Chapter 9
Stefan watched the dawn light creep slowly across the Imperial camp as the sun fought a winning battle with the tall peaks of the mountains that surrounded the plateau. After delivering Thane Hammerson to the command tent Stefan had been dismissed by one of the Baron's aides and had returned to his men. With the dwarf's words going back and forth in his mind Stefan realised that the prospect of more sleep was a fool's errand so instead he made himself busy. First he inspected the trail guard pickets again but the men there had nothing new to report. Returning to camp Stefan broke his fast with his sergeants before they began rousing the men getting them ready to break camp for the days marching.
"Are we sure we are breaking camp Sir?" asked one of the sergeants catching Stefan's attention as he watched the men. Seeing Stefan's confused look he continued. "Well it's just that the command tent and Baron's troops are showing no signs of moving yet Sir."
Turning Stefan looked over the imperial camp to see that the Sergeant was right. The command tent stood as it had since this morning. Stefan could spy figures coming to and fro but it certainly didn't appear as though they were mustering to break camp.
"Continue as ordered Sergeant. I'll bring the First Sergeant with me and try to find out what our orders are."
Motioning for Kurt to follow him Stefan began to make his way back across the camp for the second time that day. Conscious that he hadn't been summoned Stefan didn't head directly for the command tent but instead took a more circuitous route to see if he could pick up some sense of what was going on. Spying a familiar face standing with some other officers around a campfire Stefan changed his course.
"Why don't you go make some new friends to impress with your storytelling Kurt, see what you can find out?" Stefan suggested.
"Right you are Sir I'll meet you back at the men."
Carrying on Stefan headed for the group of officers. The men were clustered together around the campfire talking animatedly. Not wishing to look like he was intruding Stefan called out as he approached.
"Good morn to you Herr Ansel."
Turning quickly the handgunner officer's face split into a wide grin at seeing who had hailed him.
"Ah the very man! Good morn to you Herr Kleist come join us."
Smiling Stefan joined the group and nodded in thanks as a warm drink was handed to him.
"Gentleman may I present Stefan Von Kleist, Reikland 95th. We were just talking about you in fact."
"About me?" Stefan's confusion was writ plain across his face. "How did I come to be the topic of your conversation?"
"Fear not there is no slight intended. The camp has been rife with talk of the visitor who arrived in the night and we hear tell that it was you who brought him to Baron. We simply wished to pry all the information about him from you," joked Luthor good humouredly.
"And alas here I was hoping to find out the camp gossip from you. It seems we are both to be disappointed! All jokes aside though I did indeed escort Thane Hammerson to the Baron's tent before dawn but that is as much as I can tell you. In truth I had expected us to be on the move already hence why I came this way to see if anyone had heard any orders?"
Glancing at the other officers Luthor asked casually,
"And did he seem an agreeable character this Thane?"
Sensing the unspoken question Stefan paused taking a drink from his cup while he considered his answer. On one hand he saw no reason to lie but then he didn't know these men. While Luthor seemed an honest soul the others were all strangers and not necessarily friends. Choosing his words with care he replied,
"He was what one would expect of the Dawi I suppose. He was very honest in his assessment of our conduct so far."
Luthor snorted into his drink before lifting a hand to wipe his mouth.
"An answer worthy of the hallowed halls of Altdorf politics if ever I heard one! Come man tell us what he really said we are all soldiers here," urged Luthor stressing the word soldiers as he did so.
Shrugging his shoulders in acceptance Stefan decided he had nothing to lose from telling them the truth.
"It was the Thanes opinion that we should have still been camped in the foothills and that we had no idea what we were walking into."
"And with that in mind I'm guessing he was not so polite in expressing his opinions on our commander too eh?" remarked Luthor dryly, cocking an eyebrow at Stefan.
Seeing Stefan's look of vague embarrassment Luthor sighed rubbing the stubble on his chin as he contemplated.
"And now our outspoken Dwarven friend is currently making his views known to the good Baron. How do you think he will be received gentlemen?"
