by C. R. Daems
The three galloped straight at me. They made the mistake of bunching up. I released my pent-up Qi with all my power. The closest man flew from the saddle. One of the horses stumbled and went down. The third man's sword stroke at me bounced from my Qi and struck his horse in the neck. I wheeled and urged Windrunner to a gallop, feeling safe knowing no one could catch me on him. As we approached the remaining troops, Tebos pointed to their rear, a signal that had been arranged for just such an event. They turned and retreated.
The chase lasted for several hundred paces before Bolaha's warriors descended upon the Taal troops from every direction. The battle raged for several minutes, until the Taal troops broke free and retreated. Over four hundred bodies lay sprawled upon the battleground. Bolaha appeared a few minutes later with several warriors dragging three prisoners by ropes around their necks.
"The dog-soldiers lie dead and Taal is ours for the taking," she shouted and was greeted with a roar from her warriors. Before she could say more, Ayria appeared.
"Chief Bolaha, you and your tribe have done well protecting the dukes and the Qi'advisors. Negozi will be pleased with the Tendal. But we are not here for war."
Ayria looked to Tebos, who looked to me. I dismounted and approached the sergeant captive.
"Sergeant, who's the highest-ranking official remaining in the city?"
"Baron Shadad from Akan is here. He…advised Willberger to listen to Duke Tebos and Duke Sandar. But Willberger told him Duke Wenrich would make him a duke after he killed you."
"Duke Tebos, I would suggest you set up another meeting with Baron Shadad. He and the people in the city need to know about the truce so that they have the knowledge to choose their fate." Tebos needed a treaty, and the more barons who were willing to participate, the better the chances. Informing Shadad why we were here might elicit his participation.
It took a full day to arrange another meeting outside the gates. The city was severely undermanned after Willberger's blunder, and the knowledge that thousands of warriors waited outside the city made Shadad rightfully cautious. He seemed interested in the truce and excited when he learned he would be eligible to be tested for king. He was asked to send riders to the cities of Varma and Turret informing them of the truce and warned that the road to Inari was blocked. We left the next day for Irvetta.
* * *
It took two weeks. Stopping at Carne, Komi, and Himat on the way to Irvetta caused an extra five days' delay. But it was necessary to ensure the barons were aware of what had transpired since the meeting with the dukes at Inari. They were grateful for the information and appeared interested. Rightfully so: in a war their small towns would be breached in hours, and of course they were intrigued with the idea of being allowed to participate in the Royal Scepter testing.
When we reached Irvetta, I accompanied Tebos and Sandar to meet with Duke Fabiao just outside the city gate. To his credit, Fabiao only brought a detail of equal size to the meeting.
"I suppose you know King Wenrich had declared you two traitors and her a murderer," Fabiao said and turned toward me. "You were right, qi'Nisha. Duke Janko and I each lost over two hundred fifty troopers supporting Wenrich's venture into the Sands to teach them a lesson. I wonder what would have happened if we had followed his original suggestion and sent three thousand."
"They would have been slaughtered and Rhybac weakened and unable to wage a successful war." Sandar said. "Our scouting party discovered..."
"My God!" the lieutenant accompanying Fabiao exclaimed. Fabiao said nothing, but his facial muscles tightened.
"You think this...Negozi will honor this agreement? Or is it a clever trap like the one he caught Wenrich's scouting party in? What do you think, qi'Nisha?" Fabiao asked, all his attention on me.
"I'm no seer, Duke Fabiao. I believe Negozi wants land that will support his people and peace. Although he believes the tribes will win eventually, he realizes war with Rhybac would last many years, and he would like to avoid that," I said. "But his war chiefs want war and wouldn't mind generations of killings. The outcome will depend on you, Duke Janko, and Duke Sandar. Duke Tebos cannot choose."
"Why?"
"Negozi has Hala trapped, and Rhybac does not have the troops to defeat or push the tribes into the Sands. And they can't trust Hala at their backs. You three can, however, choose to unite with Wenrich and fight the tribes. Or you can agree to join with the tribes to elect a king using the Royal Scepter to form a new Rhybac." I paused to let Fabiao consider his options. "If two of you three decide on a treaty, I believe Negozi will honor his word."
