The Autumn Republic

Winceslav shook her head and leaned back in her chair. She suddenly looked older. “Everything has gone to pit since Tamas disappeared. He was the one thing holding this all together, and…”

“If it makes you feel any better,” Bo said, “I don’t think Tamas is dead.”

“That’s awfully optimistic. He was caught with just two brigades behind enemy lines, in enemy territory. I’m no strategist, but the chances of him returning are close to nothing.”

Bo’s eyebrows danced mischievously, but he said nothing more on the matter, instead asking after Winceslav’s health and children. They went on like old friends, and Nila felt infinitely out of her depth.

How did Bo know this woman? Through Tamas, no doubt, but they weren’t acting like mere acquaintances. Bo clearly trusted her implicitly-not something the Privileged was wont to do. Nila knew by now that Bo flirted with everybody, so his grinning and compliments were no surprise, but Winceslav was acting a bit like a schoolgirl around him. Had he… had he slept with her?

“Something wrong?”

It took Nila a moment to realize Bo was talking to her. “Hmm?”

“Your cheeks are red.”

She fanned herself with a hand. “Just thinking about all the excitement.”

Bo gave a chuckle and a knowing smile. Pit! It was like he knew exactly what she was thinking.

It wasn’t long before the code breaker arrived with a satchel of papers under one arm. Bo directed him to the letter and continued his conversation with Lady Winceslav. Nila only listened partially to their conversation, as she was watching the code breaker closely.

He opened the letter and smoothed it flat on one of the tables, then turned to his satchel. He leafed through several dozen papers, stopping periodically to lay one flat next to the missive, only to return it a moment later. He finally seemed satisfied with one of them, leaving it next to the letter and then producing a clean sheet of paper and smoothing it out with one hand. “I have a match, ma’am,” he said, interrupting Bo. “A lesser-used code, but we have it in our records.”

“Go ahead,” Lady Winceslav said. “Go on, Bo.”

“I was saying it’s the curse of war, isn’t it? Weeks or even months of waiting for something-anything-to happen. Almost makes you beg for a battle.”

“It’s terribly boring,” Winceslav agreed, “although I wouldn’t beg for a battle. I came down here as soon as I heard about the schism in the army. I was just told this morning that no one in Adopest even knows what’s going on!” She shook her head. “I can’t possibly believe that.”

“It’s true,” Bo said. “May I ask who told you that?”

“A man by the name of Inspector Adamat.”

Nila turned away from watching the code breaker. “Adamat was here?”

“He was. He mentioned something about you, Bo, but I’m still surprised to see you here.”

“We…” Nila started.

“My lady!” The codebreaker had stood up, his copy of the letter in his trembling hands. “I’ve finished, my lady. This is urgent.”

“Well, go on!”

The code breaker licked his lips. “Hilanska is plotting with the Kez, my lady. He intends to destroy Ket’s brigades and then turn on us, working jointly with the enemy.”

“Give me that.” Bo snatched the translated missive from the code breaker and ran his eyes over it. His face grew grim and he handed the letter over to Lady Winceslav.

The Lady was already on her feet. “I’ve just sent Abrax and two companies of my men to treat with General Ket. I’ve sent them to their own end.” She paled slightly and then straightened, standing tall. “Send for my colonels. Mobilize the men. We march within the hour!”

The code breaker seemed startled by this. “Whom do you want to march, my lady?”

Winceslav made two fists and gritted her teeth. “Everyone.”

Nila put her hand up on the side of Lady Winceslav’s coach to keep her head from hitting the walls as they careened along the road together with well over twenty thousand marching soldiers of the Wings of Adom.

Lady Winceslav gazed intently out the window as they traveled, while Bo had become withdrawn almost as soon as the Lady had given the order to muster her troops. There had been no conversation in the coach for two hours already, and Nila wondered how long until they would reach General Ket’s camp.

“Do we expect fighting?” Nila asked, if only to break the silence.

Bo glanced toward her for a moment but didn’t speak. Lady Winceslav gave her a smile that was only slightly patronizing. “It certainly seems that way,” she said.

“Your soldiers mustered quickly,” Nila said. “I don’t have a lot of experience with armies, but I’d thought it took them longer to get on the march.” She had been impressed by their speed. Lady Winceslav had given the order and the first companies were leaving camp less than fifteen minutes later.

“The company has spent a lot of time in Gurla,” Lady Winceslav said. “Gurlish nomads have a penchant for appearing out of the desert at a moment’s notice to harass the camp. The men learn to fall in quickly, or die with their boots off.” She fell silent and went back to staring out the window.