was enough. She copied the message into the private cipher she and Kendryk used. Though she didn’t mean to be melodramatic by covering her writing with tears, a few dropped at the bottom anyway, smearing her signature. She sealed it, then sent a sleepy servant to take it to the messenger who would ride out at dawn. Now all she could do was wait.

  Braeden

  The Sanova Hussars were deep into Terragand now. They had crossed the border with little trouble. There had been a challenge from a castle near the main road, but the small force had fled when they saw the thousands of hussars bearing down upon them. At this rate, they would be upon Birkenhof by the next evening. Unfortunately, the terrain wasn’t so agreeable.

  Novitny sent for Braeden as they approached a range of low, but steep hills. “There’s a road through that gap.” He pointed straight ahead. “It’s just a few leagues to the other side, but it’s a good spot for an ambush.”

  “If anyone’s there,” Braeden said. “Isn’t Prince Kendryk further west? Aside from the few at the border, it seems everyone is with him.”

  “Until now. But we’re nearing his home. I doubt he’d take any chances, and that’s the perfect place for a small force to trap a larger one. It would take less than a regiment of musket to cause us all kinds of trouble.”

  “A few of us can take a look.” Braeden didn’t mind a bit of scouting. “If we run into trouble, we’ll come back. If we get through all right, we’ll send a message back and make sure no one comes in from the other side. How many should I take?”

  “A few hundred. Enough to make it look like we’re all coming in. I want you in full armor with all weapons loaded. You might well have a fight on your hands.”

  Braeden rode back to where Gergo led the horse carrying his armor and extra weapons. “Gather up five banners,” he told Miro. “We ride into that gap in an hour.”

  Janna was nearby and came to help Gergo get everything down from the packhorse.

  “Will it be very dangerous?” she asked, frowning. “That forest looks so deep and dark.” Even though many of the leaves were falling, the evergreens grew close together here, forming a wall broken only by the road leading into it.

  “Might be,” Braeden said, while she helped him get his mail shirt over his head. She was much stronger than she had been just a month before. “That’s why a few of us are going ahead while the rest of you wait here. We’ll find out what’s what and report back.”

  “Why do you have to be the one to go?” Janna looked worried.

  “I’m always the one to go.” He’d never thought of that before but it was true.

  “That doesn’t seem fair. Everyone should bear equal risk, don’t you think?”

  “That’s not how it works,” he said, while Gergo buckled on his cuirass and Janna held the pauldrons ready for him. “Besides, for something like this, better I go, than someone with a family, eh?”

  “Yes, but …” She chewed on her lip, while he realized what he’d said.

  He grinned at her. “Seems things are different now, and I’m not used to it yet.”

  Her face brightened.

  “Still, I volunteered, and I’ll go. Don’t worry. It always turn
s out.”

  “I’ll pray to the Mother to protect you.” She helped with the pauldrons while Trisa loaded his pistols and made sure the powder in his horn was dry. He doubted he’d have time to reload, but it was best to be prepared.

  Before he mounted Kazmir, he took Janna’s small hand in his gauntleted one. “If all goes well, I’ll see you on the other side in a few hours. If not, I’ll be back soon.” He smiled and squeezed her hand until she smiled back.

  Weighed down as he was, he needed two men to boost him onto Kazmir. He grinned down at Janna one more time and kept smiling as he joined the rest of them on the road. He’d had women before, but none of them ever felt anything like a family. This was different, and he didn’t dislike it. Now he had to make sure he didn’t get picked off by a musket so he could enjoy the feeling for a while.

  He explained to the officers what they might expect once they got into the woods. “The road likely cuts through rock. There’ll be trees and brush on top of the rocks, a good hiding place for muskets. Keep your eyes and ears open and shoot at anything that moves. Visors up for now.” When they were down, it was hard to see and hear, and peripheral vision was nonexistent.

  Braeden took his place at the head of the column. Franca and Miro flanked him. They never failed to volunteer for expeditions like these. They squabbled as usual, but Braeden shushed them as they entered the woods. “No point in letting them know how far away we are,” though he suspected anyone inside would know already.

  The populace so far had been docile, but he was sure they had been watching the hussars all along the road. A surprise attack on Birkenhof was unlikely though it could still be a success.

  The woods muffled all sound as they entered. A cool breeze had been blowing, but it was still amongst the trees. The horse’s hooves clomped on the hard-packed dirt of the road and there was an occasional clank of armor, but the deep quiet swallowed up even those sounds. The trees were tall and wide, probably hundreds of years old.

  Braeden was alert, and once they entered a defile between limestone cliffs twenty feet high, he slowed down and pulled out both pistols, pulling the firing mechanism back. Others did the same.

  He had strung his troop out so they would not all be in one place, but if there was to be an ambush, it would be after most of them had entered the gap. He was right. The report of a musket rang out and there was a loud ping as the ball bounced off someone’s armor.

  “Fire only if you see them,” Braeden shouted, though he didn’t know if anyone heard. A dozen reports followed the first and somewhere behind him a horse went down. He glimpsed movement above him in the trees and fired without aiming. Either he or someone else got lucky because a body crashed through the brush and thudded onto the road in front of him.

  Braeden glanced at it. The light armor of the musketeer covered the blue and silver colors of Bernotas. Thank Ercos for Novitny’s good instincts.

  Considering the tremendous disadvantage of the hussar’s position, they were faring well. But Braeden wasn’t taking any chances. Bernotas had thousands of muskets and they might all be in the trees above and ahead. “Fall back,” he shouted, reloading as Kazmir turned. The horse understood orders better than most humans.

  The hussars peeled away, two at a time to follow him, firing as they went. He was glad that most were still upright. Even the horse that had gone down was standing again. Perhaps it had stumbled in the confusion.

