Shadows in the Smoke - 21 - On the Rails

"The Republic is beset from the south, north and east by hostile, larger and more populous neighbours, at least if such a word can meaningfully be applied to the Lands of the Dead. Citizens must show constant vigilance against infiltration by spies, saboteurs and undead monstrosities. All strange occurrences should be reported to the police without delay so that the People can be protected from the suffering our enemies wish to inflict on them."

The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun

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A couple of days later, Ester was waiting in her rooms, with her bags packed and practically bouncing with elation. It was hard to believe her plan had come off so well.

The only fly in the tincture was that Velxe had been off visiting some Republican trader and so she hadn't been able to tell him all about how she was going to see the frontlines. She'd had to settle for sending him a note instead, which didn't even convey half of her excitement.

About an hour later, Sonja knocked at Ester's door to collect her.

"Good morning Ester, are you ready?"

Ester hurried to pick up the two small bags. It wasn't everything she'd brought to Nilrava, but she wanted to pack light. Who knew what conditions might be like near the frontlines and she didn't have a servant to help her. That might actually be for the best this time. She couldn't imagine someone like Sigrid Lindholm needing a servant to carry things around for her.

"Ready!" The bags didn't feel as heavy as they would have when she'd first moved to Vass Karan. Sergeant Etroan's lessons might not have taught her all that much about fighting, but maybe all that running around and exercise had had some benefit.

As she led Ester through the corridors of the People's Palace, Sonja quickly explained what would be happening.

"So, Arcanist-Colonel Lindholm has kindly agreed to let you accompany her and to show you around. However, you will have to obey her orders while you're at the frontlines." She must have seen the slight frown appearing on Ester's face. "Of course she wouldn't give you any orders that would go against the Empire's interests or put you in unnecessary danger. You won't be one of her subordinates in a conventional sense. But things can move fast at the front and you might not know what's going on."

"I understand." Ester couldn't say she liked it, but it wasn't unreasonable. She wasn't promising anything anyway. If Lindholm gave her some kind of treasonous order, she'd just say no.

"The plan is for you to spend a approximately two months out there. Arcanist-Colonel Lindholm will likely be returning to Nilrava after that and you can accompany her back. Or, if she's unavoidably detained, she'll arrange for someone else to escort you. That should give you enough time to see everything you need to, without putting you in unnecessary danger.

"Now, you'll be able to get most of the way to the front by railway. You are familiar with railways aren't you? They're rather new and I understand they haven't reached the Empire yet."

Ester nodded, barely registering the hint of smugness in Sonja's tone. "I am familiar with them." Well, she'd heard of them. It would be interesting to see what the railway was actually like. Hopefully it would be better than a horse.

It didn't take long to reach the railway's base. A large, brick building on the edge of the city, beyond its size it wasn't much to look at. More of a giant box than the beautiful lines and decoration that she'd expect from a building that size in the Empire. People milled around it in huge numbers, that was almost like being back in Trevayn, except for all of the dirt and soot anyway.

Sonja led Ester through the crowd at a brisk pace, past various booths and offices and then out into a wide hall. Iron struts held up a roof over the foyer and then, ahead of them, it was open to the sky. Paved paths stretched out from there and between them sat lines of carts, some enclosed and others open to the elements.

Uniformed men and women swarmed everywhere Ester looked. Carrying crates, shouting orders, or just hurrying about some unknown task. Others examined the carts, poking at them or working with tools. Further away, smoke stretched into the air.

Ester stumbled to a halt as a shrill whistle pierced the air and then, with a clanking groan, followed by loud wheezing, one of the lines of carts started to move, heading away at a slow pace. It was unpleasant chaos, but Sonja hadn't even hesitated, so Ester quickly hurried after her.

Sonja led her down onto one of the paths. On one side, two parallel metal bars stretched out along the ground. Those must be the rails that made up the railway. Presumably the carts rolled along them. It seemed a little pointless. Was it that it was cheaper to make rails than a proper road?

On the other side, carts and carriages were lined up along their path, with uniformed Republican soldiers tossing packs into them, or climbing aboard themselves. Ester resisted the urge to screw up her face at the sights and sounds. This wasn't what she'd imagined at all.

