“It’s a good bet they’re planning trouble,” Anatoly said. “Maybe we should circle around at night and catch them off guard. If we take one of them alive, we might learn something.”
Alexander nodded, “Maybe, but I’m concerned they might have some means of getting a message to Grafton before we get there. Speed seems like our best plan for the moment.”
“If they can send a message, they probably have already,” Anatoly mused. “We may be walking into a trap.”
“I know, but what else can we do?” Alexander said. “Abel’s daughter is in danger and I gave him my word that I’d do everything I could to save her. Not to mention that Phane is landing more forces by the day in Grafton. Our chances in the long run will be much better if Ithilian is spared the disruption of all-out war. Next winter Ruatha is going to need food and it’s a good bet that we won’t have a very productive harvest this year. We have to stop the enemy before any more make landfall, and we can’t do that as long as Grafton is run by people sympathetic to Phane.”
Anatoly nodded silently.
***
After dinner that evening, Alexander drew a magic circle in the dirt and sat cross-legged in the protection of the magical barrier. He closed his eyes and quieted his mind. The process of reaching the firmament was becoming familiar, even routine. After a few minutes of meditation, he reached the state of empty-mindedness that led to the source of creation and then he was floating on the endless ocean of potential.
He brought his awareness into focus just above his campground. Anatoly was sharpening his axe, Boaberous was already snoring, as was Lucky. Jack was writing in his little notebook by the light of the fire and Jataan was standing, hands clasped easily behind his back, just outside of the firelight. Alexander turned his attention to the enemy in the distance and brought his point of focus high into the sky with impossible speed. In moments, he was hovering thousands of feet overhead looking down on Ithilian. He could see the mountains to the distant west and the coastline to the east but he focused on the dim smudge of color almost three leagues from his camp. With a flick of his mind, he was there looking at the enemy.
There were three men, half a dozen dogs and as many horses. He could tell at a glance that one of the men was a wizard. The other two looked experienced and formidable, and their colors revealed a corrupt character. These men were for sale.
Mercenaries.
One was clearly the master of the tracking dogs that were, no doubt, responsible for the unerring path they were taking in pursuit of Alexander and his companions. The other man wasn’t a wizard but there was a slight aura of magic around him that was hard to see, let alone understand. It almost reminded Alexander of the slightly brighter colors that Isabel had because of Slyder, but different.
Alexander floated there for several minutes but didn’t hear the men discuss their mission or even talk to one another at all. They were busy with the mundane tasks of making dinner and setting up camp. Timing really was everything, he thought to himself.
He faded back into the firmament and returned to his body, then joined Anatoly by the fire.
“Learn anything?” Anatoly asked after a few minutes of silence.
“There are three of them. One’s a wizard, the second has some kind of magic that I don’t understand, and the third is a tracker with a pack of dogs. Other than that, nothing.”
“That’s something,” Anatoly mused. “May be that Lucky has something in that bag of his to throw off the dogs.”
Alexander nodded, considering the suggestion. “I’ll ask him in the morning. No sense waking him now.”
Both looked over at the rotund alchemist as he snored gently.
“They don’t seem like they’re trying to catch up with us,” Alexander said. “Even with the wizard and their dogs, they would probably have a pretty bad day if they did, so I’m wondering what they’re up to.”
“Hard to say, but I bet they’re up to no good,” Anatoly said softly as he stared into the crackling fire. “With a wizard, they can probably send a message ahead of us or maybe even to Phane. We’d do well to keep our eyes open.”
The next morning, Lucky listened to Alexander describe the enemy and a smile grew across his face. He rummaged around in his bag for a moment and produced a little metal canister of reddish powder.
“This is powdered hot pepper. I usually use it for seasoning the stew but it’ll disable the tracking dogs’ sense of smell for several hours with one whiff.” Lucky carefully sprinkled the finely ground powder around the camp. “There, that ought to do it. At the very least, it will slow them down, and it may give us the chance to lose them altogether.”
