9 IX

The wall rose quickly, at least for how big it was.

As for the towers Thyrn had wanted, some goat herds had come forward and revealed a path up the cliffs. The southern tower was built on a snug ledge some six and two dozen measures up, almost right over the wall. On the other hand, the northern tower was more of a crenelated wall five dozen measures off the ground. Neither fort had enough room for the catapults Thyrn had wanted.

While the wall went up, Thyrn took up residence in the royal palace, overseeing the affairs of both the city and his army.

A week of festivities was declared. Thyrn distributed food to the populace to buy their compliance while priests carried out daily sacrifices to thank the gods. These festivities consumed nearly all the food his army had brought with him, though, so he sent orders north for more. By the time it arrived, the army was out of food and Thyrn almost feared they would starve.

The men from the north brought not just food, but also stories. Stories for Thyrn's ears only, stories that worried him.

"Near revolting, you say?" he asked. The messenger—a captain over the warriors escorting the food—nodded. "Well did you see the army I have encamped here? I was planning to march north as soon as we finish fortifying the city."

"I would go sooner rather than later," the captain said. "Er, your majesty. And it's more than just the north; the goat mongerers raided us on the way south."

"I thought I'd pacified them..." Thyrn sighed. "You are dismissed."

As the captain left, Thyrn sent for Farn. The lesser king took the better part of an hour to arrive; Thyrn busied himself with reading of King Beld of Kharboldur's war against Cethon some seven grossyears past. He almost forgot that he had summed Farn when he arrived.

"You called?"

"Yes." Thyrn looked up form his scroll. "Prepare to march."

"I thought you wanted to finish up your defenses."

Thyrn nodded. "But the civilian slaves can probably take it from here, and in light of recent news I think it wise to march soon."

Farn nodded sharply. "You hardly needed to tell me this personally."

"Yeah. Once you've triggered that rock slide, I want you to run a little sortie. Gather your fastest chariots and strike the goatherds in the hills north of the Laks Valley. They've been harassing my caravans."

"You won my fastest chariot in that bet."

Thyrn grinned at that. "Very well, I shall allow you to rent it from me for six tin bolts a day."

"How generous," Farn said dryly.

"Kill their herds, and any lone herders or small groups if you can. Stay away from their main army, unless you're confident you can scatter them." Thyrn trusted Farn's judgement on that, more than his own even. "Don't engage any chariots they might have, unless you can take them alone."

"Should I take prisoners?"

"No slaves. Take one or two important prisoners if they won't slow you down. Warchiefs, or anyone who looks like they'll fetch a ransom."

Farn nodded. "And their wells? Should I poison them?"

Thyrn shook his head. "We'll be marching through there shortly. Poisoning the water would hurt us as much as them, if not more so."

"Anything else?"

"Return here once you've found or routed their main army. If we're already gone, I'm sure you'll run into us on our way out; if not, we should leave a pretty easy to follow trail."

Farn bowed shallowly and left.

The city of Kurbrom would not be sad to see the army leave, Thyrn reflected as he oversaw the transition of power—not to Komn, who had already arrived in Nuxdur, but to one of his generals. The rates of rape, theft, and murder had skyrocketed after the army billeted in the city, and the free food hand-outs couldn't make up for it all.

Thyrn might have been worried about rebellion, were he not leaving a garrison of six gross men—two gross Brustish, two gross Nuxish, and two gross Wirr Duran; he took all the Kurbromite warriors with him—to keep the peace. He did have them construct a fortified camp north of the river, though, until more permanent quarters could be built by the wall.

In addition to the administration of the city, Thyrn also oversaw the transition of the wall's construction from his own military slaves to the civilian slaves of the city.

Thyrn gave Farn two weeks, then set off without him.