by Kal Spriggs
“Captain Swordbreaker, is there some problem?” Arren asked. Clearly the older man saw that same discomfort and decided to rib him over it.
“Just trying to get used to all this, Arren,” Aerion answered sourly. “You've a bit more experience being an officer, I've just had the past month.” Katarina had promoted him to Captain of Third Company after the losses in their ranks. While he was inexperienced in leading, he had Jasen to advise him and he had shown enough potential that Arren and Bulmor had endorsed the decision.
“Well, at least you haven't let it go to your head, like some,” Eleanor said drly, with a glance over at Samen. “Oh, Samen, I didn't see you there. How's your training coming along?”
Her fellow highland villager gave her a grimace and Katarina raised her hand to cover a smile of her own. Samen's company had been drilling all their extra hours after they came in last during the latest competition between companies. The fact that Aerion's company had finished better than his wasn't missed, especially since Third Company had the most new recruits in order to offset their losses.
Aerion had settled those new recruits in, though, and he and his people trained with an intensity that Katarina appreciated. The grizzled survivors of the attack on the Ryftguard had plenty of combat experience and made a painful example of how important training and preparation were. In many ways, Katarina still blamed herself, not only for their losses, but for the ill-preparation and mistakes on her part that had made those losses possible. They still didn't know why Hector had two companies at the fortress rather than the one that had been reported.
“Well,” Katarina said, with a glance at where Gerlin stood, “Perhaps we should get back to business.” She nodded at the scout and he and Kara unrolled the map he held across the table. It was a large map, finely detailed and worth more than its weight in gold. She was glad they had managed to capture it and other items of value intact here. “Gerlin's scouts have confirmed that the nearest force belongs to the Baron of Nine Peaks. We can assume his men are coming in to support us.”
“I would be surprised if they aren't led by young Lord Jack, Baron Theodore's son,” Arren said, his voice took on a lecturer's tone, “I've met the boy a few times, very spirited, intelligent, and quite experienced. He'll make a fine ally...”
“The second force,” Gerlin deliberately talked over the older man in order to prevent one of his famously long stories, “belongs to Covle Darkbit and they're moving quickly, either to cut us off from further reinforcements or possibly in the hopes of attacking us before we're ready.” He glanced at Katarina, his blue eyes clouded, “There's also word that they've been sacking any villages which haven't immediately denounced you upon their arrival.”
Katarina grimaced at that, but she didn't have any way to do anything about it just yet. Covle's force was two companies strong and by all reports there was another company or two of heavy cavalry moving in to catch up with them soon. “Right,” she said and looked at her quartermaster, “Solis, how are we situated for supplies?”
“We've weapons and equipment aplenty, food stocks as well, my Lady,” Solis said. “I would say we could equip another two companies from scratch, if we needed to do so. Even with the forces coming to join us and the refugees we've seen so far, we've got the supplies to hold out over the winter and well into summer. With the trade we've allowed, we're bringing in more supplies and weapons, as well.”
Katarina looked at Bulmor who sighed as he stood, “As far as our numbers, we've brought both Second and Third Companies back to full strength. If Lord Jack's forces get here in time, we'll muster six companies, fully equipped and well trained.” He cleared his throat, “Which means we can secure the Ryftguard and still look to other objectives. However, our mobile forces will still be seriously outnumbered against those of Lord Hector's here in the south.” He pointed at several of the marks on the map, “Darkbit put two companies in the field under his own banner, with either another two companies or an over-sized company of heavy cavalry headed to join up with them. In addition, there's another four companies in the hills near Zielona Gora.” He paused and then gestured at several of the towns, “Each of the main towns has another company or more of mercenaries, with two full companies of infantry at Zielona Gora and another three companies at Lower Debber.” He shrugged, “In all, even with six companies of our own, our combat strength is less than what the Usurper has in the field already.”
Katarina nodded at that and her eyes swept the table. She saw Aerion frown, his finger tracing some symbols on the map. “Aerion, what is it?”
