Chapter 76: The Shores of Tripoli

If you'll recall the opening of the last chapter, 'the shores of Tripoli' was another line from the Halls of Montezuma. I won't go into the same level of detail to explain what it is referring to, I'll summarise more briefly.

My country on Earth was once the victim of pirates on the high seas. We had just won our independence and had disbanded our navy, not thinking we would need it. Pirates on the Barbary Coast, long having taken ships and raided coastal settlements for slaves, demanded tribute. We gave in, and shamefully paid money to prevent attacks on our people.

But the attacks continued, as is wont to happen when you try to placate terrorists. Inevitably, the demand for more comes; more gold, more power, more respect, until you have nothing left.

So my countrymen changed their policy, built a navy once more and fought two Barbary Wars against the pirates and slavers. In one of them, the United States Marines landed on the shores of the enemy and seized a city, forcing the pirate dukes to terms and raising my country's flag in victory on foreign shores for the first time. And far from the last.

As June of 9:40 came to a close on Thedas, the Trojan Marines would land on the shores of the enemy, and force terms upon them.

The lesson is simple; sometimes you've got to go bring the fight to where the enemy is if you want them to capitulate, because sometimes they're stubborn or arrogant. Though you must choose where you go wisely.

As we prepared to move out, Soprano made her mark on Markham immediately.

Two nights after we had made our warplans, my favoured successor began bringing the Rangers brigade into the University of Markham via eluvian and a secret tunnel. She took command on-station from Aristander Telmesso.

Just in time too.

The town and the university are separated by large sports fields for riding and archery, and connected by a well-made road. The next morning, the zealots of Markham rolled out a battering ram up the road with wheels, a fireproof roof and shields slung to its frame wherever they would fit. Clearly the archery of the students had required some innovative thinking on the part of the pro-Starkhaven faction. It found the gate no problem, regardless of the students keeping up their shooting.

It took only twenty minutes to batter down the gates, the university not having been designed to withstand actual siege weapons, only rioters or raiders.

When the gates were down, the ram was withdrawn, and from the town streamed waves of town militia and mercenaries loyal to Vael.

They weren't stupid enough to cluster the road, which was a good move on their part because it had been mined in the night. Instead, they ran as fast as they could across the fields until they were at the walls, and ran along the their bottom on either side of the gate until there were through.

Soprano had turned the inside of the campus into a deathtrap. Barricades forced the enemy to bunch together. From firelances out of the windows of every building and from cannons on the students' green, flying lead ripped through the clusters of men, turning them into piles of meat and bone. Worse for their fellows, since the shooting was going on behind the walls, almost none of them could see or hear the carnage until they were stepping on bodies or slipping in the ichor and guts.

Almost two thirds of the force attacking the university was destroyed before anyone in command outside realised that something was wrong and called a retreat.

By which time, they had no chance. Soprano put the Grenadiers through the eluvians next, and the gatehouse of the town's own walls opposite the university's were shattered by cannonfire in minutes. As McNulty's boys began advancing up 'University Avenue', the leaders of Markham took flight on horseback out of the west gate, and probably didn't stop galloping until they reached Sesbastian Vael's own tent.

I didn't see any of this myself. My only part in it was sending a message that Aristander be appointed Governor afterwards, along with a case of pretty decent Vindargent red for Soprano and McNulty to share.

All said, the Army of the Minanter's first action was a great success.

The next morning, the Army of Rialto Bay set out on its own march along the coast towards Wycome. The road to Wycome was a decent one, and the Navy was scheduled to sail and establish a blockade two days after we moved. It would take three days of riding to get there; we procured a great many horses from Hercinia, so I had my brigade mounted up. Not all knew how to ride horses, especially among the Avvars, so those that did led those that did not.

It was a beautiful day; the road was right on the coast, so the humidity was broken by a sea wind coming off the Amaranthine Ocean, which stretched a deep blue as far as the eye could see to our right as we moved. The smell of horses was also greatly reduced by the same wind, at least when it was blowing.

We made good progress and got half-way to Wycome, though I knew the harder bit was coming up; the Minanter Delta, including the shipping canals that had been dug into it. We were going to cross the equivalent of an interstate highway. Luckily, the Qunari had provided us the means to do so; we had taken their pontoon boats along with us, the wagons carrying them at the rear of the column.

