Page 22 of The Infernal Battalion

“Minister d’Andorre,” she said. “That is correct, yes? I only just received the news of your appointment.”

“It is,” d’Andorre said. “My colleagues in the Deputies voted yesterday evening.”

“Do you know if they’ve come to a decision on my request to appoint a supreme commander?”

“They have.” D’Andorre steepled his fingers. “I’m afraid they have rejected it, Your Highness.”

“They must see that we have to do something.”

“That is clear to everyone,” d’Andorre said. “The Deputies-​General is only concerned that, in our haste, we will repeat the mistakes of the past. The creation of the post of First Consul was, after all, one of the primary reasons for our current difficulties.”

Raesinia gritted her teeth, but she couldn’t really deny that. “Then who will command?”

“The Deputies have appointed a military committee, chaired by myself, to oversee the army.”

“So instead of repeating the mistakes of the Consulate, you want to repeat the mistakes of the Directory?”

“There’s no danger of that, Your Highness. Strict safeguards have been put in place, I assure you.” He spread his hands. “I am merely a representative of my colleagues, not a power unto myself.”

“In that case, you, or the committee, or the entire Deputies, need to get moving. Janus is accumulating supporters by the day, and every hour we sit here doing nothing makes us look weak. We have to act.”

“I understand that, Your Highness.”

“Then give Marcus the order to march!”

“Ah.” D’Andorre gave a tired smile. “I wondered when we’d come to that.”

*

“They’re making a mistake,” Marcus said.

Raesinia sat in his tent, in the uncomfortable camp-​chair, staring across the big table at him. Between them was a large-​scale map of Vordan, with stacks of paperwork pushed to the side.

“Look,” he said. “Janus is coming south. He needs to take Vordan City, obviously. He could push southeast, here”—​he stabbed a finger at the map as though it had offended him—“through the passes at the head of the Vor. That’s the most direct route, but it’s rough country, with a lot of fortified towns and little rivers to hide behind. It’d be very hard to bring an unwilling opponent to battle.

“Instead, he’s pushing southwest, down the valley of the Pale.” This time he tapped the map more thoughtfully. “Open country, fewer rivers. Good terrain for a field battle, where Janus excels. He wants us to go after him. He needs a quick decision.”

“We need a quick decision,” Raesinia said. “If we let him do as he likes, anyone on the fence is going to want to join the winning side. We need to confront him.”

“Not if it means playing directly into his hands.”

“Janus isn’t divine, Marcus,” Raesinia said gently. “Not everything we do is part of his plans.”

“I don’t know if I’d bet on God Almighty against Janus bet Vhalnich,” Marcus said grimly. “I’m telling you that if I take the army to the Pale, I can’t guarantee—”

“They don’t want you in command,” Raesinia said. “That’s what I came here to tell you.”

There was a long pause. Marcus looked down at the map for a moment, then over at the papers, as though seeking inspiration.

“I’m sorry,” Raesinia said. “I tried to get d’Andorre to reconsider. But as far as the Deputies is concerned, handing the army that’s going to fight Janus over to his closest subordinate is too dangerous, no matter how loyal you claim to be. Even with the queen vouching for you, apparently.”

“So who are they putting in charge?” Marcus said. “One of the other division commanders?”

Raesinia shook her head. “They’ve summoned General Thomas Kurot from the southern coast. Apparently, he served well against some holdouts during the revolution and basically sat out the war against the Directory. He’s supposed to be some kind of prodigy, and he’s never even met Janus.”

“That’s...” Marcus suddenly looked very tired. “That’s going to be a disaster. Sending some back-​ranker who’s hardly tasted gunsmoke up against Janus bet Vhalnich? We might as well pack it in.”

“That’s why I need you to go with him,” Raesinia said.