The Warlord Chapter 6

WARLORD Chapter 6

Boloda appeared out of nowhere, and stepped between us. There was just enough room for her because Aymort, Deondra's father, had taken hold of Moran's shoulder, and yanked him back.

- "Let go of me!" snapped the little prick. I thought that he was going to spit at Aymort.

That gave Lady Rona herself time to come over, with Stephanie behind her.

- "There will be no challenge." she said.

But Uncle Detsen was shaking his head. "It's too late, Rona. Everybody heard it."

Rona Hadyk wasn't Matriarch for nothing. She made some quick decisions. "Go to your chamber, Lord Daniel." she said. "We will discuss this tomorrow, with cooler heads. Moran - you go to your chamber as well, and do not leave it until I come to fetch you in person. Do you understand?"

Now her baby boy realized that he had overstepped his bounds. "Yes, Mother." he replied, rather more meekly.

- "I'm sorry, Lord Daniel." said Stephanie.

- "Not now." said her mother.

So I walked back to my chamber, with Boloda and Kisel. I nodded to Nosey and Pudge, and then ushered my bodyguards inside. Peony was already there. She appeared to be on the verge of tears.

I turned to Boloda. "What does a challenge mean?"

- "Congratulations, Warlord." she said. "You're going to be fighting a duel."

***

Sleep didn't come easy, but it was what I needed most, so I tried to stop worrying about the duel. Then I started worrying about the next Turn, but the plan I'd already formulated didn't really need any major changes. Of course, I was also wondering where I would wake up this time.

The answer was... in my apartment.

That settled me down. Shower, shave, make coffee. Mundane tasks that required little concentration. Muscle memory took over, for the most part (although I did notice that I was running a little low on shaving cream, so I wrote myself a note as a reminder).

My thoughts began to roam. If Moran had challenged me, did that give me choice of weapons? Swords were definitely out; Boloda said that with a blade in my hands, I was a danger only to myself. A spear, an axe or a mace didn't sound any better. Catapults at one hundred yards?

But I found myself thinking about the other things Moran had said. He sounded awfully sure that I wasn't going to end up married to his sister. But who could she marry, if we won the war and the Hadyks controlled all ten production centres? With the other three families dispossessed, would she still seek a Shorr, a Morcar or a Balaban for a husband?

I wondered if the little prick was just venting his spleen, angry because I'd kept Sudha away from him. Or was he more of an unruly child who'd overheard the adults in the room talking? Did Rona and Stephanie see my uses as 'limited', and 'coming to an end'?

There would soon come a point in the campaign when they didn't need me any more. Maybe we had already reached that point. With a 6-4 advantage in production centres, Deondra could probably win the war without me. At 7-3, it would be even more likely.

Of course the Hadyks were using me. Why wouldn't they? It was a position I'd been in before.

Shelly was a girl in college I'd have lunch or a coffee with two or three times a week. Sometimes I'd tutor her a bit in one subject (though it was two subjects for part of one semester).

I was over the moon that this cute girl was interested in me for my brains and my personality, at least. Nothing physical ever happened between us, but she would laugh at my jokes, and sometimes rested her hand on my arm when she was making a point.

Then came the day I noticed one of her friends looking at me. Her expression was a mixture of pity and scorn. Of course Shelly was just using me for free lunches, free coffees, free tutoring. She was very clever about it. She wouldn't always accept my offer to buy her lunch, claiming that she wasn't hungry or that she'd already eaten. I think she might have bought the coffees once or twice, too.

We went out in the evening a couple of times, to a lecture related to one of her courses, and to a volleyball game that a couple of her friends were playing in.

She accepted my invitation to go out on a real date twice - on two separate occasions. Of course, she had to regretfully cancel both times, once because of an overdue assignment, and once for a family commitment.

I didn't finally clue in until I saw her friend's expression. Then I followed her out into the quad, at a distance, where she met with a guy. They kissed, and he put his arm around her. I was surprisingly numb about it. There was no real point in a confrontation, was there?

So I ghosted her. I avoided my usual hangouts, and went for lunch off-campus. She texted me multiple times, asking where I was, and then progressing to 'What's wrong?'. I finally texted her back. 'Nothing's wrong. But the free ride is over. Bye, Shelly.'

She texted again a few days later: 'I don't understand, Dan. What's wrong?' I decided on one more answer: 'If you want to buy me lunch for the rest of the year, I accept. Otherwise, bye.'

Shelly didn't have the guts (or the nerve) to try a direct confrontation. She just calculated her winnings, I guess, and moved on.

So the Hadyks were using me. I was probably just a disposable asset. It was stupid, of me, I suppose, to have forgotten the lesson Shelly taught me, or to trust in the gratitude of Princes (or Matriarchs).

I sat at my computer, but I had just about zero urge to do any work. Nor did I want to start a game. Fighting two campaigns (or playing two games) at once was a recipe for disaster.

My eyes strayed to my bookshelf. I had a two-volume set of 'I, Claudius' by Robert Graves. Next to them was another book by Graves: Count Belisarius. It was about a Byzantine General from the sixth century (maybe their best general). Belisarius reconquered much of the West for the Byzantine Emperor Justinian.

He defeated the Vandals and recaptured North Africa, then beat the Goths and captured Rome, which he then defended through a long siege. He beat the Persians and the Huns, too. He wasn't undefeated, or anything like that, but if you know any Byzantine history, you know that they were penny-pinchers who never allocated their commanders enough resources.

Belisarius was the guy who got more done with less. More than once, he won a victory without fighting. His reward? He was accused of being part of a conspiracy against Justinian, and sentenced to house arrest (which doesn't sound right, does it?). There was a legend that the Emperor had him blinded, a story which (while probably untrue) grew more popular over the centuries. It was a favourite subject with sculptors and painters up to and including Jacques Louis David, just before the French Revolution.

Okay, end of nerd digression. But the point, for me, was that I would be foolish to blindly trust to the generosity of Lady Rona. They didn't use money, or grant land. She had given me Peony, a gift beyond price, if only they realized it.

But there was a chance that Moran's attitude was shared by more of the Hadyk family than I'd originally thought. That was something to think about.

Somehow I made it to mid-afternoon without doing anything the least bit constructive. My thoughts were scattered, jumping back and forth between the challenge, the coming Turn (assuming I would wake up in the Decapolis again), and then a host of other questions: were the Hadyks going to dump me at some point, what could I do for the half-Hadyks and the peons, and how to win the war. There was Peony, too.

