The general said, “Remove the prisoner and keep him tied to something. We’ll send him to Twin Bridges when we’re through here.” The two soldiers who had brought him into the tent escorted the much-subdued lieutenant out.
The magistrate shook her head as he left. “Ordan won’t strip them of their status just based on this incident. He will have him executed for killing the civilians.”
The general and colonel exchanged glances, then the general said, “We should speak to that farmer.”
The farmer was standing outside the Healer’s tent, and turned to face them when they arrived. He bowed deeply, then glared at the general.
“Why did your men attack us, General? Why?” he demanded, but there was a hint of pleading in his tone as well.
General Zel’Faran looked at the ground for a moment, so Magistrate Zel’Fordan answered instead. “The officer in charge thought he was exacting revenge against the Farindians for the attack here.”
“But we’re Evandians, lady. We have nothing to do with that butcher Bel’Varan.”
That caught everyone’s attention. “You know who he is?” the general demanded.
“Everyone does, Sir. He’s a warlord up in Farindia. He demands tribute from everyone on both sides of the border.” He paused and looked around. “I guess Mayor Bel’Caras tried to stand up to him. He said he was going to.”
Magistrate Zel’Fordan looked behind her and spotted Kalin and Dahral. She said, “Kal, step over here,” and he immediately obeyed.
Kalin came to attention and bowed. “At your service, Magistrate Zel’Fordan.”
The farmer’s expression became pensive when he heard her name and title, and he bowed very deeply, but didn’t dare address her. The magistrate smiled slightly and asked, “Do you recognize this young man?” she asked.
“I do, Lady Magistrate. He was the officer who faced off against that other officer.” He turned to Kalin and bowed deeply again. “I give you my thanks, Lord Lieutenant.”
Magistrate Zel’Fordan said, “This is Lieutenant Kalin Zel’Andral.” At the mention of his name, the farmer dropped to his knees.
Kalin quickly stepped forward and grasped the man’s shoulders with both hands. “Stand, goodman. You needn’t kneel. Especially not under these circumstances.”
“But you’re a prince. The heir.”
Kalin shrugged one shoulder. “Not yet, goodman. Not until I complete my two years.”
Magistrate Zel’Fordan said, “I brought him over to meet you so you can rest assured that Lieutenant Zel’Dorvan will not get away with attacking you. Only the queen has more influence with the king than Kal does.”
The farmer was looking frightened as he timidly asked, “Lady, why do you call the prince Kal?”
Kalin explained who the magistrate was. “Lieutenant Zel’Dorvan has already been bound over for trial, and his father has been dismissed from the king’s council.”
“You are safe,” the general said as he looked the man in the eye.
“What does it matter, sir? They killed my wife and her sister. My son may die. They even attacked my grandchildren.” He sobbed once and whispered, “What does it matter?”
The general shook his head and murmured, “Colonel, I want every one of those men before me in one span.”
“Lieutenant Zel’Andral, do you know their names?” the colonel demanded.
Kalin came to attention and said, “Sir, no, sir. But I think Major Zel’Carvan and Sergeant Bel’Neven do, sir.”
“Find out who they are and use whatever force is necessary to bring them to the command tent.” Kalin bowed and turned away, marching to Dahral’s side.
“You heard that?” he asked. When Dahral nodded, he continued. “We have to see the major first.” Major Zel’Carvan was in his tent, writing his report about the incident, when the lieutenants arrived.
“Sir, Lieutenants Zel’Fordal and Zel’Andral to report,” Dahral announced
“Enter,” the major said in an absentminded tone. “What do you have to report?” Kalin explained their errand. “Yes, I know who all of them are. Come with me.”
The major led Kalin toward the Scout camp, signaling Dahral and Sergeant Bel’Neven to follow them. Captain Zel’Lamal met them with a look of stubborn determination on his face.
“Come for the rest?” he asked.
“Yes. The general wants to question them.”
