"Naomi Kritzer - Turning the Storm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kritzer Naomi)

This was true. Michel was unsuited to a position of authority. But so was Isabella, and
most of my unit commanders. "I need him where he is," I said.
"But GeminoтАФ"
"I'll tell Michel again to stay away from your soldiers." We'd be fine if I could find
enough other things for Michel to do. Or if I could somehow keep him and Isabella
permanently separated. The trouble was, I really did need him where he was. I needed
his loyalty, his skills as a bodyguard, and his ability to get things done for me. He wasn't a
bad soldier, but the power had gone to his head. I just wished I knew what to do about it.
Isabella's suggestion had merit, except that if I hurt his pride, I might lose his loyaltyтАФor
he might simply leave. And I needed him too badly. Besides, if I disciplined Michel, I'd
have to do something about all the lousy unit commanders, including Isabella. I bad
removed the really atrocious onesтАФthe lecher, and the coward, and the one who turned
out to be dumb as a donkeyтАФbut if I set about trying to ensure that only the best were in
positions of authority, we'd be left with me, the woman who led the scouts, and Giovanni
on his good days.
"Well, thank you, Generale," Isabella said stiffly, and took her leave.
Alone with Lucia, I sighed. "Are you sure you don't want to command a unit, Lucia?"
"And have Isabella on my back, as well as yours and Michel's?" Lucia raised an
eyebrow. "Positive."
"So." I wiped out my teacup and put it away. "What's on my list?"
Lucia considered for a moment. "The scouts are due back this evening, but probably
won't get in until late tonight. If they're not back by morning, we'll have to assume that
they were captured. That's the most significant news."
I nodded.
"Other than that... We're in pretty good shape for grain, but we're low on horse feed. If
we absolutely have to, we can feed some of our wheat to the horses, but for obvious
reasons that's not the best option. In any case, it's critical that we capture food at the next
camp. And if they have horses, we should send them north with the refugees, rather than
keeping them ourselves. Cavalry is nice, but we just don't have the food stocks."
I nodded; she was right, although this would only increase resentment among the
people who didn't have horses but thought they should. Never mind that most of these
people could barely ride, let alone fight from horseback; a horse was a symbol of status, so
everyone wanted one.
"Other than thatтАФNerio and Viola split and have made quite a fuss about it."
"Move them into separate units. I don't care if they reconcile and miss each other;
we're keeping them separate from now on. This is, what, the fourth time?"
 "Fifth. Let's see. Ulpio and Bruttio were fighting."
"Latrine duty."
"Paulo and Severo are rumored to be spoiling for a fight."
"Paulo and Severo?" They were two more of the men I'd put in charge of units ... and
now regretted putting in charge. "What's their problem?"
"Paulo's convinced you're favoring Severo's men. He wants a horse, and he thinks
you're sending his men to dig latrines and scrub pots a bit too often. He blames Severo for
turning you against him."
I sighed. "Remind me to ease up on Paulo's men. He's wrong, but it's not worth losing
his loyalty over. Maybe I should give him a horse." I looked up; Lucia gazed at me levelly,
a glint of humor in her eyes. I sighed again. "Once we're out of the wasteland, the horses
can graze..."
"According to Giovanni's calculations, that won't be until the end of the summer."
I shook my head. "No horse for Paulo, then. Maybe I'll arrange to outfit all his men