“It is possible. Sien will not let Pacta fall. And she has the help of Mechanic Alli. I am certain that Alli will give the Syndaris a welcome that will be long remembered.”
“I hope you’re right. I’ll be surprised if we don’t hear the sound of Alli’s welcoming explosions even from this far off.” It could be happening right now, Mari thought: people fighting for their lives as well as their freedom from the Great Guilds. Queen Sien could be leading a last desperate charge or commanding a rear guard or be dead in the rubble of the ancient buildings or the new workshops. Alli would retreat, wouldn’t she? Or would she stand by her guns, firing at the approaching enemy until overrun?
Mari felt guilty for not being at Pacta to help, guilty for not being with her friends when they faced such a threat. It was absurd to feel that way, since she was heading for what was likely to be a far worse fight at Dorcastle, but Mari felt bad nonetheless. Those people being attacked were at Pacta because of her, they were being attacked because of her—
“You are blaming yourself,” Alain said.
“How did you—? Never mind.”
“Remember the Storm that threatens this world,” Alain said. “A Storm created by the frustrations and anger of the commons who have been forced to follow the will of the Great Guilds for centuries. Yes, there is war because the commons see that the daughter has finally appeared, but if she were not here—if you were not here—already cities would be collapsing into chaos as the people rioted, just as we saw in Palandur.”
“I’m the lesser evil?” Mari asked.
“You are not evil at all,” Alain said, taking her absolutely seriously as he always did. “This war we face is by far the lesser evil compared to what would happen otherwise.”
“I know.” Mari looked at the refugees trudging toward Danalee, feeling a sick knot in her stomach at the sight. “I’m still glad that I feel badly about it. If the cost of this didn’t bother me, I would have become the sort of person I never want to be.”
That evening she forced herself to eat a full meal despite the nervous tightness in her stomach. The next morning they would reach the city.
* * * *
Mari stood by Alain, not speaking but sharing the silence between them, as the barge drew closer to the boat landing on the outskirts of Dorcastle. Instead of bustling with activity, the landing and the nearby road were nearly deserted, only a scattering of soldiers loading supplies into a wagon. The barge slid alongside the landing, weary crew members hastening to tie it up securely.
Mari had barely stepped from the barge when a courier came riding fast from the direction of the city, reining her horse to a hard halt nearby and staring at the arriving barges. “Is the daughter here in truth?”
“Yes,” Major Sten called back. “What message?”
“You made it just in time! Scouts have come in reporting that the Imperial expedition is just up the coast and will reach the city before nightfall!”
Chapter Four
Any sense of quiet and calm vanished as the soldiers of Tiae came ashore in a rush. Ramps came down and horses were led onto the landings to be quickly saddled and bridled. Restless after their time confined on the barges and picking up urgency from their riders, the horses shifted about, nipping at each other.
Mari hauled herself up into the saddle, any physical discomfort forgotten for the moment. Directly behind her and Alain, Major Sten and Major Danel were mounting their horses as well. Right behind them were two troopers, one carrying the banner of the New Day and the other the banner of Tiae. The road into the city was broad and nearly empty, so the rest of the soldiers formed a column riding four abreast.
They rode at a brisk clip, out-pacing the courier whose weary mount couldn’t keep up with the rested cavalry horses. Passing through the outlying portions of the city, Mari was struck by how eerie Dorcastle felt with most of the population gone. Since almost all of the defenders were massed near the first wall down at the harbor, these portions of the city might almost have been deserted. All she saw were small patrols ensuring security in the empty streets.
Dorcastle occupied a river valley that represented the only significant break in the cliffs lining the southern Sea of Bakre from the desert waste in the east to Gullhaven in the west. The valley, with steep, unclimbable rock faces on either side, widened and dropped as it and the Silver River headed for the sea. Seven massive walls defended the city, the first and longest near the waterfront, the seventh and shortest just before the city gave way to the open land beyond. Anyone wanting to invade the Confederation or lands south of it had to besiege Dorcastle first. It offered the only route inland short of Gullhaven, and anyone who tried to bypass Dorcastle would be at the mercy of the fortress city, which couldstrike at them from behind and sever their lines of supply from the east.
