don't want to come along?"
The Prince shook his head.
"I would only get in the way. Besides, I have my own war to fight here. I hope my son will learn from the two of you as I did."
The commander turned to the Prince's son.
"You have your equipment?"
"Yes sir. Giorgios told me what I would need."
"He'll know the house I'm using for staff. Meet with me half an hour before dinner. The legions dine early."
When Kiron arrived at the house he was shown up to the commander's office; Giorgios remained behind to gossip with the door guards. Artos was alone. He motioned Kiron to a seat.
"What do you know of the planned campaign?"
"A surprise attack on the Vales to seize their northernmost valley and the river that comes out of it—more if possible. The Oasis as supply base and staging area."
"What do other people think we are doing?"
"Some think His Majesty is failing and the army is to fight my uncle. I've heard a few say that you plan to ally with some of the clans, move against the others, expand the province into the plains. There's some talk about moving south into the Vales, but not much. I heard one legion officer say their chief is the trickiest bastard alive."
"He is. Not chief—Harald's title is Senior Paramount. Worth remembering. What do you say?"
"As little as I can. Talk about horses, women."
"Good. Spreading rumors is a useful tactic, but doing it badly is worse than not doing it. What do you think?"
"Giorgios says the problem isn't finding troops but supplying them—that there isn't a lot of water between the Oasis and the river. I thought, if you had a way of doing it, you might get there before the Vales have time to raise an army."
"Yes. If everything goes right, they find out we're coming when we get there. Against someone else, there's a good chance it would work. Fooling Harald isn't impossible, but I'm not counting on it. What do you know about the pool at the Oasis?"
"Father's swimming pool? I've heard people talking. Seemed like an awful waste of money and effort to be doing . . . Oh."
"When the army reaches the Oasis, your father's swimming pool will have the water it needs to refill and continue south. If we are very lucky, Harald either hasn't heard about it or hasn't figured out what it is. If we aren't