13 Day War

by Richard S. Tuttle

  “I wouldn’t bother closing it,” the captain smiled. “We have a large list to fill, and my men will be coming and going so frequently that it makes no sense to close it. It would only slow us down. Unless you plan to help with the loading, you can take a break for a while. We will make sure that no one sneaks in while we load the wagon.”

  The soldier laughed and nodded. “It’s not like anyone ever tries to sneak in through the kitchens anyways. I will be in a room just down the hall. Wake me when you are ready to leave.”

  The captain nodded and slapped the soldier on the back. As soon as the soldier was gone, the captain signaled his men. His men gathered near the rear of the wagon to shield an additional soldier who had been hidden inside the wagon. The hidden soldier wore the patch of the 16th Corps of Spino, and he carried a gaily wrapped box with a big bow. The infiltrator moved with the soldiers of the 15th Corps as they moved down the stairs and into the kitchens. While the soldiers were entering the kitchens, the captain moved through the rooms until he found a young serving girl. He smiled at her as he pulled her aside.

  “We’ve run into a soldier from Spino,” he whispered to her. “He is carrying a special gift for Prince Lyker from Princess Anadale, and he is trying to deliver it secretly. Do you know a way to reach the prince’s quarters without being detected?”

  “There are servant ways,” frowned the young girl, “but only servants are allowed in them. He should speak to the guards at the front entrance of the palace.”

  “That would sort of spoil the surprise now, wouldn’t it?” smiled the captain.

  “The prince would still be surprised,” the girl answered, clearly confused by the captain’s words.

  “While the gift is for the prince, the need for secrecy is to keep the king from finding out about Prince Lyker’s romance with Princess Anadale. He would be furious if he knew about it, but they plan to wed.”

  “Oh!” brightened the young girl. “How sweet. Can they do that without the king’s blessing?”

  “They feel confident that King Harowin will agree once he is properly prepared,” answered the captain, “but they don’t dare broach the subject while the king’s mind is on the Alcean War. Can you escort the Spinoan to the prince’s chambers?”

  “The prince is not in his chambers,” replied the serving girl. “He is with Prince Lindmyr and the son of one of the nobles. I just took some ale up to the three of them. If you wish, I could deliver the gift to him. I will keep it secret.”

  The captain’s smile widened. The difficulty of the mission had just lessened a great deal. “Take the Spinoan to the princes,” urged the captain. “He will see that you are amply rewarded for your service to the heir of Spino.”

  The infiltrator walked into the room and stood beside the captain. The young serving girl looked at him and the precious gift he held in his hands. She smiled and nodded. The captain whispered in the ear of the Spinoan soldier and then departed.

  The girl led the Spinoan soldier through the underground corridors and opened a door in the corridor. She led him up a narrow stairway that was unlit, warning him of all the sudden turns and chattering on about her life in the palace. The Spinoan soldier paid no attention. His mind was elsewhere.

  Eventually the serving girl opened a door unseen by the soldier. The light flooding into the stairwell seemed brilliant, but it was not. They stepped into a dimly lit corridor and the young girl moved to a door across the hallway. She knocked on the door and someone called back, but the words were unintelligible. The young girl merely smiled. She seemed to know what was expected of her, even if she hadn’t been able to decipher the actual words. A moment later, the door opened a crack and someone looked out at the young girl. He mumbled a question and the girl turned to point to the Spinoan soldier who had not been noticed up to that point. The soldier pushed the young girl into the room and leaped over her, dropping the gaily wrapped package and drawing his sword.

  The three young men in the room leaped away from the door, but the soldier was prepared for just such a reaction. He raced across the room, his sword swinging in a wide sweep as he pivoted sharply. He sliced open the belly of the younger prince and hacked into the arm of the visitor with the same swing. The young girl started screaming, but the soldier paid no attention to her. He had little time to get away, and he could not afford to be distracted. The elder prince made a break for the door, but he was not quick enough. The soldier raced after him and shoved the sword into his back. The blade passed through the prince’s body, taking his life force with it. The girl was still screaming, and it suddenly annoyed the soldier. He pulled the sword out of the prince’s body and stabbed the girl in the throat. The screaming stopped. As silence reclaimed the room, the soldier turned and surveyed his handiwork, making sure that his Spinoan patch was visible to the visitor. Satisfied that both princes were dead, the soldier left the room and headed for the servants’ way just as distant voices shouted in alarm.

