Sunstone - Dishonor's Bane (Book 2) (26 page)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

~

S
hiro emerged from the tent
he shared with Shinku and looked out at the re-organized camp. The tents were arranged so that a squad’s tents circled a cooking fire and wider streets separated the companies. In the middle of the grounds, Tishiaki had created a large training yard. Smaller training yards were cleared outside the camp proper. It looked more orderly than the hodgepodge that Chika had permitted in the valley of the White Rose.

He expected Captain Beech at any time. He had learned that the second names of Bessethians were surnames rather than locations like on Roppon. He heard the sound of horses and turned to see the two men riding from the track that led to the road bordering the farm and their camp and summoned on of the locals to translate. He kept Shinku by his side to make sure the translations were correct.

“Shiro Koriaki,” Beech said. “You weren’t properly introduced to Peleor.”

Both men dismounted. Shiro bowed once to each of them. Peleor stuck his hand out and Shiro took it as Shinku had instructed. He felt a thread of power emanate from the man, but threw up a shield. Perhaps the sorcerer tried to assess his power. Shiro hadn’t heard of such a thing before, since the Guild used magic globes to assess Affinity potential. Peleor’s eyebrows rose as he slipped the shield into place.

“I would not think it polite to assess another sorcerer without permission,” Shiro said.

Peleor cleared his throat and said, “Our practices are not the same.”

Shiro didn’t know if it was an apology or not. “Our sorcerers have varying talents and capabilities. If you wish to assess, please ask them. I will not grant you permission to examine me,” Shiro said. He wouldn’t let this man know of his powers nor would he test him with the Sunstone.

“Of course. I will ask. I can sense that there are many sorcerers in our midst.”

“Seven out of ten have some Affinity.”

“That many?” Beech said, as he looked around the camp. “That’s over two hundred battle mages. I had no idea.”

“Indeed,” Peleor corrected. “On Roppon, their approach to magic is more benign than on Besseth and Dakkor. There are few battle mages on their isles.”

Shiro didn’t catch all that Peleor said and asked Shinku for a translation. “Perhaps,” he said, “I’m not experienced in the ways of other continents.”

“But do you know how to fight?” Beech said.

“We do with our power and with our weapons,” Shiro said, needed no translation for the question.

“Your language has improved.”

Shiro grimaced. “Not without a great deal of study this week,” he said. “I will understand more in the coming weeks. So will my people. I have hired townspeople to teach us more of your language.”

“Don’t bother,” Beech said. “We don’t want them too smart do we?” The man chuckled as he glanced at Peleor.

Shinku translated. Shiro didn’t quite understand the nuance at first and then it sunk in that the Captain wanted his people as ignorant as possible. His level of trust of the man plummeted, but for now, they needed time to get acclimated and learn as much as they could. The Red Roses were mercenaries after all.

“What do you call your company?” Peleor said.

“We are the Band of the Red Rose.” Shiro said, making up the name as he looked upon a passing squad dressed in their newly crafted dark red cloaks. They still wore the clothes they brought from Roppon underneath.

“Not quite an army, eh? Well let’s see what they are.”

Shiro lifted his chin and raised his right finger. Tishiaki and Chika joined them.

“These are my two group commanders, Tishiaki, formerly Commander of the Hirodo Armed Forces and Chika, formerly of Lord Udishi’s guard. This is Captain Harlance Beech in the service of Duke Happly and Sorcerer Peleor from the Dakkoran Empire.”

Beech eyed Chika up a down like a piece of meat. The Captain was nearly a head taller than she and only a few of their forces had men approaching Beech’s height. “I’d cross swords with her any day.”

“You’d lose,” Shiro said. “She’s a powerful swordsman and expert with a staff as well.”

Chika rose a foot into the air so she could look down at Beech, who backed up a step. “Perhaps we will some day get that opportunity,” she said and glided back down.

“I wouldn’t underestimate any of the Red Rose’s, Captain,” Peleor said and turned to Shiro. “You’ll have to teach me that trick.”

