Disciple of War Disciple of War (Art of the Adept #4) - Michael G. Manning Page 0,87

passing out. Even if she lives for centuries, will she be able to forgive me if she has to do it without magic?

Chapter 24

The military camp in Barrowden no longer fit the name ‘camp.’ The kingdom’s efforts over the past two years had made it into something like a fortified city, except there was no city. Barrowden’s population was tiny and had been completely dwarfed by the military outpost’s garrison. Then, Will supposed that might be the very definition of a fort, as opposed to a fortified city.

Even with the timbered walls and expansive barracks, Fort Barrowden was utterly incapable of housing the more than thirty-two thousand men of Terabinia’s army. The First Division was able to stay in the barracks, but the other five divisions were arranged outside the walls in five massive but orderly camps.

It was an army many times greater than the one he’d been a part of originally, but seeing the camps with their familiar layouts brought back memories, and the first thought that came to him was that he was glad he wouldn’t have to dig latrines. “Or earthworks,” he muttered. “That was even worse.”

Lieutenant Renly perked up. “Pardon?”

Will shook his head. “Sorry, I was thinking out loud.”

The carriage stopped soon after that, and Will was escorted in to meet briefly with the officers. Things had gone according to plan thus far, and the meeting was kept short. Afterward he had to tour the fort and then make a quick round through the five division camps outside the fort. ‘Quick’ was a relative term, however, for it took several hours, and by the end Will was exhausted.

It was a weird feeling. In the past he’d never associated the word exhausted with anything but hard labor. He’d done nothing but walk, observe, and listen, yet he felt tired.

The next day began with a much longer and more comprehensive meeting of the senior officers—sub-marshals and commanders—along with their senior staff. Most of what was discussed had been planned in prior months, so there weren’t really many decisions to be made. The army was like a vast behemoth, already in motion, and there was little Will could do now but ride its momentum. It gave him a new appreciation for the limits of power.

As a rank-and-file soldier, small things had seemed vastly more important, and likewise the power of those in positions of authority, but now, while he could certainly affect many small things for many people, his ability to change the overall course of the army was severely restricted. Sure, he could technically give any orders he wished, but if he tried to unilaterally stop the war or change their timeline in a significant way, he didn’t doubt he would be removed within a matter of weeks or months.

I can do anything I want, so long as what I want fits within the general plan, he realized ruefully. It didn’t help that he’d been part of the planning. Aside from taking a sea route, an overland attack from Barrowden was the only practical way to invade Darrow. That meant their route was easily predicted by the enemy. It also meant the enemy’s response was fairly predictable.

It almost felt as if the whole thing were preordained, and Will’s actions merely gave the illusion of free will. Whether he was capable or incompetent hardly seemed to matter. Laina noticed his gloomy mood the evening of their second day at the fort, and she asked him about it in her typically considerate manner. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

He explained his vague misgivings as clearly as he could.

“Oh. I forget this is your first time. You’re right and you’re wrong. You’ll get over it in time,” she pronounced.

“You’ve never been responsible for an army,” he replied.

Laina scowled at him. “I’ve been responsible for the Mothers of Terabinia for a few years now. It’s not an army, but I think leading any large group of people has similar problems. There has to be a leader, but a leader can only do so much. The bigger the group, the bigger the momentum, and the smaller your choices seem, even though they affect thousands.”

Will nodded. “That’s true enough.”

“But you’ll get used to it, and in time you’ll start to realize that you’re making more of a difference than you thought.”

“Unless I screw it up,” he observed.

Laina shrugged. “I said ‘difference.’ Whether it’s a good or a bad one is up to you.”

His lips quirked into a wry smile. “Thanks for the vote