Forged in Fire (Destiny's Crucible Book 4)

by Olan Thorensen

  Denes updated him on the battle—though not in detail, because the medicants insisted Denes’s recount be short. Gullar was dead, along with most officers above the rank of captain. Surrender to an enemy was not part of the ethos of the Narthani officer corps. Subordinates even dispatched most of those who were wounded.

  However, the Narthani didn’t expect the lower ranks to fight to the death, and an estimated six thousand Narthani were prisoners, four thousand of them wounded. The body counts were still being tabulated, but the islanders currently estimated 34,000 Narthani dead—no one could account for how many of those had died fighting versus those wounded or surrendered and subsequently dispatched by vengeful clansmen. An unknown number of Narthani escaped the battlefield into the surrounding countryside. Islanders hunted them down with no thought to taking more prisoners. No account would be gotten for their numbers or fate.

  The Caedelli had fared far better, but the count was still appalling: nine thousand dead and 18,000 wounded. Even with MASH units and most of the medicants on Caedellium, it took three days to treat every wounded islander.

  When Denes left, Yozef stared into nothingness and came as close as he ever did to an honest prayer. Please, God, let it all be worth it.

  Then the chief medicants visited him.

  “Thank all of you,” Yozef whispered, “and any other brother and sister medicants who treated me. Please tell everyone how much I appreciate them.”

  The white-haired lead medicant smiled ruefully and shook his head. “Thank you for the intention, Yozef, but I’m not sure we can take credit for you still being alive. By all our understanding of medicine and treatments, you should be dead. The wound to your liver was so severe, we saw no possibility of your surviving. Yet you did, and we have no idea why. It’s like your body simply refused to die. Then there are other things. You ran a fever like we think happens when a body is fighting an infection or disease, but this was a wound that would never be accompanied by fever. If anything, you should have turned colder from blood loss. And now? Look at you. Only a little more than one day since you were wounded and you’re talking with us as you heal at an astounding rate. No, I’m afraid medicant knowledge may have no place here. It may well be that as rumors are spreading, the explanation is better addressed by theophists and not medicants.”

  I should have died? The best medicants on Caedellium cannot explain why I didn’t and now they see me healing abnormally fast. Keeping the effects of the nano-elements the Watchers gave me hidden is now out of the bag and isn’t going back in. As much as I’ve worried about starting rumors of demonic powers at work, now I’ll need to go along with rumors of divine intervention. Who knows? Maybe this is a fortuitous break. If people believe God reached out to save me, who’s to naysay if the effects are long-lasting—like, the rest of my life and those I associate with intimately. Of course, that means the Septarsh rumors will be too entrenched to ever be countered.

  Yozef sighed to himself. I think after this there will be no going back or dissuading the Caedelli. Nothing I could possibly say or do is going to change what they know to be true. I think I’ll just have to live with it.

  It was evening before he steeled himself to ask the fate of people he knew. Thankfully, most had survived, though not all. Filtin Fuller—Yozef’s always cheerful, always dependable close friend, who had an enviable family with a loving wife and happy children, who was one of Yozef’s first converts to innovations and a major contributor—died when the 25-pounder carronade battery he commanded fought off the final Narthani attempt to save themselves. Yozef alarmed the medicants when he was told that Filtin had died; he wept hard enough to break some of the stitches to his wounds.

  In the next few days, rumors grew. Soon it was difficult to find people who believed anything other than merciful God held Yozef in his arms until he was healed enough to live. Even medicants and the more skeptical Caedelli hesitated to contradict this. After all, if they could not explain what happened, how could they argue against possibilities?

  They kept him in the same temporary shelter two more nights. Maera sat with him the first night, Anarynd the second. The next morning, medicants moved him to a thin mattress on what looked like a door, and slowly, gently, six of them carried him to the Kolsko house in the city. Tens of thousands lined the way. It took more than two hours to complete the two-mile trip. Yozef stayed awake part of the time, then fell asleep with the rocking, then awakened, looked at the people, waved occasionally, and drifted off to sleep again.