  Chapter 31

  Swamp Creatures

  King Harowin of Ertak was outraged. He shouted at anyone who came within the sound of his voice, and he struck anyone foolish enough to come within his reach. When General Harford entered the room, he stood in the doorway and surveyed the devastation. Chairs were overturned and banners were ripped from the walls. Shards of pottery littered the floor and wall paintings were slashed. The king stood near his throne, a long sword in his hand. The general wanted to sneak out of the room before he was seen, but it was already too late. The king had seen him.

  “What have you discovered, Harford?” shouted the king. “Has the culprit been caught? Where is he?”

  The general glanced around the room again to see who was within listening range. The few servants present in the room were all cowering in the corners.

  “I have need to speak with you in private,” the general replied. “May we retire to your study?”

  The king raised his sword threateningly and his mouth opened wide to shout an answer, but his energy was spent. He dropped the sword on the floor and nodded. Without a word, the king turned and left the room. General Harford quickly followed the king and the two men entered the king’s study. The general closed the door.

  “What more bad news do you bring, Harford?” the king scowled as he walked around his desk and sat down.

  “The duke’s boy will survive,” replied the general, “but he may lose his arm. The story he tells is frightening, and we need to discuss it before it spreads.”

  “Out with it then,” snapped the king.

  “The boy said that the soldier who killed your sons wore the patch of the 16th Corps.”

  “The 16th?” gasped the king. “Is he sure?”

  “He says that he is certain,” answered the general, “but the boy is not in his right mind. I don’t know that we should take his word as truth, and I can’t imagine how a Spinoan could have gotten into the palace, never mind out of it again. It makes no sense.”

  The king rose suddenly from his chair and the general flinched, but he need not have bothered. The king began pacing the floor behind his desk, his mind considering the implications of the Spinoans sending someone to assassinate his sons. Eventually he stopped pacing and turned to face the general.

  “Queen Samir is a despicable tyrant who would not hesitate to assassinate someone, but she gains nothing from killing Lyker and Lindmyr. Who came into the palace today, and who left?”

  “Mostly the usual people,” answered the general, “but there was one strange group. Captain Ergard and a squad of men from the 15th Corps arrived for supplies. They produced an authorization from General Montero to get supplies from the kitchens.”

  “Now we are onto something,” snarled the king. “This is something that Montero would do.”

  “But they were only here for a few minutes,” frowned the general. “They got their supplies and left. The guard in the kitchens watched them the entire time.”

  “Did he?” challenged the king. “Then he wil
l be able to tell us how the kitchen maid happened to end up slain in the same room with my sons. I was wondering what she was doing there, but now it makes sense. How else could an unauthorized soldier gain access to that wing of the palace if not through the servants’ ways? That girl led the assassin to my sons. I want that guard properly interrogated.”

  “I will see to it,” promised the general.

  The general turned to leave, but the king was not finished with him. “I also want every member of the 15th Corps arrested.”

  The general turned and looked questioningly at the king. “There is an entire company of the 15th Corp in Ertak. You do realize that General Montero left them to safeguard Prince Harold?”

  “Safeguard?” scoffed the king. “Is that what you call imprisonment these days?”

  “Call it what you will,” frowned the general, “but you are talking about a civil war. Ergard’s company inhabits Montero’s castle in the Dark Forest, and they will not surrender without a fight. I suspect that they are tasked to defend that castle to the death.”

  “Then they will die,” King Harowin replied without concern.

