“Why did you do it?”
“Why did I save those mages over my men, or why did I come after you when it is so crucial we get to Hol in eight weeks?”
“Both.”
He smiled then. It was a rare event. So rare, that his face acted as if it didn’t know how to do it, twisting oddly to the left, then right, before finally settling into some genuine form of amusement. “This does not leave this tent, ever.”
“Of course.”
“I’m playing the long game, Tyrus. You know how much I hate to rely on others, but I learned a lot from watching your mind work over the years. You weren’t afraid to take a calculated risk if it resulted in a long term victory. I’m doing the same. That’s why I let your little lie about your sister and kids being dead go. Having you in the right frame of mind to get my army ready for battle was more important than an extra mage and two kids with a resistance.”
I fought back every reaction my body wanted to make from his comment. It took everything I had not to vomit when thinking about the danger my kids would have been in traveling north with the army. “What is the long term victory?”
He smiled wider. The expression actually looked painful, but he probably couldn’t help himself. He picked up on the fact I still refused to acknowledge the state of my family to him. Regardless of what he said, I wouldn’t admit the lie.
“All of Turine, first. But possibly the world if things play out as I expect,” he said.
I started to open my mouth for further clarification, but he cut me off.
“Starting tomorrow, I need you to get my army ready for battle. Though we won’t reach Hol for another eight weeks, we will have smaller battles before then.”
My head hurt thinking about all he wanted me to accomplish in such a narrow amount of time. “Sir, I’m not sure how I can accurately train soldiers while traveling at a break neck pace.”
“You will have two dedicated hours in the morning at your disposal, an hour at midday, and two hours in the evening. The rest of the time you’ll have will be on the march.”
That was much more time than I expected. “There is no way we’ll be able to reach Hol in eight weeks at that pace.”
“You let me worry about that.”
“What about the enemy? What size of a force are we talking about in relation to ours? You’ve told me nothing about them.”
His mouth twisted. “Hard to say. Their numbers are changing constantly. They’re up to something themselves. Assume we’ll be at a disadvantage in that regard.”
“How big of one?”
“A large one.”
“Sir?”
“I’m working on the specifics, Tyrus. But until you hear otherwise, expect the worst.”
I always did since the worst had a habit of happening.
“You know, you haven’t even told me who the enemy is yet.”
“I was keeping that information close as well. I didn’t want to upset any veterans.” He paused. “But I guess it makes sense to let that out now so that the men are better prepared and not surprised when they see who’s carrying a sword across from them. It’s the Geneshans.”
I broke out into a sweat. Gods, it was truly like the war had never ended.
He ignored my expression and gestured toward the tent entrance. “Now, leave me. We’ll catch up more as we travel. In the meantime, I want to see progress on the condition of my army.”
I took a deep breath to help recover. “Yes, sir.” I started to leave, then stopped as a thought struck me. “Sir, regarding the chain of command.”
“You answer to no one but me. And everyone answers to you outside of my personal guard.”
Just what I had hoped for.
“And if I have any pushback?”
“Handle it as you did Habak.”
I blinked. News traveled fast.
He smiled again. I liked him better scowling. The smile was far more unsettling. Especially because it was a smile that said he knew things that I didn’t. I had to be careful about what was said aloud by either me or my men. I had no clue who was reporting back to him.
“You said one reason for our pace was the movement of the enemy. What is the other reason?”
“My High Mages believe that the artifact will go off again in roughly eight weeks. They tell me they are working on a way to prevent it from destroying any more of Turine. To do so however, we have to get there beforehand.”
“And the Geneshans, any reason why they’ve waited so long before moving toward Hol, or why they just so happen to be going now?”
“I have some theories. We can discuss them at a better time, but it is likely they’ve stayed away and are returning for the same reasons we have.”
I nodded and this time walked away. However, I paused at the tent flap. “General, one more thing. About the three High Mages?”
“Yes.”
“When we face the Geneshans in battle—”
“Don’t count them as a resource, Tyrus. As far as you’re concerned, they don’t exist. At least not until I say they do.”
“Aces in the hole?”
“Something like that.”
* * *
The twelve men I had dragged along with me from the outpost made it to the fire started by Dekar that evening. Most wore a sour expression as they finished the last of their meal, a bowl of brown stew. I surmised that their scowling came not from the stew, but the situation they were in.
The army surprisingly had an abundance of supplies we had lacked in our small group. I discovered that Balak had used his might liberally on his way south, raiding the food stores of towns he had passed through after pressing their best men into service.
A good guy, that Balak.
I checked in with everyone. Most returned the greeting easily. A couple shook my hand reluctantly with a look that let me know they weren’t over me separating them from their families.
One of those, Gavri, seemed especially uneasy.
I stood looking down on him. “I know you’re angry with me. That’s fine. If it means keeping your mind off the stuff ahead of us, stay that way. Just understand that I did what I thought was best for everyone, including your family.”
