by Guy Antibes
The prince stalked off. Anchor followed him with his uniform shirt in his hand. “Prince Peeron, we still need to talk.” They were now out of earshot. The prince stopped and grimaced and led Anchor back into the keep.
“Impressive,” Lotto said. “He wouldn’t have needed me if he fought like that when I first met you, Princess.”
“Quite the display,” Restella said. “I could use a man like him.”
Chika and Shiro had joined them. “I could use a lot of men like him,” Chika said.
Shiro laughed. Sallia couldn’t figure out the humor.
“Did Anchor employ a Ropponi fighting style?” Sallia asked Shiro.
Shiro bobbed his head. “A little. I have taught him how to fight without weapons. He has improved on what I taught him. I’ll have to remember that move.”
“As will I,” Lotto said. “You would not have recognized the improvement from when we first met in this very village. Mediocre didn’t even describe his ability. I’d say he has put in many hours of practice.”
Shiro laughed. “He has and we both have the bruises to prove it. I think his failure to save the princess bothered him greatly and he has used that loss of face to urge him on. You are his inspiration, Princess Sallia.” Shiro gave a curt bow to her.
Chika laughed and covered her mouth with her hand. “Shiro has even given me bruises, but in different places.”
Her comment made Shiro laugh again. He turned away until he could stop. “Forgive me, Chika is… Chika.” He shrugged as Chika pushed him and they walked away arguing. Chika began to laugh as they turned a corner of the building.
“I don’t understand half of what she says,’ Sallia said.
“It’s a good thing you don’t, Sallia,” Lotto said. “It’s a game they play that’s not, uh, appropriate.”
Sallia finally understood what Chika had been saying. “Oh.” She felt her face blush. “Innuendo.”
“Heavy innuendo,” Lotto grinned. “But pay no attention princess.” His eyebrows rose. “Princesses. Come Restella, it’s time to talk about Valetan’s forces with Mander Hart.”
The two of them walked away quietly arguing. Sallia could see that their argument hadn’t turned into laughter. She felt a bit of pity for Lotto.
She felt a tap on her shoulder. “Anchor is quite the swordsman, isn’t he?” Mander Hart said.
“Lotto and Princess Restella seek you out. They went that way.”
He gave her an indulgent grin. “In a bit, I will do likewise. I’m quite impressed with Anchor and he is quite impressed with you.”
Sallia couldn’t help blushing today. She stomped her foot to let a little anger at herself drive away her embarrassment. “I noticed the token that I gave him.”
“And the gallant salute. I think that if he faced ten men with bared steel blades, he still would have made that salute,” Mander said. “He’s a man to watch, Princess. A man of many unique levels.”
“You sound like you know him.”
“He reminds me of someone I know, but I couldn’t tell you why, or even who. I’m very, very good at remembering people, you know. I can discern quality in a person. Good intentions, bad intentions. I took Lotto under my wing. Just watching him walk through a market square, I knew he had quality. Actually I had my eyes on him long before, but that’s another story. No, Anchor is an enigma I have no desire to solve at this time. He surprises me and I’m sure he surprises you.”
Sallia pursed his lips. “He does indeed. An onion with many layers?”
“Many layers. Lotto on the other hand has just a few layers. It comes with youth.”
“I can’t imagine Anchor to be much older,” Sallia said.
“I’d bet that Lotto hasn’t had all of the experiences Anchor has had. You must remember Lotto became aware of things rather late in his youth.”
“There is a story behind that, too. I’ve only gotten a few sentences from Lotto on his life before he hooked up with you,” Sallia said. Mander Hart spoke in riddles and constant misdirection, but Sallia couldn’t help but be stimulated by his conversation. He could charm the claws off of a bear, in his own way.
“There is, but it’s a bit more private.” He winked at her. “I will find my two lovebirds. If you will excuse me.” Mander left her at the sparring field. Another match had started, but Sallia had no interest and walked back to her office.
