“We've got company!” called out Captain Tamwell, sitting up in his saddle.
Beside him, Captain Brailsford also sat up, shading his eyes with his free hand, and so did most of the rest of the column. Princess Ardria couldn't see anything at first, but then she saw a column of dust on the horizon, bending away to the south as it rose into a layer of high altitude wind. Horsemen, she realised. Quite a lot of them, and coming in their direction.
“Everyone hold up your white flags!” She called out. “Nobody under any circumstance draw a weapon!”
“You think it’s cavalry?” asked Teena from the back of Geoffham’s horse. “Carrow cavalry?”
“We've gotten much further than I ever expected to without seeing them,” replied the Princess. “Without seeing much of anything, for that matter, except dust.” She slapped at her gown, causing a cloud of dust to lift up from it, revealing a trace of the original sky blue. It was in her hair too, and all over her skin. She must look a fright! The sooner they came across a place with enough water for her to have a good wash, the better!
The whole country seemed to be parched. They'd seen crops withering in the fields and the only cattle had been the occasional goat nibbling on straw coloured clumps of grass, one of which the soldiers had butchered two days ago to supplement their trail rations. Every farm they came across had been abandoned, some quite recently, and their wells had contained only a few inches of dirty water, just enough for them to refill their water bottles. Every member of the Princess’ retinue had stared in horror at the withered countryside. This had, once, been the best farmland that Carrow had left, the remnant of the lush, fertile Tweenlands that they’d managed to hold onto after the rest had seceded to Helberion, and Ardria was struck by the comparison with what they’d seen on the other side of the border. Helberion had seen bumper harvests for two years now, and yet it was only a few days travel across flat, featureless lands from the devastating sights they were seeing now.
“I estimate about a hundred men,” said Tamwell, looking through a small pair of binoculars he'd pulled from a pouch on his belt. “And I see glints of sunlight, probably reflected from weapons. They're definitely coming this way. They've probably seen our dust already.”
“We'll wait for them here,” said Ardria. “Everyone dismount.” The Princess herself remained in the saddle, though. She knew the importance of creating the right first impression. Even though they were all carrying flags of truce and trying to make themselves look as harmless and unthreatening as possible, she had to give the impression of casual, assured authority. She beckoned Teena over to join her, therefore, then guided her horse to the front of the column so that the approaching men would be focused on her, rather than the armed men behind her.
It seemed to take a long time for the Carrowmen to reach them, but gradually the tiny, dark forms of mounted men could be seen at the base of the column of dust. “Carrow home guard,” said Brailsford. He had moved his men directly behind the Princess and positioned them so that their Kelvon uniforms would be clearly visible. “The old, the infirm, the only just declared human, but they have five times our numbers and there’ll be nothing wrong with their weapons. If things turn nasty, we're finished.”
“Then let’s make sure things don’t turn nasty,” replied the Princess.
As the riders approached they spread out, forming a line that stretched across the horizon ahead of them. “Everybody remain calm,” said Tamwell as the Carrowmen drew their swords. “There will be no fighting today.” I hope, he silently prayed. We haven't come all this way to die now.
“What do we do if they attack?” asked Corporal Naeve nervously.
“They won't. They won't risk war with Kelvon.”
“But if they do?”
“Then we surrender.”
“We can't! Our duty is to protect the Princess!”
“If fighting starts, she might be hit by a stray bullet. If they attack, we surrender and they take us to Tibre. Hopefully, we’ll be able to persuade their CO to let us continue on to Charnox.”
“As prisoners of war! And the Princess captive! A hostage to use against King Leothan!”
“What's important is that she gets there, not how she gets there. If I order a surrender, lay down your arms immediately, and make sure the men do the same.”
“Our men will obey. They won't like it but they'll do it. I can't speak for Brailsford's men, though.”
“I've already spoken to him. He knows what's at stake here."
Ahead of them, the Carrowmen had stopped, and their commander was speaking with one of his men. Princess Ardria walked slowly forward, holding her white flag high, Tamwell and Brailsford beside her. “Parlay!” She called out in her high, clear voice. “We wish to Parlay!”
“Stop where you are!” Their commander called back. He dismounted and walked forward with two of his men. They were quite elderly, they saw. Grey haired, slightly stooped. Their leader had a neatly trimmed grey beard and wore the uniform of a Major. Ardria took that as a hopeful sign. A younger man might have been fired up with bloodlust, keen for a piece of the action, but an older man might be more prone to think before doing anything rash.
