Winterfinding by Daniel Casey Read Free Book Online Page A

hand played
absent-mindedly with the figurines littering the map. He was
flanked by his two lieutenants, who were exchanging weary glances
as their Grand General languished over the map.
    “ So, as you can see sir,
we’ll need to continue to allow our forces to build for at least
another fortnight.” Evness spoke without emotion, he was an older
man and long experienced with the small military the Spires kept.
He had been little more than a boy, a toy soldier they called those
like himself, when the last war had happened. Not really even a
war, Carlisle’s Campaign was merely a series of skirmishes though
it had set the northern boundaries of Silvincia, Novosy, and
Cassubia. It had been ages since Evness had been in the forests
around Midhalm.
    Matis flicked a soldier figurine across the
map, and then rolled his eyes, “I’ve waited long enough. Do we have
enough troops to do what must be done?”
    “ Well, general, though we
have…” Vikram was roughly Matis’s age and had been part of the
general’s inner circle back in Ardavass.
    “ Do we,” Matis growled,
“have enough?”
    “ We have as many troops
here now as we have at The Blockade.” Evness broke in.
    “ And that was enough to
choke Rikonen to death.” Matis said satisfied, “So we certainly
have enough troops to take Heveonen, especially once we get our
crusaders.”
    Evness nodded but looked unconvinced,
“Perhaps but that assumes…”
    “ That The Cathedral will
obey.” Matis smirked and whispered, “I’ll make sure it
obeys.”
    Vikram walked around the table to pick up
the figurine Matis had flicked. He held it gingerly, and then
placed it firmly in front of the general’s still lounging face.
Matis shot a sharp look at him and raised himself up.
    “ We can’t depend on those
men; we need to wait for the Novosar reinforcements that we know
for certain are coming.” Vikram was adamant.
    “ River pirates, cheese
mongers, and sad fat sausage eaters.” Matis grumbled.
    “ When I fought the
Novosar, they were hardly the sort to brush off. These will be good
troops.” Evness nodded at Vikram.
    “ Why are these fools
taking so long to assemble, then?”
    “ The Novosar don’t have a
standing army, they have vol…”
    Matis waved Vikram off, “I know what they
are. I know they can’t afford to not send the soldiers we’ve
‘requested.’”
    “ The sensible move is to
wait, general.” Evness felt the discussion was in danger of veering
off from the task.
    “ Waiting will only allow
Heveonen to fortify itself. We need to advance,” Matis sat up and
drilled his finger into the map.
    Both Evness and Vikram said nothing but
their faces betrayed their lack of enthusiasm. Seeing their
reaction, Matis stood up with such force that his chair fell back
on the ground and in a sweeping gesture cleared the map of all the
figurines. He took off one of his bracers and slapped it down
violently in the center of the map.
    “ I will have my will
done.” Matis tried to sound assertive but it couldn’t help but come
across as brattish. He pointed at Vikram, “You will begin
mobilizing our forces, we are moving tomorrow morning. And you,
Evness, will stay here with your coterie and follow behind once the
rest of the Novosar arrive.”
    Just then, a messenger entered the pavilion,
“Grand General Matis, the Kyrios demand a word.”
    “ Oh, for fuckssake,” Matis
turned away throwing his hands up in the air. Vikram reached over
and righted the general’s chair, and almost immediately, Matis
flung himself down into it. He waved the messenger on.
    “ Kyrio Tobin, Mikkel, and
Ewan.” The messenger said in a slightly louder voice as he pulled
the canvas back to allow the three lords to enter.
    “ My lords,” Matis flipped
his wrist in an exaggerated manner welcoming the three.
    Ewan was a short woman who insisted on
keeping her cloak tied closely around her and her hood up. Though
her face wasn’t obscured, Matis was rather certain he had