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  PARNO’S GIFT

  The Black Sheep of Soulan: Book 5

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  PARNO’S GIFT: The Black Sheep of Soulan: Book 5 by N.C. REED

  Published by Creative Texts Publishers

  PO Box 50

  Barto, PA 19504

  www.creativetexts.com

  Copyright 2020 by N.C. REED

  All rights reserved

  Cover photos used by license.

  Design copyright 2020 Creative Texts Publishers, LLC

  This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

  The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual names, persons, businesses, and incidents is strictly coincidental. Locations are used only in the general sense and do not represent the real place in actuality.

  Kindle Edition

  PARNO’S

  GIFT

  N.C. Reed

  CREATIVE TEXTS PUBLISHERS, LLC

  BARTO, PA

  For my parents, my brother, and his son.

  I hope the fish are biting in heaven, guys.

  I've said this before, but no project like this is written in vacuum. There are a bevy of people I need to thank, many of whom are sadly not here to hear it.

  My parents, who encouraged me, and my father in particular who always believed I could do this. I wish he had lived to see it, but I have hope in my heart that he can see, and he's proud.

  My wife, who gently nudges me when I veer off course, and who listens to me rant when I'm worked up about nothing and can't seem to get away from whatever it is.

  My nephew, who shares many of my interests. He and I have shared many a late-night conversation about writing, world building, character development and hardware of various brands.

  Dan Edwards, of Creative Texts Publishers, who does his best to make my work look like a real writer wrote it (say that fast three time, why don't you?) I'm far from Dan's only writer or project, and yet somehow, he always makes time for me when I need it, no matter when it is or what it's about. Thank you, Dan, for everything.

  My readers, who make this all possible. Years ago, when I began to think I could really do this, I honestly didn't believe it would happen, just that I might be able to do it. When I look at the list of works I have now and look at the mail, messages and social media comments, the Amazon reviews of so many of you who have taken an interest in my work and have supported me, encouraged me, and even pushed me to do more and do it faster (and I appreciate that, too), I still find myself looking at it all in wonder, unable to figure out exactly how I got here. The answer of course, at least in great part, is all of you. God bless you for your support, which sometimes is all that keeps me going. I love you all, and no writer, anywhere, can boast of better people who take the time to read his or her material.

  Thank you never seems enough, and yet it's all I have, other than the work itself. I hope it pleases you.

  NCR

  THE CAST

  -

  Kingdom of Soulan

  Memmnon McLeod-- King of Soulan

  Parno McLeod – Crown Prince of Soulan and Lord Marshal of all Soulan Military forces

  Stephanie Corsin-Freeman -- Royal Physician and Director of Military Surgeon schools

  Winifred Hubel – former archery instructor and now Queen designate and fiance of King Memmnon

  Edema Willows -- Duchess of Cumberland and Parno's surrogate mother

  Dhalia Nidiad – daughter of Darvo Nidiad and Viscountess of Wolfe, Parno's adoptive sister

  Colonel Karls Willard – Commander of the Black Sheep regiment, and Dhalia's fiance

  Cho Feng – oriental Warmaster and mentor of Parno McLeod

  Brigadier Enri Willard – Karls older brother and now Chief of Staff for Parno's command staff

  General Bryce Davies – Commander, 1st Soulan Field Army

  General Gerald Allen – Commander, 1st Soulan Cavalry Corps

  General Arnold Graham - 1st Soulan Infantry Corps

  General Darren Gavin - 2nd Soulan Infantry Corps

  General Roland Raines – 3rd Soulan Infantry Corps, (Also commander of Second Soulan Field Army)

  General Henry Herrick – 4th Soulan Infantry Corps

  General Willis Freeman – 5th Soulan Infantry Corps

  Brigadier Horace Whipple – Commander of a mixed brigade of horse archers and lancers, secretly a member of the Royal Family, hiding in plain sight by using his mother's maiden name

  Brigadier Dory Leman – Former commander of Cove Canton, promoted to second-in-command and chief training officer of a new infantry corps

  Admiral Raphael Semmes – Fleet Admiral, Soulan Navy

  Therron McLeod – Deposed Crown Prince of Soulan, sentenced to exile, now on the run and attempting to garner support from other nations to attain the crown of Soulan

  Captain Andrew Case – Commander, Queen Designate's escort

  Sebastian Grey – Chief Constabulary officer, Kingdom of Soulan

  Henry Govan – Chief adviser to King Memmnon

  Colonel Mason Stang – Commander of Soulan Palace Guard

  Colonel Robert Moore – Commander of King's Own, personal regiment of King Memmnon

  Roda Finn – inventor, staff of Prince Parno (his patron)

  Whip Hubel – perhaps the best archer in Soulan, former instructor to Prince's Own, father of Winnie Hubel and now in charge of 'watching' the eccentric Roda Finn

  The Tinker – thought to be a gypsy or descendant of one, once a traveler and repairer of trinkets, served as a spy for Parno and now operates a tavern and 'brothel' within the rear of Soulan army camp in an effort to spy out rogue elements loyal to Parno's brother, the former Lord Marshal. Tinker is a mysterious figure even to those who know and work for him.