And then, out of nowhere, a strange thought occurred to me. It was so ludicrous that I laughed out loud.

***

I woke up in the chamber in Hyacinth. Considering that I was going to have to fight a duel, I was actually relieved to be here. Had I been in my own bed, in my apartment, I would have been disappointed.

Peony was sitting by my desk, watching me sleep.

- "Good morning." I said.

- "Good morning, Daniel." she said. "Would you like breakfast?"

- "Not yet. Could I ask you a few questions, Peony?

- "Of course."

- "Okay the duel, first. I assume that it's a fight to the death?"

- "Traditionally, yes. All of the families suffer from internal rivalries and disputed successions. Murder is not unknown, but a challenge is considered more honourable."

- "How many of the family Matriarchs have fought duels?"

- "All of them. Kin-slayers, every one. Lady Rona killed her older sister. But that may provide a reason for you to refuse. Strictly speaking, you are not a Hadyk. There is no real need for you to adhere to their code."

I gave her a rueful smile. "Thank you, Peony. But I don't think I can hide behind a loophole like that. I would lose too much... prestige, I guess. People would lose respect for me. I may need that, going forward. Okay, next question: do we use the same weapon? And as the challenged party, do I have the right to choose it?"

- "Yes to both."

- "Good. Okay: change of subject. What happens if we win the war?"

- "I don't understand."

- "Say we capture all of the cities. Lady Rona controls all of the production centres. What happens to all the peons?"

- "They return to peace time numbers, Daniel." She said it calmly enough, but I could tell that she was powerfully affected.

- "How? Do the surplus just... disappear? Vanish?"

- "Yes."

In peace time, each city had a force of 1,200 troops attached to it: one heavy cavalry unit, one light cavalry, two heavy infantry, six light infantry and two companies of archers. That meant a total of 12,000 for the whole of the Decapolis. There were more troops in the Hadyk armies than that now. By the time we arrived in front of the tenth city (should that day ever come), we might have well over 25,000 soldiers in our field army - without even counting the city garrisons.

For more than half of our troops, the final victory would literally mean their extinction.

But what was the alternative? A state of perpetual war, building thousands more troops every Turn, and then condemning many of them to die violently? Neither alternative was at all appealing.

Of course, I'd also considered what it might mean for me. Would I continue to wake up in the Decapolis every now and then? Or would it be game over for me? It certainly influenced how I felt about Lady Rona's suggestion that I might marry Stephanie. And it affected my feelings for Peony.

She'd been near tears when she learned of Moran's challenge. And now she was actually crying.

- "I'm sorry." I said. "I shouldn't have brought up such a painful subject."

She waved a hand, as if she was correcting me.

- "You don't understand." she said, with a sniff. "I'm not crying for the peons. I... I learned long ago that my tears made no difference. The longer the war goes on, the more will die. Painfully. Yes, if you end the fighting, many will disappear, but at least they'll go peacefully. And... you're the only one who cares. I don't understand how you're the only one..."

If I'd had more confidence... if I wasn't fat and ugly, like Moran said, I would have gone over there and given Peony a hug. She certainly looked like she could use one. But I didn't want to make things more awkward between us, so I just slipped out from under the covers, and sat on the edge of the bed to pull on my socks and slippers. Otherwise, I was wearing a green T-shirt and (thankfully clean) track pants.

Peony was still sniffing and rubbing at her eyes. I stood up and went over to her. The best I could do - and it took an effort (I had to turn off my brain for a couple of seconds) - was to put my hand on her shoulder. She didn't stop crying, but she did reach up with her little fingers to rest her hand on mine.

- "I don't want you to die." she whispered.

- "I'm not planning on it anytime soon."

We had a very brief quiet moment, and then Boloda and Kisel knocked on the door. I immediately tried to move my hand, but for a moment there Peony wouldn't let it go. She finally did, and stood up.

Boloda took a good long look at me. "You look remarkably composed." she said. "Do you want to look at armour before or after breakfast?"

- "I won't be wearing any." I said. Then I told them my choice of weapon.

Boloda and Peony were both stunned. Kisel laughed. For a guy who couldn't speak, he sure could laugh.

***

Lady Rona didn't laugh when I told her.

- "You can't be serious."

- "I am. I get to choose the weapons. I choose pillows."

The Matriarch's face was like thunder. "I will not be mocked, Lord Daniel."

- "I don't think that I would ever mock you, Lady Rona."

- "He is!" shouted Moran. "He's making fun of us!"

- "Be silent." snapped Rona. "Your turn to speak will come." She turned back to me. "You can't kill someone with a pillow, Daniel."

- "You're only saying that because no one's done it yet. But we're also free to use our hands, and other body parts, are we not?"

- "I see. Unarmed combat, then." Lady Rona paused. "That gives you a considerable advantage in size."

- "Did you expect me to choose a weapon that gives him an advantage? He has speed and combat experience. I don't. Technically speaking, I'm not a Hadyk... yet."

- "And never will be!" snarled Moran.

- "I told you to be silent." said his mother. "One more outburst and I will have you removed from the room."

- "What I was going to say," I continued, "is that since I'm not a Hadyk, the rules for challenges may not actually apply to me. My choice of weapon may be a little out of the ordinary, but so is challenging someone who's not a member of the family. I am prepared to waive any objection."

Lady Rona came to a decision. "So be it. The challenge will be fought at noon tomorrow."

- "Um... point of order?" I said. "Would it be possible to have the fight today? It'll be hard to plan for the next Turn with this hanging over my head. I'd like to get this out of the way as soon as possible." And I left it unsaid that if I was the one who lost, then the Hadyks could whistle for another strategic genius. Hey, if you let your idiot son challenge me, you don't get the benefit of my talents (such as they are).

Of course, the argument could be made that they could win the war without me, from this point.

Lady Rona consulted with my opponent. Moran agreed immediately. He was apparently just as eager to get it on.

None of the Hadyks came to wish me luck. I guess it was understandable; that would have been much the same as wishing for the death of their kinsman, cousin, or brother.

I went through the Portal to Dahlia, and had lunch with the half-Hadyks. I had a serious question - actually, two serious questions - for each of them. The answer to the first was a unanimous yes; they all wanted to come back to Hyacinth to see the duel.

