Part 51

If she thought the sight of the Chimera Company marching out had been an impressive sight then she didn’t know what impressive was.  She was watching five mercenary companies setting out on a long march to the heart of the Empire. 

The columns of troops stretched out forever and she didn’t see the beginning or end of it. 

“It’s hard to imagine defeat looking at this,” Onata said.

“I’m sure they think the same of the Imperial armies,” Greza said.

“Hey, we have the Victor on our side, right?  What does the Victor do but win victories.  Don’t worry.”

“Of course I’m worried.  Prophecy doesn’t guarantee success.”

She patted Greza on the shoulder.

“We’ll win.”

“But at what cost?”

She looked over to where Verin was talking to the other mercenary generals.  They all had their captains surrounding them.  Bodyguards weren’t needed at the moment.    

The generals rode together in the middle of the army so they could continue to plan and discuss.  Onata and she kept a respectful distance away

As they rode out through the main gate of the fortress she turned back to see the lone guard atop the battlements.  Only a handful of soldiers were remaining and they were mostly the old and crippled retirees that helped train new recruits. 

This imposing fortress had become her home.  She had made friends there.  It was where she could be an equal.  She was respected and sometimes even liked.  As a slave the Master’s manor was never a home; a refuge from the world.  But this ugly fortress was and she silently prayed that she’d be able to see it again one day. 

Ever since the generals arrived Verin hadn’t had time to say two words together to her.  She understood of course, but it still hurt.  Once thy find the Princess it would only be worse.  Then he wouldn’t even remember she existed. 

Onata talked on and on about possibilities of the campaign while Greza listened.  She didn’t feel much like talking. 

The army marched at what she thought was too slow a pace, but she had to remember that humans weren’t as durable as she would like to think. 

At night they set up camp and Onata and she took turns at watch during the night along with other hand picked guards. 

When it was her turn it was sometime around two in the morning.  The wind from the moor was still bitingly cold and she sat down near the fire.  The Duke’s tent was just off to the side.  He had feasted with the other generals but she had not been allowed inside. 

Now everything was silent except the wind.  She looked up to the moon with a single wispy cloud in front of it.  The moon was enormous and cold.  Its dead light cast everything in gray/blue outlines.  At night everything was just shapes.  She saw the shapes of tents.  Shapes of stacked weapons and shapes of horses. 

The Duke’s tent was silent.  He was fast asleep inside.  She kept watching the tent flap hoping Duke Verin would emerge for a nightly stroll, but he never did.  Her hour passed in complete silence while she had avoided her own thoughts. 

None of her thoughts had been cheerful as of late so it was better to just ignore them until they turned to more pleasant topics. 

Once relieved she went back to her tent and laid down next to Onata.  Onata was the kind that when they slept they could pass for dead.  She didn’t move, didn’t snore and didn’t roll around.  Greza wasn’t sure if she snored or not, but she definitely rolled around.  Every morning she woke up to find herself tangled in her own blankets.

She awoke to the blaring horns that marked the general wake up.  It was the start of a new day and she hurried to get dressed.  She was strapping on her breastplate while Onata was still struggling with her shirt. 

If she got there before the allied generals arrived then she might have a chance to speak with Duke Verin.

Once ready she went out into the gray sunlight of a clear, late winter day.  She didn’t see any generals so ran over to the Duke’s tent and took up her position beside the entrance. 

The guard that was the last of the night watch was sitting by the fire, staring into the embers.  When he looked over and saw her he stared at her for a few moments and then scratched his face. 

“Oh, yeah.  The Duke wants to see you as soon as you arrive,” he said in a half-awake voice. 

“Right now?”

“Yeah, he told me about a half hour ago.”

“Of course.”

She straightened up, cleared her throat and rang the small bell beside the entrance. 

“Who is it?”  Verin called out from inside the tent.

“Trooper Greza.  You wished to see me?”

“Come in.”

She entered through the flap and found Verin fully dressed in his armor standing over a table of maps.  He wore a solid metal breastplate with chainmail on the sleeves over his black winter coat.  His thick leather belt held two pistols and a long curved sword.  His conical helmet with chainmail hanging off the sides and back sat on the table covering a few maps. 

He didn’t look up. 

“Greza, come take a look.”

She walked over and looked down at the map.

“Here we have what we know to be the Second Imperial Legion.  It’s near the city of Ishover and we can’t take them.  It sits at a four way crossroads for major supply routes.  Strategically it’s vital.  Over here we have the city of Doranav where a slave and peasant uprising is taking place.  If we hurry we can aid this uprising and capture the city without much of a fight, but the city isn’t strategically useful.”

“What do your allies say?”  She asked.

“To take the more important Ishover.”

“And what do you say?”

“I say…I say that I don’t know.”

“But you do, don’t you.”

“My heart says to help the rebellion in Doranav.  We can add their strength to ours and encourage more revolts across the Empire.”

“Then why ask me?”

“I like different points of view.” 

She could tell he was hiding something.  She could always tell when he was lying. 

“Is that all?”

She made sure to lock her eyes with his.  He looked away first. 

“I trust your opinion,” he said.

“I’m just a soldier.”

“You’re not just a soldier.  Now tell me what you think.”

“In the short term, yes, the crossroads would be better.  But if we can help the rebellion and other rebels see this, they’ll be more inclined to help us and it’ll be better in the long run as we march through the Empire.  They’ll hear of us coming and act.”

“Can we survive the short term until we take the crossroads?”

“Depends on how fast we can march.  Most of your army is human.”

“And we’re weak and slow.”

“They have limitations.”

“So, if we can march to Doranav and then to Ishover fast enough, we can secure it in time.”

“That’s my opinion.”

“Then that’s what I’ll tell the others.”

“Don’t base your judgments on my assessment.”

He only smiled. 

Then the other generals came in.  They were talking loudly and making jokes she had heard from them before.  Lord Decaron was leading the way and when he saw her he threw his arms open. 

“If it isn’t my favorite Elfin Ork girl!  Please, sit with us and share in our council,” Decaron said.

“I already asked her what she thought,” Verin said.

“Oh, what a shame.  I missed it.” 

“What does it matter what she thinks?”  One of the other mercenary generals asked.

“Because she’s probably the smartest person in this room,” Verin said.