Parno's Destiny: The Black Sheep of Soulan: Book Two (13 page)

“That's what staff and commanders are for, brother,” Karls said plainly. “You're going to have to depend on them, Parno. You simply don't have a choice. Not anymore.”

“I know, but saying that is proving far easier than doing it,” Parno nodded. “I need to be able to trust those commanders, but it's not lost on me that I have no idea how many are more loyal to my dearly departed traitor of a brother than they are to Soulan. There are only a handful of people I can really and truly trust, Karls.”

“Then find out who you can trust,” Karls said simply. “You have good men at your beckon call, milord. Use them to sound out your military. Find the vipers in our midst and get rid of them. We certainly have no time for such things. Not now.”

Parno nodded slowly at that, considering. He was not without resources, that was true enough. He rose, walking slowly around the spacious tent he used for his office. Karls watched in silence, knowing that Parno needed the motion to work out his problems.

“I'm going to make some changes,” the Prince said absently as he paced, hands locked behind him. “I'm going to organize a new unit. One that can operate behind the Nor lines, raising hell with their communications and supply lines.” He looked up. “I'd planned to place Beaumont in command, using his men as the basis for the division, and add Whipple as his second, using his men as well. I had planned to add another brigade of cavalry and perhaps a supporting regiment to their strength and give what support can be had in such a unit.”

“He'll do well at such work,” Karls nodded. “Today will only make him more alert to the dangers of such a command. It will likely prevent him from making another such mistake.”

“You think so?” Parno asked. “I admit that was my first hope.”

“I do,” Karls nodded firmly. “The man is good at what he does. His mistake today was not so much a mistake as it was a miscalculation. He looked at the Nor regulars and thought he had them sufficiently cowed to gather the wounded. And in his place I might have done the same,” he admitted.

“Not against my orders,” Parno shook his head and Karls nodded, conceding the point.

“Still, he meant well and there's no doubt he's learned from that mistake,” Parno continued. “I think it will work. I intend for them to take ten, perhaps fourteen days to prepare and then make a move around the enemy's right and into their rear. If nothing else, they should be able to draw the rest of the Nor horsemen away and probably some of those damned Wildmen as well.”

“Their presence is a problem,” Karls agreed. “Though I daresay that our little set-to today is already passing among the army and making the troops realize that they aren't nearly as formidable as they seem. And that can only add to the mystique of the Sheep, by the way,” he added with a grin. “And that will help make your position more secure. Especially when they realize that this is only one battalion of the regiment. Anyone who wants to usurp your authority will know they will have to contend with us in order to do so. That will stop all but the most determined.”

“You're developing quite the ego, Karls,” Parno chuckled, but his friend merely shook his head.

“Not at all. But don't think that the Sheep aren't looked at with envy among the rest of the Army, Parno. We've already had two dozen junior officers and senior non-coms approach about 'joining'. I don't even know how many troopers. I've lost count, to be honest.”

“Have you explained that you can't simply 'join' the Sheep?” Parno asked with a chuckle.

“I haven't personally, but you can bet the troops have,” Karls smirked back. “They take their reputation very seriously.”

“They earned it,” Parno said simply. “They have the right. Paid for it in blood.”

“Well, the point is the Army will be getting the idea sooner rather than later. I had thought to mention to you that we might begin to accept recruits for the regiment at some point. Send them to Cove for training. Those that survive would be able to fill the holes left by losses.” Anyone else might have thought Karls funny with the mention of survival, but Parno had gone through the training himself. In fact, one of the reasons the Sheep were fanatically loyal to their prince was the simple fact that he
had
endured the hellish training alongside them. He had earned the right to be known as their superior.

“A sound idea,” Parno nodded his agreement. “Pursue it at your discretion. It's your regiment now, my friend.” He returned to his desk, and Karls stood. Parno had much to do.

“I'll expect you at table tonight as well,” Parno told him. “I'll have you and Enri there as well as Master Feng when we meet with Beaumont and Whipple. Be thinking about my plan. If you have ideas I want to hear them.”

“Aye, milord,” Karls bowed slightly, a small smirk on his face.

“Get out,” Parno shook his head. “I have work to do.”

*****

It was three hours before dinner when Enri Willard arrived at Parno's tent carrying a bundle of papers. The remains of a working lunch littered Parno's table. He kept his face carefully neutral as he looked up at his Chief of Staff. This report would establish how successful his plan had been executed.

“Command reports, my lord,” Enri said evenly. “Division and Brigade level.”

“Numbers?” Parno asked.  Enri didn't even consult the pages in his hands.

“We lost two thousand, three hundred and forty-two men dead or missing and presumed lost,” Enri replied. “Another five hundred seventy-two are seriously wounded and will not return to duty soon if at all. One thousand three hundred and ten other wounded of all ranks that can and will return to duty, ranging in time from already reporting to four-to-six weeks. Total casualties four thousand two hundred twenty-two.”

“Estimates on enemy casualties?” Parno asked, not sure whether to be grateful his own losses weren't higher or saddened that he hadn't found a way to lessen them somehow.

“Rough estimates are all we have at this point, my lord,” Enri said. “We'll have more definite estimates once we receive Regimental reports. However, the rough estimates are that we killed, injured, or otherwise debilitated twenty-one thousand Nor soldiers of all ranks. Both figures include the cavalry clash as well as our attack on their flank.” He kept himself carefully neutral but it was obvious he wanted to add something.

“What is it, Enri?” Parno asked.

“Sir, this was an overwhelming victory!” Enri enthused. “Our actual losses are less than three thousand, while the enemy losses are well over
twenty-thousand
! The morale of the army is higher than at any point since the war began, my lord. We inflicted casualties totaling almost ten percent of the enemy's forces!”

