Samantha smiled back at him forndly. “Only if we don’t invite her.”
* * *
The messengers flew like the wind, driving their horses mercilessly. Captain Rivers and Lady Skyhaven were among the first to be informed, and Klamath immediately put her command on alert. Shair sent riders north and south to spread the warning, and also took the bold step of hiring the Vandals on her own initiative to aid Lender’s Dale.
Duke Kaster received the news with calm resignation. “Well, we knew he wouldn’t sit still for long. General Warles, summon the Guard. I want five thousand men headed to Lender’s Dale within the week.”
“You mean to the border, don’t you Duke Kaster?” General Warles asked, looking at his duke carefully.
“No. I’m going to support Pan and Sam. He may not be the duke of Lender’s Dale yet, but part of the message is the intention of Panit and Samantha to be married soon. Werrin and I will be traveling to Lender’s Dale with the Guards, Evand.”
“As you command, Kaster. You know, that boy of yours is a lot like you were,” Evand said, grinning at his longtime friend and liege.
Kaster grinned right back. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing, Evand.”
* * *
Arten shouted, “Damn that bastard to the deepest hell!” when he read the message from Merrit. “Naria, Frander has attacked Lakeland.”
Naria immediately came to her husband’s side. “What do we do?”
“I’m not sure. But I know what we’re not going to do. We’re not going to let him get away with it.” Turning to the door, he summoned one of the Guards. “Have Captain Corban and General Moyer summoned to my day room immediately.”
Stephen Corban and Killian Moyer arrived together to find Duke Arten in conference with Naria, Java and Jah’Moke. “Find a chair, Gentlemen. Frander has attacked Lakeland. We are discussing our options.”
“Lakeland is a long way away from us, Lord Duke,” General Moyer pointed out.
Naria held up a hand to forestall any further comment. “Killian, Duchess Joycelyn was from Lakeland. The Cottingham family is still very influential there.”
Killian bowed his head for a moment. “My apologies, Duke Arten. I had forgotten that. What are you planning?”
“Full scale mobilization,” Duke Arten replied, his eyes burning. “I’m going to attack Frander’s forces in Lakeland, and this time I’m not going to stop.”
“We’re going to need help, Father,” Java put in softly. “The triplets and Samantha, as well as all of the mercs we can hire.”
“I already have the Dragons and the Reapers. And the Firewalkers. Naria, do you know when the Thunderfeet are going to be available? Or the Vandals?”
Naria shook her head, but Jah’Moke nodded. “The Thunderfeet should be free now. Captain Thuringer was planning on being back for the winter and was going to visit Lady Freeholm. He may be there now. As for the Vandals, they’re not available. Lady Skyhaven has already hired them to aid Lender’s Dale. That was in her message to Java.”
“She’s a mind reader.” Arten sighed.
Java just laughed. “My mind or yours? I thought of hiring them as soon as we got the message. Then I read her message saying that she was going to hire them for Sammy. What’s in Duke Kaster’s message?”
“That he and Werrin are headed to Lender’s Dale,” Naria replied, grinning. “Apparently Panit sent along a message that he and Samantha are planning to be married as soon as possible.”
“There’d better be an invitation in there for me, or I’m going to scream!” Java growled. First her sisters had gotten married without her, then Cindy. She was going to attend Samantha’s wedding.
“For all of us, but especially you, Java. Here.” Naria handed Java the message. She recognized Samantha’s handwriting as she read.
Java, Pan and I are going to rush things a little and get married while we have the chance. Grab Arten, Naria, and Jah’Moke and hurry. I want Pan on the throne before Frander reaches our border.
Sam
“Well, that’s more like it,” Java said in a prim and proper tone. “When do we leave?”
Duke Arten looked at Stephen and Killian. “Three days. We’re heading to Linkville to pick up the Firewalkers, and then to Morrisdale. I want fast riders headed out with orders for the Firewalkers, and for the Reapers and Dragons as well: Best speed to Lender’s Dale.”
* * *
Marta was waiting for them when they arrived in Linkville ten days later. “Everything is ready to go, Arten. When you’re ready, I’ll have Lieutenant Tahoe, Captain Edgemont, and Captain Beechwood join us.”
