Read Online The Chesian Wars (A Griffins & Gunpowder Collection) by Joshua Johnson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joshua Johnson
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While there were no international treaties governing the rules of war, there was a set of unofficial rules that everyone knew and adhered to. Messengers were considered untouchable; sent at the behest of their commanders, they could not be held responsible for being sent, nor for the contents of the messages that they carried. Only couriers came close the protections that messengers were afforded.
"I'm aware of the rules of warfare, much better than you are," Niklos pointed out. "Have a letter drafted in response. Inform their commander that we refuse their offer and will entertain no further messengers."
"Yes, sir." Kasimir nodded and stepped out into the chilly night.
The moons of Zaria cast a sharp light over the fortress' yard. Sentries paced along the top of the walls and small groups of soldiers huddled around fires. Karel Shor leaned against the wall of a nearby building and hurried over when he saw Kasimir emerge from the lounge.
"Draft a letter for the Chesian messenger to take back to his commanders," Kasimir ordered. "Inform the honored commander that we will not be accepting their offer of surrender and that we will entertain no further messengers. Have it sealed and give it back to their rider."
"Yes, sir," Karel said and hurried to his office.
"So what of it?" Jarak asked as he emerged from a shadow.
"You should be sleeping, Junior Commander," Kasimir said as he looked to see if anyone was near.
"As should you, Commander," Jarak countered. "Out with it."
Jarak and Kasimir had served together for five years across multiple deployments. They had grown to be friends during their first deployment together and had kept in touch, even when they were assigned to different areas of Malkala. If anyone knew Kasimir's mind, it was Jarak.
"They offered us all the chance to go back to our homes," Kasimir reported. "After the war is resolved, of course. The officers were offered commissions in the Chesian Army and Niklos and I were offered lands in one of their wealthiest districts."
"And how did the old man take it?"
"Exactly as I expected him to," Kasimir said. "Threatened to behead the messenger and send him back with our answer."
"Ruler save us," Jarak whispered.
"I have a feeling that this is going to be a fight to the death. All of our deaths," Kasimir said somberly.
"Nothing to be done about it."
"They won't attack until dawn," Kasimir said. The moons were directly overhead; it was midnight. "If we hit the racks now, we should get about six hours of sleep."
* * *
Kasimir woke to a commotion outside of his quarters. He heard shouting, the clang of steel on steel, and then the crack of a shattering chair or table. He pulled his revolvers out of their holsters as he stood and took a step toward the door.
The garrison commander of Demitas had a split second to realize what was happening as bodies crashed through his door in a shower of splinters. The sight of gold and red was all he needed to know and he brought his revolvers up with lightning speed.
The first Chesian soldier had less than a heartbeat to realize that they hadn't taken their target asleep. The man was enormous, for a Chesian, with broad shoulders and thick arms. The boom of the pistol deafened everyone in the small room and the lead bullet slammed through his forehead. The men behind the charging bull blinked at the spray of blood and brains, but had barely more time than their ill-fated comrade before the revolvers thundered again and they fell beside their leader.
Five Chesians fell before the others were able to push their way back into the common room and out of Kasimir's line of sight. In the room beyond, Kasimir could see Chesian and Malkalan bodies piled together in the center of the common
While there were no international treaties governing the rules of war, there was a set of unofficial rules that everyone knew and adhered to. Messengers were considered untouchable; sent at the behest of their commanders, they could not be held responsible for being sent, nor for the contents of the messages that they carried. Only couriers came close the protections that messengers were afforded.
"I'm aware of the rules of warfare, much better than you are," Niklos pointed out. "Have a letter drafted in response. Inform their commander that we refuse their offer and will entertain no further messengers."
"Yes, sir." Kasimir nodded and stepped out into the chilly night.
The moons of Zaria cast a sharp light over the fortress' yard. Sentries paced along the top of the walls and small groups of soldiers huddled around fires. Karel Shor leaned against the wall of a nearby building and hurried over when he saw Kasimir emerge from the lounge.
"Draft a letter for the Chesian messenger to take back to his commanders," Kasimir ordered. "Inform the honored commander that we will not be accepting their offer of surrender and that we will entertain no further messengers. Have it sealed and give it back to their rider."
"Yes, sir," Karel said and hurried to his office.
"So what of it?" Jarak asked as he emerged from a shadow.
"You should be sleeping, Junior Commander," Kasimir said as he looked to see if anyone was near.
"As should you, Commander," Jarak countered. "Out with it."
Jarak and Kasimir had served together for five years across multiple deployments. They had grown to be friends during their first deployment together and had kept in touch, even when they were assigned to different areas of Malkala. If anyone knew Kasimir's mind, it was Jarak.
"They offered us all the chance to go back to our homes," Kasimir reported. "After the war is resolved, of course. The officers were offered commissions in the Chesian Army and Niklos and I were offered lands in one of their wealthiest districts."
"And how did the old man take it?"
"Exactly as I expected him to," Kasimir said. "Threatened to behead the messenger and send him back with our answer."
"Ruler save us," Jarak whispered.
"I have a feeling that this is going to be a fight to the death. All of our deaths," Kasimir said somberly.
"Nothing to be done about it."
"They won't attack until dawn," Kasimir said. The moons were directly overhead; it was midnight. "If we hit the racks now, we should get about six hours of sleep."
* * *
Kasimir woke to a commotion outside of his quarters. He heard shouting, the clang of steel on steel, and then the crack of a shattering chair or table. He pulled his revolvers out of their holsters as he stood and took a step toward the door.
The garrison commander of Demitas had a split second to realize what was happening as bodies crashed through his door in a shower of splinters. The sight of gold and red was all he needed to know and he brought his revolvers up with lightning speed.
The first Chesian soldier had less than a heartbeat to realize that they hadn't taken their target asleep. The man was enormous, for a Chesian, with broad shoulders and thick arms. The boom of the pistol deafened everyone in the small room and the lead bullet slammed through his forehead. The men behind the charging bull blinked at the spray of blood and brains, but had barely more time than their ill-fated comrade before the revolvers thundered again and they fell beside their leader.
Five Chesians fell before the others were able to push their way back into the common room and out of Kasimir's line of sight. In the room beyond, Kasimir could see Chesian and Malkalan bodies piled together in the center of the common
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