The Pen and the Sword (Destiny's Crucible Book 2) (45 page)

Two
hours of argument and discussion followed, taking into account Yozef’s
suggestions and
who
would do
what
under
whose
command. He
didn’t contribute more to the planning and instead leaned against the back wall,
then sat on a chair when Denes noticed him unsteady on his feet. However, he
listened with discouragement at the lack of an overall command structure.
Committees would not defeat the Narthani.

Finally,
the hetmen decided Stent and Hewell would take Yozef’s three hybrid field
pieces and three of the captured Narthani 12-pounder cannon, along with enough
volunteers from the surviving artillerymen to train others en route and push
hard to Parthmal to take the town before either the Narthani army got there or
the forces there knew what was happening. Both clans had suffered needless
losses, due to Moreland’s lack of control, and, since they didn’t have Moreland
to take it out on, they were eager for another target. Meanwhile, Adris,
Bultecki, Orosz, and Pewitt would slow the Narthani army and pick off stragglers
and small groups, as opportunities occurred. All of the clans agreed that the
Tri-Alliance contingent had more than fulfilled a contribution and should
retire to their provinces. What was left of the Moreland men of fighting capability
would maintain order within Moreland Province, while surviving elders sorted
out the clan’s future.

Back
to Abersford, Betrayed by Carnigan

Yozef
and the others from the Abersford area left the main Keelan column when their
turn came to peel off for home. Culich thanked him again and said to expect
meetings and planning for the future, though not for a while, to let the men
have time with their families.

When
they crested a hill and first saw Abersford and St. Sidryn’s in the distance,
Yozef’s spirits leaped.

Home
.

He
had been on Anyar approaching three years and had thought he’d accepted that
this was where he would spend the rest of his life, but something was
different.

Is
it the battle? Coming close to death? Somehow I have a greater sense of having
a stake here. And, of course, there’s Maera and the baby.

News
of the victory had gone ahead before they left Moreland City, with no details.
More important, Culich had insisted the casualty list be sent as soon as
possible. All of the clan’s people deserved to know whether family and friends
had survived. Of the dead, mourning could begin. Of the wounded, it would be
known they were alive. And for the majority, news that their men would return
unscathed lessened fear in thousands of hearts.

The
Abersford area was hit hard by the casualties, especially from the artillery
crews. Maera had been active in checking that families of the dead were honored
for their sacrifice and ensured that the widows and the children would be cared
for. It was similar for the wounded. Families would be provided for, until the
men recovered enough to resume their normal lives, and for those whose wounds
would not allow that, provisions were made. Maera never doubted Yozef would
agree with the obligation.

Maera
was sitting on their veranda swing when Yozef and Seabiscuit came into view.
She rose when she recognized him and walked to the front walk, where Brak took
his horse. The elderly man grunted and nodded to Yozef, an unusual gesture of
respect from the hardscrabble man. Although Yozef smelled of sweat, horse,
dust, and who knew what, Maera hugged him with a fierceness that surprised him.
She said nothing for several minutes as he held her gently, her belly pressed
up against him.

“Come
into the house. You smell like a cesspool. A bath and fresh clothes are
waiting. Then some food, and I want to hear all about it.”

She
eyed the stitched gash running from the edge of his forehead to above his ear.
“How did you get that?”

“A
fluke accident. The battle was over when a stray Narthani cannon shot hit a
carriage I was near, and a piece of wood hit me.”

With
his arm around her shoulder and hers around his waist, they walked into their
home.

Three
days later Yozef came home from his shops and found Maera sitting on the same
swing, this time with pursed lips and an expression that elicited a
Whoops,
what did I do wrong?
thought. Yozef was ten feet away when she snapped, “You
somehow forgot to mention exactly what
you
did during the battle!”

“I
told you I advised and helped with artillery.”

“Yes,
but you didn’t say you were at the front of the fighting and could easily have
been killed! Denes wouldn’t give me any details, but Carnigan told me
everything.”

Traitor
.

“You
were supposed to stay back and not get that far forward. You’re too valuable to
our people to risk yourself that way! And what about our baby, who would never
know a father! I can hardly believe you were so irresponsible.”

Yozef
sat down beside her on the swing and placed a hand gently on her knee.
She’s
acting mad at me, but it’s because she was worried. She really
does
care
for me.
He patted her leg.

She
didn’t respond, just sat there eying him angrily.

“That
was my intention, as I promised,” said Yozef. “But when Denes and his men
attacked the Narthani infantry, our artillerymen were confused in all of the
chaos. No matter how much we’d practiced or how hard they’d tried, it’s totally
different in the middle of a battle. It looked as if the Narthani might stop
the attack, which would have meant we failed and likely many more of our men
would die before we could withdraw.”

“Why
did it have to be you?”

“Because
I was there and saw the danger and opportunity. Believe me, it wasn’t something
I wanted to do or planned. Once minute I was scared and trying to stay back, and
without thinking, the next minute I was with the guns and even more scared.”

