Westrons Pt. 24

She couldn't have been too keen on that, but Berandot wasn't about to let that show. She recovered enough to order food and water provided to my bodyguards and aides. Then she led me a few yards away.

- "Why are you here?" she asked.

- "Why did I bring half my army to come to your aid? Or why did we just help you win this battle? You're welcome, by the way. Oh - and congratulations on your promotion. What exactly happened to General Keinarsh?"

- "She was killed in a training accident." said Berandot. Then her eyes narrowed. "Why do ask that way? What are you suggesting?"

- "Accident? Rather convenient, wouldn't you say?" I couldn't quite help myself. I probably should've been more diplomatic. But this vindictive bitch had tried to kill me - and Avette.

- "How dare you?" she hissed.

- "Fine." I said. "Let's assume that you had nothing to do with Keinarsh's death. I'll answer your earlier questions."

"Why am I here? Because we defeated the Northern Crolian army."

- "I know." she said. "Your messenger arrived three days ago."

- "The victory was conclusive enough. I brought half the army south, because I thought that Keinarsh would need help."

"Or did you think that you could win alone?"

She hesitated for the briefest of moments, but I saw it - and she knew I'd seen it.

- "We could have won without you!" she snarled.

Our co-operation was off to a great start.

***

I had to give Berandot credit for one thing: for three days she pursued the defeated enemy with energy and determination. Her troopers relentlessly harried the retreating Crolians. Several companies surrendered as a unit.

The only reason she didn't continue the pursuit was because of the briefing Kanitz had given us. There was a Crolian reserve army, somewhere out there.

It was unlikely that this reserve was made up of well-trained troops. But we didn't know their numbers, or their location. It wouldn't be wise to over-extend her forces.

Yna and her regiment pursued for day. She'd captured enough food to carry on, but returned because her soldiers were low on ammunition.

The rest of my army rested, re-supplied, buried our dead and tended to our wounded.

Isa and I had a night to ourselves, for the first time since we'd begun our march from Kesmansha. We made love quietly, tenderly. Though we'd only been a couple for a matter of months, we'd spent virtually every day together.

We were comfortable and familiar with each other, but I, for one, still felt a sense of urgency: I couldn't forget that our time was limited, and that moments like these were precious. One day soon, I'd have only memories of these days with Isa.

- "I love having you with me." I said.

- "I love being with you." she replied. "And not just making love with you ... I'm honoured to be a part of what you've done. You've made history, Cook."

- "We. Votuda and Cyrte. Tudino and Neslann. Yna. Leydz. All of us."

- "And now Berandot." she said.

The Battle of Rassbrook, as it came to be known, was even more decisive than Kesmansha. The Crolians lost 2,000 killed, but almost 8,000 prisoners. We also captured another 80 guns.

The irony was too much.

Berandot had failed to march to the sound of the guns at Limset, thinking that she was condemning us to defeat, and even death. Then she'd fought a duel to defend her precious honour - against Avette, the only person who had come to our aid.

She'd tried to kill me - another affair of honour. But my army did march to the sound of the guns, arriving just in time to turn likely defeat into a victory.

She had to know that she wouldn't have won without us. The Crolians had had 20 regiments to her 15. Berandot's army could have given a good account of themselves, but they would have lost. With a bit of luck, they might have fought to a bloody draw.

Quite a few of her officers, and even some of the soldiers, knew it. They would've been retreating, or at least withdrawing, instead of celebrating a victory.

Colonel Lupona was one of those who knew how important our intervention had been. She found several tents for our senior officers, and gave me her own.

- "I can move in with another Colonel, for a night or two." she said.

- "That's very kind of you."

- "Think nothing of it."

I was happy to have her tent; a light rain was beginning to fall. Isa and I - and my bodyguards - would have a dry place to sleep.

- "General? Company." said Nasta.

- "May I have a word?" asked General Berandot.

I pulled on a cloak, and left the tent.

Berandot followed, but she looked confused. "Could we not have spoken inside?" she asked.

- "Did you want my aide and my bodyguards to stand in the rain while you talked? You're already wet, and I don't mind a little damp."

Berandot didn't know what to say. Her lips moved once, but no sound came out. I didn't know what she'd come to say, but I'd somehow derailed her train of thought. She obviously didn't know what to make of me.

