Black Rim

by B A Fleming

  “The escaped friend of our prince,” whispered Trajunus. Thargus looked at him and crinkled his face slightly. “He is a master of this situation, and his involvement would only strengthen the resolve of Agrippa to execute him.”

  Thargus stepped back and rubbed his chin. “This might just work,” he resolved. “Do you have someone in mind?”

  Trajunus nodded. “Someone that we can both trust.”

  “Guards!” he called out. Three guards poured through the door. “Feed the reus. He looks thin!”

  *****

  The Morean garrison at Agrippa was in chaos. A few of the riders had reached them, horses collapsing after the long journey. Others had been sent to Corone with news of the invading Narthal. Within four hours, the first platoon was released to head north as others were prepared.

  The remaining merchants of the city panicked, packing their possessions to head south. By the end of the day a procession of carts loaded with gold and other rarities were headed toward Corone and beyond. Their guards had been paid triple to protect them.

  The road was full in both directions between the merchants’ city and the capital as the rich decided where was the safest place to stay.

  The resort town of Corpea, on the coast to the east of Corone would be bursting by the following evening. Many of the southern merchants headed for their own farms, in hope that the Narthal could be stopped at the capital.

  Narthal and Imuhagh spies dispersed into the confusion, hidden as farmers, merchants, or others. Many took advantage of the situation to slip between, as information flowed more freely for these few days than it had within the Empire during the past hundred summers.

  *****

  The messenger arrived at the Banias garrison, just after Lentulus had sliced the throat of a woodsmen who tried to rob them in the alley beside it. The remaining three were stared down by the Salararius. They shuddered at the distain that the soldiers had shown towards them, slowly backing off out of the alley.

  The Salararius followed the messenger as they had finally decided to enter the garrison, now having completed their mission, hoping that one of the men would at least recognize them. The message asked for the garrison commander to rally the troops, as the Narthal had invaded.

  Recognizing Zador, a carefully selected messenger slipped a message to them. Lentulus pulled the young man aside a few moments later, noticing that he had been speaking with Zador.

  “Do you have any word of the Despotate Trajunus and Legati Thargus?” asked Lentulus.

  “Yes, my Lord. Legati Thargus now leads the troops, and word is that Despotate Trajunus is under house arrest.”

  Lentulus and Zador thought on this information. Zador walked across to the window and absently read the message. Zador, find Temar Bolyl and help your leader.

  “We need to speak to the garrison commander,” offered Lentulus.

  “But what about Trajunus?” asked Zador.

  “He has received his own medicine. He is no longer our problem. Our loyalty is to the Empire.” Zador nodded in agreement. “Besides, I prefer to see for myself.”

  *****

  The party looked bleakly at the Caitawalaan castle walls as they approached through the driving rain, several of them excited about the idea of a hot bath.

  Darkness had fallen some time before as Casperi and his entourage rode in through the Caitawalaan gates. Lady Mary smiled, standing atop the steps with the other three women of the house, Prince Halsten next to her as the most senior male for now. They were yet to be informed about the disappearance of Princess Lapse.

  The horses stunk from their lather, and the four soldiers were assigned to both help and ensure that the stable boys properly wiped them down. Lady Mary lead the guests in out of the weather and followed the same process that she had watched her husband perform a hundred times. After the travelers took a few minutes to dry themselves off and change, the servants provided their guests with tea as the young women of the house sectioned themselves off, chatting with the various guests. Eventually, the four guards were escorted to the garrison quarters.

  Carin smiled and giggled. She loved chatting with new men.

  Anna did her best to play along. As much as they had tried to hide it, Anna had heard mention of her brothers’ state of mind and chose not to return to her home for fear of her own life. The Caitawalaan household had encouraged her in this, and reminded her that she had a home with them.

  Lady Mary was happy to see the other young men and women of the valley growing into such worthy leaders. With the deaths of Lady Margaret Catheridge and Lady Radach Demour of Tharkomad, she now saw her role as one of the matriarchs of the valley, alongside Queen Cassiopeia. She was by far the youngest of the two, at forty-two summers, and not much older than the knight Nathe, or Duke Hacon.

  Casperi indicated that they would leave the following morning, although Lady Mary had hoped that her guests would stay longer. Carin sought to travel with them, although Anna wished to remain.

  “We have some desperate news, Lady Mary,” finally shared Canute. All the conversations around them went silent.

  “My sister, Lapse, is missing. It seems that someone has taken her. The Blue Dragon, as well, has now blocked the Hardular Pass, so we are travelling through an alternative route to leave the valley, and to recover my sister.”

  The Caitawalaans all sat in disbelief.

  “Lapse is gone,” Halsten finally managed. Looking at both his brothers, and then to his wife. He was white.

  “Yes, brother,” offered Birger. “She disappeared the last day of the Battle of Bhagshau. It seems that someone was ready to take advantage of our absence.”

  “Do you know who?” asked Lady Mary.

  “We’ve been working with the Tullav and we believe that it was the Morean, Tethys. He seems to have escaped through the Hardular Pass before the dragon sealed it.”

