He had still reached no conclusion when he accom-panied Dan-Tor into the sparse, cold room where the Commanders were gathered, but he had determined to play a very cautious hand. This would be another time for watching and learning. He might not be able to read the man completely, but he could read him a damn sight better than any of the others.
He was disconcerted, however, to find that several of the waiting men were completely unknown to him, and he was only a little reassured when a quick glance at their faces showed that everyone, strangers included, seem to be unsettled to find themselves amongst unfamiliar faces.
As Dan-Tor entered, they rose as one, coming smartly to attention to greet their Lord. Like Urssain, they were all immaculate in dress uniform.
‘Sit down, gentlemen,’ said Dan-Tor affably, seating himself at the head of the long rectangular table, and motioning Urssain to sit at his right-hand side. ‘I’ve asked you here because I wish to have your ideas about our problem in the east.’
Straight in, thought Urssain. No introductions. What’s he doing? Who are these people? The questions thrust themselves into Urssain’s mind, but be dismissed them for later consideration. Now he must watch and listen.
‘Our discussion will be informal,’ continued Dan-Tor. ‘I’m expecting no great strategy to emerge, but with the City and much of the countryside reasonably under control we must begin to bend our minds to this problem, and we have to start somewhere.’
Urssain kept his own face neutral as he watched those now turned to focus on the presence beside him. Only Aelang understood. The others were relaxing. They were taking their Ffyrst’s affability at its face value.
The immediate consensus accorded with Urssain’s initial view. Attack now-hard-before they grow too strong. Dan-Tor listened with nodding interest as various company prides and promises were paraded before him. Urssain said nothing.
Then, as he had with Urssain, Dan-Tor dropped in the occasional comment about troop strengths, supply problems, lack of reliable intelligence, debatable loyalties etc, and slowly, his own strategy appeared. The Lords should be left, he suggested.
The idea was dismissed out of hand. With respect, Ffyrst, allow your enemy to build up his strength? The talk bubbled on again.
But in gathering his strength would he not also gather more mouths to feed, more bodies to shelter, more minds to keep busy? Dan-Tor offered tentatively.
Again the idea was dismissed without consideration. Urssain continued to say nothing, and began to sit very still. He noticed that Aelang was doing the same.
Inexorably, however, tangled in the snares and traps that Dan-Tor had strewn, the meeting drifted into repetition.
The Lords must be attacked.
But that would be very dangerous.
They couldn’t be left because they’d build up their strength and…
‘And?’ asked Dan-Tor.
And they’ll attack us, obviously.
Dan-Tor spoke very quietly. Who then would have the long supply lines to maintain? Who then would have the odium of living off the land they passed over, local disaffection ever threatening their flanks? Who then would have to assault fresh troops in entrenched positions after a long journey? Aren’t these the very reasons why it’s too dangerous for us to attack them?
A silence descended on the room. One of the globes spluttered fitfully.
Dan-Tor stood up. ‘Gentlemen, ponder this before we meet again: the consolidation and cautious expan-sion of the territory we hold and the building up of a conscript army to defend it. Will not this, together with the pressure of maintaining their own growing army, eventually force the Lords to leave their mountain strongholds and attack us? And when they arrive, tired and extended, should we not offer them first our conscripts, whose destruction will tire them further and rack their consciences with its pointless horror? Will that then not leave us with the simple task of holding our ground until they are so weakened and demoralized that we can destroy them utterly at little cost to ourselves?’
No one spoke.
Dan-Tor continued, his voice icy. ‘Ponder this also, gentlemen. If I can defeat your strategy with mere words, have no illusions what the Lords and their High Guards will do to you. There is enough uncertainty in combat without adding mindless folly to it. For your future guidance, do not speak at these meetings unless you have something pertinent to say. And save your barrack-room bravado for the youth corps.’
Then, suddenly and terribly, his presence filled the room.
‘You are the Commanders of my Mathidrin. Faithful servants who will be rewarded as my power grows; grows beyond limits you can imagine. But you are bound to me and by me. You can be expunged at my whim. Serve me well.’
Urssain stood outside the Westerclave watching his fellow Commanders leave. He was glad of the overcast sky and the failing light which made it easier for him to keep his eyes in the shade. What a massacre! Lessons within lessons there. He would need to think about what had happened very carefully. Those strange faces? Faces themselves surprised to be among strangers. I alone know my resources, was Urssain’s reading of the message. You are all dispensable-there are others who can replace you.
‘Weather’s a little more like home, eh, Urss?’ The voice was unmistakable and brought Urssain very sharply to the present. There was one lesson for a start. He’d been too long at the Palace. Too long away from the treacherous and dangerous in-fighting that was the stock-in-trade of ambitious Mathidrin. That was a serious mistake.
He turned to look at Aelang, his erstwhile sponsor and Commander at Narsindalvak. Feared throughout the ranks of the Mathidrin, Aelang’s vicious cruelty and ruthless scheming were almost legendary. It had come as no surprise to Urssain when he learnt that the Sirshiant the Queen had killed had belonged to one of Aelang’s companies.
‘Indeed,’ said Urssain, trying to focus on Aelang’s eyes. However, like his own, they were shaded in the poor light by his helmet. Standing watchfully behind Aelang were two aides. Urssain knew well enough the trail of disappearances and accidents that had marked the rise of Aelang, and the presence of the two men reminded him that he too must be more careful in dark and lonely places with so many high-ranking Mathidrin now in the City. His nearness to Dan-Tor was as much a provocation as it was a protection. ‘Indeed,’ he repeated. It was some measure of Aelang that he thought of Narsindal as home. ‘But I’m afraid I’ve grown used to the mellower climes of Fyorlund.’
Aelang smiled, revealing an array of discoloured teeth with prominent canines. Urssain remembered that in their bolder moods, and well out of earshot, the troopers used to call him Mandrocsson.
‘Ah. You always had your eye to softer billets, Urss,’ Aelang growled jovially. ‘Always anxious to rise above us humble foot soldiers.’
Part jibe, part congratulation, part threat, part call-ing in of old debts, thought Urssain. Don’t turn your back.
‘It’s not quite as soft as it looks, Aelang,’ he replied with equal joviality. ‘As you’ll find out now you’ve managed to find your way about here.’
Aelang laughed knowingly. ‘Well you’ve not changed, I’ll say that. I should’ve known better than to bandy words with a courtier.’ He stepped closer and spoke softly, confidentially. ‘Things are happening that we’d hardly dared to imagine, Urss. Our… beloved Ffyrst has used the King’s folly to considerable effect. Plenty of opportunities now for those who can see them… and more to come if I’m any judge.’ Urssain did not reply. Aelang continued, his voice even lower. ‘You’re the Ffyrst’s man in Vakloss.’ Thanks to me, said his eyes. ‘I’m his man at Narsindalvak. But there were strange faces amongst us today, Urss? The Ffyrst looks only for the most… capable, does he not? I think that with all these changes going on, you and I should protect one another’s backs, don’t you?’
Urssain scrutinized Aelang’s shaded face. He must be feeling insecure, he thought, to suggest that. Or was it a threat? Join me, or else. Urssain’s eyes turned to the departing Commanders. Either way, it made sense. He and Aelang were well placed, but they would indeed be targets for any ambitious sparks looking to improve their lots. And he did know Aelang for what he was. It could do little harm to have him… in partnership… as it were. At least he’d be able to keep an eye on him.