The captain looked behind him and made a gesture. Ten men marched forward and came to a stop behind him without saying a word. The Raiders came forward and bracketed them, then all of them marched to the command tent.
“Major Zel’Carvan and Captain Zel’Lamal reporting as ordered, sir,” the major announced.
The general looked up and said, “Bring those men in here, Major.”
The major and captain escorted the scouts into the tent while Kalin and Dahral stopped the Raiders outside.
“I know you men were just following orders. What I don’t know is, why? Attacking that farmstead was illegal, even if it had been a Farindian farmstead.” The general looked at the men and shook his head. “You heard the orders Major Zel’Carvan gave Lieutenant Zel’Dorvan. Sergeant, you’ve spent seventeen years in the Army. Why did you obey the order to attack?”
The sergeant had been clenching his jaw closed, but now he bowed and said, “Sir, with all due respect, Lieutenant Zel’Dorvan’s father is on the King’s Council. No one dares challenge him because of our fear of his father, sir.”
“What order was given, Sergeant?” Colonel Zel’Freedan asked.
“Attack, no quarter, sir.”
“That is the same order he gave when he saw the survivors here, sir,” Major Zel’Carvan said from the side.
“Beggin’ the general’s pardon, sir,” a very young private said as he stepped forward and bowed. “Lieutenant Zel’Dorvan said he was takin’ over the Scouts, sir. He said it was our duty to kill everyone who attacked Harney Point, and the Gods Below take the cowards who wouldn’t join him. Sir.”
Lord General Zel’Faran shook his head as he looked at the boy. “It is the height of cowardice to attack unarmed women and children, private. It is treason for Evandian troops to attack Evandian citizens except on the king’s direct orders. Renval Zel’Dorvan is being charged with murder. His father has been dismissed from the king’s council. I have received orders to send all ten of you with that disgrace of a lieutenant to Twin Bridges. I don’t think any of you will be executed, but I also doubt that any of you will be allowed to remain in uniform.”
“But we was just follown’ orders!” the private cried. From the expression on his face, he appeared to be on the verge of crying for real.
Colonel Zel’Freedan shook his head as he said, “You were told the difference between legal and illegal orders during your indoctrination.”
“No, sir, we wasn’t.”
Captain Zel’Lamal shook his head. “Sir, we took to the field before we could formally indoctrinate our new soldiers. In his case, he really didn’t know he could have refused that order.”
Lieutenant Zel’Terral had followed his captain to the command tent, but remained silent until now. Stepping to the tent flap he said, “Sir, Lieutenant Bartal Zel’Terral begs the general’s permission to speak.” At the general’s nod, he continued. “Sir, I was assigned to share a room with Lieutenant Zel’Dorvan. He spoke at length about his desire to leave a legacy of death behind him when he left the Army. He equates killing with glory, sir. I also heard him threaten to kill any of our men who refused to obey him when it came time to slaughter the bandits, sir.” He glanced at his captain and shook his head. “Even Captain Zel’Lamal and I had reason to fear his ego and blood-lust, sir.
“You and the captain will be going to Twin Bridges as well to testify on behalf of your men. In fact, you’ll all leave in the morning. Major Zel’Carvan, take the rest of the scouts to augment your force.”
All of the officers said, “Yes, sir,” then left the tent.
The general spoke to the raiders once the prisoner was gone. “Men, his Majesty has ordered us into Farindia to track down and kill the butcher responsible for the raid on Harney Point. Captain Zel’Ival will lead the 16th Cavalry in support of the 8th Raiders. In light of the tragedy yesterday, I will remind you all that you are not to attack civilians or non-combatants. Only the men who raided Harney Point are to be attacked, and quarter is to be given to any who surrender.”
A thunderous shout of, “Yes, Sir!” echoed off the ruined walls of Harney Point, then Major Zel’Carvan and Captain Zel’Ival led their four hundred and fourteen men north.