  Rosala – 'Rosa', oversees the 'brothel' part of the operation, her girls see and cater only to high ranking officers and others of importance. Courtesans rather than prostitutes. She knows more about Tinker than any other, but never speaks of it.

  Ezekiel Watts – owner of the Hogshead Inn, which he rents to Tinker. He works as a barman and lives on premises.

  Briel- Niece of Rosa's and bar maid

  Aaron Bell – members of Prince's Own, Black Sheep, working at the inn as added protection for Tinker's 'spy ring'.

  Norland

  General Abraham Springfield – commander, 1st Imperial Field Army

  Brigadier Britton Sterling – 1st Army Chief of Staff

  General Peter Venable – Commander 1st Imperial Infantry Corps

  General Joel Vanhoose – Commander 2nd Imperial Infantry Corps

  General Darrell Thomas – Commander 3rd Imperial Infantry Corps

  General William Kelby – Commander 4th Imperial Infantry Corps

  General Braidy Figg – Commander 5th Imperial Infantry Corps

  Brigadier Jerome Baxter – Commander 3rd Imperial Cavalry Division

  Blue Dog – Tribal War Leader employed by the Imperial Army

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

  PROLOGUE

  -

  Cove Canton, Day of Imperial raid on the Royal City

  Colonel Dory Leman was making the rounds of Cove Canton as part of his daily morning ritual. He had made such rounds since he had taken command of the post, finding it to be an excellent way of keeping himself up to date on the goings, comings and happenings of the large canton.

  Of course, not much was happening today. Yesterday had seen the 3rd Battalion of the Black Sheep, led by Lieutenant Colonel Bret Chad, and the1st Cavalry Division commanded by General Preston Wilbanks, both just finished with their updated training, go tearing off for Nasil as fast as their horses could carry them. A deep raid by Imperial cavalry was under way and the Royal City was the suspected target. With the Imperials already behind the lines and moving quickly, neither man had hesitated to carry their commands west in an attempt to head them off and protect the capitol.

  Leman enjoyed his posting well enough, considering the amount of trust the Marshal had shown in him by the appointment, but at times such as these would have much preferred to be back with his men in the field. He had served at the Gap as commander of the 8th Tinsee Mounted Infantry, a militia battalion. While Leman was not a militia officer himself, his time there was to give him command experience, to prepare him for a similar posting in the Royal Army. It was a time honored tradition that dated back to the formation of the Kingdom, and
his appointment had signaled that senior Army officials felt he was ready, or approaching ready, for command of a regular army battalion, or perhaps a full regiment.

  The war had derailed that opportunity for him. Normally, wartime was a plethora of command opportunities for junior officers as ranks would swell with the induction of militia units into the standing army. But his appointment to command of Cove Canton had side-tracked his chances to lead in the field. He had taken the duty without complaint, and had commanded the post to the best of his abilities, despite wanting nothing more than to be leading his own men in combat.

  But the 8th Tinsee Mounted Infantry was no more. Ravaged by losses at the Gap, the remainder of his men, along with Leman himself, had been wrapped into the Marshal's Black Sheep, and were now serving the Crown Prince directly. But, Leman was here at Cove Canton, while what remained of his first, and so far only field command, served under the command of Bret Chad, and by extension under Colonel Karls Willard.

  There were worse things for him than to command the home post of the Black Sheep, Leman reminded himself. He was able now to wear the bloody fanged black sheep patch on his own uniform, and be marked as one of the Marshal's Own Regiment. That was no small thing. The fact that he had seen combat at the Gap almost automatically made him a hero, and he had in fact been told to expect a medal for his service there, once someone got around to writing the citation. But medals, nice as they were at dinner parties and other social functions, otherwise meant very little to most of the men in the Black Sheep.

  For Leman, it was the fact that men he had fought beside, bled beside, some of whom had died, were now in the field without him. It made him feel fraudulent. He knew, intellectually that he wasn't, but the feeling remained.

  “Rider coming!”

  The call from the lookout over the gate brought Leman back to the world around him and out of his thoughts. Another rider probably meant trouble, he frowned. Since every able-bodied trooper outside a handful of men garrisoning the canton itself had left the day before, this ride probably only brought news. 2nd Corps was on their last training march, this time as an entire corps, before heading back to the front. If Leman's mental arithmetic was right, they would be at least a two-day march in the wrong direction to lend assistance to anyone.

