by Guy Antibes
“I admit it. When I first arrived at South Keep, the commander ignored me and I turned to the practice field as a way to spend my time. I’m afraid I wasn’t an able defender in Everwet. I’d do much better now, I promise.”
Sallia shivered with a memory. “Let’s hope you don’t have to defend me like that again.”
“Not personally, but I spend all of my time defending your honor and your kingdom, your highness. In that I would hope you willing support me. I still carry the silk token.”
She beamed. “You do?” She laid her hand on his arm. “I’m very pleased. I sent you a letter with Shiro… ”
“I didn’t get a chance to read it,” Anchor said.
“I wrote to recommit that I wish you to advise me. I need some advice on how to rule. Perhaps we can correspond on that and similar subjects. I’m sure that there will be enough teleporting from wherever you fight to Crackledown to permit messages.”
Anchor would do anything to retain contact with the princess. “I have never ruled, but I would be delighted to render any perspective that you would posit.”
“Such flowery language for a simple soldier.”
“We are not so simple,” Shiro said, nudging Anchor with his knee. “I would be pleased to carry any messages you wish, princess. When we take the field, there might be others who bring information. Chika, for example,” he nodded towards Chika who had just said something to make a Gensler office roar in laughter. “She knows how to teleport. We have others. All of us would be honored to relay any messages at any time and even bring Anchor from time to time.” Shiro gave Sallia a short bow of his head.
Anchor welcomed Shiro’s interruptions. He felt himself floating down a river, out of control, flirting with disaster at every dip in the water and curve of the river’s course. His thoughts ended when the duke stood. His men were well-trained, except for Morio’s group, who took a moment more before they, too, gave Duke Jellas their attention.
“I’ve gathered my retainers and key officers as well as our distinguished guests to eat this evening. I have a few announcements to make and then you can get back to your feasting and,” he cleared his throat, “drinking.” He smiled during the predictable roar of approval.
“A few introductions… Prince Peeron joins us from the Learsea court. Lotto Mistad is back, now representing the king of Valetan directly. You all know Princess Sallia. You might not know, but have heard of, Anchor. He will lead some of us from Gensler and the soldiers of the Red Rose into Learsea to develop their defenses. He takes with him Shiro of Roppon. We also have Chika of the Red Rose, his third in command. She will join our forces in Gensler with approximately a third of Shiro’s capable men and women, many of whom are wizards.
“Anchor has developed a general strategy that will employ multiple fronts in the war against Duke Histron. I would like to remind you that we are not at war with the people of the Red Kingdom, but with a usurper.” The duke nodded at Sallia, who smiled. Anchor thought it a different smile from when he knew the princess at Foxhome. He admired the difference.
“This is new to all of you. Prince Peeron has accepted my suggestion that he join our allied forces as we move into the Red Kingdom from Gensler. He has a few troops to add to our forces, but we will welcome his presence as a symbol of the alliance of kingdoms and duchies fighting for the rights of the citizens of the Red Kingdom. That is all. Continue.” Duke Jellas waved his hands to encourage the eating and drinking to continue.
His words had unexpectedly disturbed Anchor. What were we fighting for other than to maintain the prerogatives of the rulers? Did we fight to restore Sallia as queen, or did we fight to bring freedom to the people of the Red Kingdom? He didn’t quite know and the thought continued to bite at him. He felt more comfortable defending the boundaries of Learsea from Histron, but the prospects for battling fellow citizens of the Red Kingdom sat unexpectedly poor with him. His anger at the Dakkoran emperor burned within. That man had put them all in this regrettable position of fighting each other.
“You look dour, Anchor,” Sallia said.
He nodded, still letting his thoughts roll around in his head. “I fear for your subjects, Princess Sallia. We fight Histron, but we also fight soldiers in the Red Kingdom who will fight for any who lead them. Innocent people will be killed or left destitute as battle ruins their homes, families and lands.”
She gave Anchor a questioning look. “And yet you’ve pledged to fight for me.”
“Indeed I have. Cannot I fight for you and still worry about your subjects?”
