Forged in Fire (Destiny's Crucible Book 4)

by Olan Thorensen

  “The reasons for my coming at all still stand and are now even more important. Besides, only my husband has authority to forbid me. Isn’t that right, husband?” She turned with a blank look to Yozef.

  Well, sure. Like I want to be totally screwed, if I forbid her.

  Hulwyn Mittack had observed the back-and-forth banter with increasing impatience. “You Keelanders decide! We need to start out, or they might turn back if they don’t see us reciprocating.”

  “Maera will come,” said Yozef flatly.

  Luwis started to open his mouth to make further protests, only to be quashed by the looks on Maera’s and Yozef’s faces. Neither was going to yield, and Hulwyn was right—they needed to move. He sighed. “If you insist. But please don’t get killed or anything. I wouldn’t dare face Culich.”

  The Caedelli started toward the tent, and the Fuomi slowed their pace so that the two groups arrived simultaneously. With a wave to the chairs from Hetman Mittack, the ten sat. On the Fuomi side, Rintala was in the middle, flanked on his right by Saisannin and an aide. On his left were the translator and the other aide. On the opposite side were Balwis in the middle with Hetman Mittack and Vortig Luwis on his left and Maera and Yozef on his right. Both sides quickly agreed that all interchanges in Narthani would be through their respective translators, as if each side were a single individual. Each side would converse among themselves between interchanges.

  “That’s a relief,” said Saisannin in an aside to Rintala. “Their new translator is fluent in Narthani. Even if it’s a dialect expected of a common person, certainly not from the highest levels of their society, we should have no problem in conversing.”

  The Fuomi translator started off speaking for Rintala. “Let me introduce myself and my companions here at the table,” and then he gave names, ranks, and roles.

  “Military ranks, though I don’t know what ours, theirs, and the Narthani equivalents are,” said Luwis to the Caedelli, “except for the woman who may be a civilian or political adviser. Hetman Mittack, as this is your clan territory, you should do the introductions for us.”

  The Caedelli gave the same introductions, then asked, “Why have you come to Caedellium?”

  “Representatives of two clans,” said Saisannin to Rintala. “That’s a reasonable start, although since we believe there are fifteen to twenty clans, we will want to contact several more to get a balanced view of what’s happening here.”

  “I assume you see no significance that only one clan leader is here of the two. ‘Hetman’ they call them?” asked Rintala.

  “They say he was unable to attend so sent his top advisor and his daughter as his representatives. I would not try to make any other interpretation—at least, not yet. Sending the daughter could be a sign the Keelan hetman has good intentions.”

  The Fuomi translator said, “We have no hostile plans for Caedellium. We know the Narthani have been active on the island for several years. The Narthani are the enemy of many other peoples of Anyar, including Fuomon. We have fought them for many years and are interested in knowing what is happening here on Caedellium and why the Narthani have taken an interest in your lands.”

  “How much should I say?” Hulwyn Mittack asked the Keelanders.

  Luwis and Maera whispered to each other, then Luwis answered. “At this time, tell them only that the Narthani are also our enemies.”

  For the next hour, the two sides danced around the same questions without giving more details. Finally, the Caedelli suggested to the Fuomi that they take a two-hour break and return to continue. The Fuomi agreed, and both sides walked back toward their lines.

  “They’re definitely not overly eager to share information so far,” said Rintala.

  “Would you be in their situation?” countered Saisannin. “A foreign force lands on your shores with a thousand troops and cannon and then digs in with warships offshore?”

  “Oh, I admit, I would probably act the same,” agreed Rintala. “It’s just my nature to want to move along now that we’ve made contact.”

  “Don’t worry. I suspect once they confer among themselves, the next session will be more informative. I also got the impression that the Keelan representatives are the sharp ones. The older man and the hetman’s daughter seemed to discuss as equals, and their questions are subtler.”