They rode hard all day. Alexander wanted to take advantage of the distraction that Lucky had left for the trackers.
Ithilian was a beautiful country, lush and green. The farmlands were well tended and fertile with rich dark soil and ample water for crops. The herds they passed were healthy and fat. Alexander enjoyed the ride in spite of the feeling of being pursued. They were taking care to avoid towns if at all possible. Chances were, no one would recognize Alexander, but Conner was another matter. He was the crown prince and his armor bore the Crest of Ithilian. He would be recognized and Alexander wanted the greatest chance of surprise that he could get.
That evening Alexander looked in on the trackers again and saw that they were a good four leagues behind and moving through the dark to make up ground. Lucky’s powdered hot pepper had slowed them down but they were still on the trail. Alexander considered doubling back and confronting them but decided the time lost wouldn’t be worth the information they might gain.
***
Several days later they crested a rise on the gently rolling hills of Ithilian and saw Bradfield Township. It was a thriving port city nestled into a little cove on the southern point of Bradfield Province. From their vantage point they could see the masts and sails of several merchant ships anchored in the deep waters of the cove and a few smaller ships moored at the docks in the port proper.
“What are the chances of hiring a boat without anyone figuring out who you are?” Alexander asked Conner.
“Better if I’m not part of the negotiations,” Conner said. “Once we’re on the water it won’t matter much if the crew learns who I am.”
Alexander nodded. “Jack, you think you can come up with a convincing story to explain why we’re going to Grafton Island?”
“Of course,” Jack said with a shrug. “We’re on our way to visit my dying grandfather. I only hope we’re not too late. The letter said he was very ill, so we simply must hurry. Naturally, I’ve brought some family friends to sit with him in his final hours and a few house guards to protect us on our voyage.”
Alexander chuckled as he nodded. “Sounds good. I’d like Anatoly to go with you to secure the boat while the rest of us stay out of sight until we’re ready to board. The sooner we’re on the water, the better I’ll feel.”
“I’d agree with you if I liked being on the water,” Anatoly grumbled. “There’s just something unnatural about the ground moving under your feet.”
“Indeed,” Jataan said quietly.
Boaberous grunted in agreement.
Alexander tucked the Sovereign Stone under his tunic and pulled his cloak around the hilt of the Thinblade. Conner threw a nondescript cloak over his armor before they headed into the port city. The place was bustling. Carts of goods were moving to and from the port. People were busy. Trade flowed into and out of Ithilian through this thriving little city. The buildings were well built and clean. The streets were paved with carefully cut flagstones and were wide enough to accommodate the influx of merchants during the busy summer months and the harvest of early autumn.
As they moved through the streets of Bradfield, Alexander had the nagging sense that he was being watched, but he couldn’t identify the source . . . even with his all around sight. He reminded himself that those watching might be using magic to spy on him but he couldn’t decide if his wor
ry was genuinely warranted or simply paranoia. He’d spent so much of the past several months being hunted that he’d come to expect danger at every turn.
They made their way to a horse trader and sold their horses without much trouble. The man wanted to haggle, but Alexander wasn’t too worried about the price he got. More than anything he wanted to make sure the animals were treated well. Transporting them across water was more trouble than it was worth, and once they reached Grafton Island they would be traveling through the mountains over terrain that horses couldn’t manage anyway.
Next they went to the port. Anatoly and Jack went to the docks while Alexander and the rest of the party went into the small market square adjacent to the port. There was a wide variety of merchants set up in stalls or wagons all around the edge of the square. Most of the goods being offered were fresh off the boats from all around the Seven Isles. Alexander cautiously moved through the crowd, pretending to check the wares of a few merchants while carefully keeping watch on the people milling about. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched and didn’t want to be caught off guard.
With his all around sight, he caught a man looking at them from across the square but the man disappeared between two wagons before Alexander could focus on him.
“Did you see him?” he asked Chloe without speaking.