They came to a halt several yards from each other, midway between their two forces. “I am Princess Ardria of Helberion, daughter of King Leothan of Helberion. This is Captain Tamwell of Helberion and Captain Brailsford of the Kelvon Empire. We are here with the permission of King Nilon and are on our way to Charnox to negotiate an end to hostilities between our two countries. We would be grateful if you could detail some men to escort us there.”
“My name is Major Vellor. This is Captain Nox and Sergeant Purley. I know nothing of the mission you describe. My commanding officer, Colonel Hemdall, has said nothing to me about it. You will order your men to disarm immediately.”
“We will not disarm!” said Brailsford. “My orders are to ensure that the Princess reaches Charnox safely. Anyone who interferes with my men risks the wrath of Kelvon.”
Major Vellor stared at him. “Captain, Brailsford was it? You are trespassing upon Carrow soil. Being citizens of the empire does not give you the right to violate our borders. I will detail some men to escort you back to the border, where you may depart in peace. The Helberians, meanwhile, will disarm and surrender.”
Ardria took another step closer to him. The two men standing beside him tensed up, their hands reaching for their weapons, but the Major gestured for them to stand easy. The Princess reached into her gown and produced two letters. The letter from King Leothan, addressed to King Nilon, and the letter that Captain Leese had written for them. “We crossed the border quite openly,” she said. “We were allowed to pass by the Captain commanding that stretch of the border. He wrote this letter, in which he states that we have his leave to be here.”
The Major stared in astonishment. He took the Captain’s letter, tore it open and read it. “He had no authority to do this!” he said angrily. “This man has committed a serious error in judgement!”
“The point is,” the Princess pressed on, “that it proves we crossed the border openly. We are not here to spy or sabotage. We are here to speak with your King. He us expecting us, and these men are here to ensure that I arrive safely.”
“Then they are no longer necessary. My men will escort you the rest of the way. The Kelvon troopers will go back the way they came, and the Helberians will disarm and surrender.”
“I would prefer that these men come with me. All of them.”
“Impossible! Tell them to disarm or I will order my men to take them by force.”
Captain Brailsford stepped forward to stand beside the Princess. “I and my men have a very specific reason for being here,” he said. “Princess Ardria and her men have the protection of the Kelvon Empire. Emperor Tyron himself has personally guaranteed her safety, and your King has agreed to our presence, for the purpose of facilitating a rapid end to this war. Your duty is to escort us, all of us, to Charnox, so that King Nilon and Princess Ardria can begin negotiations.”
“I know nothing of this...”
“You do now! Escort us to Tibre, let Colonel Hemdall make the decision. That way, it will be his responsibility, not yours.”
The Major took a few moments to consider his words. He stroked his beard while he studied the people facing him, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Very well,” he said at last. “We will all go to Tibre. Your men may keep their weapons for the moment, but any man who draws a weapon will be instantly executed, and whatever happens after that will be on your heads. I hope that is understood.”
“It is,” replied Ardria with great relief. “Lead on then, Major.”
Major Vellor studied her for a few moments longer, then nodded and returned to his men. “It feels as though we're playing a game of Hetin Roulette,” said the Princess, wiping sweat from her brow with a silk handkerchief as they also returned to their own column, “but with three bullets in the revolver, not just one. Every time we come upon Carrow soldiers we put the gun to our heads and pull the trigger. How long before there's a bullet under the hammer?”
“Hopefully, we only have to pull the trigger one more time,” said Tamwell. “When we find out what kind of man this Colonel Hemdall is. Hopefully, he'll do what Vellor did. Dodge the responsibility by passing it up the chain of command.”
“Who is next up the chain of command?”
“General Hull, but the last I heard he’s based in Charnox, in the palace itself. If Hemdall sends us there, we’ll have made it. Nilon himself will come to see you.”
“And that’s when the fun really starts!” muttered the Princess under her breath.
☆☆☆
Princess Ardria rode with six Helberion rangers around her, three on either side, spaced so that there was no gap between them through which a Carrow bullet might find its way. Ardria felt that it made her look weak, afraid. She thought it would have looked better if she'd ridden openly, with nothing but empty air between her and the enemy weapons. It would have shown confidence, which itself might have made any trouble less likely to break out. She also thought that the human shield was unnecessary. No Carrow soldier would have the courage or the confidence to shoot at her on his own initiative, but it made the men feel better, made them feel that they were doing their job, protecting the Princess, when the Major might change his mind and give the order to massacre them all at any moment. She endured it, therefore, and rode with her back straight and her chin up, every inch a Princess on her way to conduct the important business of government.