We made camp and set up our eluvians, a third of our total force leaving for home through them while another third came off of leave and joined us.

Along with the relief force came Julie and Tam, at my invitation. I wanted to discuss a matter of huge importance with them... for the Republic, but more importantly, our family.

But they brought someone else along.

I was sitting by my campfire that evening, outside my tent when they arrived. You might question why I wouldn't stay in Troy and travel back in the morning by eluvian, but it was a matter of morale for the troops left behind. Emperors cannot be aloof. Their safety relies on public support more directly than a Chancellor's own, because you can remove a Chancellor peacefully.

I was contemplating how to tell my loves what I needed to, when they walked into view... with someone else in tow.

My jaw tightened, not appreciating having to delay what I had prepared myself to talk about.

"Governor Telmesso," I said, addressing Aristander, "What a pleasant surprise."

I hardly recognised him without his owl party-mask, but he was wearing his Ben Franklin spectacles, which along with the academic robes let me recall. He was a professor through-and-through. I ordered a private on guard nearby to get some chairs for them from my tent, and dismissed the others. The seats were brought quickly.

"Not so pleasant I suspect," Aristander said flatly, "It seems I am interrupting you. A family matter, perhaps?"

I half-flinched. What a perceptive man. I gestured for him to sit opposite me across the fire, while Julie and Tam kissed me and sat to either side.

"A family matter," I confirmed, "I am about to have a whole load of family, you may have noticed."

"Yes, may the Maker have mercy on you," Aristander laughed, "Luckily, you are an Emperor, you will have help that an ordinary family will not."

I kept my mouth shut. The title of Emperor was exactly the subject I wanted to discuss with Julie and Tam. But it was not a conversation for our … vassals to hear. I did not want to be rude however.

"It'll be a bigger challenge than defeating Vael and keeping peace in the Marches," I smiled, "But I look forward to meeting my children. My own siblings have kids, and I stayed with them in Philly when I was getting my degree."

Aristander tilted his head, probably not knowing what the hell Philly is. The namesake of today's Philadelphia, the name for the first Trojan 'colony'.

"You have siblings?" he asked, "On your... other world?"

"Parents, siblings, nieces and nephews," Julie replied in my place, "One of them has five children."

Aristander smiled widely and warmly. "How strange, to know such a thing about your loved one's relatives," he said, "Yet never having met them... and them knowing nothing about you."

A lump grew in my throat. The fact I could not introduce my children to my siblings and parents was something that sent me shivering with regret, though I suppressed that physical symptom.

"Is this a social call?" I asked, "Have you come to condemn me for naming you Governor? Or do you intend to do what the Kirkwallers did and demand independence for cooperation in this war?"

The professor leaned back in his seat, looking up at the clear night sky, filled with stars.

"I'm here to discuss the future of more than just Markham," Aristander said, his eyes still raised, "I'd like to talk about the whole Free Marches, which I expect will quickly fall under your control."

He looked back at me over the fire, the flames reflected in his eyes.

"What are your plans?" he asked.

I wondered if I should tell him, for a moment. And decided against it.

"That should be obvious," I said, "I will liberate the Free Marches and give the cities over to their people."

Unable to control myself, I glanced over to Julie, then Tam. Their faces were rather deliberately blank.

"I do not believe y..." Aristander began, before stopping himself and starting again, "I do not believe you can do that successfully, your Excellency."

I frowned. This guy was too smart to fool with political rhetoric. Ah well. Time to be honest. If he reported the conversation to anyone else, it's not like it was something people failed to suspect of me. That risk was outweighed by the chance of gaining a genuine ally.

"Neither do I, Governor," I said, "Which is why you are a Governor, and not Arl."

His smile returned.

"Giving the title of Governor to those that rule the cities rather than the traditional ones does suggest you intend to rule over us," he mused, gesticulating circles with a hand, "Kirkwall, Hercinia, now Markham... You are not liberating us, you are conquering us."

"We are doing both," Julie stated, "Your governments are corrupt tyrannies, your peoples squabble and fight each other for petty grievances while the sword of Tevinter and the axe of Qunandar hang over your heads, waiting to fall and kill you. You need new leadership, a new ideal."

