Lora of Two Worlds

Corin led his men toward the training ground. Out of sight, he had two men show their tokens and slip out of the mansion toward the city gate.

"Corin, we should tell the young lady." Nan and the other squad leaders gathered around, stringing bows, speaking low.

"Men fighting, what's the use of telling her? But you've reminded me. If things go sideways, you and Sirui hold the gate to the rear courtyard. Anyone who forces through, cut them down."

"Jian and Mo have it harder outside. Twenty-five hundred men at the outer barracks."

Corin sneered: "You think all of them want to rebel? Most are just following the noise. Take down the first one who jumps out, the rest fall in line."

"True. Same as when we absorbed other tribes. The Second Brigade, they're the ones trying to jump first."

"Corin, are the Odenheims really out of money?"

"Did you eat Highgarden?"

"Fair point."

They waited. Finally, Gareth appeared, heading for the training ground. His daily archery practice. Corin strode to meet him.

The situation was one the Odenheim family had anticipated. But the two companies stationed at the General's mansion were supposed to be the loyal core. The one person they hadn't expected to waver, was Zhuo Ping.

Zhuo Ping was a second-generation guard. His father, Zhuo Erda, had served alongside Coltrain, had followed the Count through fire. Blood-tested loyalty.

The father planted the tree. The son sat in its shade. The second generation, better bodies, less spirit.

No wars, but high pay had become an entitlement.

Zhuo Erda had taught his son. But the moment he said "back in my day", Zhuo Ping lost patience:

"Back then, that was the late King. The old King. Count them, five reigns. Stop living in the past. I'm looking at now."

In the General's great hall, the Count and his sons discussed their response.

"The outer barracks are manageable, Father and Alvin are there. Gareth, we take men to the outer camp. I suspect someone's been planted to agitate.

From the house theft to the military unrest, too fast. The outer camp has no hotheaded officers. Denton Quinn, Zara Wende, Claude Bichao, all old guard, loyal to Father. The generals haven't rebelled. A brigade captain leading a mutiny? That's not normal."

The Count nodded: "Roland's right. You two take Zara Wende and Claude Bichao. Whoever can't control his own men, punish them too."

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Roland shared Leon's suspicion. The theft had been too smooth. This wasn't Weston Gray's caliber.

Someone was pulling purses. To kill the Odenheims fastest, frame them for treason.

But instead of a killing blow, a slow bleed. The goal: force the General to agree. Twenty-seven thousand funding three thousand. Tolls, checkpoints, docks, extra income. More money for the guards.

Guard pay rises, does the regular garrison's? No, and that widens the rift between the General's house and the rest.

A vicious spiral. If Lohenheim's pay matched the Silver Shield's, it would triple. Two of those three shares would become the people's burden.

Change, and you can live.

Who benefits from that?

Gareth and Roland led men out of the city. Alvin pulled his personal guards into the rear courtyard. Denton Quinn's two brigades, already in position as ambushers. Then, Alvin summoned the officers of both regiments to the great hall.

At the barracks, Zhuo Ping received his summons.

"Captain Zhuo, you can't go alone. You'll be detained. Besides the Turkic blockheads, the other brigades have verbally agreed. Your banner is 'raise guard pay.' Good cause. They won't stand against you.

The General's broke. He might even want this himself, half-willing. Once he agrees, we're still Odenheim guards. Nothing changes."

A guard whispered in Zhuo Ping's ear.

"Right. We're demanding our rights. It's nothing to do with loyalty." Zhuo Ping decided.

Under the recruitment system, money bought passive loyalty. The old militia system, honor had forged active loyalty. A different creature entirely.

Zhuo Ping didn't go alone. He brought his entire Second Brigade. The loudest malcontents, tight at his heels.

Rushing footsteps, poured into the front courtyard.

The courtyard was split by a central path. On either side, weapon racks. Lances, spears, poles, gleaming heads in the sun.

Not a guard in sight. On the steps, the General and the Deputy Commander. Standing straight.

"Zhuo Ping, I summoned you. Why did you bring soldiers?" Alvin asked.

Seeing the two on the steps, the guards' scalps prickled. They forgot the speeches they'd rehearsed. Zhuo Ping stepped forward:

"Lord Deputy Commander, fair question! The house was robbed. When the stolen goods will be recovered, unknown. It's July. This month's pay, how will it be issued?"

"Don't fool us. If the Odenheims can scrape together July's pay, what about August? September? Look at the Silver Shield, three purses a month.

We get one. The General adds one. Still one short. We don't ask for more, just equal pay with the Silver Shield!"

"Don't fool us. If the Odenheims can scrape together July's pay, what about August? September? Look at the Silver Shield, three purses a month. We get one. The General adds one. Still one short. We don't ask for more, just equal pay with the Silver Shield!"

The Count didn't answer the question. He asked:

"Zhuo Ping, do you know how your father rose from common soldier to officer? He followed me up a city wall. He climbed, knowing he might die, and he climbed anyway. That leap made you a captain's son.

The Silver Shield's pay is higher, you don't know why? If you wish, I'll process your discharge today. Go join the Silver Shield. The rest of you, he's a captain's son. What are you? What identity would you use to enroll?"

Always the past. Zhuo Ping's temper broke:

"General, you could do this! We've blades! Every checkpoint is in our hands! It's you, sacrificing our interests for your reputation! We don't need a general like that!"

He drew his sword. Pointed it at the Count on the steps. Turned:

"The Odenheims are broke! They can't pay us! Drive them out, the crown will send a general who raises our pay!"

"Yes! Drive them out!"

Then, from the corridors on either side of the hall, two squads of guards charged out. Blocking the retreat.

Zhuo Ping fought, shouting: "Are you mad? There's no future with the Odenheims! I'm doing this for everyone!"

Two guards, faces wrong, exchanged a glance. They fought and retreated, reaching the mansion gate. A varnished spear barred their way.

Corin spat the chewed grass root from his mouth into one guard's face. Grinned:

"Leaving? Ask my spear if it agrees."

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