by B A Fleming
“I know that Tostig and Cedric were hung for the crime, but that boy was always the smarter of the two. I think that all of the Malbork are more in bed with the Moreans than they would have lead us to believe.”
“I would happily dispose of Richmond for you, father,” offered Canute.
“That may well be a mission for you. Actually, make it happen. Prepare to depart with Casperi when he chooses to leave. Maybe Hacon or Birger could also join you.”
Canute nodded. He worked well with his brothers, even if their approaches often varied they generally sought the same outcome.
“And what of the loss of payment shipments for the Bhagshau Morean garrison?”
Daikin stooped, looked at son and smiled. They both turned to look out across the city.
“I feel it better to have the Tullav onside than to create disorder with them at present,” he finally ensured. “I will discuss with them of lessening the noose. Besides, we will need their continued cooperation if we are to eventually find the absent Salararius.”
A squire appeared near the door of conservatory that flowed out onto the parapet. He bowed as King Daikin acknowledged the boy, indicating for him to come forward, the two guards both watching him. He handed a rolled parchment to the King, bowed and then retired to stand near one of the guards. Daikin opened it as his son patiently waited for him to read the message.
“The Emperor Lethos has been killed,” Daikin announced darkly. “Lord Trajunus, Thargus and the other Salararius will leave immediately for Corone. This turn of events could empty our small kingdom, and certainly this trip that Casperi has planned may be either expedited or postponed. On a positive side, at least our lands will not be so stripped bare, for as prosperous as the Morean invasion had been, the people have struggled to feed themselves.”
Canute looked at his father expectantly.
“Don’t worry Canute, you will still have the opportunity to kill Richmond.”
*****
Trajunus walked through the corridors of Bhagshau castle. He had composed himself over night and was now prepared for the journey. Crixus walked with him, listening to his final instructions to take over command of the castle, the old advisor Seymour following behind, receiving instructions from his Lords. The man had shown his loyalty to both his Hardular and Morean employers, managing to avoid the fate of many others of his previous peers.
The Morean guards had dressed in traditional Imperial uniforms, as had their Despotate. Their horses were dressed in same. By the end of the day they would overnight at the Hardular Pass, and then Waterfall the following night. Even before arriving in Waterfall, Trajunus would need to be aware of those around him. Thargus, Lentulus and Thannon accompanied him, with the others to meet them at the Pass. Botan was away in northern Morea in search of Dralan. The Moreans had been called upon on many occasions to set into leadership roles over the summer, and even moreso since the loss of nobles at Catheridge.
Crixus was a decorated soldier, and as one of the Salararius, one that Trajunus knew he could trust. He was not only a decorated warrior, but also one that had joined at an early age and knew only the walls of garrisons as his home, even though he now had a Hardular wife, and child on the way.
A line of squires and stable hands stood in the courtyard as the Imperial Moreans filed out. Crixus remained at the top of the steps with Legati Caius, Commander Vuvic and several captains whom he directed with small hand movements.
Despotate Trajunus quickly mounted his horse and nodded to Thargus, who turned to see if the others had already mounted. After a few moments, he nodded back, whipped his reins and started off at a slow trot. The guards bowed to Lord Trajunus as he led the procession of sixteen out through the gates. The royal guards had cleared a wide path out to the Bhagshau Road for them to ride along, up to four abreast.
Two banner holders stopped where the cobblestones turned to gravel, each to a side, and bowed whilst on their mounts. Trajunus half nodded to them as he focused on the journey ahead.
*****
Botan considered the movement of merchants and their entourages from the relative privacy of his hidden seat at an outdoor restaurant in the square of Agrippa. His sense of the current air of Morea was unsettling. He had already spoken with one of the senators from Nair, a town east of Mountay, who felt a distaste from the invasion of Hardular.
The summer had been hard on him and his neighbors as their fields had been stripped bare by the senate for a price far less than he would have made in the Agrippa market.