The answers to my second query were more varied. I wasn't all that surprised. I had known some of them longer than others, but it was still only a matter of days. Nonetheless, shared danger and comradeship in war count for quite a bit. The issue might come up again, though, so I wanted each of them to have a chance to think about it.

The fight was to take place in the castle courtyard. The whole Hadyk family was there, except for two of the younger children, and of course Lady Keratsa, Malusha's mother. I was surprised to see Deondra's children, Laqyal and Palden. I guess they were old enough to witness death, if they hadn't already.

Lady Rona wasn't happy. None of the Hadyks looked happy, really. It might have been because of how ridiculous we looked, armed with pillows. I'm sure that it offended their sense of propriety. Yes, legally sanctioned murder is perfectly acceptable - because that was what it would have been if I had to face Moran with a sword - but silly weapons are an insult.

I'm sure that the Hadyks were also unhappy about the composition of much of the audience. You see, the half-Hadyks had shown up, and there were a darn sight more of them than I had suspected.

My officer corps was there: Jashi, Armene, Sudha, Inzhay and Virdyan. And Wantrao.

That did not go over well with Lady Rona. But would she ban him from the courtyard? How would that sit with the rest of my officers?

Boloda and Kisel were there, too, of course, but so were another half-dozen half-Hadyk officers. They were considered lacking in leadership skills, and so were generally not given command of battlefield units. Instead, they were kept to stiffen city garrisons, or to assist a Hadyk family member in marshalling fresh builds and reinforcements.

Kisel wasn't unique, either. There were four other older veterans, most of whom were no longer able to march with the army or to command troops, because of wounds they'd suffered fighting in the last war. One was missing her left leg, the second a hand, the third a hand and an arm. The fourth was blind. Honourable retirement, in their cases, meant being left to the care of peon servants, being given food, and then largely ignored.

There were half-Hadyk children, too. Some were only infants, carried by peon nurses. A few were in their teens, ready to begin training with Boloda for the next war. But the most staggering thing about the half-Hadyk children was their sheer number. There were more of them than there were pure-blooded family members. All told, there were just about twice as many half-Hadyks as Hadyks.

- "How many of these is Moran responsible for?" I asked Boloda.

- "Seven." she said, before casually spitting on the ground.

No, the Hadyks weren't happy. I was making a bit of a farce of their precious duel, Wantrao was present, and so were the maimed older veterans, a reminder of the family's callousness. Worse yet, the Hadyk women were confronted with the evidence of their husbands' and sons' repeated dalliances. It did put Kamla's scandalous offence into perspective, didn't it?

Many of the Hadyks channelled their embarrassment into anger at me (or went there directly), suspecting that I was behind this little stunt. I knew about it, but it was largely the work of Boloda and Peony, who was innocently watching from the castle doorway.

There were other peons present of course, guarding the entrances to the castle and the courtyard. I saw Nosey and Pudge among them, and winked in their direction.

If it sounds like I was relatively calm, that's probably because I was. Yes, Moran was infinitely more athletic than me, and would have a significant speed advantage. But it's hard to do much damage with a pillow, especially against a much larger opponent. Yes, he could kick and punch, but according to Boloda, Moran had never practiced any form of unarmed combat. He was also accustomed to fighting against people - sorry, peons - who couldn't fight back.

Okay, I have to admit that I had concerns. I was seriously out of shape, and my last fight (a loss, featuring a bloody nose) was in Grade seven. But I did have two years of judo training, and I'd watched a ton of MMA fights. Moran probably had no idea what could be achieved with elbows and knees.

Lady Rona hurried the formalities just a bit. I think she just wanted this to be over. Moran was allowed to state his grievances. I was a fat, ugly slug, unfit to be a member of their family. I was certainly unfit to defile his noble sister (yeah, I thought that was a bit much, too). Then he went on to claim that my supposed victories were actually the work of Deondra and Stephanie.

Now, he could have mentioned Malusha, Jashi, and Wantrao, and I would have nodded my head in agreement. But his sister and cousin wouldn't have claimed the credit for our success; they were embarrassed. Nor did he score any points with my officers - including Malusha.

I was allowed to speak, too.

- "He tried to spit on me." I said. "He forces peons to lie with him, because no female with a choice in the matter would have him." I felt bad for Sudha, but I felt like it should be said.

Lady Rona seemed to be expecting me to say more, but that was all I had.

- "This duel will continue until one of you is dead, or unable to continue. Begin on my signal."

She made a chopping motion with her hand.

Moran came running, straight at me. He swung his pillow at my head, but he was too short for that to be effective. His blow brushed my shoulder. He pulled back as I swung, so that my pillow just brushed his face.

He came back at me, and swung at my mid-section. Big target. Ever get in the ribs with a pillow? Yeah. Didn't hurt. In the meantime, I swung at his head, and belted him good. He staggered sideways, and nearly fell over. Man, that felt good.

He bellowed with rage, and came back swinging. I just narrowly missed connecting with another head shot.

Okay, I wasn't going to win this duel with a pillow. Even I knew that. But I was goading him, trying to prod him into doing something stupid. Hey: it was Moran. Also, I'd received some excellent coaching from Boloda.

He pulled back again, and started shifting from side to side, showing off his superior agility. Good for you, dummy. You take four quick steps, I take one, then you reverse direction, four more, while I take one. Then his eyes narrowed.

Boloda had warned me that Moran narrowed his eyes just before trying a move - especially if it was a combination. Apparently he couldn't think, reach a decision and keep his eyes fully open all at the same time.

Moran came in quickly, feinted with the pillow, and then kicked me. I don't know what he was aiming at, but his foot struck my thigh.

It hurt.

I retaliated with my pillow, too slow, too late, and missed. Moran danced away, grinning at me.

- "Got you now, fat man." he chirped.

He came in fast again, holding the pillow in his left hand. I did the same, and feigned that I was worried about another kick to the leg. Moran faked a kick, then stepped forward and punched me in the side.

God, that hurt. It hurt far more than I'd expected, and actually brought tears to my eyes. But he was close now, and he was enjoying himself, so he wasn't ready for what I did.

I dropped my left arm, and clamped it over his right, trapping it. My right hand shot forward, and I was very lucky: I got a good hold on his collar. He wasn't going to be able to pull away from me. Instead, he tried to punch with his left hand. He was off-balance, and there was no force behind the blow.

