The Desolate Empire Series: Books 1-3

by Christina Ochs

  “Sure,” the man said. “Usually best to have the little hot-heads out front. Give the enemy what-for.” He winked at Karil, who beamed, saluted and ran off to gather his unit.

  Braeden found his throat was dry, cleared it, and said to Rieser, “Make sure you leave off their armor, or cover it. It’s hard to see through the trees, but those little glints will give them away.” Especially now as the rain had stopped, and the sun peeked through. “And tell them to stay well away from the edges. If they can’t get a clear shot, let them pass. With as many muskets as we’ll have lined up, someone’s sure to get lucky. And we’ll be waiting inside for those of the enemy who make it through.”

  Captain Rieser nodded. “I’ll tell them. And you needn’t worry about Andarosz; he’s a smart lad.”

  “He’s also brave to the point of stupidity,” Braeden said, mostly to himself, then excused himself before he got emotional. He still had plenty to do without worrying about Karil yet again.

  Anton

  “What are you grinning about?” Susanna asked, as she and Anton strolled back to her tent after a supper around the campfire. The days grew longer now as they headed north, with songs and laughter when everyone came together after a long day’s march.

  “Nothing,” he said, tucking her hand under his elbow. He liked being on the move as they headed for the Terragand coast to take on one of King Lennart’s generals. Even though Anton was still unhappy about Skandar, the rest of his life was pretty good. Marching all day beat sitting around in camp or drilling, although he and Susanna had less opportunity to work the gambling parties. Or maybe they had less interest in spending their evenings dealing with drunken soldiers, when they could be getting to know each other better in Susanna’s cozy tent instead.

  Anton felt like an adult, living with a woman as though they were married. A lot of soldiers lived that way, though a fair number got married in time. Anton didn’t worry about it, because Susanna didn’t seem to mind, though his mother would have disapproved. She would have disapproved of Susanna in any case, with her low-cut gowns and saucy smile. But his mother wasn’t here now, and Anton had to make a life for himself. Besides, he was happy—happier than he’d been in a long time.

  He didn’t have to work too hard, or do things that made him feel bad later, like he sometimes had with the count. He had money too, though he and Susanna put their combined riches back with the quartermaster. Much as Anton hated the man, he seemed reliable. And best of all, he had Susanna. He’d tried to puzzle out if he loved her the way he’d loved Lora, and decided this was different. Lora had been mostly a dream, but Susanna was real.

  Inside the tent, Susanna tied off the flap, while Anton rummaged in her cart, parked in the corner. He pulled out a bottle, and poured some for both of them after sitting down at the little table.

  Susanna shook her head. “You drink too much.”

  “You’re one to talk.” Anton smirked after tossing down his, though he noticed she hadn’t touched hers.

  “I’m serious, Anton,” she said, looking at him across the table. “I worry about you. You’re too young to have that kind of problem.”

  Anton shrugged. “It’s not a problem. It’s not like it keeps me from doing my job, and I don’t spend all my money on it.”

  “I know. I just remember…” she trailed off, and Anton figured she was thinking about her husband, who really had drunk too much.

  “I’m not like him,” Anton said, wishing he had a way to make her forget about that idiot once and for all.

  “I never said you were. In fact, you’re better in every way.”

  Anton agreed, though he didn’t say so. “Well, I’ll never leave you for another woman and run off to another country.”

  “Don’t say never.” Susanna’s usually merry eyes were serious. “You’re still so young. You’ll probably fall in love ten more times before you’re my age.”

  Anton scoffed. “Who would I fall in love with? You’re the prettiest and the best girl I’ve seen in this whole camp.”

  “The world is a lot bigger than this camp.”

  “I know that. I’ve seen much of it.” He banged his cup down a little hard. He hated it when she reminded him how much younger he was.

  Susanna dropped her head to the table. Her shoulders shook.

  “Oh gods, Susanna.” Anton hurried to her, and put his arm around her as he knelt on the floor. “What’s wrong?”

