No-one spoke, though the officers turned and glanced at one another. ‘You need have no fear, gentlemen. There will be no treachery. Two hundred or so men have already departed for the territory of the Finance. Any here who wish to leave may do so without fear of harm.’
‘Might I ask what your intentions are, my lord?’ asked a captain. He was the man who had spoken to Galliott earlier. He was young, no more than twenty years old, his hair fair, his eyes a soft brown. He did not look like a fighter, thought Galliott.
‘My intentions, young man, are to fight. Winter Kay will bring his armies north.’
‘Aye, my lord, I expect he will. He will outnumber us greatly and will also bring cannon.’
‘Indeed so. What is your point?’
The Finance had ordered cannon, ready for the breaching of this castle. Those cannon will even now be on their way. It would be wise to send troops to intercept them before they hear of events at Eldacre and turn back.’
‘An excellent thought,’ agreed the Moidart. ‘Now we must turn our attention to the structure of our forces. We have here some two hundred junior officers. Outside these walls we have seventeen thousand men. I will need four generals from among you, and twenty senior officers with the rank of colonel. In normal circumstances I would know each of you well, and have taken measure of your strengths and your weaknesses. I know few of you well, and most of you not at all. What I do believe, however, is that you know the men in this hall who would make the best generals and colonels. Therefore you will choose twenty-four from among your number. The twenty-four will then choose the four who will become generals. The four will report to me with Colonel Galliott in two hours. Are there any further questions?’
Galliott could see that there were, but no-one spoke. ‘Very well,’ said the Moidart. ‘I shall leave you, gentlemen, to your deliberations. Choose wisely. Do not consider voting for reasons of advancement, or future reward. Your lives will rest on the choices you make today.’ He paused, then pointed at the young captain who had spoken earlier. ‘You, sir, what is your name?’
‘Bendegit Law,’ replied the captain.
‘Well, Bendegit Law, I am promoting you to the rank of colonel. How many men will you need to take the cannon and bring them to Eldacre?’
‘Two hundred should be sufficient, sir. Cavalry, of course.’
‘Choose your men and leave as soon as you have cast your vote.’
‘Yes, my lord.’
Without another word the Moidart turned and walked up the stairs.
As soon as he had gone the hubbub began. Galliott moved to the far wall and sat down on the floor, his back resting against the marble base of a statue. For a blessed few moments he dozed. Then an officer approached him. ‘How best do you think we should conduct this election, sir?’ he asked.
Galliott allowed himself the fantasy of drawing his pistol and shooting the man in the head. Then he wearily pushed himself to his feet.
Galliott was not the only weary man in the castle. Huntsekker felt the weight of his years as he walked along the corridor. His left elbow was aching, a sure sign that rain was on the way, and his heart was heavy. He had not lied to Powdermill about being relieved that the Moidart’s plan had succeeded. What he had not said was how tired he was of killing. He had spent the whole of yesterday hidden with the Moidart in the secret passageways of Eldacre Castle, waiting for nightfall. When that came they had sat quietly in the darkness. Once the enemy generals had taken to their beds Huntsekker had emerged. He had killed most of them in their sleep, but the Finance’s nephew had awoken just as Huntsekker’s knife was poised above his throat. He had struggled, grabbing Huntsekker’s wrist. Then he had begged. ‘I have children!’ he wailed. Huntsekker had killed him anyway.
How many was that, he wondered? How many men have I killed for the Moidart? He had lost count years ago.