I stepped forward with my left foot, and then hooked my right foot behind his right leg. I held tight to his arm, and pushed on his collar. I tripped him.

Moran stumbled, tried to right himself, and then fell backwards. I followed. He fell to the ground, and I slammed down on top of him.

Glorious. Now, I'm not saying that it felt great for me. But I probably knocked the wind out of him. He certainly wasn't prepared to be knocked to the ground, and then to have the fat slug land on him.

MMA, remember? I tried to hammer my elbow into his chin. It wasn't a very good strike, but I'm pretty sure that he didn't appreciate it. He made a futile effort to push me off him; good luck with that, Moron.

I got in a second elbow strike, much better than the first. Rona's son wanted no more of that. He squirmed, and tried to twist away, while still partially trapped underneath me.

I got one arm around his neck, from behind. Rear naked choke. I pressed down, and started to squeeze the breath out of him. Moran didn't know about tapping out; he just kept struggling. He flailed at me with his free arm. I was going to have bruises there, but it wasn't going to stop me. Then his flailing grew weaker.

Decision time. He was going to pass out. If I kept squeezing, I could kill him. I'd never killed anybody, obviously. I'd never even imagined such a thing. Was I capable of it, even if the subject was someone as odious as Moran?

I had to work with his family after this.

I'm not sure if I ever really intended to kill him. I released my choke hold, and pushed him off me. I stood up. Lady Rona was watching me, her face empty of emotion.

- "If I let him live, is this over?"

- "It is over."

I nodded, and went back to my chamber.

***

Armene and Boloda were angry at me.

- "Why didn't you finish him?"

- "You should have killed him."

- "He's not that dangerous, Boloda." I said.

- "I'll remind you that you said that, one of these days."

- "Daniel is not a killer." said Peony. "You should know that by now."

- "That's the whole point, isn't it?" said Jashi. "He isn't like them."

I apologized to Sudha, though. "I'm sorry for your sake, though."

She shook her head. "I'm not afraid of him anymore. I know that you'll keep me away from him. We don't have to kill him."

- "We may yet." grumbled Boloda.

- "Am I the only one here who is surprised?" said Wantrao.

Everyone turned to look at him.

- "That I won?" I asked.

- "No - though that was well done. I meant the strange fact that Lady Rona intervened to save him."

- "He's her son." I said.

- "Whose only value is to form a marriage agreement with another family. One that would bring a valuable male to us, to marry Malusha, or Stephanie."

There was silence then, as everyone considered his words. It came to me again that in many ways, I just didn't understand this place. Their definition of 'people' didn't match mine. Anything they needed came out of a Touchstone. And gender roles were very, very different. But then I began to see what Wantrao was hinting at.

- "Lady Rona isn't going to stop until she controls all ten production centres." I said. "She is incensed that the other families ganged up on her. That's never happened before, has it. She's going to wipe them out. There won't be any other families to make alliances with. She can have her pick of any males in the other families. But what happens to the Hadyk males?"

- "Who would Moran marry?" asked Peony. She saw it, too.

- "Not me." said Sudha. "He wants to bed me, but he would never stoop to marriage with a Half."

- "He could have his choice of women from the other families." said Wantrao. "Assuming that they agreed to become Hadyks."

- "By the Gods..." said Boloda.

If that was truly what Lady Rona intended, it was beyond revolutionary. It was also heretical. One family, when the game had been set up with mechanics for marriage alliances and diplomacy? What would the Hadyks do when there were no other family members to marry? Inbreeding?

- "Peony? Do I really want to help her win? Do we want the Hadyks to rule alone?"

- "What is the alternative, Daniel? Losing?"

- "If that's your choice," said Wantrao, "then I would have to revisit our agreement."

- "Me too." said Armene.

- "I don't like to lose." I said.

***

My officers returned to Dahlia. I'd already discussed the coming Turn with them, and we were all quite certain that their continued presence at Hyacinth would only cause friction.

Boloda wasn't done, though: she brought three new visitors to my chamber.

- "Lord Daniel, this is Luth." she said. Luth was the older female half-Hadyk with only one arm.

- "Pleased to meet you." I said, holding out my left hand (as she was missing her right).

She took my hand. "Likewise, Warlord. Boloda told me of this strange greeting of yours, but now I can see the appeal."

- "Luth was our greatest tactician and strategist." said Boloda. "She taught Deondra everything the girl knows - but it wasn't everything Luth knows. Lady Rona forced her into retirement because Luth was friendly with Lady Vetis."

- "Vetis?"

- "The oldest sister."

- "The one Rona killed in a duel." I turned to Luth. "I'm sorry."

- "I could still help, if you can find a use for me. Not much good at climbing ladders anymore, I fear -"

- "Better than me." said Boloda. They shared a smile. It was probably an old joke.

- "Bodyguard and advisor." I said.

Luth went to one knee. "Thank you, Lord."

- "Oh - don't do that." I said. I helped her to her feet. Luth's eyes were wet. What was it about these people, that being treated with simple respect brought them to tears. "Luth - you can call me 'Lord' in public, but in private it's just 'Daniel'."

- "Yes, Daniel."

Boloda introduced Kien, an older male with one hand. I shook it.

- "I'm no great tactician." he admitted. "But like Luth, I'm willing to do whatever you need."

- "Thank you."

The third older half-Hadyk was Rima. She was blind.

- "Hold out your hand, Ri." said Boloda.

I took it in my own, and squeezed firmly.

- "Not sure what use you can find for me." she said. "But I'd like to help, if there's something I could do."

It was my turn to deal with overactive tear ducts.

- "We'll think of something." I said.

***

There were five of us at the planning session: Lady Rona, Stephanie, Deondra and Malusha. It was more than a little awkward. They were all avoiding eye contact, as if it was some sort of contest. Obviously no one wanted to be the first to say anything.

So I did. "Will it be awkward to work with me after this?"

Rona finally looked at me. She had that expressionless mask on again. "No, Warlord. You spared my son. We are all in your debt."

I looked at the others. Malusha rolled her eyes just a little. She didn't look at all indebted; if anything, I thought, she was still angry at me - not for sparing her stupid cousin, but because I'd brought Wantrao to the duel and reminded everyone of her family's scandal.

