Chapter 22 – That Foundation
In Solis 460, Watersdei, the 11th of Mai:
Dear Diary,
It's hard to believe how quickly one's life can change. One month ago I still had a fort and Highland was simply a gathering menace. A month before that I thought we would have peace. I feel as though my life has become a stick in the rapids, buffeted from rock to rock. I have no choice but to see where the flow takes me.
It is not unlike my time with Tir McDohl during the Liberation War.
On a more positive note, Granmeyer came through with the potch, and so my men are not likely to stage a revolt any time soon. It is strange how many problems go away when just a little potch is thrown at them. Now if only Highland could be so easily bought off.
There was a knock at the door to Flik's room. He looked up, closed his book, and walked over to the door. When he opened it, he was greeted by Rina's smiling face.
"Hey, you don't want to stay in here all day, do you?" She beamed. "I want to go shopping."
Flik waved a hand. "You don't need my permission."
Rina snagged his hand with hers. "Want to come with me?" She began to pull him out into the hall.
"I really don't have much potch," Flik said.
"Silly," she answered. "You don't need to buy anything. I just want some company." Something in her tone reminded him of Odessa. They'd never had many chances to do something as casual as strolling down a street looking at the shops, so she'd made the most of every opportunity. Those whirlwind outings had usually left Flik's head spinning.
Rina reached around and closed the door to Flik's room. Then she set off down the hall, his hand still in hers. Of their own accord, his feet began to move.
Downstairs, they ran into Rossgard. He quirked an eye at the sight of them. "Sir, you forgot to take your stipend." He handed several strings of coins to Flik. "Also, I wanted your approval on some of the items that we need to purchase."
Rina started tugging on Flik's hand again, a determined look on her face. "I'm sure you know best as to what is necessary," he answered quickly. "I approve it all."
Rossgard nodded as Flik found himself being dragged towards the front door. "By the way," Rossgard announced, "we've scheduled a briefing for this afternoon, commander."
Flik would've answered, but Rina interjected, "I'll be sure to have him back by then. Don't worry about a thing."
Rossgard chuckled. "As you say, ma'am."
Outside, the city was awake, though not lively. Rina led Flik through the streets until they came to a district of small shops. She seemed to have found it purely on instinct. Wandering from shop to shop, she finally entered a jeweler's store. Flik followed her in.
They turned out to be the only customers in the place. It was a one-room shop with display cases backed against paneled walls. An older woman, the proprietress, walked over and began conversing with Rina, gesturing towards various pieces as they spoke. Flik felt very out of place. The only time he'd ever considered jewelry was when Odessa had jokingly suggested that he ought to have a blue earring to go with the rest of his outfit.
Meanwhile, Rina leaned over one particular set of earrings.
"Ah," the proprietress exclaimed. "You have a good eye. Those are pure, unblemished Tinto rubies. Very fine quality. Very rare."
"I think I'll get these for my sister," Rina mused. "Their sparkle matches her personality perfectly." Then she pointed to a silver bracelet. "I'll get that for myself."
The two women then settled down to haggling over the price. Flik watched, amazed, as they argued for almost half and hour. He'd never haggled that hard, even when buying horses for his men.
Finally the proprietress relented. "I can see that you've traveled a fair piece of the continent. Fine, I'll sell both items for eighteen hundred potch. No less."
"No less," Rina agreed, carefully fingering through the coins.
After they'd left, Rina said, "Pure! Unblemished! Ha, a third rate peddler in Crystal Valley would blush if he had to try and sell these things. Oh well, I'm sure Eilie will like them." She looked up at the sky. "Come on, let's get some lunch."
Without waiting for his assent, she pulled Flik down the street again. Eventually she found a little café with several tables set up out in front. The weather was warm and the sky only partly cloudy, so she sat down at one of them. He sat down across from her. When the waiter came, Rina ordered roasted duck in honey sauce for the two of them.
