Book 7, Chapter 21: Aftermath And Ale
Clouds above were grey and heavy across the sky, drowning out the rising Sun and making the early morning dreary and slightly chilly. This far up north, summer was coming to a close.
The enemy, having surrendered, were all sitting down, most watching us, mostly watching me, many leaning forward sleeping, some nervously talking, not a few cradling injuries.
I paced. Right across their ranks. Rage and fury had kept me going most of the day, but the fight now over, the battle won, exhaustion was setting in. Yet, I still fumed. This entire war was for nothing. Literally! Just some old elite few who wanted to live longer.
“My lady,” said one of my bodyguards, a man whose chainmail, from the skirt to the coif, was so full of blood, I couldn’t guess his hair color, “the generals have assembled their tent and await your royal, excuse me, divine presence.” He’d clearly kept up with Mest and somehow survived, so he was likely as skilled as she was at fighting, probably trained from childhood, too.
I looked at him. “I’m sorry, may I ask your name?”
“It’s Amytis, ma’am,” he bowed.
“Thank you for your service to my person. I apologize for not getting to know you, but it’s been hectic.”
“Of course,” he bowed again.
“The generals can wait a moment. I need some quiet to think.”
“Your will, ma’am.” He backed up.
We were rapidly running out of time as their army approached. I wondered just how evil I could go as I realized I could leave their wounded out here. That would slow their army down. And almost certainly be what my generals recommended later. It was distasteful.
The generals would be thinking in terms of surviving a siege. For me, though, this was more of a bump in the road to going to the Temple. I somehow had to defeat the enemy army or convince them to join us. Though I did not see how. If they continued to refuse to engage in honest parley with us, only one option remained open, and that was battle.
Given the exhausted state of our army, and how few we were, perhaps twenty thousand to their fifty or sixty, I didn’t see how we could fight them. Unless we pulled off something like today. Yet we were sure to lose rhinos. Two of their bodies were in my direct line of sight, full of spears and arrows despite their armor.
I had three options, if you counted surrender. So, two options. One being to run off with Talaren to face the Others alone, or with a small contingent and give up the capital city of Laemacia. That seemed foolish. Not only would so many people die, and be molested, the enemy would come after me regardless.
I, my person, was the key here. Though I couldn’t run off myself and save the city. They needed to take Laemacia anyways to control the Temple, so this city was in their sights regardless. And there was no better time to take it than now, with part of the city walls fallen, missing the bulk of our military, and every last man here spent.
Hopefully, the approaching army was exhausted, too. That depended entirely on how well Serce fought them, but we had no messengers from him at all, and that didn’t look good for us.
All I had done was fight. No governing whatsoever. I didn’t know how much food we had, whether we had to ration it, or any logistics at all. The only ray of hope was that Laemacia’s other cities were sending reinforcements, though it would take days for them to arrive. Hopefully, the enemy had no reinforcements of their own.
A light drizzle wafted down on us in the breeze, and it was most welcome. Except that I wished it were a downpour. The bits of water cooling me did nothing to wash the grime off my chain. In my hair. Yuck. The downsides of surviving a battle.
Wagons moved in front of the surrendered troops, defeated men under heavy guard tossing weapons in some, bodies in others. I hoped they’d get it done quickly. Everyone had been awake for too long, fighting for too many of those hours. Both guards and prisoners were yawning, swaying, some of them sleeping even while standing.
I felt it. God, what a day and a half. I single handedly saved virginity. Took my lands back from the usurper. And defeated an enemy more than twice our size, besieging our city. If I didn’t get a hero cookie, I’d be calling the manager.
A rider caught my attention, coming straight toward us. It was Mestamir, and she rode up to me, jumped down, holding a large waterskin. “Ma’am, I’ve brought fresh water for you.”
“Thank you, Mest. I’ll use it to get more of this blood off me.”
“Are you not thirsty, ma’am?”
“You know what? Can you get me an ale. By god, it’s evening somewhere and we’ve well earned it. Have someone go fetch a barrel and send it over to the command tent. I’ll be going there shortly.”
Holding the large, beige waterskin in both hands, she asked, “Pardon me, my lady?”
“This has been a day! I want an ale. Then a mead. I used to live this stuff, back in Vahala, you know.” I raised my arms to the sky, shaking them with not a little anger.
“Vahala?”