He looked up and his single blue eye was startled, “Sorry, my Lady, I didn't mean to side-track the meeting.” He flushed as all eyes turned on him. “I'll admit, I'm not very good at reading the maps yet, even with Arren teaching me, but I've got a question about this third force, the one near Zielona Gora?”
Katarina glanced at Gerlin, who shrugged, “We haven't heard much of them yet. They're weeks away and they're not moving fast.”
“Well,” Aerion said, hesitantly, “We've got them marked as more of Hector's men, but I'm not certain that makes sense. I mean, Zielona Gora is large enough to house a substantial garrison, right?”
Arren Smith nodded and stroked his beard, “I'd guess an entire battalion just within their barracks.” The city was the largest in the south, with a population of several hundred thousand.
“Right,” Aerion said, “So why are these four companies just loitering in the hills nearby? If they're out there training, I guess that would make sense, but if they're just sitting there, waiting, why not move them into town? I mean, wouldn't it be easier to keep them supplied?”
Katarina nodded slowly at that, “True enough.” She looked at Kara, “Do we have any other information on them?” Solis's daughter had proven invaluable at gleaning information from the refugees and recruits that came to them. The fact that she had continued to do her duties as their spy-master despite being in her final months of pregnancy impressed Katarina, all the more for knowing that she carried Josef's child, one of the men who had died fighting for Katarina at Southwatch. For which I owe her more than I can ever repay, Katarina thought sadly.
Kara gave Aerion an evaluative look, “No... not yet. Most of our information from that far out is weeks old, brought by refugees who didn't want to get too close.” She hesitated, “They might not be supporters of the Usurper, but I've no idea if Darkbit even knows they're there, if that's the case. We only know because we're questioning everyone about movements of troops... that could be a potential asset.”
“Or maybe they're keeping a reserve force hidden, for now, in the hopes that they can hit us with it if we get cocky,” Bulmor grunted. “We come out, they pincer us between their two forces.
Gerlin nodded at that, “Our paranoid friend has a point. They might have them out there for the express purpose of concealing their full strength. So if we tip our hand that we know they're there, we take away the opportunity to surprise them with the fact that we know about them.”
Katarina nodded slowly, “Either way, we need to find out more about that force. Arren, I thought I saw that damned scribe Yarris around here. He's a knack for getting details out of people, how about you set him to help Kara on finding out if anyone's seen or heard anything about that group in the hills?”
She saw Aerion choke and start to cough at that and she cocked an eyebrow at him, “Something wrong, Aerion?” She couldn't help tweaking him a bit, especially with how uncertain he seemed about his new rank. Never when it mattered, she had seen. In combat practice and drill he was completely professional. It was only in meetings like this where he seemed uncertain as to his position.
He cleared his throat and flushed, “Sorry, my Lady, just, taken aback a bit, I guess.” Katarina frowned at that. She remembered, then, that Aerion seemed to have almost as much a dislike of the scribe as she did. Certainly, she remembered the suspicious looks he'd given the stork-like man back at their original camp in the Tuc
ola Forest. The ancestors only know how the scribe ever caught up with us, she thought with some venom, I thought we were clear of him after he disappeared in the forest.
“Not a worry, my Lady,” Arren said easily, “I've a good relationship with the scribe, I'll make certain he asks the right questions of the right people.”
“You do that,” Katarina said with a scowl, “and keep him well clear of me in the process, I'm busy enough without listening to him nattering on about making me famous.” For some reason, Arren seemed to find that amusing. Katarina reminded herself that the old man had an odd sense of humor and continued. “Well, I think we should focus now on preparations to welcome our reinforcements... and also to make certain that we're sure of their loyalties before we give them free rein here in the Ryftguard. Bulmor, why don't you lay out some of your ideas regarding securing...”
***
Captain Aerion Swordbreaker
Aerion tugged at his eyepatch and grimaced as he moved to the front of his formation. It still felt odd to think of Third Company as 'his' and he still felt as if he'd look over his shoulder to see Captain Bartek or Section Leader Maksim glowering at him.