  The islanders were relieved. “I must say I’m encouraged from the little time we spent with them. I didn’t get the impression they were particularly deceptive types,” said Hulwyn Mittack.

  “Possibly not,” countered Luwis. “However, never forget they have their own agendas that are still unknown to us.”

  Luwis looked to his right at Maera and Yozef. “Any impressions?”

  Maera spoke first. “The woman . . . Eina Saisannin? She speaks Narthani and probably better than their translator.”

  “How do you know that?” blurted Hulwyn.

  “Although my Narthani still needs improvement, twice I thought their translator made mistakes on a word, though not enough to change the meanings that much. Both times I saw the woman’s lips form the correct translation.”

  “Hah!” exclaimed Yozef approvingly and patted her on the back. “That’s my girl!”

  Maera blushed.

  “Obviously, they want more information,” said Luwis. “How much should we give them?”

  “I’m inclined to be open to telling them almost anything,” suggested Yozef, “with the possible exceptions of internal clan politics and any plans about the Narthani—yet, anyway. If Fuomon is a true enemy of the Narthani, then the Fuomi may give us useful information. Ideally, they would also help us, but I imagine they would have to believe it to their advantage.”

  “Perhaps Sen Kolsko-Keelan should take over the translation,” suggested Balwis.

  Yozef considered for a moment.

  “You seem to be doing perfectly well, Balwis. Let’s have you continue for now.” Yozef gave a questioning look to Maera—who nodded in agreement.

  Two hours later, they were back at the table under the tent. Both sides opened up slowly, then more, as information was exchanged. The Fuomi were informed of the history of the Narthani on Caedellium—the extent of which appeared to be news to the Fuomi. The fate of the Preddi clan was confirmed to be a standard practice of the Narthani with whomever they conquered—either the victim society allowed itself to be totally absorbed into the Narthani Empire and culture, or it was destroyed.

  Later, the Fuomi brought out an Anyar map and described the current extent of the Narthon Empire and the opposing realms on both Narthani borders on the major continent of Melosia. The islanders learned that the Narthani had been frustrated in attempts to expand their empire farther in the last decade, which made it likely their Caedellium venture was part of an attempt to break the deadlock—although exactly how Caedellium would facilitate such a result wasn’t clear.

  The group broke again an hour before sundown and agreed to meet in the tent an hour after sundown for evening meal and continued discussions. Hulwyn Mittack offered to provide local foods for the dinner, and the Fuomi graciously accepted. On the chance that such a “friendly” repast might occur, Hulwyn had arranged for cooks and foods for such an occasion. The Fuomi were suitably impressed by the marinated and fire-roasted half beef, fresh vegetables and fruits, just-baked bread, and a selection of Caedellium wines and liquors—several of the latter being from Yozef’s distillery-related enterprises. However, the kerosene lanterns created the biggest impression—they were a novelty because candles and whale oil lamps were de rigueur throughout Anyar for nighttime illumination. None of the Fuomi managed to hide various levels of interest or amazement at the intense light put out by six lanterns hanging from the tent poles. One of the junior Fuomi officers started to examine a lantern more closely, before a word from Rintala pulled him back.

  However, the first thing the Fuomi noticed was that only four islanders appeared at the evening meal. Missing was their translator. The mystery was solved, to more Fu
omi surprise, when Maera spoke to them before everyone sat down.

  “Welcome again, honored visitors to Caedellium,” she said in perfect Narthani. Rintala visibly started, while Saisannin only smiled.

  “We thought we would dispense with the pretense of needing additional translators. I will speak for Mittack and Keelan, and I suggest Sen Saisannin do the same for Fuomon.”

  One young Fuomi officer said something in Fuomi—with an intonation that Yozef interpreted as “What the hell!” or some such.

  Rintala grunted, and Saisannin only smiled further and answered back, in equally perfect Narthani, “A most reasonable suggestion, Sen Kolsko-Keelan. This way we can be sure of no mistakes in our understanding.” She then turned to Rintala.