"I would invite you to my castle, but I know you have no reason to trust me. I need to consider what you have said. Given you're not going to attack the castle," Fabiao smiled, "can you wait until tomorrow? I would like to speak to you again before you leave."
"Yes, we'll wait," Sandar said. We returned to our camp, a league west of Irvetta. To my surprise, Ayria and Bolaha joined us for the evening meal.
"If we ate like this every day, my warriors couldn't run a half day," Bolaha said while ripping at a roasted fowl Fabiao had delivered to us.
"Yes, the advantages of good land and living in one place," Irmak said. In a way, she could identify with Bolaha—they were both women, both in charge, and both in the same profession.
"What do you think he will do?" Ayria asked. The question wasn't directed at anyone, but she watched Tebos and Sandar, who sat together.
"Like qi'Nisha keeps pointing out to our annoyance, he must decide what he believes is best for his people. I wish he had a Qi'advisor to tell him all the truths he doesn't want to hear," Sandar said.
"I hope he wants war," Bolaha said as she left. The rest of the meal was eaten in silence.
The next day around noon, Fabiao and a detail of twenty troopers cantered into camp. They were soon surrounded by warriors, but there was no trouble.
"I've decided to accompany you to see Janko. I thought qi'Nisha made sense back at Inari, but I was hesitant to go against Wenrich. I'm willing to take a chance she's right again. I have to admit a treaty that keeps the tribes up near Hala is easier to agree to. Sorry, Tebos, but that's the truth."
* * *
The ride to Narissa took six days, including a one-day stop at the town of Tyna. Baron Clabbuo appeared interested in the news but would be governed by Janko's decision, as he was part of Castor Province. When we arrived, Duke Fabiao went into the city to talk to Janko. Several hours later they exited the city with a small detail of twenty troops. Janko smiled as he neared us.
"Well Tebos, Sandar, I see you really are traitors. You've joined with the tribes against Rhybac. King Wenrich will soon make short work of you and the tribes when we unite." He turned toward me. "And after that he'll close the Qi'temple."
"Then the Qi'temple has nothing to worry about," I replied.
"You think the barbarians will win. You're a fool woman not a wise one."
"Duke Janko, can you tell me how many warriors the tribes have and how many troops Rhybac can muster if you take all the troops from every town and city?"
"It doesn't matter. We're on horseback and will hack them down like the curs they are."
"Like your scouting detail did?"
"We killed thousands before they won."
"Were you there? Lieutenant Irmak was. Lieutenant, how many would you say the ‘curs' lost in the battle? And how many of Rhybac's troops survived?"
"No more than four hundred Sands warriors were killed, around two hundred were wounded. No troopers...survived." She choked on the last words.
"If you empty your towns and cities, leaving them unable to defend themselves, you can raise fewer than five thousand. And that includes Duke Sandar's troops. If you leave your towns and cities sufficient troops for minimum defense, you can raise fewer than three thousand. The ‘curs' have close to ten thousand warriors. And you will have King Wenrich leading you, who has already lost close to three thousand troops. Trusting that he has learned to win instead of lose ma
y not be the wisest of all possible decisions."
"We know what to expect now. Our mounted troops will prove superior."
"And how far can the troopers ride and have their horses fit to fight at the end of it?" I asked.
"Four, five leagues!"
"The ‘curs' can run fifteen leagues and fight at the end of it. And they can easily outmaneuver you, since they have no towns or cities to defend." Janko had the typical arrogance that refused to consider the facts—and worse—didn't want to accept those available to him.
Sandar raised a hand. "Enough. We have told you what we know; the decision is yours to make. We will choose a king the old way—using the Royal Scepter. Everyone there will be allowed to test. Those not there will be considered to have chosen war over peace." He wheeled his horse and rode off with us following.
* * *
"I agree with qi'Nisha's assessment," qi'Senka said while we sat around the fire eating. "The hard truths we all want to ignore or pretend aren't true."