  She raised her head slowly. Tears brimmed in her eyes, though they hadn’t yet spilled over. Susanna never cried.

  “What did I do?”

  She managed a smile. “Nothing. I’m just a little out of sorts. The closer we get to the coast and that Estenorian army, the more I worry about you. I’ve become very fond of you, even though we haven’t been together long.” She leaned into Anton, and he put both arms around her.

  “You needn’t worry,” he said. “I’m lucky. I mean, bad things have happened, but I always get away. Even when the count was killed.” He paused and swallowed, surprised at how much he still hated talking about that. “Even when the count was killed with me right there, I wasn’t even hurt. So I doubt anything will happen when I’m standing in the middle of a big block of pike. No one will get to me.”

  “That won’t keep me from worrying,” Susanna said, pulling away and wiping her eyes. “I’m not sure what’s come over me. I’ve never fussed over anyone like this.”

  “You probably haven’t ever liked anyone this much before,” Anton said, giving her his special smile.

  “Liked? I’m afraid it’s gone further than that.” She turned to face him. “I’m very sorry, but I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  “Why are you sorry?” Anton couldn’t stop smiling now. “That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

  “Only if you feel the same way.” Her eyes were more serious than he’d ever seen them.

  He smiled at her some more, until she smiled back, then said, “You’re as lucky as I am, Madame. It turns out I do feel the same way.”

  Elektra

  Even though it was nice to not be stuck in the temple school anymore, Elektra still looked forward to a visit. She had a few old friends there, and wanted to see her sister and brother. Elektra had also learned Mother Luca was here, and couldn’t wait to be reunited with her. She would discuss Aksel Roussay’s deplorable spiritual state with her and with Livilla. They would know what to do.

  The moment Elektra stepped into the common room of her old dormitory—lessons were over for the day, and all the girls were studying at long tables—her best friend saw her, and ran to her with a squeal.

  “Elektra! I hardly recognized you,” Silia Raverna said, once they’d hugged and shed a few tears.

  “I hardly recognized you either,” Elektra said, looking down at Silia, who was as short as ever, though she had filled out in a way Elektra had yet to. “I suppose we’ve both grown up, and I worried you might not be here anymore.” Many girls left the temple school at seventeen, either to pursue an occupation or further study. A few of the sillier ones got married. Silia had always grumbled she’d be forced to work in her family’s banking house, even though she had no head for figures.

  “I was sent back,” Silia said, grimacing. She and Elektra took two chairs in the corner of the room, while other girls clustered around.

  “What happened?” Elektra asked. “I worried when you stopped writing.”

  Silia’s dark face flushed. “It’s too embarrassing. I went to work in our counting house with my older sister, and made a terrible mess of things. After two weeks, my parents decided I’d have to find another vocation, and sent me back here. I never heard the end of it from this lot.” She glared at the girls gathered around.

  Elektra was sure she didn’t mean it, because Silia was the most popular girl in the school, and everyone loved her. She knew her dormitory was pleased to have her back, though there had no doubt been some good-natured teasing. “So what will you do?” she asked her friend.
/>   “I don’t know,” Silia said. “Livilla said I should try serving in a temple, though that seems dreadfully boring.”

  “What about a military career?” Elektra asked. “I’m always looking for good officers.”

  “Do I look like a fighter?” Silia laughed. “I’m more likely to be stepped on than hurt anyone.”

  “No, I was thinking I need an assistant,” Elektra said. She was making this up on the spot, because she hadn’t expected Silia to be available. “Like a secretary. You’d have military rank and pay, but you wouldn’t be expected to fight.”

  “So you’re not staying here?”

  “I don’t plan to,” Elektra said. “My regiment has orders to report to Count Ensden in Terragand, and I intend to go with it.”

  All right then.” Silia was grinning widely. “I’ll come with you if you go. It would be marvelous to have an adventure together.”

