Rien's Rebellion: Foundation

By C. Z. Edwards

Rien’s Rebels are coalescing as Savrin’s Galantier begins to fray. Without Prenceps Mathes and Teregenitor Tiwendar, Savrin seems adrift, and Rien will take advantage of that.

Galantier faces a battle for its future: If Savrin defeats Rien, the Dissolution comes and Galantier as it has been for a thousand years will cease. If Rien claims victory, Galantier will be reborn. No matter who wins, nothing will ever be the same.

Time is short.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. Z. Edwards
• Release date: Dec 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781732710856

C. Z. Edwards

C. Z. is a writer in Boulder, Colorado. She can often be found on Twitter, snarking about fashion, posting kitty pics, and word counts. She is a fan of the Oxford comma, epic fantasy, The West Wing, and cinnamon.

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Maps

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Back  Matter:

Rien’s Rebels are coalescing as Savrin’s Galantier begins to fray. Without Prenceps Mathes and Teregenitor Tiwendar, Savrin seems adrift, and Rien will take advantage of that.

Galantier faces a battle for its future: If Savrin defeats Rien, the Dissolution comes and Galantier as it has been for a thousand years will cease. If Rien claims victory, Galantier will be reborn. No matter who wins, nothing will ever be the same.

Time is short.

Author’s Note:

This is the final book of a series. It begins immediately after the end of Rien’s Rebellion Book V: Redemption and Revolution.

If this is your first experience of this series, STOP NOW. Please go read the first book, which is free, and found here .

Dramatis Personae

Cazerien dat Vohan, former Prima Ascendara Galantera, former Regent Lex et Civitas, Ducia Martiala, Teregenia Tiwendar - Called Rien. Daughter of the late Razin. Displaced from the succession. High Command of the Rebellion army. Married to Quin Tiwendar. Legal daughter of Alnora mer Vohan, relict Consorta of Vohan. Biological daughter of Ethene, Pronatia Haelens.

General Laarens Revinsel, Justiciar Advocate for the Galanteran Army (absent without leave, presumed dead), Prim Ascendar, Teregenitor Revinsel - General in the Rebellion army. Cousin to Rien and Savrin. Biological child of Mathes, adopted son of Vohan and Alnora. Married to Bran Darlamand, Sashi Muletar, and Reya Solesta.

Quirin Alen Tiwendar, Teregenitor General Tiwendar - only son of the late Reginal Tiwendar, Teregenitor Optimus of the Prava, and the late Mathilde Byssus mer Tiwendar. General in the Rebellion army. Married to Rien. Established the Foreti community.

Commander Bran Darlamand - musician and Commander of the Archer Scouts. On leave for a covert mission. Former protégé of Ethene Haelens and former musical partner of Pols sune Temin. Married to Laarens Revinsel, Sashi Muletar, and Reya Solesta. Prenceps by courtesy since marriage.

Commander Cedri Cinsurgis - Commander of the Foot, trainer of new troops. Part time legal counsel for the Rebellion army. Born a Lethian. Married to Kya sator Archilia, stepfather to Kya’s daughters.

Commander Fanik Villicus - Quartermaster for the Rebellion army. Primary accountant for the army and its associated businesses. Orphan. Betrothed to Linzara Silvalt, Teregenia Silvalt. Father of Niklan Silvalt.

Commander Daval Inswain - Master of Security for the Rebellion army. Captain of the Fourth Forester Pike. Married to Marli dat Corlath and cousin by marriage to Madame Lisel. Son of Madame Inswain of Draughten and her lover, Teregenitor Andrasel. Born in a brothel and educated for the trade.

Lieutenant General Marli dat Corlath - Co-commander of the Forester Pike and co-general of the Rebel Army’s Infantry; commands the Second Pike division. Orphaned, raised in Cimenarum by aunt and uncle. Former Karsai hallyer. Married to Daval Inswain. Cousin to Madame Lisel.

Lieutenant General Nekane Pike - Co-commander of the Forester Pike and co-general of the Rebel Army’s Infantry; commands the First Pike division. Former hallyer for the Delavi family.

Kya sator Archilia - Priest of Archilia. Support commander for the Rebel army. Battle medic, academic. Married to Cedri Cinsurgis. Mother of Gwen and Peri d’Archilia, with Darav sator Archilia. Daughter of Archilian priests. Raised in the faith.

