The Crown of blood

I

It was a pretty model, Anglhan had to admit. Using little more than bits of wood, pebbles and old frayed rope, Aroisius had cobbled together a scale representation of Magilnada. The miniature city sat on a hummock of dirt and rocks, just as the real Magilnada squatted on the slope of Mount Gellian. Anglhan had been to the city more than two dozen times, and all of the winding main streets, the marketplace, towers and barracks were where they should be.

Aroisius the Free, self-declared rebel leader and hope for future generations of exploited Salphors, explained how his army would capture the city.

"Two hundred men could easily take the coldwards tower by climbing down the cliff face above the tanneries and across to the wall." Aroisius dangled a few pieces of string down the corresponding rock face. "When the tower is in our hands, the garrison will have to move up from the wall barracks in the merchant quarter, along the wall here. An attack at the gatehouse will trap them between two forces."

The chieftains squatting around the model grunted and nodded in appreciation.

"How would you get enough rope?" asked Barias, a roundshouldered man with a hook for his left hand.

"Rope isn't difficult to buy or steal," replied Aroisius. "The cliffs around the camp will allow our men to train on similar terrain. I am confident that the descent can be done in darkness and at speed. The tower guards will have no time to react."

"What about the militia house over here?" asked Griglhan, a lean Salphor brigand with pock-marked skin inflicted by some past disease. "What's to stop the militia coming along the cartway from the duskwards wall?"

Aroisius peered at the model with a slight frown and rubbed his chin.

"Burning arrows across the wall targeted at the millhouse beside the river," he said confidently. "That would keep the militia busy enough until we have control of the dawnwards wall."

He looked at the chieftains, but they had no more questions.

"Good," said Aroisius. "I'll find someone to procure more rope, and we'll begin selecting the soldiers who'll train from the cliff climb. I want to attack before the eve of Serinalia. After that, the weather will quickly worsen and the climb might be impossible. We take the city by the start of winter, and the Salphors cannot respond until spring. Is everybody agreed?"

There were nods and words of assent. Anglhan cleared his throat loudly. Aroisius and the others turned to look at the debt guardian-turned-rebel standing leaning against the cave wall with crossed arms.

"You have a comment?" asked the rebel leader. Anglhan nodded.

"How many men do you have?"

"Two thousand full fighters," Aroisius answered. "Perhaps the same again of elders and boys."

"And how many soldiers defend Magilnada?"

Aroisius shrugged.

"Perhaps two thousand as well. Mostly militia, poorly trained."

"I see," said Anglhan, pushing himself away from the cave wall. "Do you expect any of the city's people to take up arms in defence of their homes?"

"Why should they? There'll be no looting or raping. We'll be liberators, not conquerors."

There were a few bemused noises from the chieftains at this announcement. It was Lubrianati — oldest of the chiefs, a wiry, bearded dwarf of a man — who voiced their dissent.

"The men will want some compensation for risking their lives," he said.

"And they will have it," replied Aroisius. "When I become lord of Magilnada, every man who fights with me will be granted a home in the city and deeds to lands outside."

The chieftains exchanged dubious glances but said nothing. Anglhan had noticed the divided agenda before; Aroisius was so possessed of his goals that he was blind to the nature of the men he had recruited.

"A worthy reward indeed," Anglhan said with a smile. "They will, of course, be keeping any arms you give them."

Barias erupted with a snorting laugh.

"A few bows and pikes? Pot hats and bucklers? That's not a lot to take home."

"I have men out trying to find more supplies of weapons," Aroisius said quickly. "I understand that our equipment might not be the best, but it is the heart behind a sword that counts for as much as the sharpness of its tip."

"I am puzzled by something else," said Anglhan. "I have been with you for the best part of fifty days, and you have yet to tell me what my part I can play in this war for our freedom."

"Yes, I am coming to that." Aroisius stood up, annoyed. "I want you to spy for me. Take the landship into Magilnada a few nights before we attack and scout out the city to make sure there is no call for last-minute alterations."

"Your spies seem to be doing a good job already," said Anglhan, pointing to the mock city. "I don't see how I could help further."

Aroisius looked a little uncomfortable and darted a look at the chieftains before he answered.

"As a debt guardian you have access to sources of news that are currently beyond my men: the chieftain's council and their households; captains of the militia; armourers and such."

"Oh, you want me to use my contacts?" said Anglhan, grinning broadly. "Of course I can do that! In fact, I was hoping that was what you were going to ask me to do. You see, I think I can do more than just bring you some news. I know several merchants in this area. That rope you were talking about? I'm sure I could get you fifty casts of the stuff for a good price within three days."

He turned his attention on the chieftains.

"And weapons? Armour? I know just the man who could sell us what we want."

"What sort of weapons?" asked Barias.

"Proper ones," said Anglhan, crouching down in front of the sitting chieftains. "Javelins, knives, scimitars, arrowheads, spear tips. And proper armour too. Bronze breastplates, helms with cheek guards, light mail shirts. The sort of thing those militia boys in Magilnada will be wearing."

"Such things would be very useful," said Lubrianati, looking up at Aroisius. "Our boys could match that militia for sure with that sort of kit."

"Well, if you tell me who your contact is, I can send a delegation," said Aroisius. He raised a warning finger. "If you think I am prepared to let you just go off on your own, you must think the spirits shit me out of the sky yesterday."

"On my own?" Anglhan feigned surprise. "I wouldn't know where to begin judging the quality of weapons. I'm more of a barley and wood man, myself. No, I was going to take Barias here with me. And other than a few men with essential ship skills, I was going to let you pick my crew. If any of them think I am up to no good, they can stick a knife in my gut."

Aroisius' face betrayed his distrust.

"Why not simply give me the information you have, and I will broker the trade."

Anglhan shrugged apologetically.

"Because that knowledge is the only thing I have left that stops you from killing me. We will have to learn to trust each other, and I am sure we will. Until then, I think we can agree that mutual interest will keep us both honest. As a sign of my support for you, I will even purchase the weapons with my own money, and when I return you can pay me for half of them."

Aroisius's mouth opened and closed a couple of times as he sought some fresh argument to Anglhan's proposal.

"That seems good, boss," said Barias. "I'll make sure he doesn't pull a fast one."

"We need those weapons," added Lubrianati. "Quality gear would make all the difference in a close fight."

The rebel leader sagged and looked at Anglhan.

"All right. We will organise this trade mission on the terms you have laid out. If you betray me, I will make it my life's work to hunt you down and stake you out for the crows to peck out your eyes and guts. Am I clear?"

Anglhan performed a gracious bow.

"I only wish to see your cause succeed, Lord Aroisius the Free."