Harsh words, driven by our ideology... but true nonetheless. The Marchers would eventually be gobbled up. By Nevarra, Starkhaven, Antiva, the Qun...or Tevinter

"How very Qunari of you, madame," Aristander laughed, "Who knew that your ideal was so... totalitarian?"

"Universal, not totalitarian," Tam corrected, "And since our enemies are willing to use any violent means to destroy our universal ideals, we stand ready to use whatever means necessary to secure a lasting peace."

My Qunari wife did not say this with any rancour, but the emphasis on the means was deliberate nonetheless.

To plunder, butcher, steal, these things they misname empire: they make a desolation and they call it peace. A quote by some Roman whose name I forget came to mind immediately... and I hoped to avoid the necessity of creating peace via desolation.

Aristander took out a wineskin from under his robes, and began drinking, refreshing himself.

"Ah, but whatever means necessary can be understood as any action that achieves the objective," he explained between gulps, "What if ruling the Free Marches to protect yourselves is not the only way?"

Ridiculous idea, I thought, but there was no harm in humouring the man.

"You have a proposal," I said, "Don't be shy."

"Form a league of Marcher realms," Aristander replied immediately, "Troy can lead it, but you give us the same agreement you gave Kirkwall. No garrisons inside our walls, no governors appointed by you, no taxes. Alliance against external enemies."

I saw exactly where this was going.

"You want to unify the Marches with its own government," I said, "And you want Troy to be your instrument."

"I knew you would understand," Aristander said, saluting me with his wineskin, "We can do great things with a little incentive. Troy being both ally and threat is a... sophisticated way to achieve the objective, don't you think?"

I frowned. A Marcher League could be turned against us just as easily as it could be used to shield us, especially if they had a mutual alliance and no controls on their behaviour until it was too late. Eluvians or no.

Fortunately, I had a middle ground between utter domination of the region, Tevinter-style, and an alliance that could be turned against Valhalla. Before Kirkwall and everything that happened afterwards, I had been reading about Philip of Macedon. A man who had made himself master of a land equally as fractious as the Marches, if not more so.

"It sounds like a sophisticated way to unite the Marches against us," Tam said with disapproval, "Alliance today, coalition against us tomorrow."

"Unless we can think of a few ways to reduce the risk of that," Julie added, looking pointedly at me, "Perhaps... the Corinth solution?"

Julie had thought of the same solution I had, having read the same books I had. Though she could've done so years ago and still recalled this, she remembered each word she had ever read. Aristander's use of the word 'League' had probably brought the notion of the League of Corinth to both of us.

You see, the way Philip of Macedon kept control of the aforementioned fractious land was very interesting indeed.

Aristander looked over his round spectacles with interest.

"The League would fund a standing army," I explained, "Every member would have a separate and exclusive treaty of alliance with Troy, but none with each other."

"So it would create an army," Aristander thought aloud, "But under the control of who?"

"The League would have its own council, and it would make its own laws," I replied, "But the leader of its army would be the Trojan head of state... And Troy itself would not be a part of the organisation, technically."

Aristander smiled, holding up his wineskin in salute.

"So Troy gains an army, with no responsibility for funding it," he said, "And would not be bound by any of the League's decisions, while the League fights Troy's wars. That seems like the opposite of what I intend, does it not?"

He drank deeply, theatrically, like it was a great labour to convince the other Marchers of the benefits of this when the alternative was direct rule from Troy.

"Don't pretend this is an unreasonable offer, you Marchers gain a crucial counterbalance against us through it," Julie said, "A professional army with blackpowder weapons is the only true threat against us militarily, and you'll have one."

"Weapons we shall buy from you, no doubt?" Aristander drawled slightly breathless, having just stopped drinking.

"Well, it depends if you want the best," Tam smiled viciously, "It would not be much of a counterbalance if your army had spears and we had firelances."

The factories of Mithril were pumping weapons out now, to the point that we had more firelances than people suitable for combat... at least for the moment.

"And you're welcome to try reverse-engineering our weapons," Julie said, "You'd only have to buy blackpowder from us then, assuming you don't have alchemists or spies who can get a hold of the recipe."