  “I agree.” Elektra smiled back. “Though I hope the next one doesn’t involve kidnapping. I’ll send for you soon, and we’ll discuss everything. I’m sure Livilla won’t mind.”

  “Mind? She’ll be pleased to be rid of me for good.”

  Elektra smiled happily, then remembered another reason she’d come. “I must visit Mother Luca. I’ve missed her so much.”

  One girl gave her directions to Mother Luca’s private study, and Elektra found her looking over lessons with a little girl. When she saw Elektra, she said, “I’ll send for you later. Run along now, my dear.”

  Elektra smiled down at the girl, who stared up at her wide-eyed, before finally leaving and closing the door behind her, then turned to Luca.

  To her surprise, Luca started sobbing. “Oh my dear child,” she said, pulling Elektra into her arms. “I feared I’d never see you again. I’ve never forgiven myself for letting you out of my sight.”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” Elektra said. “You weren’t my guard. And I’m all right now. See?” She pulled back and smiled at the priestess.

  “Yes, thank Vica.” Luca wiped her eyes, then led Elektra to a chair. “You must tell me everything.”

  Though it had been nice to tell Aksel her story, telling it to Luca was even better, since she’d been the one Elektra wanted to unburden herself to in the first place.

  When she had told it all, Luca smiled gently. “I’m so glad Dava was there to help you. She is one of the most committed and knowledgeable in the League, and she offered you good advice.”

  “I still wished for you instead,” Elektra said. She looked around the cozy little room. It was a fine spring day, and the windows stood open to the temple gardens, a warm, fragrant breeze rustling the papers on the desk. “I plan to return to the field soon,” she said, “and was hoping you’d come with me. If you don’t want to, I understand; I’m so pleased Livilla found a place for you here, and I’m sure the students love you.”

  “I’ll come, if you wish it,” Luca said. “I enjoy my work here, but find a military camp rather exciting by comparison.”

  “Thank Vica,” Elektra said, surprised to find she’d been holding her breath. “Silia Raverna is coming as my personal secretary. This time, I want to have people I can count on close to me at all times. The world is such a treacherous place,” she said, her voice wobbling a little. “There are some very wicked people about.” She thought of Braeden, of General Mattila, and of her own mother.

  Now she was back at the school, she realized for the first time how much she missed it. She still didn’t want to come back as a student, but she’d forever look back on the simplicity of life here with a little yearning.

  “There are,” Luca said softly. “But you’re right—it’s important to have your friends around you. When do you plan to leave?”

  “I don’t know yet,” Elektra said, frowning. “My mother doesn’t want me to go, but I hope Livilla can help me work something out. I will go to her now.”

  Lennart

  Lennart was ready to leave Helvundala. Both Kalstrom and Isenberg were holding firm in northern Terragand, but Ensden was pressing them hard. He had absorbed the bulk of Mattila’s army, and now that he was organized, might split his forces, sending armies into at least three directions if he so chose.

  Lennart wanted to head back to the coast, then march around the mountains ,and along the shore to Kaltental. He was nearly ready to go, when a message came. “It’s from Prince Kendryk,” Lennart told General Lofbrok, looking up after reading the letter. They stood in the stable yard at Oberfeld while Lennart oversaw the preparations to move out. “He’s headed this way with a force of over five thousand, and has already relieved Birkenfels.”

  “That’s excellent news,” Lofbrok said. “But why is he coming here?”

  Lennart frowned. “He’d heard I was having trouble with Prince Stepan, and hoped he might help persuade him. He’s joined up with Trystan Martinek’s force, and they’ve added a few thousand more under the command of an Alona Brynner. She worked for Ensden until they beat her at Birkenfels, and she decided she’d rather help us.”

  “Extraordinary,” Lofbrok said. “I would never have guessed that Kendryk could pull together a force of that size so quickly.”

  “I’m impressed too.” Lennart grinned. “And what’s more, he has recent intelligence on Ensden’s movements. It seems he is throwing almost everything at Kaltental, since he’s expecting us to attack it. But he’s also sent a smaller force to the Garsten Gap, in case we try to get into Terragand that way.”