Chika merely nodded. Shiro would rather not teach any techniques to Peleor. He didn’t trust either of the men.

“Tishiaki, would you escort our guests to the parade ground and our demonstration?”

Shiro let them go, standing with Chika and Shinku, watching their retreating backs.

“Reminds me of my father’s men,” Chika said.

“Peleor will make the decision, not Beech. We will have to find out what influence the Dakkoran emperor has on Besseth. Mistokko gave me the impression that the Dakkoran’s hadn’t meddled with Bessethian affairs, but I think otherwise.”

Chika kicked at the dirt beneath her feet. “I don’t trust either of them.” 

Shiro turned to his sailor. “What do you think Shinku? Could you go into town, while these men are here and get a feel for what is happening? Whose side on Besseth is Duke Happly on? There isn’t an emperor on Besseth, just a bunch of independent countries. Mistokko thought we could always find someone willing to hire us since there are incessant border disputes and the wars never last very long.”

“Willingly. I’ll need some money,” Shinku said.

Shiro took out his purse and plunked out a gold piece. “That will even buy you a room in Grianne should you be physically unable to return tonight.”

Shinku quickly left them, grinning.

“What do you think he will find?” Chika said as her eyes followed Shinku’s retreat from the camp.

“Maybe nothing, but I sense a lot of conflict stirring about and I need more perspective.”

Chika said, “You don’t have it all figured out, do you?  Are we making a mistake?”

“I only wish I knew.” Shiro patted Chika on the shoulder. “It’s time we joined Tishiaki and our guests.”

The six best squads just finished the marching steps Tishiaki taught them. Shiro thought they looked sharp, but then he couldn’t judge. His few days working with the Sekkoro palace guard never included one day of marching drill. Shiro had sufficient confidence in his swordsmanship and use of other weapons, but he’d never marched.

“Now I’d like to see the two commanders fight,” Beech said.

Tishiaki’s face turned red. “I cannot meet your request,” he said. “An old war wound to my shoulder. I cannot swing a sword or plow a field,” he glanced at Shiro.

Shiro glanced at Tishiaki and discovered the fuzzy border running down his right arm. So that’s why Tishiaki became Tishi. He’d never noticed what Tishiaki did with his right arm, but something was wrong with it.

“How can you lead your unit into battle?”

Tishiaki had no reply, but Shiro spoke up. “I can do so.”

“You can fight me, then,” the Captain said. “I’ve never fought a Ropponi blade before.”

Shiro didn’t dare show Peleor the Sunstone Sword. “Tishiaki? Can I use yours? I left my own sword in the tent.”

Tishiaki pulled his sword and sheath out of his sash with his left hand. Did he even have a right? Shiro drew the blade and examined the edge. Tishiaki had brought a very expensive, well-made sword across the Middle Sea with him. Shiro tested the weight. A little light compared to the Sunstone Sword, but Shiro learned on his father’s Ropponi-style weapon.

Beech pulled out his own blade. Even the grinding sound as it left its sheath sounded heavy and ponderous. Beech waved it around a bit. Perhaps all of the Bessethian weapons were built this way. He’d have to adjust his tactics. A blade-to-blade parry might damage Tishiaki’s sword. He would have to use just a bit of power in the match. That might even impress Peleor, if he kept it to a minimum.

After a few moments of limbering exercises, not quite forms practice, but enough to get his blood flowing and his mind in tune with his weapon, Shiro stepped into the open area. He waited as Peleor whispered into Beech’s ear.

“No blood?” Shiro said.

Beech nodded, but said, “Unless it’s inadvertent, of course.”

“Of course. How do you start a sparring match such as this in Besseth?” Shiro said. “In Roppon, we bow to each other and then pause in a martial pose.”

“I can bow, but I don’t pose,” Beech said. The man could not wipe the grin off of his face.

Shiro bowed to Beech and struck a defensive pose. His opponent laughed, a barely concealed sneer and then he struck out with a blow designed to knock off Shiro’s head. The man moved so slowly that Shiro easily dodged the blow and ignored the opportunity to strike first with the large opening that Beech presented.

