“Enough of this,” Ludwig said, his patience spent.
He flicked out a hand.
In the gloom of the drizzly afternoon, there was a dull red flash deep within the general’s chest that could be seen through his body and heavy uniform. In an instant the man’s flesh turned black as coal. In the next instant his blackened body seemed to break apart from great pressure and disintegrate into small black nuggets looking something like fragments of charcoal. In the next heartbeat that body, now nothing but blackened bits, crumbled and poured out of the openings in the man’s uniform. Some of the dark, jagged pieces of what had been General Dobson tumbled out, bouncing across the cobblestones.
Everyone stood rigid and still, unsure just what they should do. It was now time for Lord Dreier to offer them the choice he had just so carefully crafted.
Ludwig folded his wrists over the horn of his saddle. “Who is next in command?”
Two of the remaining officers took a step away from the third officer left in the middle. He glanced at the men to either side as they distanced themselves from him.
He finally swallowed and said, “I guess that would be me, Lord Dreier. I am Lieutenant Wolsey.”
Ludwig smiled. “It would seem, Lieutenant, that the citadel guard of the Fajin army is in need of a general. I appoint you. Congratulations, General Wolsey.”
The man blinked in surprise, but he hesitated only for an instant before clapping a fist to his heart and bowing deeply. He knew his life had been spared—at least for the moment.
He made his choice. “Thank you, Lord Dreier.”
“Let us all pray that you and your men do not contract the same fatal disease afflicting your former general. I would hate for any more of you to fall ill. You are feeling healthy, aren’t you, General? You are in good shape and prepared to carry out your duties?”
The man nodded furiously. “Yes, of course, Lord Dreier. I am healthy and totally prepared to carry out my duties under your command. How may my men and I be of assistance?”
Ludwig glanced to the side. “Well, it appears my archers will need new bows. Theirs fortunately fell apart before the men could accidentally do something stupid—like getting themselves burned.”
“Not a problem, Lord Dreier,” Wolsey quickly put it. “We have a stock of bows, as well as bow makers and fletchers. I will take care of it immediately so that they are properly armed and can man their positions defending you and the citadel.”
Ludwig looked over at the archers. “Is that acceptable to you men?”
They all jumped to attention and clapped fists to hearts.
“Anything else I can do to be of assistance, Lord Dreier?” the new general asked.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. You see, the bishop has gone off on an adventure of some sort.” Ludwig wagged a hand vaguely toward the southwest. His nose wrinkled with distaste. “I’m afraid that he is destined not to return, so I am now in command of the citadel. I realize that all you men here have wisely chosen to be loyal to me, but you need to see to it that the staff and the rest of the soldiers and guards are made aware of the new head of household.”
“At once, Lord Dreier,” the man said as he bowed.
Ludwig leaned forward in his saddle. “I would hate it if anyone else were to catch the disease that so tragically afflicted the general. With such a miasma in the air, it could cause great harm to the people of Saavedra and Fajin Province. Such an illness could easily wipe out half the people of a city, and drive the rest out into the wilderness. Understand?”
General Wolsey clapped his fist to his heart as he nodded. “Absolutely, Lord Dreier. I will personally see to it at once. I am certain that everyone will take the utmost care not to catch the same foul sickness that the general so carelessly caught. I will see to it that my men do their duty of enforcing the rule of law. Anyone disrespecting the Lord Dreier will be dealt with severely, I can assure you.”
Ludwig flicked a hand at the crumpled pile of bloody uniform with mounds of black pieces that had poured out and others that had rolled across the ground. “And see to it that this mess is swept up and thrown in the midden heap where it belongs, will you?”
“At once, Lord Dreier.”
The new general snapped his fingers at a man closest to him on the end of the rank of lancers. The man nodded and ran off to get something to clean up the mess.
General Wolsey turned back to Ludwig. “With your permission, Lord Dreier, I will take some men and we will go at once to see that the staff makes preparations and that everything is in order for you. I will see to it that you are well pleased with everything and everyone.”