  “Well, then I’ll get my squires to prepare my men,” offered Halsten.

  “No brother. Father requests that you remain here. The Morean garrisons will not be able to get through, so you can expect them to return here within the week. Besides, our Lord Boru needs support more than ever.”

  Halsten was upset with this, although appreciated the decision made by his father, the King.

  “Then can we at least provide you with some men?” offered Lady Mary. “You seem to be a bit short?”

  “Actually, my Lady,” suggested Casperi. “We would prefer not, though thank you for your offer. The smaller the party, the better. Our four guards do not know where we are going, and they are more than we would have liked. We will return them to you when we reach our first destination.”

  “And where is that?” questioned Vivi. They all looked at each other momentarily.

  “There is a pass dug out by the dwarves two days’ ride from here,” finally admitted Thais.

  “A pass?”

  “Well, more like a tunnel, that passes through the mountains, under the Har-Koln.”

  “The dwarven empire?” shuddered Lady Mary. “But they are savages.”

  “I have hosted one this past fall, my lady, and I can assure you that they are nothing less than hospitable.”

  Lady Mary uneasily accepted this.

  Chapter 21

  The morning saw the attack of Narthal on two fronts. The northern platoons of invader troops marched on Mountay in the thick rain, where a detachment of Morean army had just reached.

  The Moreans were on the battle field less than five hours after their arrival and Shigeru, who had arrived half a day before, saw the opportunity to strike before his enemies had time to rest. The main thrust of black clad horsemen effectively charged at the tired locals.

  Narthal held the upper hand momentarily, although within half an hour more than twice their number had been thrown into the lines to defend.

  The remaining Moreans had been assigned to prepare battlements between the line and the loaded wagons that resembled their disparate camp.

 
At the same time in Waterfall, to the west of Mountay, Ocolan led the first wave of Narthal into the holiday town. The townspeople had watched their invaders as they marched down from Hardular Pass and preparations had been made to evacuate those that could. The Waterfall garrison was strengthened by local farmers as the town prepared to defend its people.

  A crossbow bolt shredded the grain of the door as a Waterfall merchant jumped to the side, barely in time. Three black clad assailants then burst through the broken door. Of the three Waterfall residents in the room, one half-drunk middle-aged man fell backwards, into a corner between sacks of grain. He held his hands up in surrender as he wanted to stay alive long enough to understand what had occurred.

  The younger of the men held a scythe in his hands and the first attacker cut and parried with him, both seemingly equal to each other. Thrust and counterthrust, as the young peasant continued to size up his opponent.

  Slowly he came to realize that he was outmatched and parried in defense to try to escape before he was shot dead by another crossbow bolt.

  The last man spun around, searching for a way out. He found none, slightly stepping backward, away from his closest attackers as two others gathered about him. The man feigned with a strike to the side, spinning a sickle blade around, aiming for one of the Narthal opponents neck. He barely stepped back in time, shooting his blade forward as he did, his reach barely piercing the peasants’ stomach through his tunic. It was enough of a distraction as the man hesitated and he struck again, directly into the man’s throat.

  He gargled, spat, stumbling backward. He bent over, hold his hand up in surrender as he looked towards the ground. The man then collapsed, lying on his side struggling to breathe. The Narthal briefly looked at the middle-aged man in between the sacks, before they turned and moved out through the door.

  A similar scenario followed throughout Waterfall. Those that defended the town were cut down, whilst others that surrendered were not.

  Within hours the corpses of more than half the townspeople laid scattered through the streets, their bodies pierced by sharp spears, arrow heads, or sword wounds. Deep red pools of blood mingled across the gravel and grey courtyard stones favored in front of buildings.

  Soldiers from both sides laid back against random walls, pain increasing with each breath. The Narthal strike was more to wound than kill opponents. One Waterfall garrison soldier laid against the outer wall of an inn he visited regularly. His vision slowly blurred, as he heard the sound of warriors running past him and his mind slipped into silence.

  Much further south, Thannon and Thargus had been welcomed back into the fold of the legionnaires and their respective legions made their way towards Agrippa. Their status as Salararius was respected, even though it was bestowed on them by the late Emperor.

  Aggelos had appointed Mimas, a friend of Thargus, as Head of the Armies of the Empire of Morea. The two newly appointed Legati now stood with three others in the office of Mimas, a man that had once served under Thargus.

  Some twenty thousand Morean soldiers could be gathered from across the realm. Some would march in from as far west as Archaea.

  Thannon and Thargus marched out with one other Legati, commanding three to four thousand each, as the remaining two would await the legions to return from the provinces. Some parts of the Empire of Morea would be left with the bare number of soldiers, especially a risk in those areas close to the Imuhagh Dominion.

  Mimas, alike his two new Legati, recognized the difference between being in service of his country and being in service of the Emperor. Some would see the two as the same, although these men knew differently.

  *****

  Tethys and Cheinjus rode along the western road, south of Waterfall. They moved quickly, ignoring the constant shouts by the princess as she bounced around the back of the wagon, soft rain falling constantly. Their two guards laughed and joked. Sitting under a tree ahead of them was Botan with a group of local farmers.