“But the bastard didn’t bother giving me those memories, no. It was all I could do just to take the skills. I thought it was wrong, earlier, you know. And I still do. I just, there’s no choice, Mest. I don’t beat this army, the Others escape.
“And that’s the other thing! Maybe those guys will just go home. Maybe they won’t bother this world at all. But I don’t know. I mean, I know they are malevolent, to a degree that if you ever learned, like if you fully realized what those things were, you’d babble and drool the rest of your life if you didn’t suicide.
“I really don’t like exercising my divine . . .” I sighed. “God, I am a horrible person for killing and killing. But I’m not doing it because I can. I have to, I really just have to. This continent needs to be unified or, you have no idea, it will be so much worse. When They escape. But you know what? It was a mistake earlier. It really was. I should have used my powers from the beginning. I should have erased my enemies and taken their thrones. I should have vaporized the Temple when I was a god and together my brother and I would have vanquished the Others!
“So, I’m conflicted. I kill and I kill and I don’t like it. I made my body for this, but I didn’t even ask to be made. I just am. I came to exist as a princess. I became a goddess. I thought I was . . . I don’t know, a person. Just a person, with a real past. Real memories. I have no idea what I would be if I had any choice in who I was. A god created me as a tool! To save his brother. I’m just a tool, a thing to be used to attempt a goal.
“You know what the weirdest, craziest part is? I’m a virgin! But I sincerely and honestly believe I’ve had sex! It’s crazy because I could not have, I just couldn’t have. I didn’t exist before coming to this world, and I haven’t here, so why, why would that bastard make me have such conflicting false memories? Oh, I guess, sure, he’s the god of mischief, but what a not-funny bit to pull.
“So my god, Mest, my god! I am having a damned ale! I mean, I killed Loki with my own choices, I killed an actual god. And my creator! What does that make me? Except that I’m also him! His, I don’t know, essence. And ‘his’ isn’t even the right word! His, hers, its, all genders in all species, I don’t know the word for that! Damn.”
Her mouth open, eyes wider than wide, shaking her head, Mest said, “I . . . I . . . I don’t know, my lady.”
“Jesus . . . shit, I’m sorry. Would you mind, uh, just rounding up some ale?”
Bowing from her head, “Ma’am.”
I watched her mount her horse and ride off. Straight toward the city. She didn’t jump into gossip or speak to anyone, not even her fellows all around making sure I didn’t die, Mest just stared at the ground until she was out of my sight.
I took a breath. Cannot believe I trauma-dumped on her. Fudge. Fudge again. What the hell was wrong with me? Aside from everything. Damn, I probably spent that worship well away. Oh, I hoped and hoped she wouldn’t bring up that outburst later. I’d hate to explain that. I guess I could just say ‘forget it!’ and say it’s too personal or something. Maybe I should invent therapy next.
Fudge.
I tried to focus, pay attention to what we were doing. Our soldiers, lining up for their hospital. Another group of people pulling horses in a line toward our city. Our new cavalry riding out to find their baggage train and bring in the supplies.
Oh, crap. I’d forgotten that other armies weren’t organized like mine. Their baggage train would house the wives and children of these soldiers. This wasn’t my army, they didn’t have Brundle breathing my orders down their necks. They’d rape those women.
“Hey!” I called out to the new man I’d met, Amytis, quickly walking over to him. “We are going to the command tents.”
He turned around, “I will escort you, ma’am.”
***
It was an open-air affair, just there to protect from the Sun. Or, on this morning, the very light drizzle. Three generals, more assistants than usual, with several leaving as I entered the tent, going outside to speak with the lower ranked officers standing outside. Perhaps twenty soldiers on guard, mostly staring at the defeated. The six with me ignored everyone, following me in.
The one who dominated every conversation, Sasan, was there. The scared Sostram, who was at the battle where I melted their weapons, and Mazdak, the general I perhaps knew the best from his actions.
“Gentlemen,” I began loudly, “it is good to meet with you here, on the field. Congratulations, all around, and especially General Mazdak,” I nodded at the black-haired man, “for the victory. I want to discuss logistics with you and, well, everything. But first, we need to send men to meet up with the cavalry we just sent to their baggage train.”
“Your Divine Majesty,” Sostram bowed low, holding it for a second and then another, and rose. “The cavalry, such as they are, will either be at the baggage train now or nearabout. They know where we are, I’m sure they’ll return with all possible haste.”
