“As you can see,” Green was saying, “even members of the Triple S have come to agree that their own council, which has raised them, clothed them, fed them and trained them, have grievously abused our trust in them.”
I realised that all of the Sources and Shields were standing in the wagons.
“Please don’t think ill of them for their choices,” Green continued. “It was an extremely difficult decision for them to make. That is normal and understandable. But they simply feel there is no other option they could honourably take, given the horrific treason committed by their own people. They are to be commended.”
People stared at us. They applauded.
It was horrible. I hated knowing people believed I was betraying the Triple S.
“They have sacrificed everything to act in the name of good,” Green claimed. “The rest of us can do no less. Given our great need, we ask you all to give what you can, to aid us in our great adventure.”
Great adventure. If I weren’t still standing, I would have rolled my eyes.
“Members of the Guard will be visiting your homes, your shops, and your farms to collect essential supplies.”
Hadn’t the residents already made their contribution to this mess by paying taxes? A lot of taxes? And the caravan included dozens of wagons filled with food and materials. Why did Gifford need more?
Green wasn’t finished. “All families with able-bodied members between the ages of fifteen and forty are to have at least one person report to Captain Linette Presta for duty by sundown three days from now.”
The applause came to an abrupt halt.
Green pretended not to notice. “We appreciate your full cooperation. You may go.”
Trying to compel people to do something by thanking them in advance was one of the many underhanded character traits that irked me.
That night, Taro and I slept in a moderately priced inn with two of Guards standing in the hall at our door. We were told only the Pairs, the casters, Gifford and Green, and the small collection of Imperial Guards of sufficient rank had been so accommodated. Everyone else had to get through the night of harsh cold rain in tiny tents that were easily blown apart.
We lingered in Patlach for four days. The numbers of soldiers swelled, but it looked to me like most of them didn’t have the uniforms of the Imperial Guards, or any kind of protective gear at all. Or weapons.
Early on the final morning, we were all piled into our wagons and everyone else was organized into units I didn’t understand. Under a bright sun, the Emperor’s forces resumed the long march to Shidonee’s Gap.
No one talked to us much, so it was three more days before I learned that everyone in Patlach had been stripped of nearly everything they owned.
Chapter Twenty-One
“All right, everyone,” barked an Imperial Guard. “Out and put your backs to it.”
The eight of us climbed out of the wagon. The wheels had sunk so deeply into the mud that the wagon couldn’t move. It took longer than it should have to free it, with the eight of us and our two Guards pushing, but we were all frozen and tired and miserable, our boots sliding in the mud. This wasn’t the first time that day we’d had to do this, and it probably wouldn’t be our last.
For two weeks, we had travelled from city to village to tiny settlements with under a hundred residents. At every location, Green gave her little speech, and the locals had almost everything but their furniture and their clothing taken from them.
Was this how leaders created loyal followers?
I was eating food stripped from people who had had no choice about giving it, who hadn’t, as far as I knew, been paid for it.
The day to day ravaging came to a halt when we hit the Dark Marshes, a huge swamp no one could live off of. A small group of people could usually traverse it quickly enough to avoid difficulty. For thousands with wagons, it was a nightmare, but driving around it would, apparently, add weeks to our journey.
It started raining pretty much the moment we started our slog, of course.
People got sick. Many developed blisters on their feet in reaction to their soaked boots rubbing against their skin. Horses ended up with broken legs and had to be put down.
I could have changed the weather. Possibly. There was a cast for that, and I could perform it sometimes. I wasn’t about to make the attempt. For thing, I could make things worse. For another, I wasn’t going to do anything to assist Gifford in his insane plot. But it was hard, watching people and animals suffer and knowing there might be something I could do to help.
Over a hundred of the soldiers deserted. I was surprised. Where could they go?
Eventually, we pushed the wagon free and we climbed back in, cold and soaked and covered with mud. The inside of the wagon was only slightly cleaner than the outside, with mud caking the floor and benches. The wagon had been covered shortly after the rain had started, which provided some protection, but it was still bitterly cold and we had no source of heat.
Taro and I maintained physical contact as much as possible, but the bond that usually helped us ease each other’s pain had little effect on the cold, for some reason. It was a damp cold, sinking into the bones, and it was impossible to shift.
“I’m surprised you’re not travelling in comfort with the Emperor,” Ogawa sneered. “Fallen out of favour, have we?”
Oh my gods, if she said that one more time I was going to throttle her.
“Shut up, Miho,” Tenneson snapped. He had as little patience with Ogawa as the rest of us.
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Every single person in this wagon wants to slap you silly,” he warned her. “Do you think anyone will care if any of us do?”
“I’m paid by the Emperor.”
“So are all those poor sods trudging through the mud out there.”
“Aye. They’re there. We’re in here. That means something.”
I agreed, sort of. The Pairs and casters were given preference, of a certain level, but we were only one level up among many, I was thinking.
Over the course of the day, we were hauled out three more times to push our wagon free of the mud. I was freezing, filth was everywhere, and my nails got ripped off, but I had become well aware how fortunate I was to be able to ride instead of having to walk.