The man frowned. Evidently he had some counter-move planned if Shiro had struck. They traded thrusts and parries. Shiro used the flat of his blade a number of times to change the path of Beech’s sword, but just enough.

Shiro backed up to take a breath and he found his feet sliding towards Beech. He glanced at Peleor and could feel power coming from the Dakkoran sorcerer. The two worked together to hurt him. Shiro was able to fight against the pull by moving to the side as the power drove him forward. Beech sliced down where Shiro should have stood. So the two men would rather deal with Chika or Tishiaki and fought to end his life.

“That was much too close. I think we have measured each other’s capabilities sufficiently.” Shiro stood up, but Beech wouldn’t stand for it. Shiro didn’t want to use power in the match, but he didn’t have a choice.

The pull began again. Shiro slammed his magical shield down, relieved that the pulling stopped and levitated over Beech’s head as quickly as he could and pointed his sword into Beech’s back before the man could turn around. He could have teleported, but he didn’t want Peleor to know they could do that.

“What?” Beech could only look puzzled as Shiro levitated again and poked his sword into Beech’s side.

“I’d rather not do it again and slice your neck, Captain,” Shiro said. “It’s evident that no blood means something different in your language than it does in mine.” He looked pointedly at Peleor. “A fair enough match, don’t you think, sorcerer?”

The pulling ceased. Shiro noted a sheen on Peleor’s brow. “My title is Wizard, actually, and I believe you are correct. A cultural misunderstanding. I think we have seen enough. Tomorrow at the inn where we met and we will negotiate our terms and give you your marching orders.” Peleor gazed at Beech, who looked more shocked than anything as he put on his cloak.

“Tomorrow, Ropponi.” Beech said. His voice was anything but friendly.

Chika walked the two men to their horses as Shiro handed Tishiaki’s sword back to him. The man accepted it in his right hand, but the point immediately dropped to the ground.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Shiro said.

“About this?” Tishiaki raised his right hand. “You wouldn’t have given me command. I can use it, but I can’t lift much more than a pot of water or a large jug of wine.”

Shiro put his hand on the man’s left shoulder. “I’ve seen you in action, Tishiaki. You command because of your mind and experience. You also have sufficient power that you don’t even need to use a weapon.”

“I…  I’m sorry. I’m one of those who are diminished on Besseth. I cannot even teleport.”

“Nothing to be sorry for. We are a unit. You know that and you know that we will fight for each other and together as brothers and sisters. We all have strengths and weaknesses. I’ve shown that often enough. I don’t have the experience being a war leader and I can do some dumb things.”

Tishiaki sighed. “We all do dumb things. Don’t minimize your impact as a leader. I’d follow you anywhere, Shiro, but I’m not too happy about following them.”

Shiro turned and saw their two mounted visitors vanish around a bend in the road. He shook his head. “Peleor isn’t even discreet about his power. I’ll bet my quick shield and levitation twisted his guts.”

“It twisted mine. I’ve never seen that used in battle before. You can levitate nearly as quickly as teleporting.”

“A new skill, I guess. I’ve shifted side to side before, but never like I did today. See how many of our warrior-sorcerers can do it. If nothing else it will provide some shock value.” Shiro laughed.

“More than that,” Tishiaki said as he levitated over Shiro’s head. “I know I can speed that up. Just remember that you can’t put much power behind your thrust.” He looked towards where Beech and the wizard had disappeared. “Still, I don’t trust them.”

“Where else will we go? Our people still need to learn the language. I spent most of a week learning what I did and I still didn’t understand all that they said. We need to understand the nuances of the culture. I do know for sure that the ‘no blood’ condition was no misunderstanding. They wanted me dead so they could negotiate with a newer, cowed leader. That won’t happen now,” Shiro said.

“No it won’t. We won’t head north to Happly with our eyes closed. We treat everyone as an enemy, even our employer, until proven otherwise. Right?”