Reya Solesta - Commander of Swords in the Rebellion army. Rien’s first sword student. Married to Sashi Muletar, Laarens Revinsel and Bran Darlamand. Chief of Rien’s security.

Sashi Muletar - Member of the Swords. Rien’s second student. Married to Reya Solesta, Laarens Revinsel and Bran Darlamand. Organized, orderly. Rescued Reya from her family. Not interested in leadership.

Celedane sator Archilia, Teregenia Watable - widow of Jon Watable and daughter by marriage of Jeren Watable. Stepmother to Emma and Julen Watable. Soul bound to Jon Watable and harbor of his remaining soul. Runs Watable langreve. An exceptionally talented Healer, specializing in bones and muscles. Friends with Darav sator Archilia and Kya sator Archilia.

Linzara Silvalt, Teregenia Silvalt - de facto head of Silvalt langreve. Sister of the late Trensen Silvalt. Mother to Niklan Silvalt and betrothed of Fanik Villicus. Wealthiest landowner in the northeast. Forester by trade.

Savrin sator Lethis, Razin of Galantier - priest of Lethis, son of Bellacera, Prazia Royal of Galantier and legal son of Wulfan Pinuvar, Pronator Pinuvar. His biological father is unknown. Crowned Razin of Galantier by deception. Nephew of Vohan through Bellacera.

Isah sol Benem - Comitae academic, Ingeniae trainer. Called Ben. Widower; has two adult children. Lover of Ethene.

Advocate Harliander sune Arven - Junior Advocate for Paxular, Carthyer and sune Ivor; nephew of Mandar quan Paxular. Took over Avah and Rien’s practice in Celestan. Gravely injured at Tiwendar trying to enforce Reginal Tiwendar’s will. Called Harli. Was friends with Avah when they were in law school.

Maira dat Temman - Harli’s apprentice, clerk, assistant, translator and sweetheart. Sixteen, born on Tiwendar. A Minor Evocator who aspires to be a lawyer. Called Mai.

Madame Lisel - a licensed Courtesan, formerly based in Cimenarum, now attached to Support. A minor Impath and Intuitive. Marli’s cousin and best friend.

Pols sune Temin - successful musician and Ethene’s protégé. Brother to Telia dat Temin, uncle to Pelin sune Telia, Nalia dat Telia and Katia dat Telia. Bran’s former business and romantic partner.

Telia dat Temin - owns the Belleview inn in Celestan. Retired licensed Courtesan. Former lover of Laarens. Mother of Pels, Katia and Nalia. One of Ethene’s protégés.

Glossary HERE

1 Orcharis to 21 Orcharis, Archilia’s Day, 1140 — Rien

Lacking green recruits to train, we made Tiwendar defensible. With three hundred of us digging, we built a moat and earthen barricade around the central paele and village, four milliae long, ten feet deep and eight wide, effectively sixteen feet tall on our side. In three days. I would never again underestimate the power of many cooperating hands. While we planned to only be here for two or three tendays , we needed a place of retreat if we weren’t ready for more than skirmishes.

Savrin had already proved to me his intentions to burn my haven in the Foreti. I would not leave us exposed.

The Pike then turned to flatland tactics, and once the first of the Tiwendar Gone returned, I turned them over to Marli, who turned her Pike over to her second, and combined our Foot training of cooperation and camaraderie with Pike training, because I kept borrowing the Foot Commander to run legal matters.

I was mucking the stable, resting my eyes and using my muscles when Marli stomped in, spiky with annoyance. How’d I do this in the Foreti? she demanded.

Do what? I cleared the last of the stall into the barrow and leaned against my shovel, thankful for the respite.

Turn farmers into warriors! This group’s hopeless, but they’re no different from us. I’m a farmer’s daughter, and I’m pretty good with a pike.

No, you’re amazing with a pike. This is the home they haven’t seen in years, and we’re distractions. Those weren’t concerns in the Foreti.

I never thought I’d miss those damn trees, she grumbled.

I laughed. According to you, fighting around them’s impossible.

But I didn’t have people running off at all angles every quarter hour!

