Heirs of the Enemy by Richard S. Tuttle Read Free Book Online Page B

Forshire. I was quite surprised when I arrived in Olansk to see you heading an army, even if it is a small one. How did you do it?”
    “The Grand General is suspicious of anyone who tries to step on his turf,” answered Clint. “I made it clear from the beginning that I held no interest in politics or promotion. I am only interested in serving the Federation as a general in charge of an army. I think it is in that position that I can best serve the Federation.”
    “You are the A Corps, isn’t that right?” asked General Antero. Clint nodded, and the Aertan general’s lips turned upward in a mischievous smile. “I heard that your army is a bunch of misfits.”
    Clint recognized the taunt for what it was. General Antero was trying to see what Clint was made of and how he would react to a confrontation.
    “They have been described as misfits,” Clint answered calmly. “In truth, I recruited them out of the Federation prisons.”
    “You are joking,” chuckled General Antero.
    “I am not,” retorted Clint. “Other than the squad supplied to me by General Marashef in Ur, every one of my men is from the prisons.”
    “Even the men I gave you were misfits,” laughed General Marashef. “I should apologize for that, but truthfully, I saw a way to get them out of my command, and I took it.”
    “I don’t understand,” frowned General Antero. “From what I have heard, you were a rather talented general in Tyronia. What possible pleasure can you derive from leading a bunch of misfits around?”
    Clint looked at General Antero and smiled. “General, anyone can be put in command of ten-thousand men and pretend he is a general. If he has a few good colonels under his command, he might even appear to be competent, but I have taken two-thousand castoffs and molded them into a fighting force.”
    “And you really think you have made soldiers out of these men?” General Antero asked.
    “I command the only army to have captured rebels,” Clint replied proudly. “The A Corps has also accomplished several other noteworthy deeds, but I am not at liberty to discuss them. Yes, General, I think the A Corps is a competent army, small, but competent.”
    “Well,” smiled General Antero, “I could hardly expect you to say anything different, but the truth will come out soon enough. The real test of any army is in combat. Be careful that your men don’t bolt at the first sign of trouble.”
    “I have taught my men to act as if I was always watching them, General,” Clint replied with a slight smile. “Turn around and gaze upon the escorting squads on this ship and tell me what you see?”
    General Antero frowned in puzzlement, but he turned around and gazed upon the squads of soldiers escorting their generals. Most of the soldiers were sprawled out on the deck or clumped together playing games of chance. One squad stood out from the rest. The squad from A Corp stood alert about twenty paces away from General Forshire as if awaiting a command from their leader. General Antero shook his head and turned back to look at Clint.
    “You are too hard on your men, General Forshire. We are in no risk of attack on this ship.”
    “That is not the point,” Clint responded. “A soldier’s duty is to always be prepared. When they are off duty, they can do as they please, as long as they do not besmirch the name of the A Corps, but when they are on duty, they will behave so. I do not look upon soldiering as a hobby. It is a profession, and I expect my men to treat it as such.”
    “And they do not complain?” asked General Marashef.
    “Not to me,” grinned Clint. “These men will have ample time off during the celebration, but they are on duty until I am safely escorted to the Imperial Palace.”
    “I am impressed,” admitted General Antero, “but as I said before, only in combat will the truth be known.”
    “There is the palace,” pointed General Marashef. “I guess it is time to round up my own men. I can’t wait