  In two more days, he stood briefly for the first time. On the fifth day, he made several short walks to relieve himself. The medicants thought he should stay in bed, but he hated to void in bed, where the collection and cleanup were just too intimate. For most patients, the medicants might have held their ground, but for Yozef Kolsko, they ceded decisions to him.

  Ten days after the battle, Yozef read and listened to detailed reports of the battle’s aftermath. His body still ached, pain spasms occurred if he moved too fast, and he limped.

  I have to get to Preddi City. The Narthani there must still be in a state of shock at the destruction of their army. Now is the time. The fire is hot, and there will never be a better time to strike the iron.

  To his surprise, arguments against his moving so quickly lasted only an hour, with Maera the most disgruntled. By three hours, he left Orosz City with everything needed for the trip to Preddi City: a carriage with the compartment modified for extra cushioning to sit or lie, and ten thousand dragoons, and two hundred cannon more than the clan forces already surrounding Preddi City.

  Chapter 50: Resolution

  First Meeting

  The two men met in a tent just out of a long rifle shot from the Preddi fortifications and the same distance from the first clan earthworks under construction. Two flags flew from equally tall poles. The green flag had a large central white star and smaller stars encircling the central star.

  Again, under a canopy or tent, thought Yozef. I seem to have a penchant for such meetings. First with the Fuomi, then Selfcell, and now the Narthani commander.

  Akuyun had been on Caedellium for several years, but no one Yozef knew had ever met him. A few prisoners spoke of him with respect. Supposedly a firm man but fair, from the Narthani point of view. We shall see if he is also reasonable, or if we are going to have to dig them out, one by one.

  Not tall or physically imposing but something of a presence about him, was Yozef’s first impression. Mid-fifties. Clean shaven. No mustache like many of the Narthani sported. Short trimmed hair. Dressed in his finest, I would say. I bet he dresses carefully for any occasion. A cautious man. Not one to be underestimated. He came when they started bringing in large numbers of civilians, so maybe he was one trusted to deal with both their general population and the military. Calm—considering the situation. Almost like he thinks he has the upper hand. What’s he thinking? It’s certainly not a situation he thought he would be in.

  At the same time, Akuyun carefully observed the islander sitting across the table. From all accounts, this was their leader—the Yozef Kolsko of Assessor Hizer’s reports and the one who survived the assassination attempt on Hetman Keelan. Not all that impressive, was his first thought. Same height as myself, a little more robust, but then again, I’ve always been on the wiry side. Strange lighter-colored streaks to his hair and oddly pale blue eyes. Much, much younger than I would have predicted, for being the apparent leader of all the clans, assuming that’s who he is.

  Akuyun also noted the man limped a little, had a fresh scar on the side of his head, and winced slightly when he sat. Was it an old injury? A wound from Orosz City?

  Although the meeting involved only the two of them, three others remained present. Each side had a translator. Akuyun had never learned Caedelli, it being more effort than his time allowed and there was justification for, and because he hadn’t expected to remain on the island. Akuyun’s translator sat to his right at the table. Another man in his fifties. The two of
them had an ease between them that Yozef suspected meant the translator was a trusted aide.

  Balwis Preddi translated for Yozef and sat to his left, so the two translators directly faced each other, as did Yozef and Akuyun. A fifth man stood to the right and behind Yozef. A big man. Unarmed, Akuyun noted, but his size, scars, and eyes spoke volumes.

  Yozef began the dialogue.

  “Apologies for insisting you come only with a translator, while I came with a translator and my big friend. I’m afraid my people were adamant that he accompany me. I’m still recovering from the battle at Orosz City, so they reckon the meeting is two healthy men on each side, not counting myself.”