After the food arrived, she said, "Tell me about your hometown, Flik. You've learned about my past, and now I want to learn about yours."
Flik swallowed a piece of meat. "Well, Warrior's Village is in the Lorimar region of Toran, about a hundred miles southwest of Gregminster."
Rina nodded. "I see. The closest we ever came was Antei. It was very warm then, even during the winter."
Flik laughed. "It's warmer in Warrior's Village. We hardly ever see more than a couple of inches of snow. Many winters, maybe every third, we don't get any snow at all in the village."
"Did you go out and have snowball fights when that happened?" Rina asked, smiling.
"We never really had the chance," Flik responded, picking up another piece of the bird. "For a boy at Warrior's Village, every day was about training, almost as soon as you could walk. I think I was more grateful when it didn't snow, because then I didn't get wet and cold trying to run through it."
Rina frowned. "Sounds like a tough life."
"I never thought of it that way," Flik replied. "It was just the way things were. I really didn't see anything different until after I left. Even so, I'm still grateful that they did teach me those things. I'd probably be dead several times over without all that training."
"Why did you leave?"
"I was thirteen at the start of the Succession War between Barbarossa Rugner and his uncle, Geil. I was just a kid, but I was hungry for action. Then the elders of Warrior's Village decided for neutrality in the conflict." Flik paused, letting out a breath. "It may even have been the right move, but it made me very angry. I thought that they were cowards, using tradition as a cloak to hide their inaction. Three years after that I left. It's funny in a way, because I used the tradition of the "Journey of Manhood" as my excuse to leave. I hadn't even named my sword."
"You name your sword?" Rina asked, eyes wide and interested.
Reflexively, Flik reached down to grasp the pommel of his. "Yeah, it's another Warrior's Village tradition. We name our swords after the person who is most important to us."
Rina leaned forward. "Have you named your sword now? Maybe after that…someone important that you were talking about?"
Flik didn't get the chance to answer. Instead, someone up the street shouted, "Highland soldiers are coming! Highland soldiers are in the city!" Flik jumped up, knocking his chair to the ground. Rina looked around, wearing a worried expression as she scanned the street. People were dashing towards buildings. The door to the restaurant slammed shut.
Flik walked around the table and took Rina's hand, guiding her out of the chair. "We need to get back to my men," Flik said. Tight-lipped, Rina smiled and nodded. He tossed a string of potch on the table and set off towards the barracks at a jog.
It was hard work getting to that building. The people in the street were rushing in the opposite direction, away from the potential danger. Some of them were so panicked that they didn't even try to get out of Flik's way. These he tried to dodge around or, as a last resort, elbow them aside. His Warrior's Village training and strength helped him absorb the impacts and keep his balance. Behind him, Rina held his hand with both of hers, hanging on as the crowds surged past.
The streets were emptier by the time Flik and Rina reached the western barracks near the interior wall. He wiped his brow in relief when he saw that the senior sergeants had already assembled the men.
Rossgard saluted when Flik walked up. "Sir, we've gathered all the men not out buying supplies. I haven't seen any Highlanders, and nobody seems to know where they are."
"What about Bolgan and Pilika?" Rina asked, still clutching Flik's hand.
"I sent some men to get them," Rossgard explained. "We'll bring them with us. That way, if the worst happens, we can all retreat together."
"Good work," Flik said. Then he thought about the layout of the city for a few moments. The men nearby shifted uneasily. His cavalrymen looked very uncomfortable without horses. "If they came through the southwest gate," Flik commented, "they'll have to come through the tunnel right by the inn. That seems to me to be the best place to try and stop them."
"Seems workable," Rossgard replied. "At least for a while."
"I'll take any victories I can get, no matter how small," Flik answered. "Fire Spears to the front," he commanded the men. "We march by squads at the double time. Let's go!"