None of the gathered officers answered Luthor's rhetorical question. Glancing around Stefan noticed that most looked uncomfortable but a few wore worried frowns as they sipped from their cups. The weighted silence was broken by the approach of a sergeant wearing the livery of the 71st Black Cheeks. Saluting the man addressed Luthor,
"Begging your pardon Sir but the Dwarf has just left the Baron's tent…."
"And?" Luthor probed.
"And I've seen beastmen who looked happier than he does Sir."
Snorting Luthor dismissed the man and turned back to the gathered officers.
"There we have it gentlemen, I'm sure we'll be summoned for our orders soon enough. Best see to our men in the meantime eh?"
With a murmur of acknowledgements the gathering broke up as the officers headed back to their units to be ready for when the inevitable summons came. Finishing his drink Luthor noticed that the only other who hadn't moved away was Stefan who was staring off into the distance towards the command tent with a frown of concentration on his face.
"What is it Herr Kleist? Something is on your mind clearly."
Slowly without looking towards Luthor Stefan began to speak as if he were saying his thoughts aloud as they came to him.
"We have no idea of the enemy we face, we are marching blindly into their lair and to make matter worse our commander seems heedless to basic military strategy. If we want this mission to succeed we are going to need the Dwarves whether he likes it or not."
Luthor didn't need to ask to whom Stefan was referring.
"Well off you go then lad. You met him earlier. Try and find that Thane and do what you can. But be subtle about it. If the Baron has sent him packing he won't take kindly to you making friends behind his back."
Nodding his understanding Stefan turned and started back towards his men leaving Luthor to do the same. As he walked he kept one eye on the command tent where suddenly there seemed to be a hive of activity as aides came to and fro. Sensing someone falling in beside him Stefan was glad when he heard Kurt's voice.
"Sir. Back to the men is it? I made a few friends while I was off about, learned a few bits of gossip might be useful."
Seeing the look on his officers face Kurt's grin faded.
"Trouble sir?"
"Aye very likely Kurt. Get back to the men make sure they are ready to potentially move out."
"Yes Sir and what about you Sir?"
"I need to find our Thane Hammerson and try somehow to convince him from abandoning us to our fate."
Without asking any further questions Kurt saluted and split off in the direction of the 95th'. Stefan meanwhile tried to determine which direction the Thane may have headed after leaving the Baron's tent. Clambering up onto a rock to get a better view it wasn't long before Stefan found what he was looking for. Akin to the wake of a ship moving across the sea the Thane's progress through the camp was visible to all. Soldiers gawking and in some case hurriedly clearing a path showed Stefan that the dwarf was heading for the far side of the plateau towards the pass leading deeper into the mountains. Jumping down Stefan began to run to catch up but remembering Luthor's warning he slowed his pace to a fast trot hoping to catch the Thane before he left the confines of the camp. If he did Stefan knew his chances of finding the dwarf amongst the mountainous terrain would be slim indeed. As he neared the camps edge Stefan began to despair that he was too late but hearing raised voices ahead he doubled his pace. Leaving the last of the tents and camp behind Stefan finally spied the bulky form of the Thane standing right at the entrance to the mountain pass. Standing before the dwarf barring his way stood troopers from a regiment Stefan didn't recognise, sentries no doubt, set to guard the way forward in much the same fashion as Stefan's men guarded the pass behind.
"My apologies Herr Dwarf but I have received no orders allowing you to leave the camp."
The sentry speaking wore the stripes of a sergeant and it was clear the man was highly uncomfortable at the situation he now found himself in. His orders were to prevent the passage of any and all into the pass beyond barring those pistoliers assigned to scout ahead of the main army. Standing before him now was a fully armoured and very angry dwarf and the sergeant was rapidly running out of ideas as to how to handle the situation. As Stefan approached the Thane drew his warhammer and the silvery hue it exuded earlier seemed to brighten and shine as he hefted it aloft.
"I'll warn ya once umgi to clear my path lest I have to clear you from it."
The sergeant's eyes widened as he hurriedly stepped back hand dropping to his sword hilt as he did so. Around him the other sentries lowered their spears at the dwarf and spread out to surround him. The tension seemed about to boil over before Stefan finally arrived.