She was a Countess, born to wealth and privilege; she'd probably had servants waiting on her for as long as she could remember. It was the servants' place to stand in the rain and wait on their betters.

- "I wanted to ... to thank you." she said, finally.

- "Pardon?" I wasn't sure that I'd actually heard that.

- "Thank you." she repeated. "For bringing your army to our aid. And ... for not embarrassing me ... in front of my officers. And my troops."

- "You're welcome." What else could I say?

I have to admit that I did consider a snappy response. I could have salted the wound to her pride, but I passed up the opportunity.

- "The victory is as much yours as mine." she said.

- "Your army's." I said. "And mine." I didn't know if that could pass as an olive branch, but it felt like one.

- "Yes." she said.

- "If you want to thank anyone, you may want to consider Colonel Neslann. Ask Colonel Yna to tell you the story of the bridge at Smund."

Berandot looked at me oddly, as if she wasn't sure what I was up to. Finally, though, she nodded.

- "I will."

She said goodnight, and walked off. That was the end of the most civil conversation I'd ever had with Berandot.

I went back into the tent. To find Isa and my four bodyguards waiting for me.

- "I'm so proud of you." said Isa.

- "I could still have her killed for you, if you want." said Koroba.

***

Berandot and I had a few more conversations. All were reasonably polite. We had matters of consequence to discuss.

The Crolians were beaten. Two of their three armies were shattered. There was no way that the crippled remnants of their northern and central forces could oppose Berandot or me if we advanced.

We had to be careful, though: that reserve army was still out there. The Crolians might also siphon troops away from the southern front. If they knew General Brune, they would not be at all afraid that she might suddenly become aggressive.

The enemy might already be considering how to ask for terms. But Berandot and I could apply pressure, and possibly encourage them to speed up their peace overtures.

It was time for me to take my regiments back north, and rejoin Langoret.

Berandot did two classy things: she made certain that my regiments were well supplied. And then she had most of her army drawn up in ranks, to watch us go.

Colonel Lupona's regiment saluted us first. Then they started a cheer. It was picked up by the next regiment, and then spread through the entire army.

***

Langoret had things well in hand. She'd occupied the ridge at Kesmansha, and sent out patrols far and wide.

- "No sign of any enemy. They pulled back." she said. "But I am still glad that you are here. We can talk later ... if there are things that you want to ... discuss."

Something about the way she said that was odd. I looked her in the eye, but she whispered "Later", and nodded to my right.

Tudino was hobbling towards me, leaning on a walking stick.

- "You're walking!"

- "Limping, more like. Oof!" She grunted when I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tight.

There wasn't a single soldier in our army that didn't know that Tudino and I were lovers. Why pretend otherwise?

I shook General Leydz' hand. "Welcome back, General." he said. Leydz was more reserved than I remembered. That was a little strange, too.

- "Where is Tallia?" I asked Langoret. For a brief moment, I feared that she was sick, or wounded ...

- "In your command tent." said Langoret. "Waiting for you."

Waiting? That was unusual, too. I would have expected her to be among the first to greet me.

I exchanged a few pleasantries with the Penchen Colonels, and some of Tudino's officers. As soon as I was able, though, I politely disengaged, and made my way to my tent.

Isa had reminded me - on multiple occasions - that I needed to pay more attention to Tallia. Isa was no more jealous than any Westron. She knew how I felt about Tallia, and frequently suggested that I go to see her, spend a night with her ...

I loved Tallia - there was no question about that. But she and I had no imminent deadline, no time limit on our relationship.

Tallia was the best Chief of Staff I could have asked for, the mother of one of my children, the sister of my lover Esyle ... and an exotically beautiful woman, as well.

She wasn't waiting outside the Command tent, either. I wondered at that, but there had to be some good reason why she waiting for me in private. At the last moment, I asked my bodyguards to give us a moment of privacy.

Isa didn't have to be asked. She hung back, and encouraged me to go ahead.

I slipped between the tent flaps, and stepped inside.

Tallia was standing in the centre of the tent. Next to her, holding her hand, was a strange man in a Penchen uniform.

I saw their hands, fingers interlocked. Tallia' face was unreadable. I looked at the Penchen, and my heart skipped a beat.

It was Captain Senau.

With a mustache.

*****