Lotto and Anchor. She had special feelings for both of her saviors. Lotto was a bit younger than she was. Anchor seemed much older, but he didn’t look much older than Lotto. Mander Hart had planted seeds of confusion within her. She knew that Lotto struggled in his relationship with Restella. Anchor seemed to struggle in his relationship with her. If her father still lived, he’d be foisting her on Prince Peeron. She shivered at the thought, but ended thinking of how much she missed the King.
Sallia reached the sanctuary of her tiny office. She sat in her uncomfortable chair and remembered how her governess punished her by making her sit on a chair no better than this when she misbehaved. She spent a lot of time on that chair. Sallia looked out the small window with her arms crossed wondering about her problem and then realized that she didn’t have a problem yet, just a jumble of feelings towards to unique men.
She turned around and spotted Anchor’s letter. What wonder did it contain? Perhaps if she read Anchor’s letter in the right way, she might gain some inspiration.
~~~
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
~
THE COUNCIL MET ONE LAST TIME BEFORE A RED ROSE would transport Lotto and Restella to Beckondale. Restella would ride back to the southern border of Gensler with another contingent of Valetan troops that she would collect on her way south. The alliance was ready to creep into the Red Kingdom once Histron made clear what direction he would move his army at the Learsea border. Reinforcements had already been dispatched to the border keeps and Morio’s rangers would continuously ride along the border and make thrusts into Red Kingdom territory for intelligence.
Sallia could tell that tensions had increased significantly after Anchor’s visit ten days previous. She realized that he had finally put the alliance on a serious war footing.
Shiro visited two days ago and took her new set of questions to Anchor. His letter had only confirmed that he was a most loyal subject. Did she think he would say more? Lotto had been gone the entire time, heading south so he could transport to any point within five day’s ride from Everwet. She wished he could reach Sally’s Corners. She didn’t know that he knew how. Sallia wished she could see how Willow had fared in all of this time.
She stood in the corridor, not far from her office when she heard footsteps approach.
“Sallia,” Restella said. “I want you to stay as far away from Lotto as you can.” It didn’t take a mage to detect the anger in her voice.
“I wasn’t aware that you and he were promised.”
That made Restella’s eyes blaze. “We’re not. I don’t want the distraction when I’m in battle. Do you hear?” Her voice bulged with a silent threat.
“I hear you, Princess Restella. Bear in mind that you are speaking to the heir to the throne of the Red Kingdom. You know better than to try to browbeat me. There are courtesies that you are violating.” Sallia could hear her own voice rise in anger. “You do not command me to leave Lotto alone. He and I are members of the alliance council and I will not curtail my activities due to your misplaced jealousy. I enjoy Lotto’s company as well as others,” she thought specifically of Anchor, “and I don’t see a reason to curtail them, even if you were promised. I have no designs on your friend. Do I make myself clear?”
“Perfectly,” Restella said, gnashing her teeth and stomping off down the corridor. She bumped into Mander Hart, and then stalked off. Sallia distinctly heard the word ‘Pretender’ muttered before she turned a corner.
“I am sorry, Princess.” Mander bowed to her as he returned from his hasty conversation with Restella. “I couldn’t help but hear the entire convers
ation. You handled your side rather well. Regally, if I might use the term.”
He would, Sallia thought. Spying was his business. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
Mander laughed. “At least that makes one who regrets her words. I will talk to Lotto or get a message to him. I won’t have Restella destroy the alliance and I can’t completely trust a person so given to anger as she.”
“Should I stay away from Lotto?”
He looked into her eyes. “You do what you think is best. Lotto is nearly as confused as Restella about how to approach their link. It draws them close, but they both try to push it away.” He looked back down the way Restella had left. “Better them than me. Of course, my wife and I would rather enjoy the link, I think.” He lifted a corner of his mouth. The man had a disconcerting way of amusing himself as he talked to you.
“The success of the alliance is more important to me than my personal feelings. I think I need to talk to Lotto and explain.”