He had been warned as well. Botans’ connection to Trajunus and by extraction, the now deceased Emperor Lethos was well known. The usurpers of Corone, led by Aggelos, had sought to remove in one way or another any who had supported the Emperor. Botan himself had even fended off the attack of two men dressed as thieves who fought like infantry soldiers. He knew of many that had left the Morean army to take up posts as house guards of the merchants of Agrippa. They would be employed by their masters now to hunt down the Salararius as soon as they found that the Despotate was travelling to Corone.
The Brotherhood of the Sword was now left without a master. They all swore allegiance to him, but now dead, they had no reason to continue their following. Botan watched his colleagues as they moved about the square. He packed his bags and headed back north to report his findings.
*****
Two soldiers rode into the Morean garrison of Bhagshau as the sun started to set. One fell off his horse as they entered. The tower guards had watched ten leave a few hours before.
“Narthal,” whispered the least injured of the two to the nearest person.
The soldier called out to his captain and less than ten minutes later a column of thirty Morean soldiers rode out. Two others ran into the main Bhagshau castle.
Thirty minutes later the Moreans were ambushed by a squad of Warang as the sun set. A skirmish broke out between the two parties, although the Narthal had the upper hand, both in surprise and skills. Unlike the garrison soldiers from before, none escaped, and the Warang spent the next ten minutes removing the bodies from the track after stripping them of their weapons. During this time the other two runners had reached Legati Caius was meeting with him.
Ocolan had ridden ahead of the main army with a small contingent of Warang. He had held back with a few others, watching his men dispatch the Hardular and then Moreans.
He watched, with mutual respect, to understand their tactics and skills learnt from training, before returning to the camp as it finally looked to be setup.
“A good strategist designs the battle around the terrain,” observed Ocolan. He pointed to the mud map that had been drawn on a large parchment using ink, alike the traditional way that a calligrapher would. One of the soldiers had volunteered to map the battlefield. Wudi and Manchur stood awaiting him to continue.
He turned to the orderly. “Please get me Commander Dralan.”
Both brothers now referred to their step-brother as such. Dralan mostly slept when he changed back from his dragon form. The Commanders all eventually gathered in the main tent, set aside as the command station for the Narthal forces. Manchur, Ocolan, Eji and Wudi pitched their tents as close as possible. Dralan, who cared less for his command remained aloof, even to any of the troops. Two squires had been assigned to him, although kept their distance, only to come near to him when required.
Dralan entered, unhappy at being woken, looking even more tired with each passing day.
The other commanders considered him, although none questioned his look.
“What?” he spoke to Manchur bluntly.
“We are discussing our plans for the battle,” he replied.
“Commander Dralan, we have spent the past twenty minutes discussing the best approach to commence this battle, and now seek your thoughts,” suggested Ocolan. “I have already removed several patrols.”
“So, they know that we are here?” asked Dralan.
“Possibly,” offered Manchur. He looked at Dralan
, who stared back at him. “I imagine so.”
“So, why don’t we just attack?” questioned Dralan.
“We can still take out at least another hundred men before they react,” suggested Ocolan.
“Or we can attack, all out, straight at them,” Manchur had grown impatient with the conversation.
Several of the commander’s half nodded. Wudi and Eji agreed.
Manchur added to the debate, seeking a more direct route, whilst Ocolan pushed for more sneak attacks by his Warang. The Morean garrison would provide some level of resistance to the north-western corner of the city.
Three valleys flowed from near their position. The main forced would be led straight towards the city. Although only a small road, the Narthal could move quickly on the town as the road was not well travelled, as their cave entrance was considered a disused miners tunnel and of no value.
“Dralan,” Manchur turned to his half-brother. “I would suggest that it’s your turn to start. If we wish to rule this valley, we will need the townspeople to leave. Please go burn down a few houses, cause panic, so that the peasants can escape. It will be easier to move through the city to take the castle if they are out of our way.”
