“One to each company.”
The third captain, a man whose name Ava had not yet learned, sputtered. “Jumla. One sorcerer is not nearly enough.”
“It will have to be. Our other sorcerers will have their own task to complete here at camp. To ease your concerns, Ava will get with each of you later today and instruct you on how to better kill their sorcerers.”
I will?
Lungile cut in, “Jumla Danso, I really don’t think that will be necessary.”
“She and her brother fought and killed many Geneshan sorcerers while working in small units. It would be foolish not to incorporate at least some of those tactics into our own. Understood?”
“Yes, Jumla,” Lungile said with much resignation.
“What if we come across more of our dead?” the third captain asked, poorly hiding the uneasiness in his voice.
“Avoid them at all costs. Do not engage. Pull back and return here if necessary.” Danso paused while stroking his cheek. She could see that he debated with himself on whether to share more of his plan. But just as she had seen her brother do many times before, he decided to withhold information. “See to choosing your companies. We’ll discuss this in more detail as the scouts return with their reports. Dismissed.”
The captains filed out begrudgingly. Ava followed.
Danso called. “High Mage Ava. Stay behind for another word.”
She stopped and caught the scowl Lungile gave over his shoulder as he exited.
Returning to the table, she asked. “Yes?”
“Do you have a problem teaching my captains? You were clearly displeased.”
“More surprised. It wasn’t something we had discussed. It’s not a problem, it’s just there isn’t a great deal of time to work with them and also instruct your sorcerers on more earth-based magic.”
“More time than you think. My soldiers adapt quickly. Address your men first by telling them of the mission, then meet with my captains. After that, focus on my sorcerers.”
She nodded, already feeling weary from what she had to do in such a short period of time.
Ah, the joys of doing a good job. Rewarded with more work.
“I have another concern,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“Soldiers with a resistance to sorcery.”
“Like myself?”
“They don’t need to have a resistance as strong as yours, though that would be great. Any resistance, even a small one, could make a huge difference when targeting sorcerers. However, you haven’t made those individuals easily identifiable.”
He frowned. “Admittedly, we’ve never used those with a resistance as well as we should have.”
“That should change now,” she said. “Especially if you’re only allowing each company to take along one sorcerer. Could you have several sorcerers go through your ranks and mark those with a resistance? We should add at least a handful to each company. The rest can be used later on the plain.”
He bobbed his head. “I’ll trust your judgment in that regard. Were you planning to add any Southern Kingdom soldiers to your company?”
“No. I thought it didn’t make sense to introduce too many new faces.” She raised an eyebrow. “Is there a reason for asking?”
He hesitated, and Ava could see his struggle. “I’m sending you to the most dangerous area.”
She snorted. “Just like old times in the Turine army.”
“I don’t want you to fall back like the others if you come across any of the dead being used.”
“Oh?”
“It wouldn’t make sense to the enemy since they’ll know none of you are from the Southern Kingdoms. Acting as frightened as the others will make them suspicious of our plan. Do whatever you need to do to stop everyone and everything there. Allow only a man or two to escape if possible so that the tale of what happened gets back to the main host. Let their uncertainty in how to treat you factor into their plans.”
“I’ll see it done.”
He handed her a piece of parchment. “I know that you are not religious, but I ask that you please repeat this prayer over any of the dead you come upon. It isn’t much, but perhaps Engai will understand my intent.”
For anyone else, she would have laughed, bunched the wad of parchment up and thrown it away. But knowing the personal war Danso waged, she carefully placed the parchment under her leathers and said, “I’ll see it done also.”
He gave a slight nod. “Thank you. Dismissed.”
CHAPTER 30
At the top of a low rise, I shielded my eyes against the afternoon sun and surveyed the lowlands surrounding the twisting road ahead. We had made good progress thus far, but with several hours still before sunset, I signaled for us to push on.
The journey had been mostly quiet that first day. Scouts ranged several miles ahead with no signs to cause worry. There wasn’t much chatter, small conversations here and there kept low and brief. Everyone bore a seriousness I appreciated. Reuma had done well in those she had selected.
Myra rode at my side the entire time, frequently tossing concerned looks my way. I wasn’t exactly sure what Damaris had shared with her regarding the depth of my struggles, but she seemed on constant guard.
I had worried that armor, weapons, and leading a host would bring up unwanted memories. Oddly, I felt mostly at ease.
Taking advantage of that comfort, I decided to reduce Myra’s worry by starting a conversation with her about several possible formations of our men based on our knowledge of Sinsca from Chadar and Galya.
Her perspective complimented my own, bringing up more than one point of interest I hadn’t considered.
Guilt crept into my mind at the joy of our discussions. I hadn’t realized how little time we had spent together as of late with all the work. Zadok either. Sure, we saw each other in the mornings and for a few moments at night, but I missed spending nearly all of our time together on the road traveling south. That hadn’t been my intent. Yet, in my desire to make Kasala into something that would provide for our future and would have also made Lasha happy, I had begun to neglect the two people I cared about most.
