S. Turney - Interregnum

Kiva took a couple of steps forward, Athas and Tythias at his side.

“State your business” he called.

A smaller man rode out around the side of the lead soldier and dropped the travel-worn and dusty cloak from his head and the scarf from his face. He was clearly Pelasian; one of Ashar’s. “General Caerdin… I believe you will know at least some of these men. Sergeant Cialo if no others?”

Kiva nodded. “Cialo. I’m surprised Velutio would send you rather than one of his politicians or spies.”

Cialo saluted; a traditional Imperial salute. Sliding from his saddle he motioned his men to follow suit. The Pelasian remained seated as he looked across the others at the general. “If you will excuse me general, my Prince must know of this?”

Without waiting for Kiva’s absent wave of a hand and nod of assent, the man wheeled his horse and began to ride as fast as safety would allow down the narrow path. Cialo, with his seven other men at heel stepped slowly forward, their hands staying well clear of the sword hilts at their waists. The sergeant smiled at them. “General Caerdin, it’s a pleasure. I can assure you that it was Commander Sabian that chose who delivered the message, not his lordship.”

Kiva nodded. “I realise that you’re here under a flag of truce and have no real reason to trust me, but the Emperor is here and I must ask you to surrender your weapons for the time being.” He clicked his fingers and a number of the guard stepped forward to receive the items.

Cialo nodded. “Of course, general. I understand completely. Darius must not be harmed.” He turned and made beckoning gestures to his men. “Crispin? Collect the weapons.”

As the Imperial party stood waiting, the sergeant turned, drawing his sword from its sheath. The men of Hadrus around them were already fully alert with their weapons trained on the visitors, clustering defensively around the commanders and watching every move the sergeant and his men made. Cialo spun round, whipping out his short-sword and jammed it with a smooth blow into the neck of the soldier behind him just below the chin, who was busy relinquishing his weapon fully sheathed. The man gasped and gurgled in panic and surprise as the sergeant put all his strength behind the weapon and drove it home to the hilt, the tip emerging from the man’s spine red and dripping. Behind that and to one side, Crispin received a blade from one of the other soldiers and in a swift move drew the blade and cut across the man’s throat, deep and hard before pushing him away.. Kiva watched with surprise as the party of eight dropped to six and the two limp bodies collapsed to the ground with sprays of blood.

“Interesting, sergeant. And why may I ask?”

“These are not my men.” Cialo said loudly. “I chose my men personally. These two were sent along with us at his Lordship’s request. I expect I needn’t explain that to you?”

The general raised an eyebrow but said nothing, so Cialo shrugged, wiping his blade on the hem of a fallen soldier’s cloak. Standing once more, he reversed his blade and placed it over his other arm, offering the hilt to Kiva. The general merely stood his ground, brow still raised.

“If I must spell it out, general, I offer you my sword and my loyalty, as well as that of my men. These two assassins spoke and boasted far too much after a jug of ale during the nights on the journey. I’m surprised your little Pelasian didn’t deal with them. He must have known. But then perhaps he feared reprisal from the rest of us.”

Kiva smiled. “I think you underestimate Ashar’s men.” He pointed behind Cialo and the sergeant turned his head to see the small Pelasian, still on horseback some distance away but with a bow trained on the group and an arrow nocked. “I don’t think he had any intention of letting these two get away.”

Cialo nodded. “Nevertheless, I surrender my arms and that of my men to you and formally seek sanctuary with you.”

Caerdin shook his head, his eyes narrowing.

“Not you, Cialo. I can’t believe that. You’re old school and I can’t see you betraying Sabian. This is some sort of a trick.”

Cialo shook his head in return. “No trick I assure you. You will find that these terms are dishonourable and unacceptable. My Commander is an honourable man, but his lord is not. I cannot take an oath to put a man on the throne who takes advantage of a truce to send assassins. I have no wish to betray my commander, but the fault must lie with him. He should have walked away from Velutio a long time ago.”

Mercurias appeared from one side and leaned close to Kiva. “If you want to be sure whether he’s telling the truth or not, give Favio and me half an hour with him. I’ve got compounds that’ll make him sing the truth like he’s talking to his mother.”

Kiva smiled. “And if that doesn’t work, ten minutes with Brendan and a hammer should do it.” He turned back to Cialo. “It is not I that can grant mercy here.”

Cialo nodded. “Another reason I must abandon my position. I can find no reason in my heart to make war on young Darius.” He straightened. “But before any of this, there’s something else I must warn you of. I see you all wear an imperial uniform. We saw several men down the valley and I presumed them your scouts and outriders, but they were in no uniform, so I assume they are not friendly. I would strongly urge you to send some scouts down to the narrow part of the pass and investigate.”

Kiva narrowed his eyes again and watched Cialo for some time, weighing the odds of a trap. Finally he turned to Athas. “Have a dozen men fall in in the square and send for Phythian’s crossbowmen. I’ll check this out personally.”

As he stepped to one side, Darius walked out ahead of his guards. Soldiers around the gate had now removed the weapons from Cialo’s group and had taken them for storage. Darius stepped up to the grizzled sergeant and stared down into the man’s eyes.

“It’s been a long time Cialo. I have always held you in esteem and would hate to think I couldn’t trust you. I will not let Mercurias drug you or Brendan beat the truth out of you. If all of you will willingly take the imperial soldier’s oath here, in front of me, my staff and the army, I will place my trust in you and your weapons will be returned.”

Cialo grinned. “D’you know, I always had a feeling that you’d turn out something like this young Darius. I’ll gladly take your oath, but it’ll take some doing to start using a title for you, so you might have to be lenient with me for a while… your imperial majesty!”

Darius smiled back at him and leaned in close to speak in a low voice. “You have no idea how hard it is to remember to be an ‘imperial majesty, Cialo.”

As the turncoats of Velutio’s army stood in the afternoon sun and roared out the traditional soldier’s oath, along with the secondary oath Kiva had demanded to him and his command unit, Athas’ quartermasters went about the business of finding uniforms and equipment for them.

As the large, dark-skinned sergeant finished bellowing at an unfortunate blacksmith and turned to face the square once more, Kiva approached him, grinning.

“I think another piece of the plan is falling into place. Don’t have the uniforms issued just yet. I have plans for Cialo and his unit. I think things are coming together. Just hope it happens in time.”

Athas nodded in agreement as he watched Cialo and his men saluting their new Emperor and a score or more of men scrambled to fall in near the gate.

In the end, Kiva had capitulated and let Tythias take the unit down the path form the gatehouse. His second in command had refused to let the army’s senior commander ride into what could still very well be a trap and Kiva had reluctantly had to agree with the logic.