And Torgan Plye had never been a fool.
Chapter 20
QALSYN, STELPANA
It all happened much faster than she'd had any right to expect. The day after her second audience with His Lordship, Tirnya received word that
Maisaak had dispatched a messenger to Ofirean City. Within ten days of this man's departure the lord governor received a message back from the sovereign. She and her father had expected the exchange of missives to take close to a turn; instead they had taken less than half that time. By any measure, they had been remarkably fortunate.
And yet, for Tirnya, each day of waiting seemed an eternity. Whatever relief she had felt in learning that the lord governor had made his decision so quickly gave way to childlike impatience as she awaited the reply from Stelpana's royal city. She would go from being utterly certain one moment that the sovereign would approve their plan, to imagining in the next all sorts of reasons why Ankyr might say no. During this time she treated horribly everyone she knew. She knew it, and yet she could do nothing about it. She was far too rough on her men, pushing them so hard during their training sessions that afterward none of her lead riders would speak to her. At home, she was moody to the point of rudeness, speaking to her mother and father as if they were common servants. She avoided Enly entirely.
When at last His Lordship summoned Tirnya and her father to his palace to inform them of the sovereign's decision, Tirnya was so exhausted from the ordeal of waiting that she managed to convince herself she didn't care one way or another what Ankyr's message said. Of course, this didn't stop her from trembling with anticipation as she and Jenoe waited in the palace corridor to be admitted to Maisaak's chamber. She paced back and forth in front of Maisaak's door, muttering under her breath, reminding herself of all the reasons why the sovereign was bound to give his permission.
After some time, Jenoe said something to her, though Tirnya barely heard him.
She halted in front of him. "What?"
"I said, perhaps this time you should let me do the talking."
Tirnya frowned. "Why?"
Jenoe glanced at the two guards positioned on either side of the door. Both men were smirking.
"Because," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I'm afraid of what you might say to His Lordship if this doesn't go the way you'd like it to."
She started to argue with him, then stopped herself. "I really have been dreadful, haven't I?"
Her father looked down at the floor, his lips pursed. After a moment he nodded. "Yes, you have."
"I'm sorry," she said. "By all means, speak for us. If His Lordship lets us go, you'll be in command anyway."
A moment later, the door opened, and the two of them were ushered into the chamber. Once again, Enly was already inside, and while Tirnya steadfastly avoided his gaze, she realized that she was glad to have him there, although she wasn't exactly certain why.
She and her father stopped just inside the doorway and bowed to the lord governor.
"Come in," Maisaak said. He wasn't smiling, but there was something in his voice that put Tirnya's mind at ease. He sounded pleased, and given his eagerness to be rid of her father, Tirnya assumed this meant that the sovereign had granted their request. "I'm sure you know why I summoned you here, so I won't waste your time or mine. The sovereign has granted me authority to send our armies west into Fal'Borna land, provided we succeed in forging an alliance with the Mettai."
Tirnya could barely contain her glee; she had to resist an urge to rush forward and throw her arms around His Lordship's neck. Just the idea of it made her giggle.
"Is something funny, Captain?" Maisaak asked.
"No, Your Lordship. I'm… I'm pleased."
"I imagine you are. I mentioned in my message to the sovereign that this was your idea, Captain," His Lordship went on. "He told me to commend you for your imaginative thinking. But he also wanted me to make clear that if the Mettai refuse your overtures, you're to return to Qalsyn. He doesn't want to risk this war without their aid."
"I understand, Your Lordship," Tirnya said.
"Good." Maisaak stepped behind his writing table and sat. "You'll take all the companies under your command, Jenoe. I'll be sending Enly and his soldiers with you, as well. And the sovereign has ordered sixteen companies from the north and a dozen from the south to meet you along the wash at Enka's Shallows."
Tirnya wasn't certain that she had heard him correctly. "But, Your Lordship-"
"Don't worry, Captain. The northern army comes out of Fairlea, the southern companies from Waterstone, and the sovereign has made clear to them that they'll be under your father's command."
She frowned. "Yes, Your Lordship, but-"
"She wasn't concerned about the other armies, Father," Enly said, watching her with a slight smile on his lips. "She's wondering why you'd send me along, when I've made it clear from the start that I don't approve of this venture."
His Lordship looked first at Enly and then at Tirnya. "Is that true, Captain?"
She hesitated. "Yes, Your Lordship."
"Do you want to explain?" Maisaak asked his son. "Or should I?"
"I volunteered for this," Enly said, not bothering to look at the lord governor. "I felt a bit responsible, since I was there when you first thought of approaching the Mettai. And I suppose I feel that I can be of some help."
Tirnya wasn't certain what to say. She couldn't even decide if she wanted him riding with them. It occurred to her that this might have been Maisaak's idea, that His Lordship might have instructed Enly to do whatever he could to see that the invasion failed. As quickly as this notion came to her, she dismissed it. Enly and his father hardly spoke to one another unless they had to. Maisaak wouldn't trust Enly with such a task, and Enly wouldn't take it on if he did. Forced to choose between Tirnya and his father, Enly would have chosen her. Everyone in the chamber knew it.
"We'll be glad to have you with us, my lord," Jenoe said, after a brief silence.
Enly inclined his head slightly. "Thank you, Marshal."
"You'll be leading them, Jenoe," His Lordship said. "Even with my son there, this is your army to command."
"You honor me, Your Lordship. With such fine captains riding at my side, we're sure to prevail."
Maisaak's smile this time was thin and clearly forced. "Indeed," he said. He turned his attention back to the scrolls on his writing table. "You all have much to do in the next few days. Enly, tell the quartermaster to gather and prepare provisions for two thousand men. Jenoe, I'd suggest you send some of your men to the armory. You'll want to have at least five hundred bows with you, and I'm not certain we have that many ready right now." He looked at Tirnya. "Captain, I'd like you to speak with the stablemaster. Obviously most of your soldiers will be on foot. But all told you'll have close to forty commanders and lead riders. The stablemaster may need a few days to equip that many beasts."
"Yes, Your Lordship. I'll see to it immediately."
"Good. Keep me apprised of your progress."
"Forgive me, Your Lordship," Jenoe said. "But when last we spoke, I told you that I could pay for provisions out of my family's treasury. I fully intend-"
"No need, Jenoe," Maisaak said. "The sovereign has pledged to pay the costs of this war. We don't need your gold."
Jenoe eyed the man for just a moment. "Yes, Your Lordship." Maisaak nodded once. "That's all."
Tirnya, Jenoe, and Enly left the chamber together, none of them saying a thing as they made their way through the palace corridors. Only when they reached the city lanes did Enly stop and face them.