The troop reached the Farindian border just a few spans after mid-day, and Major Zel’Carvan paused to address his men.
“Everyone stay alert. It is an almost sure thing that we are going to be attacked as soon as we cross the border.”
The force crossed the border at a high state of alertness. Everyone’s senses were straining to detect any sign of an attack. Every eye was focused on the surroundings. Every ear strained to detect the slightest sound.
Nothing happened.
After ten spans, they reached a deserted village. The place was neat and orderly, but no people or livestock could be seen. The major ordered, “Touch nothing,” and the men obeyed.
As night fell the force made camp. Once the sentries were set the major held officers’ call. “Someone knows we’re coming,” he announced.
Captain Zel’Ival nodded his agreement. “That village was only recently deserted.”
“How could you tell, sir?” Lieutenant Zel’Beltan, the senior cavalry lieutenant, asked.
His captain looked at him and said, “All of the doors and shutters were tightly closed. There were no limbs under the trees, and no weeds in the gardens. Those people have only been gone a few days. Maybe just one.”
“But how could they have known?” Lieutenant Zel’Patrin asked. “And why run away before we even got here?”
Lieutenant Zel’Beltan snarled, “Because of that arrogant ass Zel’Dorvan.” He looked at his junior officer and shook his head. “Those people somehow found out about him attacking that farmstead and evacuated before we even headed this way.”
Major Zel’Carvan nodded. “Quite probably, which means we may be on a fool’s errand. The man they call Bel’Varan may be long gone by now.” He sighed and shook his head. “That village may have even been his home.”
The next morning the major and captain decided to continue north and make a big show of things to discourage any further raids. The best map they had showed an old Farindian Army fort just a day’s ride ahead.
The fortress of Kel’Merkal was a distinct and unpleasant surprise. Tall stone walls still surrounded the buildings, though the gates that stood tightly closed were of recently-milled timbers. Many men could be seen manning the walls, and more were joining them by the moment.
Dahral looked at Kalin and said, “I think this is the right place.” Kalin simply nodded his agreement.
“We are seeking the bandit Bel’Varan!” Major Zel’Carvan shouted. The only answer was a single arrow that fell a dozen paces short of the force. “As you wish! But any more raids into Evandian territory will be met with overwhelming force. You may have rebuilt your fort, but our Battle Magi can level it. Don’t make it worth the effort.” With that he rode his horse around his men and headed back south.
That night in camp Lieutenant Zel’Patrin asked, “Is that it? Aren’t we even going to try?”
Dahral looked at him and said, “No. That was an Imperial era fort, even if the gates are new. All we could accomplish by attacking them would have been to sacrifice our men. None of us would have made it to, much less over, those walls. We don’t even have our own archers with us.”
“But the king’s command--”
“Was to kill Bel’Varan,” Kalin said. “It was not to waste four hundred lives attacking that fortress. The general may lead the whole force north when we report what we found, but I doubt the king would think it was worth the cost.”
“But--”
“We may be coming back, but I doubt it,” Captain Zel’Ival said as he joined the discussion. “I think it is more likely that a holding force will be stationed at Harney Point--if it isn’t just abandoned entirely. According to the general, over three quarters of the people died. There really aren’t that many farmsteads in the area. Rather than try and save the town, the people may be offered land farther into Evandia and let this area go back to being wild.”
Everyone looked at Kalin for an answer. He shrugged and said, “He might let it go. It’s going to take a huge investment to rebuild, starting with clearing away the ruins. And there will always be bad memories associated with the name Harney Point, sort of like they are with Gorvanavad.” Most of the men who heard that name made gestures to protect against evil. “You see? Even though it was destroyed hundreds of years ago, people are still put off by the name.”
It took two days to return to Harney Point. Major Zel’Carvan made his report while his men saw to their horses. The decision was made in Twin Bridges and delivered via message book the next day: attack.
“That’s a surprise,” Kalin muttered under his breath.