Of course, by the time they could manage to make something like the weapons we had in 9:40, we'd have even more advanced and lethal toys. Julie was already working on the next generation of firelances and cannon.

As for blackpowder, I suppose it was possible they could've got it from Gaspard or Celene's factions. That sort of knowledge was spreading in Orlais, exchanged for bribes and favours as part of the Great Game.

"Another thing," I added, "Some of your cities will have garrisons. The strategic locations. Wycome almost certainly, to guard the delta of the Minanter. Kirkwall, but we have the Gallows there. Depending how far we go, we might want to establish settlements on the river's north and south banks to act as waystations."

"I can sell it as long as it's just Wycome and the Gallows," Aristander said, like this was a negotiation, "The Duke of Wycome isn't very popular lately, and the Gallows wasn't Kirkwall's territory to begin with."

"Exactly what we said to Governor Vallen," I said, regarding Kirkwall.

"I shall assemble notables from each city," Aristander said, "There are Libertarians even in places that are formally sworn to Prince Vael. Do I have permission to bring them to you?"

"You do," I replied, "Hopefully we can have a lasting peace, soon."

"Then I shall go," Aristander said, "I think I have overstayed my welcome."

He got up to leave, screwing the cork of his wineskin back in and throwing the whole thing to me. He bowed at the waist, and traipsed off casually, giving a mock salute to the Avvars guarding me at a distance.

"What a strange fellow," Tam remarked, "I wonder if he's planning to rebel against us."

"Almost certainly," Julie replied, bemused, "But he's playing the long game. Like we were with the Barons. We have too many enemies in common and too much military power at the moment."

I hmmed my agreement on that count, though I wished he remained a friend. He reminded me of one or two of my college classmates, during my three year break from military life. They were younger than I was, but knew much more, for most of my time studying anyway. Not that any of them had the real instinct for a fight either, Aristander included.

"I have something even more important to discuss with you," I said, "Now that the crisis is over."

"The impeding birth of your children, I hope?" Julie said, patting her belly, "I feel ready to pop."

"Still five weeks to go at least," Tam estimated, eyeing our wife, "Maybe four for me. If you are really ready to pop, you'll know. Trust me. I have assisted with many births. Very few fail to notice the moment."

"That's why you're Tama even now," Julie smiled back, "Despite being a Grey Warden and a warrior."

Tam waved that off. The Trojan Grey Wardens had been ordered to continue their job without her in the northern hills of Valhalla, under the capable direction of Bethany Hawke with occasion input from Stroud.

"I am lucky at all to be a mother and a Grey Warden," Tam said finally, "I am hoping that Sam's anti-magical aura has defused whatever it is that makes Wardens infertile. One is not enough for me."

"She wants a football team," I said to Julie, "God help us."

"One and done for me," Julie replied in Common, "See how I'm the considerate one?"

"Very funny," Tam said flatly, "What is it you want to discuss Sam? You mentioned you had a family matter when the professor arrived with us."

I paused for a moment, not quite sure how to say it. I had to clear my throat to begin.

"Mariette showed me something interesting yesterday," I said, "She had her spies in camp ask around about who might win an election if it was held today."

Julie perked up immediately. "I have wanted to do polls myself," she said, "The Jaderites and Aequitarians have merged into one fraternity since your coup, and the Lucrosians have joined us Libertarians... It seems like a two way fight. So... who would win?"

"Actually, it's a two way fight alright," I said, "But between the Libertarians and the Impera. The Aequitarians are in third position. Kingmakers."

"The Impera?" Tam said, "Aurelia's fraternity?"

The Imperialist fraternity, truth be told. They wanted me on a throne, wearing a crown, ruling over any we humbled in battle... and alliance with Tevinter, though I doubt most of their supporters wanted that last thing too much.

"Their leader is her former personal slave," Julie corrected, "The falconer."

I had met the falconer once before.

"Maya," I recalled, "That's her name."

Julie rubbed her temples, exhaling loudly.

"That explains why she is now Maya Tiberia," Julie said, "She claimed it as her name and Aurelia didn't stop her. Transformation of the family image. I'm sure the dynasties of Minrathous are losing their minds with the scandal, but it appears Tiberius no longer cares."

