The Black Shriving (Chronicles of the Black Gate Book 2) by Phil Tucker
Authors: Phil Tucker
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stratagem. Now, I don't expect your people to sacrifice their way of life so as to garrison this Hold until then, but I have a proposition for you."
Kolgrimr's hard face betrayed little. "I'm listening."
"I would arm your men with the blades and armor we won from the vanquished knights, and have Ser Wyland train and drill them in their proper use." The details came to her even as she spoke. "Twenty men will stay at the Hold at any given time so as to train with us, and in so doing they will earn the right to own their weapons and armor. I will let you and Ser Wyland decide how to divide the men and how often to rotate them through, but I hope that doing so will allow us to resist Lord Laur with greater efficacy when he comes."
Kolgrimr leaned back, brow furrowed in thought. "An interesting proposition." He mulled it over. "We're united in purpose, now. The men who are returning to Lord Laur will tell him of the Hrething's role in their defeat. I doubt he'll be merciful when he returns. At the very least, he'll seek to burn Hrething down and hang those he can get his hands on." His smile was wry. "It shouldn't be too hard to convince my father and the other influential men in our community to see the wisdom behind your words." He gave a sharp nod, as if settling his thoughts on the matter. "I'll speak with my father, and should have a response for you in a few days."
Iskra rose and smiled warmly. "Very well. That is all I can ask for. Please make use of one of the carts we've acquired to take the food down to Hrething, and I look forward to seeing you here soon."
Kolgrimr rose as well. "Thank you, my lady. You'll be seeing me soon enough. Ser Wyland." He nodded and left.
"That went well," said Jander as she sat back down.
"I was going to ask you first." She gave him an apologetic smile. "Would you be willing to help train the Hrethings?"
He laughed. "Of course. As my lady commands. I cannot promise miracles, but three months is sufficient time to make them an effective fighting force." He stirred his oatmeal once more, then set it aside. "Iskra, I must speak to you about your proposal to ally with the Agerastians." He leaned forward, his face intent. "Please. You must listen."
Iskra bit back an angry response. Patience . No good ruler refused the counsel of their trusted advisors. "I believe I know what you have to say. But please, speak your mind."
"I will be brief." He hesitated, composing his thoughts. "First, I would speak of honor. It is what I have lived my life by. It is what led me to follow you here, though I knew it a death sentence. I have always chosen honor over mere survival. Honor as a knight, as an Ennoian, as a Black Wolf and now your humble servant."
Iskra tightened her jaw. When had the Black Wolves ever been concerned with their honor?
"Second, piety. We fight a political fight, a personal battle. Yet if we ally with the heretics, we shall be imperiling our souls and those of the ones who follow us. As cherished as your son is to you, is he worth damnation? Please, my lady. Let us search for another means of defeating Lord Laur, and barring that, fight him courageously when he comes, confident that we will ascend to a higher station should we die."
Iskra looked down at her hands. There was dirt beneath her nails. Her mother would be aghast. "If you can suggest an alternative way to defeat Lord Laur and whatever forces the Ascendant's Grace sends with him, I would hear it now." Her voice was quiet, firm, implacable. "But I will not sit here helplessly and be slaughtered. I will not abandon my son. Our cause is just. We are the wronged party. Lord Laur has conspired with the Ascendant's Grace for political gain and I cannot accept that such is the Ascendant's will."
Jander's lips were pursed, his fingers interlaced, his knuckles white. "I don't deny that the Ascendant's Grace is acting in a manner unbefitting his station -"
"Asho saw him cheat death," whispered Iskra angrily. "Unbefitting? That
Kolgrimr's hard face betrayed little. "I'm listening."
"I would arm your men with the blades and armor we won from the vanquished knights, and have Ser Wyland train and drill them in their proper use." The details came to her even as she spoke. "Twenty men will stay at the Hold at any given time so as to train with us, and in so doing they will earn the right to own their weapons and armor. I will let you and Ser Wyland decide how to divide the men and how often to rotate them through, but I hope that doing so will allow us to resist Lord Laur with greater efficacy when he comes."
Kolgrimr leaned back, brow furrowed in thought. "An interesting proposition." He mulled it over. "We're united in purpose, now. The men who are returning to Lord Laur will tell him of the Hrething's role in their defeat. I doubt he'll be merciful when he returns. At the very least, he'll seek to burn Hrething down and hang those he can get his hands on." His smile was wry. "It shouldn't be too hard to convince my father and the other influential men in our community to see the wisdom behind your words." He gave a sharp nod, as if settling his thoughts on the matter. "I'll speak with my father, and should have a response for you in a few days."
Iskra rose and smiled warmly. "Very well. That is all I can ask for. Please make use of one of the carts we've acquired to take the food down to Hrething, and I look forward to seeing you here soon."
Kolgrimr rose as well. "Thank you, my lady. You'll be seeing me soon enough. Ser Wyland." He nodded and left.
"That went well," said Jander as she sat back down.
"I was going to ask you first." She gave him an apologetic smile. "Would you be willing to help train the Hrethings?"
He laughed. "Of course. As my lady commands. I cannot promise miracles, but three months is sufficient time to make them an effective fighting force." He stirred his oatmeal once more, then set it aside. "Iskra, I must speak to you about your proposal to ally with the Agerastians." He leaned forward, his face intent. "Please. You must listen."
Iskra bit back an angry response. Patience . No good ruler refused the counsel of their trusted advisors. "I believe I know what you have to say. But please, speak your mind."
"I will be brief." He hesitated, composing his thoughts. "First, I would speak of honor. It is what I have lived my life by. It is what led me to follow you here, though I knew it a death sentence. I have always chosen honor over mere survival. Honor as a knight, as an Ennoian, as a Black Wolf and now your humble servant."
Iskra tightened her jaw. When had the Black Wolves ever been concerned with their honor?
"Second, piety. We fight a political fight, a personal battle. Yet if we ally with the heretics, we shall be imperiling our souls and those of the ones who follow us. As cherished as your son is to you, is he worth damnation? Please, my lady. Let us search for another means of defeating Lord Laur, and barring that, fight him courageously when he comes, confident that we will ascend to a higher station should we die."
Iskra looked down at her hands. There was dirt beneath her nails. Her mother would be aghast. "If you can suggest an alternative way to defeat Lord Laur and whatever forces the Ascendant's Grace sends with him, I would hear it now." Her voice was quiet, firm, implacable. "But I will not sit here helplessly and be slaughtered. I will not abandon my son. Our cause is just. We are the wronged party. Lord Laur has conspired with the Ascendant's Grace for political gain and I cannot accept that such is the Ascendant's will."
Jander's lips were pursed, his fingers interlaced, his knuckles white. "I don't deny that the Ascendant's Grace is acting in a manner unbefitting his station -"
"Asho saw him cheat death," whispered Iskra angrily. "Unbefitting? That
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