Thirty thousand from the First City of Bukh Haar
Twenty-five thousand from the Second City of Gorgon
Thirty-three thousand from the Third City of Bay Grand
Twenty-two thousand from the Fourth City of Hispana
Thirty thousand from the Fifth City of Pentania
Twenty thousand from the Sixth City of Rue Shalla
Twenty-two thousand from the Seventh City of Crimson Liber
Twenty-nine thousand from the Eighth City of Rune Barrés
Thirty-two thousand from the Ninth City of Bavel
Ten thousand from the Tenth City of Phoenikia
Twenty-four thousand from Eleventh City of Liddel
Five thousand from the Twelfth City of Northern Perscilla
Twenty-seven thousand from the Thirteenth City of Leddeheim
So we’ll mobilize a little over three hundred thousand soldiers. That’s a pretty impressive number on its own—only, I wonder how things will play out.
Lion looked at Shaola. None of the old man’s earlier hesitation remained. He could feel the residual heat of the flame within the man who long ago had risen to rule over his country by dint of his spear alone.
“Needless to say, if we are going to fight, we had better win. For that, it is essential that we create a single chain of command.”
Shaola was absolutely right. If each city’s armies were left to fight however they liked, all they would find waiting for them was bloody chaos. There was a general voicing of agreement from the others. It seemed as though a silent sizing up of one another’s intentions was about to begin, until Cassael raised a hand.
“Lord Lion seems an appropriate choice for supreme commander,” he said. “His valor in battle is already known to us all. What say you?”
By “valor in battle,” Cassael obviously referred to the Kasthall Unrest that had flared up in the Sixth City of Rue Shalla some years earlier. Though the name of the Sixth City’s ruler, Lady Luciana Hartley, might have been unknown to some, everyone knew the name Kasthall Raider. A warrior of the sort bards sang of, when Kasthall had mounted his insurrection, Luciana had been forced to admit herself outclassed. She had called upon Lion for aid, and he had come with his army and subdued the rebels.
He can’t have guessed my motives, can he? Lion thought. But then, I wouldn’t put it past the Bat. Still, I can’t have him call me out here. He looked across at the shimmer of a smile playing about Cassael’s mouth and wanted to spit in the man’s face.
“Yes, that was a feat few could hope to imitate,” Diana said. “I have no objections.”
After her, Shaola, Luciana, and the lord of the Ninth City spoke up too in agreement.
I expected that the Bat would have had his spies infiltrate the city. That’s why we’ve proceeded with such great caution. I put Julius in charge of arranging everything, and he would never slip up.
“He’s got talent beyond that of common men, I grant you,” Leisenheimer said. “But he’s a bit young.”
“Do you mean therefore to suggest, my lord, that you yourself are fitted to the role?” Diana replied. Leisenheimer looked momentarily embarrassed, but quickly rallied.
“I’d find it profoundly regrettable to think that’s how you heard it, my lady. I meant no more than that, given our opponent, would it not be reasonable to appoint a commander with a wealth of experience to draw on?”
Leisenheimer found two supporters, from the fifth and thirteenth cities. The decisive difference between these two and Lion’s supporters—with the exception of Shaola—was that they were both soldiers who commanded their own armies.
It won’t be easy to sniff out spies hidden among the populace. Trying it in the first place would be like announcing we have something to hide, which would be the height of stupidity...
“Lord Marshal.” Even as a whisper, Julius’s voice was clear. Lion turned his attention back to the table to find that everyone was staring at him.
“Do you accept the post of supreme commander, Lord Lion?”
He paused a moment. “On one condition.”
“A condition? Let’s hear it, then.”
“The supreme commander’s orders are to be followed without question, even those you disagree with. Failure to do so will result in harsh punishment. If you don’t like that, choose someone else.”
Leisenheimer immediately opened his mouth to protest, but Cassael effortlessly cut him off.
“Surely there is no question of that,” he said in a singsong voice. “Or else there would no point in having a supreme commander.”
This ended up shutting up not only Leisenheimer, but also the rulers of the fifth and thirteenth cities who had been ready to add their voices to his.
“Then it is my humble honor to serve,” Lion said. Following this, it was settled that Shaola would send an official letter formally refusing the empire’s demands. With the finer details of their plans to be left to the morrow, the council was brought to a close.
“We have done good work here today, my lords and ladies,” Cassael said. “The evening meal will soon be ready, but in the meantime, please do rest. Rooms have been made up for you.” He rang a bell by his hand, summoning a procession of servants dressed all in black who accompanied the cities’ rulers from the room.
“Er...the others have all retired to their rooms, my lord...” one of the servants said tentatively when Lion showed no sign of rising from his chair. Julius gently instructed her to wait outside.
“Understood.” The servant hurried from the room, cheeks flushed pink.
“You like girls like that, do you, Julius?”
“My lord.”
“I’m teasing, forget it,” Lion said. “Anyway, do you think the damn Bat is on to us?”
“He is, but he doesn’t know the details. That’s why he brought it up with you so directly, to see how you would react. Or something along those lines.”
“Hmm. You’re probably right. In any case, with the Bat hovering around us like a bad smell, we’ll have to be extra vigilant.”
“I know, my lord. In all honesty, though, given how you detest wearisome tasks, I was surprised you agreed to serve as supreme commander.”
“That’s why I agreed to it. Still better to be upwind than downwind, isn’t it?”
“True, I suppose it is,” Julius replied with a quiet chuckle.
“Shall we go, then? We can’t keep that poor girl waiting forever—speaking of which, you didn’t answer my—”
“You needn’t ask again, my lord,” Julius said irritably. Amused, Lion opened the door. The servant from earlier appeared, bowing low.
“We’re terribly sorry to have kept you waiting,” Julius said to her. “Could we trouble you to show us to our room?”
“Th-Th-Th-This way, my lord!” she replied in a strained stutter. Watching Julius awkwardly interact with the servant girl, it was all Lion could do to hold back his laughter.