My eyes opened so wide that the smoke coming off the fire blew in my face and made them water. I had to blink several times to get rid of the sensation that something was in them. There was something incredibly dangerous about the notion of such … indifference to the adoption of the Tiberii family name by an ex-slave. Perhaps old man Tiberius planned to wave it off as honouring him instead of insulting him?

"An elvhen ex-slave with a dynastic Tevinter name," Tam mused, staring at the fire, "I thought the other Tiberian ex-slaves are only arriving in Hercinia now?"

"They are," I said, "That's the problem. Mariette was asking people who were already here."

"... You are telling me that a large proportion of our people want an imperial monarchy?" Julie asked, in disbelief, "After all we have gone through."

"That's exactly the problem," I replied, "Only about half our citizens ever made the march through Ferelden, and the other half aren't all from the Eastern Dales. People are coming from all over Orlais to Jader, to avoid the civil war, and those that sign up for military service are coming through to us by eluvian. The Peacekeepers are firmly Libertarian, but the rest of the Army is mixed between our veterans and new recruits, some of whom feel like security can only come through a strong hand... the old way."

"The old way that made them serfs?" Julie snarled, "That had chevaliers raping and murdering through the realm? I should have foreseen this... absurdity."

"Ideological education is part of the military training process," Tam soothed, "Since there are no Trojan civilians in the end, it will straighten itself out. I've seen to it, in fact."

It is true that the longer you are in military service with us, the more likely you are to vote Libertarian. This remains the case today, even.

"The point is that the crisis is over and those nutters are going to try and put a crown on my head," I said, "I seized power because Velarana deliberately caused a political crisis to force me to. She'll probably make Maya Tiberia Chancellor by throwing the Aequitarians in behind the Impera, then insist I take the throne."

"Do you not want it?" Tam asked honestly, "You seem to … enjoy the power at the moment."

"That's sorta the problem," I said, "We're at war, you can solve a lot of problems by throwing enough lead around. But wars come to an end, and people get used to that sort of thing from their leaders... you get everything we hate. I am no peacetime ruler."

"Exactly," Julie agreed, "Even if you wanted to deal with sewers and housing, the people would expect you to rule with an iron fist even on those matters. It is just unwise to keep you as Emperor, even if you are the only person I could accept."

Not entirely true, my dear.

"We need a leader that'll do the right thing in war or peace," I continued, "And someone Velarana or Aurelia won't try to remove at the first convenient opportunity."

"Does such a person exist?" Tam asked.

"Pretty sure," I nodded.

"So what do you want us to do?" Julie asked, "Put this person up for Chancellor instead of me?"

Oh, she was positively offended by that idea. Correctly.

"I have a better plan," I said, "You're going to launch a coup against me."

The looks on their faces on hearing that idea were priceless.

Political shenanigans aside, my army and I continued the advance.

The brilliantly green delta of the Minanter was a sight to see, but also some of the most difficult ground for an army on the continent, and in the middle of it all sits Wycome, a sort of Amsterdam of Thedas.

Moving the army across the streams and canals blocking our way to Wycome was both easier and harder than I thought it would be. On the one hand, no big brain leader in Wycome had thought to burn all the bridges on the road to Hercinia in time. On the other, the bridges and roads were narrow, and someone competent eventually got around to pulling down the last few crossings.

A biblical-canticle plague of flies descended on us, biting and annoying the horses and mules to the point that I had the warhorses withdrawn to Troy through the eluvians, leaving only the baggage animals. This allowed us to cross the bridges faster.

There wasn't a whole load of space to camp, except on the road itself, so even with part of the army rotating home for the night. We were spectacularly vulnerable to attack if someone competent had decided to hop in a couple of canoes and hit us in the dark, but it seems all of those someones were with Vael or not inclined to do so.

So, two days later than expected, we managed to arrive at the gates of Wycome.

The Navy had already been on site for the full time we were late, and had impressed upon the city the dangers of resistance through a broadside or two into the sea-side defences.

Duke Antoine was there to greet us when we arrived. He was wearing full Orlesian noble garb, though he was unsuited to it, being an average middle-aged man in all respects. A little fat, not well built, if he was wearing a business suit I would've pegged him for an insurance agent.

