C S Brown

General Tianis was uncomfortable in the courtly attire but knew he must dress to match the significance of today's events. Stewards had spent the entire night preparing his clothes and two hours fitting him into them. Freshly bathed and shaved, stuffed into silks and linens with frilly cuffs and ruffles, and strapped into polished armor free of mud and rust for the first time in two years, he accepted his fate and knew its necessity outweighed the discomfort.

 

Too much was at stake; too many had already suffered; and too many more would die if the day did not go well. He could not risk offending the enemy king. Shaking his head, he silently mourned that he was a better soldier than statesman. It struck him as ironic that the state of the world was such that success should leave a man with fewer choices than would failure. 

     

Tianis strapped on his sword, its black leather scabbard now polished to a deep gleam, and threw a white cape trimmed with sky-blue over his shoulders. He picked up his helmet and placed it under his arm, then strode from the tent into the early morning light.

 

The camp was a bustle of activity. Soldiers moved purposefully through the pink light of sunrise. Everyone had a task, and today they were going about it with an exhilaration that seemed out of place in an army encampment. Laughter and friendly banter reached his ears from every direction, and the mood was one of anticipation and hope.

 

Late-autumn rains had softened the ground. Tianis noted that sand had been brought up from the river and spread along the path so that he could walk to the pavilion without getting his freshly polished boots dirty. He wondered how many of his soldiers went without sleep to make that happen. He headed down the path to the edge of camp.

 

"General, umm… a word?"

 

Tianis stopped and turned to look at the soldier addressing him. The patches on the corporal's uniform identified him as coming from one of the engineering battalions. There was a time when he knew every man under his command, but the influx of new troops sent from the capital had swelled the ranks of the army to a point where that was no longer possible. He also had to admit that after two years of war he was not exactly eager to get to know the new recruits. He had lost enough friends in this ridiculous conflict.

 

"Yes, Corporal? What do you need?"

 

The corporal shifted on his feet nervously and began to stammer. "Well, sir. I, umm… That is, we… Well, umm…"

 

"Out with it, Corporal. I have a busy day ahead."

 

The corporal jumped at the command. "Yes, sir. Well, General, a bunch of us got together and we wanted to give you somethin'. You see, for the last two years, you pulled us through thick and thin. Almost everybody here owes you their life for one reason or another. We thought that you should know how much we appreciate what you done for us, sir. We all got stuck in this together, but we always knew that you was takin' care of us. So Johannesen—over in the thirteenth—well, he was a jeweler 'fore he got drafted. So, we went and had him make somethin' for you."

 

The corporal held out a small package wrapped in a dirty rag. Looking into his eyes, Tianis saw his excitement. No, it was more than that. These men he had led from one battle to another across the width and breadth of a kingdom, they loved him. He smiled and accepted the package.

 

"Thank you, Corporal. I appreciate the gift." The corporal snapped to attention and saluted. Returning the salute, he watched the young soldier turn and disappear into the milling throngs.

 

Opening the rag, he was not sure what to expect. A gasp escaped his lips as he uncovered the gift he was given. There, in his hand, was the most beautiful brooch he had ever seen. Three inches high by two inches wide, it was a masterpiece of exquisite detail. It was made of the finest gold wire he could imagine, thousands of strands woven together and shaped into a shield emblazoned with a lion's head. The lion's eyes were flames, so expressive that they seemed to be looking directly into his soul. The craftsmanship was extraordinary, and he was struck by how much would have been lost if its creator—the corporal had said his name was Johannesen—had died in this ridiculous conflict.

 

A sudden elation swept through him as he thought about what today really meant. Smiling, he pinned his fine new brooch to his cloak. His heart light, he thought about how the men he had commanded for so long would be represented by this brooch today. As a general, his success was entirely defined by the success of his troops, and he was eager to show them his appreciation.

 

Tianis shook his head to stop his indulgent contemplation. There was too much work yet to be done. Turning back to the path, he continued to the edge of the camp, where hundreds of men were busy setting up a pavilion. A long sigh escaped his lips when he saw the political advisors waiting for him to arrive.

 

"Lord General, sir," intoned one particularly distasteful lickspittle.

 

"Just General, Master Grayson. I am not a lord." He was, in fact, as far from being a lord as was possible. Born the fifth son to a peasant farmer, he had joined the army to escape the constant toil of farm work. Somehow, over the years, he got lucky, survived, and was promoted time and again. Finally, he had taken command of His Majesty's armies prior to this latest war.

 

"Forgive me, uh, sir. But I wanted to reiterate my concern. You are allowing our enemy to bring the full complement of his commanders—with their swords! Are you sure that it is wise to let them get so close without disarming them?"

 

Looking down at Grayson, Tianis felt bile rise to the back of his throat. Something about the weaselly man didn't sit well. "We have been over this already, Grayson. The king made it very clear that their participation was a requirement for today's parley. And two hundred men are hardly a threat. We have over twenty thousand veteran troops here; we can manage."

 

"But, for your safety, sir—"

 

Tianis glowered. "Enough, Grayson! The commanders will accompany their king, they will carry their arms, and they will be treated with respect. Is that understood?"

 

"Yes, my Lor… uhm… General."

 

"Now, go attend to duties somewhere else. I cannot stomach you this morning, and we need to make sure that everything is perfect. If I am not mistaken, we are expecting company in less than an hour."

 

Taking a look around the pavilion, Tianis assured himself that everything was as ready as could be, and he sat down to wait for the arrival of the king of Tauris Reach.