The Red Front travelled north with Field Marshal Demshir, the Dark Heat company, the Order of the Silver Ram and the Blue Wolves. Fayyim was unsure of who was truly a friend and who was a foe. People talked and smiled with her, of course, but these were all empty pleasantries, as she knew that many were threatened by her advancements. It had been the same way throughout her career. Whether it was reaching the elite job of Accessor, creating the Red Front and building it with more ease and success than any other Hurdland army, or now gaining the highest rank behind Field Marshal or Admiral of the Fleet, people always took umbrage.

  Bridges needed to be built. Fayyim even hoped that some of the others would cross over to her side. That was Hawthorn's job, as the good Captain could be a lovable sort when he wanted to. He had been sent off to arrange meetings and sweet talk the other Commanders and Captains, the first line of contact between them and Fayyim. She knew that she could be... prickly, at times. So Hawthorn was the best choice to loosen up attitudes and tongues. Once his job was done, Fayyim found herself at tables and camp fires with Captains and infantry, or in tents with Commanders and their entourage. Though the Silver Ram himself never took the time to treat with her, but his Knights and Squires were happy to meet and greet.

  Fayyim kept conversation light, choosing to try and adhere people to her with jokes and stories, all the while Hawthorn, Lupin and Shanks delved deeper into politics at the capital and how they were affecting each of the armies and their soldiers on an individual level. Hawthorn caught some intriguing information from one Captain of the Blue Wolves, and it was with this that Fayyim caught Alexander off guard one evening when on a retreat from normal business.

  'Captain Hawthorn tells me that you are not so pleased with our friend Thorn.' Fayyim sat down at a tavern table with an entire tray of drinks. She handed one directly to Commander Alexander. Hawthorn sat next to him and took a drink himself, he clinked the cup into Alexander's and smiled. 'You also dislike that he removed troops from Shoulderside to fight in his personal war on Slug Island.'

  'That was a small criticism, don't take anything else from it.' The Commander of the Blue Wolves gave Hawthorn a distasteful look.

  'Oh come!' Fayyim smiled from across the table. 'You're amongst friends here.' Alexander took a drink from his cup, Fayyim mirrored him. 'I'm on your side with this, I was at Shoulderside Castle, I saw the affects of Thorn's actions first hand. Elementals walking through our woods.' Fayyim took another gulp of her wine. 'Listen, it's obvious that Thorn has our Supreme Leader's ear, but I can't see Cairo allowing him to re-station important border forces without good reason. No one down south knows the details, but you've been stationed at the city for some time. You must know something.'

  The tavern in Shallow was alive with local farmers and workers, their laughter and conversation were loud enough that a person could talk and not be heard by anyone out of close proximity. The armies marching to Garroway city had made camp outside the village. Alexander swilled his drink for a moment, looking into the deep red of the wine as it rolled over the inside of his cup. 'I know that Giles Thorn has promised Cairo that he will win Slug Island from the Churashi, creating an affective launch point for an invasion of Churash itself; then on to Amaratsu via their northern territory.'

  'A sound plan on paper, perhaps.' Fayyim interjected. 'But I can't see why Cairo supported using our southern troops, it created a major weakness in our defence.'

  'It did.' The Blue Wolf nodded. 'Thorn's a major lobbyist, he's pumping a lot of money into the war effort too. Cairo may not agree with Thorn taking command of those men from Shoulderside, but if so, he has not been vocal in that regard. Either way, he won't oppose Thorn in fear of losing much needed currency.'

  'Are none of the High Commanders in the capital speaking out?' Fayyim leant in at Alexander.

  'Most are not bothered as long as their own forces are left alone. Others are less bothered since Giles has started making donations to them also.'

  Damn it! 'Is Cairo really that in need of Thorn's money that he can't quash this idiotic strategy?' Fayyim wiped her lips.

  'I guess so. He's been funding the creation of ships for Nicholas Demshir's navy. You see, Cairo is a ground specialist, so he puts all of the country's funds into outfitting troops for land warfare. The Demshir's counselled him on the error and suggested we need equal might on land and sea. Giles stepped in to help produce ships that can compete with the Churashi fleet and that gave him favour with the Supreme Leader, the Field Marshal and the Admiral of the Fleet.'