That was probably what was so disarming about him. No wonder...

"On behalf of the city of Wycome," he said in Common, offering his sword, "I surrender to you, General Hunt."

I recall thinking it strange that he had Orlesian clothes but no Orlesian for speaking. But then, Wycome was the largest importer of Orlesian goods, particularly wine and fashion, yet it was a little too far for anyone other than merchants to show up. It had been centuries since Orlais last could threaten the eastern Marches... unless you count us.

"I'm late," I noted, "Didn't feel like surrendering to the Admiral?"

I pointed off towards the galleons sitting at anchor outside the harbour moles, easily visible from the seaside gate area. Hell, the muddy beach started barely a hundred yards to our right.

"We sent an envoy and he was ill-treated," the Duke explained, "They were dismissive of my request to surrender to a nobleman... and you, my lord, are at the very least a Marquis."

Apparently the whole 'Marquis de la Fayette' shtick was still paying dividends.

"I suppose I am," I said, "The good Admiral tells a different story though, one about you attempting to threaten him with the Crows."

The man flinched, ever so slightly.

"A misunderstanding," the Duke said quickly, "I was under the impression you had come to destroy Wycome, you see."

"I suppose it's natural to try your hand at defending the place," I replied with a nod, "But of course, since our ultimate destination in this little jaunt is Antiva, the Crows will have their own problems soon enough. Like my cannons rubbling their headquarters and my troops hanging their burned corpses from the nearest trees."

I gently placed my hands on his shoulders, leaned over and stared right at him.

"Please write to the Crows to inform them of this," I said, "Further misunderstandings should be avoided; if I so much as mistake a bird in the sky for a Crow, I'll kill every Antivan I find near our camps or city out of an abundance of caution. Then I'll turn my attention to whoever hired them. Capisce?"

Honourable exceptions like Zevran to be taken into account of course, though he would almost certainly be a threat if I followed through on my threat.

The blood-curdling threats were becoming part of my reputation, an irony I'm sure Ianto appreciated wherever the fucker was at the time, but the point of them certainly wasn't to follow through. Either way, I wanted word to get out that I was going north and not west to face Vael. He'd underestimate the forces I was sending under Soprano's command that way.

"I think that would be wise," the Duke conceded, though I wasn't sure if he was talking about my anti-assassination plan or just the idea to send a letter to the Crows cancelling any contracts they might have.

"Good," I said, releasing him, "Now I want a nice big pile of weapons and armour, right over there."

I gestured to the beach.

"If any of my troops are attacked, I'll want names," I said, "Or I'll take it out of your hide. Literally."

I patted the bayonet on my belt for emphasis.

"That won't be necessary," the Duke said, "The Chantry loyalists have all left for Starkhaven. To fight against you with the rest of the Marchers."

"But not you," I thought aloud, eyeing him with a grin, "You stayed. Why?"

"My property would be looted and the town would drink itself to death in a week," he replied, honestly I thought, "Wycome is not a city of warriors, General. We are revellers, singers and tradesmen, in that order."

"We shall have to avail of your hospitality long-term then," I replied, "Because revellers, singers and tradesmen are all things the Republic could use right about now. Cooperation could be very lucrative indeed, so cheer up."

And with that we entered the city, Duke Antoine's hide remaining conspicuously attached to his body. To those unfamiliar with the man, he will be the first person to have the distinction of being personally executed by Inquisitor Trevelyan. She was fully justified in doing so too.

Much trouble would've been avoided if I had emptied my weapon into his chest right there and then, but I guess you live and learn. Doing that probably would've caused more immediate problems anyway.

With Wycome's surrender, we received messages of submission from almost all of the settlements between the Minanter and the Vimmark Tail-Hills, though you could've drawn a line exactly halfway to Starkhaven after which the eagerness to submit stopped dead.

I spent at least another week in Troy itself while the army rotated in and out of Wycome for R&R, once Mariette had confirmed that Vael's forces were doing something interesting.

He was using their superior numbers and solving their logistical problems simultaneously by splitting their forces into three. One under his direct command, another under Marshal Fenris, and another under a council of allied nobles.

