Heritage of Cyador (saga of recluce Book 18) (49 page)

Lerial agrees. Almost all consortings are on sixday or sevenday. He takes another bite of the egg, cheese, and ham. It’s hot and passable.

“… and he sent word that he was ill the next morning. He’s been worse every day.”

“Is Commander Shaerthyn considered a good field commander?”

Dhresyl takes a swallow of greenberry juice and nods. “Perhaps not as good as Ascaar, but good. Certainly better than I am.”

Dhresyl’s last words surprise Lerial, but he manages to reply, “You’re being modest, I’m sure.”

“I wouldn’t call myself a poor field commander, but outstanding?” Dhresyl shakes his head. “I’m better with logistics.”

“And now you find yourself in command?”

“I’d relinquish command to Ascaar, if he were here, but he’s not.”

Almost the entire command structure wiped out, with the known most effective field commander poisoned, the duke and his family largely wiped out, and the only two survivors are Rhamuel through quick action and luck and Dhresyl through sheer chance.
Lerial is staggered by the apparent combination of advance planning and treachery behind the Heldyan invasion.

Dhresyl takes another swallow of greenberry. “Not much we can do about what’s already happened. I’ve asked Commander Sammyl to send for Subcommander Ascaar and his battalions.”

“He only has one at Shaelt. The other is still at Luba,” Lerial says.

“Another battalion will help, but Ascaar will help more. Right now, Drusyn is the only battalion commander with any experience at all…”

Again, Lerial hears the implications behind Dhresyl’s words.

“… and you have more battle experience than any commander in all of Afrit.”

“What do you plan for today?” Lerial asks, afraid that another officer will intrude before he can get to the point he needs to make, although he has not pushed, because he is trying to make the matter come up in the course of conversation.

“If they attack, reinforce the battalions in position south of them.” Dhresyl raises his eyebrows. “The way you ask that … Do you have another idea?”

So much for indirection and subtlety.
“I was thinking about an attack from the west.”

“Any attack in force from there would leave too few battalions between them and the city.”

“I wasn’t thinking about an attack in force,” Lerial replies. “Just one strong enough that they couldn’t afford to ignore it.”

Dhresyl frowns.

“That would give them pause, perhaps more,” Lerial suggests.

“You think that will delay them?”

“If we can surprise them even a little, we might cause them unanticipated losses. Or, as you say, it might delay them. I think it’s worth the effort, and we might be able to do some damage with an attack from a direction that they don’t expect.”

“What sort of attack?”

“Mounted, with lances. The Mirror Lancers aren’t a large enough force by themselves, though, for enough of an effect.”

“I couldn’t divert more than a battalion, and there are only a few trained in lances.”

Lerial can sense that Dhresyl believes that little support will cause Lerial to reconsider his recommendation. “That should do it, I would think.”

After a momentary pause, Dhresyl replies, “It would have to be one of Drusyn’s or Majer Paelwyr’s Fourteenth.”

“I’ve not met Majer Paelwyr.” Lerial keeps his voice even.

“He’s one of the more junior majers. Good head on his shoulders. He asks questions at the right time—before things happen. Then he follows orders.”

“Then I’ll leave the choice to you, ser.”

“Paelwyr, I think. His battalion is all that remains of Subcommander Varndyr’s command. Varndyr had the Thirteenth and Fourteen Battalions. What little that was left of the Thirteenth was transferred to the Twelfth.” Dhresyl smiles professionally. “If you want to brief your officers, you have less than half a glass before the senior officers’ meeting. That’s assuming the Heldyans don’t attack first.”

“Thank you, ser.”

Dhresyl shakes his head. “I suspect I’ll be thanking you.”

Lerial quickly finishes what remains of his breakfast and lager, departing as several majers enter the mess.

Fheldar and the two undercaptains are waiting outside his quarters’ door.

“You left early this morning, ser,” offers Kusyl.

“I needed to talk to Commander Dhresyl. He’s given his approval for a surprise attack…” Lerial goes on to describe what he has in mind and what little he knows about Majer Paelwyr and Fourteenth Battalion.