“The Imperials have attacked Dorcastle several times over the centuries,” Major Sten said as they rode. He seemed to feel the need to break the oppressive silence of the empty city. “One attack got as far as the fourth wall. No enemy has ever made it any farther.”
Alain’s impassive voice sounded odder than usual with the vacant buildings around them echoing back his words. “But there has never been an attack of such magnitude, nor one with the full backing of the Great Guilds.”
“That is so,” Sten said. “But we’ve never had the daughter of Jules fighting to defend the city.”
Mari tried not to laugh at the idea that she, alone, counterbalanced so many Imperial legions and the force of the Great Guilds.
As they passed through a gate in the seventh wall, the farthest from the waterfront, Mari studied its thickness at ground level, trying to draw reassurance from its strength. Hopefully the might of this last wall would never be tested.
Their route passed through three more walls before reaching the central plaza surrounding the city hall. The plaza was choked with the instruments and means of war. Mobile ballistae waited in long ranks to be loaded with projectiles. Wagons held crates of food, much of it meat jerky and hard breads or crackers that would not spoil. Many other wagons bore the painted image of a red serpent curled around a staff, indicating they served the healers who would try to treat and save the wounded. The men and women in healer’s garb who stood around those wagons were talking quietly among themselves.
“They know they’re going to be very busy soon,” Major Sten commented in a low voice.
“Soldiers and healers have that much in common,” Major Danel said. “When we are busy at our trades, it means others are suffering.”
The low rumble of conversation among the people in the plaza rose to a mild roar as they spotted the column of cavalry with Mari’s banner alongside that of Tiae. She once more heard cries of “The daughter!” But alongside that were calls asking about the Tiae cavalry, and cheers when word was passed that they had come to help defend the city.
Mari glanced back to see the soldiers of Tiae riding proudly, some of the older ones nearly in tears from the fervor with which they were being greeted.
“Forward command is at the harbor administrator’s building!” an officer called to Major Sten, who waved acknowledgement and led the column onward.
The streets were showing more and more signs of life as they drew near the water, but with rare exceptions everyone they saw and every activity related to the defense of the city. The city of Dorcastle that Mari remembered, filled with people living their lives and doing their work, had been emptied out. What had been a living city was now a citadel with only one purpose: to stop what seemed to be the unstoppable.
They went through two more walls, the armored gates standing open but with numerous sentries controlling all traffic, before reaching the business area near the docks, now given over totally to the business of war. Major Sten guided the column toward an imposing building in the shadow of the first wall facing the harbor.
Soldiers already lined the battlements at the top of the wall. Others waited in groups on the ground, ready to be rushed into
the fight to reinforce threatened areas or counterattack any force breaching the wall or gates at ground level. The quiet resignation with which they awaited the arrival of the Imperials was broken as more and more caught sight of the column and Mari’s banner, replaced by wild cheers. Knowing how much her presence meant to these men and women, Mari stood in her stirrups to wave and pump her fist to the sky, feeling like a fraud because of the fear inside her.
Officials, some in uniform and others in civilian clothing, came spilling out of the harbor administrator building. Mari stopped her horse a few lances short of the waiting officials and managed to dismount fairly gracefully.
Alain stepped beside her. Mari beckoned to Major Danel and Major Sten, then walked the remaining distance to the waiting dignitaries. The soldiers saluted her while the civilians bowed slightly. Apparently word had reached them that the daughter of Jules didn’t like having people kneel to her.
“You came,” one of the men said, his fine suit betraying his high status, his face lit with joy. “I am Eric of Larharbor, Confederation Vice President for War. We have been anxiously awaiting you.”
