by David Wells
Alexander and his companions sat around a breakfast fire with Duane and his Second. After the meal, it was time to part company with the Rangers.
“Duane, your Rangers fought well yesterday,” Alexander said. “We hurt the enemy badly and now they’ll be looking for any supplies they can get their hands on. I want you to make sure that they don’t get them. Split back up into company-sized units and resume the original mission. Conduct raids and harass the enemy. Prevent them from moving supplies to the front. They’ll be sending infantry to the supply depot. Avoid them. The real threat is the legion of cavalry Headwater still has at their main assembly area. They may come looking for you.”
“We’re faster than they are,” Duane said. “We’ll be like ghosts in the night. They won’t even be certain we exist until we come out of the shadows and attack. By the time they’re sure we do exist, we’ll already be gone.”
“Good man. Send word to my father of our success yesterday. Knowing the enemy will be running short of supplies will help him formulate his strategy.”
“I’ll send riders this morning. Safe journey, Alexander.”
Jack cleared his throat. “Duane, please send these pages to Owen with your riders. As terrifying as it was for some of us to watch Alexander’s attack yesterday, I’m quite sure it was far more frightening for those who faced him on the battlefield. Word of his deeds in that battle will go a long way toward bolstering the confidence of our soldiers, while at the same time striking fear into the hearts of the enemy. Owen will see to it that the events of yesterday are known to all.”
Duane chuckled. “It will be done, Master Colton.”
Isabel hugged her brother before she mounted up and then they were on their way. Duane offered to send a guard force with them, but Alexander declined, preferring the company of his five companions. They could move faster and draw less attention with a smaller number. Alexander needed speed, especially after discovering that Phane had a new plan to recover the Sovereign Stone.
Unfortunately, the fastest path to the Pinnacles was along the road to the east coast of Ruatha through Buckwold and Warrenton. They could go south through the forest, but that way was wild and dangerous and they would have to travel on foot. The road was much faster, but it would also take them through enemy territory.
They gave Headwater a wide berth, preferring to avoid the city altogether. With the assistance of Slyder, they were able to stay clear of the small squads patrolling the area as they made their way through the lands controlled by Rake and his trade guilds.
They encountered a company of Rangers operating on the eastern edge of the territory and were able to replenish their provisions and trade a few stories. The Rangers told of the poverty and general despair of the outlying communities. Work was scarce and what work that could be had was only permitted to members of the trade guilds. Those who couldn’t get membership in a guild were left to fend for themselves.
It was heartbreaking to Alexander. Headwater was at the center of the Ruathan trade routes. It could be a fabulously wealthy territory with more than enough bounty for everyone to share if people were just allowed the freedom to work. Rake wanted power and clearly didn’t care how much suffering he had to cause to get it. No wonder he sided with Phane. They were cut from the same cloth.
***
Things changed once they passed into Buckwold. The people were free to be productive. The few they encountered along the way were busy tending to their work and didn’t give the travelers more than a passing glance. It didn’t look like a territory girding for war so much as for the coming spring planting season. The farmlands were rich and fertile and the range land was well kept. The biggest difference Alexander could see between his own home on the Valentine family estates and the estates of Buckwold was the livestock. Instead of cattle, these people raised sheep and goats.
They still moved cautiously, using Slyder to scout ahead so they could avoid anything that even resembled a patrol. Buckwold was on friendly terms with Headwater, and Alexander didn’t know the degree of that friendship. On the surface, it appeared to be an economic arrangement but it could very easily go deeper, and Alexander wanted to avoid any confrontations that might slow him down.
After learning about Phane’s plans to go to the Temple of Fire on Tyr, he had felt the urgency to get to the Pinnacles build with each passing day. He hadn’t spoken of the results of his spying, mostly because they’d been traveling from dawn to dusk and it wasn’t pressing that his friends know about Phane’s plans just yet.
A day inside Buckwold, they came to a small village just off the main road leading from the city of Buckwold to Headwater. Alexander decided it was worth the risk to gain some insight into the people and politics of Buckwold, so he headed into town. It was a medium-sized village that served as a trade hub for the wool, farm produce, goat meat and cheese that the western communities of Buckwold brought to market every year. Nearly a dozen small roads fed into the village so people could bring goods for shipment to the other territories of Ruatha.
Near the center of town they found a reputable-looking inn with a stable and they inquired about a room for the night. It had been nearly a week of travel across the open range since the battle at the supply depot, and they were all tired of sleeping on the ground and eating travel rations.
The inn was a well-built structure with a large, two-story central building and three wings leading off the sides and back, all lined with rooms for rent. Off to one side was a big barn with an ample paddock. The people in town were friendly enough but kept to themselves, and there was no sign of soldiers or evidence of any interest in war.
Alexander and Isabel went into the inn while the rest waited outside. The main room was big with a high ceiling and a second-level loft over the kitchen in the back half. The room was filled with tables and there was a smattering of patrons here and there. Alexander was careful to keep his sword concealed under his cloak. He and Isabel didn’t draw much more than passing notice from those eating lunch.