“Yes, he looks like he recognized you,” she answered in his mind.
“Can you see what he’s up to?” he asked her.
“Of course,” she said silently.
Chloe had been invisible since they came close to the city. Alexander didn’t want the attention a fairy would draw.
“We’re being watched,” he whispered.
“Where?” Jataan asked.
Alexander motioned with his head. “I saw a man watching us but he slipped out of the square before I could get a closer look at him.”
Jataan gave Boaberous a look and the giant started making his way through the crowd. Jataan scanned the area with renewed caution. He was calm but Alexander could see his colors flare slightly at the potential of a fight.
The crossbow bolt came from a space between two wagons not far from where the man had slipped out of the square. Alexander caught the motion of it with his all around sight but it was coming so fast that all he could do was turn toward it so it would hit his armor instead of his shoulder.
Jataan moved with impossible speed. In the space between the blink of an eye, Alexander saw his colors flare brightly as he darted in front of the bolt and caught it with his left hand as his right came up with a knife. Before he could throw the knife at the would-be assassin, Boaberous looped a length of rope around the man’s neck and dragged him back out of the square.
Alexander scanned the crowd but no one had even noticed the attack and he saw no other signs of danger. They made their way out of the square and found Boaberous between a line of wagons and the backs of several buildings that formed the boundary of the market square. He had the man tied up, sitting with his back to a wall. Alexander sent Lucky and Conner to watch for Jack and Anatoly.
The assassin’s eyes went wide when he saw Jataan.
“Commander P’Tal, I don’t understand,” he said with a look of disbelief.
“Hello, Ezra. Are you alone or are there others working with you?” Jataan asked.
“Prince Phane sent me with the advance party from Karth. I just got word from a team of trackers that the pretender was headed for Grafton through Bradfield,” Ezra said. “I’m working alone and acting on Prince Phane’s standing order to take any opportunity to kill the pretender.”
Alexander stepped up next to Jataan and regarded the man for a moment. “Care to explain?” he asked.
“Lord Reishi, this is Ezra,” Jataan said. “He’s an operative of the Reishi Protectorate.”
“I don’t understand,” Ezra said. “Why are you with the pretender, Commander P’Tal?”
“Ezra, this is Lord Reishi,” Jataan said. “He has bonded with the Sovereign Stone. Phane is the real pretender.”
Alexander took the Sovereign Stone from under his shirt and let the man take a good look at it. “Where does your allegiance lie?” he asked pointedly.
Ezra looked at the Stone with surprise and slowly shook his head. “How can this be? Prince Phane is the only remaining Reishi.”
“Apparently not,” Alexander said. “Now, answer my question.”
Ezra blinked several times before he answered. “I serve the Reishi.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific,” Alexander said.
“Ezra, will you swear loyalty to Lord Reishi, the bearer of the Sovereign Stone and rightful Sovereign of the Seven Isles or will I have to kill you?” Jataan asked impassively.
Ezra went slightly white and then he nodded. “I swear loyalty to Lord Reishi.”
Alexander watched his colors carefully. He was telling the truth. “Very well, cut him loose.”
Boaberous hauled him to his feet and untied him.
“Tell me everything you know about Phane’s forces here on Ithilian,” Alexander commanded.
Ezra cleared his throat and gave a quick look at Jataan before he spoke. “There is just under a legion of Reishi Army Regency regulars in Grafton Province with the remaining troops en route and due to arrive within the month. General Gord is commanding the force and he has three wizards assigned to him. One of the three has been tracking you from Ithilian city and reporting back to General Gord on your progress. I received word this morning that you would arrive here today. There is at least a company of infiltrators in Bradfield laying the groundwork for invasion from Grafton. They’re probably aware of your arrival as well, although I doubt they’ve located you yet or they would have attacked already.”
“Are there any other members of the Protectorate here?” Jataan asked.