It took them most of the rest of the day to reach Tibre, and the sun was setting ahead of them when they saw its granite grey walls ahead of them. Fifteen feet tall, just as thick at the base and with cannon emplacements along its top, keeping watch over the empty plains that surrounded it, plains from which every tree and building that might provide cover for an approaching enemy had long since been removed. Major Vellor had sent a rider ahead, to inform Colonel Hemdall of the situation, and as they approached the main gates, made of entire oaken treetrunks bound together with thick straps of steel, they opened to reveal another rider dressed in the uniform of a Corporal, who rode out to meet the Major. The column halted as the two men spoke, and then the Major rode back to where the Princess and her two Captains were waiting.
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“The Colonel has given orders that none of your men will enter the city,” he told them. “They will wait outside, under guard, while Princess Ardria and two men, who may retain their weapons, enter to speak with him. Your men may make camp over there.” He pointed to a spot half a mile from the city walls, where the river that flowed from it made a U-turn, surrounding it on three sides.
“Very good,” replied Ardria. Tamwell and Brailsford both looked unhappy, but they’d never really expected to be allowed to bring an armed force of men into an enemy military base, no matter how outnumbered they’d be. They could only hope that the very presence of Kelvon troops would be enough to deter the Carrowmen from doing anything drastic.
Corporal Naeve took the rest of the men to the spur of land beside the river, therefore, where they began erecting tents and building cooking fires, while Major Vellor took his three guests in through the massive city gates. Inside, the city consisted almost entirely of barrack blocks, each of which looked as though it would normally hold twenty or thirty men. There were larger buildings as well, most of which were up against the outer wall. Administration buildings, storerooms, housing for the officers, a hospital block and so on, while the centre of the city was a single open area two hundred yards across that presumably served as a parade ground. Ardria presumed that there were also parts of the city set aside for the civilian population, along with shops, schools and so forth, but they weren't evident from this part of the city.
“This is the second visit we’ve had from your armed forces,” said Vellor as he led them along the street to the administration complex. “The first was back in February, when your army attacked the place and took fifteen thousand men prisoner.”
“No hard feelings I hope,” said the Princess uncomfortably. Of course, Tibre! Third of the four great garrison cities that had contained the bulk of Carrow’s armies before the war! That was why the name had seemed so familiar to her! Tamwell would have recognised the name immediately, of course, and Brailsford probably had as well. They hadn’t mentioned it to her because they’d just assumed she'd known it as well.
“On the contrary!” said the Major. “It was brilliantly planned and executed! As a military man I am in awe of the man behind it. Your field Marshall Amberley, I presume? I look forward to meeting him after the war. Your army is superb! If it were larger, you would be a power that would make even Kelvon nervous!”
“You are too kind.” Ardria looked back at the wall, remembering her father telling her that their forces had ignored the gates, deeming them to be too predictable as a point of entry, and had decided to blow holes directly through the walls themselves! Looking back at how thick and strong they were, she tried to imagine the size of explosive charge that would have been necessary, and what it would have done to anyone who'd happened to have been on the other side at the time. Had they known where the hospital was? Yes, of course they had! Carrow and Helberion had been spying on each other for decades. The demolition team would have known the exact position and use of every smallest building in the city, and now that she looked, she could see that the section of wall behind the storerooms was visibly newer than the rest, as if it had been recently repaired.
“I was one of those who was a guest of your country for a while,” continued Vellor. “Colonel Hemdall was not, though, which I think is a pity. Almost everything we know of your people comes from propaganda spread by the Ministry of Truth. They say that you are cruel, merciless killers who take delight in torturing anyone you take alive. As a result, there was much terror when it was apparent that your people had succeeded in taking the city. Many kept on fighting long after they should have surrendered, and died as a result, but in your POW camps I learned the truth about you. That you're just people, not so different from us.”
“We've learned a lot about you as well, in the short time we’ve been in your country. Captain Leese in particular. He is a man of uncommon intelligence and good sense. If he had been adopted on our side of the border, we would have been proud to have him in the armies of Helberion. I do hope he won't find himself in trouble for the position we put him in.”
“He'll be called to Charnox to answer for his actions, but I don’t think he has much to worry about. If I'd been in his place, I think I would have done exactly the same thing.”
There was a pair of guards at the entrance to the building, they simply saluted as the Major led his three guests through. Inside, they were left in a reception room, with a guard who watched them with wide eyed awe and terror, while the Major went off alone to inform the Colonel. “So far, so good,” said the Princess. She tried to look at her reflection in the window so she could smooth down her hair. “Were you here in February, Captain?”
“Yes,” replied Tamwell, “although it's hard to separate my memories of this place from my memories of the other three cities. I was tired by the time we got here, and we knew we still had another city to go. I had more on my mind than sightseeing.”