  “Better just be news,” Leman murmured as he made his way to the gate. “If he's riding here for help, he's in the wrong place.”

  Five minutes later a foam flecked horse almost slide to a stop at the gate, where a weary rider slid from his saddle. Opening is shoulder bag, the messenger withdrew a single item.

  “Colonel Leman?” the man asked, looking around him.

  “That would be me,” Leman raised a hand.

  “Sorry, sir,” the man apologized. “I must be more tired than I thought. I didn't even see you among the rest. This is to be placed in your hand only, sir,” the man stepped forward with the scroll, placing it squarely in Leman's outstretched hand.

  “Sergeant, get this man something to eat, a bath and a bed. See to his horse.”

  “Sir!” the sergeant almost barked. “This way, trooper.”

  “Thank you, sir,” the messenger nodded his thanks as he followed the sergeant into the palisade. Leman started for his office, opening the message as he went. Whatever it was must be somewhat important to rate a messenger for one lone message, and with orders to be given only to him.

  He began reading as he walked, noting that the message was from the Marshal himself. As he read, Leman's steps became slower and slower, until finally he stopped, reading the entire message again from the start.

  Colonel Dory Leman

  Prince Parno's Own Regiment

  Cove Cantonment, Commanding

  Greetings

  You have been selected by the Marshal of the Armies of Soulan for promotion to Brigadier General, to be effective immediately. You will upon receipt of this message hand your duties over to your executive officer and depart as soon as is practicable for Red Rock Training Grounds. You may carry your aide, a suitable escort, along with any personnel you deem necessary for the completion of your task.

  Upon arrival, you will present yourself and this missive to General Rudolph Hyde, interim Commander of the newly formed 7th Infantry Corps, Soulan Royal Army, where you will assume the posts of second-in-command of said Corps and Chief Training Officer. It will be your mission to ensure that General Hyde knows how to get the most out of his command, with particular emphasis on completion of their physical training, which mirrors the training at Cove Canton. Once that training is complete, you will remain as second-in-command when the Corps deploys forward to the front.

  The 7th Corps has a slightly different table of organization, which we are confident you will be able to master quickly and make the most effective use of in your new role. Failure cannot be an option.

  Willard, Brigadier General, Chief of Staff

  by order of Marshal McLeod

  Well.

  “Be careful what you wish for,” Leman said aloud. Inwardly he was mentally leaping for joy. Not only was he going back into the field, he was doing so as a Brigadier, and as the second-in-command of an entire infantry corps!

  “Trooper!” he called to a passing soldier, who immediately snapped to attention.

  “Find Captain Hollins and advise him I need to see him in my office at once!”

  CHAPTER ONE

  -

  Parno McLeod studied the messages on his desk, then turned his attention to the map next to them. It was a small map, and a little crude, but it served him well, as all he really needed was some way to keep track of things.

  If his guess was correct, then the enemy forces deployed to the village of Unity would be on their way back to their main camps today. Camps they would find barren and burned thanks to the stunning defeat their army had suffered just two days ago. What remained of the current enemy force was broken in spirit and by now was probably hungry as well. They were also likely sleeping on the ground, and those wounded who had escaped back to their lines were probably not getting much at all in the way of medical care.

  That was just too bad, so far as Parno was concerned. That was the price for invading his Kingdom and killing his people.

  Before he had received the messages on his desk, he had already worked out a plan by which to pursue the enemy, hounding them all the way to the Ohio River and killing as many of them as was humanly possible before they could escape. With the messages he had received that morning, his plans were changing.

  Listing his available, or soon to be available units on a separate sheet of paper, Parno began to figure a new Table of Organization for some of his forces, and formulate a new plan. One that stood a much greater chance of success.

  There was at least one major problem he would have to deal with, but it was one he had already planned for, and would require a tiny bit of subterfuge on his part to be completely successful. That one small problem aside, however, he could envision the movements that he would need to make in the coming days on the small map before him, and the units that would need to make them.

  His eyes were drawn to one spot on the map, however, that troubled him. For whatever reason, his focus kept returning to the small city of Jason, south and west of his headquarters. There was no reason for it that he knew of, the town being out of the way of any fighting, and having no strategic value other than the multiple roads that intersected there. He had been concerned about it before the battle, fearing that the large enemy force sent toward Unity might well strike south for Jason, and then move to pressure Raines' flank in Shelby. They might also have turned east and threatened Parno's own flank, as well.

  But that was no longer a threat, he was all but certain. He would know later today in all likelihood if that was true, but for the moment was willing to assume that it was. In any event he had dispatched a company of engineers and a battalion of Wilbanks division to a point north of the town, ready to fell bridges and place other impediments in the path of any enemy force turning south. Those units were still in place, and would remain so until he was certain there was no risk.