Parno's Company (The Black Sheep of Soulan Book 1)

by N. C. Reed

  “We have stockpiled sufficient supplies and equipment for a protracted campaign against Soulan, though we do not expect the campaign to last so long, we have preferred to err on the side of caution. Our planners have worked for weeks, some for many months, to try and anticipate every problem we might encounter and devise a solution for that problem.”

  “In addition, we have excellent intelligence from the south. We know where their army units are stationed, their make-up, and their combat readiness. Their readiness,” he grinned, “I am happy to report is at an all-time low.”

  “As it should be,” the Emperor smiled. “Minister Steadon, what have you to report?” Chance Steadon was the Foreign Minister of the Norland Empire. The tall, graying statesman was the primary architect for the ‘outreach’ program currently in place in Soulan.

  “The Soulan King has been most receptive of our ‘negotiations’,” he reported with a reptilian smile. “We have convinced him and his heir that we no longer desire armed confrontation between our peoples. That what we desire instead is trade and good relations.” He leaned forward, still smiling, “Their desire for peace has made them blind to anything else.”

  “Good,” Bane nodded. “Have we any problems that need to be discussed?” This was a standard part of his meetings. His father had rarely consulted his advisers during his near ruinous rule. Bane had no intention of repeating that mistake.

  “I am not convinced that we will be ready so soon after the spring rains,” Lieutenant General Gerald Wilson spoke carefully. “Our timetable is very difficult to coordinate, Emperor. If we face an Ohi River still in flood, then our frontal attack may have to be delayed. If that is the case, other attacks will take place before ours and the element of surprise will be lost. Without that element of surprise, our casualties crossing the Ohi are sure to be heavy. So heavy,” he added grimly, “that we could be unable to fulfill the rest of our mission.”

  Bane considered that. Wilson commanded the Norland 1st Field Army. His task was to force a crossing over the Ohi River bridges at Loville, securing those bridges to maintain a line of communications and supply during the war. With the bridges in hand, his Army was then to spearhead the campaign, striking deep into the heartland of Soulan, his ultimate goal to engage and destroy the Soulan Army.

  Wilson was not a timid man. He was not afraid to fight, else he would not be here. Bane had made certain of the men who commanded his armies himself. He would not allow bumbling idiots to sabotage his efforts to regain his rightful place.

  “Do you have a solution for that issue, General?” Bane asked. Wilson shook his head.

  “No, sir, I do not. There are only two options, and neither is workable. One, delay the campaign by two weeks’ time, ensuring that the floods from the rains have subsided. This is unacceptable because it takes two weeks off our campaign time.”

  “The other is improved communications with the Western Army. I know of no way to do that. We already have courier outposts and the best riders, with the best horses, along the route. As I said, neither is workable.” He leaned back slightly.

  “All that I can do is my best to make sure that we don’t have any difficulties and keep my force from being so depleted that it cannot complete its objectives. This I will do, to the best of my abilities. I simply wanted you to know my concerns. And,” he admitted, “I hoped that you might see something I have overlooked.” This last wasn’t a sop to his pride, Bane knew. Wilson meant what he’d said.

  Again, Bane paused to consider the problems. Down the table, he heard a throat being cleared. He gazed down to see Admiral Frederic Porter looking at him.

  “You have a suggestion, Admiral?” he asked.

  “I do, Your Lordship,” Porter nodded, then looked at Wilson.

  “I can supply you with boats and skilled sailors that will allow you to place a goodly portion of your men on the south bank of the Ohi, both above and below the Soulan fortifications.” He said it quietly, simply. Wilson’s eyebrows rose at that.

  “In what number?” he inquired, leaning forward again, hopeful.

  “I would have to consult with my subordinates for exact figures,” Porter admitted, “but I think, in the time we have, I could have at least three thousand boats, and the ten thousand or so sailors needed to operate them, in place before you are due to attack.”

  That announcement caused a small stir around the table, but Bane squelched it with an upraised hand.

  “Would that help, General?” Bane asked. Wilson nodded eagerly.

  “It would, My Lord,” he said at once. “We had considered boats before, but too few of my men are able enough to do the work. We risked losing more men to drowning than to enemy action. With the Admiral’s experienced sailors manning the boats, the idea is almost sure to succeed.”

  “Your men may have to row them,” Porter warned. “Three or four of my men per boat is enough to return it to the north bank, but not to carry twenty men across, against the current.”

  “That is not a problem,” Wilson assured him. “If you can provide the skilled assistance, I can supply the manual labor.” Porter nodded in reply, then looked to the Emperor. Bane was pleased. Two of his hand-picked men had discussed, and solved, a problem without his help or intervention. Something his father had never learned could happen. All that remained was for him to approve.

  “Very well, then,” Bane smiled. “That problem is solved. I will leave it to the two of you to work out the details. Do not disappoint me,” he warned. The two nodded their agreement. Disappointing the Emperor was more than just a bad career move. It was usually fatal, both for the disappointing officer, and for his family.