“Thank you, Marta. Are we ready to go?” Arten asked, accepting a mug of hot kay and allowing Marta to guide him into the manor.
“Yes, but it’s going to be a rough march.” Leading Arten and Naria into the library she smiled at Vince. “Duke Arten, I would like to present my beloved friend, Captain Vincent Thuringer of Thuringer’s Thunderfeet.”
“I am honored to meet you, Duke Arten,” Vince said from where he knelt.
“Stand up, Captain. I’m happy to meet you at last. It’s an honor to meet a man capable of standing up to Marta’s temper.” Arten laughed at Marta’s expression while Naria giggled.
Jah’Moke and Java arrived and snapped quick salutes to Captain Thuringer, then Java went to hug Marta. “Are you coming with us, Captain?”
“No, Java. Not this time. Klamath needs to lead this one herself.” Smiling down at Java, she patted her back.
Arten smiled at his daughter and friend, then looked back to Captain Thuringer. “Captain, I would like to hire you.”
“Too late, Duke Arten. Duke Kaster has already retained us,” Captain Thuringer said, bowing. “Most of my people are already back in Thunder Ridge, and I’ve sent messages for them to prepare to move. They should be in Lender’s Dale before we get there.”
“Good enough.” Arten looked around. “Where’s Robin?”
Marta smiled widely as she answered, “She and Carlin are in town. She said something about making some arrangements of her own before we left.”
Java looked surprised. “Carlin’s still here? This sounds good.”
Marta nodded. “It is good, Java. Robin has just about returned to her normal self. She and Carlin have been making something of a spectacle of themselves.”
Robin and Carlin arrived for supper, and Carlin was introduced to the duke and duchess. Carlin and Jah’Moke were seated opposite one another at the dining table and began clowning around almost immediately. Like Naria and Marta, Carlin and Jah’Moke had been close friends for years.
“Well, barbarian, how do you like civilized living?” Carlin asked with a sly grin.
“I don’t. People get all upset if you so much as light a fire on the floor to cook a rabbit,” Jah’Moke said as he laughed.
“On the floor?” Carlin asked, getting into the spirit of the game.
“I moved the rugs! What more do they expect?”
“Please tell me it wasn’t someone’s pet rabbit,” Robin asked, but Jah’Moke shook his head.
“Now how was I to know that you ‘civilized’ types did silly things like keep food animals for pets? I bought him a new one, but Lord Caventon is still angry with me, and locks up his ‘pets’ anytime I’m around.”
Marta burst out laughing at that. “You ate one of Lord Jellain’s prize lop-eared bunnies?”
Jah’Moke looked at Marta with wide, innocent eyes. “I was hungry.”
Arten and Naria joined in the laughter. Jah’Moke and Carlin were as well matched as Robin and Java, and the four together made a good team as they joked through the meal. After supper, Arten had Captain Edgemont and Captain Beechwood summoned. When they entered the library, they were invited to join the conference.
“Captain’s, please be seated. I assume you know why you’re here.”
“You want us to join you in defending Lender’s Dale. That’s not our original contract, Duke Arten, but it
is acceptable,” Captain Edgemont said, steepling his fingers in front of his face. “It will, however, require a revision of our fee. A winter campaign is going to significantly more difficult than searching out bandits through the summer.”
Captain Beechwood nodded his agreement. “This isn’t going to be a pleasant winter, Duke Arten. Lender’s Dale is not going to be able to house us very comfortably.”
“You won’t be in Lender’s Dale. You’ll be in Lakeland,” Duke Arten said softly into a suddenly silent room. “I’m not planning to simply keep Frander out of Lender’s Dale again. I’m planning to kick him out of Lakeland, and any other duchies I can.”
“Duke Arten, that’s madness,” Captain Beechwood whispered. “With all due respect, Frander has taken eight duchies already, and has never been stopped until now. What makes you think you can accomplish this?”
Arten bowed his head for a moment. “Frander has used our own divisiveness against us. We’ve never banded together against him. We’ve always just defended our own borders, letting him take us, one duchy at a time. In Lender’s Dale, for the first time, he wound up facing more than one duchy. And lost.” Arten spoke softly, looking around the room. “I’ve sent messages to Helena and Mountainhome. Duke Ander and Duke Hilliard may well join us. Mountainhome has a border with Lakeland, and I’m sure they are receiving refugees the same as Lender’s Dale.”
