The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie
Author:Joe Abercrombie [Abercrombie, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2021-09-14T00:00:00+00:00
Purity
âPurity Officers of the Peopleâs Army!â called Leo.
A hundred of the bastards, their clothes and armour spattered with red. Two from each company. There to make sure every military decision was politically sound and that every soldier stayed loyal to the Great Change. These were the longest serving and most committed Burners. Fanatics whoâd stood with Judge when standing with Judge had looked like madness.
âYou all know who I am!â he roared. He might not have a heroâs legs any more, but he still had a heroâs voice, and he meant to use it. âMy nameâs Leo Brock. Some call me the Young Lion.â Applause wouldâve been too much to hope for, but he paused for appreciation. There was none of that, either. Only folded arms, impatient grunts, hard frowns on scarred faces. These men werenât easily impressed. They had scant regard for ex-noblemen, ex-Lord Governors or ex-heroes of the Union and had already sent several sets of failed generals back to Adua for the long drop.
Leo took a hard breath through his nose and glanced at Sparks. The man gave a sneering shrug.
âCitizeness Judge has made me General of the Peopleâs Army.â Leo thought he heard a few disgusted sniffs near the back. âShe wants me to lead you to victory against the royalistsâ¦â Someone spat noisily on the floor of the barn. âI fought Stour Nightfall in the Circle and won. I fought the king at Stoffenbeckââ
âAnd fucking lost,â someone growled. Murmurs of agreement. Leo felt Glaward shifting unhappily at his shoulder.
âAye, I lost!â he called. âI was rash. I was reckless. I was vain. It cost me two of my best friends, not to mention an arm and a leg.â He tapped at the metal one with his cane. âBut I learned my lesson. I learn it fresh every time I try to hold one of my babies, climb the stairs or pull my prick out to piss.â Some grudging nods there. Most of them were veterans. They might not respect much, but they respected wounds, and they respected swearing. âI used to be quite the hero! And quite the fucking fool. But Iâm not so much of a fool that Iâll make the same mistake twice.â
He glanced sideways, and Jurand gave the slightest encouraging nod, enough to settle any doubts in a warm rush of confidence. He always knew just what Leo needed. Leaving him in Angland had been the worst mistake of all. One heâd never make again.
Leo puffed out his chest like he used to, when he gave his speeches
to the Army of Angland. âWith me in charge, thereâll be no more compromises. No more half-measures. No more defeats.â Some of the arms were coming unfolded. Some of the frowns were fading. âI know youâve been short of food and supplies, gone without pay for weeks. Iâll put that right first.â The grunts had turned appreciative. Even fanatics like being paid. âBut I understand why you might not accept me! I was a nobleman. Now Iâm a fucking cripple.
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