Another battle was upon them.
Shade, Lily, Marlin and Alex all stood in the back corner. They remained as silent and motionless as they could because of the looming threat. They couldn’t say anything that would erase the tense atmosphere that continued thickening without anyone else to have arrived. Royal City was in a war situation.
Through the walls the group could hear orders being shouted and carried out.
“Has the queen arrived!?” A deep familiar voice shouted beyond the double doors. The other guard beyond the door exclaimed “Aye, Sir!”
General Rakkian came bursting through the double doors while being shadowed by Captain Maiot and Gyro. The general looked calm and composed and even his voice matched. “Your Majesty, is it true? Have we finally been challenged after such a long respite?”
Allahandra seemed to instantly relax once she saw her top general. Her expression turned calm and she stopped beating the table. Even her tone matched his. Lily, Marlin and Alex smiled secretly to each other in conformation of what they just witnessed between the queen and her general. “The authentication code I delivered secretly was, without a doubt, the real thing. Take your seat until everyone is convened, ya.”
He took his seat by her side and his two subordinates stood directly at his back. Another round of silence dominated the chamber.
Everyone waited in subdued silence for about another hour as the other generals and commanders entered the room. Many were sweating and panting from running. Soon all but seven seats in the room remained vacant. The other forty were taken. Each high ranking official had one or two other subordinates standing silently behind their superior. There were whispers from the officials while they waited, but there wasn’t a single shout once they entered the room. Finally Commander Yort entered the room along with someone Alex didn’t recognize.
“Now that all local heads have gathered, we can begin.” Allahandra stated and also calling the war meeting to order. “As each of you have probably figured out, we will be under attack within ten days at the earliest, if what the scout reported is correct. I have ordered all available personnel to aid with the lockdown and preparation of our home. As each of you are all well aware, it has been some time since we have been under attack. I’m going to open the floor to the second in command for General Takka of the Specialists division. What information have your people gathered about the current enemy situation?”
An older woman cleared her throat and brought out her item. It seemed to be a scroll, but it was metallic looking. She unrolled it only three seats wide. The other two officials who sat beside her held the ends down. “From what I’ve been piecing together, it seems like most of the intruders are over ninety percent of the weapons class and half of those all carry some form of siege item. There are also many long and mid-range support troops, but minimal close range combatants. The leader of this siege is unknown, but from what we can tell he or she is both ruthless and intelligent. Luckily we have only sustained minor injuries from the patrol along our border, none have been killed gratefully. They are traveling slowly and also sticking together so their mobile defenses are high.”
“That is good news, they won’t be able to move nearly as fast then, even moving through the open plains.” Allahandra then calmly scanned her group. “Does anyone have any solutions to halt the threat?”
Many hands raised, but something didn’t seem to add up. Alex listened to their solutions while also contemplating himself, his jaw began clenching to focus on what was wrong with this situation. He then began biting his thumbnail as he sought for a reasonable and logical reason behind this attack. It didn’t add up, the approaching threat was too conspicuous. The officers continued reasoning their solutions and the explanations droned on for over an hour.
“Alex, what are you thinking about?” Allahandra asked during the middle of one of her officer’s solutions. He looked up to see her dark eyes watching him intently. “You have been standing there deep in thought this whole time and I want to know what you have come up with.”
Every person turned in their chairs to look at him in the corner of the room; standing with the rest of his pack. Shade had sat, but watched only his brother. Lily and Mark also were watching him in the same way. There wasn’t any way to be disrespectful and ignore the queen, especially since she ordered him to speak in a polite manner. He took his chewed nail away from his teeth and walked forward. There was an empty seat, the one he’s used practically every day so he walked behind it, laid the staff on the back of the seat and planted his hands onto either side of the chair’s back.
His tone was calm and quizzical as he addressed every person in the room with honesty. “If I say anything that seems disrespectful please forgive my ignorance for I mean no ill will. For those of you who do not know me, I’m Alex.” He thought it would be a good start to introduce himself to everyone again, though most he remembered from their greetings in the hall.
Scattered thoughts came together in a linear way after he shook his head. “Bear with me, I have never seen nor been in a war so I don’t understand what you have learned through experience. On the other hand I have been in fights and survived where there was almost no hope. When I first entered this city I saw your walls and they are the strongest and thickest I’ve seen in the whole of my life. Plus from my rough estimate we outnumber the intruders ten to one and that only includes the current weapons class soldiers.
“Their assault just doesn’t make sense whatsoever to me.”
“What makes you think this?” General Rakkian asked neutrally.
“I cannot make a solid hypothesis without more knowledge. Can I have you help me to fill in the blanks?”
“What do you have in mind?” The general crossed his item covered arms.
“Can you tell me of every single attack this city has withstood, within in the past ten years? Also include which direction they came from, their standing numbers, strategies that both of our sides deployed, what their specific targets were, any breaches passed the wall, how many wounded and killed on each of our ends. I could keep going, but you can understand what I’m getting at.”