Dralan smiled. The others nodded.
“The troops will be ready to march by the morning,” offered Manchur.
“And I will be ready to attack,” answered Dralan as he turned to leave.
*****
Thais practiced her archery in the Vasa castle training grounds with three of King Daikins’ best.
She had watched these men compete at the Summer Games for several cycles, although this past summer was the first time she herself had been allowed to compete. The one that bested her in the final stood to her left, awaiting his turn as she took a shot.
They were eighty paces from the target and as Thais let her third arrow fly she lowered her bow, whispering a chant as the dart sailed through the air.
“Taking to cheating to beat your rivals, Thais?” called out Casperi as he approached. The marksman next to her had thought it as well, but was too much of a gentleman to acknowledge it. Distracted, Thais turned to look at her brother. The arrow struck the outer circle of the target. The three archers chuckled quietly to themselves.
“Well shot,” acknowledged Thais to the man, who’s arrow had stabbed the edge of the center ring with the best shot of all of them. She bowed slightly to him, and the three men bowed in return, watching the approaching Prince as they stepped backwards and left.
“King Daikin has approached me,” Casperi commenced. “Emperor Lethos has been killed, and the Salararius, including Trajunus and Thargus have left. The Tullav have reported that even those in hiding have moved out already, and are most probably joining our Despotate at the Pass garrison.”
Thais tilted her head slightly, thinking as she walked closer to her brother.
“So much for our loyal allies,” she noted.
“Yes, indeed,” Casperi half chuckled.
“Should we go to help then?” she asked with a slightly glint in her eye.
“Well, no, at least not yet. The senate of Corone is pretty bad at the best of times, I can only imagine what it could be like now. King Daikin suggests, and I am willing to agree with him, that we leave this situation for a month, to let things work themselves out, then join our wayward allies then.”
Thais nodded and thought on this. She had heard stories of the Court of Corone and the machinations of the Senate from both her brother, Thargus, and Trajunus throughout the summer. One of the Salararius thought it might be an interesting talking point with her in his attempt to woo and quickly walked away when her boredom of the subject had immediately set in.
Aryz Coun made his way across the field to them. He had held back a few moments, upon instruction of Casperi, and now joined them. Nathe, who was off attending to his own errands, had also been sent for.
“She knows?” asked Aryz Coun, considering the two Catheridge siblings.
“Of course, I know,” replied Thais, slightly happy. She had enjoyed a good friendship with the Imuhagh, and a mutual respect.
“So, we are stuck here for some time,” finally offered Casperi. Both nodded in agreement. “At least we can develop a strategy for how to approach this.”
*****
Trajunus rode in sight of Hardular Pass. He and his entourage could see the immediate increase in movement of soldiers and officers as they ran around in preparation for his arrival. The captains had vacated their positions on the upper deck, and now stood in line outside of the main pass gates, awaiting the arrival of their Despotate.
As much as the Moreans and Hardular soldiers had integrated down in the valley, the Hardular Pass garrison remained one hundred per cent Morean. Zador exited the main inn door as the Salararius arrived. Trajunus and his men made their way up to the main deck, where the captains had been lounging less than an hour before. The Despotate knew that this was the case and assigned the most senior of them to supervise the feeding of horses, ordering fresh mounts for himself, Zador and the other Brotherhood members.
Less than twenty minutes later a group of Morean soldiers arrived up the hill from Vasa. Within hours they departed, much to the relief of the garrison captains. Trajunus wished to move on quickly, and was soon on his way down the Waterfall road. They would eventually rest late in the night on the road towards Waterfall.
Chapter 12
Thomas and Dwane rode up from the docks with the four Catheridge guards. Curran had ensured that the items would be safe. The sword was hidden within Dwane’s clothes as he rode next to the jewelers’ apprentice. They approached the gates of Vasa Castle slowing to observe the Morean Trading Company stores. Although mainly Moreans, local women had also been employed, organizing some of the stores and serving at a bench to merchants and local people. The Vasa guards smiled at them as they rode through the gates. The Catheridge soldiers rode behind Dwane and Thomas into the courtyard.
