Read Online Faerie Wars 03 - Ruler of the Realm by Herbie Brennan - Free Book Online
Authors: Herbie Brennan
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meeting, but now he cleared his throat.
'You are a child, Majesty,' he said bluntly. 'If we're honest, we all have to acknowledge that, and it's the job of older heads to guide you where we can. But far more important is the fact you've never seen a war. The first Nighter action was halted before it really got under way. The second was an act of treachery that produced one small battle. Neither time came to war. But it's war you're proposing now, Majesty.'
Watching him, Blue nodded. 'Yes. Your point being, General Vanelke?'
'My point,' said the old General soberly, 'is that those who have never experienced war are often fastest to go to war. They simply don't appreciate the enormity of the step.' He leaned forward. 'Let me explain to you, Majesty, what war - and especially civil war - will mean to the Realm. First and foremost, it will mean death. Not hundreds, but thousands, perhaps even millions would lose their lives. And not the old and the useless, but the youngest and finest, the very flower of our Realm, with the greatest potential and the very best of their lives ahead of them. The loss of just one such would be a tragedy. War multiplies that tragedy beyond calculation.'
Blue made to comment, but he held her with his eyes and pressed on. 'Secondly, there will be pain. To you, Majesty, war is a decision, a stroke of the pen. To others, it may be the loss of their arms or legs, blindness, disability. And not just your soldiers, Majesty. They're arguably paid to accept such risks. But civilians will suffer too. In any civil war, civilian casualties are always enormous.
'Then there will be destruction. Even a short, decisive war - which civil wars seldom are - causes widespread destruction. Weapon spells have reached formidable proportions nowadays. Our enemy is well-equipped. Are you ready to inflict such spells on your people? Are you ready to count the cost that will be paid by future generations?' He squared his shoulders. 'And finally,' he said, 'although you may consider this treasonable, there is the possibility that we will not win.'
Blue said quietly, 'Our cause is just, General.' She knew what he said was true, every word of it, but what if the choice wasn't between war and peace? What if it was a choice between war and a greater war, a longer war, an even more bloody war? Although she fought hard to show nothing of her feelings, Blue was terrified. She'd thought long and hard about what she was going to do. She was certain - fairly certain - it was the right thing. But she was terrified it might not be. General Vanelke, if he only knew it, was voicing every doubt she had.
'Justice has nothing to do with it,' he went on relentlessly. 'God sides with the strong and the victor writes the history books. You talked a moment ago about the Feral Faerie as possible allies - or at least the Painted Lady did. The Faeries of the Night have their own powerful allies - the demon hordes of Hael. The portals may be closed now, but war would produce an enormous incentive to get them open again. And when they open, we may find we have bitten off far more than we can chew.'
Which was true as well. The fact that the Hael portals were closed had been a big factor in her decision. But like Vanelke she knew they might not stay closed for ever. Everything depended on how fast they moved, how fast they won. Blue suddenly felt very old. Before she became Empress, it had all seemed so very simple. You had the Realm and you ruled it - what could be simpler? But once the crown was on her head, it all became so complicated.
'The problem, General Vanelke,' she said patiently, 'is that you talk as if it's a choice between war and peace. But I don't believe that's the choice we face. I believe my uncle will very soon decide to begin a war himself and we shall face all the horrors you describe and worse, with two added disadvantages: we won't be prepared and we'll have lost the element of surprise. At least if we strike first,
'You are a child, Majesty,' he said bluntly. 'If we're honest, we all have to acknowledge that, and it's the job of older heads to guide you where we can. But far more important is the fact you've never seen a war. The first Nighter action was halted before it really got under way. The second was an act of treachery that produced one small battle. Neither time came to war. But it's war you're proposing now, Majesty.'
Watching him, Blue nodded. 'Yes. Your point being, General Vanelke?'
'My point,' said the old General soberly, 'is that those who have never experienced war are often fastest to go to war. They simply don't appreciate the enormity of the step.' He leaned forward. 'Let me explain to you, Majesty, what war - and especially civil war - will mean to the Realm. First and foremost, it will mean death. Not hundreds, but thousands, perhaps even millions would lose their lives. And not the old and the useless, but the youngest and finest, the very flower of our Realm, with the greatest potential and the very best of their lives ahead of them. The loss of just one such would be a tragedy. War multiplies that tragedy beyond calculation.'
Blue made to comment, but he held her with his eyes and pressed on. 'Secondly, there will be pain. To you, Majesty, war is a decision, a stroke of the pen. To others, it may be the loss of their arms or legs, blindness, disability. And not just your soldiers, Majesty. They're arguably paid to accept such risks. But civilians will suffer too. In any civil war, civilian casualties are always enormous.
'Then there will be destruction. Even a short, decisive war - which civil wars seldom are - causes widespread destruction. Weapon spells have reached formidable proportions nowadays. Our enemy is well-equipped. Are you ready to inflict such spells on your people? Are you ready to count the cost that will be paid by future generations?' He squared his shoulders. 'And finally,' he said, 'although you may consider this treasonable, there is the possibility that we will not win.'
Blue said quietly, 'Our cause is just, General.' She knew what he said was true, every word of it, but what if the choice wasn't between war and peace? What if it was a choice between war and a greater war, a longer war, an even more bloody war? Although she fought hard to show nothing of her feelings, Blue was terrified. She'd thought long and hard about what she was going to do. She was certain - fairly certain - it was the right thing. But she was terrified it might not be. General Vanelke, if he only knew it, was voicing every doubt she had.
'Justice has nothing to do with it,' he went on relentlessly. 'God sides with the strong and the victor writes the history books. You talked a moment ago about the Feral Faerie as possible allies - or at least the Painted Lady did. The Faeries of the Night have their own powerful allies - the demon hordes of Hael. The portals may be closed now, but war would produce an enormous incentive to get them open again. And when they open, we may find we have bitten off far more than we can chew.'
Which was true as well. The fact that the Hael portals were closed had been a big factor in her decision. But like Vanelke she knew they might not stay closed for ever. Everything depended on how fast they moved, how fast they won. Blue suddenly felt very old. Before she became Empress, it had all seemed so very simple. You had the Realm and you ruled it - what could be simpler? But once the crown was on her head, it all became so complicated.
'The problem, General Vanelke,' she said patiently, 'is that you talk as if it's a choice between war and peace. But I don't believe that's the choice we face. I believe my uncle will very soon decide to begin a war himself and we shall face all the horrors you describe and worse, with two added disadvantages: we won't be prepared and we'll have lost the element of surprise. At least if we strike first,
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