state, you put in burning barriers to prevent any sort of successful charge. Good gods, they don’t stand a chance.”
“They’ll be forced to retreat back into Brindisi,” he agreed. He couldn’t help but smile at her in approval. She had a good head on her shoulders. Granted, he’d explained everything as simply as possible, but he’d made those easy explanations to “veteran” generals and wound up repeating himself several times before it seemed to make any sense. “I know from experience that it takes a good two months to move troops through the mountain passes and back onto Brindisi soil. And that’s if things go well. So, conservatively, I estimate that they will need two months to retreat, another month to gather up supplies and troops, and then another two months to get back here.”
“Five months.” A fierce light of triumph blazed in her eyes. “You said it took three to build those armaments.”
“By fall this land should be well prepared to expel invaders from the eastern front,” he concluded. “That is stage one.”
She nodded in satisfaction and leaned back. “And stage two?”
“I need more information before I can really plan that,” he admitted frankly. He didn’t have any experience with naval battles, so he’d have to do a lot of research and consult with other people as well before making any plans.
“Tell me as soon as you have it planned out,” she ordered.
From his seat, he gave her a bow. “Of course, My Queen.”
“Very well.” Smiling beatifically, she commanded, “Now, let’s go over this again in more detail.”
~~~
The door shut quietly behind them and Darius heaved a sigh of relief. Three hours. The queen had asked him pointed questions for three hours and most of the time he hadn’t known the answer. Thank all the gods for Sego, who usually had the answer or could promise to find it. Otherwise that meeting would not have gone as smoothly.
They had another hour or so before dinner would be served (and the queen had made sure he understood that he had to attend) so he thought he might as well deal with the lack-of-clothing problem. Turning to the man at his side he asked, “Sego, is there some sort of clothing market nearby?”
His aide, for some reason, gave him a weary look. “General, I believe I told you earlier that the queen gave strict instructions that you are to only use the royal tailors.”
Oh. That’s right, he had said that. But… “Even for informal clothing?” Darius objected in surprise. “I don’t just wear uniforms all the time!”
“Everything,” Sego insisted firmly. “But I do agree that you need to build a proper wardrobe. I took the liberty of instructing the tailors here to begin making several outfits for you, but of course they cannot finish anything until they have properly measured you.”
Now when had he found the time to do that? Darius had kept him running with errands since the first night they’d met. For a crippled man, he certainly got around. Raising a hand to his chin, he rubbed it ruefully.
“Alright, then.” Darius looked around him, but he had so little experience with the interior of the palace that he couldn’t begin to figure out how to go from here to there. The entirety of the place had white tiled floors and walls painted in pale colors with windows at every turn. It all looked exactly the same to him. “Sego, why don’t you lead the way?” he suggested.
His confusion must have shown, for a quiet smile stole over Sego’s face a moment. “You’ll grow accustomed to the palace soon enough, General.” He turned to the left and started walking.
Darius trailed along, but found that he had to shorten his stride a little to keep in pace with the other man. Hmmm. I need to remember this pace, he cautioned himself. Whenever Sego is walking with me, this is the fastest that I should walk. I’ve been running this man off his legs since yesterday and he didn’t say a word to me. His pride is
“They’ll be forced to retreat back into Brindisi,” he agreed. He couldn’t help but smile at her in approval. She had a good head on her shoulders. Granted, he’d explained everything as simply as possible, but he’d made those easy explanations to “veteran” generals and wound up repeating himself several times before it seemed to make any sense. “I know from experience that it takes a good two months to move troops through the mountain passes and back onto Brindisi soil. And that’s if things go well. So, conservatively, I estimate that they will need two months to retreat, another month to gather up supplies and troops, and then another two months to get back here.”
“Five months.” A fierce light of triumph blazed in her eyes. “You said it took three to build those armaments.”
“By fall this land should be well prepared to expel invaders from the eastern front,” he concluded. “That is stage one.”
She nodded in satisfaction and leaned back. “And stage two?”
“I need more information before I can really plan that,” he admitted frankly. He didn’t have any experience with naval battles, so he’d have to do a lot of research and consult with other people as well before making any plans.
“Tell me as soon as you have it planned out,” she ordered.
From his seat, he gave her a bow. “Of course, My Queen.”
“Very well.” Smiling beatifically, she commanded, “Now, let’s go over this again in more detail.”
~~~
The door shut quietly behind them and Darius heaved a sigh of relief. Three hours. The queen had asked him pointed questions for three hours and most of the time he hadn’t known the answer. Thank all the gods for Sego, who usually had the answer or could promise to find it. Otherwise that meeting would not have gone as smoothly.
They had another hour or so before dinner would be served (and the queen had made sure he understood that he had to attend) so he thought he might as well deal with the lack-of-clothing problem. Turning to the man at his side he asked, “Sego, is there some sort of clothing market nearby?”
His aide, for some reason, gave him a weary look. “General, I believe I told you earlier that the queen gave strict instructions that you are to only use the royal tailors.”
Oh. That’s right, he had said that. But… “Even for informal clothing?” Darius objected in surprise. “I don’t just wear uniforms all the time!”
“Everything,” Sego insisted firmly. “But I do agree that you need to build a proper wardrobe. I took the liberty of instructing the tailors here to begin making several outfits for you, but of course they cannot finish anything until they have properly measured you.”
Now when had he found the time to do that? Darius had kept him running with errands since the first night they’d met. For a crippled man, he certainly got around. Raising a hand to his chin, he rubbed it ruefully.
“Alright, then.” Darius looked around him, but he had so little experience with the interior of the palace that he couldn’t begin to figure out how to go from here to there. The entirety of the place had white tiled floors and walls painted in pale colors with windows at every turn. It all looked exactly the same to him. “Sego, why don’t you lead the way?” he suggested.
His confusion must have shown, for a quiet smile stole over Sego’s face a moment. “You’ll grow accustomed to the palace soon enough, General.” He turned to the left and started walking.
Darius trailed along, but found that he had to shorten his stride a little to keep in pace with the other man. Hmmm. I need to remember this pace, he cautioned himself. Whenever Sego is walking with me, this is the fastest that I should walk. I’ve been running this man off his legs since yesterday and he didn’t say a word to me. His pride is
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