He jogged again, this time towards the inner wall and its tunnel. Behind him, he could hear the sergeants calling cadence and the beating of many feet on the pavement. He glanced to his side, registering the slightly higher pitched breathing of Rina, keeping pace with him. She'd drawn some sort of cards out of her purse. Flik almost ordered her to the back, but knew that he didn't have time for the argument if it came to that. He'd just have to trust that she could take care of herself.
Bolgan and Pilika arrived. They wisely choose to go to the rear. That was two fewer things for Flik to worry about. On the other hand, well before he got to the tunnel exit, he saw a pair of retreating South Window soldiers.
"There's hundreds of them!" one shouted.
"They're in the tunnel, we're doomed!" the other screamed.
Flik was tempted to have his officers rope those two back into line, if for no better reason than to show his men that fleeing didn't offer safety. Instead, he scanned the road leading to the tunnel. There were people marching through the shadows of the passage…a lot of people.
Flik drew his sword. "Rossgard, take your half-company around to the left and secure the wall." Rossgard's men immediately started sprinting in that direction. When the next senior sergeant, Jerrim, approached, Flik sent him off to the far right to secure that side. Tarrance and Danel he placed to his right and left, with the hundred of Viktor's infantry as the reserve. Rina, for some odd reason, continued to stay with Flik at the center of the line.
The force in the tunnel had come to a stop, just a little too far from the exit to make out clearly. Flik nodded; depending on their numbers, he could hold them off for quite some time if they chose to make a frontal assault. Of course, if they were large enough, they'd roll over him eventually. And if they were smart enough, they'd simply use the interior wall to bypass him entirely.
They did neither. Rather, one of the men from within the force started walking forward by himself. Flik worried his chin. It made sense that they'd want to talk, but it might simply be a ploy to buy time for other units to find a way around him. He gripped his sword in frustration. Without any guidance from the local military forces, he decided to see what the messenger would say.
Flik squinted. The messenger was not a tall man, in fact, he seemed to be shorter than average. He also seemed to be wearing a nonmilitary uniform…possibly some sort of dress gown…or a kilt. The messenger stepped out of the shadows of the tunnel into the full sunshine, light suddenly glinting off of glasses. Flik blinked in surprise.
"You're slower than I expected," Apple declared brusquely, as she walked out into the intended killing field. "I thought for sure that you'd have intercepted us at the other end of the tunnel."
Flik felt his anxiety melting into giddiness. "Apple!" he cried. "Is that really you?" He noticed Rina putting the cards away. His men began to visibly relax, some lowering their Fire Spears.
Apple continued forward. "Of course it's me. Gilbert's back there too, with his men and most of yours, as well." She adjusted her glass, looking directly at Rina. "I see," Apple said, with a sly smile. "It seems I didn't take one variable into account."
"What variable?" Flik asked, before realizing what she meant. He looked over at Rina, who was giving him a coy smile. He began to blush. "This isn't what it seems," Flik tried to explain.
Rina cocked a shoulder. "So, is she your 'someone important?'"
Flik felt sweat breaking out over his forehead. "No. I guess she's kind of like the strategist for the mercenaries."
Apple, having made it halfway between the tunnel and Flik, set her hands on her hips and shouted, "So when are you going to order your men to stop pointing those Fire Spears at us. I don't think Gilbert wants to spend all day in that tunnel."
Rina laughed pleasantly. "You lead a very interesting life, Flik of the Blue Lightning."
The dining room was quite boisterous that night as Flik listened to various people recount their adventures.
"The waves were huge!" Millie exclaimed, throwing her arms wide. "And the boat kept bouncing all over the place. I've never had so much fun." Bonaparte rested contentedly on the table in front of her.
Anita sniffed at the young girl's theatrics. "Everybody was soaked. Personally, I don't ever want to repeat the experience. Just the thought of it makes me a little queasy."
"Gengen was soaked too!" the kobold declared. "Being on a boat was a completely new experience for me."
