The Autumn Republic

Adamat was surprised to see a familiar face sitting at the head of the table: Lady Winceslav, the owner of the Wings of Adom. She wore the white uniform with gold sash of a Wings brigadier-a formality, if Adamat were to guess. She didn’t have experience of command.

Brigadier Abrax sat at the foot of the table, also wearing white and gold. She stood when Adamat entered. “Inspector.” She regarded him blandly, her stern face unreadable.

“Brigadier,” Adamat said, shaking her hand. “And my lady, I didn’t realize you were here.” This could complicate things. Abrax had a reputation for severity, but Adamat still hoped to cajole her into helping him. Lady Winceslav would stand for no such cajoling.

“Inspector, I’m told that you have word of Tamas.” Winceslav raised a cup of tea to her lips.

Adamat swallowed, noting that he had not been asked to sit. “I’m sorry, my lady, but I do not.”

Winceslav’s face fell. “The adjutant said that you had implied as much.”

“I didn’t mean to mislead,” Adamat said. “I simply said I was here on behalf of Field Marshal Tamas.”

“I see.” Another sip of tea. Still no invitation to sit. “And what orders has the late field marshal given that you still feel pressed to follow through?”

Adamat filed through his memory, looking for an order, whether spoken or written, that Tamas had given before his disappearance into Kez. “Well, none, my lady.”

Winceslav gave a slight sigh. Abrax narrowed her eyes at him. Both remained silent.

“My lady, I…”

“The last time we met,” Winceslav said, “you were investigating me for treachery. I understand you were following orders, but it doesn’t leave us on the best of terms. I hope you have something good to say.”

Lady Winceslav wouldn’t be fooled by any stories that Adamat could spin, and he likely wasn’t going to appeal to her patriotism-she was already doing what she could for her country. What else would work?

Adamat decided on an appeal to her pragmatism. “I arrived in the Adran camp yesterday morning with Privileged Borbador and a squad of Tamas’s Riflejacks with the intent of arresting General Ket on charges of war profiteering and releasing Taniel Two-shot from imprisonment.”

“Two-shot disappeared weeks ago,” Abrax said. “Surely you’d been informed.” She said nothing about the charges against Ket. She didn’t even raise her eyebrow.

“We knew he was accused of murdering several of Ket’s men in self-defense. Nothing after that. Until yesterday, of course. General Hilanska filled us in on the schism in the army, and Taniel’s capture and death at the hands of the Kez.” Adamat had, not for the first time, the uneasy feeling that the lack of news in the capital was not accidental. It was something he’d have to consider more in the future.

Winceslav’s teacup clinked onto her plate. “Did you say Privileged Borbador?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Where is he now?”

“We were separated just before leaving the Adran army.” No need to tell her the specifics about that. It would only complicate matters.

“Two-shot isn’t dead,” Abrax said.

“Oh?”

“At least,” Abrax continued, “no one’s seen the body. Before the… event… between Kresimir and Mihali, Taniel was seen carving his way through the Kez army with that savage sorceress of his. My Privileged told me that there was some very interesting sorcery going on.”

Bo would certainly be delighted by that news. But how to get it to him? As far as he knew, the Privileged was in the Kez camp right now-or had been captured and killed by Hilanska. Adamat tried to bring his thoughts back on track. This wasn’t about Two-shot anymore.

“That’s all very interesting,” Winceslav said. She took a bite of a biscuit and chewed and swallowed before going on. “But that doesn’t tell us what you’re here for.”

Adamat’s mouth watered. “My lady, I saw Hilanska’s battle plans when I met with him. I have reason to believe he will attack Ket within the next couple of days. And I don’t think he has any intention of trying to resolve the conflict diplomatically. If the two of them fight, the Kez will only have to sit back and wait until they’ve destroyed each other and this whole campaign will be in ruins.”

“And you have a solution to that?” Abrax asked.

“Yes.”

“Well?”

“I want you to draft all three of Ket’s brigades into the Wings of Adom mercenary company.”

Abrax barked out a laugh. “Absurd.”

Adamat put his hands on the table. “It would end this schism and save the lives of tens of thousands of men.”

“It’s ridiculous. The logistics would be impossible,” Abrax said.

“Not impossible. Just inconvenient.”

“And,” Abrax added, “Ket will have to agree.”

“She will. I know exactly what she wants.”

Abrax opened her mouth, but Winceslav’s raised hand kept her silent.

“Inspector,” Winceslav said. There was a note of interest in her voice. “Please sit down and have breakfast with us. I’m interested in hearing more.”

CHAPTER 9

Taniel climbed the mountainside, finding a spot several hundred feet above the camp, and settled in to watch the sleeping soldiers until morning.