“It’s not that I’m worried about them getting lost. I don’t want our new cavalry to molest the women and children. Goddamn, Sostram, I’m a woman! I’ll be right pissed if I hear about any rape. Like, angry to a degree you haven’t seen me angry.”
He paled, knees slightly buckling. This was a man who’d seen me burn as hot as the Sun itself, instantly vaporizing everything around me. Assistants looked at him and then at me, fear registering in their eyes. “Ma’am! I’ll see to it personally!” He walked quickly out of the tent, forgetting to bow, shortly mounting up and galloping away, bringing several men with him.
Watching him rush off at my orders made me wonder about the other generals. Presumably, he’d spoken with them. Explained what he’d personally witnessed. The scars bore his truth as did the men under his direct command.
Yet the others had not seen that battle. Their eyes were on me. General Sasan appraising his position vis a vis me, what I was capable of, wondering if he could get an angle. Mazdak nodding in approval, probably trying to learn my decisions. A man like him would bring me my desires, and happily, and not out of obsequiousness, but for the challenge.
Mind you, at this point, it probably didn’t matter if people remembered that battle and my actions. They have this one. And a long line of bodies.
“Your Divine Highness,” Sasan began, “let’s discuss logistics. The first order of business, I believe, are the wounded. I’ve ordered their hospital to treat our men first.”
“Ah,” I was thinking of doing the same, and apologized again to whatever morality I had left. “Good. Oh, wait, that won’t work. Their sister army is heading for us right now. We can’t be outside the city when they get here. Have them treat our grievous wounded, and anyone who can’t be moved of their own accord. Send the lightly wounded to hospital in the city.”
General Sasan nodded to one of his assistants, who then left the room to inform a major or other ranked officer to make it so. “Ma’am, also-”
“Also, let the captured soldiers treat their own injured. Someone arrange for the necessary supplies to be brought to them. Water, clean rags, vinegar. Put those of theirs who are worse off in line behind our men. Goddamnit.”
“Ma’am?”
“Just see it done.”
Sasan nodded to another assistant who rushed off.
“General, what were you going to say just then?” I probably shouldn’t cut people off when they’re sharing important information. It was morning and mornings were for grumpy people. At least, on the battlefield.
“We’re preparing to execute the remaining surrendered soldiers. Unfortunately, we are low on shovels. So, we’re going to-”
“No. That’s a no, General.”
“Ma’am, we do not have the resources – we don’t have the prison space, we don’t have the food to last a long siege to house these men.”
“Oh my god. No. Just . . .” I couldn’t allow the killing, or execution, of whatever of so many, many men. It felt like murder. But, yes, it’d be easier. A single mass gave and in you go! Never to harry us or challenge us again. “Bring them into the city, have them stand by the walls. Outside the still standing city walls, on the other side of the inn. I will address them there.”
“My lady?”
“Just do it.” I narrowed my eyes and he shut up. Mazdak must have explained to him how the battle went. “That settled, how many,” outside, Mest rode up, a pack horse trailing hers and bearing two actual casks. Holy shit, I felt bad then. These people just running to do whatever I said off the cuff. Jesus Christ. On the other hand, I really, really wanted that ale.
She said something and nearby officers rushed over, helping her untie the casks, carrying them in. It took two men each, and they strained against the weight.
Mestamir stormed in, ignoring everyone, nodding her head to me, saying to the soldiers, “Here, put them here.”
“Mest? Ah, thank you for bringing the . . . ale?”
“Ma’am! Entirely my pleasure.” Dropping her pack, she pulled out an oiled, leatherskin bundle and unwrapped it, soon holding a clay alecup, perfectly round, tall enough to hold a pint, and filled it, passing the cup to me while bowing. “Mead is on the way, my lady.”
“Ah. Thank you. Everyone! Indulge to your pleasure and, uh, raise a toast. To our victory.” I waited, the generals were handed cups of ale, the assistants lined up, and I wanted for them, too, saying to Mest, “get yourself one, too.”
She did and backed into the corner, moving out of our discussion.
Soon, all eyes were on me. “Gentlemen, ladies,” I nodded to Mest, “we’ve defeated an army more than twice our size. All those goddamn nobles in the throne room were betting against us. They didn’t think we could do it. Hell, that bitch Tienseon bet on us losing and sold me out. But we defeated them using good tactics.”
