The Born Queen - J. Gregory Keyes [54]
“A familiar strategy,” Anne said. “That’s like what we did.”
“Precisely, Majesty.”
“Do they have the men to come at us from all of these directions and deal with the Lierish fleet as well?”
Sir Fail cleared his throat. “If I may?”
“Spell on,” she said.
“They haven’t the ships to take Liery, not alone. But there is rumor that a fleet is assembling at z’Espino. Moreover, it is nearly certain that Rakh Fadh is allied with Hansa, although there’s no way of knowing how many ships they have or will send.”
“What about our allies? Or do we have any?”
“Riders tell us that an embassy from Virgenya will arrive soon, probably sometime tomorrow.”
“An embassy? I’m their empress. I don’t want an embassy; I want the ships and troops we asked for three months ago.”
“You may take that up with the Virgenyans,” Artwair said. “Of all of the parts of the empire, they are the most independent, and they like to make a show of it.”
“There will be a show,” Anne muttered more or less under her breath. Then she turned to the other two men.
“Lord Bishop, Marhgreft Sighbrand, I trust you are well.”
“Very well, Your Highness,” Bishop replied.
“Lord Bishop, we made you master of the treasury, did we not?”
“You did, Majesty.”
“What is the state of it?”
Lord Bishop’s lips tightened. “Robert did a bit of looting before he fled the city, it seems.”
“Can we pay and supply our troops?”
“For the time being. But if we have another levy—even a modest one—it will make our belts very tight.”
“Even with the confiscated Church properties?”
“Even with that, yes,” he replied.
“I see. Well, we need to find some more silver, don’t we?”
“Yes, Majesty.”
She turned to Sighbrand. “Marhgreft?”
“Majesty.”
“The duke tells us that troops are gathering at Schildu. That is very near your greffy of Dhaerath, isn’t it?”
“It is. Very near.”
“I called you here to ask you to be my prime minister. I’ve been advised you would make a good one.”
Sighbrand’s lips twitched. “I’m honored, Majesty.”
“Yet I wonder if your heart would really be in the job when your lands are in danger, so I will give you a choice instead. You may serve here as my adviser and defender of the keep, or you can take command of the armies of the east and defend us from there.”
The old warrior’s eyes brightened a bit. “I am a man more suited to action, Your Majesty, than arranging court appearances and the like.”
“So I thought. Very well. You will answer to Artwair, who is supreme general of my forces, and you will answer to me. Beyond that, you have leave to organize the armies of the east as you see fit to guard our borders. I will have your title and powers drafted before this afternoon.”
“Thank you, Majesty. I will not fail you.”
“I don’t expect you to,” she replied. “I don’t expect any of you to.” She settled her hands on the tops of her thighs.
“Now,” she said. “All of you. Can this war be stopped?”
“You did appoint an embassy,” Artwair pointed out.
“Yes, based on the recommendation of the Comven and on an idea of my own. But you are not the Comven; you are men I respect. I’m not a general. I don’t know much about war. So tell me what to think.”
“There will be war,” Artwair said. “They have come too far to turn back, and Marcomir is old. He has the backing of the Church. This is his chance, and he knows it.”
“The rest of you agree?”
The others nodded their heads yes.
“Very well, then. It seems foolish to give them any more time to make things as they want them. We will take the war to them, gentlemen. Where shall we begin?”
Artwair frowned. “You mean now? But Your Majesty—”
“I won’t wait until we’re completely hemmed in,” Anne said. “You say there are ships at Copenwis? Copenwis is our city, our port. Let those ships become ours or burn.”
“Now, that’s her de Liery blood talking,” Duke Fail said. “I’ve been saying that for months.”
“I’m settled on it,” Anne said. “Make preparations.