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Her shoulders felt like stones, but she was finally moving her arm again. She had lain Dame Hali into the dirt five times. Sir Vintir had only fallen twice, but then she had only invited him to face her twice. Sir Kenahl\u2019s scouts assured her the enemy was still two days away. It had been a fortnight since Dame Tiir had departed west to request reinforcements from the Khan, but she knew they would not return in time. There was nothing to do but wait.<\/p>\n
This was not the first siege Divine Commandrix Ges Ra Ividar had led. Zalja had called itself a holy empire two centuries back, but that was then, and people were people. None of Zalja\u2019s neighbors could hope to defy them, true. Yaalk was a blistering field of thinkers and heretics, and Yena was full of farmers. Only Khabar could hope to so much as challenge them, and they were united by their love of Satar. Before now, no foreign force had truly threatened Zalja for nearly three-hundred years. But Zalja was a great and powerful nation, and such nations bred ambitious lords. Ges had spent more of her career putting down rebellions and hunting criminals, than she had on any foreign fronts.<\/p>\n
She knew sieges, both lifting them and leading them, and they were often a dull business. Yet this one was more stressing than others. She knew the enemy was desperate and few, outpowered and hopelessly overwhelmed by the citizenry and the remaining watch. Yet still the gates did not open. There could not be more than a thousand trained warriors within the city walls, yet they had somehow managed to hold it. She longed to storm the city and paint the streets red, but who could say how many hostages they had amassed. Dame Hali had confirmed that both gates were watched by fifty men, with two hundred more nearby. The beylan and his family had been taken, of course, and Hali confirmed that the Ravirs and the Enisads, principle families in Dalsaman, were in custody as well. She could take the city easily, but all Zalja would rebel if the Khan allowed such weighty names to die at the hands of barbarians. A khan who could not defend his people was no khan at all.<\/p>\n
She grunted in mild frustration as Hali and Vintir were disarmed yet again. The two seemed to be enjoying it, truth be told.<\/p>\n
\u201cWon\u2019t you try me next?\u201d came the gruff but friendly voice of Lord Eugeno Faberion. A short, stout man whose ferocity was outdone only by his beard, Ges almost felt she might miss the man once he was handed over later that day. It had been Lord Eugeno himself that had tried to fell her in battle, breaking her shield and mocking her for a woman as she followed the first retreat. He looked a bit sheepish when thrown at her feet at the end of battle, yet even in defiance he had shown himself charming and, though loud, a little self-effacing. Of course, it was also Lord Eugeno who had set the Gazwood aflame. His men had all died for it. Sir Sanin suggested the Lord who gave the order ought to die as well. Ges was inclined to agree, but there were rules for these sorts of things. If she did not allow Lord Eugeno to be ransomed, who knew what the wild and willful King Cenedras might do to their own hostages.<\/p>\n
She had sent criers to the walls, offering amnesty for all in exchange for the king in chains, but no one seemed willing to take the offer.<\/p>\n
Lord Eugeno approached, his wrists fettered. \u201cMy Lady?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would contravene our laws to arm you, my Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh,\u201d he nodded, smiling. \u201cLaws. Yes. Of course.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a Divine Commandrix,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt is important to our order that I follow protocol.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNaturally,\u201d he said. \u201cProtocol. I see.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGive him a sword, Commandrix,\u201d Dame Hali urged as she helped Sir Vintir to his feet. \u201cThey\u2019re blunted, what can he do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Drive it through my eye<\/em>, she thought. Beat me bloody<\/em>. She did not think he would, but she no longer trusted her own instincts. She eyed the man evenly, then shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cTerrible shame,\u201d he sighed. \u201cI pray we may meet honorably on the battlefield again, my Lady.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I pray to hang your brigand king for crimes of dishonor against the rule of war.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHah!\u201d Lord Eugeno bellowed. \u201cHe\u2019s a bold lad, I\u2019ll grant you. But this business of writs and defiance is not our custom. Would you punish us for not praying to your Satar neither?