Parno's Gambit: The Black Sheep of Soulan: Book 3 Read online

  “So, do you know his son?” Whipple asked.

  “Never met him, and now I'm glad,” Beaumont's voice was flinty. “Makes it easier to kill the little bastard when I finally do.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  -

  “So, what are you planning, Parno?”

  Memmnon was sitting uncomfortably in his chair, his movements obviously pained. Parno was convinced that his brother was up and moving only because he had sworn he'd not try to court Winnie until and unless he could do so more or less under his own power.

  “I can see only one alternative at the moment,” Parno admitted, studying the map he had himself lain before the new King of Soulan. “It's a gamble, Memmnon, to be sure,” he added. He picked up a pointer.

  “I had already taken 2nd Corps off line due to their losses,” he indicated the position of the 1st Army. “We're incorporating replacements into their ranks already, but. . .untrained men are no true replacement for the professional soldiers we've lost to this point.”

  “True,” Memmnon nodded.

  “I'm going to move 2nd Corps to Shelby,” Parno moved his pointer to the river port along the Great River. “There's room a plenty to train and to camp, and that will place them in a position to backstop General Raines if the enemy tries to cross the Great River. I don't think they can force a crossing over the bridge, but if they somehow manage to get a large force across in boats, especially if they can do it by catching us by surprise, then they could establish a bridgehead there and…well, we're finished,” he said bluntly. “There is no way we can contain two such offensive thrusts at one time. We don't have the manpower or the horsepower.”

  “I know,” Memmnon nodded. “Something else to thank Therron for,” he muttered darkly.

  “With 2nd Corp there as a reserve, I plan to pull back the men I just sent to Raines, and I 'll be keeping his cavalry division as well. With those units, plus the additions of Freeman and Herrick, we 'll be approaching something like a reasonable force against the Imperials in the Valley, even with this new force Parsons found, assuming that's all there is.”

  “You 'll still be outnumbered,” Memmnon warned.

  “We 'll always be outnumbered,” Parno nodded. “We 'll always be outnumbered and there's nothing we can do about it, so there's no reason to dwell on it. And we can't just sit here while the Imperial Army camps out on millions of acres of farmland and grassland. We need that land to be producing food. And we have untold thousands of people displaced by the invasion who need to be able to go home again.”

  “What's being done about the refugees that are coming from the north?” Memmnon asked. “I should be keeping up with this,” he muttered to himself.

  “No, you should be assigning someone to keep up with it for you,” Parno corrected. “Trust me, I've had to learn the same thing. You can't do it all, Memmnon. Even if you weren't still recovering you couldn't do it all alone. It's too much. Get someone to take charge of them and find them a place to live, even if it's in tents outside the city.”

  “I have to start thinking about how to feed them,” Memmnon looked peaked.

  “Let them work to do that,” Parno shook his head. “Provide land, tools and seed and let the able bodied among them till and plant and maintain every inch of space you can with gardens and row crops. Have teams of refugees gathering fruit and nuts as they come ripe, wherever they are. How many bushels of berries do we leave on the vine every year? How many apples, pears, peaches do we leave on the ground for the deer? This year, the deer will have to make do with greens, that's all.”

  “You've put thought into this,” Memmnon complimented/noted.

  “No more than a passing interest,” Parno shook his head. “I've had to learn to think quickly, that's all.”

  “Who would you suggest I give such a job to?” Memmnon asked, sitting up straighter and wincing only slightly as he did so.

  “Well, now that you mention it. . . .”

  Winifred Hubel scowled at the scene before her, clearly unhappy.

  “Why hasn't something been done about this already?” she demanded of her escort. 'This' was a field outside the city that was overflowing with refugees fleeing from the Norland invasion. A few scattered tents, the occasional wagon, but mostly people with little more than the clothing on their backs and a few meager possessions. Hungry children crying for relief that weary mothers had no way to provide. Sick and injured untended in the dirt, or if they were fortunate lying on a blanket.

