“While the Post can sub dividends over fewer summers than anyone else, the flatbacks will flock,” I said, “but enough of trade. Congratulations, Prince, I’m glad to see things are going well, being a Partner suits you. Will you get a message to me if you find Kheld? It would be good to know he’s still alive.”

He nodded. He had been the difference at Ahmstad, turning three prominent families under the noses of Vilmor’s king, extending the borders and fortifying them in a stroke. The mad king is still being strangled in the noose The Prince tied. His death proved that whoever of us was alive was in danger. I signed our purses. This could only be about getting at me.

Achi had fallen asleep.

I poured him some of the dreadful brandy that was the best the Riddle had to offer.

Shale and Gant were taking a purse only weeks south. If they were still anything like the soldiers of old I would have need of them. Achi’s crew would be glad to be going back to Harudan. I needed good men with my wife, Araliah. Still, there was one more thing I needed to ask of Achi himself, one person I needed to confirm was dead.

The Prince and the Ahmstad

An account, by a Fieldsman in the guise of a bodyguard to the Ahmstad Ladus (chief), of the negotiation by which Kailen and The Prince secured a bloodless victory for Ahmstad over Vilmor.

—Goran

Report: Candar Prime, Q4 649 OE

Eastern Sar Westmain routed

Confidential for The Red only

Fieldsman 71

You are aware of Vilmorian expansionism under their King Turis. They have been amassing an army for assaults on two fronts, the Luzhan Province and Ahmstad.

A clan leader for Ahmstad brought a mercenary known as Kailen to their war council. To say the Ladus was displeased was to put it mildly. The clan leader, Hasike, asked that the Ladus hear him out.

What follows is a transcription of the meeting as best as I can relay it. It is evident that Kailen, and his fellow that he called The Prince, displayed a formidable understanding of both sides of the potential conflict. He is a most unusual mercenary and a compelling speaker, though of course this does not come across half so well in my approximation of the meeting.

“May I ask the Ladus the size of the army he is amassing?” said Kailen.

“The clans represented here have committed to me near eighteen thousand men and women. Do I speak right?” Raised voice, eliciting approval and some banging of cups.

“And what would the Ladus say losses of such men might be, were Vilmor to bring to bear an army estimated at twenty-five thousand?”

“Where do you get such numbers, soldier?”

The Prince speaks then. “We served with Vilmor, as you no doubt already know. They have seventy-six fiefs, variously providing twenty to two hundred men and women.”