Holdfast Imperium: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Magelands Eternal Siege Book 15) by Christopher Mitchell

Author:Christopher Mitchell [Mitchell, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912879786
Publisher: Brigdomin Books Ltd
Published: 2023-01-26T13:00:00+00:00

Two hours later, Thorn and Agang were standing next to Shella on a raised veranda jutting out from the side of one of the newly-constructed wooden buildings in Colsbrookdale. Two dozen Sanang warriors were flanking them, while before them lay the tented city. The fourteen thousand new arrivals from Alef were located far to their left, while the first fully-equipped Banner division was marching south along the road. As each company passed the veranda, the soldiers’ heads turned, and they saluted the Empress.

‘What a sight,’ said Agang. ‘All that shining armour and new weapons; it’s a marvel.’

‘It’s bloody expensive, that’s what it is,’ said Shella. ‘Do you realise we’ve spent more than the entire annual imperial budget in little over a third? Every munitions factory in the Holdings is working flat out, along with every canvas-weaver, every blacksmith, every seamstress, every farmer, every…’

Agang laughed. ‘Alright, Shella; I get the message.’

‘It’s almost criminal,’ said Thorn. ‘All that money could have been spent on making the lives of the ordinary citizens of the Empire better; instead, it’s being wasted on a futile conflict.’

Shella shrugged. ‘It’s not the Empire’s money you’ve been spending, Thorn – it’s the Holdfast family’s personal fortune.’ She laughed. ‘Just wait until I get my hands on the imperial treasury.’

A Banner officer approached the veranda, and was escorted into the Empress’s presence by two Sanang warriors.

‘Your Majesty,’ he bowed.

‘Good afternoon, Major-General,’ said Thorn. ‘Might I say how impressive your division is looking?’

‘Thank you, your Majesty,’ the officer said. ‘And might I say what an honour it is to be appointed commander of the First Division of the Banner of the Sapphire Throne?’

Thorn smiled.

‘When will your division reach its destination, Major-General?’ said Agang.

‘We should be in position by sunset tomorrow, my lord,’ said the officer. ‘Once there, we shall dig in as ordered, and begin the construction of the defences to shield the southern approaches to Colsbury. The Second Division should reach us by noon the following day.’

‘That is good news, Major-General,’ said Thorn. ‘Please carry on.’

The officer bowed, then left the veranda to rejoin his soldiers as they continued to march past. Thorn gazed out over the vast numbers of Banner soldiers flooding the valley. It seemed almost impossible to believe that, only a few thirds before, she had been on her way to Plateau City to beg work from Bridget, and now she was Empress, in command of a vast army. The power made her almost tremble with nerves, and her hands gripped the veranda railings until her knuckles turned white. She had finally got everything that she had desired, everything that she had longed for. It felt good. No, it felt better than good; it felt… liberating.

‘Here comes trouble,’ muttered Shella under her breath.

Thorn turned, and saw Karalyn step up onto the veranda, her twins trailing along behind her.

‘Hello, Karalyn,’ Thorn said. ‘I thought you wished to avoid gazing upon our new army?’

‘I do,’ Karalyn said, ‘but after what happened last time, I thought I’d bring you the news myself.

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