Princeps: A Novel in the Imager Portfolio (70 page)

Immediately after an early breakfast with the other senior officers, Quaeryt was summoned to meet with Bhayar—this time in a spare study overlooking the narrow courtyard.

The Lord of Telaryn sat behind a table desk on which was spread a map. He did not rise as Quaeryt entered and closed the door behind him, but gestured to the chairs across the desk from him.

As he sat, Quaeryt noticed the dark circles under Bhayar’s eyes immediately. “You didn’t get much sleep last night, did you?”

“No. You wouldn’t have, either, except you wouldn’t have been any good at the staff meeting anyway. You did most of what happened yesterday, didn’t you?”

Quaeryt didn’t bother to deny it, because Bhayar already knew he was an imager, but he did shake his head. “A third or a quarter. Threkhyl is capable, and so is Shaelyt. Voltyr had a little trouble at first, but he figured it out. Baelthm, Desyrk, and Akoryt could only do it once, and Baelthm only when the barge came toward the north side of the river and was practically right underneath him.”

“That’s done for now, thank the Nameless,” said Bhayar.

“There have to be more barges…” began Quaeryt.

“Kharst can’t afford wasting that much powder again. The powder he used would charge cannon thousands of times, and he needs that for the cannon that keep the Antiagon fleet at bay. By the time he could gather the barges and make them ready, it wouldn’t matter.” Bhayar smiled politely. “I have a question for you.”

“Yes?”

“How did you know the Bovarians would try to use the exploding barges to destroy the Narrows Bridge?” asked Bhayar. “I never asked you how you knew.”

“How did
you
know?” countered Quaeryt.

“Spies. They’re more useful than guessing.”

“How many did you lose?”

Bhayar’s lips quirked into a tight smile. “More than I would have liked. How did you figure it out without spies?”

“It made sense after you’d explained how Kharst could take over Telaryn. He wouldn’t have to do it all at once. First, he’d destroy the bridge. That would allow him to invade the south side of the river. He could spend years fortifying and building emplacements.”

“I understand that, but what about the barges?”

“When they used mock barges for the false diversionary attack from Cleblois and then used unseasoned troops against Third Battalion, I had to ask why. Why would Kharst spend all that time and effort building mock barges? Why not just use real barges, especially if they weren’t really going anywhere? And if he were going to use real barges for a direct assault on Ferravyl, why alert us with a false attack? That suggested that the barges were already being used. That meant either a direct attack or an attack on the bridge.”

“Both, it appears. Kharst used some of those barges to carry at least two regiments to the east side of the Vyl some ten to fifteen milles south.”

“Is that where you’re sending Third Regiment?”

Bhayar nodded.

“Just Third Regiment?”

“It’s more to slow them down. Deucalon doesn’t want to send more, not with at least four Bovarian regiments still across the Vyl and enough barges remaining to ferry them across.”

“Do you think they’ll still attack?”

“We’ve already taken steps to encourage them. Third Regiment crossed the bridge well before dawn this morning. We had artists paint a canvas so that the bridge looks more damaged than it is, and we’ve strung a cable from bridge pier to bridge pier, and we’re having boatmen use it as a guide across the river.”

“To give the Bovarians the impression that the bridge isn’t safe to use?”

“That’s the idea. Now … Commander Skarpa has requested your presence. That brings up another question. What if the Bovarians try another attack here … at the same time that you’re with Third Regiment?”

“I could split the imagers, and leave several under Voltyr’s command for whatever use you can make of them.” Quaeryt paused. “But how are you going to get Zhelan’s company across the bridge without anyone seeing them?”

“They crossed with Third Regiment this morning. They had your mare as well. You can walk across after you choose who will accompany you.”

“You knew I’d suggest splitting the imagers?”

“No. Commander Skarpa said you were more of an officer than you would admit, and that you’d end up with him.”

Somehow … even as Skarpa’s assessment amused Quaeryt, it also bothered him.
Are you that easy to read?
“He needs Zhelan more than he needs me.”

“He said you’d say that, and his answer was that he needs Zhelan
under
your command.” Bhayar laughed.

All Quaeryt could do was shrug helplessly.