"Speaking of new experiences," Kinnison said. "There aren't very many trees here. Shiro always gets a little nervous when there are too many people around." Actually, the innkeeper looked more nervous than the wolf. Shiro had curled up in one corner of the room, while the proprietor was obviously shocked at having his inn taken over by this rowdy crowd.
"Did anyone hear anything about the Highland Army?" Flik asked.
"Not a word," Rikimaru answered, finishing up his fifth bowl of stew. "Maybe they've decided to stay on the other side of the lake?"
"I don't think so," Apple replied, and everybody grew silent. "Luca Blight doesn't know the meaning of holding back. As soon as he's able, he'll try to send units across." She sighed. "Flik, I want your opinion. When we were marching towards the city, we didn't meet any patrols. Nobody even tried to question our intentions. Do you think South Window will fight when it comes to that?"
"I don't know," Flik responded. "I think everybody's a little shocked at how quickly Muse fell. Once they've had a chance to think about it, yes, I think they will fight. Especially if Viktor can resolve the problem in North Window."
"I hope you're right," Apple said. "Hopefully we'll have time to set things in order."
The following morning while Flik was still in bed, he heard the cry, "The Highlanders have arrived!" He rolled over and tried to get some more sleep. After the events of the past two days, he figured it had to be another false alarm.
About an hour later, he woke to furious pounding on the door to his room. "Get up!" Apple shouted. "Granmeyer's called a meeting to discuss the Highland envoy's news."
Flik groggily sat up in bed, scratching the top of his head. "Highland…envoy?" he asked.
He could hear Apple's exasperation through the door. "Yes! Just get up and get dressed. Granmeyer's sent for you specifically. You won't do us any good by being late."
Flik knew how to take orders. He got out of bed, shaved, and dressed. When he went downstairs, the dining room was buzzing with anticipation. Apple intercepted him before he could grab anything to eat. "Listen," she said. "When you arrive, you'll be seated closest to the door and on Granmeyer's right -your left. Whatever happens, you must not speak out of turn. That's very important."
"Okay," Flik answered, looking longingly at the sticky cinnamon rolls that the others were digging into.
"Good. Now, the Highland envoy will probably be offering some sort of surrender terms." Apple grabbed Flik by the shoulders and shook him, none too gently. "Whatever else happens, you must try to keep Granmeyer in the fight."
Flik tried to clear his head. "I understand. But what if Granmeyer decides to give up?"
"I've got a plan for that, too," Apple explained. "I just hope it doesn't come to that." She looked at the grandfather clock on the wall. "Right, time for you to go." She hustled him towards the door.
"But what about breakfast?" Flik could feel himself starting to drool over those rolls.
"No time," Apple declared. "Good luck!" Then she pushed him right out the door.
On the way to the mayoral palace, Flik stopped to buy a meat sandwich from one of the street vendors. It was sloppy, and he hoped that he hadn't dribbled any of it onto his clothes. The streets were quiet again, even in the old part of town. The monk Gantetsu was not in evidence at the standing stone.
There was a crowd at the wall to the palace. Gawkers, several rows deep, stood in a rough semicircle around the first gate. Flik had to muscle his way through the crowd just to get at the officials standing guard. One of them was the same man who'd ushered Viktor and Flik the first time, so he managed to get in without any trouble.
Now Flik was led to a different part of the palace, to a much larger room with a dais at the far end. On each wall was a golden dragon relief which coiled and wound from one end of the room to the other. The columns in the room were also in gold leaf.
Granmeyer sat in a throne on the dais with his civil and military officials seated below him on either hand. Flik walked to the cushion closest to the doors and sat down. Not surprisingly, he'd been the last to arrive.
Granmeyer looked in Flik's direction, nodded, and said, "Let the envoy from Highland be brought before us."