I walked around the table, “General Mazdak here proved instrumental. And so I lift my cup to Mazdak, to our soldiers who fought tirelessly, and to all of you. We remain alive. Cheers.” I lifted my cup, everyone did, and they all sipped, but I gulped.
The ale was heavenly. Like my body had never known refreshment. I passed the empty cup to one of Sasan’s servants, saying, “Another, please.” Then, to the room, “Let’s be honest. Our time of revelry is limited. Their other army is marching this way. We need options. But first, tell me, now many healers do we have? Not physicians. I mean the magical kind.”
“Ma’am, we have one healer, in the palace. She’ll be arriving shortly.”
“And the enemy? We captured their hospital, how many healers do they have?”
“Two. They are treating our soldiers as we speak.”
“Excellent.” I nodded. And my tattered morality took another hit when the thought struck me. All I needed to do to fully conquer this continent, this world, was capture all the healers I could. With enough, I’d never lose another battle. My troops would then be able to take chances others couldn’t, and they’d gain experience others couldn’t. Huh. Two healers in my own armies, two here, one in the city. How many did Serce take with him? Probably the rest, however many that was, as he expected the city to hold. Not that I needed to conquer the world, not with all the saving it I had in mind. But this was exactly the direction I wanted to go if I wanted these goddamn wars to end.
“How many healers did Serce take with him?”
“Two, ma’am. The, uh, usurper thought it prudent to bring two.”
“God, I hope they’re still alive.”
Sasan poured himself another ale. He lifted it to his chest before saying, “We all hope the same, my lady,” then smiled at me, and had a sip. “Given that you wish the defeated to survive, we’ll have to arrange for their tents and belongings to moved.” He looked at an assistant, and that man rushed outside, to talk with officers there.
“Everything,” I said. “Move it all in. Their tents, belongings, provisions, whatever is here. Listen. You generals are used to winning. With your war rhinos and your power. But we are nearly defeated. You were on the brink before I arrived and you only survived because Mazdak and I took the initiative. So, drink all you want, but don’t be arrogant about it. We need these men, the surrendered, and we need them on our side. Or we are going to lose this city, maybe our lives.” I held my ale cup up, “Cheers.”
That provoked a much weaker cheersing on their part.
“Ma’am?”
“Is there any more information about the approaching army?”
“We’ve sent scouting parties out and some should be returning shortly. As of last word, their army was to arrive this day.”
“Then we don’t have a lot of time. Alright. I want ale ready to be passed out to the prisoners upon their assembly inside the old city wall. And basins for them to wash up. Also, we need to rest our soldiers. And, uh, let’s throw a feast for our troops. Freshly cooked meat for all, and bread, uhm . . . Let’s open up the dining hall and make it an all day affair, where the soldiers can come and go as they please. They’ve earned a small celebration, but let’s go light on the ale.”
Sasan exchanged glances with several different aids while I was speaking and they rushed off.
I continued, “And I’ll need to know how our army is doing now, how much food we have, how long a siege we can survive, how many scouting parties we’ve sent to look for Serce’s army and, god, more I can’t think of.”
“My lady,” Sasan began, “we are even now rotating soldiers off duty for rest. We can survive for several months, perhaps an entire year, on our current food storage, but I don’t know the exact figures. I shall have scribes brought in to provide you with details. Given your, ah, new orders regarding the prisoners, and the time constraints, we shall begin moving everyone and every last piece of equipment we can salvage into the city. But these are minor details you needn’t concern yourself with.” Setting his cup on the table, he approached and spoke more quietly, “Perhaps you would like to rest yourself?”
I stared at him for perhaps too long. God, I wanted nothing more than a hot bath and a long, long nap. If not for this young body, I think I’d have fallen apart right then and there, just disassembled at the joints. “You’ve got this? Managing the hospitals, moving the prisoners, clearing the fields?”
“Yes, my lady. A simple matter for us.” He did, after all, have a lot of assistants at the ready.
“Excellent. I’m going to clean up and visit the field hospital then. Alert me if any new developments happen, if that damned army shows up too soon. And when our cavalry returns with their baggage train, and when you get the prisoners assembled by the wall. We’ll reconvene then.”
He bowed, “Your will, Empress.”
They all repeated it as I left the tent, looking for a wash basin, personal bodyguards trailing. It would be nice, I imagine, to be a peacetime empress. I’d lounge about reading all day, eating grapes. Sampling wine. And coffee, perhaps searching for chocolate.
Yeah, those were goals I could get behind.
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