"Let's see," Sonja muttered, "they won't be putting you with the soldiers, that's a recipe for disaster. Ah, yes, here!" She pointed at a slightly larger cart. This one had windows and looked a little closer to what a nobleborn might ride around in, although it lacked ornamentation other than the Republic's crest painted onto its side.

A uniformed soldier stepped in front of the two of them as they approached.

"Papers please, Citizens."

"Oh, yes, of course." Sonja fumbled in her pouch and pulled out a letter, handing it to the guard. "Just Ester Mazar here, temporarily attached to the Thirteenth."

The guard grunted and looked over the papers, his lips moving as he slowly worked his way through them. Sonja stood, as relaxed as ever, while he did until, with another grunt he handed them back to her.

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"All seems to be in order, Citizen." He gave Ester a dubious look. "Mage Mazar, you may board the train."

"Thank you, Citizen." Sonja nodded to the soldier and turned to Ester. "Arcanist-Colonel Lindholm and her staff will keep an eye on you. Please do follow their orders, for your own safety. I'd hate for any misfortune to befall you out there. I'll see you in a few months. Look after yourself." She handed a folded letter to Ester. "Take this. It's a pass that should explain your presence to anyone who asks. Obviously a warzone can be a sensitive place and I wouldn't want you to get into any trouble while you're out there."

Ester forced a nervous smile as she took the letter. "Thank you, Sonja." Suddenly the prospect of going off to a warzone, surrounded by people with no reason to love anyone from the Empire, didn't seem quite as appealing. "I will see you on my return."

She was a Chartered Mage, not an untrained girl. She wasn't going to show fear. Without another word Ester turned to face the 'train'. Its floor was a long way off the ground and she nearly looked around for someone to help her with her bags. But she was in the Republic, not the Empire. With a grunt she lifted one of them up to chest height and shoved it on board and then the other. It was lucky she'd traveled light.

Then, she grasped the rails and hauled herself up the ladder and onto the cart, doing her best not to get her feet tangled in her dress.

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"… and we also have two crates of the special ammunition coming with us. I am told that production is up 20% and we may actually see more of it over the next few months too, which would make a pleasant change."

Ulrik nodded along with the rest of the 13th's command staff as Sigrid rounded off her update on what they'd be taking back from Nilrava. The supply situation had been precarious for too long, but as the railways drove further north and the Republic's industry was turned more and more towards war, things were finally improving.

"Now," his attention was yanked back to Sigrid, "there is one more thing. We are going to be hosting a guest for the next few months." Ulrik felt his lips turn down to mirror Sigrid's own look of displeasure. Another clueless political observer no doubt. There were disadvantages to serving in the 13th. "Most likely you will not be aware of this, but the Empire currently has a diplomatic delegation in Nilrava and we are being asked to host one of their number."

"Ice and steam! Not just some useless politico we have to protect, but a crown-licker too?! For fuck's sake! Who the-"

"Edvin." One word from Sigrid was enough to cut off the young man's rant. "I am not delighted by this either, but I am afraid that this has backing from the highest levels. Perhaps all the way to the Central Committee." Sigrid gave them her characteristic wry smile. "I am told, quite firmly, that her presence will be a good thing. The Empire is concerned about that we might actually lose this war, more fool them. However, it is enough for them to start putting aside their reactionary politics; the thought of having the undead reach the Karan is enough to pull even the most spoilt nobleborn's attention away from their debaucheries. It seems mutual enemies can make for the strangest bedfellows."

Ulrik couldn't argue with that. He disliked the Empire as much as the next Citizen, but if he had to choose between it and the Liche Kings, he'd kiss their bloody Queen's feet as enthusiastically as any of her crown-licking subjects.

"So we're just going to ignore everything they've done, Sigrid? Pretend that we're all good friends now and nothing ever happened between us?" Edvin had moderated his tone, but his voice was still laced with anger. "Well. I suppose the front's a dangerous place." Ulrik winced and glanced at Sigrid. What the fuck was Edvin thinking saying that out loud?