  “General Brasher, do you foresee any difficulty in your mission?” Bane asked. Brasher commanded the smaller 3rd Field Army, consisting mainly of cavalry and mounted infantry, a fast moving force.

  “No, My Lord, I do not,” the cocky general replied. “My men are ready. We will be triumphant.”

  Bane looked at Brasher for a full minute, searching for any sign of doubt, or weakness. He saw none. True, the man had an ego the size of the palace. But he was capable and he was ruthless. To him had fallen the most important strike in Bane’s plan to win a fast and furious war. If he failed, then the war would become one of attrition. One the Nor should still win, Bane granted, but one that was sure to be longer and more costly.

  This was something he could ill afford. His people were hungry, and disgruntled. While that, in and of itself, didn’t concern him, the persistent rumors of possible rebellion did. Once his army was committed to battle, Bane would have few resources to call on in the event of an actual uprising. He needed to win the war as quickly as possible.

  With a victory to brag about, and the resources of the South to shower his people with, such talk would die down and the suspected plotting would wither, and die. With his people united, he could easily turn the war machine that had conquered the South against the Coastal Provinces. Once the eastern half of the ancient Empire were under his rule, then would come the drive to subdue the west.

  I’m getting ahead of myself, he thought angrily. Something that my father often did. He looked again at his assembled advisers.

  “Is there anything else?” he asked. No one had anything else.

  “Then let’s get back to work,” he ordered, rising. Everyone rose as he did and remained standing until he left the room.

  It’s going to work, Bane told himself as he strode down the hall to his private offices.

  We are going to succeed!

  CHAPTER TEN

  Parno arrived at Cumberland House just before lunch. He had received word from Edema that she and Edward were due to depart in two days’ time, and could they expect to see him before they departed.

  Accustomed by now to traveling with the Prince, Berry and his men headed toward the corral with little pause, leading Parno’s own steed along with them. They would remain ‘from underfoot’, as Berry called it, taking mess in the bunkhouse that was now
, for all intents and purposes, theirs.

  Parno strode calmly up to the porch where Edema stood waiting. She hugged him tightly, placing a slight kiss upon his cheek.

  “Welcome, dear boy,” she told him, smiling. “I didn’t know if you would make it or not.”

  “I could hardly allow you two to depart without saying farewell,” Parno smiled in return. “Where is the Duke?”

  “He’s down with the train,” Edema frowned. “I asked him to be back here for lunch, so hopefully we’ll see him then. He cannot trust preparations to others, of course,” she grumped. Parno laughed.

  “I well understand that feeling,” he assured her. They entered the house, walking to the study, where Edema had hot cocoa waiting for him. Parno smiled at the smell. He had always loved the stuff.

  “So, you plan to leave day after tomorrow, is that right?” Parno asked after first taking a wonderful, warming sip of the delicious drink.

  “That is the plan,” she nodded. “I have never before gone with him, in this type of weather, nor even at this time of year. He was surprised when I asked to go,” she added.

  “Pleasantly, I hope?” Parno asked, as neutrally as possible.

  “Oh, yes,” Edema nodded. “Seemed very pleased with the arrangement for some reason.” Parno nodded.

  “It could be that he is glad of your company,” he ventured.

  “It could,” she smiled beautifully and Parno wondered, idly, if Edward Willows had any idea how lucky he was.

  “Regardless, I am going,” she continued. “I’ve already prepared. My bags are already packed into our carriage for the most part.”

  “I really do appreciate this, you know,” Parno said softly. She smiled at him again.

  “I know,” she nodded. “And, in truth, I’m happy to do it. The more I think on it, the less I like how things are going. If I can help in some way, then I want to.”

  Just then, Edward Willows came bounding into the study.

  “My Lord!” he exclaimed, taking Parno’s offered hand. “So glad you could come and see us off! How was the ride over?”

  “Very enjoyable,” Parno assured him. “Beautiful country here, Duke. I can see why you love it so.”

  “It is a great place,” Edward agreed. “Edema, my dear, I am here, as ordered, for lunch.” Edema laughed lightly at that.

  “Ordered, is it?” she scowled playfully. “As if you would take orders from me. Very well, then,” she rose gracefully. “Lunch should already be prepared. Shall we?”

  *****

  “I tell you, milord,” Edward Willows struggled to say around a piece of fried chicken, “the trade agreements between us and the Nor are one of the smartest moves your Father, the King, has ever made. Merchants such as I are making good money on trade good at the moment and the taxes will go a long way toward filling the King’s coffers as well,” he added with a conspiratorial wink. Parno smiled.

  “He and Memmnon have been working very hard with the Norland ambassador,” he agreed. “I’m glad that these arrangements are good for you, and others. I know that many of our ranchers are selling great numbers of cattle to the Nor as well, and at good prices.”