  “It is never that easy, Your Highness. General Montero has a strong following in all of the Ertakan armies, including my own 11th Corps. If it comes to a battle to take that castle, there will be heavy losses on both sides. Plus,” he added with an ominous tone, “that will leave General Larus and his 34th Corps in charge of security in Farmin while my men are out in the Dark Forest. Are you sure that is wise?”

  “Blast Jaar,” snapped the king. “Have you discovered the reason for Kyrga posting the 34th Corps in Farmin?”

  “I have not,” frowned the general, “but it is not just Farmin. Valdo and Giza also have new armies posted to them, and each of the generals is sworn to Kyrga. I have a bad feeling about their purpose. What if Montero is not behind the assassination at all? What if it is Emperor Jaar trying to foment a civil war to weaken our home guard? We would be playing right into his hand if we attacked the castle.”

  The king thought for a moment and then shook his head. “The assassinations have Montero’s mark all over them. This is typical of what he would do.”

  “For what purpose?” asked General Harford. “Montero is already the Crown Prince. He gains nothing from the deaths of your other sons.”

  “He gains security,” retorted the king. “With Lyker and Lindmyr dead, I cannot afford to lose Montero, or Ertak would have no heir.” The king’s eyes widened as if he had just seen something remarkable. “Harold! Montero no longer holds Harold in that castle of his. Either Harold is dead, or he has escaped. That is why Montero made his move. He no longer has a hold over me.”

  “That does make sense,” agreed the general, “but I still advise against attacking the castle.”

  “Forget the castle,” stated the king. “Arrest Captain Ergard and his squad of men before they reach the safety of the castle. Given the proper incentive, those men will tell us what we need to know.”

  * * * *

  Jenneva stood at the gates to the Everich estate while Alex refastened the wheel onto the mortician’s wagon. Darkness had claimed the sky, but not before Jenneva had managed to get a good look at the estate. The great building that had once housed the King’s Advisor no longer existed. In its place a field of debris was scattered across the ground. There was no sign of life, but she knew from Alex’s attitude that she was missing something. She waited patiently for him to finish. A soft whistle caused her to turn around. Alex waved her to the wagon and then hopped up onto the seat. Jenneva turned away from the destruction and mounted the wagon.

  “You owe me an explanation,” she said simply.

  “I do.” Alex nodded. “Duke Everich’s estate had a very unique feature about it. Of the people assembled tonight, only Arik and I knew about it, and Balamor and Theos kept the king’s mind shielded, so there was no chance of Artimor learning the secret as long as we did not tell anyone else.”

  “What feature?” asked Jenneva.

  “An access hatch to the city sewers,” grinned Alex. “It was one of the reasons that Everich bought the estate. It allowed him secret access to his minions of the underworld. The day that you and Tanya were struck down during the Battle of Tagaret, Arik and I used the sewers to sneak onto this estate and destroy the nest of black-devils hiding here. That led to the plan used tonight. As soon as everyone entered the front door of the mansion, Arik led them out the back and into the sewers. That is why the timing of our arrival was so critical. We only needed a few moments of distraction to give the king time to make good his escape.”

  “Are you sure that they did escape?” frowned Jenneva.

  “I am certain,” smiled Alex. “I timed it myself this afternoon, and Arik knew the numbers well before we left the palace. Let’s get back there and inform them of Artimor’s death.”

  “And then what?” asked Jenneva.

  “The king will make a speech to the citizens in the morning. He will explain about the demonkin and the tainted boots. The people will be told to destroy any boots bought from Artimor or repaired by him. The irritability and sickness will simply disappear.”

  “So I am free to join you in battle up north?” asked Jenneva.

  “You are. In fact, the others will be coming with us.”

  “The others?”

  “Arik, Tanya, and Theos,” stated Alex. “I am not sure about Balamor.”

  “The king and queen are going into battle? Is that wise?”

  “They must,” nodded Alex. “Although getting rid of the boots will cure the sickness, it will not happen overnight, and the soldiers cannot march without boots. The army will be of no help against Team Miram, and the Rangers and Red Swords cannot handle the enemy alone. Besides, they are still the Warrior King and Warrior Queen. They will be fine.”