“Yes, I’m aware of two,” Ezra said. “One is a merchant and the other is a ship captain that transports goods between Ithilian and Tyr.”
“Is Princess Evelyn still alive?” Alexander asked.
“To the best of my knowledge, she is,” Ezra said. “Prince Phane commanded that she be kept alive to use as leverage against the House of Ithilian.”
“At least there’s that,” Alexander said. “What can you tell me about General Gord?”
“I’ve never met him,” Ezra said. “He’s a senior general of the Reishi Army Regency and apparently well respected by his peers and his soldiers. He’s reputed to be an able strategist.”
“What kind of ships does he have at his disposal?” Alexander asked.
“He has a small fleet of troop transports that are busy moving soldiers from Karth and he’s commandeered the patrol ships out of Grafton.”
“Sounds like we need a new plan,” Alexander said. “If this General Gord knows we’re coming, he’ll probably have his patrol boats waiting for us in the strait.”
Lucky walked from between two wagons, followed by Conner, Jack, and Anatoly.
“What’s this?” Anatoly asked warily.
“This is Ezra,” Alexander said. “He’s Reishi Protectorate.”
“Where’d he come from?” Anatoly said.
“Actually, he found us,” Alexander said. “He just tried to kill me.”
Anatoly frowned. “Why’s he still in one piece?”
Alexander shrugged. “Turns out he didn’t know I had the Sovereign Stone. Now that he does, he’s pledged his allegiance to me. He was just telling us that the enemy knows we’re coming.”
“I see,” Anatoly said, “and you believe him?”
Alexander looked over at the big man-at-arms and nodded.
“In that case we should probably reconsider our travel arrangements,” Jack suggested. “I didn’t really trust the captain we hired to ferry us there anyway.”
“I’m starting to think it was a mistake to let those trackers follow us,” Alexander said. “Maybe we should start with them. If we can blind the enemy to our movements, it’ll be
a lot easier to get where we’re going.”
“That doesn’t get us to the island,” Conner said. “As soon as Phane realizes we intend to move against Grafton, he’ll kill Evelyn.”
“Perhaps, but since they think they know where we’re going, we might be able to use that against them,” Alexander said. He turned to Ezra. “What do you know about the merchant traffic between the island and the mainland?”
“Not very much, I’m afraid. Vessels still come and go but I don’t know any more than that.”
Alexander nodded in thought.
Conner started to say something but Jack silenced him with a hand on his arm.
Alexander made his decision. “Ezra, spread the word to any Reishi Protectorate operatives you know that I am the Reishi Sovereign and that Phane is the pretender. Strike his forces whenever and wherever possible. Hit him where he’s weak and avoid him where he’s strong. Fight from the shadows and avoid confrontation.”
“By your command, Lord Reishi,” Ezra said as he saluted, fist to heart.
“Jack, let’s go see that ferryboat captain,” Alexander said. “I think we’ll be needing his services after all.”
They emerged from behind the wagons into the market square and Ezra melted into the crowd. Jack led the way to the docks through the milling throngs of people. Alexander was vigilant. He knew the enemy was nearby and they were probably looking for him. He still hadn’t worked out how to get to Grafton Island but he was certain that the direct route was not an option. A ferry against patrol boats armed with ranged weapons was a recipe for disaster.
The shops near the market square gave way to warehouse buildings as they neared the docks. Alexander could hear the seagulls and smell the salt air mixed with the odor of fish as they walked down the narrow road.
A single man with a sword stepped out from around the corner ahead of them with a smile and fixed Alexander with the look of a predator.
“Surrender to me and I’ll let your friends go,” he said.
Alexander stopped in his tracks. Behind them a wagon that had been parked in a cross alley was pushed across the road, blocking their retreat. Alexander reached out with his all around sight and saw a large number of men waiting in the allies on either side of the road ahead and a smaller contingent behind them in the alley where the wagon had been parked. When he looked closer, he was relieved to see that they were armed with swords rather than crossbows.
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