  “This is a disgrace,” the young redhead scolded.

  “My Lady, I'm sorry, but I had no way of. . .” the young Captain tried to defend himself. Having just been appointed by his battalion commander as Winifred's personal escort along with his company of the King's Own, Andrew Case had no idea that there were refugees anywhere, let alone just outside the city. He had been consumed for the last three days with nothing more than ensuring that Lady 'don't call me Lady' Winifred's movements were screened and her safety assured. Before that he had been equally consumed with his duties securing the palace after the death of the King and near death of his own Prince.

  “Listen to me,” she looked at the young man, her eyes blazing. “I'm not interested in blame, understand? We have to do something about this. Now.” She paused, weighing what her most important duties should be first.

  “I need runners sent to the nearest warehouse,” she ordered. “I need enough food for. . .five thousand people for. . .one week,” she estimated. “I will also need sufficient camp ware for that food to be cooked in, and if possible bowls and utensils.”

  “You,” Case pointed to the nearest man. “You heard the Lady. Get moving!” The younger man nodded nervously and kicked his mount into action, spurring his way toward Nasil as fast as the startled mount could carry him.

  “Send someone to Lady Freeman-Corsin,” was her next order. “I need medical attention for these poor people. She needn't come herself, I think a regular surgeon and physician should be sufficient for their needs, but we need bandages, litters and above all clean water. There should be medical students at university,” she added suddenly. “Advise her that this would be excellent training for them, I should imagine.”

  “Corporal,” Case snapped and a man with the inverted chevrons of a junior NCO came to near attention in the saddle. “Lady Corsin with Lady Hubel's orders. Now!” Again, a horse was spurred into frantic movement as a startled NCO jumped to obey.

  “Water,” Winnie repeated. “We have to get them clean water before cholera or dysentery kills the lot of them,” she went on. “I know there are tankage wagons the army uses to move water to camp. Do we have any of them in the city?” she asked.

  “I 'll have someone check at once, milady,” Case assured her, snapping his fingers to get the attention of a junior sergeant and waving him off to check for water tanks.

  “We need tents, or perhaps existing buildings to give them shelter,” she mused. “Are there any abandoned factory buildings in the city? Or perhaps outside it?”

  “There are a number of older buildings that are not in use at the. . .” Case trailed off as a sudden thought came to him.

  “What is it?” Winnie demanded.

  “Milady, 1st Corps barracks are empty,” he said softly. “Have been since they headed for the front. Thousands of bunks, latrines, mess, everything you need.”

  “Catch the runners then and have their orders changed,” she told him at once. “Everything asked for is to go there. And then I need every wagon that can be had. We 'll pull them with oxen if we need to. Mules are even better but I'm sure they are in short supply. Those here who can walk will have to do so. Have the wagons bring some water and jerky for them to eat along the way, and have the doctors meet us at the barracks. Meantime, secure the services of a few people to cook for them for tonight and tomorrow.”

  “Just tonight and tomorrow?” Case asked.

  “We can't take care of them forever,” Winnie told him. “We 'll give them a day of rest
, then a day or two of acclimation and training. After that, they will have to care for themselves. Which reminds me,” she added. “We will need seed, garden tools, things of that nature. Are there open grounds around the barracks?”

  “Yes, milady,” Case nodded eagerly. “Many acres of parade and training ground for infantry and cavalry alike.”

  “Excellent,” Winnie nodded firmly. “This is what I want…”

  ~*~

  “It would appear that placing Winifred in command of the refugee issue was indeed a wise suggestion, Parno,” Memmnon commented dryly as he watched the hustle and bustle about the palace.

  “She's a hard charger,” Parno nodded. “Stephanie is using the refugee care as a training ground for medical students, too. At Winnie's suggestion, no less,” he smiled. “She 'll make a fine Queen, brother,” he added softly, delighting in Memmnon's deep blush.

  “Damn you,” Memmnon muttered. “Why is it that I cannot successfully tease you about Lady Stephanie as you do me about Winifred?” he demanded.