~
Sallia couldn’t help but put her hand to her mouth. She had shared Anchor’s view, but always she reminded the leaders of the lives of her subjects. Anchor had, on his own, vocalized her feelings, the first to do so. It made the well-being of her subjects that much more precious. If they were just words before, Anchor had given them weight and strength within her. The lightness of mind that the meal and the wine had produced, suddenly took on weight. She looked at the remnants of her meal. She had left much food on the plate and wondered how much of it a small farming family would eat. Would a wife make it into a stew or soup that might last a few days? Here it would be thrown out to the pigs the duke kept on the castle grounds.
“You have clarified my thoughts, Anchor,” she said, marveling at his wisdom. He felt so deeply for one nearly as young as herself. “My first instruction on how to rule. Consider all of my decisions to encompass their effects on my people.”
Anchor nodded, but his face reddened. She could tell she had embarrassed him. “I didn’t mean to discourage you, Your Highness.”
She wished he would use her name, but perhaps the formal setting held his tongue. “I’m not discouraged, but heartened by your attitude. You weren’t the one held by Histron’s men and suffered from their depredations. They have turned the Red Kingdom into a nasty place. Remember that as well.”
Anchor spluttered like an old man. “I haven’t forgotten. My life at the keep has been sheltered in its own way. After Histron took over, I avoided all men as I made my way to Gensler. I hope my thoughts didn’t overly upset you. I am pledged to you, don’t doubt it. I fear for all of those who lie in the various paths of this war. Shiro told me of how Duke Happly drafted all of his people into war with Valetan. I spent a little time at Happly Keep in my travels and he made the town a miserable place to live. I think war affects everyone, innocent or not. I am upset that the Dakkorans foment all of this conflict.”
“Thank you, Anchor. I need your perspective now and in the future. Keep thinking and considering these things and whisper in my ear should I appear to ignore such considerations. We might not make the very best decisions, indeed, there might not be any good alternatives, but we must do what we can.”
“I agree, Princess,” Shiro said. “I traveled from the very south of the Ropponi Empire to the north and saw much in the way of nobles and functionaries with their eyes blinded to the plight of the common people and even fellow nobles. I was happy to leave because I realized Roppon is a nation lost to decency and kindness.”
Sallia clenched her fists. “I will not let Histron ruin my country! I will restore order with the help of the alliance. Decency and kindness. Yes, I will dedicate my rule to such with predictable laws to keep the indecency of Histron and his men out of the Red Kingdom.” The emotions that welled up inside surprised her. She knew she had to feel that way, but had never expected it to feel it within herself with such passion. She looked at the Duke out the side of her eye and noticed that he had paused to listen.
“Princess, I am behind you. I have ruled Gensler with those same principles and I think the results have been more than adequate. I let my guard down for a bit. I must take responsibility for Eberlo’s neglect of my southern defenses, but I’ve been sufficiently chastened. My only hope is that my heirs will do the same.”
Sallia knew he had said that for Prince Peeron’s benefit. His eyes had shifted for an instant at the end towards the prince
. She had initially viewed the prince as a peer, worthy to join their company. He certainly presented himself with impeccable manners and she warmed to note his willingness to join her cause. Yet, she sensed an edge. Would the duke have more to say in private?
~
“Duke,” Sallia put her hand on his arm. He turned around from a conversation with his general.
“Yes, Sallia?”
“A word, if you have time.”
Jellas spoke briefly to his general, who bowed and scuttled away.
“What has brought you into my study?” He walked around and sat behind his desk. “Please sit.”
Sallia pursed her lips, gave the duke a polite smile and sat. “I haven’t spoke with Prince Peeron, but everyone seems to be leery of him.”
“As should you. Anchor and the Prince of Learsea nearly drew swords in our meeting today. Anchor, I would trust with my family, and you, my dear princess. I would hide my family from Peeron, if I could. He has a petulant aura to him. He looks down on us all and acts as if we are privileged if he gives us a scintilla of attention. I do not trust the man.”
“Then why did you let him join our alliance?”