74

Jeudi morning found Quaeryt riding southward on the river road on the east side of the Vyl, its channel barely more than thirty yards across, if deep enough to make crossing a chancy business. Still, during the previous day, they’d seen no sign of any Bovarian forces, although they had moved slowly through small village after small village, some barely even hamlets, resting men and mounts frequently. Quaeryt had ended up bringing Shaelyt and Desyrk with him, and leaving the others, because Threkhyl was still the strongest imager; Voltyr had a head on his shoulders; Akoryt was limited in what he could do, but helpful; and Baelthm wouldn’t do well in a battle, anyway.

“I don’t see why they didn’t cross somewhere along here,” observed Quaeryt. “You could run cable across between two trees, one on each side, and hand over hand the men and harness the mounts and pull them over. That’s if you didn’t want to cross at a known ford.”

“But they didn’t,” Skarpa said.

“So the whole point of all of this is to split our forces again?”

“Yes. We don’t have a choice. Not really. If we don’t find them and slow them down—or stop them—then they could circle and catch our forces from the flank or behind.”

“So they weaken Bhayar’s forces one way or another.”

“That’s what they hope. But Third Regiment’s better than they think, and you and that overlarge company are worth close to another regiment.”

Quaeryt snorted. “You actually told Bhayar that I’d end up with you? You’re going to get in trouble, my friend, wagering on me.”

“That may be, but those who wagered on others fared far less well,” replied Skarpa with a cynical grin.

“A mere matter of chance.” And Quaeryt wasn’t even certain Skarpa was right. Certainly, anyone who had wagered on Quaeryt’s ability to remain as governor of Montagne would have lost … although Quaeryt was less and less certain he personally had lost, since governing was a thankless position and since he had learned more than he’d originally wanted to admit, especially about trying to avoid situations where the choice was between getting something done and making people with power happy.

“I think not.”

At that moment a scout appeared, riding back north on the river road toward the outriders and the vanguard that Skarpa and Quaeryt led.

“The scouts have found the Bovarians,” suggested Quaeryt.

Skarpa just nodded and raised an arm, gesturing for the scout to join him and ordering, “Column! Halt!” Then he rode out to the side.

Quaeryt followed.

The scout, a junior squad leader, reined up.

“What did you find?” asked Skarpa.

“The Bovarians are about two milles ahead,” began the scout. “That’s where those hills are. They’ve formed up in two positions. One regiment is on the south hill, in plain view. The other is on the back side of a hill north and east of there. The space between the northern hill and the river road is mostly fields. I think they’re bean fields. There aren’t any walls, but there are ditches on the west end of the fields … look to be mixed regiments, maybe half foot, half mounted…”

When the scout finished, Skarpa asked, “How far apart are the two regiments?”

“Close to half a mille. Could be a bit more, sir.”

“Did they see you?”

“We tried to be careful, but they might have. Didn’t see anyone moving, though.”

Skarpa frowned. “I want you to go take another look, but stay off the road and out of sight. We need to know if they’re holding those positions or getting ready to move.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’ll move up another bit, but take our time.”

Once the scout had turned and headed his mount back southward, Skarpa turned in the saddle and looked at Quaeryt. “What do you think?”

“What if you form up on the flat in those bean fields?” asked Quaeryt. “They’d have to leave the heights to engage you.”

“They won’t. The longer they can keep us occupied…”

“Exactly,” said Quaeryt. “But what would happen if they were attacked from the rear? From behind the hill they’re on?”

“They’d see anyone coming. They’d pull back to the hilltop and use the heights,” Skarpa said.

“I think there’s a way to get close enough so that they’re surprised. The attacking company could split off before you get in eyesight of the nearer regiment. What if you posted scouts, so that when the Bovarians are surprised, you know when to start up the west side of the hill. The regiment to the south would likely wait, wouldn’t they? Even if they didn’t, it would take them time to reach the hill, and you’d have the higher ground.”

“I’d be caught between two regiments.”

“No, you wouldn’t, because you’d still have the north side of the hill open to withdraw, if you have to.”

“And you’re going to be the one to make that hidden attack?”