  “I see we have to be careful not to underestimate the islanders,” said Saisannin in Fuomi to Rintala. “I sense that besides speaking Narthani, this Kolsko-Keelan woman is sharp as a newly honed knife.”

  “I guess we shouldn’t be surprised,” replied Rintala. “If the Narthani have been on Caedellium as long as they say, and with what has happened, I suppose it’s natural that many of them learned Narthani out of necessity.”

  “True,” agreed Saisannin, “but this one learned Narthani and has pretty much mastered it, albeit with a bad accent.”

  “Please. Sit and enjoy the food,” urged Maera in Narthani—allowing herself to be seated by her husband. Having made themselves comfortable, all nine dug into the meal. From that point on, eating was interspersed with a resumption of discussion, this time with Maera and Saisannin speaking for each side.

  “Our commander’s compliments on the food,” said Eina. “Especially the fresh vegetables and fruits. Any we had ran out over a month ago.”

  “I’m sure we can provide more for you and your men. Hetman Mittack says he will arrange for a month’s supplies of vegetables and fruits within the next sixday. Shall we say enough for twenty-one hundred men?”

  Despite himself, Rintala almost choked on a piece of tender beef. The islanders’ estimate of 2,100 was within twenty of their actual total force—troops and sailors. As Eina said, we need to not underestimate these people.

  “That would be greatly appreciated. What gracious hosts you are. We also hope to see more of Caedellium and meet more of your clan leaders.”

  “That should be no problem,” said Maera. “Of course, not for all of your people. We’re happy to provide supplies to make your people’s stay here more pleasant, as long as most of you remain here. If a delegation wishes to move more freely in Caedellium, we would be happy to provide escorts for a limited number.”

  “Our commander wonders if we would be able to accomplish all of our objectives in assessing the events on Caedellium with only such a limited access. He is wondering whether perhaps we should move elsewhere on the island.”

  “That would be most unfortunate, since the other clans will look to us for advice on how to welcome you to Caedellium. It might also make it impossible for us to be as gracious of hosts as we could have been.”

  Saisannin translated to Fuomi the last message to Rintala and then added, “I think the message is clear. They will be friendly as long as most of us stay right where we are. Things could turn different if we try to circumvent that restriction.”

  “I think we need to tread gently here. There’s more going on here than dreamed of back at Fuomon.”

  “I concur,” said Saisannin, shifting her position in her chair.

  During the next fifteen minutes, the two sides danced around the issue and finally settled on allowing a Fuomi leadership delegation of Rintala, Kivalian, and Saisannin, accompanied by fifty men as “companions and aides”—aka, guards. The immediate itinerary would be to escort them to Kilporth and on to Caernford, then eventually to Orosz City, where other clan leaders would have the opportunity to meet with them. The trip was expected to take three sixdays to cover the four hundred road miles. The relatively leisurely pace would allow time to learn more about the Fuomi before exposing them to all of the clans.

  More Relaxed Conversation Ensues

  With main meal finished, the remains were removed and replaced by bowls of fruit, plates of cheese, and bottles of wine from the slopes of the mountains in eastern Mittack—generally considered the finest wine produced on Caedellium and ruinously expensive for most Caedelli. It was the same wine Yozef had been served the first time he ate evening meal at Keelan Manor.

  The tone of the interchanges funneled through Maera and Saisannin became less guarded as the evening wore on and the agreement on movement settled.

  Yozef had said very little all day, until he finally asked a question through Maera.

  “My husband asks that if the preliminary niceties have been dealt with, can we be frank? If the Narthani are your enemies and also our enemies, is it possible for us to work together against them?”

  “How would you see us working together?” asked Eina. “We don’t mean to be disrespectful, but Caedellium is small compared to other major realms and far from Fuomon areas of vital interest.”

  “My husband recalls a saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend—as long as both find it advantageous. Could Fuomon and Caedellium be friends?”

