Jevin was our leader for two reasons. First, he had a resolve that none of us could match. A resolve that dragged us along even during the darkest hours. The second was Jevin understood what each of us contributed to the group, and he would draw it out of us by any means necessary. That last part is what made Jevin the bastard that he was. I would like to think I’ve learned how to be a strong leader by imitating his good qualities and discarding his less desirable ones. – Colonel Pallus Parn, lecture at Imperial War Academy

KURT

Kurt settled further into the plush chair. If he was acting as the stereotypical dwarf, he should be verbally berating the elves for their decadence. Kurt was honest enough to admit he enjoyed the fluffy cushions and soft fabrics. He grunted as he took the proffered tankard from a servant. He spent too much time in Lisandra. Maybe after the Purists were defeated and the princess properly on the throne, he could finally return to the farm. Maybe he could get Rin to come with him. On second thought, Kurt doubted the princess would let Rin out of her sight long enough to go back to their old home. Kurt wasn’t sure if Rin was aware of that yet or not. Princess Illana gently cleared her throat as the last of her informal council walked into the throne room and sat down. The servants took their cue and left.

“Thank you all for joining me at this late hour,” Princess Illana said, “Let’s make this brief so we can get some sleep. We’ll have enough sleepless nights in the coming days.”

“It may not be as bad as we think, your highness,” Marteen said. She nodded for him to continue. “Kurt and I went down to the Broken Tip.” He paused as the princess let out a very un-regal giggle at the name. Damn, she sounded just like the girl they rescued. Sonya glared at Marteen.

“What? That’s the pub’s name. It’s full of veterans from the Reclamation Army. A lot of them know Kurt and me.”

“Please continue,” Princess Illana said. Sonya kept her face neutral, but Kurt saw the fire dancing in her eyes. It didn’t help Sonya had been forced numerous times to send the Crystal Guard to pull a very drunk and boisterous Marteen out of that very pub. And pay for the injuries and property damage caused by a very drunk and boisterous Marteen.

“Once they learned why we were there, a bunch of them agreed to help out, right off,” Marteen said. “Word spread and others started showing up. Most were just regular people, but some veterans. A few former sergeants I know started organizing companies and started drilling them. They need weapons, though.”

“How many?” Pallus asked.

“Maybe a thousand volunteers, all told,” Marteen said, pleased with their progress.

“Only a couple hundred are veterans,” Kurt said with a cautious tone. “The rest are just people willing to fight.” Marteen shot the dwarf an evil look. Kurt was pretty sure Marteen was trying to get back into Sonya’s good graces and trying too hard.

“We should be able to equip that many,” Pallus said.

“How?” Sonya asked, “The Crystal Guard only has four hundred members, with your reserves.”

“Correct, but as the commander of the Crystal Guard, I also have access to the Lisandra Armory. The Capitol Army took all their muskets and cannon with them, but they left spears, halberds, swords, and armor. There’s plenty to equip that many volunteers.”

“You may want to avoid the armor if we’re facing musket-armed troops,” Morelli said, “The Republican Army found it wasn’t very useful and slowed down the infantry.” Pallus pondered that for a moment before nodding.

“You’re probably right about regular armor, but there’s a few suits of jewel-spun armor. Those will stop a musket ball,” Pallus said. He looked over at Marteen and Kurt. “If you have your sergeants at the armory tomorrow morning, some of my Guard will be there to issue equipment and weapons.”

“Arming a thousand volunteers? Then organizing and training them? Do we have enough time to accomplish all of that?” Princess Illana asked.

“No, your highness,” Pallus and Marteen said at the same time. The princess motioned for Marteen to continue.

“If we had weeks instead of days, we could make them into a somewhat competent force,” Marteen answered bluntly. “What we’re doing is making most of them into somewhat useful fodder to keep the Purists busy while the veterans, the constables, and the Guard do the real damage.” Marteen nodded to Pallus and Chief Constable Dalan.

“I’ll be keeping the active Crystal Guard here at the palace,” Pallus said, “My reserves will be stationed at the Aponte Wall.” The Aponte Wall surrounded the base of Aponte Hill. It was the border between Inner and Outer Lisandra. As Lisandra grew to become the predominant trade city in the Empire, Inner Lisandra became the province of the wealthy. When Lisandra became the capital of the newly united Elven Empire, the first emperor decided to spin his palace on Aponte Hill. Centuries of growth moved the geographic center of the city, but Aponte Hill was still the political, cultural, and economic center of Lisandra – and the Empire. The top of the hill was dominated by the Crystal Palace, the Sacellum, the Diet Hall, and the ruins of the Liopasto. Below those were the nobles’ townhouses and the shops catering to the top tiers of Imperial society. Taking up most of the northern slope were the Imperial Gardens. At the base of the hill was the Aponte Wall, a massive structure made of spun emerald, ruby, and garnet some twenty feet high and ten feet thick. In addition to being a massive defensive structure, the Aponte Wall was the focus for the Barrier. When needed, the clerics of the Sacellum could pour the Goddess’s Grace into the Aponte Wall and create a magic shield five hundred feet high and impervious to even the most powerful siege weapons.