The general’s dark eyes narrowed and then he laughed. “Boy, that much information would take half the night and we need that time to mount our defenses, ya.”
“The defenses can wait.” That same sensation of authority began radiating from him again and everyone silenced. “If my uneasiness is correct then every solution I’ve listened to from each of you will be completely fruitless and will result in more causalities to our cause. For now, everyone is safe and secure inside the city. If it takes us all night, so be it. If my hunch is wrong you can take whatever appropriate actions against me that you deem fit.” Alex then shifted his eyes to everyone who was in the circle and some gasped as he continued harnessing this odd sensation he was feeling. “It might end the night faster, if all of you helped Rakkian. You know, fill in any details he might have missed.”
When he relaxed, and the sensation vanished, the queen said “He is right. And since he is new, he needs to know what has happened in the city’s past. Go ahead general, we do have time like he says.”
He sighed reluctantly after studying Allahandra’s unwavering expression.
Alex sat down in his chair as the general began recounting the first battle from ten years ago. Everyone seemed to relax and become entranced by how eloquent and precise his accounts were. Lily and Marlin were asked by the queen to sit in the available seats and the others who stood were allowed to sit where they wished. There wasn’t time to translate so much information to Shade so he went back to their room to read a new book. Shade was more a creature of action rather than strategy and what was being discussed bored him to no ends.
It took almost forty minutes for the first battle to end in his stories. During that time Allahandra asked one of the subordinates to inform the kitchen staff that they would need food brought up. It was going to be a long day. When she was off to deliver the message, Ra
kkian continued with the next battle happening exactly five months later.
Some of the officials politely interrupted to add to the events in the general’s narration, he welcomed the additions they gave for it gave him time to rest his voice. Everyone focused to recount the details with as much clarity they could, but Alex played each and every event over inside his head while sifting through the pertinent information. There was much to learn, but it was manageable to comprehend and visualize the accounts.
They ate together and others recounted events so Rakkian could get a break.
Around midnight, everyone was weary from all the accounts spoken, but they finished off with the very last assault to the city.
They had to light all of the oil lamps in the war room and it helped cast a comfortable and calming radiance in the confined area. The green walls took on a black look. Some of the seconds in command were excused to see to the troop’s progress of the lockdown and safety of the citizens. Gyro told Captain Maiot he would see to the instructions before he left the general’s side.
Alex had listened to everything and his earlier suspicions were correct. He quickly listed every relevant question and detail presented to him. There was an inconsistency in their judgments and the past shone light to the present. He had the answer that they all would have missed. If he wasn’t here he wondered who would have thought this scenario up…
He smiled and Allahandra spoke loud enough to bring everyone’s attention back with an excited tone. “What is it, Alex? Did you gain an insight?”
“That I have, Allahandra.” The commanders, generals and the others all looked strangely between the exchange. They all wondered what he found, which they themselves did not. His grey gaze swept across the room before he began. “First off I would like to thank each of you for your patience and accounts. It seems that the past was more enlightening than I originally planned. Almost all of the pieces are fitting together, but I have gained enough information to know that each of your previous solutions would most likely have proven futile.”
“How so, Alex?” Allahandra asked calmly while everyone else seemed uncomfortable, hearing that their thoughts and solutions were wrong.
“From all of the accounts mentioned today I’ve noticed certain patterns. From ten years ago you have been attacked thirteen times, on a large scale, and had only a single breach to the outer walls during all of those the attacks. That breach happened seven years ago. Normally you are attacked every ten months, on average. Now the last attack this city withstood was about a year and a half ago, just after you took the mantle of Freelan’s leader as well as queen. That is a huge inconsistency compared to the previous assaults you’ve survived.
“The only breach that occurred was to the western wall and they were quickly dealt with. Unfortunately there were many who lost their lives, especially on our end. It was the only time our numbers were cut so great inside the city.
“They have attacked the northern wall only once before, but their numbers were almost double what they are now and they had more close combat types for when they break through. Yet they didn’t even put a dent in the perimeter in that attack, let alone have any success on that side. That is why I was having an uneasy feeling. Their attack didn’t make sense.”
General Rakkian sat forward. “I’m not sure I follow. What is it that doesn’t make sense? They’ll attack and we’ll stop them.”
Alex smiled and shook his head. “That’s just it. You are so caught up in the fight that you cannot see that they are just a flashy diversion.” The room became even more silent. It wasn’t difficult to speak clearly to Allahandra so his gaze remained on her. “I know you probably have your spies all around the lands and probably have some who have infiltrated Ra’van.” Her calm eyes said she did and that made it even easier to talk. “Since there are those who have items that seek liars, like Commander Yort, it has kept the city relatively secure, but I can guarantee that there are already Royal Guard inside the city this very moment.”