“I need to see Lord Casperi, please,” requested Dwane of a soldier he knew from the Summer Games.
“I will see to it straight away.”
He turned to a lower ranked guard, who ran off into the castle. After the horses had been stabled the Catheridge group gathered in the courtyard as Casperi and Thais appeared at the door with Prince Birger, Nathe and Aryz Coun.
“You all look tired,” observed Thais. The Catheridge soldiers were led off to the garrison. Thais signaled for Dwane and Thomas to follow them inside. Several minutes later the seven of them stood in a quiet room. Dwane pulled the sword from under his clothes, laying it on table. The cloth stretched along a straight four feet of metal, wrapped in what was first assumed to be an old faded blue bedsheet. Closer inspection would see it as an Imuhagh head scarf.
The three royals stood looking at the blade for a few moments. Slowly Casperi picked it up with two hands, holding it horizontally and feeling the weight of the item. The black leather scabbard had been crafted to hold the blade. His hand made its way to the hilt until he finally gripped it.
“Well made, my grace,” observed Aryz Coun to Casperi. He nodded back without turning his attention.
Casperi examined the detail of the pommel and hilt, black metal showing in places, encased in leather binding of glints of brown, blue, and red, with green, small black and purple jewels set into the pommel. The scabbard as well possessed a mixture of small jewels of these same colors. He felt the weight of it and then unsheathed the sword as the others all stepped in slightly for gain a better view.
His left hand held the scabbard softly as he drew the blade with his right hand. The black metal glistened, even in the dim light as the prince held the blade upright, twisting it to watch the edges shimmering a slight faint blue hue.
“The, I mean, our guest, called it Black Rim,” offered Thomas standing behind them next to Dwane. They all turned to look at him briefly before turning their attention back to the blade.
“Black Rim. I like it,” replied Casperi
to no one in particular.
Thais smiled at him, as did Birger.
They all watched the blade as it floated through the air with Casperi’s slow, gentle movements.
“I almost don’t wish to let it go,” he finally said, as several of the others indicated that they would like a try.
The balance of the sword was perfect as it glided through the air from Casperi’s hand. The blade shimmered as it cut through rays of light. Casperi was mesmerized. He passed the blade to Nathe, who felt it’s balance then onto Aryz Coun and Birger.
“Truly an amazing sword,” offered Birger. “I doubt that my brother will happy to see it, although it suits you well, my friend.”
Thais smiled and rolled her eyes as Casperi and Birger laughed.
“My lady Thais, Scrapgryke hasn’t forgotten you either,” added Thomas, absent-mindedly scrambling to search through his bag. He then pulled out ten black metal pointed arrows. “Black Rim arrows,” he mused. “He said that his best archer shot one arrow through three pigs in Har-Koln with an ancient one like it. They could pierce the same number of men.”
Nathe now rolled his eyes as Casperi smirked. After a few more minutes of inspection, Casperi sheaved the blade and put on the belt with the sword. He turned to Thomas, thanking him and Dwane for bringing the sword.
Birger then signaled him to follow him as he stepped out of the room, directing the guard to organize rooms for the young man.
Nathe showed Dwane to the room that had been set aside for him as part of the Catheridge entourage. Two squires stood across the hall, awaiting Lord Casperi and Princess Thais, to escort them to their respective quarters.
*****
Manchur stood in the middle of the command tent, reviewing the rudimentary topographic map of the area to the north of Bhagshau castle, the paths his men would traverse in the early hours before sunrise, and his strategy for the first day. His battle training had taught him that guards were most asleep just before dawn. If they were to slip into the city, this would be the best time to strike. Even if most of the men remained behind, a small party could easily negotiate a way in through the predawn light.