“I am doing Anchor a favor. With us, the Peeron gets to know what we are doing, but has no control over the troops and our strategies. With Anchor, he is Prince of Learsea and the poor boy won’t be able to ignore him.”
Sallia furrowed her brow. “But won’t the Prince realize what you have done?”
The Duke waved his hand. “We will treat him well and provide him with good food, good accommodations and a small command. You are also here to attract him.”
She colored. “Me, attract him? You overestimate my affect on men.”
Jellas would have none of that as he waved away her comment. “You are the only heir to the Red Kingdom. You possess the Bloodstone. You are highly presentable and not married. Neither is he. Even if you were old and hoary he would take notice of a possible alliance with the Red Kingdom when you are restored.”
“Duke! Old and hoary?”
He laughed. ‘I said if you were, and you, quite definitely, are not.”
“So I must be on my guard?”
The duke’s face sobered. “Always and not just because of Peeron. Once we move south of Crackledown, you will be exposed, again, to great danger and I would not want to see my charge, you, in difficulty. You survived Foxhome only due to the resources of Unca. He is not here, but you have us to help you. Vigilance must be a constant companion. Indeed, it already has, thanks to Anchor and his timely message.”
Sallia nodded and had more to think about. Her time as the sheltered ward of Duke Jellas had ended weeks ago. However, her suppressed fear for the future had come out of hiding and she had Duke Jellas and Anchor to thank for it.
~~~
CHAPTER TWENTY
~
ANCHOR BACKED UP AS CHIKA BEGAN A FLURRY of attacks with her staff. He grabbed the staff as it whizzed past him and pointed his blade at her stomach. That ended the session.
Laughter came from behind him as Tishiaki and Shiro started to clap their hands.
“Finally, I find someone else who can defeat you. I can’t do much better with a sword, although with a staff—” Shiro laughed as he stopped his sentence short.
“Enough. It’s time to get some sleep,” Anchor said, smiling, cutting off the pair’s exchange short. “Tomorrow comes quickly and we can’t dawdle our way across the Red Kingdom.”
Anchor already missed Gasso, but someone had to command South Keep with Colonel Hesting’s delayed arrival. His forces now consisted of half of the Red Roses, Shiro and Tishiaki plus Leef, the Learsean captain. Chika commanded the rest of the Red Rose along with the remaining soldiers that Leef left behind at South Keep as a guard for Prince Peeron. They had marched for five days to the southeast, across Happly and a sliver of the Red Kingdom. Tomorrow or the next, they’d be in Learsea. The heavy forests would protect them from any of Histron’s forces for the time being.
Shiro and Chika walked with Anchor to their tents. “I wish there was a quicker way to get to Learsea. We need to talk to the king now rather than in three or four weeks,” Anchor said.
“I can take you there, with Leef’s help, remember?” Shiro said. “If he will submit to the Sunstone, I can fix a place to teleport. I should have thought to do the same for Lotto, but he’s already headed to Beckondale with three of my Red Roses so he can transport to and from the Valetan capital. I’d be happy to take you.”
“All three of us?”
Shiro nodded. “You name the time. If I leave the Sunstone with one of my Red Roses, then I can focus on that and we can return to wherever the camp is.”
“We’ll go as soon as we cross over into Learsea. Now take some time off with Chika before she leaves for South Keep and on to Crackledown in the morning.”
Anchor nodded at the pair and walked off towards Leef’s tent. He couldn’t help but be a bit jealous of the open relationship. But then what kind of relationship did he really have with Sally?
~
The weather didn’t cooperate with Anchor. He rode with Shiro and Leef. Rain drenched the entire column and the road began to thicken up with mud. Still, Anchor breathed a little easier now that they had passed the border keeps between Learsea and the Red Kingdom. The bad weather made it easy to slip by the Red Kingdom pickets.
“No horses, if you don’t mind,” Shiro said, referring to their trip to the city of Learsea, the capital. “They take up too much energy here in Besseth.”
Anchor looked at Leef. “Are you ready? Remember, Shiro opens up to you and you to him when you connect with the Sunstone.”