Maera
was silent, then seemed to relax. The angry set to her face melted away, replaced
by confusion and softness. She placed one hand over his on her knee. They sat
that way for several minutes.

“I’m
still angry with you,” she said, with more resignation than fury. “And I don’t
know what you should have done. Just please don’t do it again.”

“Believe
me, Maera, I’ve no desire to be a hero, and if I never get near a battle again,
no one will be happier than me.”

She
leaned her head against him, and they didn’t speak for the next hour, both
holding tight to the other.

She’s
never said she loves me, but then, neither have I said I love her. What a pair
we are.

During
the next two sixdays, there was sporadic news of the retreating Narthani army,
which withdrew into safer confines deeper into Eywellese territory. Thirty
miles of Eywell province were more a no-man’s land than firmly in Narthani
control. The clans shadowing the Narthani inflicted several hundred more
casualties in an endless parade of ambushes and night attacks, always keeping
under cover and retreating on horseback whenever the Narthani tried to
counterattack. As many clan casualties resulted from accidents and friendly
fire as from the Narthani.

The
greater news was how Stent and Hewell took the town of Parthmal and the
Narthani garrison by surprise. They allowed Eywell civilians to leave the town
with what they could carry and then burned the town. All of the 150 Narthani,
mainly guard units and support staff, were killed, to a man. Any supplies and
stores the clansmen couldn’t take with them by horse or commandeered wagon were
burned. They confiscated close to six hundred muskets, either those of the
fallen Narthani garrison or intended replacements for the army, along with
eight cannon, which were never fired during the surprise assault.

Also
freed at Parthmal and from a foray to the outskirts of the Eywell capital at
Hanslow were several hundred Narthani slaves brought in from other conquered
peoples, ex-Preddi, and Morelanders captured in raids. The Morelanders returned
to their villages and families, and the foreign slaves and ex-Preddi were taken
to Orosz City to decide their futures.

What
Now?

Evening
meal was finished. He and Maera sat on the veranda swing, watching the last
light in the east fade. Elian and a servant girl finished cleaning up and left
them alone. The faint squeak of the swing, the wind in trees around the house,
and the distant breaking of waves lulled their senses for half an hour.

“What’s
going to happen, Yozef? With the Narthani. They’re coming again, aren’t they?”

He
put an arm around her. “Yes. I’m afraid so. We pushed them back, but they
weren’t defeated, in spite of what many of your . . .
our . . .
people
believe. I think they were surprised and withdrew from uncertainty and caution,
more than feeling defeated.”

“What’s
next? Do they come again like before? Try to force a battle again? Use their
navy to attack clans anywhere around Caedellium? How could we stop them?”

“This
time, the Narthani allowed the clans to gather, but if they attack from the sea,
a clan would be overwhelmed before help could come. I’m sorry, Maera, I just
don’t know what they’ll do next. What I
do
know is that the clans have
to prepare for anything, as hard as that may be. One good result of the Battle
of Moreland City is that most clans should now not be able to use the excuse
that all of this will pass them by. Hopefully, the clans can unite in ways they
haven’t done before.”

“That’s
also what Father believes, though he doesn’t know how it will happen. What
about you? We’ve all come to think of Yozef the Mysterious coming up with new
ideas. Is there anything you can do?”

“We
need more cannon. There’s no way we can fight the Narthani on even terms as
long as they have such superiority in artillery. I’ve got to find a way to cast
bigger barrels than the swivels.”

Maera
smiled and hugged him. “I’m sure you’ll find a way. You always do.”

He
frowned, sat back, and released her. “Don’t say that, Maera. I’m not a miracle
worker. Yes, I know things not known on Caedellium, but it’s dangerous to start
thinking I have answers to every problem.”

She
saw that he was upset at her comment. Culich and Diera had cautioned her not to
press her husband too hard. Somehow he managed to solve problems, even when
others hadn’t realized the problems existed, but he was loath to assume
responsibility. It had bothered her at first. Her father grabbed responsibility
with both hands; Yozef pushed it away.

“Remember,
Maera,” Diera had warned, “the important thing is not how
you
expect
Yozef to behave, but
what
he accomplishes. The
Word
tells us to
judge by deeds and not words.”

She
worked hard to remember, although it wasn’t always easy.

He
put his arm back around her. “I don’t know what’s coming. All I can say is I’ll
do what I can to protect you and the baby.”

She
unconsciously put a hand on her stomach. “I’m afraid for our child. What kind
of future will we bring it into?”

“I
wish I could be more reassuring. Your people are strong. Great sacrifices might
be needed, but somehow I believe they’ll rise to whatever is required. As
fearful as I often am, I somehow intuit that great events are coming and that,
in the end, there’s hope.”

Yozef
sighed, looking over the sea. “And here I am, working on ways to kill people,
when what I really want to do is give Caedellium what knowledge I have. I want
to work on the university, write up more notes to share, establish more trades
to help the people. It’s a version of the conundrum of the quill and the sword.
I subscribe to the belief that the quill should be more important. The quill
may be mightier long term, but the sword wins short term. Maybe the belief
should be more that it takes the sword to protect the quill, I don’t know.”