But being surrounded by the canvas made it even more difficult to believe Taro and I could get away. I could think of nothing else, for all the good it did me, but every time I failed to come up with a solution, I became more disheartened, until I couldn’t bear to think about anything at all.
Another Imperial Guard showed up at the back of our wagon – I wondered if they resented being forced to fetch and carry – and slid a tray of food to us.
“What the hell is this?” Ogawa demanded.
“What does it look like?” the Guard retorted.
“Garbage.” She picked up one of the slices of bread. It had mould on it.
The offerings certainly didn’t look appetizing. Nothing fresh. Just long rolls of dried beef that I knew would be difficult to chew, the bread, and dried fruit that looked like it was close to going off.
The Guard shrugged. “Whine about it to the Emperor, then.”
That immediately silenced Ogawa, but only until the Guard had left. She resumed her complaints as we divided up the rations.
Two days later, the rain finally stopped. The improved conditions raised morale. After a couple of days more, it became a little less backbreaking to get the wagons through the mud. Two days after that, we reached firm ground.
Many were anticipating reaching Bronlea, the next village on the route, and stealing everything the residents had. It wasn’t as though everyone was unanimous in their disregard for the rights and needs of the residents: it was just that there remained a great distance to Shidonee’s Gap, and people were finding the prospect of dwindling supplies alarming.
As had been done in every other settlement, the wagons of casters and Pairs were pulled to the front of the huge caravan
, to be used as examples to shame residents into doing things they normally wouldn’t be expected to do. The wagon canvases were pulled down so everyone could get a good look at us.
I had acquired the habit of staring at my feet. As we approached the city limits, I didn’t immediately take note of our surroundings. When I heard gasps from around me, my first thought was that the residents had heard of our approach and had come out to meet us. To attack us.
What I saw a moment later was even worse.
We were passing through what looked like the remains of a farmstead. Where the barn would have been were huge lumps of dark ash, the odd burnt beam of wood sticking up. It looked like the stones of the foundations had been scattered about and pounded into dust. Shards of glass glistened in the grass.
The house was in a similar state.
There were no people, no animals. The place was dead.
I had no idea what would cause damage of that nature.
We moved on.
The next farm appeared to have suffered the same calamity. And the next. And the next.
The road leading into the city was pitted with deep holes and ruts, the wagon rattling and bouncing painfully.
The city itself was a wasteland of burnt buildings. Where there had been, I imagined, shops and taverns and brothels, there were similar lumps of ashes, pulverized stones, and shattered glass. The streets – all of them, as far as I could see – had been dug up and left almost impossible to traverse.
There was no life. The only sound in the air was the noise made by Gifford’s caravan.
We reached the city square. There had been a statue in the centre, which had been chiselled off its base and pushed to the street. As I got closer, I could see it had been carved in the figure of Gifford.
It appeared to be the only piece of stone that had not been completely crushed.
Then I realised that the destruction all around us had been deliberately created.
The residents of Bronlea had preferred to destroy everything they had rather than give it to Gifford. They’d been thorough and determined about it. They hadn’t just set their buildings on fire and left. This level of annihilation, it had to have taken days. They had put enormous effort into making sure there was nothing that could be salvaged.
That kind of courage was humbling. And shaming.
We rode through the grave of Bronlea. Because no one else was speaking, I could hear the Emperor shouting. I couldn’t make out the actual words, but I was confident they had something to do with betrayal and treason.
That night, after everyone had settled and eaten their salty meat and weak tea, one of the many Imperial Guards that fluttered around Gifford arrived at our fire. “You two,” she said, gesturing at Taro and me. “Come.”
We were led to the Emperor’s tent, where he, Green, and a handful of high ranking Imperial Guards were standing around a table with a large map. One of them, Colonel Todin, was in charge of the forces movement. In theory. I had a feeling he was allowed to make only the orders Gifford chose to let him make.
“Saskan is two days south,” Todin said, pointing out on the map a symbol indicating a city. “Reflection is four days west. Monray is three days north.”
“Obviously, the traitors’ destination is Saskan,” Gifford said impatiently. “We’ll follow them there. When we find them, we will seize their supplies, their able-bodied, and their mounts. We will execute their families. News of their punishment will spread, and no one else will dare commit the same offence.”
“That would take us from our route, Your Majesty,” said Todin, a thread of tension in his voice. He was nervous to be disputing with the Emperor, and I didn’t blame him. “If the Branleans haven’t fled to Saskan, it will mean a great deal of time spent with no reward.”
Gifford scowled.
“May I suggest that we send a single scout to each settlement?” said Todin. “One person on a fast horse can travel there and back much more swiftly than the entire caravan. When we know where the Branleans have gone, we can decide how many of our people are needed to subdue them. Meanwhile, our principal forces can continue on course and on schedule.”
Gifford didn’t like this, either, I could see it. Todin might be risking his neck, contradicting the Emperor, especially in front of so many people.