Keep those who don’t run off much. You’ll see who likes the work. Quin promised wages to those who join from the Tiwendar money.

Not fair to the rest of us, she grumped.

I caught her eyes. "You’ll be rewarded, Marli. What will you want? A langreve ? Army Instructor General ? We’ve recruited everyone who’ll come for love and you know there’s a reward eventually. Now we pay, but not me; I’m beggared. Teregenitor Tiwendar is donating the services of his people, like the Westerners."

She brightened. "Oi... so Teregenia Tiwendar Cazerien Ascendara , the fact that Teregenitor Tiwendar is also General Tiwendar, Prenceps Consort Ascendar has nothing to do with it?" she teased.

I grinned. "Exactly, Lieutenant General Inswain. It’s all coincidence. I sobered. Is there something for which you need money? Because — " I would find a way.

She snorted. "No, I’m just grumpy. You’re feeding me and putting uniforms on my back. We got shelter. I don’t need money because we’ve got Daval’s share of the company. He’s got ten magnae burning a hole in his rucksack, and nothin’ to spend it on, because we’re in the back of beyond and the local Teregenitor is so bad at his job there’s not even a little shop here."

Cedri looked tired and anxious when he found us working with the Swords on close order tactics. They’re an hour up the road. He slid from the saddle.

I sheathed my sword. You’re unhappy.

No, I’m mostly pleased as pickles — kissed Kya coming in, and I’m glad to be back with the whole. He sucked on his lip. How’s your head?

Never better. Why?

There’s over 600 out there and I don’t trust ’em all. I think you should bring ’em in, lock us down, and hold ’em until you and whoever else can read them, he said, the corners of his mouth drawn in.

That’s advanced Perceptio, so Ben, Harli, Vaish, Aren Taranov and Finchel. Damn. I stripped off my padded armor and waited for Cedri to remount, then swung up behind him, sending my Swords to the gate and Quin to secure his people and to fetch Harli. As we rode, I cursed the variability of ingeniae . Perceptio was relatively rare at the strength required to read a person’s character in a few moments, though common in more dilute forms. Unfortunately, when diluted, it was less reliable and less obvious; someone with a touch of Perceptio could, after a short acquaintance, know if another was reliable and trustworthy. It took several hours, or days, and never gave one specifics on character or memory. It usually combined with more obvious ingeniae and often went untrained because knowing if a business partner, potential friend or lover was reliable was perfectly sufficient for most people. Very few people needed to know the most intimate details of another’s mind with any frequency.

Vaish had once suggested I recruit as many of the Advocate s as I could, but for the most part, lawyers weren’t soldiers. We fought with words, not blades, and the very skill that I needed — our Perception — meant most still had a public presence they couldn’t just leave.

We hoped for more Perceptives strong enough to train. Ben worked with those we had, but as I knew well, it’s slow and painful to relearn in adulthood. Quin’s instincts were good, but they’re instincts, not Perceptive certainty. We six, strong and quick enough, would have over a hundred heads each to examine, more than we’d ever attempted in a day.

We managed, but the next hour was a whirlwind. We could secure one place for 600 — the hedged Cavalry pasture, bordered by several outbuildings. The Archers ranged those heights as snipers. The Rogues and Pike stood ground guard, the new Tiwendar Pike held the gate, and the former Foot — now the Seventh and Eighth Pike — escorted groups of twenty to the tack shed, protected by the Swords.

Quin, Cedri, Ethene and Kya asked our basic census — name, home, command, commander — to distract them while we examined them as briefly as we could. I couldn’t catch scents in the crush in the shed, so I read minds, looking for loyalty to Galantier, the cause and me, and steadfastness to prevent desertion. Minds are messy places, and I learned more than I intended. Improved my vocabulary, too.

Once we were confident those before us were committed, we released them to Fanik and Harrald for quartering. The others went with Reya, Karse and Lesh, to the empty granary, our best attempt at a prison. We found few disreputables, until we reached Scaifon’s men.

We dropped a quarter of Scaifon’s men, then a third. They were mucky with deceit, their own prejudices alongside the Pronator ’s attempt at infiltration and treachery. Half the sixty he sent were falsely loyal, but nothing prepared me for the filth pouring from their commander’s mind.