“Or
maybe it’s both and not either,” Maera said, hooking her arm into his and
pulling him closer. “Father says all we can do is our best. If it’s both quill
and sword, then I believe you’ll do what you can with both for all of us.”

Abulli,
Omir
.
Buldorian mercenary from different clan than the Adalan’s.

Adalan,
Adel
.
Buldorian mercenary. Second-in-command to cousin Musfar Adalan.

Adalan,
Musfar
.
Commander of Buldorian mercenaries.

Akuyun,
Okan
.
Commander of Narthani mission to conquer Caedellium.

Akuyun,
Rabia
.
Wife of Okan.

Bakalacs,
Feren.
Hetman of Farkesh Clan.

Balcan,
Mamduk
.
Narthani religious prelate.

Beynom,
Cadwulf
.
Scholasticum student. Son of Diera and Sistian. Friend and employee of Yozef.

Beynom,
Diera
.
A medicant. Abbess of St. Sidryn’s abbey. Wife of Sistian.

Beynom,
Sistian
.
A theophist. Abbot of St. Sidryn’s abbey. Husband of Diera.

Bolwyn,
Elton
.
A medicant at St. Sidryn’s abbey.

Bultecki,
Teresz.
Hetman
of Bultecki Clan.

Dyllis,
Saoul
.
A medicant at St. Sidryn’s abbey.

Erdelin,
Memas
.
Narthani colonel.

Eywell,
Brandor
.
Hetman of Eywell Clan.

Eywell,
Biltin.
Son of Brandor Eywell.

Faughns,
Brak and Elian
.
Elderly home staff couple of Yozef.

Fitham,
Petros
.
Elderly theophist at St. Sidryn’s abbey.

Fuller,
Filtin
.
Skilled worker and friend to Yozef.

Gwillamer,
Cadoc
.
Hetman of Gwillamer Clan.

Harlie
. Name given by
Yozef to alien artificial intelligence created to interact with Yozef.

Hewell,
Lordum
.
Hetman of Hewell Clan.

Hizer,
Sadek
.
Narthani Assessor reporting direct to Narthani High Command.

Kalcan,
Morfred
.
Narthani naval commander.

Kales,
Wyfor.
Abersford citizen. Tutor to Yozef for blade fighting and occasional bodyguard.

Keelan,
Breda
.
Wife of Culich. Mother of Maera.

Keelan,
Culich
.
Hetman of Clan Keelan. Father of Maera.

Keelan,
Maera
.
Eldest daughter of Culich and Breda.

Kennrick,
Pedr
.
Advisor to Hetman Culich Keelan.

Ketin,
Erkan
.
Narthani colonel.

Kolsko,
Yozef
(a.k.a. Joseph Colsco). California chemistry graduate student who boards an
ill-fated flight to a conference and meets an unimagined future.

Linton
(Merton), Bronwyn
.
Widow owner of farm near Abersford.

Metin,
Nuthrat
.
Narthani colonel.

Mittack,
Hulwyn.
Hetman of Mittack Clan.

Moreland,
Anarynd
(a.k.a. Ana). Friend of Maera Keelan. Related to Moreland Clan hetman.

Moreland,
Brym
.
Father of Anarynd. Cousin to Moreland hetman.

Moreland,
Gynfor
.
Hetman of Moreland Clan.

Orosz,
Tomis.
Hetman of Orosz Clan.

Stent,
Welman.
Hetman olf Stent Clan.

Puvey,
Carnigan
.
Physically imposing member of abbey staff. Friend of Yozef.

Tuzere,
Nizam
.
Narthani civilian administrator.

Vega,
Denes
.
Magistrate and sheriff-equivalent in town of Abersford. Commander of Abersford
fighting levy.

Vortig,
Luwis
.
Advisor to Hetman Culich Keelan.

Vorwich,
Longnor
.
Keelan Clan boyerman (district chief) of Abersford and St. Sidryn’s area.

Watchers
. Name given by
Yozef to alien creators of Harlie and whose spaceship destroyed Yozef’s flight
to Chicago.

Zulfa,
Aivacs
.
Brigadier. Commander of Narthani group troops on Caedellium.

Acknowledgments

Thanks
to my wife, Kathleen, for encouragement, tolerating my sequestering away for
endless hours writing and revising, and for reading drafts. Thanks to editors
Felicia Sullivan and Patricia Waldygo for contributions and teaching me those
things about writing and grammar that I didn’t learn in school and for
encouragement. Cover by Damonza.com.

To
Readers

An
advantage of electronic publishing is the ability to correct errors,
oversights, inconsistances. Please email me with any such comments at
[email protected]. I promise to read all emails, though I won’t be able
to answer personally every one. Maps of Anyar and Caedellium are available at
olanthorensen.com. Also, if you enjoyed the story, please leave a
comment/review on appropriate venues. And, of course, if you want to know what
happens next, Book III, is projected in September, 2016.