LE Modesitt Corean 02 Darknesses

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What would you suggest?
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Alucius returned the smile with one equally false, and probably as
transparent. Before we left Emal
Outpost, you had mentioned that the Lord-Protector was more interested in
adding and reinforcing
Northern Guard posts to the north and west. Because we have been well away
from the Iron Valleys, I
have no knowledge of what has been recommended and accomplished. I would not
wish to suggest something contrary to his and your desires. If you could
enlighten me, briefly, on where matters stand, and what posts are short of
companies?
The colonel leaned back slightly in the old wooden armchair, smiling more
broadly. Yes& we must consider what is possible, and I wish more officers
understood that.
Alucius ignored the implication that he didn t, continued smiling politely,
and waited.
The outpost at Soulend was moved to the former stead at the west end of the
valley just short of the
Westerhills the same stead, I believe, where the Matrites encamped. It has
been expanded to a staging base capable of holding as many as ten companies.
There are five there at present. Matters have been slower farther north. This
summer we completed a small post for two companies in Eastice, and work is
proceeding on a temporary post in the Westerhills east of Klamat. The
arms-commander had hoped to begin a northern campaign late this summer, but
the logistics dissuaded him. The post in Wesrigg has also been expanded, and
there are now five companies there, with space for another five.
I see. You have twelve companies on the high roads leading to the northern
part of Madrien. We had four companies, and I would assume that you have a
company here. If I might ask, where are the other four stationed? Along the
River Vedra to the west?
Exactly. The colonel smiled. In fact, the arms-commander has been so
impressed with the performance of the Northern Guard that he has indicated
that we will receive enough golds to recruit enough troopers to replace those
lost in Deforya and train and add three more companies before next spring.
Alucius could feel his stomach tighten. Clearly, the Lord-Protector intended
to use the Northern Guard as the spearhead of the northern assault on Madrien.
While Alucius had no great love of Madrien, he also did not see much good in
having the troopers of the Iron Valleys die in such an assault, when the
benefits would go almost entirely to the south, effectively weakening the Iron
Valleys and further strengthening
Lanachrona.
Yet, the traders would approve or not oppose the strategy, Alucius was
certain, because it would put more golds in their coffers. More mounts would
be purchased, more saddles, more uniforms, and more supplies, and Dekhron
would become even more tightly bound to Tempre and Lanachrona and the herders
of the north would become even more isolated.
Where would you recommend that your companies go? asked the colonel. After
their furlough?
Alucius didn t want to answer the question. If he made a recommendation, it
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was effectively endorsing the strategy. I ve been away for a time, Colonel,
and I might have missed something& but& there are a couple of matters. First,
more than half of Twenty-first Company troopers finish their tours at
year-end.
Including their overcaptain, and I ve been told that your releases will be
honored. I had thought that those remaining in Twenty-first Company would be
transferred to Fifth Company, except perhaps for any who might be good squad
leader material in another company. What else?
Well& it seems to me that we ll be fighting the same war a second time, except
that the Lord-Protector
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will be supplying the golds while we provide the men and blood.
Weslyn tilted his head to the side, then nodded thoughtfully. That is a real
possibility, Overcaptain. It s not a good bargain, but it s the best one we
could strike. The Iron Valleys are poor, far poorer than anyone outside the
former Council ever knew. We could not have raised the golds to fight off the
Lanachronans. We were without the golds even to pay the militia we had, and
that was without being in a fight. We had no golds even for ammunition. And a
war would have destroyed us. The Southern Guard has been fighting Madrien in
the south. They have taken Zalt, and hold Southgate. That was all that allowed
us to push back the Matrites the last time. Fighting the Matrites again is not
what any of us would wish, but it is far better than anything else that was
going to happen.
Alucius could tell that the colonel honestly believed his own words. Worse,
Alucius himself wasn t so sure that the colonel wasn t right. I can t say
that I like the situation&
Overcaptain, none of us likes it, and the former members of the Council will
like it least of all in time.
But you haven t addressed my question.
If I had a choice for those companies, Alucius said quietly, I d request
that they be assigned to
Soulend.
I would have thought Wesrigg.
Wesrigg would be more pleasant, but the fighting will be worse, and they ve
fought a great deal with little support.
Colonel Weslyn frowned. Why do you think the fighting will be worse out of
Wesrigg?
Because the lower high road leads to Arwyn, and there are more Matrite
companies there, and because Arwyn is far closer to Hieron and can be
reinforced more directly and quickly.
There won t be much fighting at all out of Eastice, Weslyn pointed out.
No& but a number of troopers said they d rather do some fighting than be that
far north.
You asked them?
No. They told me so in the spring, when you indicated that many companies
would be reassigned. I just recalled what they said then.
I see. Well& we ll see what we can do. Weslyn cleared his throat and squared
his shoulders. What squad do you intend to take to Tempre?
My orders from Marshal Wyerl stated that I was to bring a full squad of my
choosing. I don t have a full squad anywhere. I thought I d bring the third
and fourth squads from Twenty-first Company. That works out to nineteen
troopers. But I would still want them to get furlough when we return. A full
month, the same as the others.
That would be satisfactory. When do you plan to leave?
The day after tomorrow. That s as soon as everything will be ready.
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Good. With his professional smile, the colonel stood. Let me know if
there s anything else you need help with& although, from what I ve seen, you do
quite well without it, Overcaptain. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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