by Eric Ugland
I took a step, and Nikolai grabbed my shoulder.
“Allow me to talk first,” Nikolai said. “And do not interrupt.”
I nodded, and he pushed past me and walked into the hall.
It was super tempting to sit down on the throne, but, at the same time, that just seemed like a dick move. Instead, I just leaned against a wall.
As soon as the door clicked closed, Nikolai locked it.
“Are we safe here?” Wian asked.
“As much as anywhere can be at present,” Nikolai replied.
Wian nodded while sweeping his gaze around the hall.
“Rustic,” he said.
“Indeed.”
“Who is the brute?” Wian asked. “You so soft you need a hairy bodyguard?”
Nikolai smiled. It was a big smile, like he was overly delighted by the asked question.
“The duke.”
“Well shit on my first impression,” Wian replied. He dropped to a knee. “Forgive a soldier’s impetuous tongue, my lord.”
“Brute is a pretty accurate descriptor,” I said. “No worries.”
“He is unlike the typical nobility,” Nikolai said. “To a rather worrying degree at times.”
“I had thought Benedict would have chosen someone more genteel,” Wian said, back on his feet and studying me.
“I believe he chose wisely, if at odds to the rest of the Imperial aristocracy.”
“Will—”
Nikolai held up a hand. “The timeline. What of it?”
“Destroyed.”
“How?”
“One of the reasons I had to come here. I believe we have a mole.”
Nikolai bit back a curse, opting to punch the wood wall instead.
“You seem weak, Nikolai,” Wian said.
“Something we can discuss later — a new distressing ability in the world, one which may have far reaching implications. But we must focus on you and why you are here.”
“We are on the run.”
“Already?”
“I did not anticipate this either, but it is the reality of our situation. And if you wish our plan to continue, you must provide us sanctuary.”
“How many?”
“Losses?”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps 70 percent.”
“That high?”
“There were ambushes. The Empire stumbles into civil war, though none wish to admit it as of yet. We are merely the first casualty.”
“Can I ask questions yet?” I asked.
“Yes,” Wian said just as Nikolai said, “No.”
I sighed and sat down, content to listen for the moment.
“He listens to you?” Wian said.
“I do,” I replied.
“For the moment,” Nikolai added. “How many are with you?”
“Three hundred and change,” Wian replied. “Most of the top-tier and the veterans. This was considered the primary assignment.”
“I remember. Though I wonder if we made a mistake.”
“No one could have thought we would be targeted so quickly.”
“The Legions,” Nikolai said, “are they remaining neutral?”
“The Border Legions are. Those in recent conflict seem to remember their duty better than their more sedentary brethren. At least seven have been put on the rolls due to lack of manpower.”
“This is bad.”
“Very,” Wian replied. “You understand why we are here then.”
“Who follows you?”
“Valamir, but in the guise of Wigmar.”
“He has declared?”
Wian nodded. “Lines are being drawn.”
“What are the sides?”
“Valamir—”
“Obviously.”
“Though he does not have the support we expected. There have been some surprises in that regard.”
“Who else then?”
“Lady Baeder.”
Nikolai’s eyebrows shot way up.
“Katja Baeder?”
“The very same.”
“What is her claim?”
“Through her grandfather.”
“Ah yes. He was a Glaton.”
“She is—”
“Charismatic,” Nikolai said.
Wian chuckled. “Term it how you will, but she is bringing plenty to her side. Enough so that Valamir lacks the votes to push anything through the Senate.”
Nikolai seemed to consider that for a moment. He sat down on one of the non-throne chairs in the hall. “The third side?”
“Who do you imagine?”
“Can I hope and say it is her?”
Wian shook his head. “Most assume she has been taken by Valamir.”
“You must have been successful if you are here.”
“She is among us. The third is Eutharic, and I fear he might be the worst of them.”
“Eutharic Edgemond?”
“The same.”