“I don’t mind if he does,” Leef said. “There are worse things that can happen in war.”
“Indeed,” Shiro said. “We should dismount.”
A Red Rose woman, that Anchor had never met, rode up. “I’ll take care of the horses.”
Shiro put out his hand and let Leef put his over the stone.
Anchor had never seen anyone connect before. Leef closed his eyes and began to sway. Anchor stepped behind him.
“Enough,” Shiro said.
Leef’s eyes blinked and then he fell back against Anchor. They both fell into the mud.
“So much for being presentable to His Highness,” Anchor said as he helped a weakened Leef to his feet. “Let’s go now.”
Shiro put the Sunstone in a pouch and handed it to Tishiaki. Shiro took hold of the arms of Anchor and Leef and suddenly they were standing in sunshine.
Anchor breathed in tangy salt-laden air. The next thing he knew, Learsean guards surrounded them.
“Put those down. I’m Captain Leef!”
The soldiers all narrowed their eyes and slowly retracted their weapons.
“Why are you so muddy, Captain?” one of them said.
“I’ve just come from a rainstorm on the border between Learsea and the Red Kingdom. We seek an audience with the king.”
“What makes you so important all of a sudden?” another said, dressed better than the other soldiers.
“Watch your tongue, Weart. This is Captain Anchor. He is to command all of you louts as you fight Duke Histron! Notify King Willom.”
Two of the men quickly jogged towards a large set of double doors.
Anchor took to the time to survey his surroundings. The sun told him it was midday. Seeing the sun after standing in that downpour seemed miracle enough. As Unca, he doubted that he ever had the power to transport a flea. He looked out parapets that blocked only some of his view of the Ayrtan Sea. Covered ballistae lined up along gaps in the crenellations. It dawned on him that he had been here before and could have saved Leef the trouble, but then he’d have to explain what had brought him all the way to Learsea’s capital city. He turned his face up towards the sun, closing his eyes. The warmth felt wonderful.
“Captain Leef, this way.”
“Time to meet your master,” Leef said as he clapped Anchor on the back, pul
ling him from the heat that bathed his face.
They walked up twelve steps to the wide portico that supported the ground floor of Willom’s castle. The decade since Anchor had walked these corridors seemed to fade away. He could detect no changes to the tapestries hanging on the walls, nor the polished lantern sconces that brought light to the inner reaches of the place. He noticed that his boots were squelching as he walked. Perhaps their condition might be to their advantage.
King Willom looked a bit on the frail side as he sat on his throne. Courtiers littered the Learsea court. Unlike his red-haired son, Willom had blond hair, now turning to white. He had always favored a full beard, but it now looked more trimmed. His body had softened somewhat and the king’s once-fat belly no longer hung over his jeweled belt.
“Leef, why have you disturbed my court? Who have you brought me and please tell me why you are here and my ne’er do well son isn’t.”
The Learsea captain went down on a knee and bowed as did Shiro and Anchor. When Anchor last appeared in this throne room as a subject of King Billeas, they both bowed from the waist. Not now.
“Prince Peeron has taken an advisory position with the alliance of Gensler, Valetan, Prola and Learsea in Crackledown. I have Captain Anchor and Commander Shiro of Roppon is my second in command.”
Willom’s face showed surprise. He rose slowly from his throne and walked the few steps to the floor of his court and shook Anchor’s hand with pleased expression. “I’m glad you’re here, but how?”
“Shiro is a wizard and has learned how to teleport. That is why Peeron is in Crackledown and I am in your court. Forgive our appearance, we left our forces in the midst of a downpour,” Anchor said.
Willom shook his head. “No matter. You are here and my son is out of the way, at last,” he said quietly. “Court is adjourned!” the King said loudly. “Come with me. My map room is behind the throne.”
Anchor’s map room in South Keep was behind the common room, but it might have been a throne room in another time. As he entered Willom’s map room, the maps on the walls were tapestries, painstakingly done. He could tell they were generally accurate. The windows were wider and very thick. He had noticed them on previous visits.