“How can you be so sure? We have a handful of other truth seekers, who like myself, can sift out the spies.” All attentions shifted to the mace wielding Commander Yort. His tone bordered on suspicion as he looked only at the queen’s newest vassal.
“I’m going back to the breach infiltration seven years ago.” A few intelligent commanders caught on because recognition flashed in their expressions. “The king isn’t a fool or else you would have won this fight by now. And I know when we were breached, that was when there were multiple infiltrators.” Alex then shifted his words to help others understand. “If I personally breached the walls and knew it was going to be a suicide mission, I would do anything to survive. But the brainwashed men who blindly follow Runkamon see it as a willing sacrifice. So if I was him and wanted to destroy the city he loathes, I would order any persons who breached the city to become a double agent. They could easily change into a dead man’s clothes and pretend to fight against his own comrades or feign an injury and be taken to our healers. During the turmoil and confusion of the fight, it would be all too easy to disguise myself amongst my enemy.
“After things ended and settled, I would do my best to gain the highest rank or gain the most wealth to accomplish the tasks I was issued, without raising suspicion, over a number of years would be the best option. My reputation and consistency would ease the guard’s attention and suspicion so I could smuggle information outside the city gates, without so much as a wave to everyone who saw and knew me. They see their orders to bring down a system such as Alluan’s as a sacrifice to their king and the people, no matter how many lives are taken or ruined. Seven years is plenty of time to make everyone believe I’m a brother and friend, rather than a long term spy.”
“What do you think their plan actually is? What will be the purpose of sending nine thousand soldiers for only a diversion?” Allahandra asked while leaning forward, lacing her fingers together atop the table.
He mimicked her movement and evened his tone. “You noticed the battalion coming because they’ve stayed together, moving slowly and they haven’t killed anyone yet. They know they’ll be wiped out eventually, but they are being ostentatious in their movements. They are showing you their large broadsword in their right hand, but you cannot see the dagger in their left because you’re only worried about the giant blade. Whoever the spy inside the city is, knows everything about it, by now. I’m certain of the fact. There would only be one logical solution to such a flashy diversion. They want to take out high priority targets while you’re looking away.”
Her tone was even as she asked “Since your short stay, what targets would you take out if you were the spy.”
Alex grabbed his staff and laid it flat on the table. Everyone needed to see his weapon was where they could see it. It would ease their minds. “The main targets I would aim for would be you, Allahandra; mainly. For the other targets I’d aim for would be Niranene and her healers and the top officials in this room. It would cause disarray and chaos to the lower ranks that need guidance to save the city. It would create a power vacuum and the result would be complete anarchy.” Marlin’s jaw muscles began clenching at the thought of someone harming Niranene or the other innocent people.
“If that is the case,” Allahandra began issuing orders. “then all healers should be spread throughout the city and have one guard assigned to them at all times. We cannot have them clustered together so they could be easily dispatched, if Alex’s worries become proven. They cannot be contained and localized by the healing center. As for Niranene…”
“I’ll protect her, right Alex?” Marlin stated which surprised everyone except for Lily and Alex. Alex nodded in conformation to let him do it.
Allahandra could see that Marlin would do anything to protect the head healer. “Since your leader has given permission I’ll allow it. Alright she will be in your hands until this crisis is at an end and I’d also wish to request Lily to aid you as well, Marlin. Will that be alright, Lily?” Lily’s shocked
eyes sought Alex’s and then the queen’s.
With his approving smile Lily reluctantly said “I will not allow any harm to come to her.”
“As for the generals, keep five guards with you at all times and I’ll keep a minimum of twelve guards with me… Alex, what are you going to do?”
There were just a handful of things he was good at, but he did have an idea of how to use his skills effectively for his liege lord. “There is still more information we will need from this enemy force and I know how to get it.” Alex shifted his gaze to a grey bearded man with a thick neck. “Commander, you once told me you are the head of the stealth force.”
“That I am.” His deep and gravelly voice drawled. “What might you possibly need from me, young man?”
“Do you have any subordinates who have items that can disguise a large object or make it completely invisible to enemy eyes?” He asked while grasping the staff and bringing it back to his side.
“I have a small contingent who specialize specifically in that, but it depends on the size of the object that needs to be obstructed.”
“Can any of them hide an object like Shade? Along with themselves?”
The man’s closed his eyes and was silent for a moment. He opened them and said “I do, but they are twins who each have a cloak that can mimic a natural background; like a boulder, tree or high grass. What do you have in mind?”
He explained his plan to the gathered and the commander listened to every syllable uttered. The commander said they would be here as soon as they could.
For the next half hour Allahandra gave directives and finally closed the meeting with “We all have work to do. Get going and be safe.”
Untamed Gift (Book One of the Items Trilogy) Page 49