"Stay your weapons and stand down, that's an order."
Stefan spoke authoritatively and on instinct the guards put up their weapons but it did little to ease the tension.
"Sergeant report, what is the meaning of all this?"
Saluting the sergeant came to attention and replied.
"Sir this dwarf arrived here minutes ago demanding to be let pass into the mountains beyond. I have been given strict orders Sir that no one is to be allowed to leave the camp to head beyond. When I tried to stop him Sir well…" the sergeants voice trailed off as he gestured helplessly at the armoured dwarf with warhammer in hand who even now looked ready to strike.
"Thane Hammerson is our honoured ally sergeant. Here to aid us against our common enemy the greenskins. The Thane is also not under imperial command and therefore not subject to your orders. He is therefore free to come and go as he pleases. Is that clear?"
The sergeant frowned for a moment on hearing Stefan's words and then he quickly nodded and stepped back happy to be rid of the awkward situation.
"Your men can return to their posts Sergeant. Herr Hammerson could I beg a moment of your time before you take your leave?"
The Thane turned to look at Stefan for the first time since the encounter started and Stefan saw a fiery wrath in those blue eyes before the ire slowly faded. To Stefan it felt not as though it had gone but that it had simply been tempered ready to be unleashed again when it was required.
"You are the officer I met earlier are you not? Von Kleist? I can spare you a moment but be careful how you spend it I've had my fill of idiots this morning."
Dipping his head in thanks Stefan gestured away to the side of the path where they could talk out of earshot of the guards.
"My apologies for…."
Holding up his hand the Thane stopped Stefan before he continued,
"Speak plainly. I'll wager you didn't chase all the way after me just to spout platitudes."
Again Stefan was struck by the dwarf's piercing eyes and he realised that this being was far older and wiser than he. Making up his mind Stefan decided to throw diplomacy to the wind.
"I take it the Baron didn't react well to your…advice. I'm also guessing that you found the Baron to be an idiotic, vain aristocrat who has no military knowledge worth the name. Either the Baron sent you away with his condescending gratitude or you have decided yourself based on your assessment of the man to wash your hands of us and rejoin your kin in the mountains."
Stefan paused and for a moment the dwarf stood impassive before ever so slightly inclining his head.
"Would I be right in saying that is was you or your kin that sent the intelligence to us of this threat of a new Warboss gathering in these mountains? I know very little of dwarven kind, Thane, but I do know you are prideful and mighty warriors. I do not think you would have called for aid if you could have ended this threat by yourselves. I think like the Empire you are likely stretched thin and that currently don't have the strength of numbers to quell the greenskins on your own."
The Thane's expression darkened but he didn't otherwise respond prompting Stefan to continue.
"All I ask is that you don't judge us on the Baron alone. There are good men here, soldiers who have marched to stand with you against a foe that threatens both of us. I can understand if you leave, believe me I do, but if you go we risk meeting the foe individually and chances are that apart we will not prevail. More than that we need you and your kin. Your expertise in these mountains and your knowledge of this foe. Stay and fight with us. Maybe with your help we have a chance to counteract our…folly and yet destroy the enemy."
Stefan hadn't realised the passion in his words until he finished and by the end he felt his breath leave him as he slumped his shoulders in defeat. He knew he sounded desperate but everything up to now had convinced him that the army was heading for disaster and he would be damned if he didn't do everything he could to prevent it. Thane Hammerson stood still his eyes looking at Stefan then at the mountains beyond. Other than the movement of his eyes he may have been a statue so little reaction did he display. The moment stretched on and still the Thane did not respond and Stefan began to fear the worst. Finally the Thane sheathed his warhammer on his belt and looked again to Stefan. Before he could say anything however they were interrupted by a hail from back in the direction of the camp.
"Herr Kleist Sir!"
Turning Stefan saw one of the Baron's aides running towards them. The man came to a halt before them and saluted before trying and failing to catch his breath.
"The Baron's compliments Sir but all officers are ordered to report to the command tent, and begging your pardon Sir you are the last officer I was able to find."