Free Tanza by Amanda Greenslade

readyness of Tanza. Devlan and Gieri were among the twenty or so citizens participating. Sarlice and I sat on two intricately carved wooden chairs and the two Rada-kin lay at our feet. After a few minutes, a man with long greying hair and a beard came to stand at the front of the room.
    ‘My name is Benzar,’ he began, in an earnest voice. ‘I’m a father of six, grandfather of two and my skyearl died five years ago in battle. I am an Anzaii, Sleffion and I have been a statistician for Tanza’s army, the Defenders, for thirty years. It won’t surprise you, then, that the first thing I want you to learn is the importance of gathering population and army statistics.’
    There was a humorous murmur among the audience. Benzar’s way of speaking included many short pauses and piercing looks.
    ‘At the last estimation,’ he began, ‘the population of Tanza was over 170,000 with significantly more men than women. The biggest cities were Centan, with over 50,000 inhabitants, Lowford: 23,000 and Condii: 22,000.’
    ‘I’d wager you discarded the latest stats for Lantaid,’ a brightly-dressed man called out from my left.
    ‘Aye, Paetlan, we may as well have,’ Benzar affirmed. Looking back at the rest of us, he explained, ‘Paetlan is from Watercrag. In recent times, Lantaid’s population more than doubled with the inclusion of the refugees from Watercrag, many of whom are Tolites skilled in weapon-craft. We don’t know for sure, but estimates of the new population of Lantaid are around 24,000.’
    Benzar went on. ‘The statistics we have of Tanza’s army, the Defenders, are much more exact. Knowing precisely how many skyearls, human-warriors and animal-kin are available in one place, at one time and what skills they have, is vital to planning Tanza’s strategies of defence.’
    He spoke at length about these groups and the various ways they were deployed as part of the Defender army. Tanza had no standing attack force, but strike forces were implemented in times of war when necessary. As much as Tanzans would prefer to remain peaceful, the Zeikas relentlessly sought to overtake the land.
    Throughout Tanza’s history, the Zeikas had invaded dozens of times and even managed to take control of the low-population, coastal cities of Lokshole and Lander’s Bay four times. Ciera and the king and queen had personally led the force that had retaken those cities three years ago. In an effort to rid their land of Zeikas once and for all, they had shown no mercy. With Anzaii teaming up to dispel the Zeika conjurations and magic effects, the Defenders had cornered and killed more than twenty thousand Zeikas. Less than half that number had managed to escape aback their conjured dragons. The funeral pyres had burned for months and great pillars had been erected to celebrate the victory and remember those who had perished.
    After that battle, a new appointment of high commander had been created. The nine commanders who had lead their battle groups of some 3,000 each were awarded land and fortresses at the nine major cities of Tanza except for Centan: Kovain, New Rosenvale, Lowford, Highford, Zoen, Solix, Vassen, Lantaid and Condii. This ensured their ability to keep and train their battle groups in preparation for future attacks on any of the major cities.
    The chain of command went from the king and queen to the prince and princess to the high commander, to the commanders and then to the unit commanders.
    The A.S.T.R. rankings ran parallel and supported the chain of command. For example an A.S.T. commander held more authority than an S.T. commander. There was an authority level points system whereby Anzaii counted for 15 points, Sleffion for 10, Tolite for 5 and Rada for 5, meaning an A.S. commander ranked higher than an S.T.R. commander. Those without gifts weren’t excluded from a position of command, but those with A.S.T.R. ranks often got promoted sooner.
    The status of the skyearls was generally dependant on the position