Free A Conflict of Orders (An Age of Discord Novel Book 2) by Ian Sales

from the garrison.”
    “Your grace,” insisted Narry, “I protest!”
    Ahasz closed his eyes and clenched his fists—the incompetence of this lieutenant-colonel! “You,” he said slowly and menacingly, “ will obey my orders .”
    Opening his eyes, Ahasz glanced once more about the pavilion. “Where is Buta?”
    A regimental-major stepped sheepishly forward and gave an abbreviated nod.
    “You, and any of your men that might have survived your foolish charge earlier, will join Narry.”
    Buta chose wisely not to protest. Features wan and smiling apprehensively, he stepped back.
    If only Ahasz hadn’t needed the Housecarls… But now, of course, given the cannon in the Palace, he needed them more than ever.
    Ahasz took a moment to calm himself—lifted up his hands, stretched out his fingers until the muscles protested, then flexed them a number of times. “I will have every officer here,” he said, gazing at his splayed hands, “do their duty to the utmost of their ability.” He looked up, searched the faces arrayed before him, saw that their expressions had not changed. No matter: they would learn soon enough.
    “Tayisa,” he said. “Progress report?”
    The colonel stepped up to the battlefield-consultant. “All the trains have arrived as planned, your grace.”
    “Good. And our casualties so far?”
    “Two hundred and fifty-five.”
    “Sword and Shield?”
    “Commander Ashma has reported in: both are fully secured. He has two troops of knights prisoner.”
    Ahasz frowned. Two troops? Up to six cohorts—one hundred and twenty-six knights and one thousand two hundred and sixty serjeants—were normally stationed in Shield; and the same in Sword—the two Orders’ only garrisons on Shuto. The Involute had told him that four cohorts each of knights stalwart and knights militant had been sent to assist the Admiral’s forces on Geneza. Four troops of fifty-five stood duty in the Imperial Palace, so… Where were the missing four cohorts?
    There was only one possible answer: in the Palace.
    “How many knights stalwart was that we fought?” someone asked, as if following Ahasz’s own train of thought.
    “Close on two hundred, I’d wager,” put in a Housecarls officer.
    Ahasz listened to the exchange, his mind still on the reason for the unexpectedly large contingent of knights. They had known of the attack…
    The Involutes had lied to him.
     
     
     
    A command car carried the duke beneath the Knot, shooting across the grass under its swooping roadways. The junction appeared even more other-worldly in the darkness, a tangled constellation of guide-lamps and scintillae of reflected light. Onto Exchequer Road, and past Glorina Park. Ahead, spotlights directed against the straight lines and sharp corners of the Exchequer’s frontage made the building seem composed of graceful curves and gentle angles. The mountain behind it loured menacingly, as if it squatted with enfolding arms. The vehicle drew to a halt at the Exchequer’s main entrance and bobbed lightly once, twice. Regimental-Major Urnagi undogged the rear-hatch and scrambled out. Ahasz joined him, and found himself looking up at a young regimental-lieutenant. A wide stair fronted the Exchequer and the young officer stood some three or four steps from its top.
    “Well?” demanded the duke. “You insisted there was something I must see.”
    The officer descended a step or two. “Your grace, yes,” he replied. “It is most… puzzling.” He turned to lead the way.
    According to Colonel Tiyasi, the officer, Regimental-Lieutenant Sanduk, had been among the first to report in after the signal to attack had been given. His platoon had been on guard duty in the Imperial Exchequer, alongside a platoon of the Emperor’s Own Cuirassiers. His men had quickly subdued them.
    Ahasz ascended to meet Sanduk. The young man was clearly eager—if not to prove his mettle to the duke, then to have this “puzzle” explained to him. As Ahasz drew near,