“They won’t be alone,” Robar said. Pallus gave the cleric an appraising look. “Etan sent a message this afternoon. Fifty paladins will be on Aponte Wall under her command.”

“Who is Etan?” Sonya asked.

“That paladin who slapped you?” Rin asked, surprised. Robar nodded, a slight tinge of embarrassment coloring his cheeks.

“Did the Suprema change her mind?” Princess Illana asked.

“Not exactly, your highness. From the rumors, you convinced some of the paladins and ecclesiasts to join us,” Robar said, “I suspect the Sacellum is quietly allowing any of their lower clerics to assist in the defense of the city to keep the more radical factions in check.”

“Why do you say that?” Sonya asked.

“Because Etan would never break with the Sacellum,” Robar said. “If she’s coming, her Head authorized it. Although, I very much doubt you would get any of them to admit the Sacellum gave them permission.”

“Will that help?” the princess asked Pallus.

“Yes, your highness,” Pallus answered, “Those paladins will let me form up a flying company with some of my musket-armed reserves.”

“Wait, the Guard has muskets?” Marteen asked. “When did that happen?”

“About six months ago,” Pallus said. “I still don’t like those things, but since the Capitol Army is adopting them, the Guard must transition as well.”

“Damn it, Pallus, why didn’t you tell us?” Rin demanded. “We can train the volunteers for firing lines fairly quickly.”

“I didn’t say anything earlier because I only have fifty muskets,” Pallus shot back with a glare. “I have enough to arm the flying company.” Marteen frowned, but Kurt was personally glad. Even after the rigorous instruction from Rin, Kurt didn’t trust firearms.

“In addition to the paladins on the wall, there will be about a hundred ecclesiasts helping the residents,” Robar said.

“Ecclesiasts? Aren’t they forbidden to fight?” asked Princess Illana.

“Yes, your highness. The senior ecclesiast asked to set up a hospital in the Imperial Gardens and maybe some smaller ones in the city.”

“That might be difficult. I planned on using the Imperial Gardens to house evacuated civilians,” Chief Constable Dalan said. The chief constable was probably the stockiest elf Kurt knew. In many ways, he reminded Kurt of a dwarf stretched to elven height. Dalan joined the Lisandra Constabulary as a junior constable. Quick wits and good instincts during the Night of Fire and Blood put Dalan on to the leadership track. He was promoted to chief constable nearly two decades ago. His thick hands were gnarled with the scars of breaking up too many pub brawls and rough takedowns of criminals. He even kept the lower-class drawl, even though his position entitled him to the clipped accent of the higher classes.

“I can’t order an evacuation without the Diet declaring a state of emergency. What I can do is have my constables strongly suggest to the folks living in the outskirts and on the main avenues in the Outer City they may want to start packing up, just in case,” Dalan said.

“Plus, the Knifehand’s been kind enough to let it be known he would be very annoyed if any of his people tried to take advantage of the current situation to do some looting or otherwise illegally acquiring property. Rough estimates are between ten and twenty thousand civilians will need accommodation inside Aponte Wall.” Kurt knew of the Knifehand from Ral, but this was the first time Kurt laid eyes on the man. Kurt was astonished when he found out about the agreement negotiated between the Knifehand and the princess, but he was even more surprised by how readily Dalan and Rin accepted the Knifehand into Princess Illana’s “Inner Council.”

“Twenty thousand people crammed into the Imperial Gardens?” Princess Illana asked, with a slightly horrified tone in her voice. Then, she took a deep breath and nodded. “Well, we can always replant.” She turned to Sonya. “Could you at least make sure the violet lilies are moved into the Crystal Palace? I don’t want to lose them.”

“So where will we put the hospital?” Selene asked. “We need someplace for the wounded, and the Imperial Gardens is the only space big enough.”