“Does he even have a claim?”
“Only that he is the best possible person to lead the Empire. And he is prepared to cut a bloody swath through anyone who disagrees.”
“Mercenaries?”
“By the boatload.”
“Where did he get the coin for this?”
“I certainly have no concrete knowledge he has gotten backing from Mahrduhm and the Conclave…”
“But the rumors are there?”
“The signs are there. He throws more coin at swords than Valamir. There have yet to be full-on battles in the south lands, but it is only a matter of time until the detente is breached.”
“Not to interrupt,” I said, completely interrupting, “but is Mahrduhm still at war with the Empire?”
“Yes it is, my lord,” Wian said. “Rumib Pass remains a stalemate, despite the bodies the Queen has thrown at us. But the bigger problem is the second and third armies. We have yet to determine exactly where the queen is sending them.”
“Three armies?” Nikolai said.
“The country is mobilized for war like it never has been before.”
“You think they are aiming to take Empire lands?”
“More likely they aim to take the Empire,” Wian replied. “Already the Empire is unprepared should the Queen order her armies around the southern edge of the Drabik Mountains. She can march nearly unmolested straight to the capital.”
“You think she will?” I asked.
“There are substantial obstacles on the east side of the Drabik Mountains,” Nikolai said. “If she is able to overcome those, perhaps. But I cannot imagine she will try before spring.”
Wian nodded. “It is rare to find someone willing to wage war in the winter. It is difficult to compete against nature and the elements. Nikolai, I know you were not expecting us, but we need to be here.”
“You do,” Nikolai said, “for more reasons than you know.”
“We will have company soon.”
“Good or bad?”
“Bad.”
“Valamir’s?”
“Definitely. But I expect Eutharic will be on his way shortly. They must suspect we have her, and as long as she is alive—”
“Who?” I asked.
Nikolai and Wian shared something unspoken, the two of them looking at each other for what seemed to me like an awkwardly long time.
“Okay, what’s going on here?”
“He is the duke, yes?” Wian said. “He should know.”
It was pretty clear that Nikolai wasn’t keen on telling me anything, and it was possible he was about to relent, but then, as befitting their impeccable timing, a prinky came running into the hall and offered up a shiny pebble to Nikolai.
Nikolai swatted the stone from the prinky’s hand, and the pebble clattered against the wall. The prinky didn’t seem to care that it was annoying Nikolai. It was just happy it had done its job, and it ran back outside in search of more shiny pebbles.
“What the fuck was that?” Wian said, and I noticed he had his sword out.
“Stupid?” I asked. “Those things have cut our construction time in half.”
“Why are they bringing me rocks?”
“I told them to.”
“Why?”
“I got tired of them following me around.”
“This,” Nikolai said, stabbing a finger in my direction, “this is why I have not told him about what is going on.”
Wian slid his sword in his scabbard, and I rather quietly un-summoned the prinkies. My bit of foolishness was at an end.
“I think I find him amusing,” Wian said.
“Thank you,” I replied with a bow. “So can I get the news of what’s going on then?”
Wian smiled. “Nikolai, would you rather tell him or have me?”
Nikolai sighed “Wian is—”
“Was,” Wian interrupted.
“Wian was one of the Thingmen,” Nikolai said. “One of the top-tier Thingmen, assigned to many of the most important tasks the Emperor assigned. If he was in the Legion, he would have been a colonel.”
“And all the men with him — they’re Thingmen too?” I asked.
“Most are, yes,” Wian said. “There are some, how do you want me to phrase this, other people?”
“There are some the Emperor cared enough about,” Nikolai continued, “that his majesty sent protectors to when the Emperor felt he was running out of time.”
“Not for nothing,” I said, “but why are you all here?”
“Because the Thingmen are nothing without the Emperor,” Nikolai replied.
Wian chuckled, then said, “Our enemies pounced as soon as they were able. We were slaughtered in our beds. Destroyed in ambushes. We are about half of what remains. And this might be the last safe haven available to us.”
