The Great Leveller: Best Served Cold, The Heroes and Red Country Read Online Free

Eight’s army, just as you did at Sweet Pines! Ganmark says Duke Salier had three times your number.’
    ‘Numbers are a hindrance if they’re lazy, ill-prepared and led by idiots. An army of farmers from Borletta, cobblers from Affoia, glass-blowers from Visserine. Amateurs. They camped by the river, thinking we were far away, scarcely posted guards. We came up through the woods at night and caught them at sunrise, not even in their armour.’
    ‘I can see Salier now, the fat pig, waddling from his bed to run!’
    ‘Faithful led the charge. We broke them quickly, captured their supplies.’
    ‘Turned the golden cornfields crimson, I was told.’
    ‘They hardly even fought. Ten times as many drowned trying to swim the river as died fighting. More than four thousand prisoners. Some ransoms were paid, some not, some men were hanged.’
    ‘And few tears shed, eh, Monza?’
    ‘Not by me. If they were so keen to live, they could’ve surrendered.’
    ‘As they did at Caprile?’
    She stared straight back into Orso’s black eyes. ‘Just as they did at Caprile.’
    ‘Borletta is besieged, then?’
    ‘Fallen already.’
    The duke’s face lit up like a boy’s on his birthday. ‘Fallen? Cantain surrendered?’
    ‘When his people heard of Salier’s defeat, they lost hope.’
    ‘And people without hope are a dangerous crowd, even in a republic.’
    ‘Especially in a republic. A mob dragged Cantain from the palace, hanged him from the highest tower, opened the gates and threw themselves on the mercy of the Thousand Swords.’
    ‘Hah! Slaughtered by the very people he laboured to keep free. There’s the gratitude of the common man, eh, Monza? Cantain should have taken my money when I offered. It would have been cheaper for both of us.’
    ‘The people are falling over themselves to become your subjects. I’ve given orders they should be spared, where possible.’
    ‘Mercy, eh?’
    ‘Mercy and cowardice are the same,’ she snapped out. ‘But you want their land, not their lives, no? Dead men can’t obey.’
    Orso smiled. ‘Why can my sons not mark my lessons as you have? I entirely approve. Hang only the leaders. And Cantain’s head above the gates. Nothing encourages obedience like a good example.’
    ‘Already rotting, with those of his sons.’
    ‘Fine work!’ The Lord of Talins clapped his hands, as though he never heard such pleasing music as the news of rotting heads. ‘What of the takings?’
    The accounts were Benna’s business, and he came forwards now, sliding a folded paper from his chest pocket. ‘The city was scoured, your Excellency. Every building stripped, every floor dug up, every person searched. The usual rules apply, according to our terms of engagement. Quarter for the man that finds it, quarter for his captain, quarter for the generals,’ and he bowed low, unfolding the paper and offering it out, ‘and quarter for our noble employer.’
    Orso’s smile broadened as his eyes scanned down the figures. ‘My blessing on the Rule of Quarters! Enough to keep you both in my service a little longer.’ He stepped between Monza and Benna, placed a gentle hand on each of their shoulders and led them back through the open windows. Towards the round table of black marble in the centre of the room, and the great map spread out upon it. Ganmark, Ario and Faithful had already gathered there. Gobba still lurked in the shadows, thick arms folded across his chest. ‘What of our one-time friends and now our bitter enemies, the treacherous citizens of Visserine?’
    ‘The fields round the city are burned up to the gates, almost.’ Monza scattered carnage across the countryside with a few waves of her finger. ‘Farmers driven off, livestock slaughtered. It’ll be a lean winter for fat Duke Salier, and a leaner spring.’
    ‘He will have to rely on the noble Duke Rogont and his Osprians,’ said Ganmark, with the faintest of smiles.
    Prince Ario snickered. ‘Much talk blows down from Ospria,