Robert Adams - Madman's Army

But Bralos shook his head. “No, the more you stir shit, the more and worse it stinks. Besides, you can say all that needs the saying, Portos.”

What with one seemingly unavoidable delay after another, the army was a week late in leaving for the old capital, taking the circuitous northern route now used by traders over roads recently refurbished by gangs of state-slaves. Bralos and his remaining men watched the army march out of the sprawling camp and set foot to the eastern road, led by light cavalry— not a few of these their comrades, Bralos’ troopers and officers—and with their supplies and baggage, their remudas and beef herds behind them.

It had been at the very next called meeting of senior officers after the explosive interview with the Grand Strahteegos that this newest catapult boulder had been dropped upon Bralos. After covering the order of the march column as regarded infantry, supply and baggage, specialist units and remounts, each category preceded by the name of the officer to command it and be at all times responsible for it, the Grand Strahteegos finally got around to the cavalry.

“Senior Captain Thoheeks Portos as brigade commander will, of course, exercise overall command of the horse, directly under me. He will also be in command of his own squadron of heavy horse. Captain Chief Pawl Vawn of Vawn will be in command of his Horseclans medium-heavy horse. Captain-of-war-elephants Komees Nathos of Pinellopolis will be in overall command of his six bulls and the three cow draught elephants, assisted by Captain-of-work-elephants Gil Djohnz.

“Lastly, as regards light cavalry, Captain-of-squadron Opokomees Ehrrikos will, for this campaign, command his own three troops and an additional three troops which will be seconded to him from out of the Wolf Squadron, with the senior lieutenants of both squadrons to assist him.”

Bralos could not move or speak for a moment. He looked every bit as stunned as he felt, and, noticing this, not a few of his peers and superiors began to mutter amongst themselves.

Raising his voice, old Pahvlos went on to say, “Captain-of-squadron Vahrohnos Bralos of wherever, having shown himself treacherous and most disloyal to me and my army, will remain here with one troop to maintain order in the camp, where those I can trust can keep an eye on him.”

Bralos came to his feet at that last, his fury bubbling up in him, his hand clamping hard on the hilt of his saber.

“ Draw it !” hissed the Grand Strahteegos , cruel glee shining out of his eyes. “Go ahead and draw that steel of yours, you young turd out of a diseased sow. Draw it before all these witnesses; that will be all I need to put a hempen necklace around your scabby throat, sneak-thief, poseur, illegitimate puppy.”

Bralos was on the verge of doing just that, suicidal action or no, but a powerful hand clamped cruelly hard about his upper arm, and in a whisper, Thoheeks Portos’ voice said, “Let be, son Bralos, let be, I say. Don’t play directly into his hands. He’s clearly, obviously trying in every way he knows to provoke you, making no slightest secret of that fact. He couldn’t strip you of your gold, so now he would have your blood, your honor and your life, so don’t just hand him that satisfaction. You outthought him before; do it again. That will hurt him far more than a honed edge would.”

When Bralos let go his well-worn hilt and sat down, there was a chorus of released breaths all about the crowded room.

Putting the best face he could upon his keen disappointment, the Grand Strahteegos crowed, “You see, gentlemen, you all saw it, didn’t you? The craven criminal will not even speak to refute my words; he’s patently not only guilty of his crimes, then, but an honorless coward, to boot.”

Bralos rose more slowly this time, came to rigid attention and said, slowly, clearly, very formally, “Captain-of-squadron Vahrohnos Bralos of Yohyültönpolis prays that he be allowed to appear before a full panel of his peers, that they may hear all evidence for and against his guilt of the charges made by the Grand Strahteegos Thoheeks Pahvlos and decide, therefrom, his culpability or innocence. If found guilty by them, he will leave the army. If found innocent, he will demand that his accusers meet him breast to breast, fully armed, in a formal duel overseen by Ehleen gentlemen.”

The old man’s face darkened in ire. “Shut your lying mouth and sit down, you thieving cur! No brave, honest, honorable gentleman needs hear anymore of your nauseating misdeeds from anyone. I say you’re guilty—guilty as very sin—and that’s all that’s necessary, hear me?”

“No it is not, my lord Grand Strahteegos Thoheeks ” spoke up Sub- strahteegos Tomos Gonsalos, adding, “According to the traditions of this and every other Ehleen army—past or present—of which I have heard or had dealings, a noble officer accused of cowardice or of any felonious conduct by another officer has the right to demand that a panel of officers to include all who heard the allegations spoken or read them written be met as soon as expedient to hear or view all evidence and thereby judge his guilt or his innocence. It would pain me to have to report to the High Lord Milo Morai that so tradition-minded an officer as you refused to abide, in this one instance, by the traditional method and see justice done, thereby.”

Glaring hatred at the sub- strahteegos , old Pahvlos made to speak twice but produced only wordless growls of insensate rage, then finally stalked out and left his staff to conclude the briefing as best they could. These men’s efforts were not helped by the loud sounds of crashings and hangings emanating up the hallway from the direction of the Grand Strahteegos ’ private quarters. That the old man had at last found his voice was clear to all; the shouted curses, obscenities and shocking blasphemies were proof of it.

When the meeting had been adjourned and the officers had silently filed out of the building, they all— seemingly of but a single mind and regardless of the crush of preparations still awaiting them in their own units—made directly for the officers’ mess, chivvied out the cooks and servants, then commenced their own meeting.

“I liked that old man, I did,” commented Captain-of-pikes Guhsz Hehluh. “I respected him, too, but after today, hell, I don’t know if I want a man like that over me and my Keebai boys anymore. He carried on like a spoiled brat throwing a temper tantrum, there at the end of everything. What the hell would happen to the fucking army was the old bugger to do that in battle sometime?”

“Something’s changed him, altered his character drastically, and certainly for the worse,” said Captain-of-foot Bizahros, commander of the infantry brigade. “When first he came to lead us here, it was as if I still were serving under him in the old royal army, and I rejoiced, as did right many other officers and men of the old army. But now … it’s almost as if another person were inhabiting his mind. He always averred in the past that the commoner soldiers must be treated well by all officers, from the highest to the lowliest, must be always shown that officers have the best interests of their men at heart at all times. But now …”

“Yes,” nodded Senior Captain Thoheeks Portos, grim-faced, “but in the present state of affairs, we’ll be very fortunate do we not have to put down a mutiny or two during this campaign … and if not then, then surely when we get back and our units once more go under these ridiculous, divisive camp strictures of no women, no alcohol save the thoroughly watered issue and no movement outside the perimeter save on organized details.”