  'That's all well and good, but again: why take troops from the borders?'

  'Like I said, the armies in the north aren't fussed as long as they remain untouched. They're comfortable in the fact that the southern armies will take the losses and take the blame for any slip ups.'

  'I can't believe that they'd still allow it.' There has to be something else.

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  'Money talks.' Said Hawthorn.

  'Seems like it.' Fayyim agreed. 'But what about you, Alexander? You're a northern Commander, did Thorn pay you off, is that why you're not speaking out about the issue?'

  'Yeah, he's been paying me.'

  Fayyim had to stop herself from punching the man.

  'But don't think bad of me, the money was well spent.' Alexander was quickly loosening up to Fayyim.

  'How so?' She took a drink.

  'He gave me a lot of gold, so I spent half hiring troops. A mercenary army. I've sent them south already, to Shoulderside.'

  'How bloody nice of you.' Fayyim clapped once.

  'Yeah I know.' Alexander smiled, then frowned. 'Look, I need to know something from you.'

  'OK.'

  'Word around the capital is that you're a trouble causer, you like to go above your station and you have a sharp tongue to boot. If you don't like something, you let it be known. The other Commanders don't like that at all. Many of them don't trust you, they think you have some other motive for rising through the ranks. You're heading for High Commander status, and they're threatened by it. They think you'll use your power to destabilise their own.'

  'What do you think?' Fayyim inquired.

  'I think you do have a motive. I think you're aiming higher than High Commander. Am I right?'

  'I won't lie to you. I am.' This is a risk, but he will be mine.

  'I thought so... Cairo is strong, but the people who once guided him are gone. He's surrounded himself with selfish men and can't see it. He'll end up losing the war.'

  'I think so too.'

  'Then hear me out. I know you're an amazing battlefield Commander. The Amaratese pushed through the sands with incredible force, and although you lost the battle, you gave them a hell of a fight. Then you saved Shoulderside Castle, and saved Fort Tumblestone. You've got what it takes to lead, even possibly rule. But Cairo has more experience and a better track record, despite what's happening lately. He needs strong people at his side, not these pretenders. He needs good people.

  'Fayyim, I don't know exactly what you're after from all this, maybe to rule, but if we're going to win the war against Amaratsu, against Churash, then we need our leader back at full strength. We need people like you at his side.'

  I was not expecting this. 'I must admit, you have me up against the ropes. Let me ask, what about you? You speak of good men, do you include yourself?'

  'I do.'

  'But you're accepting hand outs from Thorn, like the others.'

  'Look what I did with that money.'

  Fayyim nodded. 'I see that, it was a good call. But you kept half for yourself.'

  'No.'

  'Oh? Then what did you do with the money, good man?'

  'I will tell you, but only if you tell me something else first. Do you only wish to rule, or do you wish to win the war? And remember, rulers and leaders are two different things. You don't have to rule to lead Hurdland to victory. Cairo sits on a throne of power, but the old man is the one who placed him there.'

  Fayyim was silent, which made a change. She found herself having to think deeply. Hawthorn sat with the largest grin she had ever seen across his face. You know I'm stumped. He must have read her mind, because he nodded gleefully. 'I want...' She dug deep. 'I want to win the war.'

  'Good...' Alexander took Fayyim by the wrist. 'I spent the other half of Thorn's gold buying information.'

  'You paid for an information broker?' Fayyim asked.

  'I bought information from the Information Broker. I wanted to know why corruption in the capital was spreading. Using Thorn's money was the only way I could afford it.' Alexander stared into Fayyim's eyes with intensity. 'Do you want to know what I learned?'

  'I do,'

  'Then answer me this: will you find your glory, not in deposing our leader, but by walking at his side, guiding him on a better path?'

  Fayyim had to think about why she was playing The Law of War. 'I...' For battle and for victory, to prove the real world wrong. To show her worth. But somewhere on her path she saw the inadequacy of her leaders, saw that they would never win, which meant that she could not win. So she began to strive for more, to become the person that would lead Hurdland to conquering the world. Only now there was another option, glory at a lower cost. Less risk. I... She did not know what was right or wrong here, yet... 'I will.'