The bartender was a big man with broad shoulders, a round belly, and a balding head. His apron was slightly stained and he was busy cleaning a glass mug when Alexander and Isabel stepped up to the bar.
“Good afternoon, can I help you?” he said with the simple hospitality of a shopkeeper who understands that courtesy is the first part of good business.
“Yes, thank you,” Alexander said. “My friends and I have need of lodging for the night and boarding for our horses. There are six of us.”
“I’d be happy to accommodate you. The price is a silver sovereign for each—that includes dinner and breakfast plus boarding, hay and oats for your animals.”
“Fair enough,” Alexander said as he produced half a dozen silver coins from his money purse.
The innkeeper smiled and eagerly took the money. The place didn’t look like it was even close to capacity; Alexander suspected this was a slow season. The inn had probably been built to house the farmers and herders during the summer months when the trade routes were the busiest.
“Right this way,” he said as he gathered a handful of brass keys from a lock box behind the bar. He led them through the main room and into a long hall of the back wing and showed them the first six rooms, three to a side. Each room was small but clean. They each had a bed, desk and chair, oil lamp and a washbasin.
“More generous accommodations can be arranged if you like—for a higher price, of course,” he offered.
“No, thank you,” Alexander said with a smile. “I’ll just be happy to sleep in a bed for the night.”
The innkeeper handed Alexander the six keys. “Just show your key to the stable master and he’ll take care of your horses. Same with the wait staff, just show ’em your key and they’ll get you a meal.”
They had a quiet night; the inn was less than a quarter full. The other guests were mostly travelers just passing through from other parts of Buckwold. Alexander was able to overhear a bit of gossip about the war here and there, but the people
seemed to believe that it was very far away and wouldn’t affect them directly. They were far more concerned with the disruption of the trade routes through Headwater.
Alexander woke the next morning to the noise of people in the main room of the inn. He carefully looked out his door and saw that the central hall was over half full with soldiers, all eating breakfast and telling stories. They wore the crest of Buckwold. Their presence here had Alexander curious as well as concerned. He gathered his friends in his room.
“Looks like we have some company. I’d love to know what they’re doing here.”
“We could just have a bite to eat and keep our ears open,” Lucky suggested. “We might learn something.”
“Do you think it’s safe?” Abigail asked. “They might have orders to look for us. It’s a good bet they’re on their way to help Headwater.”
Isabel opened her eyes with a sharp breath. “There’s a legion camped on the outskirts of town. My guess is they arrived last night.”
“That changes things,” Anatoly said. “We might do well to slip out the back and be on our way.”
Alexander shook his head. “I really want to know more. If Buckwold is a willing participant in this war, then they might be able to supply Rake with food. If they’re in it just to protect their trade routes, then we might be able to persuade the Baron of Buckwold to change sides.”
Anatoly mulled it over for a moment. “I suppose it would be useful to know where they stand, but let’s try to avoid a bar brawl.”
Alexander nodded his agreement with a humorless smile but still checked his sword in its scabbard.
They found an empty table near a cluster of officers and ordered breakfast from the overworked serving staff. They kept quiet while listening to the conversations all around. A number of things quickly became apparent. These were the officers of the legion camped outside the village and they didn’t really want to be involved in a war that Headwater had started. More importantly, they spoke of war in terms of glory and heroics. It was apparent that these men had never fought in a real battle before. They thought this would be a great adventure to tell stories about over a drink at the ale house.
Jack leaned across the table to speak quietly to Alexander. “Perhaps a song would educate these men about the foe they face,” he said with a wink.
“What did you have in mind?”
“I thought I might regale them with the tale of Lord Alexander and the battle of Headwater’s supply depot. I’ve been working on it for several days now and I believe it’s quite good,” Jack said with a smile.
“What, exactly, will that accomplish?” Anatoly asked.
“If I’m not mistaken, Alexander was thinking about introducing himself to the commander of the legion. A little groundwork might be in order.”
Anatoly looked at Alexander sharply.
He shrugged. “The thought crossed my mind. If we can make friends, they might reconsider their support for Headwater or at the very least give us safe passage to the Baron of Buckwold so we can make our case to him.”
“This is risky, Alexander,” Abigail said. “I thought you were in a hurry to get to the Pinnacles.”
“I am, but this won’t take long and Buckwold is along the way. If we can isolate Headwater and deprive them of support, we can defeat them without losing too many more soldiers. We’re going to need all the men we can get before this is over.”
Abigail narrowed her eyes at him. “What do you mean? What haven’t you told us, Alexander?”
He took a deep breath. “I looked in on Jataan P’Tal and saw him in a meeting with Rake and his generals. It seems that Phane has made a deal with Andalia to send cavalry up through Kai’Gorn.”
Anatoly looked worried. Fighting on two fronts was always a dangerous proposition.
Alexander spoke in a whisper to keep the soldiers nearby from hearing. “That’s not the worst of it. If Phane can get the Sovereign Stone, he’s planning on using the Reishi Gate to send half the Reishi Army Regency through. I sent my father a letter detailing the plan, but I’d feel a lot better if we could defeat Headwater outright as quickly as possible. Without support from Buckwold, they’ll fall much more easily.”