Gavri sighed, his face softening. “I know. It’s just . . . I miss them.” He paused, lowering his voice. “And I’m scared.”
I patted his shoulder. “I wouldn’t expect you not to be.” I lowered to my knee. “Look, I’m not going to lie and tell you that things are going to work out just fine. But if you do as I say, you’ll have a much better chance of seeing things through. It isn’t much of a promise, but it’s the best one I can give.”
He nodded.
I slapped his shoulder again, wishing I could do or say more, then stood and went over to Dekar and Ira.
They sat a little farther back from the others. Reuma, the former prostitute turned solider, was beside Ira, their arms intertwined. Dekar sat across from them both, legs stretched out. After I took a seat next to him, he handed me a heel of bread and a bowl of warm stew that smelled surprisingly good.
The relief to my tired legs was immediate and I let out a long sigh.
“Sounding like an old man, Ty,” said Ira.
“Feeling like one. Might need to find a walking stick before long.”
He snorted. “I think you’re just playing it up to garner sympathy. But you won’t get any after what you did to Habak and Ittay.”
“Ittay? That’s his name?” I shoveled the first bite of stew into my mouth. It was cold and bland, but it was food and I had learned long ago never to turn my nose at that.
“Yep. Lots of people talking about how you dropped him like a rotted tree.”
“Oh?” Again, I was surprised at how quickly news had spread.
“Mostly good. Neither Habak nor Ittay were loved. People
are understanding why Balak trekked all the way down here for you. Add that to your previous reputation in leading our old unit, and all these other new stories circulating about what you’ve done after the Geneshan War, and you’ll be a legend by tomorrow afternoon.”
“New stories?” I frowned, “How many of these new stories are coming from you?”
There was a twinkle in his eye. “No more than five or six.”
“Ira, I don’t need more stuff hanging over my head. I got enough as it is.”
“You’ll thank me later.” He gestured to Dekar. “Besides, I wasn’t the only one.”
I gave Dekar a surprised look. “You too?”
“What I told was true. I didn’t embellish.”
I sighed. “I appreciate you trying to convince the army I’m worthy, but let’s leave the past alone. I can handle my own reputation just fine. The last thing I need to do is present myself like someone who needs to be brought down a peg.”
Namely to Balak, I thought to myself. He seemed reasonable enough earlier, but he had never been good at sharing glory or praise.
I took a bite of bread while looking at Reuma more closely. She wore a wrap around her hand and slowly opened and closed her fist.
I gestured. “What happened?”
“Someone’s face got in my way,” she said.
I could tell she meant the comment as a joke, but the smile didn’t quite form as she said it, and the lingering anger was apparent. Likely I wasn’t the only one who had people talking.
“Explain.”
She and Ira shared a look that seemed to encourage her.
“This idiot thought he could treat me like a camp follower. Said he’d pay me double the going rate if he got the first go with me. I told him I was a soldier and he laughed. I ignored him and walked away. He grabbed me rough and tried to pull me behind a tent. When he did, I swung.”
“Knocked him out cold. Nothing left for me to do,” said Ira with a chuckle. “Told you she could handle herself.”
“You did,” I agreed with a grin.
“Bruised my knuckles though,” she said bitterly. “Guy had a face like a rock.”
Ira said. “The fact you dropped Kehat will go a long way in making others think twice about messing with you though.”
I swallowed another bite. “Wait. Kehat? The guy with the wide nose and different colored eyes.”
“The one and only.”
“Man, I thought he died in the last battle when we took the artifact.”
“Nope. Word is Balak gave him another crack at leading a squad on some smaller mission after the eruptions. But like the last time, it didn’t work out too well and he got his command stripped again.”
“Not surprising. He’s a crap leader. None of his men ever wanted to follow him.”
“Why?” asked Reuma.
“Mean,” said Dekar. “Used to drown stray animals to pass the time. Said he liked watching them struggle for air.”
“That’s gotta be an exaggeration, right?” asked Reuma.
Dekar shook his head.
Reuma swore. “How can someone like that even be in the army?”
“Because,” said Ira, “a man like Kehat might not be the most ideal to lead, but he’s the sort you’d want to stand next to in battle. He won’t be taking it lightly on the enemy, if you catch my meaning.”
I grunted between another couple bites of stew.
“You ever going to tell us what Balak had to say?” Ira asked. The impatience in his voice was not hidden.
“I was hoping to finish eating first.”
“You’re a talented man, Ty. I’m sure you can do both.”
I chuckled. Then I recounted Balak’s tale. His side of Damanhur and the council of High Mages filled in the gaps from what we already learned from Ava. As expected, they had a lot of questions, most of the same ones I had wanted to ask Balak.
I shrugged. “Balak is being really guarded with his information. Says he has something in the works and is worried that if he lets out too much too soon, it will fall apart.”
