Hand of the Wicked

Chapter 10

Havelock, Dryden, and Mar together went to see the Ghinai garrison. Their fort overlooked the central bridge of Ghinai. The garrison commander met them at the large wooden door that led into the fort.

“That was a close thing, Sirs, if you don’t mind my saying so.” The officer said as they entered.

The garrison commander wore the black uniform of the King’s armies. He held the rank of Captain. He was a small man, with thinning dark brown hair, hazel eyes behind rimmed spectacles, and a perpetual frown behind a thick dark moustache. It was a small garrison of only fifty soldiers. The Sultan of Ghinai was the ruler of the city, and he had his own garrison that was much larger. These soldiers were there only to protect the trade interests of Vastrum.

“Captain Nicks of the Ghinai Garrison, at your service.” He said and saluted them.

Havelock saluted him back, “I’m Commander Havelock of the 13th Dragoons, this is my second, Major Dryden, and our regimental wizard, Mar.”

“Will you take tea, sirs?” The man asked.

“Indeed, that would be lovely.” Havelock replied.

They followed the garrison commander into a secondary building near the main barracks of the fort. It was cramped and hot. Flies buzzed around. There was a stale smell that Dryden struggled to place. Captain Nicks looked around, then poke his head out, “Hames! Tea, if you please!” Then he turned back to the officers, “Apologies, my new orderly is less competent than my old one.”

“What happened to the old one?” Dryden asked.

“Dystenary.”

“Is that a problem in Ghinai?” Mar asked.

“It went through a city a few months ago. Hundreds died. It didn’t spare the garrison, we lost five, including my old batman Jarreth. Nothing for it now, though, but to soldier on I suppose.” The officer changed the subject, “If you don’t mind my asking. What’s all this fuss been over? Why are regiments of cavalry ripping through my quiet corner of the empire?”

“You heard about the rebellion?” Havelock asked in reply.

“We did. We’re not so quiet we don’t hear every rumour that travels the old road from Andaban.”

“Then you’re aware of the slaughter of ten thousand Vastrum soldiers?”

“Indeed, sir. Horrid stuff, that. Terrible news, indeed. Ghinai was talking of nothing else, well, except for the siege at Andaban. I can assume the siege was broken, eh?”

“You can.” Dryden replied.

“Oh, you’re that Major Dryden,” Nicks had the sudden realization that he was sitting for tea with the man who had survived the disastrous retreat from Vurun, “Well let me be the first here to congratulate you, sir, on your incredible survival.”

“Thank you.” Dryden replied. He did not think congratulations were in order, but he had found it easier to accept them and move on rather than to argue about the merits of his survival.

At least the man asked nothing more of it. Shortly after the officer’s orderly came in carrying a tray that contained a steaming hot teapot and a small platter with various pastries and tea cakes of a kind that Dryden recognized none of. The orderly deposited the platter on the messy desk of the commander, poured them tea, offered them cream and sugar, and then left. Dryden could not remember the last time he had taken a proper tea. Certainly it had last been in Vurun. They had not had a proper tea during the retreat from Vurun nor the siege in Andaban. They had certainly had none on the ride to Ghinai. Dryden closed his eyes as he took a sip of the earthy and slightly bitter brew. Somehow whatever medicine Mar had given him heightened the taste and smell of it. He thought nothing could taste so good until he tried one of the pastries from Ghinai. They were filled with almond paste and flavored with flowers.

“Major, leave some for the rest of us.” Mar cleared his throat.

Without realizing it, he had eaten four, “Apologies, sirs, I am not myself.”

“Think nothing of it,” Nicks chuckled.

Havelock cut in, “I’ll get straight to the point, Captain Nicks. We’re chasing the rebel Kurush’s sister north. She is a powerful sorceress. We hoped to catch her here, but she made it through much quicker than we had expected. They had explosives to blast the gate and the bridges. I presume those were stolen from supplies left behind in Vurun. Nevertheless, we still intend to follow her at the soonest opportunity. We’ll take any supplies that you can spare for us, we’re low on hay and beans. Furthermore, is there any way to cross this river now that the bridges are gone?”

“Supplies are no trouble. Hay and beans, we have plenty. Ammunition may be harder to get, but it can be had. Getting across the river is another matter. Had you come during the dry season, you could ford it easily. This is the wet season, relatively speaking of course. I suspect you can find barges to get across. It may take a few days. I suspect too that you are not alone in your need to cross the river. A full third of the city is upon the other shore. Rebuilding the bridges will be a priority too, especially for the Sultan, but even the most optimistic observer would note that it will be months before they are ready.”

A knock on the door interrupted the musings of Captain Nicks, “Sir? It’s important.” The orderly said from the other side of the door.

“What is it?”

“The Sultan is outside on the street.”

“The Sultan himself?”

“Yes, sir, the Sultan himself.”

“Of Ghinai?”

“What other Sultan is there, sir?”

“Very well. We will be there momentarily.” Then the captain turned to the other officers, “Gentlemen, I believe we ought to present ourselves.”

They left the office in the fort and went back across the courtyard and out the main door of the garrison. On the street among the wreckage of the boulevard and bridge, and the assembled cavalrymen, was an assortment of courtly people. The people of the court of the Sultan of Ghinai were dressed brightly in colourful silks. Many of the people held parasols or cooled themselves with ornate fans. A few guards stood nearby a tall man whose silken garb was vastly more ornate than the clothing of the rest. He stepped forward looking down at the four officers. Captain Nicks bowed. The rest did not. It was not usual for Vastrum men to bow to monarchs that they did not owe fealty to. Dryden thought it odd that Nicks had done so.

“I know Captain Nicks. You three, I do not know.”

Commander Havelock introduced himself and his officers.

The Sultan loomed over them, a very tall man indeed, “What wickedness have you wrought on my city?” He demanded. His dark eyes seemed to bore into Havelock as Dryden watched.

“We did not do this, your highness.”

“Did you not? Yesterday you were not here. Earth, sky and water were harmonious. Today you are here. My markets are in ruins. My bridges are destroyed. The sky is filled with smoke and ash.” He gestured to the destruction around them, “Devastation follows you like a pestilence.”

“It was Asia An-Beya who did these things. We mean to catch her,” Havelock objected.

“I have already been told such things. I ask you, if not for you, would she have done these things? She runs from you, does she not? If not for you and your quarrels with Vurun, would Ghinai not still exist in a state of tranquillity and bliss? I blame you both in equal measure.” The Sultan’s voice came down hard.

“We thought you our ally,” Havelock replied, challenging the Sultan.

“Fear not. I strive for harmony in my kingdom. You will leave. Our agreements will stand. But you will not return your fight to this place.”

“I do not control Aisa or Kurush nor any other of my enemies. I cannot control what they do.”

“But you can promise not to fight them here. This is a city of merchants and traders. It is a land of harmony and peace. Earth, water, and sky.”

“We must needs cross the Jaxa.” Havelock persisted.

“You shall have barges. The sooner you are from my land, the better.” The great Sultan turned from the Vastrum officers and to one of his servants, “Get them what they need.”

They were given supplies by the garrison. They were given barges by the Sultan. Two days later they were riding again on the far side of the river. Two days further behind Aisa. Now, however, the Bloody 13th had the scent of their quarry. From here the trail turned northeast and then east again, towards the treacherous northern passes that led back into Vurun. Soon Aisa would fall into the trap that had been set by General Haddock.