“Yes, of course. It must have been terrible....” She remembered the Carrowman who'd been left to look after them and decided to change the subject in case he'd also been here. “I wonder how things are going back home,” she said instead.
“If they're still willing to negotiate with you, then the war must still be going on. Our boys are still holding out. They may even be winning.”
“Do you think that's likely?”
“I'd prefer not to speculate in present company.”
“Yes, of course.” There were some chairs in the room, she sat down to ease her aching body. No matter how much time you spent in the saddle, you could only ride for so long before it began catching up with you. She looked out the window again. “This city seems almost deserted.”
“They're all in Helberion right now. Nobody left here but a skeleton crew. That's encouraging. It means their military forces are almost totally committed. They have no reserves to speak of.”
“That's also worrying. They won't want us passing that information back to Marboll.”
“I'm pretty sure our intelligence services have other ways of gathering that information. They won't worry about our telling them things they already know... Ah!” Ardria followed Tamwell's gaze through the still open door and saw Major Vellor returning with a Colonel. She stood, smoothed down her gown and tried to look confident and regal. Own the room, she remembered her father telling her once. The main part of being the King, or the Queen, is to own the room you're in, even if you're a guest in someone else’s palace. Don't wait to be greeted, greet them first. That's how you take control.
The moment the Colonel came through the door, therefore, Princess Ardria came forward to greet him, her hand outstretched. “Colonel Hemdall I presume! It is a great pleasure to meet you! I wish it could have been under different circumstances, but we have to make the most of the situations we find ourselves in, do we not?”
The scowl on the Colonel’s face told her that he knew exactly what she was doing, but he took it in good grace. “We do indeed,” he said. He glanced at Captain Tamwell and the pistol on his belt, then dismissed him from his attention and returned to the Princess. “This is an unexpected honour, your Highness. I do hope you'll understand that he have to make sure that you are who you say you are before we inform the King of your presence.”
“Yes, of course.” She produced the letter addressed to King Nilon and handed it across. He examined the seal with a raised eyebrow, and then to her consternation broke it and opened the letter. “That was addressed to the King!” she exclaimed.
“I speak for the King here.” He scanned his eyes down the letter. “Negotiate a cessation of hostilities,” he said, his thin mouth curling upwards with amusement. “I do love these diplomatic euphemisms.” He folded the letter up again and handed it back. “Very well. We'll find quarters for you and your men for the night, and you can continue on to Charnox in the morning, with a military escort.”
“Thank you, Colonel. Would it be possible for my handmaid to join me here, tonight?”
“Yes, of course. I'll have a man sent to your encampment to fetch her.”
“I should also mention that we are escorting a Carrow aristocrat to Charnox. Duchess Soonia Darniss Pardew. She will be assisting us in our negotiations.”
“Indeed? I imagine there's quite a story to be told there.” He waited, but the Princess only smiled back. “Very well,” he continued. “I'll have her sent for as well. We eat at eight. I would be honoured if you, the Duchess and your two companions would agree to dine with me and my staff.”
While our men are killing each other on the battlefield, thought the Princess. She didn't say that, though. “We would be delighted,” she said instead. Hemdall nodded, then turned and left the room without another word. “Well, that was easy,” said Ardria.
“Every time our luck holds out, I grow more nervous,” said Tamwell. “Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth, though.”
A Carrow soldier in an immaculate uniform appeared in the doorway. “If you'll come with me,” he said, “I'll show you to the guest rooms.”
“Thank you, Private,” said the Princess.
☆☆☆
The Princess never slept well in a strange bed, and being in a Carrow military base made it even worse, but Teena and the two Captains shared the room with her, and their presence reassured her enough for her to get a few hours sleep.
When morning came, the Private returned and invited them to breakfast with the Colonel. “I'm guessing I'm sitting here alone again,” said the handmaid sulkily. “I should be serving you, Your Highness! Not some crass Carrow blockhead! Otherwise, why am I here?”
“I would much prefer to be served by someone I trust!” replied Ardria, “and there’s no-one I trust more than you! Having that Carrow soldier constantly hovering behind me made my spine itch, and I know the Captain wasn’t happy about it either.” Tamwell looked up, then returned his attention to the view of the empty parade ground outside the window. Ardria went over to take Teena's hands in hers and give them a gentle squeeze. “Just knowing you're here makes me feel better, though. Your very presence gives me courage.” Teena beamed happily, and as soon as the others had left she got out her needle and thread and started darning holes in the Princess’s travel gowns.
