David Gemmell – Rigante 4 – Stormrider

‘No. Not as yet.’

‘It is necessary, one to acquire a fresh line of supply, and two to offer us a second line of defence. It should be done today. There are far too many troops sitting around here doing nothing. How many men do we have?’

‘Just under eighteen thousand, though I expect the Rigante to send a force.’

‘Winter Kay will have more than fifty thousand when he comes. Twenty thousand cavalry, twenty-five thousand musketeers and pikemen, and some two hundred cannons.’

‘I quake in my boots,’ said the Moidart. ‘A glass of wine?’

‘Aye, that would be welcome.’

‘I take it that Shelding was hard on you. You seem to have acquired a touch of steel in your personality. I am most happy to see it.’

‘A touch of steel?’ said Gaise, coldly. ‘Nicely put. But wholly incorrect. I always had a touch of steel. You were just blind to it, as you were blind to everything else I ever did. It used to concern me that you held no affection for your son. It used to worry me, and make me think I had done something to offend you. Now it concerns me not at all. You do not like me, Father, and I detest you and everything you have failed to stand for. That said, we now face a common enemy. I will lead your forces. In public I will acquiesce to your wishes, but you will merely be the figurehead. In reality I am now in control here.’

‘Ah, so you are now the Moidart?’

‘Something I would never wish to be. No, sir, I am the soldier. I understand war, and I know how to fight it. You have a problem with any of this?’

The Moidart moved to a cabinet by the western wall and filled two goblets with wine. He passed one to Gaise. Once more the dog growled. ‘Fine beast,’ he said.

‘I would be obliged if you did not shoot it.’

‘Ah, that accident still rankles with you. I did not intend to kill your dog, Gaise. I value a good dog, and Soldier was one of the best. However, that is the past. Do I have a problem with you running the army? No, of course not. As you say, you are the warrior – the Grey Ghost, I understand. Very colourful. You will inspire the men and give them confidence. Is Mulgrave still with you?’

‘For the time being. He has a desire to leave my service.’

‘Why?’

‘He is soft-hearted.’

‘Yes, I noticed that when he was in my employ. Not a natural killer. Sit down.’ The Moidart returned to his chair. Gaise sat opposite him. ‘How did you see this war developing?’

Gaise sipped his wine, then placed the goblet on the desk top. ‘Winter Kay is an able general. He will know through his Redeemers how many men we have. It will be important to him to split our forces. Therefore he will probably send three columns into our lands. One will move along the east coast, closing off our supply routes from the sea. A second will come in from the west, across the lands of the Finance. The main thrust will come directly from the south and be directed at Eldacre. This will be more slow-moving, since it will have the artillery. The other forces will, I suspect, consist of cavalry detachments and musketeer support. We will need to oppose them, and this will involve weakening our defences here. He is also likely to send a raiding force ahead of the three columns, trying to draw us out. The object of the raiding force will be to terrify the non-combatants and drain the morale of the citizenry.’

‘Winter Kay does seem an able fellow,’ said the Moidart. ‘I am surprised it took him so long to defeat the Covenanters.’

‘He had no wish to defeat them. It suited his purposes for the war to be prolonged. The king’s popularity plummeted, which meant that by the time Winterbourne killed him the people were ready for a change, and will not mourn him.’

‘A very able fellow. One could almost admire him.’

‘I am sure the two of you would have become the best of friends,’ said Gaise. ‘I was almost touched when I learned you had become his enemy after he tried to have me killed.’