Yet as he stepped in front of the formation and saw the disciplined ranks, he felt that unease melt away. They had done the impossible together, and while his own part seemed small against the whole of their accomplishments, Lady Katarina had chosen him to lead them. “Company!” he called out, his voice taking on a bellow that he'd practiced with Senior Sergeant Jasen. “Present, arms!”
Almost a hundred spears came forward in a single, perfect movement. Among the ranks, he saw his sergeants positioned, their own weapons presented.
Aerion turned then and drew his own sword. He still felt a tremble of unease as he drew the Starblade. He knew that he had to carry it, but to use it still felt unreal, as if he had to disconnect part of his mind to use the blade, else he would be frozen with terror.
Across the field, he saw First Company also at present arms, just as the lead companies from Nine Peaks came down the road between them. He'd thought the whole thing silly, as they prepared for it, but seeing the way the vanguard of their reinforcements seemed to draw strength from the display, and then seeing how the tired men in the column seemed to step more briskly, he realized that maybe it wasn't so silly after all.
As the vanguard moved forward and formed up, a party of riders followed behind, and then the other three companies marched in, their columns peeling away into formations in a way that Aerion understood far better now. Like most of Lady Katarina's forces, they fought ranked with spears, though some of them carried short hafted, heavy-headed halberds and others carried longer spears, some twice the height of a man. They had a mix of equipment too, he saw. Those at the front bore tall shields and wore chain hauberks while those behind wore lighter studded leather jackets.
As both formations stood silently facing each other for a long moment, Gerlin finally signaled for the company commanders to come forward. Aerion nodded at Jasen, who moved up to stand at the front of the formation. In truth, Aerion knew that Jasen could handle the company in a fight well enough. It was, he thought, the other details that the Senior Sergeant couldn't, or wouldn't, do. He doesn't want the responsibility, Aerion knew, and I can't blame him, some of this keeps me awake late into the night. Still, Aerion felt uncertainty return as he jogged to where Lady Katarina's welcoming committee had formed up. He knew that Jasen could handle his company, but he still felt uneasy giving that responsibility to someone else.
He caught up to the group just as it stepped forward to meet the group of riders as they dismounted. Arren gave him a wink, “Out of breath, young lad?” Aerion pinched his lips together in a frown at that. He well knew that Arren was actually Aramer and was far younger and more fit than he put on, yet he couldn't very well say anything of the sort, just as he couldn't mention to Katarina that Yarris Ingoldsby was also Aramer.
The two groups converged and at their head, Aerion saw a young-looking man, with a shock of red hair and a healthy dose of freckles. He wore what Aerion thought was called full plate and carried a large sword over his shoulder and a smaller one on his hip. As he neared, he went to one knee, “Lady Katarina Emberhill, I am Lord Jack of Nine Peaks, and I am here to swear fealty to you for both myself and my father.”
Katarina stopped, clearly surprised by the freely offered oath. Aerion felt a sense of relief, though, that apparently things were as they seemed. Surely, he thought, Aramer wasn't wrong when he said we could trust them?
He saw Katarina hesitate for a moment more, before she stepped forward, “Rise, Lord Jack, and welcome. I accept your oath, and that of your father, and bid you welcome to Ryftguard.”
“He hasn't come alone, my Lady,” another voice spoke. A tall young man, with blonde hair and blue eyes stepped forward and also went to one knee. “And I, too, give you my oath, in my own name.”
Aerion saw Katarina's blue eyes go wide in shock, “Jarek?”
The blonde man gave her a slight smile, “In the flesh, my Lady. And it is good to see you alive and well, also.” His smile faded, “I've been living with Lord Theodore of Nine Peaks since Hector had my father killed. He and his son have kept me hidden from Hector's men, while I've had to listen to what those bastards have done to my lands under Darkbit's guidance.”
Aerion felt a flutter of unease as he saw Katarina's face soften, “Well, Jarek, it is good to see you alive. I...” she trailed off, a brief tone of weakness in her voice. When she spoke again, Aerion recognized how close to tears she was. “I've missed you. Ancestors know, it's been a while.”