He makes it back to the mess room with a few moments to spare. He isn’t even the last one to arrive. Drusyn is, if but a few steps behind Lerial. Dhresyl gestures to the empty chairs flanking him. Lerial takes the one on the left, since he properly isn’t actually in the Afritan command structure. While Drusyn is seating himself, Lerial studies the officers around the long table. Except for the three at the end, all six are majers, one of whom must be Paelwyr, whom he has not met. Considering that there should be ten, the way Lerial figures, that means that something like four battalions, or close to it, have been lost. It also means that there were close to ten battalions originally at the Harbor Post.

Dhresyl clears his throat, then begins. “As of a few moments ago, the Heldyans were not in any formation resembling an attack. Perhaps they’re following the Kaordist doctrine of not fighting on sevenday.” The commander smiles, an expression that is ironic, given that the Heldyans are largely followers of the God of the Balance, thanks at least in part to Khesyn’s sire’s brutal campaigns against the chaos animists. “That is the good news. On the other hand, our best estimates are that the Heldyans have between twelve and fifteen battalions. We think four are mounted. The others are most likely either heavy foot or archers.

“I have requested that, if possible, Subcommander Ascaar be allowed to add his forces to ours. Even if that is possible, we won’t see them for an eightday. All of you have heard that Duke Atroyan was killed in the palace explosion. Arms-Commander Rhamuel was injured, but is still able, and Commander Sammyl is assisting him. Overcaptain Lerial of Cigoerne, here on my left, has joined our forces with his contingent of Mirror Lancers. If we do not see an immediate attack by the Heldyans this morning, then he and the Mirror Lancers will lead a diversionary attack on the Heldyans. He will be accompanied and supported by Majer Paelwyr and Fourteenth Battalion.” Dhresyl inclines his head toward the left side of the table.

A majer nods slightly in response. The sandy-haired Paelwyr is the youngest-looking Afritan majer Lerial has encountered and is most likely only five or six years older than Lerial himself. Dhresyl’s choice doesn’t exactly surprise Lerial.

“Diversionary attack?” asks Drusyn politely.

“I’m sure Overcaptain Lerial can explain far better than I,” replies Dhresyl.

“We’ll attack from where the Heldyans are not expecting any attack,” says Lerial. “That will allow us to inflict more casualties than would merely waiting for their attack. There is also a good chance that it will delay or change their plans.”

Drusyn does not conceal his frown.

“A surprise attack against an enemy in a place where there aren’t emplacements has a better chance of succeeding. Also, it will aid in keeping their chaos-wizards spread out in the future, and that will reduce the impact of chaos-firebolts when they attack.”

“It will also allow the rest of us to observe how they react, which could prove most useful,” adds Dhresyl. “Are there any other matters? No? Then the briefing is over.”

Lerial can see that Dhresyl doesn’t like meetings, and, for the most part, that’s fine with him. He has barely risen when Paelwyr moves to join him.

“Overcaptain, ser, since Fourteenth Battalion is assigned to your command, I wanted to say that we’re fully under your orders and command.”

For today’s attack.
“Thank you for the forthrightness, Majer. How soon will Fourteenth Battalion be ready to ride out—with lances?”

“Less than half a glass, ser. The commander told me about the lances. I’ve had to borrow a few from Tenth Battalion. Some of ours were damaged by the explosion.”

“That should do. If you’ll come with me, I’ll go over the plan with you and my undercaptains. Would you like me to include your company officers?” Lerial doesn’t want Paelwyr to think that he wants to command Fourteenth Battalion directly, although he would like the Afritan captains to hear the plan firsthand and, in turn, see their reactions and hear any thoughts they might have.

“If you would, ser.”

Lerial glances around, but all the other officers have left. “Then have them here as soon as you can.”

“Yes, ser.”

Lerial barely manages to retrieve his hand-drawn map and his company leaders before Paelwyr returns with his company officers. While they are gathering around the end of the long table, Lerial lays the small map on the wooden surface.

Then, with Paelwyr standing beside him, Lerial looks over Fheldar, his two undercaptains, and the five Afritan company officers. “Contrary to what some may think, this is not a gallant suicide attack. It’s supposed to be a swift jab to the Heldyan western flank to put them off-balance, and, if we’re successful, to inflict significant casualties before they can bring all their forces against us.”