  “I've had more practice,” Parno shrugged, unrepentant. “At any rate, I know I'm right. You've chosen well. In fact you couldn't possibly have chosen better, in my opinion.”

  “And giving her this duty keeps her from trying to get to the fighting,” Memmnon added, and was pleased to see a bit of red rush to Parno's face.

  Finally.

  “That is a plus,” Parno admitted. “But I also knew that once she saw the problem, she'd seize it and move forward. And she has.”

  “So she has,” Memmnon agreed. “Parno, I'm sorry, but I have to rest,” the King said gently. “I've been on my feet a good bit today and I'm played out I'm afraid.”

  “Of course,” Parno nodded. “I 'll be departing tomorrow,” he added, looking back to where Stephanie was overseeing still more preparations. “I have to get back and get things moving. We lose by doing nothing.”

  “Very well,” Memmnon nodded, a gasp of pain and fatigue escaping his lips as his attendants assisted him. “Please see me at least once more before you go. Perhaps supper this evening? Or after?”

  “Afterward,” Parno nodded. “I 'll be there.”

  “Until then.” Memmnon moved away, out of sight of most of the people in the area, but not his doctor. She approached Parno with concern on her face.

  “Does he need attention?” she asked.

  “No, just rest,” Parno assured her. “Do you have some time?” he asked her suddenly and she looked at him.

  “You're leaving, aren't you?” she said in way of answer, and he simply nodded.

  “I knew it was coming,” she sighed. “I just didn't want it to be so soon.”

  “I've been here for weeks,” Parno protested. “And I have to get back. I have too much to do.”

  “I know,” she nodded, her hands folded carefully before her.

  “Walk with me,” he urged suddenly, and offered his arm. She took it at once and her weight on his limb was a comfort all out of proportion to what it should have been.

  “To the gardens?” she smiled up at him.

  “As you desire, my Lady,” he smiled back. They left the hustle and bustle behind them for a while to enjoy what might be their last afternoon together.

  ~*~

  “Sir, I'm going to need more men.”

  Captain Andrew Case had reached that decision only a few hours into his charge's handling of the refugee crisis. She was using his men as runners, litter bearers, teamsters, whatever her need was.

  “You have a reinforced company under your command, Captain,” Major Carl Vaughan, 2nd Battalion, King's Own, Commanding replied, a slight frown on his face. “Are you telling me that one hundred and fifty men can't take care of one teen-age woman?”

  “Take care of her? We can't even keep up with her! Sir,” he hastened to add, face red. “Sir, since taking the refugee situation over, she is using the men to care for the refugees rather than herself. None of the men mind that, sir, and neither do I. I admire her for it, to be honest. But my men are spread too thin. If a raid hit, we'd never be able to get her to safety, let alone protect her. And sir, begging your pardon, but there's always the chance of Nor spies and saboteurs amongst the refugees, too. Was a Nor heathen to get word that her Ladyship was the King's intended. . . .”

  “I see your point,” Vaughan nodded sagely. “Let me confer with Colonel Raymond and I 'll get back with you. Today.”

  “Thank you, sir,” a greatly relieved Case saluted. Chuckling to himself, Vaughan rose to walk over to the regimental commander's office.

  ~*~

  “So, he stuck it out nearly a whole day?” Raymond smiled.

  “Nearly,” Vaughan chuckled again. “And he wasn't complaining. He was concerned about the girl's safety. And he made some excellent points as well I'd have to say,” he added. “We might want to think about seeding some people into the refugees ourselves. Just to keep a pulse on what's happening.”

  “Good idea,” Raymond nodded. “I 'll speak to Grey about it later on. Meanwhile, what to do about young Case?”