The doors were opened and one man strode in. Flik recognized him at once, having fought against him in two battles. He was dressed in a black coat with white trim, his cape fluttering slightly as he walked. His hair was silvery gray, but he did not look old. In fact, he looked confident and serious as his black boots echoed on the tile floor. Halfway to the dais he stopped and bowed formally.
As the envoy came back upright, Granmeyer motioned a servant forward. The man bore a goblet filled with wine. The envoy accepted the cup, took a little sip, and handed it back. This ritual concluded, Granmeyer spoke, "Welcome, envoy of Highland. Know that whatever news you bear, no harm shall come to one who has drunk under my roof. Now, speak your name and your business."
The envoy spoke deeply and smoothly. "I am Lord Culgan of Redcliff. I speak for Lord Solon Jhee, commander of the Highland Second Army and, through him, for Prince Luca Blight, who leads Highland against the forces of the City-States." He paused, staring at Granmeyer as the mayor shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I come to offer you terms by which you may surrender to us and avoid any further unnecessary bloodshed."
There were some murmurs from the officers, especially the civilian ministers. "Quiet," Granmeyer snapped, making a cutting motion with his hand. When silence had returned, he addressed Culgan. "Speak your terms."
Flik desperately wanted to speak, to tell Granmeyer not to listen to this man at all, but Apple's admonition stilled his voice.
Culgan nodded. "First, all South Window forces, including those under contract to the city, will stand down and hold in position. Second, that the Highland Army shall be permitted unobstructed entrance into the city. Third, the Highland Army shall take up key positions, including the barracks at every gate, and at vital points in the interior walls. Fourth, the Highland Army shall be in no way impeded in either entering the city or in taking those positions. Fifth, the current administration of South Window shall stay in place, unmolested, save for the addition of an advisor named by the Highland general. Sixth, South Window shall, at its own expense, provide auxiliaries to Highland for the purpose of securing order within the province. Seven, South Window shall pay Highland an indemnity to be determined at a later date." He smiled. "These are the terms."
Granmeyer steepled his hands. "I see. You do not mind if I take advice from my men?"
Culgan continued to smile. "Do as you will, mayor."
Granmeyer looked to his right at the closest man. "What do you think, Arnhem?"
This man, a pudgy older fellow in gaudy ceremonial armor replied, "My judgement is to accept, my lord. We have no means of holding off Highland's army by ourselves and no promises of support from any of the other City-States."
Granmeyer glanced over at his chief minister. The minister was a tall, lanky, bald man who said, "I concur with the general, my lord. The bankers and merchants are very concerned about what might happen during a period of instability. What we need to do is to reassure them that their trade will go on peacefully."
Granmeyer seemed to sink into his throne as he listened to this assessment. Finally he asked, "Is there anyone here who disagrees with these opinions?"
Flik watched as the generals and ministers remained motionless. Sighing, he stood up. Several of the nearby officials frowned, but he ignored them and waited for Granmeyer to acknowledge his presence. Culgan glanced sidelong at Flik and then looked back at the mayor.
Granmeyer eyed Flik levelly and said, "Speak your mind, Flik."
Flik took a breath, marshalling his arguments. Then he spoke. "Lord mayor, your forces have not yet come to blows with the Highland Army. There is no sense in surrendering the city when you can very well emerge victorious. This envoy speaks in a bluff; Highland does not have the men to conquer South Window, hold Muse, and defend against the inevitable counterattacks by the Matilda Knights, among others. Do not give to Highland by diplomacy what they cannot take by force."
Arnhem stood up to counter. "My lord, you cannot possibly follow that advice. Lamentably, our defenses are in a horrible state of neglect. The walls are practically crumbling. We'd be overrun in hours and then the city would be put to the sack. Think of your people, sir."
Flik glared at the chief general. Wasn't it this man's responsibility to see that the defenses were ready? Regardless, Flik pushed on. "That is simply not true, mayor. I have seen those walls; the façade may be deteriorating, but the foundation is solid. Highland doesn't possess any siege weapons. Let the enemy's units march around our walls for months, and they still will not get in."