“Your Majesty,” Green interjected. “There is an easier way. One of the casters can tell us where the residents went.”
I stared at her. We could? Since when?
Maybe the Erstwhile casters had developed that sort of spell while I’d been banned from their presence.
Green snapped her fingers at me. “Now, Shield!”
Why did she assume I could cast such a spell? Why did so many people think I could do everything? “I know of no such cast, Lady Green.”
Green crossed her arms. “Tell me, Shield Mallorough, is there anything you can do? Because it appears to me that you’ve done nothing but obstruct His Majesty’s efforts from the moment you arrived in Erstwhile.”
“My reputation exceeds my talents, my lady.” This was true.
Green sniffed. “A claim easily made.”
“Shield Mallorough has done nothing but strive to meet our goals,” Taro objected in a firm tone, strengthening his aristocratic accent just a little.
Both true and vague. He didn’t define which goals were ours. Well done, my love.
“We have only your word on that, don’t we?”
“We have no reason to doubt Source Karish’s word,” Gifford said sharply. “He swore an oath to Us and has done nothing to violate it.”
Green bowed. “Of course,” she responded, sounding subdued. Then she shot a hostile look my way.
Gifford nodded at Todin. “See to sending the scouts.”
Todin cleared his throat. “I’m afraid there’s one more matter to discuss, Your Majesty.”
Gifford rolled his eyes. “What?”
“Due to the current state of our supplies, we’ll need to cut everyone’s rations by at least a quarter.”
Gifford shrugged. “Fine.”
Really, I should stop being shocked at every display demonstrating Gifford’s lack of concern for his people. It was an ongoing pattern of behaviour.
The Emperor turned to Taro. “Why have We seen so little of you during Our travels? Your place is with Us.”
Taro bowed. “We were instructed to ride with other casters and another Pair, Your Majesty.”
“Such instructions do not reflect Our wishes.” He shot a hard look at Green, then waved his hand at one of the Guards. “Make the necessary arrangements.”
The Guard bowed low. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
And that was how we ended up riding beside the Emperor’s carriage. It was much better than riding in the wagon and dealing with Ogawa’s constant sniping.
On the dark side, I could practically feel Green fuming at us. Her anger didn’t show up on her face, but I knew it was there.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gifford slapped the goblet off the table. Silver and wine hit Colonel Todin in the face. “No!” the Emperor shouted. “This isn’t so!”
As ordered, scouts had been sent to Saskan, Reflection, and Monray. All had returned with the same news: all three settlements had been destroyed in a manner identical to Bronlea. No standing buildings, nothing living.
The three scouts cowered before us, heads down.
“You went to the wrong place!” Gifford accused them. “Incompetent parasites!”
Ridiculous. How could all three of them end up going to the wrong place?
Gifford’s grasp on logic wasn’t too firm that day. He’d been glassy-eyed and pale and clumsy. Irritable and petulant. Snapping at the cringing healer who was so unlucky as to have to attend him. Even Green hadn’t been spared his temper, her hand shaken off his arm when she tried to calm him down, her words dismissed with sharp insults.
Todin wiped his face with his sleeve.
Gifford roared and flipped the
table over. I jumped.
“Are you all relying on the ineptitude of the Triple S?” he demanded. “This is not acceptable! The people must be shown Our might. There is to be no belief We were successful only due to the weakness of the enemy!” He pointed at the scouts. “You will all leave immediately. Find supplies.” Then he spun around and strode the few steps to his private quarters. Green, after a few moments, followed after.
Everyone looked at the scouts with sympathy. They’d been ordered to do the impossible. If I were them, I’d leave and never come back.
As a lot of other people were doing. Gifford’s forces were still huge, but people were leaving every night. Some were caught and flogged, sometimes to death. It was horrible.
We suddenly heard Gifford shouting from his tent. “Who are you to be giving orders? No one! You’re nothing but what We make you! We have made you nothing yet!”
Actually, he’d made Green the recipient of several oaths of fealty. That was a pretty powerful position.
Maybe he’d forgotten.
“I don’t believe your presence is further required,” Todin announced coldly, giving Taro and me particular attention.
“Right then,” Third Sergeant Postel said, grabbing my arm. “Let’s go.”
“Release her,” Taro snapped.
“Aye, right,” sneered Third Sergeant Mazin, shoving Taro from behind.
We’d had a lot of Imperial Guards come and go during our journey. Demoted, promoted, reassigned somewhere or other, so many we’d gotten to the point of paying no attention to their names.
These two, though, had had shifts with us for over a week. They were young, both around twenty in years, I estimated. They were Guards of the less polished variety. Postel was pale, with blue eyes and black hair and the broadest shoulders I’d ever seen. Mazin, dark skinned with very light gray eyes, was more on the wiry side, but still looked like he could crush my skull between his hands.
They were bullies, and if they had any brains I’d seen no evidence of it. They seemed to feel they’d been given a great deal of power because they were allowed, apparently, to push and pull us around as the mood struck them. Never in the Emperor’s presence, of course, but no one else seemed to mind.
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