“Excellent idea, your Highness. Talking it out is always better. The problem with Restella is that she stomps off upset before anything can be properly discussed.” He gave Sallia a little bow. “If you’ll excuse me. I really was on my way to a meeting and didn’t intend to eavesdrop.”
His easy manner made Sallia smile. “I believe you and thank you for your words. They have served their purpose to soothe me.”
Mander left her as she walked to her office door and closed it as gently as she could manage. She wanted to flee to her small bedroom and cry into her pillow, but she had to restrain herself. The old Sallia might have acted more like Restella, if Unca hadn’t pulled her out of Foxhome. She shivered at the thought of her previous peevishness.
She gave as good as she got in the exchange, but then relented. Not out of guilt or out of intimidation, but she realized that her role in the Red Kingdom demanded that she relent, even if just a little, to preserve the alliance. Anchor’s letter still lay on her desk. She re-read it yet again to focus on the war.
~
The emerald fields, that once promised a bounteous harvest, now became the sources of dust clouds in the wind—all signs of growth trampled into the earth while Histron’s army sat on Learsea’s border. Anchor viewed the commotion as the start of a sobering dance of war. Anchor peered through the poor visibility. His vantage point was on a hill surrounded by forest. Three columns began to form from the mass of Red Kingdom soldiers. Shiro appeared not far away from where he stood and approached.
“They have just started to move. One will head north, one east and one west,” Anchor said. “Let’s make sure and head to Everwet. Valetan will have to know as well. First, we need to know how Histron has split up his forces.”
Shiro nodded. “He makes a large mistake.”
“Histron’s advisors have not served him well, unless he has hidden a major force to the north. We are ready for him in Learsea and he’ll run into unexpected resistance in Gensler.”
“What have the scouts found along Histron’s northern border?” Anchor said.
“Garrisons only. The Red Kingdom’s border forts are smaller than Gensler’s. Chika told me that Lotto went deep into the Red Kingdom and couldn’t find any gathering of troops. There are men enough to assemble into an army, but they are spread out.”
“That’s because the three kingdoms of Besseth are too large to defend their entire borders in time of war. Valetan and Learsea have relied on topography and King Billeas and his descendants preferred to keep political peace, especially to the south. The southern duchies are the key to this conflict, mark my word.”
Shiro smiled. “I’ve already marked it a number of times.”
Anchor slapped Shiro on the shoulder. “I’m sorry. All I think about are the possibilities. One less set of possibilities is being eliminated before us. Histron’s actual moves will allow us to deploy real strategies. You said Lotto was in Everwet? Why don’t you bring him here?”
“At your command, Marshal.” Shiro presented Anchor with his little bow and disappeared. A few moments later Lotto and Mander Hart appeared with Shiro and Chika.
“If they commit many more, we can attack,” Anchor said.
“Ah…” Mander’s eyes lit up. “He’s dividing up. Foolish man.”
“Why so foolish, Mander? We have had to contort our own forces to counteract this. Even now, I don’t know where his concentration will be. Do you have anyone in his camp?” Lotto said.
Mander raised his eyebrows and shrugged. “I know more of what they intend to do just by taking a glance at what’s before me. Can I stay for a bit longer?”
“I have horses further back into the woods with enough supplies to keep our stomachs comfortable while Histron entertains us,” Anchor said.
The men now sat, four hours later, eating Anchor’s rations.
“So now we know. Learsea is the primary target,” Lotto said.
‘Reinforcements for Oringia and, less likely, a rolling muster towards Gensler,” Anchor took a bite of bread. “A rational choice. What do you three suggest?”
Mander stood and twisted to take the kinks out of his back. “For our part, a battle somewhat to the east of Sally’s Corners on Red Kingdom land. I suggest that our border keeps, now full of men, send out forces to soften Histron’s garrisons so he won’t have so many to fight us in a battle.”
“Chika can lend wizards toourforces that will make it easier,” Lotto said.
“Yes. And the Red Rose efforts will be unconventional to Histron’s people. I can see that working.”