Bitch-witch-break-harlot-whore-blood-usurper-destroy-weak-destroy-kill-burn —

I wasn’t inside his mind more than a second, but the hate roiling from him made me reel. My automatic defense had him vomiting, sweating and writhing at my feet. I walled my mind closed as jagged puissance filling the room — mine, mostly.

Ben wobbled beside me, his eyes glazed. Finchel knelt, heaving for breath. Vaish smacked face-first into the floorboards. Harli, still confined to a bed or chair, did not fall, but only because his assistant, Maira, caught him before he keeled over. Only Aren Taranov managed to erect his defenses in time, but even he looked grey. For a long moment, I felt as drained, raw and seared as I’d done after the Watable fire. Then it began to fade.

Take that one, I choked out. Keep him alone.

Quin dragged me from the shed. I can’t let you inside a tackshed or stable ever again. For a quarter hour, he made me drink cold fondal and pushed crystalized honey through my lips.

I eventually pushed the sweets away. I must finish.

His eyes crossed slightly. You’re sparkling —

Gallant, I have the only uninfiltrated army in history. It’s my best weapon. No one realizes how Talented I am. If I can weed out traitors, we’ve one less worry.

Your head’s spiky and you’re in pain.

Quin, I sighed and undefended myself, then wormed through his defenses, as he’d taught me to do when my anxieties blocked my words. I doubted I’d ever become adept at expressing my feelings or my sense of my own mind, but I let him assess me. Once he was in my mind, I dropped my own defenses and let him wander until he believed I remained undamaged.

You’re wearing thin, he insisted half-heartedly as he retreated from my mind. But you’re not leaking and your perceptions seem normal for you.

And you’re being overprotective. I know my limits. I kissed him. We’ve seventy left. I’ll sleep soundly tonight, but if nobody turns arsonist, I’ll be fine tomorrow or the day after.

He half-smiled at the dark joke. Your ingeniae will always scare me, he said soberly.

I’m fine. I took his hand. We started towards the tackshed. Once we have the throne, I’ll hardly use it. You’ll fret less then.

Quin snorted. Assassinations, plots, poisonings, war, plague, economic collapse instead. Joy.

I checked Ben first, as thoroughly as Quin checked me. He finally shut me out in frustration. You two are a pair, he said disgustedly. Geese with one gosling. I’ve retired Vaish, he’s broke his nose. Finchel, too. He’s past his limits. I’ll be a log tonight, but I’m fine. Let’s finish this.

Stop if you’re worn, I said.

The same to you, he snapped.

Harli had color again, and dragged his better hand across his lap to touch mine. His Evocative voice came with the flat, hollow sound of speaking behind Advocate’s Privacy . We’re going to need several full catalogs. You probably want Aren and me for those. Scaifon tried to plant a bomb, so we’ll need to try him, and that means evidence. 

I nodded. I checked his colors, but Harli is made of stern stuff. He felt the least thin of any of us. Lex Martiale, under battle conditions. If the Perceptive evidence can be independently verified by two or more Advocates , trial may be abbreviated and sentence summarily passed. Summary execution is at the unanimous will of the senior staff officers. Do you want the defense counsel job or should I take it?

He smirked and shook his head. I should make you do it, just to break your 317 to none streak, but I’ll take defense to make sure it’s completely fair.

Think you can break my streak, junior? I teased. Arrogant puppy, aren’t you? Part of me wanted to take on the legal challenge.

The part of me that is both Ducia and Regent of Galantier squashed my internal Advocate. We didn’t have time. I can’t approve full catalogues. Just get the information we’ll need to call for the warrant on Scaifon. His own full catalogue will hang him. We don’t need a library when a broadsheet will do, I reminded my Chief Counsel. Harli was only at the end of his first year of Advocate’s practice, and didn’t have any time as a Justiciar . He needed to be reminded that the practice of the law is a delicate balance between thoroughness and expedience.

He stuck out his lower lip in a pout. Ayuh, Boss, he said, chastened. We both knew that convictions under the Lex Martiale made execution a foregone conclusion.

Then I turned to Aren Taranov, my remaining investigator, a former Metropolitan and qualified Advocate who hated legal practice so much he preferred to be a peace officer. He has one of the strongest Perceptive Ingeniaes I’ve ever met. His defenses were sturdy, and he was less tired than any of the rest of us. How are you so very fresh, Aren? I asked by Evocata, more than a little jealous.