  “Anything is possible, but while Fuomon would wish the people of Caedellium well, to do more than wish would require careful consideration and would have to be of mutual advantage. Perhaps our visit to Caedellium will help clarify any possibilities.”

  “Very understandable. My husband also wonders if there is something you know that you are not telling us. To come so far from Fuomon with the size of force you did suggests that Fuomon has more than a casual interest in Caedellium.”

  “Whoa,” said Rintala softly to Saisannin in Fuomi, “where did that question come from?”

  “I have no idea, but something tells me more is going on here at this table than we thought. I’ve noticed that numerous times the two clans’ senior men glance at the woman when sensitive questions are asked or decisions are to be made.”

  Rintala considered for a moment. “Yes, I think I’ve noticed the same.”

  “Yes, although now I’m wondering if they were looking at the woman or at her husband—this Yozef Kolsko.”

  “That wouldn’t have occurred to me since he’s been so quiet. I did wonder why he was here and just assumed he was escorting his wife, who was one to be careful with.”

  “Oh, she’s smart enough, though she and her husband are very at ease with each other, and I think I notice a degree of deference from her when he talks to her—which may suggest he can at least hold his own with her intellectually.”

  “So what do we answer? They’re all waiting, and by now the others suspect this Kolsko is on to something.”

  “Is there any reason not to tell them more?” asked Saisannin.

  “I suppose not. We had thought to wait until we meet with more island leaders. Now, I think that since the question was asked, they might not take it well if we didn’t answer or answered falsely.”

  Saisannin turned back to the islanders.

  “You are correct. We had thought to tell you more after meeting additional island leaders, perhaps in a meeting of all the clans, but there is no reason to conceal anything. What caused Fuomon to send us here at this time is that only in the last year, before we left Fuomon, did we learn of Narthani interest in Caedellium. Recently, our spies within the Narthon Empire reported that the Narthani are planning to send a significant army to Caedellium. While we don’t know the exact size of the force, it apparently is on the order of sixty to seventy thousand men.”

  Maera paled on hearing this, putting a hand to her throat and sitting back in her chair. Her husband put a hand on her arm and whispered something to her. The Fuomi listened as she translated into Caedelli. All of the islander men made various exclamations—except Kolsko, who received the words as if he were expecting them.

  “By Merciful God,” cried Luwis. “Seventy thousand Narthani soldiers! We only manage
d to hold off ten thousand at Moreland City. But up to seven times that number! Merciful God!”

  The Mittack hetman said no words, only let out a string of curses and raised a shaking hand to his forehead.

  Yozef sat digesting the news, his gut twisted into a knot, his pulse elevated, though his mind surprised him with its acceptance of what had been on the edges of his worst fears. Well, I thought that would be one of the possible outcomes of the Moreland City fight. The Narthani thought to take the entire island with a minimum force and piecemeal carving up of the island. Once they found it was going to be harder than that, depending on how bad they want Caedellium, I suspected they might send a much larger force. Now we know. They really, really want it.

  Yozef spoke to the others on his side of the table. “We knew this was a possibility. Let’s find out more. Maera, see if they know when the additional Narthani might come.”

  She turned back to the Fuomi. “Do you know how soon we could expect this Narthani army to arrive on Caedellium?”

  Eina answered. “When we left Fuomon, our latest information was that the force was still being planned. There was an expected departure of six months or more from that time. Preparations did not seem urgent but were progressing firmly enough for us to believe it would happen. It took us four months to reach Caedellium, so you might expect them any time after two months from now. Of course, that’s only an estimate, so it could be several months later.

  “Please also understand that our mission here is information gathering and not to engage the Narthani. We intend to leave before the larger Narthani army and naval forces arrive at Caedellium. Given the uncertainties, we will be leaving within a month—sooner, if necessary, which is part of our concern about taking too long to meet more of your leaders.”

  The word that they had perhaps only two months to prepare for what would come set off another round of despair that Yozef quelled after an initial flurry of panic.