Deondra kept her eyes down. But Stephanie took a step forward.

- "You were merciful, Lord Daniel. My brother would not have been. It is to your credit."

And with that done, we got down to business. The strategic situation wasn't especially difficult. Our enemies were down to four cities in the northwest corner of the map.

The Balaban field army was at Amaranth, reinforced to just under 6,000 troops. With a Turn 4 standard build, they could have 7,500, with another 1,700 on the way from Bryony. The Morcars were at Caladium. They could build their force up to not quite 5,000, with another 1,700 at Eglantine.

They were the ones who faced a strategic dilemma. Would the Morcars seek to merge their forces with the Balabans, defend Caladium, or strike at us from Eglantine? They could reach Goldenrod or Ivy - both of which would be well-defended.

The Balabans had three choices as well: merge with Morcars, defend Amaranth, or join in the defence of Caladium. All three were potentially perilous.

If they merged their armies, we could simply delay offering battle until reinforcements joined us. Then we could have an advantage of three to two. But if they chose to unite in order to defend one city, the Hadyk army could simply capture the other.

- "So, in your opinion, they will fight a battle, or stay on the defensive and each defend their own city." said Lady Rona.

- "If they've dug moats around Amaranth and Caladium, then it's possible that we could suffer heavy losses attempting to storm them. Obviously they would both be hoping that we would attack the other."

- "And our plan?"

- "First, we build up the garrisons in Dahlia, Goldenrod and Ivy. It would be a desperate move on their part to storm one our cities, but at this point, they should be desperate - as we were on Turn one. If they lose another city, I don't see how they can come back. They have to win this turn."

Rona turned to her daughter, and to her two nieces.

- "I agree." said Malusha. "They have to gain some kind of advantage this turn. Even a kind of stalemate works in our favour."

- "Yes." said Deondra. "We need to be cautious at the beginning of the Turn, and decisive at the end."

Stephanie nodded. "That is a good way to put it."

- "How do we go about being cautious, then?"

- "First off," I said, "we rebuild the screening forces. Give Colonel Jashi 7 light cavalry and 4 mounted archers, so that she can patrol between the Morcar cities. If they are acting aggressively, she's in a position to interfere and send us warning. Then we create a second screening force of equal size, and have Colonel Sudha patrol between Amaranth and Dahlia. She'll be close enough to our main army to repeat what Jashi did in the Battle of the Towers, by showing up on the flank or even in the rear of their army."

- "Where will our army be?"

- "Between Amaranth and Caladium. We can defend Dahlia, but capture either enemy city if they present us with the opportunity."

Lady Rona nodded. "One question though: is it necessary to have those two commanding the screening forces? Could that role not be given to a family member?"

There it was. She was still steaming that the half-Hadyks had come to the duel, clearly supporting me. "It's not a big enough command for Lady Stephanie, Lady Deondra and Lady Malusha. Their talents are most suited to the main army. That's where they're needed." I took a deep breath. "Colonel Jashi saved Ivy, and then arrived in the enemy rear at the battle. Colonel Sudha also performed admirably there. Except for the three ladies present here, I can't think of anyone else that I would trust with these independent commands."

- "Lord Aymort? Lord Parush?" she said, naming Deondra's father and husband.

- "Aymort is good. Jashi and Sudha are better. I would not give such a command to Lord Parush. No offence, Lady Deondra."

- "No." she said. "I agree with you."

That was fair. The questions was, would Deondra have had the guts to defy her aunt, to put half-Hadyks in charge over family members?

Rona wasn't finished.

- "What about Lord Moran?"

I hadn't expected that. The answer was simple, though, so I gave it to her. "No. He has exactly the wrong temperament for the role. He can lead heavy cavalry, or storm a city. Those he does reasonably well. But giving him an independent command would be a serious error."

She raised one eyebrow. "Really?"

- "Absolutely. He's rash, headstrong, and vainglorious. He lacks judgment and subtlety, and he would always put his own wishes ahead of the needs of the army - or the family. Or do you think that challenging the Warlord showed wisdom?"

Lady Rona's expression hadn't changed, but there were twin patches of colour now, in her cheeks. "You are remarkably blunt, when you choose to be." she said.

- "Would you prefer that I sugarcoat the truth?" I asked. "And while we're on the subject of Lord Moran, I don't want him with the army, or with either screening force. I don't want him in Dahlia, either."

- "I rule this family, Lord Daniel." she said, her tone icy.

- "I understand that, Lady Rona. That's why I'm making sure that you understand my preferences in this matter. I don't want to be looking over my shoulder."

- "You won't have to."

***

Once the plan was agreed to, calculating the builds wasn't especially difficult. I wanted more light cavalry and more archers than were provided by a standard build. We would need infantry to storm a city, of course, but archers very often made the difference in those situations, too.

After a few more conversations with one-armed Luth, I decided to take her along as a member of my staff. Her tactical and strategic acumen was just that good. Kien, by his own admission, wasn't much of a fighter, and I had yet to find a task suitable for blind Rima - but I was thinking about it.

- "I wish that I could travel with you." said Peony.

- "It may be selfish of me, but I would rather that you stayed safe."

- "You'll be careful?"

- "Of course."

- "Extra careful, I mean. And listen to Boloda."

- "All of the time."

Peony hesitated. "Could I...?"

- "Could you what?"

She stepped closer, and wrapped her arms around me.

Well, she couldn't reach all the way around, but she tried, and she squeezed me tight. I didn't know what to do. Patting her on the shoulder would have been... strange. I summoned up my courage and gently hugged her back.

- "Be safe."

Jashi and Sudha had gone ahead, to take command of their screening forces. Chalky and the scouts were in position. Inzhay and Virdyan were already with the army. I went through the Portal with my bodyguards, Luth, and Armene and Wantrao. Boloda made no secret of the fact that she wanted the two most fearsome half-Hadyk fighters nearby whenever possible.

Stephanie, Deondra, and Malusha followed us to Dahlia. They slept in the castle that night, while the little group I already considered my General Staff rode out to camp with the army.

Turn Four began the next morning.

We marshalled the army, and moved northwest, aiming at a point between Amaranth and Caladium. There was no hurry, though; we weren't going to bring about a battle until most of our reinforcements had arrived. For now, all of the important work was being done by our scouts, and by Jashi and Sudha.