“Is no one on the Emperor’s side in this succession war?” I asked.
“There is no Emperor’s side,” Nikolai replied. “The Emperor is dead. His daughter, the princess is missing. His brother is a conniving fuckhead determined to steal a throne that was never his. There are three sides out there right now, and none of them are friendly to us.”
“And they will come knocking,” Wian said. “You will be asked to choose a side, and any side that comes wants all Thingmen dead. Or to swear allegiance to a new liege.”
“That kind of sucks,” I said.
“That is putting it lightly,” Wian said.
“But all of those dudes out there are elite soldiers?”
“Yes. This represents most of the best the Thingmen had to offer.”
“And what is it you want from us, besides sanctuary?”
Once again, Wian looked to Nikolai before saying anything in response to me. Nikolai nodded.
“We would ask to be your sworn men,” Wian said.
A long moment passed, and I could tell both men were waiting for my answer. An answer I wasn’t exactly ready to give. Most of what I’d done in Vuldranni was using just instinct or winging it. I wanted to be smart about shit, but it certainly seemed I’d have to wing it one more time. Obviously, I knew what Nikolai would say. These were his people. Of course he wanted them around. And, unfortunately, I didn’t have anyone else I could talk to about the whole issue. Eliza? Who knew if I could even trust her? Ragnar? Skeld? They weren’t aware of the larger world enough. Hell, they were barely above me in terms of Imperial knowledge. And Lee was as in the dark as myself. But, as the moment continued, I realized I didn’t have a choice. Not really. Here was an elite guard. A group of soldiers. Enough that we would certainly be safe, at least for a while. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea, but it was the best idea at the moment.
“Okay,” I said. “I accept.”
There was a loud knock on the door, and then Nathalie’s head poked in. Without pausing for us to say anything, she spoke: “We have a problem.”
Chapter Forty
I was out first, but Nikolai and Wian were quick behind me. As soon as we looked across the village, it was pretty apparent what the issue was: the Legion and the Thingmen were about to come to blows. Swords and weapons were out, shields were up, and loud shouting came from both sides. I had a bad feeling about things. As much as I appreciated large groups coming to my holding and swearing fealty, it also made it difficult to assimilate them into a community. Already the dwarves were presenting an issue because they wanted to, in a sense, live separate from everyone else. The Legion retirees had a very strong attachment to Cleeve, though they all knew him as Benedict, and they weren’t especially keen on me being his heir. The stories around the campfire, the gossip, was that they were particularly perturbed by the fact that I had never been a Legionnaire. And I knew nothing about the Thingmen, except that they looked and moved like Navy SEALs. At least, they moved how the SEALs moved in movies and documentaries I’d watched. I didn’t know any real SEALs. They just had a real sense of danger about them. Supreme confidence in their bodies, abilities, and comrades.
I wasn’t about to wait for it to get worse, so I walked in between the two groups. I stretched my arms out, suppressing the giggle as I thought: Christ Motif.
“Everyone here needs to chill the fuck out!” I shouted.
I don’t know if the asshole didn’t hear me, but a legion lady tried to shield bash me and then stab me. The classic move for the Legion, at least as far as I knew.
Twisting my body around, I got my left shoulder in place to accept the shield, and felt the metal deform around my deltoid. Then I caught the lady’s sword in my hand, and I ripped it out of her grip.
She made a sort of shocked noise, and I kicked her shield back to make some room.
Blood dripping off the blade, I brought the sword down on my knee, and snapped the iron in two, then threw it over my shoulder in the direction of the smithy. I figured they could melt it down and make another one. We certainly weren’t in the position to waste metal.
“You want to try that with me?” a gruff voice asked over my shoulder.
One of the Thingmen, about as brutish as me, stepped forward with his longsword held lazily in his right hand.