“Well … I’m not very good at following other people’s orders…”

Skarpa shook his head. “You realize what will happen to me if you fail?”

“It won’t be any worse than what happens to me,” Quaeryt pointed out. “And you just said that the Bovarians would wait for days if we don’t attack.”

“You don’t have enough men to make that work. You need a battalion, at the very least.”

“See if Meinyt would support me.”

“He’d support you to the Namer’s door,” snorted Skarpa. “I don’t have to ask.”

What Quaeryt realized was that what Skarpa was also telling him, if indirectly, was that commanders had to know what their officers could and would do, and they had to know it without ever asking. He nodded. “Thank you.”

“You don’t learn everything in one campaign.”

At times, Quaeryt wondered if he’d ever learn near enough to survive the battles he kept getting caught in, let alone succeed in his long-term plans … plans that seemed further from realization than ever. And they’d seemed so simple back in Tilbor—just find a way to make life more secure for imagers and scholars.

“We’ll move up and rest everyone. While they’re resting, you and I and Meinyt can go over what you have in mind.”

What with one thing and another, it was close to midmorning when Quaeryt addressed the two imagers who had accompanied him. “Shaelyt, Desyrk, I want you to ride or stay just behind Commander Skarpa. Your orders are simple. Kill anyone who gets close enough to injure him. Don’t be fancy. Do whatever is easiest for you. If you know how, image pitricin into their brains…”

At that Shaelyt nodded, but Desyrk looked appalled.

“… or image a thin blade through their eyes. This isn’t honorable combat. It’s war, and we didn’t start it.”

With a nod, Quaeryt turned the mare and rode toward the rear of the column, where Meinyt and Zhelan had gathered their troops.

“We’re going to make a surprise attack on a Bovarian force that’s waiting to ambush the main body of Third Regiment.” Quaeryt looked to Zhelan, and then to the other company officers.

“Ambush the ambushers,” added Meinyt.

“That’s the idea. We’ll be taking a back lane to get in position. Once we get near, we’ll have to be silent. No noise at all, after I give the command for silence. No talking, clanking … swearing. We’re going to try to get as close to the rear of the Bovarians as we can. Being quiet means more surprise and fewer casualties. When we finish here, I want you to pass that on to your squad leaders, and they need to make sure every man understands that.” Quaeryt paused.

“Yes, sir.”

“We’re going to have to travel a lane for part of the way that’s narrow, and when we get to the end of that lane, you’ll need to shift your men into an attack formation. Can you do it without calling out orders? With hand signals or something like that.”

“So long as we only have to do that once,” said Meinyt.

“Can you do that twice, once for the formation, and then a charge right after they’re in position?”

“Should be able to do that.” Meinyt looked to Zhelan.

“Yes, sir.”

“How fast can you shift your companies from a four abreast column to an attack formation?” Quaeryt asked.

“Be a lot quicker if I could use five abreast.”

Quaeryt considered, then said, “Then set them up five abreast, but they’ll be crowded on the lane.”

“Better crowded than taking too much time.”

Less than half a quint later, one of Skarpa’s scouts was guiding Quaeryt’s force through a meadow and past a woodlot, and then onto a rutted and slightly muddy lane that headed southward, if in a more winding way than the main river road. The lane followed a brook, in a general fashion, and moved in and out of woods. Farther ahead were several outriders, whom Quaeryt had cautioned to avoid being seen, if they could, and to return and report immediately if they saw signs of any Bovarian troopers.

Before that long, they came to a hamlet of less than a score of small houses, cots, dilapidated wooden outbuildings. Immediately, the handful of crofters and growers vanished into their dwellings … or into the woods to the east of the hamlet, as did their children. Seemingly, in moments, the entire hamlet was silent, and the only animal Quaeryt saw was a calico cat on a woodpile, regally surveying the troopers in the way only cats can, Quaeryt thought.

“Just keep riding,” Quaeryt said quietly.

Beyond the hamlet the lane moved through an area that was lightly wooded with grass between the trees, and then toward a narrow stand of trees below the low hillside that held the Bovarians, a hillside low enough that the trees provided somewhat of a block to seeing the lane.