"I have to admit I hadn't considered some of the things Nisha told Janko," Sandar said, looking into the fire. "We did slow down Bolaha's warriors on the way here, and we can't leave the towns without some means of defending themselves, which would leave us severely outnumbered. And Wenrich would be our king and leading us in war."
"Said like that, the picture isn't much better for you than it is for me." Tebos gave Sandar a weak smile.
"You've done it again, qi'Nisha. Not only told me things I don't want to hear but made me want to lash out against you. It's easy to jump to the conclusion that you're on Negozi's side, because your observations favor him." He shook his head like a wet dog. He raised a hand and a small smile touched his lips. "I know you're not. They're just the hard truths I don't want to hear."
"Qi'Rajini was right. We Qi are not all the same, although we were taught at the same school by the same instructors. I see her logic—afterward—but not always before. Therefore, I would not have taken the same actions nor given the same observations." Qi'Senka looked at me and smiled. "She's uniquely suited to be a wartime Qi'advisor."
I didn't think of myself as a wartime advisor, just a Qi'advisor. I was not even sure if I understood the difference, yet qi'Senka saw a difference between her, others, and me. I decided it didn't matter. I walked the Path.
"Qi'Senka, qi'Nisha, what will you do when war starts?" Tebos asked. Sandar's glance went from qi'Senka to me, and he leaned forward. Qi'Senka looked at me as if I decided her fate. The answer was obvious—to me.
"I will stay with you, until you no longer need or want me."
"You are right, of course, qi'Nisha. We're Qi'advisors whether in war or peace. I will stay with you, Duke Sandar, for as long as you wish." She smiled. "I may not be able to make you as mad as qi'Nisha can, but I will try."
* * *
The trip to Inari took five days. The dukes spent a great deal of time together. Inari would mean a meeting with Wenrich and unpredictable consequences. Bolaha spent much of her time with a third of her tribe scouting ahead of the main group. I suspected she hoped to encounter some troops to fight. Witch Ayria rode with qi'Senka and me most of the time.
"What do you think, qi'Nisha?" Ayria asked on one of our rest stops. Tomorrow we would arrive at Inari, and even the land seemed to be holding its breath.
"Wenrich sees himself as king; therefore, he can do nothing except to oppose those who seek to overthrow him. He will look for allies when we leave, because he has to attend the meeting at Sobek," I said. I had meditated for many hours on what I knew, but it was too little to draw any meaningful observations. "The barons of the small towns would like peace because they are the most vulnerable in war, not because they believe they will be made king. Like Duke Sandar, they believe only dukes are eligible. The province leaders are unpredictable—they have no Qi'advisors or witches."
Ayria laughed. "Which means they will act foolish like war chiefs."
"Yes, and they will be led by Wenrich, not Negozi. So they will cause much hardship before they lose." It was not my decision, but I could not help feeling sorry for the many who would suffer for the deeds of a few.
"You are right. There are far more losers in war than winners, even on the side that claims victory," qi'Senka said. She had been quietly listening.
* * *
This time, the dukes allowed Bolaha to position her warriors not only closer but positioned to counter a major attack from Inari. Of course, surprise required them to remain out of sight. Again, I rode with Tebos and Sandar to within a quarter league of the city. This time Ayria rode along. Sergeant Mirce approached the city gates with two other troopers. We waited with a detail of two hundred.
Several hours passed before Mirce returned. "Sirs, after he realized you weren't going to join him for dinner, he gave me this scroll to give to you."
Sandar unrolled the scroll and handed it to Tebos after reading it.
"He says he'll meet us here tomorrow morning at sunrise. The damn fool. He has less than eight hundred troopers at Inari after the disaster at Xihu, and he intends to set a trap for us," Sandar said, his hands shaking with fury. It took him a few minutes to gain control before he spoke again. "Qi'Senka, as my advisor what do you suggest?"
"It would solve one problem but may create another." Qi'Senka looked at me and I nodded. "Negozi must prove he was forced into killing, or the kingdom would be in chaos whether a king was appointed or not."