The trick was very simple: advance along three fronts and converge on where Soprano was, using ravens to coordinate. Vael on the right, Fenris on the left, the nobles in the centre; clearly the good Prince intended to pin us against the nobles then turn our flank, or better yet, surround us. The three army corps would never be more than a day's march away, though we didn't know that at the time.

Each of the enemy army corps numbered thirty thousand at least. Naturally, Soprano marched straight at them, her own numbers up to only twenty-five thousand with the addition of allied cavalry and mounted infantry.

It seemed like battle would be imminent, and I would have to pull the Army of Rialto Bay through the eluvians to support Soprano... until suddenly the enemy withdrew. Someone lost their nerve, probably the nobles, and since the logistics situation was improved by the move to split their army, the enemy weren't likely to attack.

So in the end, the confrontation didn't happen and it became a merry chase, where Soprano attempted to follow Vael's forces but kept getting delayed by distraction attacks on our allies' strongholds or by infrastructure deliberately damaged to stop the advance.

Our advance on Antiva continued.

The full strength of the Navy went up the Minanter in a grand regatta, completely unopposed by and probably unstoppable to enemy naval forces.

On any other stream, it would've been risky to sail an oceangoing vessel upriver, but the Minanter is the mother of all rivers in its lower reaches, being more like a small sea than a river until about the Anse river flows into it. It is on this tributary that Ansburg sits. The fleet tied up in a long row along the muddy eastern bank, and the Army of Rialto Bay stepped off, led by the Marines.

The Margravine of Ansburg, Thalia II Aurum, was a cousin of Rowan Guerrin, Eamon Guerrin's little girl born after the Blight and the same who had thrown a fireball at me on the bridge to Redcliffe Castle. I'm sure if Lady Aurum had magic, she would've tried the same.

Remarkable stubbornness, but Ansburg is often called 'rustic' by pretty much everyone... Thing about so-called rustics is that they stand their ground, they defend their patch of dirt. During America's many wars, farmboys were some of the toughest soldiers, guys who'd walk through hell just because, who'd die for the flag because they saw it as a symbol of everything they had ever known.

Ansburg was the capital of farmboys on Thedas.

When Vael had come knocking for troops, they said they supported him but sent no one except those that would volunteer. The Prince must've known better than to threaten the Margravine, because Ansburg was apparently the only place that didn't get that treatment. If only we had known beforehand.

Unaware, I sent the standard 'Kirkwall's quarter or Telmesso's peace' set of options for them. Our envoys were turned back, politely but firmly. The Ansburgers were apparently going to fight to the death.

You had to respect that. My guts twisted a little knowing what I was obliged to do.

So, I had the city invested and a siege began. A serious one, because Ansburg's defences including earthworks as well as walls, which made it more resistant to cannonfire. But not invulnerable.

I arrived on the second day from Troy with the entire siege battery of deux-cent heavy guns, and we took a few more off of the galleon Elodie. Inside of two days, the city was surrounded by a ring of silverite and steel tubes, readying to rubble the walls and defences.

I returned to Troy for the night, to be with Julie and Tam, see Aurelia and Mariette... because I needed reassurance that I was really justified in destroying the place. I was, but I was looking for any excuse, and I told myself if any one of the four objected to the siege, I'd end and try diplomacy again.

I like the sort of farmboys I fought alongside in the US Army, after all.

Julie said it was necessary regardless of how noble the reasons for the Margravine's resistance was.

Tam said that by refusing to surrender, Ansburg had sided with everyone who would murder us and our children.

Aurelia laughed, then said Ansburg was a minor power getting too big for its britches and such stupidity demanded punishment.

Mariette simply pointed out that we needed a military base on the north bank of the Minanter, which was true.

So, I had political, emotional, egotistical and strategic reasons to do what I was going to do according to the people I trusted most and the people whose political instincts were the well-tuned. I felt better. Breathed easier. Sure I was not killing people who didn't deserve it.

So I relaxed, laying about in bed, determined to get a good night's sleep before the grand barrage that would bring down Ansburg.

And as I was drifting off... Tam had an idea.

Step one was getting Aristander and his collection of Marcher leaders to the city.

That was easy with eluvians, in theory, though there was a wrinkle. We didn't want the leaders to see our eluvian network. Convincing the leaders to wear black cloth bags over their head was more difficult. Luckily, I terrified everyone and Aristander exploited that.