"Muse fell," the chief civil minister rebutted. "They were in much better readiness than we are. Besides, a protracted siege risks the outbreak of disease, my lord. Your people would suffer."
Flik squeezed his eyes shut in frustration. Trying to keep calm, he argued, "Do you think your people would be any happier dominated by Highland? Will they be happy when their sons are called on to serve in Highland's army for Highland's ends? Or when they have to pay increased taxes for the "honor" of having a Highland garrison stationed in their city? Lord Granmeyer, your city's forces may not be in the best shape, but I am certain that they will fight to defend their homes and livelihoods. Like your walls, they will hold if the foundation is secure." Flik paused, pointing at Granmeyer. "You, sir, are that foundation. If you are steady, then all of Highland's attacks will be for naught. If you falter, then you will bring all your people down with you." Flik took one final breath. "I know that war is difficult and uncertain. I have felt the hardship and sadness it brings. But you will earn no merit if you leave your people to the mercy of the wolf when you could've fought back and emerged victorious."
He sat down, exhausted. He didn't have any arguments left. Arnhem, the chief general, still had one. "My lord, do not listen to this barbarian from Scarlet Moon. You know all too well how they seek to weaken us. Did they not lure us into Senan with their lies only to turn around and attack us? Think hard, lord. With Highland's help, we can stabilize the province. All Scarlet Moon has ever sought is our overthrow."
Granmeyer waved for silence, brooding over what he'd heard. Flik prayed fervently to the spirits of the great heroes, hoping that they'd nerve the mayor into fighting. For one moment, he thought his prayers had been answered. A fire sparked in the mayor's eyes as he stared at Culgan. The confident smile on Culgan's face diminished, and he looked once again at Flik.
Then the fire died, stillborn, and the mayor's countenance turned to ash. The skin on Granmeyer's face seemed to stretch tight as he said, "Tell your master that South Window accedes to Highland's demands. All South Window forces will remain in place. You may advance unimpeded."
Culgan artfully hid his relief by bowing once again. "Lord Granmeyer, you have made the correct decision. I tell you, Highland bears your people no grudge. Our soldiers will not harm the people of South Window in the slightest. I bid you a good day." He turned and departed from the hall.
Flik felt the bile rising in his stomach and tried to swallow it. The chief minister had stood up and was saying, "A most excellent decision lord. Your people will thank you now that they know their lives will continue as normal."
"Will they?" Granmeyer asked, weakly. "I feel so old all of a sudden."
Flik got to his feet. Granmeyer noted the movement and tried to meet his eyes. He couldn't; whatever he saw in Flik's eyes caused Granmeyer to turn away. Flik gritted his teeth and made for the exit.
Out in the hall he found Culgan waiting. "That was well argued," Culgan said. "I thought that for a moment, Granmeyer was going to be swayed."
Flik glared at his opponent. "It doesn't seem to matter. You've won, and without a drop of blood shed."
Culgan nodded. "Yes, we have." He looked around the hallway, noted that it was empty, and then spoke again. "I would strongly advise you not to be in this city when we occupy it."
"Why?" Flik responded spitefully. "You want to fight us some more?"
Culgan laughed once. "Listen carefully, Blue Lightning. I bear you no personal animus, but there are many within Highland who do. My comrade, Seed, is still fuming over what you did to him back in East Muse. And I am certain that if he doesn't kill you, then Solon Jhee will. Both of them are eager to make your head a present to Prince Luca Blight."
With an effort, Flik set his anger aside. "Thank you for the advice."
"I respect a man who will stand and fight, that's all." He turned to leave the palace, but stopped and said, "That does not mean I will not try to catch you, and if I do, I will turn you over to my superiors. Should you manage to escape, you ought to return to your homeland. This war has nothing to do with you."
Then he stepped out the grand doors of the palace, leaving Flik to consider his options.