“The Liopasto,” Princess Illana said. Kurt almost dropped his tankard. The room went silent. Once the greatest school for magic in the world, the Liopasto was destroyed when the daemon army broke through the Aponte Barrier. According to accounts, the sorcerers of the Liopasto put up a valiant fight before being swarmed and wiped out. In the process of slaughtering every soul in the Liopasto, the daemon corrupted the destroyed buildings with their foulness. Now, only a few brave – or foolhardy – souls dared to tread on the Liopasto grounds in hopes of finding ancient texts or other treasures.

“Sweet Goddess, she’s serious,” Marteen muttered under his breath. Everyone – except the two humans – mirrored his sentiments.

“Your highness, with all due respect, I don’t think we could get a hospital set up on the Liopasto grounds,” Selene said. “I don’t know if anyone treated there will heal properly. The Liopasto is defiled with the remains of the daemons’ magic.”

“It’s tainted, not defiled,” Rin said.

“What is the difference?” Robar asked, sharply.

“Your Goddess will let you use Her grace on the Liopasto grounds, won’t She?” Rin asked. “You can still feel Her?”

“That’s what the few clerics who have gone to the Liopasto reported to the Sacellum.”

“Then it’s tainted,” Rin said. “If it was defiled, you wouldn’t be able to sense your Goddess at all. Tainted grounds can be cleansed.”

“If that is the case, then you will do whatever is needed to set up the hospital on the Liopasto’s grounds,” Princess Illana ordered. Her face softened as Selene and Robar looked flummoxed.

“Selene, it’s the one place in Lisandra where the Purists will not go. The one place you can concentrate on saving the injured without worrying about having to defend yourselves. Besides, it’s long past time those grounds were reclaimed. They’ve been an open sore for far too long. Tomorrow, I want you and your husband to take the clerics who volunteered to help to the Liopasto grounds. Determine how to cleanse a large enough area for the hospital.” Selene stood there speechless, but Robar spoke up.

“We will convince them, your highness,” Robar said. When Selene gave him a shocked look, Robar just gave his wife a smile. “We will convince them, Selene.” Selene didn’t look convinced, but she nodded in agreement. There was a softness in Selene’s eyes as she looked at Robar. What exactly happened at the Sacellum?

“With that settled, Chief Constable, what are your plans for putting the evacuees into the gardens?” Sonya asked.

“Of my two thousand constables, I’ll have about three hundred assigned to assist with the encampment. I have criminal labor set to clear and set up the space,” Dalan said.

“Criminal labor?” Sonya asked, “Is that wise to have them on Aponte Hill?”

“They will behave themselves, my lady,” the Knifehand answered before Dalan could say something, “Some of my more trustworthy people will make sure that their constable keepers will be obeyed.”

“I wasn’t aware of that!” Dalan protested.

“I apologize, Chief Constable, but I needed to make sure their identities would not be compromised,” the Knifehand said. “I would appreciate it if you not let your constables assigned to oversee the labor pools not know about my special people.”

“I understand why, but I need to know so I can properly disperse my constables.”

“You are correct, Chief Constable. Again, I apologize. I will make sure to keep you informed of such matters.”

“So, the rest of your constables will be helping to defend the outskirts and the city proper?” Sonya asked. Dalan nodded. “Will they need time to prepare?”

“I’ve already pulled a thousand of my constables off patrol duty to prepare for combat,” Dalan answered, “Most of those are army veterans or my more experienced constables. We’ll have them in what armor and weapons I have and drilling for combat. My remaining seven hundred constables will be busy trying to cover all the normal patrols until the Purists get here. Then, we’ll have them ready to help the citizens.”

“Can those few constables adequately police Lisandra?” Sonya asked.

“For a short time, and as long as we have the cooperation the Knifehand’s promised,” Dalan answered. “It will still mean some long days and nights for my men, but they understand. They all agreed to work as hard as they can to protect Lisandra. I just hope you remember this the next time I petition for a pay raise for the constables.” A dark chuckle circulated around the room.

“With most of your constables setting up the encampment or training, how are you going to stop the Purist insurrectionists already in the city before they start their riots?” Princess Illana asked.

“To be blunt, there’s nothing I can do about them,” Dalan answered, “With what evidence I have right now, there’s nothing I can bring before the Imperial Tribunal. The tribunes would just dismiss us out of hand. The only way I could legally round these Purists up without charges would be under a state of emergency or martial law.”

“So, how are we supposed to deal with them? Wait for them to begin burning down my city and then arrest them?” the princess asked with a hint of exasperation in her voice.

“Well, we have these rangers here. We might as well make use of them,” Chief Constable Dalan said. Dalan’s malicious smile was mirrored on Rin’s and Morelli’s faces.

“Rin, please explain what the Chief Constable is hinting at,” Princess Illana ordered, with a stern expression on her face.