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome might,\u201d she countered, \u201cbut not I.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue\u2026\u201d He stroked his thicket of a beard. \u201cYour man with the one eye\u2026 I complimented his beard, and he told me he wanted to rip mine off and shove it\u2026 well, I\u2019ll not repeat it before a lady.\u201d<\/p>\n Ges could not help smiling at that. \u201cSir Sanin has suffered much at this siege.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSoldiers suffer,\u201d Lord Eugeno grunted, \u201cbut it is a poor knight who forgets his courtesies. What does he mean, leaving that gaping hole in his head exposed for all to see? The ladies must be fainting at such a beastly sight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI fear our ladies may be made of sterner stuff than yours, Lord Eugeno.\u201d<\/p>\n At that, the man grew still. \u201cMmm, I\u2019m not so sure there, my Lady. I don\u2019t doubt your women are fitter to sit or horse or batter in a poor, bearded fool\u2019s head,\u201d he smiled thinly, \u201cbut when it comes to bearing the hardships of the world, I sometimes wonder if we men are as mighty as we call ourselves.\u201d He lifted his manacled hands to stroke his beard. \u201cThe boy, King Cenedras, I mean\u2026 his mother was arrested for witchcraft by his uncle. She was interrogated for two years before they finally executed her. How they got the confession\u2026 what they did to her\u2026 and what they could have come up with, after two years\u2026 I shudder to think of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ges felt a twitch at her eye, but otherwise showed no emotion. \u201cIf you hope to awaken sympathy for your barbarian king, I suggest you try another method.\u201d<\/p>\n Lord Eugeno grunted again, shaking his head. \u201cNo, my Lady. The last ten years or so have been harsh for the Monosi. Our last King was obsessed with wiping out the Old Faith. We all cheered him on, cause if we didn\u2019t, we might be next. Yet Siella, the princess, that is Cenedras\u2019 mother\u2026 she said no. She never stopped saying it was wrong.\u201d He muttered something under his breath.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that, my Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUntil the end,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t see her die, of course. But she must have said or done whatever they wanted, in the end, or they wouldn\u2019t have waited two years to kill her.\u201d He sniffled. \u201cI\u2019m a loud man, my Lady, I need hardly tell you, but I saw that my whole family survived that ugly business. It is my greatest pride, and my greatest shame.\u201d<\/p>\n Ges held her hand out, and a squire grabbed her blunted sword from her. \u201cIs this business with Dalsaman about your Old Faith?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no,\u201d he said, before stopping himself with a chuckle. \u201cAnd yes. The boy\u2019s a new king, and he needs us to see he\u2019s not his uncle. His grandfather wasn\u2019t much better, truth be told.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome might say a king who invades foreign lands without defiance is no better than a murderer,\u201d she said. \u201cSome might say your boy<\/em> is himself not much better<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm,\u201d he nodded. \u201cA Zaljan might say that, for certain. No doubt you would prefer a king who kills his own people, so long as that king weren\u2019t Zaljan.\u201d<\/p>\n He meant nothing by it, but Ges find herself thinking of the rebellions she had put down. She thought of the thousands of starving widows, widowers, and orphans that had risen up at the Fire Mine. She thought of her foray into Yaalk, and the bandit king of Alwaka, who had been raiding the Zaljan miners who were illegally plundering the Mine of Yaalk. She slew him in single combat and left him to rot at the foot of Mount Threshold. She thought of rebellious prefects, and their soldiers who had died for them. She thought of the rough-clad pikemen of Monos whom she had so recently cut down like the overgrown wheat that grew wild in the lush, abundant fields of Zalja.<\/p>\n \u201cAhhh,\u201d Lord Eugeno groaned, \u201cforgive me, my Lady. My own mother oft accused me of talking out my tail. Our king\u2019s a complicated man, but I\u2019ll not deny we took your towns. Think what you will of him. And of me.\u201d<\/p>\n And of me<\/em>, she thought to herself.<\/p>\n A runner arrived shortly after to announce the arrival of Lord Borromeo, the man charged with trading hostages. She sent the runner to fetch Sir Sanin, charged both Hali and Vintir with Lord Eugeno, and ordered her company assembled to meet at the north gate.