Anatoly thought it over for a moment. “You realize that we’ll have to fight our way out if this doesn’t work, and then we’ll be on the run from a legion of enemy soldiers.”
“I don’t think it will come to that. The officers here don’t really want to fight. If we can offer them a way out, I think they’ll jump at it.”
“All right, but I suggest we get our things together first and maybe have Lucky go collect our horses so we can make a quick exit if we need to,” Anatoly said.
Alexander nodded his agreement.
They spent the next ten minutes clearing out their rooms and moving their packs to their horses where Lucky had tied them to the railing in front of the inn. Jack circled around and entered through the front door while Alexander, Anatoly, Isabel, and Abigail found an empty table near the exit.
Jack spoke to the innkeeper for a moment. The man was more than happy to have a bard offer a song. Entertainment had a way of making people thirsty.
Jack stepped up onto a table with a little tin whistle and started playing without any introduction. The tune was an old one that most people had heard as children. Within a minute or so, he had the attention of every person in the room.
“Lords and ladies, I have a song I’d like to sing for you, if I may?” The crowd urged him on. Music was almost always welcome and he accepted their urging with a gracious bow. “This is a song of young Lord Alexander, the King of Ruatha.” Jack paused to gauge the reaction.
A man from the crowd shouted. “He’s our enemy!” Another yelled, “He attacked Headwater and cut off our trade routes.” But the commander shouted them down. “Let the man sing. We might learn something.”
Jack bowed deeply to the commander. “I learned this song just a week ago from a bard who bore witness firsthand to the events of the battle for Headwater’s supply depot.”
He began his song. His voice was clear and carried to every corner of the hall. The men listened with rapt attention as he put the story of the battle to a tune. The melody was a common one that Jack had adapted for his purposes and the words flowed easily.
He sang of the plan and the desperate need of the new King to defend his capital city from the invasion of Headwater. He sang about the luck of discovering the location of the central supply depot for the whole army of Headwater and then he sang of the battle.
His account of the bloody charge by Alexander wielding the Thinblade through dozens of soldiers was factually accurate but sounded like an exaggeration. He sang of the bravery of the Rangers and their willingness to risk everything for their King. He sang of the fear in the hearts of the soldiers of Headwater at seeing the fearsome power of the rightful King of Ruatha with his ancient sword in hand.
When he finished, there was dead silence. The faces all around were somber and almost worried. After several long moments, the commander clapped slowly and the crowd responded with a tepid applause, more for Jack’s masterful delivery than the content of the lyrics. He gave a bow and withdrew to the bar for a cup of tea.
Alexander watched the crowd. Their mood had shifted noticeably. Once he started to hear the officers openly expressing doubts to one another, he casually sauntered over to the table with the legion commander and his senior officers. Anatoly stood and took a position by the door. Isabel and Abigail both positioned themselves to be ready to respond if a fight should break out.
Chapter 14
Alexander stepped up to the head of the long table and cleared his throat. When he had everyone’s attention, he smiled and turned to the commander. “I wonder if I might have a word with you.”
The commander stood and appraised Alexander for a moment before he spoke. “My name is Commander Kern, what can I do for you?”
He was clean shaven, had medium-length black hair, and was just ove
r six feet tall with a medium build. He offered Alexander his hand in greeting.
Alexander examined Kern’s colors as he shook his hand. He was an honorable man with a sense of loyalty and duty.
“My name is Alexander. I’m concerned about Buckwold going to war. The way I hear it, Headwater invaded New Ruatha, so I guess I’m wondering why Buckwold is getting involved.”
The commander shook his head and motioned for Alexander to sit. “The simple answer is because the Baron chose to get involved,” he snorted. “More likely, his administrator gave the order but we’re duty bound to obey. Besides, we need the trade routes through Headwater to move our goods.”
Alexander nodded his understanding. “I know how important trade is. I grew up on a ranch south of the Great Forest along the trade road between Southport and Highlands Reach. If that road had been shut down, the whole range would have shriveled up and blown away. It was a lifeline for everyone who lived along it.”
“Glad to hear you understand the need to keep the trade routes open. I just hope the rest of Buckwold comes around. My family are sheepherders. If those routes close, they’ll fall on hard times,” Commander Kern said. “Besides, the way I hear it, the pretender to the Ruathan throne is hopelessly outnumbered, the bard’s song notwithstanding,” he motioned toward Jack at the bar. “As for the Thinblade, everyone knows it was lost during the Reishi War, but you can’t blame a man for writing a song about it,” he said with a chuckle.
Alexander considered his next words very carefully. “Commander Kern, you strike me as a man who would prefer to avoid war if possible. Is that a fair assessment?”
He nodded. “I suppose it is, but like I said, it’s not my decision. The Baron’s made up his mind.”
“Would you welcome an opportunity to persuade him to reconsider?”
The commander frowned a bit suspiciously. “Where are you going with this?”
Alexander took a deep breath while he appraised the man sitting next to him. The rest of the men at the table had fallen silent and were looking at Alexander with suspicion. He decided to be bold. While holding the men’s eyes, he very deliberately reached up and pulled his cloak collar down to reveal the mark burned into the side of his neck.
