Hecht frowned. “Explain.”
“Once upon a time we were hired to help tame the Connec. You were, actually. I didn’t know you then. You ended up conquering Calzir instead. Then, a while later, you were back in the business of taming the Connec and doing a damned good job, thanks to my help. You had the eastern half in the bag. Then we get a new Patriarch and we’re off to pound on some pagans in Artecipea instead. So. Now we’re supposed to be getting ready for the biggest damned crusade ever to head into the Holy Lands. And we’re getting on with it really good. But. So. All of a sudden, here we go again, getting aimed in a different direction.”
“You could be on to something. Makes you wonder about divine intervention, doesn’t it?”
“Divine distraction, maybe.” Titus counted ships. “If I was inclined to worry, I’d wonder why God is suddenly pissed off at Serenity.”
“Maybe the Maysaleans are right. Maybe their Good God is stepping in.”
Titus was appalled. Titus took his faith seriously though he was no fanatic concerning points of dogma.
No one told the ship owners and sailors where they were headed till after the troops and cargo were loaded. The soldiers themselves were not informed till it was too late for news of their coming to beat them across the Vieran Sea. Thirty-two vessels put out with the feeble evening tide.
The Mother Sea was landlocked. Tides there were minimal. Only in very narrow places were they of much import.
There was vast confusion. The sailors had no experience sailing in convoy. Despite that, collisions were few and did no harm. Only one small vessel was lost. It went hard aground on an unexpected rock near the Firaldian coast. Crew and passengers survived. The weather turned no worse. The wind blew just hard enough to carry the fleet across quickly enough to let the landing start at sunrise, after forty-two hours at sea.
The landing took place on a beach of Vis Corcula, one of the least of the Patriarchal States, though a principality. It was not strong. Prince Onofrio was not fanatically devoted to the Patriarchal cause. He should do little more than go through the motions.
Ashore, Hecht polled his troops, looking for someone who knew the territory.
He settled for a peasant couple whose curiosity brought them too near and whose cupidity overruled their patriotism.
By midmorning a comfortable villa with a sea view had become Imperial headquarters. By noon the Empress herself had taken up residence, her presence undesired but her behavior beyond reproach. She did not interfere. Having declared the strategic objective she was content to let her Commander deal with operational details. For the moment.
Piper Hecht pushed on with two hundred men and fourteen falcons, toward Fuerza. His lieutenants took smaller bands to show the colors in the principality’s villages.
The Imperial advent was completely sudden and unexpected. There was little resistance. One firepowder barrage discharged outside Fuerza convinced the would-be diehards.
Prince Onofrio Taglio di Fuerza bent the knee to the Grail Empress at the Fertelli villa thirty-two hours after her arrival.
Katrin was not harsh. Hecht had convinced her to be gentle with those who cooperated. His reputation, from the Connec, would give thought to those inclined to resist. Terms were: Onofrio had to provide some foodstuffs, some drayage, and fifty armed men who would not be required to fight the Patriarch. Onofrio had no trouble agreeing. In return there would be no plunder, no rapine, no murder-so long as the Prince and people of Vis Corcula did not hinder or harm the Imperials.
Heris popped in as Hecht was about to lie down his second night in Firaldia, in a villa near Vis Corcula’s western frontier, beside a road that crossed the Monte Sismonda to the Old Empire’s central military road, which, in time, reached Brothe.
He could reach the Mother City in three days if he wanted to push it hard. If nobody got in his way.
He had numbers enough to cause panic but not nearly enough to attack a sizable city, even taking it by surprise. Nor would Bronte Doneto allow himself to be captured. And that would be the only way to end this quickly.
Heris observed, “You should be too tired to be that jumpy, Piper.”
“I’m tired, all right. Of…”
“Don’t waste time. I’ve got to go lead my dwarves to the promised land pretty soon. Here’s what you need to know. The news about Katrin being pissed off and after Serenity’s guts hit Brothe a couple hours ago. About one hour before word that you’re here in Vis Corcula, in a bad mood, and headed that way.”
“Word gets around fast when the news is bad.”
“You don’t know the half. The city is in a panic. The Collegium worst of all. You really got the hoodoo on some of those old men. I don’t get that.”
“Blame Principat? Delari.”
“Grandfather?”
“He’s no adventurer. But he knows how to lay down a lie and make it smell like gospel. I’d bet he started some rumors.”
“Could be.”
“He doesn’t like Bronte Doneto.”
“Serenity has been screwing with him since you signed on with the Empire.”
Hecht sighed. “Life is strange. And keeps getting stranger.”
“Preaching to the choir, little brother. Ten years ago I was a slave, hauling water and lying down for an asshole… No! That’s all gone. Though I did birth a couple of children I wonder about sometimes.”
Hecht grunted. This was news. “Do the old men know?”
“I never mentioned it. I’m not sure why I’m telling you.”
“Did Drocker know?”
“If he did, grandchildren didn’t interest him.”
“Same with me. Though I didn’t know who or what he was till you and Delari told me.”
“You have children, too?”
“Two daughters, last seen in al-Qarn. By now they may have starved, died of a pox, or been murdered by the regime. I was promised that they’d be cared for. I have no way to know what actually became of them. Now I’ve made Anna, Pella, Lila, and Vali into a new family. Serenity better let them be!”
“Calm down, Piper. Grandfather will look out for them. And Serenity knows they’re protected.”
“I’m calm. How pressed are you?”
“Depends on what you want.”
“It would be useful to know what the rest of the Righteous are doing and how soon I can expect them. It would be nice to know how the Patriarch hopes to keep me from making the Empress happy. And I’d love to know how this is playing in Alten Weinberg and Hochwasser.”
“You don’t want much, do you?”
“If I’m going to wish I might as well wish for the stars. Information is addictive.”
“Sure. I’ll do what I can. But, like I said, I’ve got a herd of dwarves to keep in line and a clutch of gods to bully.”
“All…”
Someone pounded on the door to the room, tried to get in. Hecht had barred it.
Heris stepped into a dark corner, turned but did not leave. She could vanish without notice if necessary. Hecht opened the door. It had begun to creak as people shoved against it. He found Rivademar Vircondelet and several self-appointed lifeguards about to use a bench for a battering ram. “What in God’s Name are you doing?”
“Kinzer heard voices. We thought you might be in trouble.”
“Did I call for help?”
“No, sir. But…”
“Go away. And don’t do this again.”
The men behind Vircondelet were trying to see inside. They looked less sheepish than they ought.