So, I found myself fifty yards from the eluvian in the midst of our siegeworks, watching an interesting collection of people come through with my officers.

"Why are they wearing bags on their heads?" Aoife asked gruffly, "Lowlanders are so strange."

Asala snorted in amusement from behind me, which created a sensation I imagined was similar to a dragon breathing on you... not the spewing fire or electrical gel bit, but the volume of air being moved bit.

I rubbed the back of my neck consciously, and turned to the others.

"Operational security," I muttered aloud, "The more people see of our eluvians and how we use them, the closer the day to someone coming up with some way to stop us is."

"Who are they?" Cormac asked.

"Merchants, Alienage hahrens, nobles of the robe," I listed off, "Oh, and rabble-rousers. Gotta love those."

"You married one," Asala noted.

"I married two," I said, "Tam counts."

"Tam was who I was counting," Asala smirked, "This was her idea, wasn't it?"

I looked her up and down like she was crazy. Because she was.

"You don't think Julie is the rabble rouser?" I asked, "Did you have a stroke and lose your memory?"

"The Marquise likes to believe she is a woman of the people, maybe," Asala said, "But she is exceptional in too many … odd ways."

Photographic memory and a weirdly anti-traditional attitude was an odd combination, not usually found in your typical rabble-rouser. But Julie isn't typical anything, so...

"I don't think I get it," I admitted, "But stand-to, here come the civvies."

The two Avvars and single Qunari snapped to attention, and saluted as Aristander brought the collection of forty random elves, dwarva and men to me. Some were familiar, like the Kirkwallers. Others were not. I threw in a top-shelf salute myself, as they crowded around us on one side, the Avvar firelancers stopping them surrounding us entirely.

"General, the leaders of the Free Marches," Aristander announced in Orlesian, "As requested."

"Thank you, Governor Telmesso," I replied in Common, deliberately using the title I gave him, "I assume they all know why they are here?"

"To unite the Marches," Aristander quipped, "A league of equals."

A league of equals only because Troy was not going to be formally a part of it. There could be no equality with states that did not accept equality in law between their own citizens. Between Troy the Liberator and the petty tyrants of this world, there was to be no balance. But it was good PR, so I played along, nodding judiciously before moving so the rest of them could get a good look at me.

"You're all aware of the terms of the treaty, Professor Telmesso has discussed them with you," I said, "We have the documents for you to sign, but all those that wish to now enter this league, step forward and say aye."

There was a moment of hesitation. The whole idea was a compromise in the present and a promise of greater independence in the future. The alternative was conquest by my armies. I would've hesitated too, probably even made a sour face. They were more restrained.

Aveline Vallen stepped forward first. "Aye!" she shouted.

Aristander realised he was supposed to have gone first, having been too curious to see what would happen to notice before. At the top of his voice: "Aye!" Right in my god damn ear. I craned my neck to stare at the man to express my annoyance, for just a brief moment, before returning my attention to the others.

I need not have worried. Duke Antoine was playing his own game.

"Aye," he said.

With that, the hahren of the the Duke's own city joined in, and the merchants of most major settlements after that. So now Wycome, Markham and Kirkwall were weighing in.

The dam broke.

Every voice cried out their assent, regardless of race, class, blood or political opinion. We had achieved unity through terror, for now. Robespierre would be proud. The ayes had it by a mile. I felt a great weight lift off my shoulders.

"Congratulations," I said, when all had their say, "You are now the council of the League of Ansburg."

Many a face twitched with surprise at that. Who could blame them? Ansburg was not even in the League, despite the name I had selected for it. But I hadn't gone mad. Tam had given me a bit of Qunari wisdom, and even Julie was shocked by just how dastardly it was.

"And today, you're on the winning side," I declared, before raising my hand above my head and dropping it to my side rapidly.

The signal to fire.

The cannon sang their song, the booming from their muzzles filling the view of the city before us with the sight of smoke and the smell of burning, the warbling of the shells flying through the air interrupted only by the detonations of the first impacts. They all targeted a single point, to create a breach for the Highlanders to storm.

Ansburg's hours as an independent city were numbered.

Outlaw King reference, woooo!