She looked around at the others and seemed to realize she had said too much, “Well,” she said, brusquely, “Lord Jack, our Quartermaster will get with your sergeants to tell them where they can bed their men down. In the meantime, why don't you and your officers join us in the conference room?”
“Absolutely, my Lady,” Lord Jack said quickly. He stood and barked out orders to his men. Aerion didn't miss how quickly they moved, clearly they were used to him taking command. He wasn't a useless noble, at least, which made Aerion feel uncomfortable as he stared at the man Katarina had called Jarek.
They had a past together, something that Aerion could not compete with. He felt unsettled at that, off balance. Something in him wanted to hate the young man... and he wondered if his chances with Katarina had been utterly crushed. It's only fitting, he thought darkly, she's a noble, he's a noble, a damned commoner like me has no chance getting his hopes up.
The thought did him little solace as he watched Katarina and Jarek talk and laugh as they led the way back into the Ryftguard.
***
“All three companies are battle-hardened from fighting both Norics and some of the sorcerer-spawn from Black Peak Pass, damned good sport that!” Lord Jack said loudly. Aerion had come to realize that everything the young man did was larger than life. There was a rowdiness and raucousness to him that was both abrasive and yet oddly disarming. It was almost as if he thought himself one of the warriors of legend, who fought monsters, rescued damsels, and went on quests. No one, Aerion thought, really behaved like that, yet it was too genuine to be an act.
“You have to see them in action to believe it,” Jarek said warmly from his seat next to Lady Katarina. “I've trained with them a bit, but they're all totally dedicated. This is just what they could spare, you know, they've got another two companies back home to keep their lands secure.”
Aerion gritted his teeth as Katarina smiled at Jarek. The warmth in that smile was that of a shared connection, a friendship between social equals. “Well,” Katarina said lightly, “We've some battle hardened soldiers of our own, which I think will impress you as well.” She looked around and her gaze seemed to linger on Aerion. He tried to keep his face as expressionless as possible, but he thought he saw some understanding in her eyes. That, most of all, twisted his guts. She realizes that I'm hurting, he thought, and she feels sorry for me.
&
nbsp; Lady Katarina spoke up, “For those of you who don't know, Jarek, that is, Lord Jarek, is the son of Lord Eliasz, my father's chief adviser and the rightful Baron of Zielona Gora. Lord Hector had him killed and we all thought that Jarek must have died, as well.” She smiled a bit, “Jarek and I were raised together as children, so I'm very glad that he's still with us.”
“A close fought thing,” Jarek said softly. “If not for Lord Jack, here, I'd be buried in a shallow grave. His father sent him to help me escape Zielona Gora after Hector's men seized the town.” He shook his head, “I wish I could have taken my younger brother with me when I left, but there were too many guards on him.”
Aerion paled as he realized that it was Jarek's brother who had judged him and two others from Watkowa Village guilty of the murder of Lady Katarina... and ordered them given the Traitor's Death. Only Aerion had survived that, “Your brother is the Baron of Zielona Gora?” he asked, incredulously.
Jarek nodded, “He's... not well. My father asked me to look after him. Darkbit uses him.” He looked at Aerion and cocked his head, “Are you Swordbreaker, then?”
As Aerion felt the attention in the room settle on him, he flushed and nodded, “I am.”
To Aerion's surprise and chagrin, Jarek rose to his feet and then gave a deep bow, “My apologies, then, Aerion Swordbreaker, for I heard of the injustice done to you. I swear to you, my brother didn't understand what Covle Darkbit made him do, but even so, my family owes you a vast debt for that injustice.” Aerion stared at him, unable to reply. He wanted, even more, to hate the man, but the kindness and empathy he saw in Jarek's face was too much.
Thankfully, his mother spoke, her own voice harsh, “It's an injustice not just to my son, but to my village. Fifty-three souls died that day, and your brother helped to cover it up. He is just as culpable as Covle Darkbit in that deed.”