<\/p>\n Borromeo had wanted to meet at the southern approach, but Ges wanted Sir Sanin with them, and would not trust him to keep himself at the site of Sir Waldun\u2019s death. Ges spared a thought for the earless man and his leathery voice, but there was no little for such things. She mounted her courser and rode to the north gate.<\/p>\n There was no need to fear arrows. The Monosi inside Dalsaman were all knights, and it seemed a mounted warrior\u2019s disdain for the bow was a universal trait. The Euskati had all ridden home, taking with them the magnificent black destrier she had granted King Paladrok. Their arrows were greatly needed now, but she feared neither Tiir nor anyone else would be able to move them back to these walls, save perhaps herself, but she could not abandon the camp. Her only hope was that the besieged Monosi did not know help was coming.<\/p>\n The north gates opened, and out rode seven men. They were pale and thin, their horses mere skeletons, and their four hostages came on foot. Such a small company told her everything. They were weak, they were dying, and this Lord Borromeo did not want her to see how desperate his soldiers were. It may well be they did not have enough horses for them all.<\/p>\n She had already heard that Lord Borromeo looked like a corpse at the best of times, but the man approaching her on his stick-thin grey palfrey looked beyond dead. A round head with thinning white hair, his eyes were sunken and dark, and his lips seemed to be pealing back from his teeth. He was ghast as bone, and his brown and grey silks hung on him like old laundry piled beside a washtub. His knights were dressed in breast plates, mail, and bucket helms, obscuring their starvation.<\/p>\n Ges did not immediately recognize any of the hostages. Two of them had the high cheek bones and long noses of the Enisad family, and one flat-faced girl of twenty looked like to be a cousin of hers, but none were familiar.<\/p>\n Finally, another woman walked free among the party. Dressed in a brown wool skirt and white blouse, her light brown hair bound in a braid behind her, she carried a small sheaf of paper and a charcoal pen. One of the so-called spellers these Monosi brought with them, as reading and writing was deemed insufficiently masculine for a warrior.<\/p>\n Ges missed her great black destrier, but the man before her sat even lower on his starved palfrey. For all his obvious disadvantage, however, this man Borromeo held a confident look upon his face, bored even.<\/p>\n \u201cGood afternoon,\u201d he offered with cold polity. \u201cI believe it is Zaljan custom to exchange introductions before treating, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is,\u201d she answered. Sir Rehfan rode beside her, flying her own banner, the black lion roaring proudly. \u201cAll the same, we are all tired. Let us make things simpler. My name is Ges Ra Ividar, and I am the commandrix of the Zaljan forces.\u201d<\/p>\n The lord nodded. \u201cI am Borromeo Ruger, high lord of Gemosia and lord of Geumsil, the capital of Monos. For now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs the king unwell?\u201d she asked lightly. \u201cHe seemed to enjoy treating with us before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is busy,\u201d he answered, \u201cmuch like your khan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe boy\u2019s not sick, is he?\u201d asked Lord Eugeno. \u201cTough young lad, but I doubt he\u2019s ever gone a day without a meal before. Is he well?\u201d<\/p>\n Borromeo looked down at Eugeno with eyes of fire, but the rest of his face remained still. \u201cAs I said, His Highness is well, but busy. Occupying a city is\u2026 diverting work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Ges nodded, allowing the faintest traces of amusement to color her voice. \u201cThen, I see you have brought four highborn hostages. I regret I have only one to offer in return.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m worth four men any day, I assure you,\u201d Eugeno laughed, \u201cbut I\u2019ll not pretend to be worth even one fair maid.\u201d Hali and Vintir kept firm grips on him, though he seemed placid enough. The maids in question were unimpressed by his gallantry. One of the Enisads was older than Ges and looked more accustomed to rule than to being pandered like currency. The other three women seemed of milder cast, but had no doubt suffered more greatly at the hands of their Monosi captors than their immediate appearance might suggest<\/p>\n She looked down upon the flat-faced girl. She was stooped despite her youth, and kept her eyes trained on the ground, looking up only briefly and rarely, trying to take in her surroundings without being noticed. Her hair was black as jet, the type that might shimmer if it were clean. Like all the hostages, she wore the loose, greying linen shift the Monosi seemed to dress all their hostages in. At least, all their women hostages. \u201cHow have your captors treated you?