Ayria sat quietly watching me.
"You agree, qi'Nisha?" Although she stated it as a question, she really wanted to know why.
"There will be war, but all must see it as necessary for peace."
"Send a scroll back to Wenrich informing him of the meeting and conditions. Then we should leave," qi'Senka said.
"Well, Tebos, do you agree?" Tebos looked to me and I nodded.
"Yes."
Back at our camp, Sandar wrote a scroll describing the conditions of the treaty and the meeting at Sobek to select a king. He sent three troopers to deliver the scroll to Wenrich as we moved out under cover of darkness toward Sobek. Duke Sandar decided to detour to Xihu to see his family and pick up another two hundred troopers. We continued on to Sobek.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sobek: The making of a king
The atmosphere in Sobek was subdued. Warriors were stationed at the gates to the city, at the castle, and in the temple. Their presence ensured Negozi's warriors had easy access to the city in the event of trouble, and the Royal Scepter remained safe. Negozi maintained his camp just outside the gates. We found him sitting in front of his tent with Baron Dilcher and tu'Boffov.
"I see you returned with most of my warriors. You must not have encountered any significant trouble, but I did hear you ran from Duke Wenrich." He held up a hand to stop Tebos or Sandar from responding. Then he looked to me. "Chief Bolaha is very mad. She claims you had an opportunity to end the war and you chose not to so they can consolidate their forces." He cocked his head, eyes shining with amusement. Witch Ayria turned her head away from me but said nothing.
Following her gaze, I saw Bolaha staring at me. I nodded and closed my eyes, sucking energy from the ground, until I felt like part of the earth. A deep peace engulfed me as Qi filled me, and I could barely keep myself anchored to the ground. It took all my willpower to return and begin walking toward Bolaha. She drew a knife and her lips thinned into a sneer.
"You are a traitor and need to die before you poison all of us with your talk." She crouched slightly as I approached. "The Witch and Negozi agree. They are doing nothing to stop me."
"Killing Wenrich would have united the other dukes and barons against you. It would have looked like treachery. You would win eventually, but it would cost many lives, and the act would never be forgiven."
"You lie." She lunged at me but ran into a solid shield of Qi. She stepped back and lunged again. The shield compressed but easily held.
"You would have killed women and children. Is that the warrior's w
ay?"
"You are a sand viper." She knelt suddenly, scooping up sand, which she flung in my direction. Having little mass, some found its way to me and my eyes. Unprepared, my shield collapsed. I heard Bolaha's war cry and felt her lunge. I raised my arms and spun, creating a swirling force of Qi. But it was a second too late to stop her knife slicing across my arms.
I stood there, my Qi now throbbing protectively around me, waiting for my vision to clear. When it did, Bolaha lay on the ground several steps away, fighting to breathe. I walked over and knelt beside her.
"Chief Bolaha, there will be war, and you will kill many dogs. Because unlike Negozi, Duke Wenrich is a fool with no honor. It will be an honorable war that will bring peace and glory to you and the tribes."
Between gasps, her gaze locked onto my eyes—deciding. "If you are not a traitor to the tribes then you are a traitor to Rhybac." She scowled at me, our eyes still locked together.
"If I'm a traitor, then I'm a traitor to both the tribes and Rhybac, for I tell each what I see. It is for each of you to do with it what you see fit. The wise will benefit, because they will use that to their benefit. I do not choose who will be wise and who will not." I waited until her breathing became normal. "Do you think Negozi a fool?"
She shook her head ever so slightly. "No."
I rose and walked back to Negozi and the others. When I reached them, Ayria wrapped a wet, strong-smelling cloth around the cut on each arm. "You could have killed her," she said, more a question—why didn't you?—than a statement.
"That would have caused Negozi and you trouble, threatened the treaty and eventually the peace. Besides, she is loyal to Negozi and the tribes.
"Well done, qi'Nisha. Yes, her death would have been unfortunate as well as Duke Wenrich's. What do you expect he and the others will do?" He was ignoring the others to my embarrassment.