Is there still time?
“And what about the wagons on the South Road?” Esrahaddon growled as Hadrian entered. The wizard stood in his familiar robe, which was, at that moment, gray and perfectly dry despite the heavy rain. Esrahaddon looked the same as he had in Dahlgren except for the length of his beard, which now reached to his chest, giving him a more wizardly appearance.
Parker was seated behind his table, a napkin tucked into his collar, another plate of ham and eggs before him.
Does he have the same meal brought to him each morning?
“It’s the mud. They can’t be moved, and I don’t appreciate—” He paused when he spotted Hadrian. “What’s going on? I ordered this man staked. Why are you bringing him here?”
“I ordered it,” Esrahaddon told him. “Sergeant, remove those restraints and fetch his weapons.”
“You?” Parker replied, stunned. “You are here only as an advisor. You forget I’m in command.”
“Of what?” the wizard asked. “A thousand lazy vagabonds? This was an army when I left. I come back and it’s a rabble.”
“It’s the rain. It doesn’t stop.”
“It’s not supposed to stop,” Hadrian burst out in frustration. “I tried to tell you. We need to attack Dermont now. Arista is launching a rebellion this morning in Ratibor. She’ll seal the city so he can’t retreat. We have to engage and defeat Dermont before he’s reinforced by Sir Breckton and the Northern Imperial Army. They will be here any day now. If we don’t attack, Dermont will enter the city and crush the rebellion.”
“What nonsense.” Parker pointed an accusing finger. “This man entered the camp claiming to be a marshal-at-arms who was taking command of my troops.”
“He is, and he will,” the wizard told him.
“He will not! He and the Princess of Melengar are both responsible for the treachery that probably cost Degan his life. And we have had no news of any Northern—”
“Degan is alive, you idiot. Neither Hadrian nor Arista had anything to do with his abduction. Do as this man instructs or everyone will likely be dead or captured by the imperium in two days. You, of course”—the wizard glared at Parker—“will die much sooner.”
Parker’s eyes widened.
“I don’t even know who he is!” Parker exclaimed. “I can’t turn over command to a stranger I know nothing about. How do I know he’s capable? What are his qualifications?”
“Hadrian knows more about combat than any living man.”
“And am I to take your word? The word of a—a—sorcerer?”
“It was on my word that this army was formed—my direction that produced its victories.”
“But you’ve been gone. Things have changed. Degan left me in charge and I don’t think I can—”
Esrahaddon stepped toward the commander. As he did, his robe began to glow. A bloodred radiance filled the interior of the house, making Parker’s face look like a plump beet.
“All right! All right!” Parker shouted abruptly to the sergeant, “Do as he says. What do I care!”
The sergeant unlocked Hadrian’s hands, then exited.
“Now, Parker, make yourself useful for once,” Esrahaddon said. “Go round up the regiment captains. Tell them that they will now be taking their orders from Marshal Blackwater, and have them gather here as soon as possible.”
“Marshal Lord Blackwater,” Hadrian said with a smile.
Esrahaddon rolled his eyes. “Do it now.”
“But—”
“Go!”
Parker grabbed up his cloak and his sword and pulled his boots from under the table. He retreated out the door still holding them.
“Is he going to be a problem?” Hadrian asked, watching the ex-commander hop into the rain, grumbling.
“Parker? No. I just needed to remind him that he’s terrified of me.” Esrahaddon looked at Hadrian. “Marshal Lord Blackwater?”
“Lord Esrahaddon?” he replied, rubbing feeling back into his wrists.
The wizard smiled and nodded. “You still haven’t said what you’re doing here.”
“A job—for Arista Essendon. She hired us to help her contact the Nationalists.”
“And now she has you seizing control of my army.”
“Your army? I thought this was Gaunt’s.”
“So did he. And the moment I’m away, Degan gets himself captured after putting that thing in charge. Royce with you?”
“Was—Arista sent him to contact Alric about invading Warric.”
While eating Parker’s ham and eggs, Hadrian provided Esrahaddon with further details about the rebellion and his plans for attacking Dermont. Just as he had finished the meal, there was a knock on the door. Five officers and the harried-looking sergeant who carried Hadrian’s swords entered.
Esrahaddon addressed them. “As Parker no doubt informed you, this is Marshal Lord Blackwater, your new commander. Do anything he says, as if he were Gaunt himself. I think you’ll find him a very worthy replacement for your general.”