“And we won't be able to do it again,” Parno said softly, letting the boom down easily. “Today was a great victory, Enri,” he nodded. “A very satisfactory outcome. And one borne of complete surprise and ineptitude on the part of our opponent. Something we cannot count on seeing again. And if we do, we can't overlook the possibility that it's a trap.”

Willard nodded his understanding but his enthusiasm was not diminished.

“All that may well be true, my Lord Marshall, but nothing undoes the damage inflicted on the enemy, both in terms of outright losses and in morale. Their confidence in themselves and their leaders will be shaken while our own is soaring.”

“I suspect that is true,” Parno allowed. “Still, let's not deceive ourselves into thinking that this has ended the struggle before us. Or even shortened it. At best it had bought us time to regroup and reinforce our positions. At worst they will hit us in the morning with everything they have in an attempt to end the war right here.”

The look on Willard's face said it all. That had not occurred to him.

“All commands will be standing to at one hour before dawn,” Parno ordered formally. “Scouts out during the night, bonfires to be set one hundred yards in front and lit at least an hour before dawn. Scouts will return to our lines at dawn or when and if the enemy approaches. The units involved in today's attack are to be assigned to the reserve for two days rest and refit barring their need in repulsing attack.” He looked down at his desk and picked up a sheet of paper.

“General Beaumont's brigade and General Whipple's archer brigade are to be separated from service tomorrow and assigned to a new command. The details are here, but I want this order held with you until tomorrow. I plan to inform the two of them at supper this evening. I want you to be there as well. In the meantime, I want your opinion of the basic concept which is outlined there,” he indicated the paper he'd just handed over. “Be thinking as well about which other units would be a good fit for the new command. We'll discuss that this evening as well with their input.”

“Yes sir,” Enri nodded, looking at the brief plan. “With your permission?” Parno waved and Enri retreated, reading as he went. Harrel Sprigs was waiting at the entrance of his tent and Parno waved him inside.

“I've secured a house nearby for tonight's meal, my lord,” he said without fanfare. “The owners were glad to offer their home for your quarters as well.”

“No,” Parno shook his head. “I needed a secure place for tonight's supper because of the plans I'll be discussing, but I won't put someone out of their home just to be more comfortable. Please extend them my thanks and see to it they are compensated for any inconvenience that tonight may cause them.”

“Already done, my lord,” Harrel nodded. “I have arranged for a room at a local inn, complete with meals and livery as well as a two-man escort to see them there and back in the morning.”

“Very well,” Parno nodded, returning to his work. “Please have Mister Parsons report to me here.”

“Right away, sir,” Sprigs nodded again and slipped away. So engrossed was he in his work that it was not until Parsons cleared his throat that Parno realized the man was standing before him.

“Wanted to see me, sir?” he asked.

“Yes,” Parno smiled. “I'm going to need you to detach a squad of your men who are familiar with this part of the country to attach to an independent command. They need to be smart, resourceful and able to think on the move. They will be scouting for a unit operating behind enemy lines on a regular and sustained basis.”

“How many?” Parsons asked.

“I think ten should be more than sufficient,” Parno replied. “They won't be screening the command as your men often do for me. Instead they will be doing work more in line with your actions before the war. They will be General. . .the commander's eyes and ears, so to speak. This is, needless to add, secret information. Select men you trust implicitly. Their actions may mean the difference between victory and defeat. They will certainly be the difference in life and death for several thousand Soulan troopers.”

“I'll have it to you this evening, my lord,” Parsons promised. “I'll need to ponder on this a bit.”

“Morning will be fine,” Parno assured him. “We need to be looking for men who can fill your ranks again, Mister Parsons. Hunters and trappers I suppose, but. . .well, you do as you think fit. I can provide incentive to the right men if you think they're worth it. We have to know what's going on.”

“I'll see what I can come up with,” Parsons promised.

“In the morning,” Parno nodded. “One last thing. I need one man, completely trustworthy and able, to carry a dispatch of sorts to Cove for me. I need to send a message and some items to someone there.”

“I'll have a man here within the hour,” Parsons promised. “By your leave?”

“Carry on.”

As the scout leader departed Sprigs returned.

“Time for dinner soon, my lord,” the aide reported.

“Very well,” Parno stood and buckled on his sword. “I'm actually hungry.”

*****

The home that Sprigs had arranged for the meeting was very nice, built along the lines of a manor house with a large dining room and well-appointed kitchen. Parno's own staff, such as it was, had taken over the home for the night, with Sergeant Berry and his men standing guard at the doors while other members of the Black Sheep roamed the grounds.

Generals Beaumont and Whipple arrived together trailed by a runner and a single aide each. They would not be included in the meeting but supper would be provided to them along with Parno's own men. Karls and Enri Willard arrived together shortly afterward with Cho Feng having made the trip alongside Parno.

Parno could not begin to imagine where his men had found a ham and didn't ask. Instead he dug into the meal of ham, potatoes and beans with fried bread to the side along with coffee and lemonade.

“Splendid meal, my lord,” Whipple commented as he wiped his mouth. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“Agreed,” Beaumont nodded, his face still showing a bit of embarrassment at his snafu earlier in the day.

“Well, I'm sure the two of you realize that I didn't invite you here to give your opinion of my cook,” Parno smiled and the two chuckled. “My aide should have everything set up for us in the study of our host, so if you'll bring your brandy and whatever delicacy you have yet to finish, I'll show you what I have in mind.”

The entire party adjourned to the room where Sprigs had set up a map easel and had arranged chairs for all participants. He excused himself as the men filed inside and then closed the doors, isolating the room and its occupants.