The Autumn Republic

Tamas nodded politely, and when they’d passed her, he continued, “And it seems none have been the wiser.”

“Well done, sir,” Olem said, cracking a smile. He had been in hysterics over the idea of leaving to fetch Taniel, and Tamas might have never done it if Vlora hadn’t shouted down Olem’s objections. “I suppose you can say you told me so.”

“I’ll wait for that until I hear the casualty count,” Tamas said, stopping to shake hands with two privates who were stirring the coals for their breakfast. He and Olem reached the command tent a moment later and the guards snapped off their salutes, one holding the tent flap while they slipped inside.

The white walls of the tent allowed enough light in for Tamas to see several figures. Vlora, he expected. She lay across several chairs, her boots on the ground beside her, snoring lightly. The others Tamas had not expected. Brigadier Abrax snoozed on a chair beside the door, her hat tipped over her face and chin resting on her chest, while Inspector Adamat mumbled in his sleep from his spot on the ground. Someone else was curled up in the corner, a mess of curly auburn hair spread out over her blanket.

“Captain,” Tamas said. No response from Vlora.

Olem leaned over her. “Vlora.” He nudged her knee, then gently touched her cheek. She startled awake and blinked groggily at Olem, and then at Tamas.

“Sir,” she said, getting to her feet and managing a less-than-snappy salute.

“At ease, Captain,” Tamas said. He looked at Abrax. Maybe they should step outside. He really didn’t want to wake her. These things were best done one at a time. “How did everything go?”

Vlora rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Quite well, sir. The Kez fell for our trap completely. We were able to surprise them with our offensive, while the Wings held off theirs. It was a decisive victory. It went almost exactly as you said.”

“Almost?”

“I had to improvise a few times. I’ve written a full report. It’s on your desk.”

“I look forward to reading it.” And I better do so soon, if we’re to keep up the farce that I was here the entire time giving orders myself. “Casualties?”

“Fifteen thousand one hundred and seventy-four.”

Tamas staggered at the number. So many? That was a fourth of his army, not counting the irregulars. “Pit,” he said.

“The regimental breakdown of the losses is also on your desk.”

“And the Kez?”

“They’ve retreated all the way to Fendale.”

“Their losses?”

“We can’t be entirely sure yet, sir, but we estimate around ninety thousand. We’ve captured about twenty-five thousand.”

Tamas felt some of the tension drain from his body. “That’s significant.”

“It is, sir. Congratulations.”

Tamas allowed himself a deep breath and some hope for this war. “Thank you for staying here.”

Vlora looked down at her feet. “It’s the least I could do after fighting to have you go after Taniel. I did the best I could.”

“I think you were equal to the task.”

“Just following your orders. Sir?”

“My mission was successful, Captain, if that is what you’re asking.”

Vlora gave a none-too-subtle sigh of relief. Tamas wondered what she would feel about Taniel’s declaration of love for the savage-for Ka-poel. He had advised that his son keep it under his hat for a while longer, but truth be told, Tamas didn’t know what he thought of it. Not something he had the luxury to deal with right now. He glanced at the piles of papers on his desk. He would have to scour everything in there to learn the details of the battle. If Vlora had made mistakes, it would be his own fault for leaving her here alone.

“You selfish, foolish prig!”

The voice broke angrily through Tamas’s thoughts. He whirled to find Abrax awake and on her feet. She advanced toward him and stopped an arm’s length away and thrust a finger out. Tamas felt himself shrink back slightly. She was not a large woman by any means, but with her ire up she could be imposing. She jabbed him in the chest.

“What kind of damned idiocy has gotten into your head, Tamas? How could you do this to us? To me? To your entire army?”

“Do what?” he asked mildly.

She sputtered. “You abandoned us on the eve of a decisive battle. You left a captain in charge of your army and ran off with an entire company of your best soldiers-for what?”

“For my son.”

“For one man’s life! I thought you were a leader, Tamas.”

“I have responsibilities to more than just this country,” Tamas said. He could feel his initial fear turning to anger. Part of him understood Abrax’s anger, but to harangue him in front of his men? To criticize him for trying, once in his life, to be a good father?

“The country is your only responsibility, Tamas. You can’t afford to be a father. You gave that up years ago when you decided to overthrow your king.”