Java stood to attract attention to herself. “I have sent my own messages to Duke Ander. I believe he will send help or may even come himself. There is also Winterhaven to consider. Duke Senden and Duchess Nerassen are either still in Greensboro or may already be in Morrisdale.”
* * *
The next morning Duke Arten led the force across the border into Greencastle himself. Naria, Java, and Jah’Moke rode with him, four abreast across the road. Behind them, in a column of fours, came five thousand Hiddendell Guards, four hundred Firewalkers, four hundred and fifty Dragons and four hundred Black Reapers. The Greencastle Guards didn’t even question their passage. Duke Kaster had already called for every available man to travel to Lender’s Dale.
Arten led them to Greensboro first for a conference with Kaster and found Duke Senden and Duchess Nerassen still there. Kaster called the council to order and nodded to each participant. Along with the dukes and duchesses, the princes and princesses were also present.
“My friends, I don’t need to rehash the reasons we’re here. What we need to do is to decide how far we’re willing to take this. And how we are going to do it.”
Duke Arten stood and waited for Kaster to seat himself before he spoke. “My mother was from Lakeland. You all know that. I am honor bound to support her family against Frander. For that reason, my forces will not be stopping in Lender’s Dale. I won’t ask anyone else to take this risk with me.”
“Frander must be stopped,” Duchess Werrin said from her chair. Standing, she looked about the room. “He has been able to run rough shod over duchy after duchy, with little or no resistance until now. It is time to take the fight to him, on our terms.”
Princess Dena stood next. Java was shocked to see her belly bulging. Looking about the room, she looked each duke and duchess in the eyes as she spoke. “We successfully threw Frander out of Lender’s Dale because we dared to defy him. That had to be a shock. However, this time he may well be ready for us. Are we all willing to fight a major war?”
Duke Senden stood next, surprising the others. “Winterhaven has no stake in this war. However, we do have a stake in preserving the peace. Frander is a threat to the peace on the entire continent. To that end, we pledge to hire the Horde. Captain Vadala is an old friend of mine, and I have already sent for her.”
Nerassen stood beside her husband and held his hand. “Laura Vadala has three hundred heavy Cavalry and four hundred Horse-Archers at her command. If they make good speed, they should be here before mid-winter. We also pledge to send food and other supplies to aid the troops.”
Java smiled brightly as Nera spoke. With Winterhaven joining the fight, they had five duchies united against Frander. The meeting continued as plans were made for the distribution of not only the troops, but the responsibility for supplying them. The meeting adjourned, and Java grabbed Dena as soon as she could.
“Dena, you’re pregnant!” she said, surprised and happy at the same time.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.” Dena grinned, patting her stomach. “I thought it was all that rich food.”
“No sparring this time around. When are you due?”
Dena grinned again. “Not ‘til spring, thank Waldemar. Barten and I are both spending most of our time organizing supplies and arranging transportation to Lender’s Dale, and I can’t take breaks every few hours to feed a baby.”
Dena and Java had been walking as they spoke and ended up at Duke Senden’s suite. The maids let them in to where Nerassen was holding a fussy Keldem. Java went to her and picked him up. Keldem quieted almost immediately, which surprised Dena.
Nerassen saw her surprise and grinned. “I told you, Dena. Kelly loves Java. She has just the right touch with him.”
Java grinned as she held Keldem. “He’s grown, Nera.”
“I would hope so, Java. He eats like a pig. I keep having to take things out of his mouth. Fortunately, he’s started eating things other than me,” Nera said, grinning as Keldem began chewing on the tip of Java’s collar. “He loves those rocks that the Guard calls biscuits.”
Java made a face at that, making both Dena and Nera laugh. “No one likes Guard biscuits.” Holding Keldem lightly, she walked around the room. “Nera, are you and Senden coming to Lender’s Dale for Sammy’s wedding? I’d love to introduce you to Sammy, but taking the baby so close to Frander...”