“I’d prefer if we could not fight amongst ourselves.”
“Who made you ruler?”
“He is the duke here,” Wian barked out.
The Thingman’s head whipped over to face Wian so fast I thought I heard the man’s neck snap. And just as fast, he was on one knee, sword stuck in the ground, head bowed before me.
“Forgive me, my lord, I knew—”
I put my hand on his shoulder, and he straight up flinched.
“Not a thing, dude,” I said. “You didn’t know.”
He nodded, but he didn’t get up.
The Thingmen were certainly sensitive about rank and title. I wonder if it came from a lifetime of service to the Emperor. They must’ve always been in the thick of the courtly games.
Also a note, looking from the ex-Legion to the ex-Thingmen, the Thingmen were almost universally younger. In their prime. We suddenly had a legitimate fighting force. And they were all staring at me.
Wian walked up next to me and faced his soldiers.
“This is the duke of Coggeshall,” Wian said. “He has agreed to take us.”
As one, all the Thingmen dropped to a knee and bent their head.
“What’s this?” I asked, shocked but trying to hide it as best I could.
The shocked feeling had certainly spread through everyone else in the village. They all just stared at what was going on.
I turned to ask Wian what I should do when I realized he was kneeling as well.
Nikolai was there, though, a grin on his face.
I stepped around Wian and leaned in to whisper. “What the fuck?”
“They are waiting to swear allegiance to you,” Nikolai whispered back.
This was substantially more grave than the swearing of the dwarves. It seemed like they expected something bigger, a more fancy oath.
“Okay. Oath time,�
� I said.
Nikolai rolled his eyes.
“What do I say?”
“You say you are ready to hear their oath.”
I stepped back to my place and stood there, trying to feel like I was the Duke these soldiers thought I was.
“I am ready to hear your oath.”
There was a momentary pause, and then it began, all of the Thingmen speaking as one:
“I make this oath: that I shall be in first in any battle, forging ahead with lord and my friend, that I shall come to the call any time my lord requests my weapons, that I shall lay down my life so that others may live. Yet, should my lord perish, I shall not flee, but shall advance upon the enemy with great fury and slay my lord’s enemies until my lord is avenged. In times of war, I will rage. In times of peace, I will train. By the Gods of my lord, may my lord’s own sword twist and turn in my belly should I fail to keep this oath.”
Unbidden, I knew my response, and it came out of my mouth.
“I have heard your oath,” I said, “as have the Gods. Hear then, my vow to you: I will tend to your needs and your injuries. I shall house you and yours. When we have spoils, I will gift you as to your merit. You will sit among those honored, and my sword shall stand between you and your enemies. My strength and my war band will walk with you through these lands wherever they may go. May our deeds be legend, and our legends be true.”
Again, they spoke as one.
“I have heard your oath, as have the Gods.”
A moment passed, and it felt like a weight had been lifted. Smiles flitted about for a second before all the Thingmen stood up. Then there were cheers from the rough and ready Thingmen.
They were clapping each other on the back, all very excited for some reason. I was confused.
“What’s going on?” I asked Wian.
“We have a place to call home again,” he replied. “And a lord to follow.”
“These are good things?”
“A soldier without a lord is either a mercenary or a bandit,” Nikolai said. “Neither one of which is particularly honorable profession.”
“And all these men and women here,” Wian said, gesturing to the Thingmen, “they will be given a new Choice this night. Tomorrow, we will be sworn men again.”
Chapter Forty-One
The Thingmen kept their distance from me, and yet were overjoyed with each other. They were so excited about everything. They spread throughout the village to introduce themselves to everyone. The Legionnaires were still clearly wary of the Thingmen, but the Thingmen didn't seem to care. And then there were the dwarves. Because there were dwarves amongst the Thingmen, it was a great and grand meeting for them all. Within the hour, despite it being the middle of the afternoon, there were great cries for mead and ale and drink, and carousing was underway.