Clean living, ma’am, he said, but that was sarcastic. Half a year riding fences with Old Kurzon. He gave me an abbreviated apprenticeship in how to be a circuit Justiciar . It’s the same skills. Prioritize sleep, don’t volunteer for anything, eat all the vegetables, drink none of the wine, don’t take work to bed, read only sagas when not working.

I see. A recipe for an excellent life, and entirely incompatible with the monarchy. Since you’re chipper and won’t volunteer, I’m tasking you with obtaining enough material to secure a warrant against Scaifon. Nothing else.

He nodded. We’d endured the worst. We found three more bent on disruption and a handful who saw no sense in putting a woman on the throne when a man held it. These last I separated and assigned to female commanders, to assist their enlightenment. We’d watch their thoughts and actions.

I hated surveilling anyone, but my army’s collective safety outweighed any single man’s right to his privacy. Not that they’d know we peeked.

In the end, we imprisoned thirty-five. I called my council. Aren, Ben, Harli and Vaish, despite a swelling nose, presented the evidence. All four also presented every extenuating circumstance they had managed to find, from cruel siblings to badly mangled marriages to debt. I found myself wishing for a military prison, but our conditions precluded that. We could either eliminate the threat of having an infiltrated unit, or have an infiltrated unit. We had no means of rehabilitation and restoration right now.

I gave Ced the floor first, to serve as magistrate . Given this evidence, and the agreement of the Advocates, we pass sentence. Death by execution, for sedition and treason. The question is do we question them further or execute them now?

Can you learn more from them? Marli asked. Despite lying tongues?

Tomorrow or the next day. Unless we want another Watable, I’m exhausted, I admitted. Assign firewatch tonight, please, I added darkly.

Misinformation’s worse than none, Fanik said. Hang the lot.

I agree, Marek said. They intended to assassinate you or put this army at risk. That convicts them.

Especially when you don’t know what’s true, Nekane added.

What do we tell the rest? Quin said.

The truth. They came to foil our work, betray their Teregenis, and keep the pretender in power, I said.

Is that the truth? Fanik asked. You can’t lie.

"It’s close — Scaifon assigned them specifically, they’re only betraying me. I’m astonished he found so many; such a company took time and ingeniae. He’s been preparing this for a while. Teregenitor Watable needs to know he has a turncoat. Ben, does Scaifon have a Communicator?"

He does not, Ben said. He shared with Valisar.

Marek, can you send a Rogue to Cimenarum quickly and discreetly? Watable must be informed.

Marek nodded. I’ll send Selvin tonight.

Then make sure all of the Marches Communicators and their contacts know Scaifon especially and Valisar by association are not to be trusted, but that Scaifon’s not to know that we know. Better we watch the spy we know.

Do the other companies know their intentions? Daval asked.

Perhaps. I’ll know tomorrow. I rested my head in my hands.

Can we delay execution ’til then? Daval asked.

Marek spoke first. They know about the Foreti base, our numbers and position. If we give them opportunity to escape, one might. Better execute them now. Saboteurs can’t be trusted or forgiven.

They hang, I said.

Daval stood. I’ll see to the gallows.

Marli followed him. I’ll assemble the rest.

Maira raised a hand, to indicate that Harli had more to say that couldn’t be just said by Evocata.

Wait, Daval and Marli, I said, and nodded at my Advocate and his translator.

As Advocate for the Ducia and the Regent, Harli said through Maira, "I have recused myself from all matters concerning tret Sulaven and Dolor is My Comfort. Her Solemnity’s plans for them have been clear, and the catalog of their minds is complete, is it not, Commander sator Archilia?" Harli looked at Kya.

Kya nodded. "As of yesterday morning. Our Perceptives have not reviewed all of their memories, but they independently verified that tret Sulaven abused his classmates before his legal adulthood, and has assaulted several women since his adulthood. He instigated the attempted murder of Advocate Harli sune Arven, and repeatedly kidnapped the Tiwendar langreve infants to use as hostages against their parents. Captain Dolor is My Comfort led and committed the attempted murder of Advocate sune Arven, as well as other physical assaults of persons unknown during his service to Savrin sator Lethis and the New Order Lethians. Both men attempted the major theft of property and money belonging to Tiwendar langreve."

