suggestions.” He turned to the man who stood next to him. “You, soldier. You’ve just made sergeant. Take control of the gate duty and send this man to Prefect Tythias for disciplining.”
Next to Kiva, Favio grumbled. “You
“Can’t I, doctor? The man’s not going to be hurt, but I doubt he’ll make sergeant again and Tythias will want a few choice words with him.”
He looked down at the dumbstruck sergeant. “Go!”
The former sergeant handed his helmet with the insignia crest over to the man the general had indicated and, turning, marched speedily away up the hill toward the command centre. Kiva nodded and looked down at the new sergeant.
“I trust you’ll remember to follow your orders?”
The man swallowed noisily and then saluted before gesturing to his men. The unit fell in, blocking the gateway with their spears.
“Password?” he demanded of the four riders.
“Stadium,” announced the general and waited for the men to unblock the gate.
“Pass, friend” the sergeant called with another salute. Kiva nodded and began to walk his horse once more, passing out of the camp. Favio was still muttering under his breath and his brows met in the centre as he pondered on the military mentality. With a quick glance at the doctor, Kiva looked across at Cialo.
“You were a sergeant until very recently, Cialo. What would
Cialo shrugged. “Frankly, I’d have had him beaten by his comrades for putting them and the camp in danger. That’s what we used to do in the old days.”
Favio glanced up briefly and then resumed his grumbling. Kiva nodded. “I agree. I’d have done that in the old days and, all being well, it’ll be like that again. Discipline, Favio, is of utmost importance in the army. Without it, you can’t rely on the man next to you. Everyone has to be totally trustworthy and reliable or none of it works. Things are a little different right now, but that’s because we’re only a few days away from a battle that surpasses anything any of us have ever seen. A little leeway is required right now unless we want to risk the same kind of dissatisfaction and desertion as Velutio’s seeing.”
Favio grunted. “And why check people
Kiva smiled. “We’ve had spies in
“Huh.” Favio returned his gaze to the floor.
Balo glanced back over his shoulder and, noting the increasing distance between them and the gate, cleared his throat.
“Now that we’re out of there, Kiva, would you kindly explain where we’re going? I saw Tythias’ face this morning and he didn’t look happy. Why’ve we got rations for a full day and why aren’t you two in uniform?”
Kiva smiled and Balo rolled his eyes. The general was still worryingly pale and winced almost every time he moved. Despite what he’d heard of Favio’s good reputation round the camp, he didn’t imagine that even the Gods could keep Caerdin upright for many more days. The general gestured to the two behind to join them and the four quickly pulled into a line, riding alongside each other over the grassy slopes and down toward the distant sea.
“I need to scout out the land ahead of us. I’m looking for specific things in a site for battle and I think I know where it needs to be, but I want to be absolutely sure and you and Cialo both need to know it in advance. Favio, I’m afraid that you’ve become my personal physician for the next few days or, in fact, for the rest of my life; whichever comes soonest.”
More grumbling ensued from the doctor while Cialo and Balo exchanged worried glances. Balo cleared his throat.
“Everyone will be wondering what you’re up to Kiva, spending all your time with Cialo, Favio and me. You’re their general. You should be with the commanders.”
“I will be after today,” Caerdin replied. “But I need to set certain things in motion first, or it’ll just come down to numbers and bloodshed.”
They rode for some time in silence before the turncoat captain began a marching song from the old days that soon brought on all four voices.
Darius sat in the command tent in his tunic and breeches, rubbing his shoulders where the cuirass had chafed during the previous day’s travel. He eyed the armour with distaste and took another bite of the bread, cheese and olive oil that had been delivered for breakfast. In the main room of his tent, his chair formed part of a circle and several of the others were currently occupied. Sarios looked somewhat out of place surrounded by Tythias, Athas, Mercurias, Brendan, Marco and the rest of the commanders. They sat patiently, eating their own bread and cheese and waiting for their Emperor to speak his mind.
“I want to discuss the command of the army with you all.”
There was a gentle murmur in the room, but not of surprise, considering the company.
“General Caerdin is more than just a great commander, he’s a figurehead to whom people have flocked. Our army would be half the size it is without his name.” Darius swallowed. It hurt him to talk like this. “But we have to consider the possibility that he will not be in a position to command by the time the lines of battle are drawn.”
Now the murmur grew louder and angrier, but Mercurias waved his hand. “Shut up. He’s right, you goat- brained idiots.”
Darius nodded at the medic. “I hate to have to consider this, but we’d be failing the men if we didn’t at least think about it. I know that we’ve some very capable commanders in our midst here. I know that Tythias and Sithis, among others, are qualified and experienced in leading an army in the field. I expect that, as second in command, you all agree with Caerdin’s decision that Tythias would take command in the event of his absence, much as he has now.” He turned to the one-armed Prefect.
“The only question is: do you think you can beat Sabian, Prefect? I know that Caerdin worries about that himself and he’s one of the most celebrated generals in Imperial history. Without Caerdin’s brain and presence, can we hope to outmanoeuvre Sabian on a battlefield?”
Brendan leaned forward. “Kiva ain’t dead yet, yer majesty. ‘E’ll surprise y’all yet, an’ I’m sure e’s got a plan as twisted as a God’s dick.”
Darius nodded. “Everyone believes that and he probably does. He’s certainly been planning something for some time now, but no one knows what it is. He’s playing everything so close to his chest that no one has an inkling. Whatever he’s planning involves Cialo. Ever since the man’s joined us, Caerdin’s had him running missions and now he’s taken Balo, Favio and Cialo to scout out the battlefield he wants. I know he’s up to something with Cialo, and Favio’s obviously there for medical support, but I’ve no idea why he’s involving Balo, since the man plainly stated he wanted nothing to do with command.”
The young Emperor shifted uncomfortably.
“The problem is that the general’s health is failing rapidly. I don’t know how many of you have seen the signs?”
There was another murmur around the room, this time registering some surprise. Mercurias leaned forward again. “The general’s old wound is getting much worse. I can only assume we’re reaching a critical stage since he won’t let me near him. I know that his dosage of mare’s mead has at least tripled over the last week and his body can’t stand much more of that. Kiva’s trying to push himself along to do things rather than lie back and extend his life expectancy, and that’s probably doing him more harm than the wound itself, but he’s a surprisingly robust man and I’d not be surprised if he managed to keep active a lot longer than Favio expects.”
He sighed and leaned back.
“But I think the general will not outlast this campaign. The army must
“So…” Darius straightened again. “Tythias. As soon as Caerdin gets back you need to find out what his plan is. We need to know in case he doesn’t live to see it through. In the meantime, we need to think about any necessary reorganisation. I would like Sithis to take the position of third in command so that there’s still two senior officers should anything happen suddenly to the general.”
There were nods of agreement among the long and unhappy faces in the room. Brendan stood and straightened himself. “Mercurias is right though. Kiva’s strong. ‘E’ll surprise us all yet.” Turning, he saluted the