“Valetan has already convinced enough farmers to leave their farms until harvest. That should be about the time Histron’s northern army would reach Oringia,” Lotto said. He closed his eyes for a few moments. “Restella will send birds east to General Montford. She now knows as much as we do.”
“Chika, would you escort these two to Everwet? Shiro and I’ll clean up here.”
Anchor had enjoyed the ad hoc council. He didn’t know if all the plans would work to perfection, but he trusted Lotto and Mander Hart to take his side in whatever the alliance decided to do. Valetan fought to preserve its borders, so even though he had his worries about Restella, he felt comfortable enough that Histron’s assistance would only concentrate enough men for General Montford to crush.
“I am glad that our waiting has ended. Histron is in motion and the fight begins.” He threw a clenched fist into his palm.
“Indeed. Now let’s hope that we can find the path to Learsea from this direction,” Anchor said.
They rode north a bit, but whoever commanded the Histron’s northern army, had advanced pickets further and faster than Anchor had thought.
Anchor looked at Shiro. “We can leave the horses here or take them with us.”
Shiro frowned and moved his horse closer to Anchor. “Be ready to catch me on the other side.”
They appeared close to the first of their fortifications. Shiro only smiled as he pushed Anchor away.
“I won’t fall off. Now we fight.”
Anchor nodded and noticed the sheen of sweat of Shiro’s forehead. He laughed and took off towards the fortifications.
“Muster your men, Leef. The enemy will soon be at the border fortifications. Pass the word, Red Roses,” He yelled as he sought out the armor stacked in his tent. He didn’t care if other forces didn’t wear any. Anchor was still prejudiced by the old school in regards to personal protection. He was actually part of the old school, he thought, as he began to put it on and grab battle supplies.
Anchor proceeded to ride west, leading a portion of his army. One never knew if a strategy worked until it actually did and Anchor’s stomach had tied itself into a knot of worry.
Tishiaki followed with all of the Red Rose now mounted. Anchor didn’t really want to bring his most experienced fighters to the first battle, but their fighting had to inflict enough casualties to show Histron that the first battle was not a feint, even though Anchor intended it to be.
They
reached the border forts and could see Histron’s force lining up siege weapons in the distance. Every Learsea soldier knew what to do, so Anchor just sat in his saddle and watched the preparations come to life.
The sun began to set as Histron began to toss rocks towards the fortresses. The Red Rose contingent initially were to just destroy the rocks, but now Anchor saw what Histron intended. These were to get the range down and they would pound the fortifications throughout the night. The darkness would prevent the wizards from finding the rocks in the sky.
“Tishiaki,” Anchor called the Red Rose commander to him. “We won’t wait until tomorrow, take down the siege engines while there is still light.”
The man rode back to the Ropponi messengers who scattered among Anchor’s forces.
Another flight of rocks grew larger as they approached the fortifications. The Ropponi hadn’t yet gotten word from Anchor. But the third flight looked entirely different. Rather than the rocks turning into puffs of smoke and gravel, they immediately changed course to follow their initial trajectory back down towards the siege engines. Anchor squinted his eyes trying out to make out the detail after the dust had cleared. Few of the siege engines remained.
“Leef!” Anchor called to his Learsea adjutant. “Prepare our forces. I think our performance will encourage whoever is commanding Histron’s army to charge.”
An excellent commander would pull back and wait a bit, but Anchor would never have exposed all of his siege engines like that. The competence of the man on the other side might just be questionable.
The sound of battle horns finally made its way towards the Learseans as the Red Kingdom army began to charge the fortifications. Anchor nodded to Tishiaki. The Red Rose, after practicing for weeks on building fortifications were prepared. The enemy, and Anchor hated thinking of his fellow countrymen that way, poured through the gates between the two border forts. Ladders were slapped up on the walls; ladders that were now too short after the walls were heightened by the Red Rose. As the army began to run in, earthen walls shot up from the ground hemming in the army.