\u201d she asked the flat-faced girl.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have been treated with honor, as befits their rank,\u201d Borromeo answered. \u201cYou have my word as a high lord.\u201d<\/p>\n She met his eyes only briefly. \u201cHow have your captors treated you?\u201d she repeated.<\/p>\n The girl kept her face down, her eyes flashing up only in starts. \u201cWell, Commandrix.\u201d<\/p>\n Ges looked to the speller in her brown skirt. She, too, kept her eyes down, looking up only intermittently. A strange flush of anger filled Ges\u2019 face, and the edges of her vision seemed to darken, but in a moment she calmed herself. Nothing had shown.<\/p>\n \u201cI am familiar with Lord Eugeno,\u201d said Borromeo, \u201cso pray let me introduce my guests to you. Ladies Halmia and Veli Ra Enisad, of the southern gatekeepers, Lady Vera Ulnud, a refugee from Mansaikhan, and Lady Nes Ividarhan, whom I believe is a distant cousin of yours. Lady Halmia, as I understand it, is herself given charge of the southern gatehouse.\u201d<\/p>\n Lord Eugeno grumbled something, and there was much uncomfortable shuffling in the ranks.<\/p>\n \u201cI fear there has been a miscommunication,\u201d Ges said. \u201cThese hostages you present are of insufficient rank for this ransom.<\/p>\n As one, the women looked up at her, fear shining in their eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d Borromeo wondered with impressively feigned innocence. \u201cI was given to understand that a woman was as valuable as a man in your nation. I have brought four women, to your one man, yet you tell me this is still not a high enough price?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEugeno is a great lord, ruling over several minor counties and the multiple towns within them,\u201d she explained, unnecessarily she knew. \u201cLady Vera is the daughter of the beylan of Mansaikhan, I believe, and I do not doubt Captain Halmia commands a personal company, but these four women together command little more power than a paladin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow troubling,\u201d Lord Borromeo answered, at once.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is the Beylan?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is being kept according to his rank,\u201d he answered with overt patience. \u201cIf you are concerned for your family, perhaps Lady Nes here can assuage your concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI belong to the Holy Solulan,\u201d she answered at once.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnough of your shit smiles!\u201d Lord Eugeno roared. \u201cIf the lady wants a Beylan, bring him out.\u201d<\/p>\n Borromeo looked at his fellow lord much like he might a dried-out toad. \u201cI am acting under the direct orders of the King of Kings, Lord Eugeno. If my Lady is unhappy with our offer, then I am afraid we can offer no trade at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Eugeno was a short man, but the rumble in his chest was great. \u201cWhere is the boy?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you refer to his Highness, he is in the royal Palace of Vargano, setting the city to order.\u201d<\/p>\n A horse whickered as it strode up next to Ges. Sir Sanin appeared next to her, his enormous black beard shot with grey. He still refused to wear his eye patch. \u201cBring out the king or we don\u2019t treat,\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n Lord Borromeo\u2019s grey eyes widened at that. \u201cIs this man your commander, Commandrix?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n She had hoped to remind Sir Sanin what honor was, but it seemed she had only created another Tiir, another Rehfan. \u201cSir Sanin, return to your position.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s the king?\u201d he demanded. \u201cWhy\u2019s he sending out this corpse? Has your king fled back to Monos like the cowardly boy he is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are currently in Monos, Sir Sanin,\u201d Borromeo answered calmly, \u201cand perhaps you have failed to notice your commander\u2019s army besieging our new city. Strolling out for a jaunt has become something of a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur Hali\u2019s done it twice,\u201d Sanin answered, pointing down at her. \u201cI don\u2019t doubt your weaselly king\u2019s got someone to smuggle him out if he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n Borromeo glanced at Dame Hali, and for a brief instant genuine concern seemed to flit across his face. \u201cHas she? Then surely she has seen the king in his palace. What other reason could she have to spy on us so?