Malusha kept her distance, probably because Wantrao was often close by. I didn't think that she minded me bringing Moran down a peg or two - she'd probably enjoyed that part - but my association with her half-brother was too much for her. It was too bad; I quite liked Malusha.

Deondra was just awkward. She tried to stick to military topics, but even then she seemed embarrassed, and had trouble finding words. That was even more troubling.

Stephanie, on the other hand, rode beside me for several hours. She acknowledged every member of my staff except Wantrao, and was unfailingly polite.

The slow pace of our advance wasn't the only odd thing about this Turn. Scouts came back regularly, with rather astonishing reports: the Balabans weren't moving. Their army stayed put at Amaranth. But the Morcars were moving - only not in the direction I'd anticipated.

- "You're sure?"

- "Yes, Lord. Forty-five units. Moving north."

- "Unbelievable." said Deondra.

- "Could it be some kind of trick?" asked Stephanie.

- "I don't think so. The Morcars are abandoning Caladium. But they're also stealing a march on us. 4,500 troops? That's what was left of their army after the battle, plus a build. If they move quickly, they can link them to the Touchstone in Eglantine, so they won't be converted to our side when we take Caladium."

- "But why surrender the city so easily?"

- "Because they were going to lose it anyway. The Balabans weren't marching to their aid. They couldn't, or we would have simply shifted towards Amaranth. When we captured it, half of the Balaban forces would have become ours. If they both stayed put, we would have taken the easier option: Caladium. The Morcars would have lost all of their infantry defending it."

- "But to give up a city without a fight..." said Deondra. "It makes no sense."

- "Unless they couldn't think of any other way to avoid defeat. Or they have something up their sleeve."

That allusion was lost on both of them. The Hadyks had no magicians or sleight-of-hand tricksters. "Ivy." I said. "Send ten units of light infantry, and two archers to Goldenrod. Have the garrison at Goldenrod reinforce Ivy. And send a messenger to Colonel Jashi, letting her know what we suspect."

- "I'll notify Mother." said Stephanie.

As the cousins rode off, Luth came up behind me. "I have to say, Warlord, it's a pleasure watching you work."

- "Thank you, Luth. I hope I'm not wrong."

- "You're not. The Morcars had to choose between losing their city, or the city and most of their army. They've chosen to play for time, and pray for a miracle. Plus you will have a difficult decision for Turn 5, with two smaller enemy forces which are widely separated."

She was right. But that was literally a decision for another day.

The Balabans had to have known what the Morcars were doing. Even with a build in Amaranth, they couldn't have more than 7,500 troops - nowhere near enough to challenge the Hadyk field army, especially with over 6,000 troops on their way to join us.

"Perhaps the Morcar strategist is behind this unusual thinking." said Luth.

Damn. I kept forgetting that that had been the boon they'd asked for. The Balabans chose siege towers, which gave them an edge in the capture of Dahlia. It was the heaviest blow struck against us so far in the war.

But the Morcars had asked for a strategist. I kept losing sight of that, because so far, whoever the person was, they'd done little to affect the course of the war. Of course, with the early Morcar defeats, they didn't have much to work with.

We reached Caladium by the middle of the second day. Even a casual observer could see that the city was sparsely defended. They'd dug a ditch around the wall - which was fine, because we'd expected that, and so had left the siege towers at Dahlia.

Within a couple of hours, we had Caladium completely invested, and I ordered the assault. Malusha was happy to lead the attack, and I managed to persuade Wantrao and Armene to avoid joining the first wave.

There were only six hundred defenders, though that included several heavy infantry units. We lost perhaps a hundred troops. Half of the defenders were killed, and half were converted to our side when Malusha took control of the Touchstone.

We'd gained a seventh production centre, and two hundred troops. From this point, though, I advised caution. Deondra, Stephanie and I met several times, and I explained my reasoning.

- "We still have reinforcements coming in, from Flax and Jacaranda. I don't want to move from here, and give the Balabans the opportunity to defeat one or two of our field armies. We have a central position, and we can prevent any merger of the enemy forces. If either of them move against one of our cities, we can turn on them with a massive superiority in numbers."

- "But Bryony is probably lightly defended." said Stephanie.

- "Agreed. But that's a trap." I unrolled a map for them. "It's the most remote, most isolated city in the Decapolis. We could take it - but that would leave four of our cities exposed. Look: the Balabans could take Dahlia or Caladium, while the Morcars threaten Ivy and Goldenrod. Jashi and Sudha could slow them down, but they can't stop armies of that size."

Stephanie was still looking at Bryony.

"I know." I said. "It's tempting. But we would have to increase the garrison in all four of those cities. If we don't, we could gain another city, but lose two - and the troops associated with their Touchstone. If we did strengthen the defenders, and then advanced on Bryony, it would leave our main army much smaller. The Balabans and the Morcars might take the risk of marching on Bryony to engage us in battle there - with almost the same numbers."

- "I have to agree with Daniel, cousin." said Deondra. "This is a victory for us. If we're patient, next Turn we can isolate one of the two."

- "Won't we just be in exactly the same situation?"

- "No. We'll have over twice the builds. And we'll destroy the Morcars. Even if the Balabans recapture Dahlia or Caladium, we'll come out even further ahead."

- "That's how I see it, too." I said.

After they'd gone, Luth came over, looking at the map.

- "Is this the work of the Morcars' strategist?" she asked. "It's surprisingly subtle."

- "Could be."

- "Then again," she said, "I've never heard of a situation like this. You're right to be careful, I think."

Over the next two days, our troops from farthest away joined the main army, so that we had 16,000 troops (not including the flanking forces). Our scouts kept us well informed: the Balabans, with an army of 9,000, didn't move. Nor did the Morcars, who now had almost 6,000.

Our advantage in numbers was now sited in the flanking forces, and in powerful garrisons, whereas those two armies were essentially everything our enemies had.

Yet the Turn didn't end. No one appeared to be contemplating a move, but the Turn went on.

Then the first domino fell.

- "Mother is coming to Caladium tomorrow. Through the Portal." said Stephanie.

- "She is? Why?"

- "To confer with us. This Turn seems as if it will never end. Perhaps there is something we should do. Or must do."

I stayed with the army, and my Staff, while Stephanie and Deondra went to Caladium castle, to prepare to greet the Matriarch. I imagined that she would send for me when she was ready. Still... something felt just a little bit off.