  So he was injured in the fighting, Akuyun thought. Not a leader from behind, which is where senior leaders should be. Does that say something of the islanders or of him? The battle was just over three sixdays ago, so the injuries could not have been too severe.

  As for the argument that there were two equal men on each side, the big man alone could probably handle the other four of us by himself. And the translator was certainly not someone unfamiliar with action. Akuyun was a keen judge of men. He recognized the islander translator as a dangerous individual. Sheathed, but dangerous. As for the big man, Akuyun noticed the care the giant had taken in helping Kolsko sit. Almost paternalistic.

  “My own people are also not pleased at the conditions, but I accepted on the basis of your guarantee of safety. I believe it important that the two of us are clear, to avoid any misunderstandings.”

  Yozef nodded. “I agree. Since you and I will speak through our translators, I suggest we understand that each of us needs to whisper among ourselves from time to time.”

  “Agreed,” said Akuyun.

  “Fine, then. Shall we begin with how we each see the situation?” Yozef said through Balwis Preddi.

  Akuyun nodded. “Let me be open and admit you have gained a great, and with more honesty, surprising victory over our army. It will serve as a lesson not to underestimate the Caedelli people in the future.”

  Was that a subtle or not so subtle dig that we might not have seen the last of the Narthani’s attempts to subjugate Caedellium? thought Yozef.

  “Despite that victory, I still have enough forces to defend Narthani territory, and our navy rules supreme over the seas around Caedellium and any land near the coasts.”

  “That is true,” said Yozef, “but let us be clear. You may rule the seas, but the land you think you own is not Narthani territory. It is Caedellium land that you are temporarily standing on. And yes, you have enough forces to put up a strong defense, but only here around Preddi City. There is no way for you to grow more food than you already have stored. From that food, you have to feed upward of a hundred thousand of your soldiers and civilians. We control the countryside everywhere else in Preddi. Your two client clans, the Eywellese and Selfcellese, are no longer your allies. The Selfcellese have joined us completely, and the Eywellese are not a factor. You are contained within Preddi City and three of the largest Preddi towns. Your defenses here are formidable, but not so much those other towns.”

  “I wonder if you think you can take this city by force?” said Akuyun. “We know you have Fuomi helping you. They must have explained to you what it takes to mount a siege and how long a siege can take.”

  “You are correct. The Fuomi have advised us. But do not believe we are unaware of such things without outside advice. Let me be clear. There is no way you are going to remain on Caedellium. The land within your fortifications is the only place any Narthani can stand on the island, and that is only temporary. We estimate you have about twenty-one hundred active solders, not all of whom are fighting men. What field artillery you have is limited, although you have the support of your navy, and we assume you have moved some naval guns ashore to strengthen the defenses. Right now, facing you are forty thousand men with field artillery. More are on their way. Not only did we capture all the cannon with Marshal Gullar, but we forged most of our cannon here on Caedellium and are producing more as we speak, whereas you must depend on what you have on land and with your navy. We know your supply of copper and tin is too low to cast more guns. You might get naval guns ashore, but we can match you with those the Fuomi gave us.

  “In addition, we can call on another hundred thousand Caedelli to join us here, if necessary. It does not take young legs or testicles to stand behind earthworks and fire muskets or help man cannon. I guarantee there are tens of thousands of old men, women, and half-grown children who are eager to stand and fight.”

  Interesting, thought Akuyun. He tells me much, but what to believe? That they outgun us in field artillery is certain. And he’s right. They are only going to get stronger. We already knew they were forging their own cannon, but it seems more extensive than we suspected. As for the forty thousand men . . . maybe that’s true, but could they all remain here for an extended siege? I doubt it. And the other hundred thousand? Older men and even women? Although some would discount them, I doubt it wise in this case. This Kolsko is right that they can take the place of young men in fixed positions. I have done the same with our civilians, but can they realistically count on thousands of questionable use? Still, a hundred thousand is a lot of bodies.