  Several of the men stood rigidly, as if expecting a battle. Botan calmed them, stepping out onto the road as if to prevent them from passing. As anticipated, he was helping his family to make their way south, towards Banias.

  “Halt,” yelled Botan with a raised hand, as the wagon approached. His family stood uneasily upon the side of the road. “I will execute any who do not follow my command!”

  “I fear for my life!” laughed Tethys back to him, as he hopped off the wagon, the two confused guards, swords drawn, awaiting orders. Tethys stood a good head taller, although looked much older with his thick beard. He walked towards the younger Salararius, both posturing as if they were in control of the situation. Both men laughed as they embraced.

  “Speak and I will kill you,” whispered Cheinjus to Lapse, hidden in the wagon. He had been observing both parties, and signaled his men to sheath their swords as he landed on the ground next to the horses.

  The three Salararius discussed the situation, and each of their instructions from Trajunus and Thargus. Botan had almost given up on seeing any of his comrades.

  His family had needed his help, and although Trajunus had given him permission to go to them, he still hoped that he could be part of the mission. His two comrades seemed pretty scarce on facts, telling him that they were on a secret mission for Thargus to do with trade. They kept going, wishing Botan and his family well, and hoping that they could meet up again in Banias in the days to come.

  *****

  Aryz Coun ambled along as if in a daze. Casperi rode back a few rows, pulling up beside him. Aryz Coun grinned as he glanced across to his friend.

  “is it just me, do we now find ourselves trapped between that of a life of servants or to become beggars of Narthal?”

  “Oh, you worry too much my prince, as I see neither for us. We were within the same dilemma in Imuhagh and yet, here we are. There is always another alternative, and it is there for us to find it, if we look deep enough within.”

  Aryz Coun smiled at Casperi.

  “Did you ever wonder what Temar did to upset so many people?”

  “Well, yes. But then I figured he would just tell me when the time required it.”

  Aryz Coun sniggered.

  “Well?” Casperi looked at him. “What did he do?”

  “I was the thug of a slave trader, as you already know my friend, but Temar, Temar Bolyl, he was far worse than I.”

  “He was a murderer? Did he kill the daughter of an Emperor?”

  Aryz Coun liked to watch him think through the answer out loud. It was very rare that he saw his friend in such confusion.

  “Worse, my friend. He was a smuggler,” finally replied Aryz Coun.

  “What? A common thief? Is that all?”

  Aryz Coun looked at him and smiled.

  “Oh, my lord, much more than a common thief. He was the best smuggler known.”

  “Smuggling what?”

  “Whatever his customers asked. Wanted men, merchants’ wives, prisoners of the state, weapons of war, gold, riches, and personal items. If someone wanted it, Temar was the one to find it and get it.”

  Casperi laughed as they turned to look forward, Canute looking back towards him, Birger smiling, next to his brother.

  Daak sat on the edge of the road in his wet tunic, his horse snorted as is chewed the nearby grass. As the royal party rode into view he noted each of them. The four guards looked at each other, not expecting to meet anymore guests for the journey. The road forked. North towards Tharkomad, and South into the Dark Forests. It was obvious that a lot of attention had been given to southern road recently, to enlarge and upgrade it during the previous summer.

  He mounted his steed in readiness for them. As they approached he nodded to Casperi who returned the acknowledgement.

  “All as planned?” the Catheridge Lord asked.

  “Yes, my Lord.” As they begun to move down the southern track. The four guards looked at each other.

  “Change of plans men,” offered Canute finally. “You may overnight
at the Dark Forest garrison before returning the way we came. Prince Halsten will be expecting you the morrow night.” They nodded to their Duke, if somewhat confused.

  The horses increased speed again, making their way to the Dark Forest garrison. Daak explained to them that dwarves had entered the valley and would meet them in the morning. Dwarves had existed as the bane of children’s’ stories until the Ice Gols invaded, often portrayed as anything from fierce beasts that stole children to belligerent drunkards that were easily fooled.

  After speaking with the two Vasa princes for half an hour, the guards seemed relieved. The brothers’ looked at each other. Neither had ever met a dwarf before as well, and hoped that their descriptions, based on what Casperi and Nathe had told them, was close enough to the truth. The party arrived at the Dark Forest garrison a few hours after nightfall.

  *****

  Waterfall was lost before sunset. Many locals scrambled south as the remaining garrison soldiers defended the streets to the last. Some of the more broad-thinking townspeople gathered north of the town, in the houses of rich merchants who had eloped long before.

  There was no security to stop them from breaking through the doors or windows. Fine foods and wines were drunk by peasants, enjoying the riches of their masters, if at least for a few nights.

  They were careful to remain moderately quiet in their fortitude and were ignored by the invaders who were content just to occupy the town, feasting on the remaining stores in all of the inns and cafes of the towns.

  Ocolan had chosen the best house left standing in the town as his command center, settling in for discussions about plans over some barrels of ale and delicious breads and cheeses. The first night those villagers that remained were corralled into the garrison cells, not necessarily to imprison them but to ensure both their safety and inability to escape to nearby towns to warn of the trespassers.