“But we never doubted that you would honor your word,” added the well-dressed woman beside him. She indicated herself. “Jane of Danalee, Confederation Vice President of State. The people of the Bakre Confederation will never forget that you came to stand with them, daughter.”
Mari did her best to smile in return despite her nerves. “I prefer Mari or Lady Mari, if that’s all right with you. This is Sir Mage Alain of Ihris. I assume that you know Major Sten, who brought your message south and escorted us north, and this is Major Danel of the army of Tiae.”
Everyone looked at Danel as he stepped forward and saluted. “By order of Queen Sien of Tiae, my unit has escorted the daughter to Dorcastle, and will now place itself at the disposal of the forces of the Confederation to assist in the defense of the city.”
Surprise lit every face on the Confederation side. Vice President Jane looked over Danel’s troops. “You should know that you are the only force that has come to our aid, Major. The Western Alliance, the Free Cities, and all others are husbanding their forces to defend their own lands and interests.”
Vice President Eric nodded, smiling. “But Tiae, the kingdom so recently broken, sends us help. This selfless aid will never be forgotten.”
Danel cleared his throat and brought out a paper, reading in a voice loud enough to carry. “Sien of Tiae, Queen by birth and the will of her people, sends this word to the people of the Confederation. Just as the daughter of Jules seeks a New Day for all, the reborn Kingdom of Tiae seeks a new day in its relations with you. We extend our hands in friendship, and offer our hands to aid you in your hour of need. Let this form a foundation for a future of peace and cooperation between us when the daughter’s victory has been won.”
Vice President Jan nodded solemnly to Major Danel. “We look forward to that future alongside the kingdom.”
“A force small in size but large in purpose,” said an older military officer wearing multiple bright stars on his shoulders. “I am Field Marshal Klaus, Lady, commander of the Confederation forces defending Dorcastle.”
Mari nodded politely to Klaus. “This small force has a large sting. I’ve got a new rifle with me, and the Tiae cavalry have fifteen more, along with a good supply of ammunition.”
“Fifteen? Those are the daughter’s rifles?” Eric asked. “Not Mechanics Guild models?”
“Yes,” Mari said. “I’m sorry we couldn’t bring more. My army is coming, with a lot more rifles.”
Everyone craned to look, as if expecting Mari’s army to begin marching into sight at any moment. Embarrassed again, Mari shook her head. “I don’t know how far behind me they are. Only a few days, I hope. They’re coming. I promise.”
“Fifteen rifles,” Klaus commented. He was stoutly built, and carried with him the same sort of strong aura as the wall looming over them. “The Mechanics Guild has slowly robbed us of any working models of their rifles. We have only three of those to defend the city, and only twenty bullets total to share among them. What does ‘a good supply of ammunition’ mean, Lady?”
“About eighty rounds for each rifle,” Mari said. Despite the tension of the moment, she had to smile at the looks of astonishment that greeted that news.
“Tiae has sent us a very great gift indeed,” Vice President Jane finally managed to say.
Mari didn’t correct Jane, deciding to let Sien take credit for the contribution of the rifles as well as the soldiers from Tiae. “I understand the Imperials will be here soon.”
“They could come into sight at any moment, Lady,” Eric said, sagging a bit with worry. “Your army is on the way, you say? The sooner they arrive the better.”
Field Marshal Klaus, who seemed to be a man of few but well-considered words, looked south. “How many? Our last reports said you had five thousand under arms.”
“I had to leave several hundred soldiers to protect Pacta Servanda, but the army coming numbers more like six thousand,” Mari said. “With about five hundred rifles like mine.”
“Five hundred?” Even Klaus’s composure was tested by that news.
“We could hold a paper box against the legions with five hundred rifles,” Vice President Eric exulted.
“They’re not here yet,” Vice President Jane said. “But when they do arrive… We’ve heard stories, we’ve received reports, telling us how many Mechanic weapons you had, daughter…excuse me, Lady Mari…and how many bullets you were making for them, but nobody believed any of it. Everyone thought that you had succeeded in Tiae because of a vacuum of power that you had been clever enough to exploit.”