  “I’ve seen some of them on the trail,” Edward agreed. “Huge herds of the lumbering beasts. Terrible smell, though, if you happen to get caught behind one for any length of time.”

  “So I’m told,” he laughed, looking to Edema, whose nose crinkled.

  “Well, it is,” she agreed. “Not that I mind someone making a good living, mind you,” she smiled at Edward. “But I do wish there were trails set aside specifically for the cattle drives. It would make our own travels so much. . .sweeter, shall we say.” Both men laughed at that.

  “Well, that’s one problem we shan’t face on this trip,” Edward assured her. “The drives are pretty much done with winter coming. And our own trip will be a quick one, of course. Five weeks, perhaps six, but no more, and much of that spent simply getting to the border crossings in Loville.” He looked at Parno.

  “That is one drawback of being so far into the countryside, milord,” he informed the younger man. “True, we could follow the trade route, but that would take us days to the west, before turning north. Despite the difficulty of following the smaller routes to Loville, we actually make a faster trip this way.”

  “How are the roads in Norland, Duke?” Parno asked, suddenly curious.

  “Oh, they aren’t bad, really,” Edward waved a hand. “Not up to the trade routes that your Father maintains for us, here, to be sure. Nor even, in all honesty, equal to most of our secondary routes. But the winters there can be harsher than ours and I’m told that takes its own toll on roadways.”

  “The roads are at least well designed,” he went on, “and their intersections are well planned with alternate routes around most towns for use by large parties such as ours. If we don’t intend to stop in a town, we can use their by-pass roads to go around and avoid the inevitable snarls of carrying large numbers of wagons and men into a small area. That, I admit, is good engineering.”

  “Perhaps you should mention this to my Father,” Parno suggested. “It sounds like something that would be a long ended project, but ultimately worthwhile.” Edward looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

  “Why, I hadn’t thought of that, Milord, but it’s an excellent suggestion! I will do just that when we return! Edema, dear, remind me to have some sketches made of the routes we take, as well.” Parno suppressed a smile, having just given Edema an excellent cover for doing his bidding on the trip.

  “I shall do that, Edward,” she nodded, winking at Parno. The Prince raised his glass to her and then his host before hiding his smile behind it.

  Well, that went well.

  *****

  “Please be careful, Lord and Lady,” Parno said formally as he prepared to leave. “I have grown very fond of visiting here. Return quickly.”

  “Oh, it’s a short trip,” Edward assured him. “And safe, as well. We have guards, and the Nor patrol the trade routes heavily. Very little banditry along them.”

  “Then enjoy the trip,” Parno smiled. “I will see you again when you return.” With that he headed down the steps. Edward watched him go, then turned to Edema.

  “Quite a charmer, isn’t he?” he said, his voice conversational.

  “He can be,” she smiled, not looking at Edward at the moment. “I have to find him a wife, Edward,” she turned to look at him then, only to find him looking at her.

  “Oh?” he asked. “And why is that?”

  “Why, because he needs one!” Edema replied at once. “He’s a man grown, and no one to care for him. He needs a wife to look after him.”

  “It seems to me that you’re looking after him quite well, dear.”

  “What do you mean by that?” she spluttered.

  “Just that you seem to have taken a great interest in our wayward Prince,” Edward shrugged. “You dote upon him as would his mother. Which, considering how hard it’s been for him without her, is a good thing, and now you want him married. He can take care of himself, I imagine.”

  “Well,” Edema almost huffed, looking back at the departing Parno. “He has had it terribly hard in many ways, and I admit, it’s good for me, as close as I was to his mother, to care for him any way I can. It’s like I’m doing one last thing for Margolynn and I like it.”

  “Then by all means, find him a wife,” Edward smiled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “I must get back. Still a lot to do before we can leave and I am glad you decided to come along. The trip is always better when you’re present.” With that, Edward headed down to the walk to his waiting horse.

  Edema watched him go, then returned to the house. She had preparations of her own to make.

  *****

  Unaware that his matrimonial status was deemed ‘ready to change’, Parno rode back toward Cove Canton in silence, his mind working over various things. Chief among them the Nor.

  He was sure, after speaking to Edem
a and the Tinker, that the Nor were using their diplomatic exchanges to hide a military build-up. That in and of itself was a cause for concern, but it wasn’t proof that they were contemplating an attack upon Soulan.

  On the other hand, why else would they build up their army? It could be that they were thinking of invading the Coastal provinces. More of a coalition that a true nation or kingdom, the United Coastal Provinces banded together for military aid, and little else. Outside defensive matters, each Province ruled itself, had its own leadership.

  Soulan had always had a good relationship with the ‘Coasties’. For over five hundred years Soulan had also been a member of their mutual aid treaties as well. Should the Nor, or anyone else, attack the UCP, then Soulan would march to their aid.