  Lofbrok frowned. “If we get through there with a smaller force, we can attack Ensden from the rear, while the bulk of our army marches on Kaltental.”

  “That’s a good plan. But here’s the best part: Kendryk’s force will hold the gap for us until we can get there.”

  “Any idea how long he’s been there?”

  Lennart looked at the letter. “Not long. He wrote this three days ago.”

  “If we go right away we can relieve him.”

  Lennart folded the letter and put it in his pocket. “I agree. But I still want you to take all of our troops directly to Kaltental if Ensden is pushing that way. I’ll take the Helvundala forces to meet Kendryk, and then we’ll come up from the south. Ensden has a large army, but maybe we can trap him between our two forces.”

  Lennart couldn’t stop smiling. He went straight to see Princess Rheda.

  “Change of plans,” he said, bursting in on her in the library.

  She looked up from the book she’d been reading. “Judging by the look on your face, I’m guessing it’s a good change.”

  “It is. I’ve had a letter from Kendryk.” He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to the princess, then paced the room while she read it.

  “Thank the gods,” she said, putting it down. “I was so worried when I’d heard he left Galladium. I understand why he needs to do this, but part of me wishes he’d stay somewhere safe until this is over. We can’t risk anything happening to him.”

  “I’ll take good care of him,” Lennart said, after she handed back the letter.

  “I’m sure you will. But this says he’s holding the Garsten Gap against Ensden. Isn’t that dangerous?”

  “Might be. But we can get there quickly.” He finally sat down, seeing he was annoying the princess with his pacing. “I’ll send Lofbrok to join the others near Kaltental, but I’ll take Baron Manier and your troops to meet with Kendryk. If we leave today, we should be able to reach him in two days.”

  Princess Rheda jumped to her feet. “Yes, please go quickly.” She paused, and wiped an eye. “You must think me rather soft to worry about Kendryk so.”

  “I know you’re not soft, Princess.” Lennart grinned at her.

  She sighed. “It’s just that Kendryk was always my favorite nephew. I can’t tell you how many times I wished he’d been my son instead of Stepan. When he was hurt and captured, I feared my heart would break. He was such a sweet, gentle soul, and I hated the thought of him at Teodora’s mercy. Now I worry he’s put himself in h
arm’s way again.”

  Lennart walked over to her and took both her hands in his. “I’ve never met Kendryk, but he seems very brave. Few stand up to Teodora, and live to tell about it. The gods made his escape possible, and have a plan for him. They’re watching over him even now.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Rheda pulled her hands away, then smiled. “Well, there’s no use standing around here worrying. Let’s do everything we can to get your force on its way today.”

  Gwynneth

  Gwynneth was no longer enjoying herself in Allaux. Natalya was implementing her reforms with a heavy hand, and though the people hadn’t revolted against the changes she forced in the temples, the popular mood was ugly. Gwynneth and the children never went out without a full complement of guards, and she worried that someone would recognize her as Natalya’s close friend, and take their anger out on her or one of the children.

  There were no more brilliant parties at Natalya’s palace, and even the king seldom entertained. Gwynneth worried about him the most. These days, she hated confronting Natalya—she had become so strange and serious—but the king had once again pleaded with her to intervene.

  “Gauvain says you no longer visit your daughter,” Gwynneth said as casually as she could manage. She sat with Natalya in her study one evening, the two of them writing letters together, just as they had when they were girls.

  Natalya looked away. “I doubt she misses me. She has three nurses, and Gauvain is forever hovering over her. It can’t be good for her.”

  “Of course it is.” Gwynneth struggled to keep her tone light. She was not terribly maternal, but couldn’t imagine spending no time at all with her children. “It’s good for children to see their parents often, and know they’re loved.”

  Natalya was silent for a long time, but Gwynneth held her tongue, not wanting to push her. Finally Natalya said, “I do love Joslyn.”