“We’re going, Java. The last report that was received had Frander’s forces still trying to take Blue Lake City. Duke Raman’s Guard is putting up a good fight, and they’ve been using the tactics that were developed by your captains and Magi. This hasn’t been an easy conquest for Frander.”
The entire force left Greensboro the next day. One thousand Greencastle Guards and Greencastle Royal Guards joined the march, as did Duke Senden and his people. Dena shared Nera’s coach, and Java was torn between riding with them, or with the dukes. She finally gave in to temptation and squeezed into the coach to hold Keldem.
Naria saw her clambering into the coach and shared a grin with Werrin. Naria laughed and said, “And you were worried about her and babies.”
The force gained men and momentum as they passed through Mountainstand County. Captain Rivers joined the column with the remainder of the Firewalkers, and Shair rode to the front to be with the royal party. She was introduced to Duke Senden and Duchess Nerassen, using her real name, and joined in the laughter as Senden tried to adjust to having a woman that he’d thought long dead riding beside him. He also had to adjust to the obvious affection between her and Java.
Werrin explained their relationship, to avoid any misunderstanding. “...but just wait until we reach Morrisdale. As much as Java loves Shair, it’s nothing compared to how she feels about Merrit and Anness. If Samantha didn’t already have them, and need them, then they would be Java’s chatelaines. They’re the only people who mean more to her than Shair and Marta.”
They rounded the hills at the mouth of Morrisdale and Java suddenly rode forward at a gallop, followed closely by Jah’Moke, Robin, and Carlin. Figures in the road resolved into Sam and the triplets, and Java vaulted from Sugar’s saddle to run into their embrace.
“Oh, Java, we’ve missed you so much!” they cried together, and Java was enveloped in their arms. Java was too busy kissing them to speak, and she wasn’t sure if her voice would work anyway. She was far too choked up with emotion.
Robin joined the hug while Jah’Moke and Carlin held the horses. The six girls were still kissing each other’s cheeks when the dukes and duchesses arrived.
Arten looked at Kaster and grinned. “I’d dismount, but I’m not sure it’s
safe down there.”
Samantha heard him and grinned. “Come on down and get kissed, Cousins.”
Laughing, they dismounted and received their kisses. “Samantha, let us introduce Duke Senden and Duchess Nerassen of Winterhaven.” Samantha curtsied to her guests, not an easy thing to do with her arm around Java, but she managed.
“Welcome to Lender’s Dale, Cousins,” she said softly, grinning broadly at Nera. “Java’s letters explained about you, Duchess Nerassen, and we have been looking forward to meeting you.” She bowed slightly you the visitors. “Duchess Nerassen, I’m doubly pleased to meet you. Java has told me a lot about you and your children.”
Nerassen bowed her head. “I am pleased to meet you as well, Duchess Samantha. I’ve heard a lot of stories about you and your friends.” She smiled at the triplets, then giggled when they looked at Java. “No, not from Java. From Mesta Wainwright and a few others.”
Mayrie groaned while Maylee and Maygren hid their faces. “That’s worse! Mesta won’t lie to protect us.”
Her whine sparked laughter from all of those within hearing, then Samantha took over again. Raising her voice, she addressed everyone close to her. “Welcome, one and all. I’m sorry about the accommodations, but we’ve been occupied trying to get the duchy functioning again.” Turning to the dukes and duchesses, she bowed. “We have rooms available, but they’re not luxurious. I hope you don’t mind too much.”
Kaster laughed and stepped forward. “We understand, Sammy. Where’s Pan? I would’ve thought he’d be out here to greet us.”
“He’s out in field with General Marston. There are several thousand of your Guardsmen here already, and Merrit was having a hard time with some of them. They don’t take orders from a woman and that sort of thing.” Samantha grimaced as she spoke, saying more than she intended. “He went out and placed himself under her authority. None of your commanders are willing to disobey Pan, so all of their orders are being relayed through him.”
Kaster nodded, but the set of his mouth boded ill for the disobedient officers who had drawn his son into the field. Werrin stepped forward to kiss Samantha’s forehead. “Sammy, I’m so happy that you and Pan have hit it off so well. His announcement that you were betrothed had the entire palace buzzing like a nest of angry hornets. What plans have you made?”
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