“Are you all right, Pa?” Myra asked.
“Yes and no. Just thinking about how we haven’t spent nearly the time together that we used to before Kasala. I’m sorry about that.”
She paused. “So no bad memories then? No shaking or anything?”
“None.”
She furrowed her brow, likely trying to figure how truthful I was being. “What is it like when you have a bad memory? What do you think about? What do you feel?”
I felt a small tightness in my chest, reminiscent of those moments. That scared me since I had just remarked to myself how at ease I was.
“I’d rather not get into that right now.”
“I’m not going to let you push me away anymore, Pa.”
I clenched my jaw. “I’m not pushing you away.”
“You are. You push me away every time you refuse to share your life with me.”
“I’m trying to protect you.”
“To the detriment of yourself.”
“It’s what parents do. You’ll understand one day.”
“Maybe, but not today. I want to help you, but you’re not letting me. Do you know how frustrating that is? Aunt Ava told Damaris that some people in the army who went through what you and Ira are going through killed themselves.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not going to kill myself.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“I do.”
I kept to myself that suicidal thoughts had crept into my mind more than once. However, I truly believed I wouldn’t end my life. At least not as long as my kids lived. I wouldn’t abandon them willingly, not after I had been forced to leave them twice already.
; “You say that, but who knows how bad things could get if you keep yourself so closed off from everyone?” She paused, and when she spoke again, I could hear the sobs she fought against. “As it is, Zadok and I couldn’t stop Ma from dying.”
My heart sank. “Gods, Myra, please don’t blame yourself for your mother’s death. There was nothing you could do. What happened to her wasn’t your fault. Or your brother’s.”
If anything it was my fault for ever making her leave the Southern Kingdoms.
“We know that. But still the thought of what we could have done differently is there.” She turned to me, eyes welling. My own vision went blurry too. “We love you Pa. We can’t lose you.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, and Molak-be-damned if I didn’t feel the wetness on mine. It was a good thing everyone else rode behind us.
“I love you both too,” I said. “You and your brother are everything to me.”
“Then show us by letting us help. Put aside your pride or your worries about how we might perceive you. Be open with us.” She took a slow breath. “Nothing you can say or do will change our love.”
I shook my head. “I do love you. Truly. And I’ll think about what you said. But I can’t talk about it right now. Really. I need my head clear and focused for what we’re about to deal with. I don’t want to make myself more susceptible to a bad memory. Can you at least understand that?”
She clenched her jaw in frustration, but reluctantly agreed. “When this is done—”
“When this is done, we’ll figure something out. You have my word.”
That seemed to appease her. But I knew it would be brief. She was my daughter after all. I needed to make some decisions before she broached the subject again. Could I share my struggles with them? If not all, perhaps enough to at least ease their worries?
I sighed, wishing I had Lasha for help.
I redirected our conversation.
Quipping, “You know, maybe you should be mayor of Kasala instead of me.”
Her eyes widened. “What!”
“I’m serious. You’ve got the mind for it. You pick holes in my plans better than even your aunt. And the way you’ve always had a head for strategy and viewing all possible angles in games like crests, well . . .”
She snorted. “It takes more than being good at a game to be mayor, Pa. Battle plans with wooden pieces and making decisions for a town aren’t exactly the same thing.”
“True. But they do have similarities. Organization and leadership are essential. You have other intangibles too. Just today, I noted how well you interact with our squad leaders. You’ve come a long way with that.”
She grinned. “Just trying to follow the advice you and Aunt Ava gave me. Also, the squad leaders know that you’re really the one in charge. Just like in Kasala, they know Reuma is. I doubt they’d be as receptive if I led them outright. Few grown men want to take orders from a teenage girl.”
She had a point and continued, “I think the rest of town would react in pretty much the same way.”
“For now, but in time it might be something to consider. I sure don’t want the role of mayor to be a lifetime position.”
She gave me a dubious look. “Could you actually give that up?”
“What do you mean?”
“Can you handle not being in control? You say you don’t like leading, but you seem to hate not making the final decision.”
I snorted. “There’s some truth to that.”
“More than some.”
I chuckled. “And here I thought I was beginning to mellow. I could easily follow someone I trusted. Someone who took their role as seriously as me.”
“And I’m the only person that fits that description in all of Kasala?”
“No. Reuma also comes to mind. That’s one of several reasons why I left her in charge. However, I don’t see why you couldn’t do the job just as well as anyone else in a couple years.”
She sat straighter in the saddle.
“You like the idea the more you think about it, don’t you?”
“It is beginning to appeal to me. Mainly because I think it would be funny to order you around.”
I laughed. “I bet it would.”
* * *
My hand tightened around the wrist of my opponent, but the big ox of a man had a wrist like a tree trunk. He twisted away easily. If I hadn’t known any better, I’d swear the man was D’engiti given his size. However, my opponent was Malduk, not Geneshan.