“Yes, it is,” Dahral agreed just as softly.
The entire force, all but twenty of Fort Zel’Hardan’s twelve hundred and sixty-three soldier compliment, set out toward the Farindian fortress of Kel’Merkal. It was to be a long march. The trail that the mounted troops covered in two days took six days for the foot-troops. When they had at last reached the fortress, the general deployed his troops.
“Archers, ten flights. Begin,” he commanded, and his two hundred archers sent two thousand arrows into the fortress.
Before the defenders could regroup, Adept Battlemage Fel’Corvis hit the gates with everything he had. The gates exploded, sending the remains spinning through the inner fort.
Now the screams of women and children could be heard coming from the fort. The general ordered the infantry forward with the instructions, “Capture, do not kill unless you must.”
Three hundred infantrymen charged through what was left of the gates with a roar of anger. Inside they found dozens of dead and injured men and women in the courtyard. Screams were heard in the inner court and keep, and those screams drew them forward.
The people inside were mostly women and children who offered little resistance as they were herded out of the fortress. Lord General Zel’Faran had all of the survivors brought together so he could address them.
“We are after the man who calls himself Bel’Varan.”
“He’s dead! You murdered him!” a woman screamed. “He was reinforcing the gates when you destroyed them.”
The general nodded. “Let this stand as a warning to anyone else who thinks raiding Evandia and slaughtering a whole town is acceptable. The Evandian army will exact retribution for such acts.” He looked at Colonel Zel’Freedan and said, “Sound recall. It’s time to go home.”
At the colonel’s order, the buglers began recalling the troops. Some of the captives, not understanding the bugle tones, began wailing, thinking they were going to be slaughtered, but the troops all just marched away.
The Raiders brought up the rear, and Kalin struggled with what had happened. He looked at Dahral and asked, “Is that it? Are we just going to take their word that Bel’Varan is dead?”
Dahral shook his head. “We don’t have a Truth-Seer with us, Kal. We have to take their word about it. And honestly, if he isn’t, he probably will be soon. He brought the wrath of the Army down on them. We didn’t get a count of how many we killed, but I’ll bet he’s blamed for every one of those deaths.”
> Kalin shook his head. “I hate to admit it, but I’m glad we didn’t have to go in.”
“I am as well, Kal,” Dahral murmured. “Even if they had been armed, they were civilians, not soldiers. And only a few of them were the bandits we were after. I’d bet half of those people were from that abandoned village.”
Kalin nodded, but remained silent until they camped for the night. Even then, he only spoke when he had to. Major Zel’Carvan noticed how quiet he was being and took him aside.
“Lieutenant Zel’Andral, is there something bothering you?”
Kalin nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Would you care to talk about it?”
Kalin nodded again. “I can’t help but wonder if we accomplished anything up here in Farindia. Did we really kill the bandits we were after, or did we kill someone else while they escaped?”
The major thought for a moment, then sighed and shook his head. “Good questions, but not your concern. Not for two more years, at least. When you officially become Prince Lieutenant Zel’Andral, Heir to Evandia, then you’ll need to worry about things like that. For now, let the general worry about what we accomplished. I assure you, he is.”
The major paused again. “We showed that we have the resolve to exact retribution for raids like that one. We showed that we won’t let it go unchallenged. We showed the people around that so-called warlord that they may have to pay for his misdeeds.”
Kalin nodded and said, “Yes, sir.” But he still looked unsure.
Now the major put a friendly hand on Kalin’s shoulder. “Kalin, you are by definition a special case. For any other first-year lieutenant, I’d tell you to tend to your own duty and leave such thoughts to the general and king. But your father is the king, and one day you will be. So, we’ll compromise: ask me questions like this, not the general. We’ll talk it out, but leave the decisions to the king and generals. That’s the price they pay for the fancy offices and big tents. And don’t think for a moment that it isn’t a heavy price.”
The Coravian Conflict (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 5) Page 29