Dekar studied me. “He told you not to tell us certain things too, didn’t he?”
I thought of the three High Mages. “Yes.”
“You’re not going to listen to him though, right?” asked Ira.
“I am.”
“But—”
“I’m not keeping anything secret that could hurt us. However, it could do harm to Balak’s plan. The second I’m able to share the information, I will. Until then, it’ll just have to be a nagging itch.”
“Gods, I hate that man more and more,” said Ira, fuming. “Already starting his manipulation. Probably half of what he told you was lies.”
“It’s possible. But do you have a better way to deal with Balak?”
Ira looked away, angry.
Reuma slapped his arm.
“Ow. What was that for?”
“Tyrus asked you a question. You can be mad, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a mule.”
I glanced quickly over to Dekar who wore a wide grin. I’m sure he enjoyed watching Ira handled by someone else for a change.
Ira thankfully didn’t notice his brother’s look. Otherwise, only the gods knew where that might have led.
“Fine,” he said. “We’re at his mercy. I get it. Don’t mean I like it any.”
“So, he wants you to train the army then?” asked Dekar, getting us back on topic.
“In eight weeks.”
“Not enough time.”
“Nope.”
Ira cleared his throat. “We’ll get it done, Ty. Just think about how far those people from Denu Creek came in a short period of time. We’ve got more veterans with us here. And those with no military background are in far better shape than some of the others you had to work with. Plus, no kids getting in the way now.”
I smiled at his optimism, but then that made me think of Zadok. Just a half day’s march from my kids and it already felt as if they lived in another country. I sure wished they were there to get in my way. My smile faded.
“What’d I say?” asked Ira.
“Nothing. But you’re right. We’ll make it.”
I promised my kids we would, and I wouldn’t go back on my word.
CHAPTER 3
Ava and Zadok stood behind the old armory in a narrow alley separating the outpost from the natural protection of the low mountains behind it. On a small boulder in front of them, some thirty feet away, sat three fist-sized rocks wrapped in old rags not good for anything other than starting a fire.
“I really don’t understand why you only practice back here, Aunt Ava,” said Zadok.
The boy’s voice broke as was common for someone his age. She glanced his way, checking the length of his pants to make sure he hadn’t grown another inch overnight. They didn’t exactly have an easy way to get him new trousers.
“I don’t only practice here. I’m always practicing. It’s just that most attack spells are finicky and the last thing I want to do is hurt someone. Now, stand behind me.”
“I have a resistance, remember? You don’t have to worry about hurting me.”
She gave him an incredulous look. “How many times have I told you a resistance is not the same as immunity? The closest I’ve seen to anyone with a full-fledged immunity is your father and he could still be harmed by sorcery.”
Zadok gave a frown at the mention of Tyrus. “Oh.”
Doesn’t take long for a boy to miss his father. What am I supposed to say to ease his pain? Gods, if I know.
She decided to just barrel through with her remaining thoughts. “Now, stand behind me.”
He sighed. “Fine.”
Zadok took a few steps back to her right until he was out of her line of sight.
“So, not that I n
ecessarily want to go through anything painful, but what exactly can happen to me because of sorcery?” he asked.
“That depends on what spell you find yourself in the way of and the skill of the person casting it. Some things will just bounce off you or you’ll absorb without feeling anything. Others you may not feel at all directly, but indirectly it might heat your clothes, weapons, or send you flying into a tree. And getting hit with a strong spell or experiencing prolonged exposure to really powerful sorcery will do far more damage. If nothing else, it will make you really weak and tired.”
“Like when we pushed ourselves too much after the eruptions when trying to bring people around.”
“Exactly. Now, can you hush for half a breath and let me try this again?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
Ava closed her eyes for a second and began to concentrate. Before the eruptions, she really didn’t have to do much to focus. The power in the air, the earth, and the world around her that those in Turine attributed to Ao, just seemed ready at her fingertips, eager for her to use. She could draw on it whenever she had liked. Since the eruptions, she felt like one of the mages in the army she used to laugh at. Nearly every other magic-user she had come into contact with practiced all these crazy meditation techniques and focusing exercises in order to perform sorcery. She was amazed that in Hol, even High Mages had used such things.
She had thought them all idiots for being unable to just grab what they needed when they needed it.
But now, as she tried to work those same techniques she often ignored over and over again, she wondered who the real idiot was.
She extended her hand to help solidify her focus. With a couple deep breaths she worked the fire spell, feeling a slight pull of power into her body, warming, and then traveling through her arms as it exited her fingers.
I can’t look.
“You did it!” Zadok exclaimed.
She opened her eyes, hopeful. A string of curses slipped out before she caught herself, realizing whose presence she was in.
“What’s wrong?” asked Zadok. “It caught fire.”
That’s not good enough.
Resurrected Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Three Page 4