\u201d<\/p>\n Sir Sanin was about to answer, so she spoke up. \u201cSir Sanin. Return to your position. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did you call me here, if not to speak to these murderers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cObey your Commandrix,\u201d Lord Eugeno bellowed. \u201cElse I\u2019ll rip off your<\/em> beard.\u201d<\/p>\n Ges\u2019s eyes widened at that, but there was no time to answer. Sir Sanin ripped his sword from his scabbard and spurred his black courser over to Lord Eugeno. Dame Hali and Sir Vintir both drew, but they were on foot. Ges\u2019 shoulder twinged as she twisted to reach her own sword. \u201cSir Sanin!\u201d she commanded, \u201cyou will return to your position at once.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBring out your brigand king!\u201d the Khabarese paladin roared, \u201cor I\u2019ll spill his guts on the field!\u201d<\/p>\n Hali and Vintir were pointing their swords at him, but no one yet moved. Lord Eugeno glared fiery defiance at his would-be murderer. Ges had not yet drawn her weapon.<\/p>\n Lord Borromeo looked as bored as ever. \u201cI am certain Lord Eugeno\u2019s widow will be sorry to hear that. Good day.\u201d<\/p>\n At a gesture, his soldiers turned and began pulling the hostages back into the city gates. Lord Borromeo remained, staring down at his fellow lord, until his retinue had made it back inside. Then he turned, and rode slowly back in himself.<\/p>\n As the gates boomed shut, Sir Sanin let out another roar as he reared back, looking ready to cut Lord Eugeno in two. Hali and Vintir stood firm below, ready to block his attacks if they could. Ges still had not drawn.<\/p>\n Instead, she heeled her mount. Her horse obediently drove forward into Sir Sanin\u2019s black courser, knocking it over and spilling Sir Sanin onto the ground. His roars twisted into cries of agony as his leg shattered beneath the weight of his horse.<\/p>\n \u201cSir Vintir,\u201d she said, \u201ctake Sir Sanin\u2019s blade.\u201d<\/p>\n The sword had scattered away, and Vintir recovered it easily. Lord Eugeno made no effort to take advantage of the sudden diminishment of his guard. Sanin wailed and cried, and Ges looked down on him with a face carved out of wood.<\/p>\n \u201cSir Sanin,\u201d she said, \u201cyou are dismissed from my army. Ride back to the Solulan, if you can, and beg forgiveness from the Holy Archon for your treachery.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCommandrix,\u201d Sir Rehfan asked, \u201cshould we not look to his injuries first?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe gained those injuries trying to murder our lawful captive,\u201d she said. \u201cWere a soldier in my army, I would hang him like a brigand.\u201d<\/p>\n Sir Sanin fell silent at that, choking on whatever emotions were roiling in his head. He looked at her, his own bright eye burning in outrage. A wad of mud and grass had gotten stuck in his empty eye socket, a grotesque mockery of the snakeskin patch he once wore. \u201cGes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI am a Divine Commandrix,\u201d she countered. \u201cDo not presume to speak my name, Sir. If you remain within my camp by nightfall, I will hang you, Sir. Believe that, more than you believe in Satar\u2019s grace.\u201d She graced herself as she said it, to push the point.<\/p>\n Still he choked on his pain. She was unsure if anger or fear prevailed, but broken beneath his horse as he was, his feelings ultimately did not matter.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone should help him,\u201d Sir Rehfan said.<\/p>\n \u201cI kept him from becoming a murderer,\u201d she said. \u201cI will not let these Monosi turn us into them.<\/p>\n \u201cMy Lady,\u201d said Lord Eugeno.<\/p>\n \u201cCommandrix,\u201d Dame Hali broke in, aghast. \u201cSir Sanin is one of us.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was,\u201d she countered. \u201cWe are paladins, not brigands. Leave him, and return to camp.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy Lady!\u201d Lord Eugeno repeated. \u201cLook!\u201d<\/p>\n He was pointing southeast, around the bend of Dalsaman\u2019s great wall. Steel was ringing against steel, and the cries of horses and soldiers sounded together. From around the bend, a single rider was galloping furiously toward them.<\/p>\n \u201cAttack!\u201d she cried, an arrow sticking out of her shoulder, \u201cAttack! Attack from the south! Attack!\u201d<\/p>\n CHAPTER ELEVEN><\/a><\/p>\n <CHAPTER NINE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Her shoulders felt like stones, but she was finally moving her arm again. She had lain Dame Hali into the dirt five times. Sir Vintir had only fallen twice, but then she had only invited him to face her twice. … Continue reading