Boloda was staring at me. "Well?"

- "Well what?"

- "You saw it, too, didn't you?"

- "What was I supposed to see?"

- "Why did Deondra look so flustered?"

- "Probably for the same reason I'm a little uneasy. This isn't standard operating procedure for Lady Rona. She's always waited for the Turn to end before calling us back to Hyacinth. Why deviate now? Why come out here?"

- "Good." said Boloda. "You're paying attention. That's why you have to call in Jashi and Sudha."

- "I don't want to move the flanking forces."

- "You have scouts everywhere. And I'm only saying that you need those two. Their armies can stay where they are."

- "You think this is...?"

- "I'm almost positive. We'll know for sure soon enough."

I'd felt this day coming. Moran's outburst, his apparent certainty that I wouldn't be marrying Stephanie... his mother's calm toleration of his tantrums. The duel, which she could have easily prevented. At some point, I had to wonder if Rona would honour her promises, or try to change them. I suspected that she would find it easier to simply break them.

She could have dismissed me, or fired me. But then she would have to fear that I might sell my sword (so to speak) to the Balabans. And non-Hadyk lives were cheap, in the Decapolis.

I'd discussed it, privately, with Peony and Boloda (and Kisel, I guess). Peony didn't want me to change sides.

"What other choice does he have?" asked Boloda.

Surprisingly - very surprisingly - I had an answer for that.

***

It was well after dark when Kisel brought two peon troopers out to our camp. They were members of the Seventh Light Infantry from Hyacinth, now appointed as citadel guards in place of the converted Morcar garrison.

Boloda introduced them as Tiny and Sticky. Both were males. It was easy enough to figure out how Tiny had got his name; he was almost as tall as me. I didn't inquire about the origins of Sticky's name. I just shook their hands.

- "Tell him." she said.

- "Most of the family are there." said Tiny.

- "Keep it short, then. Who's not there?"

Tiny counted on his fingers. "Lady Kamla." That was Malusha's mother. "Laqyal and Palden." Those were Deondra's children. Tiny went on to name eight more young children or adolescents. That meant that there were twenty Hadyks gathered in the castle at Caladium.

- "Does that mean that Lord Moran is there?" I asked.

- "Yes, Warlord. And they had us carry weapons into the Map Room."

- "Thank you both." I said.

Boloda thanked them as well, and sent them on their way. Then she turned to me. She didn't have to say anything.

Lady Rona was going to invite me to the Dining Room in the Castle. Then her family were going to ambush me. If Boloda and Kisel put up a fight, they would be killed, or at least subdued.

And me?

- "Call them together as soon as Jashi and Sudha arrive." I said.

***

It had only been a few days since the duel with Moran. Just before it, I had gathered my officers, my friends, all of them half-Hadyks, to ask them two questions. The first was simple for me, but more difficult for them: did they want to come and witness the duel? It was entirely possible that Lady Rona would see their presence as disloyalty, or even a challenge. She hadn't included them, so it would be entirely apparent that they were there at my invitation.

Wantrao, of course, would attract by far the most attention, so perhaps he could act as a lightning rod for the Matriarch's displeasure, and partially shield the others.

My second question that day - a hypothetical one - had been far more fraught with risk. What would you do, I asked them, if the Hadyk family turned against me?

Now it was no longer a hypothetical scenario.

- "They've gathered the whole family, minus Kamla and the younger ones." I said. "They're waiting in the Map Room. Armed. When they call me in, I'll be arrested. Taken. I've consulted with Peony, and with Boloda and Kisel. You all probably know it better than me: there's no real tradition of long-term imprisonment here."

I had their full attention. Boloda was standing to my side, tight-lipped, with Kisel and Luth behind her. Jashi and Sudha were together, both looking concerned. Wantrao, as always, glowered. Armene was biting her lip. Inzhay's face was unreadable, and Virdyan, for once, wasn't smiling.

"I could run to our enemies - the Balabans, most likely - and offer to fight for them. But I don't want to do that. The worst thing about that course of action is that it would put us on opposite sides. I don't want to fight against any of you."

- "There may be another option." said Boloda, speaking to the rest of them. "Lady Shorr, taken prisoner by our Matriarch, refused to abdicate her status as head of a family. Nor would she submit to the Hadyks and have her clan serve as mercenaries. Technically speaking, then, we are still at war with the Shorrs. That is why Lady Rona expelled them. They have no production centres, and no troops. But if one of their family members could get inside the Portal Room of a Hadyk city, they could take control of its Touchstone."

"The city would be theirs. Any troops linked to that stone would become theirs."

All of the officers understood that. It was a trick that we'd pulled twice during the first Turn, at Jacaranda and then at Ivy.

"It may have escaped your notice," continued Boloda, "but Daniel has a second name."

Peons had no names, first or last - only designations. The half-Hadyks weren't allowed to use the family name, so they officially had only one name.

- "My name is Daniel Graham." I told them. "If the Hadyks are turning on me, then I can declare war on them. I'll take their cities and make their troops truly my own."

- "Is... is that even possible?" asked Sudha.

- "I won't know for certain until I try. But Peony believes that I can use the Hadyk Portals until they declare me an enemy - which they haven't openly done yet. If I am successful, then I'll need officers. I'll also need a family of my own."

- "Daniel is a male." said Boloda. "But he is the only member of his family. He can add to it."

- "By marriage?" said Sudha.

- "I can't marry all of you." I said. "But in my home we have a tradition known as adoption."

- "Think of adlection." said Boloda. I guess that meant more to them.

- "I am inviting you to join my family. To join my fight. I realize how much of a risk that is for you, since I can't guaranteed success. If I fail, we may have to run to the enemy and offer to change sides. But I am offering you my name: Graham."

It was fascinating to watch their faces. Despite the danger, the possibility (or even likelihood) that they would lose their homes, the lives they knew, access to food and drink, I think that they were tantalized by the offer of a name. In effect, it would make them full people - not just halfs.

- "I'm first." said Boloda. She went to one knee.

- "You don't have to kneel." I said.

She brushed my hand away. "Just get on with it."

- "No." I said. "We do this my way. Stand up." I helped her rise stiffly to her feet. Then I placed my hand on her shoulder.

"Boloda, I offer you membership in my family. Do you accept?"