  “Other than not having combat experience, he's as qualified as can be,” Vaughan shrugged. “He's got the training, the talent, and the raw material. And he's shown today he's not afraid to ask for help when he thinks he needs it, but only after seeing if he can handle it himself. He's nearer the girl's age than anyone else we have and will come closer to identifying with her. That being said,” he held up a single finger, “we need to have a female Constable assigned to her. Maybe more than one. And she needs a secretary as well. The men can continue to serve as runners, to a point, but Case will have to put his foot down somewhere on how many of his men he's willing to allow to be out running and waiting tables.”

  “Agreed,” Raymond made a note to himself about the female constables. “Good idea. All right,” he nodded. “Pull the additional men from other companies, but no more than one platoon each. I don't want the other battalions too short handed to protect His Highness.”

  “I 'll see to it,” Vaughan promised as he rose. “You know, this leaves me short a company, not to mention one of my most promising young commanders,” he grinned.

  “You 'll manage I'm sure,” Raymond snorted. “And it was your idea.”

  ~*~

  “What? I mean Sir!” Case straightened.

  “You're being promoted to Senior Captain, Mister Case,” Vaughan repeated, working to hide his mirth at the younger man's antics. “You aren't senior enough to be given leaves, but you 'll be commanding a short battalion so we've dusted off an old rank used for such occasions. Your duty to Lady Hubel will now have a command of three companies of roughly one hundred men each. The new men are being drawn from around the rest of the regiment, so all of them are King's Own. Some may not be happy about their new assignment, though,” he warned.

  “Sir,” Case nodded.

  “As to your manpower issues, it's your responsibility to ensure that you have enough men to meet your obligations, Captain,” Vaughan turned more serious. “That means telling Lady Hubel 'no' when she draws your manpower too low. Suggest that she begin drawing her helpers from the refugees themselves and reserve your men for acting as runners. They aren't security risks, and they know the city. Better to use them than the refugees for something like that.”

  “Yes sir,” Case agreed. “But sir. . .refusing her can be. . .difficult,” he managed not stammer.

  “Get over it Senior Captain,” Vaughan ordered him sternly. “You aren't there to babysit her or make her wishes reality. You're there to protect her. And that includes from threats within as well as without as you said. Watch for Nor spies and saboteurs among the refugees like you've been doing. If present and they get wind of who she is, of what she means to the King, then you could have an attack coming at you from out of nowhere.”

  “Yes sir,” Case nodded. “I'd thought of that, actually, but. . .it would help if I had some women in the service, sir,” he admitted. “There are times and places that a
man just shouldn't be accompanying a woman, Major.”

  “So there are,” Vaughan agreed. “Colonel Raymond will be asking for female Constables to be assigned to her this afternoon. They 'll be with her around the clock while your men form her outer shell. You've done well, Case. I have no reservation about you having this assignment, as I know you 'll continue to do well.”

  “Thank you Major,” Case stiffened again out of habit.

  “Now get back to your command, Senior Captain.”

  ~*~

  “You're leaving in the morning?” Stephanie asked softly, distressed.

  “Yes,” Parno kept his voice just as soft, but also firm. If he didn't, it wouldn't take much for her to talk him out of going.

  “When will you be back?” she asked, deliberately ignoring the fact that he might not return at all.

  “I have no idea,” he replied honestly. “I have to try and get things moving again. We need to try and move them back, at least back into the Kenty Plains and free up some of our bread basket. If we don't, we 'll face a starving time before winter is over.”

  “The flowers are still trying to bloom and we're already talking about winter,” she snorted delicately, her small hand caressing a rosebud.

  “We have to plan months ahead in times like these,” Parno reminded her. “If we don't we suffer. Our people suffer.”

  “I know,” she sighed. “I'm just tired. I want things to return to the way they were.”

  “That isn't going to happen, Stephanie,” Parno told her gently. “Far too much has changed, and not just with the Imperials, either. Things won't ever be like they were, ever again.”

  “I know that too,” she nodded, still looking at the bloom as if it were the most amazing thing she'd ever seen. “I don't like it, but I know it. I accept it,” she added, finally looking at him.

  “I wish we were closer,” she said softly, laying her head on he chest. “I wish we were much closer.”