The Wanderers by Paula Brandon

Author:Paula Brandon
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780345534842
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 2012-07-30T23:00:00+00:00

The battle of Klew’s Court had fired Vitrisian hearts. For the first time in nearly twenty-five years, ordinary Faerlonnish citizens had armed, prepared, and organized themselves to resist Taerleezi troops, and—to the amazement of all—the citizens had triumphed. Elation was intense, and excitement uncontainable, for a little while. Then the natural ebbing of the initial euphoria had ushered in the inevitable doubts and fears. The Taerleezis would hardly countenance rebellion, and the ruthlessness of their reprisals was proverbial. Vitrisi’s native inhabitants might expect to pay dearly for their one little victory.

Vitrisi held its breath. But the days passed, and the anticipated stroke did not fall. Then at last, a Taerleezi force of surprisingly modest size and strength moved into the Eastcross to launch a predawn strike—only to be beaten off by resolute residents, much as they had been beaten in Klew’s Court. This time, however, the invaders withdrew in time to evade massacre.

Two days later, the soldiers surrounded a boardinghouse in Coppercoin Street—a suspected site of resistance conspiracy—and set torch to the place, incinerating a number of tenants, before being driven from the neighborhood by furious residents. Two Taerleezi soldiers died there, and their bodies were offered to the Deadpickers.

It had become apparent that the Taerleezi attacks were falling short of their accustomed power. In the old days of the invasion and its aftermath, an untrained mob of Faerlonnish civilians could scarcely have inconvenienced, much less vanquished, a Taerleezi military unit. Now it was happening repeatedly. The explanation, however, was quite apparent.

The Taerleezi force occupying Vitrisi was substantial, and more than equal to most occasions, but its resources were not limitless. The siege of the Briar Patch, or “Roohaathk,” necessitating placement of armed men about the perimeter of the Sishmindri enclave, imposed enormous demands. Maintenance of general public order throughout the city continued, but the suppression of spontaneous neighborhood insurrections became problematic.

Taking note, the Vitrisians proceeded to exploit the opportunity of a lifetime. In the grand neighborhood of the Clouds, upon sublime Summit Street itself, a mansion occupied by the current tax assessor of the municipality was invaded by an armed Faerlonnish mob. None of the occupants were killed, but the tax assessor was suspended from the rafters by his ankles, reviled and beaten, while the house was thoroughly pillaged. All items of value—jewelry, clothing, artwork, curios and keepsakes, weapons, furniture, even bedhangings and window curtains—were carried away into the night, leaving the mansion denuded of treasures. The invaders escaped unscathed.

In busy Anvil Square, just off the Clean Zone, a clutch of commercial enterprises known to enjoy heavy Taerleezi custom were attacked by riotous citizens. A cookshop and two taverns were stripped of their inventories. A Taerleezi inebriate in one of the taverns was killed. Several more incidents of similar ilk occurred in various sections of the city.

It was an outrage. The refractory Faerlonnish populace required discipline, but such was not easily imposed in the absence of adequate manpower. There was no point, however, in sending a plea for additional troops to Taerleez.

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