“Can’t she manage on her own?”
“I promised I’d be there.”
Unlike me, Gurd is a man who keeps his promises, even when he’d rather be downing ale. I should probably admire him for it. I grumble a little as he departs, and have myself another beer to make up for my disappointment. I look down at my empty bowl of stew. Not bad quality. Nothing like Tanrose could make, of course. I look around the small tavern, vaguely wondering what I should be doing next. Investigating, I suppose. But there’s really nothing to investigate. Nothing I can think of anyway. If Deeziz the Unseen has arrived in Samsarina, I doubt she’s going to reveal herself in the Beery Knave. I start to feel a little annoyed. It’s all very well Lisutaris telling me to go out and find Deeziz, but isn’t that something the Sorcerers should be doing? I did once have a few sorcerous powers but they’ve mostly gone now. Nothing I can do is going to magically locate Deeziz. What was it I said To Anumaris Thunderbolt about just plodding round, looking for clues? I can’t remember. Some nonsense, I expect.
“To hell with them all,” I mutter. “Particularly Anumaris. I never thought the day would come when I’d be in a tavern with someone who asked for a glass of water. What was Lisutaris doing, putting her on my staff? If that’s the best young sorcerer we’ve got, the West is doomed.”
I’m yawning. I should sleep. Since arriving in the capital I’ve been billeted in a barracks on the west of the city but it’s a long way back there. I decide to head back to my new office at Lisutaris’s headquarters and sleep there. I remember there isn’t a couch. I told Anumaris to sort that out for me but I doubt if she has. Where is she anyway? Shouldn’t she be around? I’ll have something to say to her about deserting me when we’re meant to be on duty.
Spring has arrived and it’s a warm say in the Samsarinan capital. I give a cheerful wave to a squadron of heavily armed Elves who march by in good formation. I’m still yawning as I climb the stairs and enter my office. Inside is Anumaris Thunderbolt. The young sorcerer doesn’t look that pleased to see me.
“Where did you get to?” I demand. “You don’t just wander off when you’re on duty.”
“You told me to go away!”
“No I didn’t.”
“Yes you did! You were extremely rude.”
I scowl at her. “This is war. What do you expect? A pat on the head from the local ladies sewing circle? My security department is a tough fighting unit. If you can’t take it, go work somewhere else.”
“Your tough fighting unit seems to spend all its time drinking in taverns.”
“You mean investigating in taverns. And shouldn’t you be addressing me as General? This is the army, show some discipline.”
“You’re not a General. You’re a Captain.”
“Are you sure?”
“Quite sure.”
“Very well. Captain it is. Now go away, I need to rest.” Suddenly I bump my leg on an unexpectedly large piece of furniture. “What’s this?”
“A couch. Sort of.”
“What do you mean sort of? Is it a couch or isn’t it?”
“There aren’t any couches available for requisition. I took four chairs and joined them up with a spell.”
I take a look at her handiwork. Four chairs, reasonably comfy, lined up and fixed together. Quite clever, really.
“Not bad. It’s time you did something useful round here. The rest of your work has been a great disappointment.”
With that, I lie down on my new couch and fall asleep. My first day as Lisutaris’s Chief Security Officer has been quite arduous, and I need my rest.
Chapter Five
The makeshift couch proves satisfactory but I don’t manage to rest as long as I’d like. After what seems like a very short time I’m shaken awake by Anumaris. I glare at her angrily.
“Didn’t I instruct you I wasn’t to be disturbed?”
“No.”
“Well I meant to. Go away.”
“Commander Lisutaris is holding a meeting and you’re to go there immediately.”
“Dammit. What does she want?”
“To conduct the war, I suppose,” says Anumaris with what may be a touch of sarcasm.
I haul myself to my feet, a little unsteadily.
“You can’t go there looking like that,” says Anumaris.
“Like what?”
“Like a man who’s just crawled out of a tavern after ten flagons of ale.”
“Was it ten?”
“I don’t know! I was just guessing.”
“It’s probably accurate enough.”
“You stink of alcohol. Lisutaris specifically ordered you not to drink! And she told me to make sure you didn’t! You couldn’t even make it through one day.”
The young sorcerer seems rather agitated by all this. Quite unexpectedly, she points at me and speaks a few arcane words. I feel a sudden chill, and shiver.
“What was that? Did you just work a spell on me?”
“Yes. The minor tidying spell. Now you don’t smell of ale any more. And you look a bit neater. It will get you through the meeting.”
I’m sure it’s against army discipline for your subordinated to suddenly fire spells at you. On the other hand, it’s probably not such a bad thing. No point giving Lisutaris something to complain about.
“All right, let’s go.”
“I don’t think I’m invited,” says Anumaris.
“You’re coming as my assistant. Pay attention to everything in case I need you to repeat it later.”
In the short time since she was chosen as War Leader, Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky, has efficiently organised her command structure. At the centre are just four people. Herself, as overall Commander and senior sorcerer, General Hemistos as infantry Commander, Bishop-General Ritari as cavalry Commander, and Lord Kalith-ar-Yil as Elvish Commander. These appointments are both practical and political. Each officer has a good reputation and plenty of experience of fighting, and between them they represent most of the troops who’ll make up the armies of the West. Hemistos is Samsarinan. Ritari is Niojan. We haven’t joined up with the Niojan army yet but Lisutaris summoned him early, wanting the Niojans to know that they had a senior man in an important position. Lord Kalith-ar-Yil, an Elf I’ve encountered on several occasions, is the most senior Elf in attendance, and has the loyalty of all the southern Elvish Isles.
There is one important nation missing from Lisutaris’s central command. As yet no there’s representative from Simnia. That could be a problem. Simnia has never liked Turai, and might be expected to chafe about a Turanian being War Leader. They’ll complain more if they feel they’re not represented at the heart of the command structure. I don’t know what Lisutaris plans to do about that. Whatever happens, Lisutaris’s position as War Leader seems secure. The young King of Samsarina supports her. The Elves wouldn’t support anyone else. The Niojans aren’t thought to be particularly happy about the appointment, particularly as Lisutaris is female, but they seem to have accepted the reality that there was no other candidate who could command enough support.
Beneath these central leadership figures are a number of other commanders. They have responsibility for important matters such as the fleet, which will be sailing along the coast, ready to support us when our route brings us closer to the sea. Then there’s the Commander with responsibility for provisions, another in charge of armaments, and another in charge of heavy equipment, our mounted crossbows and siege equipment and so on. It’s not as large as group as I might have expected, and from what I’ve seen, Lisutaris has things under tight control. She glances at me as I enter the room. “Captain Thraxas,” she murmurs.