“Might I ask why?” asks Paelwyr almost matter-of-factly, clearly wanting more explanation for his officers.

“There are two reasons. First, an attack from the west will suggest we have more forces than we do, and that will make them more cautious. Second, the more casualties we can inflict before we engage in a huge battle, the better the odds for us when that happens.”

“If this is successful, then you’ll try again?”

“That depends on how successful and what the Heldyans do.”

Paelwyr offers a broad smile. “We’ll be pleased to be part of anything like that.”

Lerial points to the map. “Here’s where they are. They’ve posted at least a company in that low dip. Rather than attack there, we’ll take the trail to the west past the scrub forest, and then attack from the northwest…” He goes on to detail what he has in mind. When he finishes, he looks to Paelwyr. “Do you have any questions, Majer?”

“How do you want us to handle any chaos-fire?”

“We have some defenses against that. If those defenses fail, you’ll get an order to withdraw. If possible, we’ll withdraw by heading south along the grassy swale … the same way we’ve planned to complete the attack—except sooner. If that is not possible, then I’d recommend heading due west, right over the ridge. The slope isn’t that steep, and you shouldn’t have to fight your way out. You would if you head for the dip in the ridge.” Lerial pauses, then adds, “One other thing. Even if the Heldyans we attack break and scatter, you’re not to pursue more than fifty to a hundred yards. If you do, you’ll find yourselves surrounded, and, as I said earlier, this attack is not a gallant suicide charge. The idea is to disrupt and kill them, then withdraw without getting many of our men hurt or killed. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ser.”

Lerial then answers several questions about command terms and what type of front he wants before there are no other inquiries, and he ends the briefing.

A third of a glass later, under a sun barely above the waters of the bay, and obscured partly by a haze that suggests a hot spring day, Lerial leads his combined force out through the gates of the Harbor Post and south, seemingly away from the Heldyans—but only for slightly more than half a kay before turning west on a narrow field lane, one beyond the sight of even any Heldyan lookouts on the rises around their encampment. The narrow lane makes progress slower than Lerial would prefer, and almost a glass passes before they have crossed the brook and two ridges and are headed north along the trail described by the Afritan scout.

Lerial is glad that the trail is hidden from the Heldyans, because his force is strung out for almost a kay on the trail, although he can order-sense his surroundings almost two kays away in the more open grounds away from cities and buildings, and there are only a few Heldyan scouts, and those are a good kay away, along the western perimeter of the Heldyan encampment. It is well past eighth glass when the combined forces reach a point north and west of the Heldyans and Lerial reforms the companies before they begin to circle more to the north around the area of pines and thornbushes that Lerial had noticed the day before.

Lerial, at the head of Eighth Company, still cannot sense any chaos-mages until he is less than half a kay from the Heldyan perimeter, just over the top of the ridge overlooking the western end of the Heldyan encampment. There he calls a halt while using his senses to get a better understanding of where the Heldyans are located. There are four chaos-mages, but three of the four are strong enough that they carry the diffuse shields that make discovering their location, except in very general terms, almost impossible. The Heldyans have mustered close to three battalions behind the low earth embankments they have created overlooking the creek.

After several long moments, Lerial decides that his original attack plan will not work in the way he had hoped, and he sends for Majer Paelwyr.

“Yes, ser?” Paelwyr reins up.

“We’re going to have to change the plan of attack slightly, Majer. The Heldyans still have most of their forces in tents and quarters. There are likely about three to four battalions in ready positions, along the southern perimeter at the end of the flat ground overlooking the creek. We can do far more damage—and leave more quickly—if we charge down the western perimeter, behind their lines, until we reach the southern lines, and then swing east. We can cut through the defenders and make for the shore road. From what I can tell, there’s only a company of mounted armsmen stationed at the east end of the hamlet, and they’re well north of the southern defenders.”

“You lead, and we’ll follow, ser. I’ll pass the changes on to the company officers.”

“We’ll wait until you can.”

The one problem with Lerial’s plan is that they will not be able to move down the east side of the slope at more than a fast walk, not until they reach the grassy swale, but that is a distance of less than two hundred yards, and even if the Heldyans notice them immediately, it will take some time for them to react, since there are far fewer defenders on the far west and north sides of the encampment.