Commander Cinsurgis, I asked Cedri, as lead defense counsel, can you submit any mitigating circumstances?

"I defer to the accounts of their memories, and I must trust that Aren Taranov and Vaish sune Saren have given me true accounts of their histories since neither of my clients will speak to me. Tret Sulaven has been badly abused by both parents and his elder siblings since childhood. Physically, mentally, and carnally. All relationships in his life have been mercenary and combative. He has never known pleasure without pain, and does not experience anything I would call happiness. However, we don’t have the skills to rehabilitate him. The Comitae brain Healers independently verified that his reasoning is intact, but how he reasons is permanently damaged. He is sane, he is not impaired, and his crimes were committed with knowledge of consequences. He just didn’t think he would be caught or punished. He will not plead, but this council of senior officers passed sentence upon him last tenday. His execution has been stayed to gather information. Which has been accomplished.

"Dolor is My Comfort, too, has been badly abused since childhood by his parents and his faith. He has been physically assaulted, but not excessively. His primary mistreatment has been to be consistently denied access to objective facts, to the written word, to opinions and reasoning outside of his faith. He, too, is sane and not impaired, but his ability to reason and make moral judgement is incompatible with civil life. He is aware of the consequences imposed for breach of civil law; he does not believe civil law applies to him by virtue of his relationship with his god. This council of senior officers passed sentence upon him last tenday. His execution has been stayed to gather information. Which has been accomplished.

"I have no further reason to plead for clemency except the mercy we should show to all people. I remind the Ducia that murder in the name of the state is still murder, and as Ducia, her right to enforce duly passed sentences is based entirely on the voluntary will of her Army and should be used sparingly. As Regent, her power to enforce law is dependent on the will of the Prava , who cannot be consulted. These two men’s status as prisoners of war is less than clear. While both were acting in service to the Pretender, neither is strictly a soldier. He shrugged. Dolor would rather we let him continue his incubilation. That’s his ideal death, and he believes Lethis will reward him for it. Tret Sulaven’s foot is infected. It’s slow, but it will kill him soon unless our Healers amputate and Heal what’s left. If he survives the shock of amputation at all. You have the option of letting natural consequences serve justice."

Aren Taranov spoke up. "As the Regent’s Investigator and conscripted prosecution for the Crown, I note that we’ve delayed their execution for our convenience, not theirs. It’s most convenient to execute them with the infiltrators. Tret Sulaven is a life-long criminal. He’s gotten away with it because he’s rich and his father’s a Teregenitor . He steals like any other thief, he just uses paper instead of pickpocketing. If he came from the Manufactury or the bad side of the Theater district, he would have hanged years ago. Justice isn’t just if it only applies to the poor."

Vaish added, Whether Dolor killed the people he assaulted is unknown because he didn’t care to find out if they died or not. In my estimation as a combatant, if he didn’t kill at least four of his prior unknown victims, it’s only because they were lucky and had Healers close at hand. Dolor does not care about other people if they’re not Lethian. He, too, has been sheltered from the consequences of his actions and should have hanged long since.

Cedri, has the defense any further comment? I asked.

None, Ducia. Rien, they’re gonna die. Hanging them with the others makes it simple and ends it. When we have work farms again, I’d suggest a life at hard labor, but we don’t, so it’s time.

Thank you, all of you. Sentence passed on all. Execution to follow at our convenience. Please take lead from Daval and Marli. Cedri and Harli, have execution orders written for the Recordia. I’ll sign them when they’re ready. I must say... words. I shook my head and shrugged, then looked at my friends. Thank you. I don’t say that enough, but you make this war possible.

An hour before sunset, sturdy timber gallows made an awkward pentagon in the center of the far fallow field. My army filed in while I watched atop a wagon-bed. On Ethene’s advice, who knows protocol as well as I know law, I wore my best, most formal black clothing: a stifling, knee-length, close-cut black wool coat with embroidery at wrists, hem and plackets, black waistcoat and black breeches, with baldric and diadem. It was the closest I had to a judicial mantle. Solemn, deadly acts require outward symbols as much as intent and determination to do right. Bran packed the coat for me on the night Avah died. Of course, he packed it during an ice storm, and now we found ourselves in the midst of oppressive summer heat.