"Captain Loga," all warmth had left Sigrid's voice. "I know you have personal history with the Empire." Realisation hit Ulrik. Edvin's father had died at the Battle of Grathbridge. "As do many of us. However, the Republic is fighting for its life. While I am entirely confident we will win, the fewer of us that have to die in the process the better and the Empire can certainly help with that. You will behave with perfect politeness and there will certainly be no accidents. Am I entirely clear?"

"Yes, Sig-, Arcanist-Colonel Lindholm. Crystal clear."

"Thank you, Edvin." Her tone softened, as much as it ever did. Anyone listening to Sigrid speak would think she was made of ice, anger and vengeance. Ulrik knew better. She cared. "I will not ask you to interact with our guest anymore than you have to, but when you do, I expect you to show her every courtesy and treat her safety with the same care as you would any other guest's. Now, Ulrik," his heart sank, "I am making you responsible for our guest on a day to day basis. Unless you think you will have a problem with that duty too?"

Ulrik suppressed a sigh. There was only one possible answer. "Of course not, Sigrid. No problem at all. I'll make sure she's well looked after. What exactly do I have to look forward to?"

"No need to look quite so put upon. We will be getting one of their Chartered Mages and one with some combat experience. Unfortunately, more from smacking down untrained idiots than a war, so it would probably be too much to ask for her to actually be useful, but I would hope she can at least protect herself to some degree. We shall see."

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An hour later, Ulrik found himself summoned out of the cabin he was sharing with one of the other officers by a flustered soldier.

When he reached the end of the car, he was greeted by the sight of their guest. She was tall, for a woman. Darker skinned than anyone he'd ever seen before too, but pretty, he supposed in a vaguely exotic way. What really struck him was just how young she looked. Was this really one of the Empire's Chartered Mages? He hadn't fought in the last war, but he couldn't imagine her tearing through troops like a Battle Mage, or even standing up to a charge of rotting walkers.

There was no haughty arrogance or terrifying feeling of magical power about her. She looked more like she should be writing essays on magical theory at the College, or the Academy he supposed. That was where the crown-lickers sent their youths. The half-nervous, half-fascinated, way she was looking around didn't do anything to make her look less like she belonged in a classroom not a battlefield either.

With a deep breath, Ulrik kept going. Sigrid had said she'd seen combat, she couldn't be all that bad. Surely even the Empire wouldn't send someone completely clueless out to the front?

"Ahem," he coughed to get her attention. "Are you Mage Ester Mazar?" Not that there was anyone else she could be.

She spun to face him panic flashing briefly across her face. "Oh! Yes, I am!" She bowed. At least she wasn't rude.

"Welcome then." Ulrik returned her bow. "I am Major Ulrik Norred, second in charge of the 13th Strike Regiment. I'll be your main point of contact here," he saw the look of disappointment flash across her face. He'd gotten used to it very quickly after becoming Sigrid's number two. "Of course Arcanist-Colonel Lindholm will be around and will speak to you, but her responsibilities mean that she's often busy, so if you need anything please do come and find me first."

"Of course, thank you, Major." She smiled a little tentatively. "Will we be leaving soon? How long will it take to get to the front?"

Ice and steam! She actually wanted to get out there? Youth! It was always the young. At least in the 13th they didn't normally have to deal with completely green boys and girls.

"In about 30 minutes, Mage Mazar. It'll take us a couple of days on the rails and then a couple more on horseback to get to the front lines, but I wouldn't look forward to it too much if I were you."

"Oh." Her face fell. "My apologies, Major. I had not meant to cause offence."

"No offence taken, don't worry about it. Let me show you to your compartment. It's small, but as a guest of the regiment, you'll have your own space." There were a couple of unhappy captains who'd now be sleeping three to a cabin as a result. "Make yourself comfortable in there and I'll come and collect you later to introduce you to the rest of the staff."

Hopefully she wouldn't complain about the size of the cabin. She'd likely be expecting better, given her status in the Empire, but she'd have to learn that, even for a guest, special treatment only went so far in the Republic.

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