We had received reports that the Geneshans had somehow managed an alliance with the mountain people, but no one had taken those reports seriously. The Malduks weren’t known for making deals.
However, my unit getting attacked by a small group of their fighters validated those reports.
An open palm struck my temple. I fell back, stars dancing before my eyes. I blinked fast to clear my vision. The threat of steel glinting in the evening sun awakened my instincts. The Malduk’s dagger came down, targeting my chest at incredible speed. I slipped closer to my opponent rather than away, coming up under his attacking arm.
Doing so negated the stab that would have punctured the light armor I wore. The edge of his blade slid down against my back with only a fraction of the force intended as I slammed my head under my opponent’s chin. It did not do the damage I had hoped. In fact, the blow only seemed to anger him based on the gritted tone he spoke in. I didn’t speak the Malduk language, but I had a pretty strong hunch his words held few pleasantries.
Gods, he was tough.
He tried to maneuver his knife arm to strike at my armpit where there was little protection. I entangled him the best I could to prevent his attack. We fell to the ground, grappling and rolling in a mess of limbs—kicking, punching, pushing, and twisting. I knew countless ways to defend myself in most any situation, but they were not always easy to recall, especially as the desperation of survival took over.
I took a knee in the crotch, thankfully not directly as I anticipated the blow and shifted to avoid the worst of it. Still, even a brush of a knee can cause a man to falter. The Malduk seized on the opportunity, his left elbow whipping across my face. He managed to wiggle his right arm free and attempted to stab me once more. I thrusted my hips out while yanking my arms free, using them to block the arm that held his dagger. The impact of our forearms jarred my shoulders. The Malduk grunted in what sounded like frustration.
He leaned forward with all his weight, pressing down with both arms as the tip of his dagger hovered less than a foot from my face. The blade lowered slowly. I was strong, but the Malduk was stronger, had better positioning, and outweighed me by at least thirty pounds.
“Molak-be-damned,” I gritted out.
He gave a snort, sounding pleased as if he sensed the inevitability of victory.
With a quick intake of breathe and every bit of strength I had left, I bucked and twisted my hips while allowing the dagger to come down. I was able to guide its descent enough so that it struck dirt less than a hair’s width from my face.
The jolt threw my opponent off balance. I seized on that, continuing to twist until I reversed positions with him—he on his back and me on top.
I whipped my right hand back, drawing the dagger from my thigh sheathe. It came around so that I could do to him what he had attempted on me. He blocked my attack just as I had blocked his. But I had anticipated that. Rather than use both arms to press down as he had, my left hand shot under his guard. The straight, rigid tips of my fingers stabbed into the soft skin of his unprotected throat.
I seized on him being distracted with trying to breathe, leaned with all my weight, and drove the dagger down until it glanced off the Malduk’s cheekbone and sunk into his eye. The sickening scrape of blade against bone sent a shiver down my spine as he convulsed beneath me. My stomach heaved as the blade stopped at the back of his skull.
/> I rolled off the Malduk as my heart practically leaped out of my throat. Too many times I had come close to dying. Once again, I managed to cheat Xank.
“I’ll make it home, Lasha,” I whispered. “I promise I’ll make it home.”
I rose quickly as the shouts of others in my unit engaged with the enemy sounded. I had to see that they made it home too.
* * *
I awoke to being tackled. That was a first.
“Sir, no!” someone shouted as I struck the ground. The impact cleared my head, as did the weight of my attacker.
I recognized his voice. “What in the name of the gods is going on, Lieutenant?”
Lieutenant Dar had served with me in Balak’s army in the second Geneshan war. Though I didn’t ask, I had no doubt that Reuma chose him to accompany us for both his experience and also because of his resistance to sorcery. Chadar thought Paki might have a minor sorcerer in Sinsca that he had kept hidden from the council.
At one point, a minor sorcerer would have concerned me little. I had ended the lives of many a sorcerer. Of course, I had a resistance myself then.
“Mayor, are you all right?” he asked with the weight of his frame pressing down on me.
Dar was a younger man than I. Definitely more agile. But I had the advantages of size and years of experience. I had half a mind to flip him off me. However, there had to be a reason for his actions.
“No, I’m not all right. You’re sitting on my Molak-be-damned back. What’s going on, soldier?”
My response seemed to waken something inside him. He scrambled off me and began apologizing. He reached out to help me to my feet. Normally, I would have shaken off that help, but being thrown to the ground had stirred several old injuries.
“Sir, I’m sorry. Your daughter shouted for help, and when I saw what you were doing to Ilan, well, I shouted your name, but you didn’t seem to hear me. I had to stop you and . . .”
He was babbling.
“I don’t understand. I was sleeping,” I said while turning to my bedroll.
But there, I saw a scene that nearly caused me to wet myself in fear.
Forever Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Four Page 24