“Torvaal is an Ilduuri name,” Sasha mused. Soldiers walked with them in rattling armour, her regular guard. “I'd never given it thought before. I know there was a man named Torvaal who fought with Great-grandpa Soros in the liberation of Lenayin, an Ilduuri who had sought fortune in Petrodor and volunteered for the Lenay crusade. Soros named him Chayden's godfather, who in turn named father after him.”
Aisha watched her as they walked, curiously. “Do you miss him?”
“I'd like to,” Sasha admitted. “But I can hardly miss someone I barely knew. I'm sad he's gone.” They emerged onto the grand steps overlooking Heroes' Square, now an encampment of tents, soldiers, and horses. Beyond, the city approaches were guarded. Growing ranks of soldiery drilled formations, hundreds of men moving and shouting in unison. Soon it would be thousands. “Certainly I feel today I understand him better than I did.”
“The burden of true power lends a curious perspective, yes?” Sasha nodded. They stood upon the top step, and contemplated the view for a moment. “Sasha? I know you love Damon, yet if he is not to become the leader that Lenayin needs…”
“He is,” said Sasha. “He just doesn't know it yet.”
“Sasha, you walked into Ilduur a nobody. Barely two weeks have passed, and you are Queen of Ilduur by default.” Sasha didn't like that word at all. “Very few in all Rhodia could have done it,” Aisha persisted. “I know you do not want to contemplate it, but I know Lenayin well enough to know that it needs a strong ruler, and of all the people I can think of who could fulfill that role…”
“Aisha, enough.”
Aisha sighed. Sasha went quickly down the steps, face grim, toward where Arken was waiting for her below, in full armour, some of his new command in tow.
“Visitors,” said Arken without preamble. “Awaiting on the square, demanding to see you. Nasi-Keth.” Sasha nodded. It was bound to happen. The one remaining fighting force left in Ilduur was not going to take the Steel's actions lying down.
“What of your Nasi-Keth officers?” Sasha asked. Arken was now a formation captain, replacing one such officer who had abandoned his post.
“Three gone,” said Arken. “One remains, and professes loyalty. Those three are now making trouble in the Tol'rhen, clear as day.”
“I'd rather they make trouble there than within the Steel,” said Sasha. “Let's go.” Sasha's personal guard led the way across the square, Arken's men behind, the new captain, Sasha, Aisha, and Yasmyn walking together.
“Aisha is right about Lenayin,” said Yasmyn. “Only a strong leader can unite the provinces. You are that leader.”
“Considering that we'll be outnumbered at Jahnd by the Regent nearly four-to-one even with the Ilduuri Steel,” Sasha said testily, “I think it's a little premature to start planning my rule over Lenayin.”
“A warrior either expects to win, or expects to lose. Should you expect to lose, why bother fighting?”
“Because running away makes one a coward,” Sasha retorted. “Besides which, a warrior expecting to win should not immediately pick fights with every man in town. Or else he will start losing, and fast.”
“Should you lead the town to victory in battle, all others would follow you and not fight you,” Yasmyn said stubbornly. “Should you win in Jahnd, all Lenays would follow you….”
“Enough, Yasmyn!” Sasha exclaimed, spinning on her and Aisha as they walked. “Both of you! If we win in Jahnd, Damon will be king, and he will make a good king!” She spun back as they kept walking. “I never thought I'd see you two agreeing on a matter of violence.”
“Violence?” asked Aisha. “No one is suggesting you should fight Damon for it.”
“Just how fucking naive are you, Aisha? What do you think happens when rivals fight for a throne? Have you paid any attention to the past few centuries of Bacosh history?”
“To win in Jahnd, you should have command there,” said Yasmyn, unperturbed. “To have unchallenged command, this should be settled first. Isfayen will back you.”
“I will fucking beat you with my fists if you don't shut up,” Sasha fumed.
“And I will repeat it nonetheless,” said Yasmyn. Sasha had no doubt that she would. Uncomprehending, Arken watched them with a frown.
“We debate a Lenay matter,” Sasha told him, in Saalsi. “Have no fear, we gang of Lenay speakers will not discuss Ilduuri matters in any tongue Ilduuri cannot understand. This is your land, not ours.”
Arken nodded, and said nothing.
One of the Nasi-Keth awaiting them by the edge of the square was dressed as an Ilduuri Steel captain. Soldiers surrounding him appeared tense and angry, a few with weapons drawn. This was one of the Nasi-Keth men the Remischtuul had promoted to command within the Steel at the expense of experienced and respected officers, Sasha realised. Now he stood defiantly, two companions at his side. Those two were dressed as town men, though their garb was loose and flexible in the right places. Fighting clothes, for svaalverd fighters. At their backs, they wore serrin swords on the diagonal.
“Captain Rael,” the officer introduced himself.
“Not anymore,” said Arken. The two men glared at each other. Rael was nearly as tall and blond as Arken, with pale eyes.
“You have committed a grave crime against Ilduur,” Rael told Sasha, arms folded, standing to his full height. There was no sword in his sheath, soldiers having taken it from him. They stood at the base of a statue, with further guards observing the flanking buildings for archers in the windows, shields at the ready in case of a long-range bolt.
“I have done nothing to Ilduur save to show the Ilduuri Steel a path,” Sasha replied. “It was the Steel who chose to take it.”
Rael scoffed. “You idiot girl, can you not see you have been taken for a ride? This is a grab for power by the easterners. They wish to rule Ilduur themselves. I hear you are fighting the Regent in the name of freedom. Tell me-how much freedom shall there be for Ilduur when we majority Ilduuri have no representation in the Remischtuul, and one of these eastern friends of yours rules us like a king with an iron fist?”
“I don't care,” said Sasha. “The people of Ilduur are free, and in their freedom they chose evil. Freedom is not wisdom, nor is it kindness, nor honour. Ilduur freely chose to make war on Saalshen and its allies, and now it pays the price.”
“War?” Rael looked aghast. “What is this war that you speak of? We seek only to avoid fighting a war, as is our right!”
“You swore an oath to your brothers in Enora and Rhodaan that you would defend them against…”
“The Steel swore an oath!” Rael retorted. “An oath now centuries old, meaningless to most Ilduuris, nurtured by the Steel only to preserve their power and status over we majority Ilduuris…”
He might have said more. Sasha stopped listening and looked across the courtyard, at soldiers watching, at others guarding the roads and lanes, at the pointed roofs of buildings overlooking the square. At some point, Rael must have stopped speaking, because there was silence. Sasha looked back to him, and some of her utter contempt must have shown, for he paled, though with fear or anger she could not guess. Perhaps both.
“I am Lenay,” she said in a cold voice. “If all Ilduuri think as you do, then I admit, most Lenays would not care if this civilisation dies.” She let it sink in. “You are a land of cowards, and I feel nothing for you. If the eastern regions are the only regions that will honour their oath and fight against the evil that gathers to enslave us, then I am with them.”
“You fool!” Rael rasped. “You cannot bring freedom by inflicting tyranny!”
“I can,” said Sasha. “I will.”