“If we are fortunate,” Alain said, speaking for the first time, “the Great Guilds and the Imperials have also discounted such reports.”
No one answered for a moment. Mari saw their discomfort at not knowing how to speak with a Mage. “Treat my Mage as you would me,” she said. “Speak to him as you would me. He is not dangerous to anyone except our enemies. Alain can be trusted in all things.”
“Then…Sir Mage…I can guarantee you that our enemies have not believed the reports,” Field Marshal Klaus commented. “We should go inside and discuss the defenses in detail, Lady. Major Danel, is it? Please report to General Sanj over there to the left, you see her command flag? She will see to you while we decide the best way to employ your forces.”
Mari turned to the Tiae cavalry. “I’ll be seeing you as we defend the city!” she called, waving and wondering whether any of them would survive the battle.
They walked into the building, where the large central meeting room had been turned into a headquarters with big tables covered by maps. Wooden blocks represented different units of defenders. “Lady Mari,” Vice President Eric said, “since you are going to assume command of the defense—"
Mari held out both hands. “I’m not assuming command.”
“But—"
“I’m a Mechanic. If you needed some equipment fixed, I’d be the expert. But this is another line of work.” Mari nodded to Klaus. “One in which Field Marshal Klaus is the expert. The commander of my army, General Flyn, told me that Klaus is the finest there is.”
Flyn had actually told Mari, while discussing Confederation commanders some months ago, that Klaus was the Confederation’s best at fighting a defensive battle. “I could take Klaus easily if he was on the attack,” Flyn had remarked, “but if Klaus was dug in and holding his position, I would have a very hard time of it.” Since the fight for Dorcastle would be a defensive one, Mari didn’t feel as though she had misstated Flyn’s opinion.
And her words had clearly pleased the field marshal, who bowed toward her. “General Flyn’s reputation is well known. I am honored by his appraisal of my skills.”
“What then is your intended role?” Vice President Jane asked.
Mari gestured toward the outside. “They need to know the daughter is with them, is fighting for them, is fighting along
side them. If you want to declare that I’m leading the defense, that’s fine, and I will accept a role overseeing the defense, but I want Field Marshal Klaus to be formulating the strategy and making the tactical decisions on a moment-by-moment basis.”
Jane nodded, her eyes on Mari. “While you fight on the walls alongside our defenders?”
Mari nodded, wincing inside at the thought. “Yes. So they know I’m there.”
“When you’re seen by the Imperials, and the Mechanics, and the Mages,” Eric said, “they’ll bend every effort to killing you.”
“I’m actually kind of getting used to that,” Mari said, trying to make a joke of the danger to help hide the tightness in her gut.
“I will be with her,” Alain said. “At all times.”
Klaus bowed again, this time to Alain. “Sir Mage, I admit to great worry about the danger posed by the Mage Guild. There will be many Mages coming, I fear, and our ability to counter their spells is very weak.”
“Many Mages are no more threat than a few” Alain said. “The power that Mages must draw on to create their spells is limited in each area. Once that power is exhausted by a handful of powerful spells, the only threat that Mages can pose is from their knives.”
That news earned him looks of surprise and, Mari saw, some skepticism. They had difficulty believing anything told them by a Mage. “He’s speaking the truth,” she said, her voice harder than she had intended. “Mage Alain is telling you things that the Mage Guild has kept secret so that you wouldn’t know about their limitations.”
Field Marshal Klaus nodded, his expression intent. “So, this power the Mages employ, Sir Mage, it is like the bullets for the Mechanic rifles in a way? Only so much is available, and once used the weapon loses its potency?”
“That is exactly so,” Alain said. “The larger the spell, the more power it uses. Once depleted, the power will slowly rebuild, but over a span of weeks and months.”