“Do you know what they use Anakim slaves for, in the south? We are beasts of burden. They yoke us to carts like oxen, or strap loads to our backs like mules. Our women are turned into breeding machines; their one purpose to give rise to a race of hybrid slaves that will toil on the land until they die.
“We can allow not one more son or daughter of the Black Kingdom to undergo this fate. We cannot delay another moment under this disgrace. I shall tell you what we will do and you can see whether you find my plan or Uvoren’s more in keeping with your honour. I will take a force—any force—and we will fight a battle. Any battle. The legions cannot disgrace themselves more shamefully than we have forced them to thus far. Defeat would be of little consequence. We must fight.”
As Roper finished, the Vidarr and even a good few others rapped their knuckles thunderously on the table, but Uvoren was straight on his feet. “Roper makes an admirable appeal to sentiment,” he declared over the hubbub. “Where was his fighting spirit when he was last on the battlefield?”
“You should have seen it, Uvoren,” said Roper coldly. “It was much in evidence when I rode after my father’s body. Or when I fought alone in the waters. Tell me, where were you then?”
This was met with silence. Several councillors shifted in their seats, eyes turning to Uvoren. The captain was gazing at Roper with flint-hard eyes. Roper stared right back.
“Roper should apologise at once,” intervened Asger. “He has questioned Uvoren’s honour and should count himself lucky if Uvoren does not make him pay for it.”
More silence. Gray clapped Pryce on the shoulder and the lictor moved to stand behind Asger, who sat very still in his seat, looking to Uvoren. His master offered no helping hand. Roper’s chess pieces were intensifying their pressure on Uvoren’s, seeking a victory on this small portion of the board. His pieces were in the better position: now Roper had to convert that into a victory. He did not move his eyes from Uvoren as he replied. “Asger, if you are to speak, you will refer to me as the Black Lord. If necessary, Pryce will make that clear to you.” Asger appeared to be holding his breath. Over his shoulder, Pryce looked impassive.
Roper continued. He did not want to give Uvoren time to speak. “Here is our course of action. I will take the Skiritai, the Pendeen, Ramnea’s Own and five auxiliary legions. The Sacred Guard will also accompany me. I will take the battle to the Suthern horde, and I will secure this country. I will leave Uvoren as commander-in-chief of the Hindrunn in my absence. He will have the Blackstones, the Greyhazel and four auxiliary legions: more than enough to keep the Hindrunn secure from the greatest of armies.”
The table seemed to rustle at this proposal. Pryce and Gray looked swiftly at one another, Pryce wearing an expression of disgust. Tekoa sat back in his chair with a slight sigh. Uvoren’s jaw had swung open. A slight smile began to pull the corner of his mouth as he glanced at some of his supporters. Roper took note of whom: Tore, legate of the Greyhazel; Baldwin, Legion Tribune.
“That’s bold,” said Uvoren, licking his lips. “Very bold.” He was not talking about the prospect of battling the Sutherners and everyone at the table knew it. Roper could see some of the Vidarr looking betrayed, turning hurt or angry eyes to Tekoa, who had steepled his fingers and was staring at the table before him, wearing a slight frown. “Very well, my lord,” said Uvoren. Lord. “I shall safeguard the Hindrunn against all invaders. I pray you triumph over the Sutherners.” He leaned forward and offered Roper his hand, beaming with his whole body. Roper, every inch as tall as Uvoren, clasped the captain’s hand.
“I shall re-enter these gates victorious,” he told Uvoren, smiling gently.
Excited chatter broke out at the table on both sides. Some of the Vidarr stood, purple in the face with rage, but Tekoa smashed a fist down on the table before any of them could speak, muzzling them. Several of Uvoren’s supporters were embracing with delighted laughter.
For it was a desperate gamble on Roper’s part. Once he had removed his legions from the Hindrunn, there could be no way back in. He was leaving the greatest fortress in the Known World, with enough men to defend it twice over, in the hands of a ruthless enemy. He was leaving Uvoren in complete control.
If Roper wanted to re-enter the Hindrunn, it would have to be with battering rams, siege weapons and slaughter.
It was civil war.
6Ash
Roper and Keturah married the next day. As he had no parents, the affair was witnessed simply by Roper’s bodyguards (Gray, Pryce and Helmec) and Keturah’s own parents, Tekoa and Skathi,
