by Rosie Scott
“I suppose.”
“Then I suppose we are done here. Call upon your allies, Kai.”
“I will need to know when to ask they meet us there,” I replied, “and I need to know where we'll start our assault.”
Queen Tilda glanced to her Sentinels, who talked with one another for a few minutes. Finally, Altan spoke up, “Perhaps we should unload our armies nearby Monte or Boreas.”
“Those are both towns, not cities,” Tilda retorted, unimpressed.
“Yes, but we can't hope to wage a long offensive campaign without collecting land and resources,” Altan replied. “Our people will need food and supplies overseas if we're to take settlements as large as Olympia.”
The queen sighed and turned her attention to me. “Tell them to meet you in northeastern Hammerton, dear. Both towns Altan mentioned are in the vicinity. The Alderi have tunnels in Hammerton near there, I'm assuming?”
I glanced at Azazel. I remembered that there were tunnels in Hammerton, but I couldn't remember where.
Azazel said, “There are two tunnels leading into Hammerton. One in the Quakes along the edge of the Griswald Forest, and another in the middle of the Border Mounts. I would assume they would use the Quakes exit to get there. It is much farther north.”
Tilda nodded. “So it is set, then. Tell them to prepare to meet you there in early New Moon, 427. That gives us three years to prepare and get there.”
As the Sentinels stayed with their queen to discuss their picks for soldier promotions and answer her questions and concerns, the other Renegades and I walked down the stone halls of the castle to an office. It was a room I'd meant to come to more often over my years in Eteri because I wanted to maintain contact with Hasani and Calder whenever I could. The war had been too chaotic to take the time, however, so as I walked into it now, all was new to me.
The room was packed full of bookcases which cut the space into aisles, and a large stone desk sat against the wall just before them, stocked full of prepared parchment, envelopes, and inkwells. Sconces flickered overhead as I sat down, preparing to write two separate letters to two very different men. I would ask nothing of Hasani. Not yet. My message to him would simply be an update on our progress and well wishes for the healing of his country and its people.
For now, the letter of most importance would be written first. A page of blank parchment laid out on the desk before me. I twirled the ring Calder had given me around my finger with my thoughts on the upcoming few years of war. Taking Hammerton for Eteri would be a monumental task even without considering the espionage activities we would have to worry about and consider. If future assassination attempts on Tilda's life failed, it was possible I would lose Eteri as an ally just when I needed them most. I'd done everything I could to take precautions against losing the support of the Sentinels. They would be imperative to my future success.
I exhaled slowly, pushing all negative thoughts from my mind. We could deal with those issues when they arose. I was immensely powerful and surrounded by skilled and loyal people. If there was one thing I was good at, it was attracting more to follow me and my cause. Even if the worst were to happen, I would find a way through it.
I dipped the quill into thick black ink and started writing.
3rd of New Moon, 424
Calder/Alastor:
First of all, I miss you intensely. I can hardly believe it has been more than three years since we saw you last. So much has happened. We have prevailed, but very few developments over these last few years have been good.
Eteri has joined us, but our alliance is on shaky ground due to clashing ideologies. Forgive me if I wait to tell you more. I have made and lost friends and supporters here, and I am not entirely sure of the allegiances of some. Nonetheless, I desperately need their armies and support, as you know. In exchange, the queen here has requested my aid in her takeover of Hammerton, and I have agreed. During my time here I have encouraged the queen to open up trade between Eteri and the wildlands. I visited Scirocco myself at the end of 422 and saw beastmen trading there. Perhaps you will find this knowledge comforting.
My time here in Eteri has been fraught with difficulties. Chairel not only attacked Nahara back in 421, but they also sent navies to attack Eteri from Narangar. On top of that, some of my fickle golden-eyed friends here got involved with the mortal war, and one of them convinced Glacia to throw their hat in. If you hear of the oceans rising, love, that is partially my doing. Glacia is no more. They had masses of mages invading Eteri, but another god and I put a stop to that. In the process, thousands upon thousands of my allies have been killed.
This is where you come in, Calder. Eteri's army is still vast, but we are going up against the combined armies of Chairel and Hammerton. I know you agreed to aid me when it comes to my personal war against Sirius and the queen of my home country, but I am asking you to consider supporting me in Hammerton as well. I understand you have already allied with Nahara and sent support there, and I am not privy to how many men you spared. Nevertheless, I am grateful for your help. May I ask for your support once more?
We have time both for your response and your actions. The Eteri Army will take time to recoup its losses, but both this country's queen and I are impatient to act. I fear that this war will drag on so long that I will not be able to kill Sirius myself. Otherwise, I may have considered taking a few more years before this assault. As it stands now, we plan to disembark the Eteri Army in northeastern Hammerton in early New Moon, 427. We will seek to take over the smaller towns there before moving on to the country's significant settlements. If you are willing to aid us in this, please send your men through the Quakes exit and around the eastern edge of the mountains. That will lead them to us. The Sentinels and I each carry a war horn in battle. The calls of these horns travel over miles upon miles. Alderi ears should have no problem hearing them. The horns will lead them to us.
I am grateful for everything you have done for Nahara regardless of whether or not you choose to have your people join me in Hammerton. Your support would mean the world to me, but I would never expect it. I love you dearly. I miss your energy and your jokes, Calder. There has been little of this lately given our losses.
I'm finally on my way back home, love. It's taken years of work and heartache, but moving into Hammerton is only the last step to Chairel. I promised Jakan and Anto I would establish a harbor in Sera. If for nothing else, I will take my home city just to build one and entice you to live there! Until then, I have a lot of work to do, and I'd love for the assassins and beastmen to join me.
With love and valor,
Kai Sera
***
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