As the evening before, Ardria and the Colonel sat at the ends of the long table. Captains Tamwell and Brailsford sat to her left, wearing swords and pistols. A violation of every civilised protocol, but this was an exceptional situation.
Soonia Darniss sat to the right of the Princess, close enough for their knees to bump under the table. They both studiously avoided the eyes of the other. At the other end of the table, Major Vellor sat beside Brailsford and two Carrow Captains sat beside Darniss. The former Matron was beaming as she chatted with the Carrow soldiers, discussing recent political and social events. As before, the Helberians listened carefully to everything that was said, but there was nothing as shocking as last night's revelation that Marboll was all but surrounded and that the final push to take the capital was expected any day now.
They ate sausages, bacon and beans with fried bread served by Carrow soldiers in houseman uniforms, washed down with Lydian tea. It was perfectly prepared and delicious, but after having seen the arid state of the Carrow countryside Ardria doubted that most other people in the country were eating this well. Common courtesy prevented her from saying anything at the table, though.
“I spoke to King Nilon last night, by telegraph,” said Colonel Hemdall when they were polishing their plates clean with the last pieces of bread. “He confirmed that he is expecting you, and is eagerly looking forward to meeting you.”
“As we are to meeting him,” said the Princess.
“He did have some instructions for me, though. Private Blake, if you would be so good?” One of the soldiers who'd been serving them nodded and went to the door. Ardria watched curiously as he beckoned to someone outside, then half rose from her seat in shock as half a dozen armed soldiers came walking in, holding guns that they aimed at Brailsford and the Helberians. Tamwell and Brailsford shot to their feet. Their hands went for their pistols, but the Carrow soldiers lifted their weapons higher and their fingers tightened on the triggers. The two Captains reluctantly let their hands drop. “What is this?” demanded Tamwell.
“I’m afraid I must ask you to surrender your weapons,” said the Colonel. “If you don’t, you will be shot, and your Princess and the Duchess will continue on to Charnox without you.”
“You will do nothing to me!” said Brailsford, though. “Any harm done to a soldier of the Empire will be answered forcefully!”
“Oh I don’t think so,” replied the Colonel. “You have been out of touch with events in your country for some time now, so you don't know what I know. Emperor Tyron has bigger things on his mind than you and your men. Just two days ago, news reached us that the provinces of Ukrann and Listania seceded from the Empire...”
“Impossible!” shouted Brailsford. “You're lying!”
“Would I be so bold as to arrest a Captain of the Empire unless I were completely sure of my facts? I'm afraid it's no lie, Captain. The majority of the soldiers stationed in those provinces have joined the rebels, apparently keen to carve out their own little kingdoms. They are fighting those regiments still loyal to the Empire, and our analysts expect them to win. Other provinces are teetering on the brink. So you see, Tyron is in no position to declare war on anyone at the moment, even if he could spare the time to think of you. In any case, it's too late. The deed is done. I'm afraid that all the men you left camped outside the city are dead.”
“My men!” cried Tamwell.
The Colonel nodded regretfully. “Them as well. Everyone you left outside.” He turned back to Brailsford. “You and your men were given the chance to leave the country. You should have done so.”
“You'll answer for this!” spat the Kelvon Captain. “I swear it!”
“Choose your words carefully, Captain, or I may wonder whether you are worth the risk of keeping you alive. Surrender your weapons, and you will be treated well. If you do not, you will die.”
“It is my sworn duty to protect the Princess!” protested Tamwell.
“Princess Ardria is in no danger. She is far too valuable alive. You need have no fear on her account, I promise you.” Tamwell and Brailsford glanced at each other, then they unbuckled their sword belts and placed them on the table. They then carefully drew their pistols and, holding them by the barrels, placed them on the table as well. Soldiers came forward to take them.
“My handmaid?” said Ardria, feeling a sense of shock settling over her like a heavy, suffocating blanket. She realised her hands were trembling and she stopped them with an effort. Appearances were all she had left now.
“I'm sorry,” said the Colonel, and Ardria felt her guts grow heavy in her stomach as if they had suddenly turned to stone. “We only have your word that she was, truly, nothing more than a handmaid. These two...” He indicated Tamwell and Brailsford. “...I am confident are nothing more than soldiers, but your maid? Who knows what special training she might have had? Unarmed combat, sabotage. She might even have been a wizard for all I knew!”
“She was a maid!” said Ardria, feeling tears of rage filling her eyes. “The only special training she's had was in palace etiquette!”
“Then I'm truly sorry. If it's of any comfort to you, it was quick and painless. She never knew anything about it.” He rose to his feet. “And now, you must make preparations for departure. The King is waiting for you.”