  “So we are at a stalemate,” said Akuyun. “You think we cannot break out of our defenses, and yet we still sit behind them where you cannot get at us without losses that you might not be willing to suffer.”

  Yozef turned his head and spat to one side. He’d seen more movies than he cared to admit where a man would spit to show he wasn’t afraid—fear dried up salivary glands. He gave it a shot, then felt ridiculous when Akuyun seemed unimpressed.

  “Don’t assume to know what the clanspeople are willing to suffer to rid Caedellium of you. But let me tell you how I see your position and what the future will hold. As I have said, you will get no more food from this land. It will be impossible for you to farm enough from within your walls, and you would have to bring the bulk of your forces out from behind the walls to try to protect any farmers. A completely untenable option.

  “Your second problem is water. The city’s main source is the Preddi River that flows through the city. If necessary, we can divert the river so that the riverbed through the city is dry. Do not think we can’t. I’m sure you heard reports from those few of Gullar’s men who escaped on how we built extensive-enough earthworks in two sixdays to stop his army. We already have identified several places where the effort in moving earth is not much more than that to divert the river. There are some wells in the city, and you might dig or might have dug more, but are those enough for the entire population? Your navy can supply some water with effort, but certainly not enough for a hundred thousand.

  “Third, a siege is exactly what you will face. Remember how we dug at Orosz City. If necessary, we can have a hundred thousand people digging trenchworks around the city. In fact, you must have seen the beginning of this. We understand the tactics needed to bring down a defended city. Deep and extensive trenches will be dug in a complex pattern all around the city. Once we are close enough, we will bring in siege mortars and catapults. You may know of the fire pots we used so effectively. Imagine hundreds of such pots being launched over the walls into the city every day by catapults. Take my word that we can build catapults hidden behind dirt berms and capable of throwing objects over a thousand yards. In addition, siege mortars are being cast as we speak. By the time the trenches are close enough, the mortars will start to be delivered here. When they are, they will join the catapults. Even with naval guns, you won’t be able to stop the bombardment. At some point, your defenses will weaken enough that we will breach the walls and take the city. The fighting might be bitter and costly, but I guarantee no Narthani would live through the experience. Let me repeat what I just said. If we have to take the city by storm, not a single Narthani will be given mercy.

  “Then there is a final factor. You gathered most of your civilians here in the city from the rest of Preddi Provinc
e. However, there are at least fifteen thousand civilians we either collected from sweeps of the Preddi countryside or those who might survive if we are forced to take the three smaller towns. We also have six thousand of your soldiers taken as prisoners or wounded in the Orosz City battle and other engagements.

  “Thus far, these six thousand Narthani prisoners and fifteen thousand civilians who could become prisoners are alive and in reasonable condition. However, if we are forced to lay siege to Preddi City, the status of all those twenty-one thousand will change. There is no rationale and no will to care for twenty-one thousand Narthani alive outside of the city while we carry on a siege and suffer what would be huge casualties in taking the city. In that case, the lives of all Narthani under our control are forfeited.”

  For the first time Akuyun showed a reaction—what Yozef suspected was well-concealed shock.

  “You are threatening to kill twenty-one thousand defenseless people unless we, what . . . surrender?” Akuyun ground out.

  “Please do not presume to accuse us of barbaric behavior. The Narthani have no status to level such charges, given what the Fuomi tell us about your normal behavior to other peoples. Also, do not think we have no memory of what you have already done here on Caedellium, both to the Preddi Clan and in raids you or your Buldorian ‘raiders’ carried out.”

  Akuyun calmed down and sat back in his chair, a severe expression on his face. “If you know anything about us, you know that surrender to you is not an option, no matter what the cost. We would be expected to fight and die to the last man, rather than become your slaves.”

  “We do not ask for your surrender or slavery. We simply require that the Narthani leave Caedellium.”

  Akuyun sat straighter, obviously surprised. “What exactly is your offer?” asked Akuyun.