Antiagon Fire

55

For the next three days, under slightly hazy but sunny skies, Southern Army marched and rode southward through towns invariably similar in architecture and agriculture to Clianto and the lands surrounding it. Early on Meredi morning, Quaeryt and Skarpa sat at opposite sides of a small table in the study of a villa in Nankico, a town perhaps half the size of Laaryn. The villa was normally used by the orchard manager of a Shahib Alzonio, who was resident, unsurprisingly, in Liantiago.

“We should reach Suemyran late the day after tomorrow,” said Skarpa. “That’s if we don’t run into trouble.”

“I’d think that Aliaro might at least have a garrison or outpost there,” ventured Quaeryt.

“You think we should see about surprising a post when we don’t even know if there is one and where it might be?”

“I was thinking about sending a battalion around Suemyran and setting up a hidden picket line on the road to Barna. The local commander, if there is one, or the town administrator might just send a courier or a messenger to Barna and then on to Liantiago. We don’t have to know where the post is-just the route that a messenger might take.”

“And you have your maps,” said Skarpa.

The entire time Southern Army had been on the move, Quaeryt had made inquiries in all the towns and hamlets through which they had passed and, after Clianto, especially at the larger villas about maps of Antiago. The best maps had come from the villas, along with a growing confirmation that the Shahibs and Shahibas of Antiago were effectively the equivalent of High Holders-and that all of them seemed to live near Liantiago. Two maps in particular depicted the roads in and around Suemyran in detail.

“They all show the same roads to the west. Both of them-the old road and the new road.”

“That might help. It can’t hurt. You’d planned on sending one of Alazyn’s battalions?”

“Whichever one he recommends,” Quaeryt replied.

“It can’t hurt.”

“You think someone has already sent a message to Aliaro?”

“I’d be astounded if someone hasn’t.”

“It won’t be any of the town administrators,” replied Quaeryt. “They’re not the type to volunteer anything unless they have to, and we haven’t raided town treasuries.” As much because there wasn’t anything in them. “More likely one of the orchard managers who’s sent a message to Liantiago to explain what happened to the grain and flour and mutton we’ve taken.”

“Aliaro will find out soon enough. One way or another.”

“But which Shahib will want to tell him?” asked Quaeryt, recalling just how few High Holders ever wanted to tell Bhayar anything negative-unless it enhanced their position, and Quaeryt couldn’t see how any Antiagon Shahib could benefit from reporting a Telaryn army.

Although someone is bound to find a way to turn it to their benefit. Some holders and their like always do.

“Someone will.” Skarpa paused. “I don’t trust any of those town administrators.”

“I’d agree. They’re hiding what they feel, in a way that shows long practice. I have to wonder if the Autarch sends imagers out with the tariff collectors. You noticed how several of the administrators never answered my questions about who came with them?”

“More here than meets the eye.” Skarpa nodded. “Do you think the Montagne has returned by now?”

“We’re inland, but we haven’t seen any sign of storms. We should have if the weather over the Gulf has been bad. Then again, I’m not sure I trust Nykaal to press much, even in fair seas. I wouldn’t be surprised if Calkoran didn’t return before Khaern and his last battalions.”

“I’d put the wager on Calkoran,” said Skarpa dryly. “Do you think Aliaro will send ships and troops to try to retake Kephria?”

“It’s always possible, but it will take time. By then, hopefully, we’ll have given him a more immediate worry.” Quaeryt didn’t mention his concerns about Vaelora. There was little enough he could do now, and he’d given Baarl orders to withdraw if the Antiagons appeared in overwhelming force.

“Anything else?”

“Besides what we’ve already talked over?” Quaeryt shook his head. “Supplies will always be a problem.”

“Before long, we’ll have other problems.”

“Like Antiagon Fire, cannon, musketeers, and Antiagon imagers?”

“Don’t you think so?”

“It’s all possible, but we do have the advantage that we’re attacking from behind their defenses. It’s pretty clear that because of the Lohan Hills, the Sud Swamp, and the high deserts along the southern coast, the autarchs have always felt their warships were their best defense, and that attacks would come against Kephria and Liantiago … or Westisle.”

Skarpa shook his head. “You may be right, but except for the wall, there weren’t many defenses in Kephria. There have to be more somewhere?”

“We saw five warships on the way to Kherseilles, and a pair of different ones on the return, and that was just in the Gulf of Khellor.”

“What about imagers?”

“The Autarch has them. How many I don’t know,” admitted Quaeryt. “I’m not certain anyone knows. There have to be troopers because Aliaro wouldn’t have sent an entire regiment to Bovaria without others remaining here. We know about the Antiagon Fire.”

“I don’t know,” said Skarpa. “There has to be more.”

“I’m sure there is,” replied Quaeryt. “It’s just not here. That makes sense. There’s not much of value here, either, except olive orchards and crops. I’d wager that most of the defenses are around Liantiago and Westisle.”

“You’re saying we’ll have an easy time of it until we get near there?”

Quaeryt offered a rueful smile. “I’ll never say that. I will say that it will get harder as we near Liantiago. But you know that.”

Skarpa nodded, then rose. “Time to head out.”