“As you wish, Your Majesty,” Liakopulos said.

“He pulled a slick one,” Michael observed as he and Liakopulos stalked through the castle halls.

“You should have seen it coming. It was too quiet.”

“Maybe. Still, it should peak today and fall apart before the end of the week.”

Michael guessed wrong. Sundown brought the second phase of Abaca’s campaign. It left the nation staggered. He employed the Harish on loan from Yasmid. Michael had all but forgotten them. Half the religious fanatics struck in the vicinity of Vorgreberg. Three teams of three hurled themselves at Greyfells and Norath. Norath’s sorcery saved him and the Duke, but both were gravely wounded. Most of their captains were slain. Josiah Gales missed death by sheer luck.

The Estates suffered even more grievously. Abaca’s planning had been meticulous, and aimed at the heart of the opposition. He was using men who did not care if they came out alive. Their strike crippled Inger’s ability to respond to the rebellion.

Almost immediately, the surviving cadre battalions of the South Bows and Sedlmayr Light regiments declared for Bragi II.

Michael and Liakopulos flanked Inger at a table on which a map of Kavelin lay. Their voices were soft, and concerned. “Count out Delhagen, Holtschlaw, Uhlmansiek, and Orthwein,” Michael said. “Damn. Four provinces gone already. And half a dozen more suspect.”

“General, what about the other regiments?”

“The Damhorsters will stick. The Vorgrebergers and Queen’s Own are safe.

And, of course, the Guard is sound.”

“What about the Breidenbachers and Borderers? And the garrison in the Gap?”

“The Borderers are too dispersed to go either way. Split them according to the sentiment of the area where they’re stationed. Maisak is temporizing. I haven’t heard anything from the Breidenbachers.”

“Do something. If they go…. look at the damned map. The whole east would be against us. Some of their units are within a few miles of Vorgreberg.”

“You forgot the Midlands Light,” Michael said. The Midlands Light hadn’t taken part in the summer exercises. None of its men had gone east with Ragnarson. It remained at full strength.

“Let’s not talk about them,” Inger said. “About them we should pray. If they go, we’re dead.”

“Don’t give up on them,” Liakopulos said. “They’re mostly Wesson, but Credence never had much influence with them.”

“Find out,” Inger ordered. “Find out fast. If they stick, start using them. Use them fast.”

Liakopulos said, “May I remind Your Majesty that I’m due to resign? I believe Colonel Gales was supposed to replace me?”

“You’re both too valuable where you are. You agreed to stay as long as I needed you, General. You conscience won’t let you stay to fight Abaca?”

“We can fight him,” Michael said. “But we won’t like it. He’s our friend.”

“Not anymore, he isn’t. He chose enmity. Look. I want to hit back. Hard, and soon. Before this can become a real war. Can you finagle that into your sense of duty?”