  Jenneva sighed anxiously. It was not that she doubted the skills of Arik and Tanya, but things grew chaotic during a battle. She knew that anything could happen.

  * * * *

  The gypsies crept through the tall grass as silently as myrics. When they reached the bank of the river, Adan rose slightly and glanced around. He saw no one. Sticking a finger in his pocket, the King of the Gypsies woke his fairy. Instantly a chubby male fairy shot out of the pocket and landed on the gypsy’s shoulder.

  “Take a look around, Moth,” ordered Adan. “Let me know if any of the Federation soldiers are within hearing distance. We are going to make a fair amount of noise tonight.”

  Moth waddled to the end of Adan’s shoulder and threw himself off. His wings beat furiously, and for a moment it appeared as if he would fall to the ground. He did not. Moth’s strong wings soon propelled him upward at a furious pace and the chubby fairy disappeared into the night sky.

  “I guess Prince Midge has run out of able recruits,” frowned Kyle. “Moth should not be used in the field.”

  “What are you talking about?” quipped Laman. “Moth is a great fairy. He is easily worth one and a half of any other fairy.”

  “Knock it off,” Adan said to the men from Lavinda. “Moth is already rather self-conscious about his weight. The other fairies rib him mercilessly. We do not need to add to his misery.”

  “But can he function?” countered Kyle. “I did not speak to hurt his feelings. I am truly concerned about his ability to do the task and remain unseen. He is rather large.”

  “Moth has performed admirably,” answered Adan. “He has never failed an assignment, and I do not expect that to change tonight.”

  Several minutes passed in silence before Moth returned. He glided down out of the sky and landed on Adan’s shoulder with a thud.

  “The Federation soldiers are nowhere near the bridges,” the fairy reported. “They are all within their camp.”

  Adan raised an eyebrow at the report.

  “You seem concerned,” Kyle said suspiciously.

  “No,” Adan shook his head. “It is just unexpected. I thought once they discovered that th
ere was no way to go north that they might post sentries by the bridges to secure them. It is their only way out of the swamp.”

  “Let’s remove the bridges before they discover their mistake,” suggested Laman.

  Adan nodded as he rose to his feet and signaled his men to advance. Laman and Kyle moved towards the bridges to supervise their removal, but Adan remained in the grass. He turned his head and looked at the fairy.

  “You did well, Moth,” Adan said with a smile. “Now I need to send you on a more dangerous mission.”

  “No danger is too great for the fairy people,” Moth replied. “How may I serve the King of the Gypsies?”

  “I need to get word to Mandel and Hortice,” explained Adan. “They and their men are hidden in the swamp near the Federation camp. They will be difficult to find, even for a fairy.”

  “Fairies can find anyone,” boasted Moth.

  “I do believe that to be true,” Adan said with a smile, “but you should know by now that gypsies can hide rather well. You will need to stay close to the surface of the swamp to find them, and great dangers exist at that level, especially for creatures as small as yourself.”

  Moth shuddered at the thought of being eaten by one of the giant reptiles, but he replied with courage, “I will deliver your message. What shall I say to them?”

  “Tell them that the bridges are being removed,” instructed Adan. “They are now authorized to begin their portion of this mission. You are to stay with them until they are done, Moth, just in case they need to send a message back. Find a safe place to wait and let Mandel and Hortice know where you will be. Above all, do not let the Federation see you.”

  “You can count on me,” the fairy said reassuringly. “Fairies are never seen unless they want to be seen.”

  Adan chuckled as Moth rose in the sky. He felt for the chubby fairy, and his thoughts turned to Caroom. Caroom had been a giant of a gypsy, and his size had made him a bit of an outcast. Adan often wondered how much of an impact those hurt feelings had in the play of events. In the end, Caroom had turned against the gypsy people, and he had died for that betrayal, but Adan wondered if the gypsy people had made it easy for the giant to turn against his own people by making him feel as if he was not one of them. Adan shook his head as if to clear it of such thoughts and walked towards the bridges to watch them being dismantled.