A thousand people stood before me, all uncertain, bewildered, disturbed. My earliest Foresters knew I read their intentions, but the new ones didn’t. We lacked time to explain and what they didn’t know, they couldn’t tell if they were captured. They’d seen us treat this new half of the army with suspicion and concern, apparently randomly. Many wondered if we’d do the same to them, not realizing we already did regularly. Fatigue, frustration, or fear can break anyone. I wouldn’t tell them their private thoughts weren’t as private as they believed. The knowledge wouldn’t benefit them and harmed the army in whole.

My army slowly quieted. I closed my defenses against their confusion and anxiety. "We hardened fighters know treachery is the worst crime an army faces. This army especially, because we’re a nation at war with ourselves. We must ascertain our comrades fight for a lawful Galantier. To my great pleasure, you believe in Galantier’s future and grant me the honor of leading you to our bright rebirth.

"However, some of those sent east with you would have sacrificed us all for their personal benefit. Saboteurs and traitors were ordered here specifically to imperil you and this effort. They were tasked to damage us from within to assure Savrin retained his pretender’s seat. We learned this from one in their own ranks. Under questioning, we learned the extent of the plot. We have certain knowledge of this conspiracy. Galantier can’t afford Savrin’s rule, as you and your Teregenis know well.

We cannot release saboteurs and spies. They know our size, movements and location. We cannot hold them. We have no prison. We must execute them in accordance with the Lex Galenteris Martiala and the legitimate Lex Galenteris.

I waited for a response that didn’t come.

I watched their faces, but most were impassive and unfamiliar. I wouldn’t know their feelings. Have I another choice? I asked Harli one last time. He shook his head.

Bring in the prisoners. I stepped back on the platform.

As the hooded men were brought in, the rumble began. Dread chilled me in the face of rising fury before me. I misjudged them. The prisoners’ll be freed and this army’ll destroy me as a self-deluded sham, no better than Savrin.

The roar grew and waves of rage broke through my defenses. Such massive unity of emotion forced me to see the hostility’s direction. Not at me but towards those who ingratiated themselves into our camaraderie to break our work. We were warriors, but also Galantierans, and we yearned for the years when our foe was beyond our border.

I understood what Laarens meant when he said Spagnians made better enemies than each other. Fighting Spagna and their strange, violent ways is easy. The border war lacked hate. Spagna’s too different to love, and without love, hate found no purchase. Galantier fears Spagna and finds her incomprehensible, but we don’t hate.

Here, however... the men on the gallows were brothers, in arms if not blood. They’d shared meals, fires, blisters, and road-bruises with those venting their betrayal. My rebellion will foster hate.

No, the other part of my mind that I sometimes call Cazerien whispered. The hate would be a thousand times worse without a way to rally the nation. Faction on faction, faith against faith, down to child versus child. Without us, the Teregenis would carve Galantier into fiefs and the blood would flow until the last death brought victory to the last man. They’d find no unity in disintegration. We seek peace, not victory, to preserve Galantier from worse fates. Have faith in them; they’ll find unity despite discord and peace on the other side of war. From regret comes wisdom.

My warriors howled at these false friends who’d betray us and our nation. They surged towards the scaffolds. Only the Forest Pike’s strong will and arms kept them from the gallows. They flung rocks and earth, shouted invective and insult. Their hatred felt like a living, fevered creature. One that required bloodletting or a purgative.

Do it quickly and disperse them, I said.

Marli’s face had become a mask. She shook her head. We’d have a riot, Rien. Like Cimenarum. They’d rather we let them tear those scum apart by hand, but seeing them die will do.

When it’s over? I said.

They’ll calm. I’ve seen this before — public hangings are almost entertainment for us lowborns. It’ll end shortly, but I forbade beer and wine tonight. This doesn’t mix with drink.

I nodded and waited while the carts upon which the condemned stood pulled away. We lacked time and skill to construct a proper drop gibbet. What I had feared at Watable came to pass. We couldn’t break their necks, and they did not die quickly. These deaths were on my hands, and I could not behead thirty-seven people myself. Nor would I ask it of any of my army. Bad enough that some had to drive the carts, build the gibbets