The Laws of Magic 6: Hour of Need by Michael Pryor Read Free Book Online Page A

is not much to guess at, then. I would transport many, many troops to Stalsfrieden. A division or two. Or three.’
    ‘Forty, fifty thousand men? Why Stalsfrieden?’
    ‘It has good rail connections to Fisherberg. From Stalsfrieden, they can march to the Divodorum battlelines – or march to the Low Countries.’
    ‘Would it make good sense?’
    ‘Good sense is a slippery concept in war time, Fitzwilliam. I’m sure a build-up like that would appeal to many of the generals, which is probably reason enough to do it. We have been fighting for a short time, really, and many of them are impatient for what they see as glory. Commanding a force that made such a bold move would be very good for a career.’
    Another thought crept up on Aubrey and elbowed him uncomfortably. ‘What if these new divisions simply aimed to capture Divodorum?’
    ‘That would be even bolder, and therefore more praiseworthy. Any general who championed such a strategy could become a hero.’
    ‘It’s not just Divodorum that I’m thinking of. It’s what lies on the other side of Divodorum.’
    ‘Ah. A direct route via river, rail and road to Lutetia.’
    ‘The Gallian capital would be laid bare.’
    ‘So which is it? Opening a wide front across the north of Gallia? Or a lightning strike toward Lutetia?’
    Both would require much bloody fighting. Either would do for Dr Tremaine’s purposes. ‘I’m starting to think that Dr Tremaine, as usual, has more than one iron in the fire.’ Aubrey swept his gaze around the basement. ‘I’ve seen enough.’
    ‘I think I saw enough a long time ago,’ the Holmlander said.
    Once outside, Aubrey took a deep breath and spoke the syllables that lowered them to the ground. The smell of ash and smoke was clean compared to the air in the crypt below.
    Helmets, cables, restraints and blood. Nothing good happened down there. He still didn’t know exactly what it was, but he knew it was important. Dr Tremaine wouldn’t have spent a month here if something important hadn’t been going on.
    ‘What time is it?’ The clouds were breaking up to show that the stars were still there, bright and constant. He wondered if the soldiers at the front could see them.
    ‘Just after four. We have an hour until dawn.’
    Aubrey yawned. ‘Enough time to investigate the house.’
    Von Stralick went to reply, but stopped and put a hand to his ear.
    Startled by von Stralick’s concern, Aubrey turned in the direction the spy was facing.
    A motor, approaching but still distant. As Aubrey strained to make it out, he heard the crunching of gears that announced the beginning of the mountainside ascent. It suggested a lorry rather than a motorcar.
    ‘The guards are coming back?’
    ‘With reinforcements, most likely.’
    ‘I had hoped we’d have more time,’ Aubrey said. ‘We haven’t learned much, not really.’
    ‘Quickly then.’ Von Stralick picked up the rake he’d dropped. ‘Take the lantern.’
    They ran through the gardens to the house, approaching from the west. Von Stralick didn’t slow down as they sprinted up the broad stairs from the gardens and across the terrace. He used the rake as a jousting lance and crashed through the glass doors. ‘No time for finesse!’ he cried.
    Together, they lurched through the debris into a sunroom that was lavishly laid out with wicker furniture and a grove or two of potted palms. Gingerly, von Stralick brushed splinters of glass from his jacket.
    Aubrey remembered the Directorate training facility, another handsome estate that had been taken over by military. Some things would, of necessity, be the same. ‘Somewhere on the ground floor should be an operations room. Near the front door?’
    They found it off the entrance hall. Once, it had probably been the grand dining room, but instead of a long table and heraldic banners it was fully stocked with desks, each with typewriter and telephone, plus extensive pigeon holes on the walls for routing of documents.
    While von