“There’s wording in the treaty between the Republic and the Empire giving rangers the same right to hunt quarry in Lisandra as we have in the Republic,” Rin said, as if that explained everything. Marteen grinned. That wasn’t necessarily a good thing in Kurt’s experience. Sometimes the man had the survival instinct of a baby duck – particularly when there might be violence to be had. Princess Illana was just as confused as Kurt. She gave Rin a flat look.

“Your highness, Major Agnelli placed the rangers assigned to the embassy at Ranger Acciaio’s disposal in his hunt for the sorcerer Smythe,” Morelli explained, “Ranger Acciaio said the sorcerer was last seen in the company of the Purists marching here. Based on his reporting, the major considers it possible the Purists sympathizers in the city could have relevant information about the whereabouts and disposition of the quarry. So, under the careful observation of a few constables assigned as liaisons, we, the rangers, intend to question them.” The words came out as if Morelli was reading them. Once he realized what the younger ranger said, Kurt sat up straight, nearly spilling his tankard in shock.

“God of Iron! You’re letting humans round up the Purists?” Kurt blurted. “They’ll die before surrendering to a human, much less answer a human’s questions.”

“I’m sure many will refuse to answer our questions. They may even use violence to resist us,” Rin said. “We may be even forced to kill some in self-defense.”

“Such a shame,” Morelli added with complete neutrality.

“Sounds like fun,” Marteen said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

“Which you will not join,” Princess Illana said, coldly. “You will be training the volunteers.” Marteen stared agape at the princess, as if he couldn’t believe she would deny him a chance at fighting Purists. A ghost of a smile flittered across Sonya’s lips.

“Chief Constable, would you object to your constables being under Hero Madrigal’s command during the battle?” Sonya asked. “Despite his previous antics in Lisandra, he is a somewhat effective field commander. Especially with Hero Volker there to rein him in.” Kurt sputtered in his beer. They were expecting hime to rein in that madman during a battle?

“Of course, your highness. My men know Marteen the Scythe’s reputation,” Dalan said, managing a bow while seated.

“Thank you,” Princess Illana said before fixing her gaze on Marteen. “Marteen, I’m trusting you with the volunteers and the constables to defend the city. Do what you can to hold the Purists outside the Aponte Wall. Do not betray that trust.” Marteen swallowed hard and nodded. Princess Illana shot a quick look at Kurt, and he nodded as well. The girl certainly knew which levers to pull to get what she needed.

“Robar, is Paladin Etan a good commander?” Princess Illana asked.

“One of the Sacellum’s finest, your highness,” Robar answered.

“Pallus, I want you to let Paladin Etan command the forces at the wall,” Illana said.

“Then, where will I be, your highness?” Pallus asked, warily.

“Here at the Palace,” Illana answered, “In the Golden Observatory. It has the best view of the city, which you will need as commander of the city defense.” Pallus nodded solemnly.

“Lady Sonya, have we covered everything?” Princess Illana asked.

“I believe we’ve covered everything that needs to be dealt with tonight, your highness,” Sonya answered. She looked down at the notes she scribbled during the meeting. “We’re in better shape than I feared this morning.” Sonya looked out at the gathered group.

“I think we should retire for the evening. We will meet again in the morning to see if anything occurred to us.”

As soon as they were outside the throne room, Kurt realized Rin wasn’t with them. Apprehension and elation filled Kurt as he looked over to where Marteen, Chief Constable Dalan, and the Knifehand discussed the next day’s activities. As happy as Kurt was for his son, he was worried the boy would do something foolish. As soon as the thought crossed Kurt’s mind, he berated himself. Rin was almost thirty years old. He wasn’t a boy anymore, especially for a human. Marteen stormed over to Kurt and glared.

“This is all your fault,” Marteen said, petulantly.

“What is all my fault?” Kurt asked, trying hard to keep the grin off his face.

“Getting Rin and the princess back together,” Marteen answered, “If you hadn’t meddled, Princess Illana would still be locked in her room screaming not to bother her, and Sonya would let me go play in the city instead of making me some kind of general.”

“Probably closer to a lieutenant colonel,” Kurt mused. “Pallus is only a colonel after all, and he’s in overall command.”

“Damn it, Kurt, you know what I mean!” Marteen shouted. Kurt put on his “stern father” look and Marteen deflated.

“Are you done?” Kurt said.

“Yes. Sorry,” Marteen muttered as the two walked to their rooms. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Marteen spoke again.

“I’m glad you were right, Kurt. Those two deserve some happiness in this life,” Marteen said.

Chapter Seventeen