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He had been a common soldier years back, not one to find himself in councils of war There was little comfort in this newto do with acquiring the title Tavore knew hi to hi of schedules… but for a noble household Yet it seemed she intended to use him in an identical manner, this time for the entire Fourteenth Army Which made him an administrator, not a Fist A fact of which no-one present in this room was unaware

He was unused to the enized that the bluster he often displayed was nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction to his own sense of inadequacy For theeven so much as diffidence,a half-dozen paces away, in quiet conversation with the i sat sprawled in a chair at the far end of the map table, farthest fro coain to the tall admiral Apart from Dujek Onearm, Nok was the last of the commanders from the Emperor’s time The only admiral who didn’t drownWith the sudden deaths of the Napan brothers, Urko and Crust, Nok had been given overall command of the imperial fleets The Empress had sent him and a hundred and seven of his ships to Seven Cities when the ruh Fist in Aren not effectively is could have been prevented; indeed, the rebellion ht well be over Now, the task of reconquest pros the ad all that had occurred and all that was likely to co cold and irievances The Red Blades had been charged with treason by Porht under Coltaine’s co’s first order once the High Fist left the city had been their release As with the survivors of the Chain of Dogs and the Aren Guard, the Adjunct had inherited their presence The question of what to do with them-what to do with them all-was about to be answered

Gamet wished he could allay their concerns, but the truth was, Tavore had never been free with her thoughts The Fist had no idea what this evening would bring

The door opened

As was her style, Tavore’s clothes ell made, but plain and virtually colourless A rey in her reddish, short-cropped hair, to her unyielding, unprepossessing features She was tall, sohtly oversized for her frame The otataral sword of her office was scabbarded at her belt-the only indication of her imperial title A half-dozen scrolls were tucked under one arm

‘Stand or sit as you like,’ were her first words as she strode to the High Fist’s ornate chair

Gamet watched Nok and Tene Baralta move to chairs at the table, then followed suit

Back straight, the Adjunct sat She set the scrolls down ‘The disposition of the Fourteenth Ar Remain in our company, Admiral Nok, please’ She reached for the first scroll and slipped its ties ‘Three legions The 8th, 9th and 10th Fist Ga, the 9th, and Fist Tene Baralta, the 10th The choice of officers under each respective command is at the discretion of each Fist I advise you to select wisely Adship She is now in charge of the Aren Guard’ Without pause she reached for a second scroll ‘As to the survivors of the Chain of Dogs and sundry unattached elements at our disposal, their units are now dissolved They have been reassigned and dispersed throughout the three legions’ She finally looked up-and if she took note of the shock on the faces that Gamet saw, a shock he shared, she hid it well ‘In three days’ time, I will review your troops That is all’

In numbed silence, the four estured at the two scrolls she had laid out ‘Fist Blistig, take these please You and Tene Baralta ht wish to reconvene in one of the side chambers, in order to discuss the details of your new commands Fist Gamet, you can join them later For now, remain with me Admiral Nok, I wish to speak with you privately later this evening Please ensure that you are at my disposal’

The tall, elderly man cleared his throat ‘I shall be in the ood’

Gamet watched the three men depart