She acted tough, and cynical, but Boloda wasn't pretending now. She was being offered something she'd never believed was even possible. She blinked several times.

- "I accept." she said.

- "You are Boloda Graham, now." If I thought it was odd to be adopting a woman twice my age, I didn't let a hint of it show. This was far too serious a moment for her.

Kisel was next. I placed my hand on his shoulder, and repeated the formula. "Kisel, I offer you membership in my family. Do you accept?"

He couldn't speak, but Kisel's nod was perhaps the most emotionally-laden head movement I'd ever seen. He put his hand on my shoulder, the gesture of an equal. Obviously the significance of handshakes hadn't been lost on him.

"You are Kisel Graham, now."

He turned, and placed his hand on Boloda's shoulder. She gently punched him in the chest.

Luth stepped forward. "I will join your family, if you'll have me."

- "Can... can I be next?" asked Jashi.

- "You should have been first, if Boloda hadn't jumped the line." I told her. Luth and Jashi happily accepted my offer, and both repeated Kisel's gesture of putting her hand on my shoulder.

I looked to Wantrao. He had nearly died storming the walls of Jacaranda. Of course, he had been fighting for the Hadyks who treated him like an outcast for no fault of his own - just because of what he represented. He owed them no loyalty. But could he find it within him to pledge himself to us? To me?

He wore his customary semi-suspicious, semi-scornful expression. This was a man who would rather be stabbed than embarrassed. I would have to reach out, first. I walked over to him. Now it was up to him.

Wantrao met my eye. "I won't call you father." he said.

I smiled. "How about brother?"

- "I could try that. We'll see how it fits."

- "Wantrao, I offer you membership in our family. Do you accept?"

He made me wait a few moments, of course. But then he put his hand on my shoulder. "It seems to be the thing to do."

- "You are Wantrao Graham, now."

- "Me next." said Armene, her patience at an end.

I went through the little ceremony with the blonde firebrand. She said "I do." with her characteristic intensity.

- "You are Armene Graham." I said.

- "And you're my brother - not my mother?"

- "Hardly your mother."

- "So you won't force me to marry someone."

- "No. You're all free to choose a spouse. Or not."

I turned to Virdyan next. He had trouble meeting my eye.

- "I... I'm sorry, Lord." he said. "I cannot."

- "That wasn't easy to say, Virdyan. And I can hardly fault you."

- "If you had a city, an army. Then I might say otherwise. But..."

He'd spent his life as a half-Hadyk. If he chose to join us, he was risking his security, and probably his life. Our little rebellion might fail to get off the ground at all, but Lady Rona was unlikely to be forgiving. If the half-Hadyks crossed her, they would have to beg for food from one of the other families. There were no restaurants or grocery stores in the Decapolis, and living off the land simply wasn't possible.

They couldn't become outlaws, and take to the forests, poaching the King's deer. They were literally dependent on handouts from whoever controlled a Touchstone.

He turned to Inzhay.

"I'm sorry, Inz..."

Inzhay simply shook his head. Where Virdyan always seemed to take things lightly, with flashes of humour, Inzhay had often struck me as almost totally devoid of a sense of humour. His bearded face was usually expressionless.

- "I'm sorry, too. You know that. Perhaps, if things change..." Inzhay nodded to me. "I am with you, Warlord."

- "Glad to have you."

It couldn't have been easy for the two of them. They were literally half-brothers, both illegitimate sons of Uncle Detsen. One had chosen discretion over valor, and then neither had been able to sway the other.

To their credit, none of my new family reproached Virdyan for choosing not to join us. Equally telling, I thought, was that he had politely - and openly - declined my offer. He could have accepted, or pretended to need more time to consider it, and then run to tell Lady Rona what was afoot. Of course, that would have meant betraying Inzhay as well as the rest of us.

I invited Inzhay into the family, and repeated the little ceremony.

- "Am I included?" asked Sudha. Amazing. So talented a woman, so accomplished, and yet so uncertain of her place.

- "Of course you are. Both Peony and Jashi told me that you were the best of us."

I put my hand on her shoulder, and offered her entry to our little family.

- "Yes." she said.

- "You are Sudha Graham, now."

She put her hand on my shoulder. But then she had to turn and embrace Jashi, who had come over to hug her. They were both near tears. Kisel put his hand on Wantrao's shoulder, who surprised me by replying in kind. Jashi hugged Armene, and then Sudha did the same.

- Right." said Boloda. "Very nice. Maybe we should save the victory celebration until we've actually won something?"

***

We entered the city before Lady Rona sent for me. Jashi and Sudha wanted to come with us, but they weren't the best of fighters at close quarters.

- "We need you to take command of the troops if this works." I told them.

I had Boloda and Kisel, Armene and Wantrao, four warriors who were superior to any of the Hadyk family, except for Malusha. Inzhay and I weren't much use in a fight, though, so we would be in considerable danger until we got to the final corridor. Good as they were, my escort could still be overwhelmed by numbers. Luth was with us as well.

Surprise was in our favour. We walked past the peon guards, who'd obviously not been given any orders about us. We tried to proceed as if nothing was out of the ordinary. It was nerve-wracking, though, to enter the castle courtyard. From here on, we could run into a family member. We'd been told that they were all in the Dining Room and Map Room, but all it would take was for one of them to go for a stroll, or a bit of a wander. We'd be spotted, and the alarm would be raised.

They say that fortune favours the bold; I don't believe that, but it was true this one time. We got past the Dining Room without anyone seeing us. Correction: the troops saw us, but they didn't react. No Hadyk family member caught sight of us.

Not for the first time, I was truly thankful that the layout of all ten castles in the Decapolis was identical. We turned into the corridor, and I tried to resist the urge to sprint those last few dozen yards.

The guards at the door of the Portal Room let us pass. Why wouldn't they?

Just like that, we were inside the heart of Caladium Castle, standing next to the Touchstone. But it was not part of our plan for me to try to take control here. If I did, the soldiers linked to it would become mine. But would they change colour? And what colour would that be?

The Hadyks would be warned, immediately, as soon as they saw the guards at the door of the Dining Room. Also, there were only a couple of hundred troops linked to the Caladium Touchstone. I wasn't sure what would happen when I made my attempt, but I wanted it to be for a greater reward than that.

I approached the Portal.

- "Hyacinth." I said.

I passed through, and began my coup against the Hadyk family.

*****