  Word had been passed to the back, so by the time Braeden reached the second rank, at least half his force was back out of the limestone gap. He caught flashes of blue in the trees, but they didn’t follow the hussars out of the woods.

  As soon as they were clear, Braeden stopped by the side of the road and counted the rest as they passed. Everyone was accounted for. One young ensign had a bloody leg, and two horses had minor wounds, but for all the bullets and smoke, they had done well. And now they knew what lay ahead.

  Braeden cantered back through the ranks to reach Novitny.

  “Just as I thought,” the prince said. “Any idea how many?”

  “Several hundred at least. We didn’t get far into the gap, so if they’re ranged all along it, there might be a lot more.”

  “Bernotas?”

  “Without a doubt. Don’t know about the prince himself, but they all wore his colors. We got a few and saw them through the trees.”

  “Regulars then, interesting. The boy may be in a hard spot, but we shouldn’t underestimate him. Let’s go sit down and decide what’s next.”

  Novitny spread out a map across a hastily erected table. “We could fight our way through, I’m sure, but it would cost us time, and at least a few troopers and horses. It’s not worth it. Rather than go through the gap, we can go around. It will take an extra day or two, but from there we’ll still be only a day’s march from Birkenhof.”

  “We’ll lose the element of surprise,” Reno said.

  “We’ve lost it already,” Novitny replied. “If we head south and take this road,” he pointed at one that looped around the mountain range they faced, “We might meet our baggage train before the end of the day.”

  That seemed agreeable since everyone had tired of sleeping on the ground and eating terrible rations. And tired of the lack of privacy, Braeden noted to himself.

  “We might also meet the empress,” Novitny said. “She, Ensden and Barela are making good time and have reached southern Terragand. It seems they met no resistance to the south.”

  “Not even from Princess Sebesta?” Everyone assumed Prince Kendryk’s aunt would do what she could to slow the empress.

  “At least nothing that couldn’t be dealt with quickly. All in agreement?”

  All were. They stood up and prepared to go.

  Braeden found Janna and Gergo rubbing down Kazmir.

  Janna gave a small cry when she saw him and dropped the brush. “You’re hurt,” she said, and ran to him.

  “No, I’m not.” He held onto her all the same.

  “There’s blood all over your face.” She wiped her hand against his face. It came away red.

  “Well, I’ll be. Must have been a rock or a bit of metal. No harm done.”

  “You’re all right then?” She made no move to pull away.

  “Of course I’m all right. Nothing to worry about at all.”

  She collapsed against his cuirass for a moment and when she pulled back she said, “The noise was dreadful in there and it went on for ages. I was sure that all of you were dead though no one else was too worried.”

  “It’s always a noisy business. Now help me out of this armor will you? We’re heading south. With any luck, we’ll eat real food tonight and maybe even sleep in a real tent.”

  “I’d like that,” she said, smiling.

  Kendryk

  “It’s impossible.” Kendryk jumped up and nearly overturned the little table functioning as a field desk. He kept reading, feeling more incredulous as he continued. “Send for Count Faris,” he said without looking up, and the adjutant disappeared.

  Faris was there in minutes. “What’s happened Your Grace?” his face was weary and concerned. “More bad news?”

  “I’m not sure.” Kendryk sat back down and read the pertinent parts to Faris, who smiled when he had finished.

  “Your wife is an extraordinary woman, you must admit.” He chuckled. “Though the news of the Sanova Hussars is worrying, she has done you a good turn.”

  “By kidnapping my cousin?” He had no affection for Balduin, but didn’t like the idea of anyone in his family in the castle dungeon.

  Faris shrugged. “In doing so she has ensured your uncle’s cooperation, however reluctant. It’s without question better than the alternative.”

  “I suppose so.” Kendryk put down the letter. “I’m glad she’s taking measures to keep herself and the children safe. It’s unbearable to imagine what might have happened had the Sanovans come upon them unawares and unguarded.” A cold chill crept over his spine. “She also says tha
t Edric Maximus will join them in the castle, should the need arise.”

  “That’s interesting,” Faris said, implying that Gwynneth had no reason to be helpful to Landrus, and he had none to be cooperative. “And not a bad thing. It’s imperative he not fall into imperial hands.”

  “I agree. But now what do we do? This is completely unexpected.”

  “Will your uncle be able to withstand the hussars?”

  “I doubt it. Even if he tries, he’s outnumbered and his troops aren’t trained to deal with a force of that quality.”

  “Will he surrender without putting up a fight and risk losing his son?”

  “Probably not. Gwynneth says he has real feeling toward Balduin and won’t risk harm coming to him. According to her, he thinks her capable of any monstrosity.”

  “Is she?”

  “No,” Kendryk said without hesitation. “She would never kill a hostage. I’m sure of it. But it doesn’t hurt if my uncle believes she will. But the fact remains that even if he does his best, he won’t be able to do more than delay the hussars.”

  “That might be enough.”

  “Enough for what?”

  “For us to get back in time. The hussars are still a few days away. We are only three days march from Birkenhof. We can get there and hold off the hussars before Teodora arrives.”

  “She’ll be there soon. We’ve been much too slow.” He’d had little hope that his aunt could slow Teodora’s progress, but Princess Gallena had surrendered even faster than expected after Ensden’s troops overran one of her towns and slaughtered all of its inhabitants.

  “We have to find the best advantage we can. Much can happen in a few days.”

  “Yes, and the hussars might break through at the same time that Teodora reaches us.”

  “Do you think she can?”

  “If she leaves her baggage behind, which she may as well at this point. She can easily live off the land for a few days.”