The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan Read Free Book Online Page A

don’t have it.”
    Nila tilted her head to one side. “Yes we do,” she said.

CHAPTER 5

    A damat was only able to spend about three hours asking questions before the provosts came for him.
    He was in the middle of speaking with a young sergeant about her cousin in the Third Brigade under General Ket’s command when he felt a hand at his elbow. He turned, expecting to find Nila or Bo there with some kind of news, but instead looked over and up – and up some more – at the military police officer standing beside him. The man had a barrel chest, and when he spoke, his voice sounded like an echo.
    “Inspector Adamat?”
    “Yes.”
    “You’re to come with me.”
    Adamat grasped the head of his cane tightly and raised his eyebrows. “I’m sorry, I’m just in the middle of an interview. You’ll have to wait.” He turned back to the sergeant, hoping that was enough to put off the provost.
    “
Now
,” the man’s voice rang out.
    The sergeant leaned over to Adamat. “Inspector, you better go with him.”
    Adamat let out a small sigh, gathered his hat in his hands, and faced the provost. “What’s this about?”
    “You’re to come with me.”
    “Yes, I gathered that much. I’m an Adran citizen and I have the right to ask why I’m being gathered by an officer of the peace.”
    The provost tilted his head to one side. “This is a military jurisdiction and you have no such rights as would be afforded to you by an Adran provost. Now, will you come along or shall I drag you?”
    Not as daft as he looked, unfortunately. Adamat gave him a firm nod. “I’ll come along, but under protest.”
    “Protest all you like. This way.”
    Adamat made sure to grumble loudly in an inconvenienced sort of way as they headed through the camp. Inside, though, his heart was hammering. He had expected the provosts to come after him sooner or later. After all, if Hilanska was indeed keeping secrets, he wouldn’t want someone snooping around. Adamat hadn’t expected them to be so quick about it.
    Had Hilanska questioned Oldrich? Or perhaps one of his soldiers had recognized Bo? There were too many things that could go wrong, it was impossible to plan for them all. Perhaps the girl had lost her nerve and run to Hilanska herself.
    Adamat dismissed the last option. That laundress, whoever she was, had steel in her eyes.
    The camp stockade was nothing more than a trio of prison wagons near where the brigade’s cavalry hitched their horses for the night. Adamat was led over to the closest and one of the guards unlocked the door.
    The big provost took Adamat by the shoulder and pushed him toward the wagon. Adamat gritted his teeth, wanting to reprimand the man, but knew this was no time to be making enemies. All three wagons were already full – of Oldrich and his men.
    Adamat’s cane was taken away and he stepped inside.
    Oldrich regarded him sourly. “I see the Privileged’s plan is off to a wonderful start,” he said when the guards had gone on to do their rounds.
    “When did they come for you?” Adamat asked.
    “Not more than half an hour ago.”
    “Did they say why?”
    Oldrich shook his head. “They got us while we were split up. Some of the boys were at the mess, two others at the latrine. It was all done very quiet, and they were sure to outnumber us by three to one.” He leaned over to the bars of the prison wagon and spit. “It’s bad when they come quietly. The provosts love to flaunt their power.”
    “They’re acting like we’re enemies of the state,” one of the other soldiers said. There was a round of nods, and he added, “We wouldn’t get treated like this by the field marshal.”
    Oldrich looked over his shoulder. “The field marshal isn’t here,” he said. “You boys just remember – you were following orders. If anyone’s going to take the fall it’ll be me.” He examined Adamat, as if wondering if it was worth getting court-martialed or worse on his behalf.
    By the sullen silence among