The Pool And The Pedestal (Book 2)

by Daniel McHugh

  “Yes.” he replied.

  Another hum ran through the generals as they digested this information. Granu quickly cut off their conversations.

  “You are being drawn from the Capitol.” stated Granu simply.

  Macin frowned and considered the giant’s comments. Wynard reddened.

  “Absolutely ridiculous!” exclaimed the general. “We control the land from the Scythtar to the Nagur!”

  “Do you?” asked Granu. “You are reinforcing the areas you captured, are you not?”

  “Yes.” returned Wynard. “We planned to inform the king and the people of our gains when we determined they were secure”

  “You moved key operational units North to these villages. You moved supply depots, weapon caches, livestock, and reserve mounts North. In short, you extended your main force further from the Capitol.” commented Granu.

  “Yes, but we would...” cut in Wynard.

  “YOU HAVE DONE ALL THIS WHILE YOU TURNED THE CITY’S SECURITY OVER TO A PROVEN TRAITOR AND HIS BAND OF RIVER THUGS!” boomed Granu over Wynard’s protest. “When the Ulrog marched from the foothills of Keltar upon your glorious kingdom, do you think Udas and his men would have stood and delivered this kingdom from the threat?!”

  Wynard hung his head and said nothing.

  “You determined to call up the militia in greater and greater numbers, sending them to the Scythtar to bolster your defenses. This will make the lower half of your kingdom completely defenseless. A plum my brother is willing to snatch from you, for I believe this is the reward promised to him for his treachery. Hatred, power and fame drive him. He believes Zodra is rightfully ours due to Gretcha’s centuries old claim to the throne. Fenrel will stop at nothing to retrieve Zodra. I believe he contracts with Izgra the Half-Dead. He intends to deliver the North to the Ulrog and be rewarded with the South!”

  Macin stood and walked to the edge of the dais. He studied Granu.

  “A very interesting theory, Prince Granu. But am I to believe it?”

  “General Wynard?” began Granu.

  Wynard did not respond. He stared at the floor in front of him with a puzzled expression on his face. Kael felt as if the man were piecing together all the information he just received.

  “General Wynard?” repeated Granu.

  Wynard’s head snapped up.

  “Why would the Ulrog present more troops in the field if they did not intend to push harder into the South?” asked Granu.

  “I don’t know. They’ve acted strangely as of late. They’ve held extra forces in reserve. Unusual for the Ulrog. Normally their entire force is whipped into a frenzy, then sent against us.

  Since the build up began, the reserve units often do not join the fight. When the first Ulrog wave retreats, the reserves join them and flee back into the mountains.” stated Wynard.

  “Have the Ulrog ever been known for this tactic in the past?” questioned Granu.

  “No.” replied Wynard.

  “The Scythtar is three thousand yards tall. It is a virtually impenetrable, granite wall. No one from the civilized nations has traveled North of it for centuries. The Ulrog have been building their forces behind this wall in secret for years. What purpose does it serve them to show their hand before it is played? Why demonstrate your power before you are willing to use it?” asked Granu turning to Macin.

  “We are being duped.” stated Macin through a set jaw. “Izgra holds a knife to our belly and we are oblivious to it.”

  “My apologies, your majesty.” stated General Wynard dropping to one knee. “I will turn over my command to my junior officers.”

  Macin scowled.

  “They are junior officers for a reason, Wynard!” snapped Macin. “They do not possess one grain of your military knowledge and prowess on the field of battle. Now is not the time to dwell on personal honor. I will allow no such thing to happen.”

  Macin turned to Manfir.

  “The fault lies at my feet more than any other. I grow old and the kingdom overwhelms me. I spend so much time ruling every detail with an iron fist that I lose the ability to see the bigger reality. Whatever the giant’s motives, they are immaterial. He points out our glaring vulnerability. To disregard his information out of mistrust is folly.

  We spent years fighting the same battle from different camps. It is time for that to end. It is time for us to turn to one another. What is it you and the old man would have me do?” asked Macin extending a hand to his son.

  Manfir smiled at his father and grasped the king’s hand tightly. The prince fell to one knee and bowed his head.

  “It is not for me to command you, my king. I was and always will be your loyal servant.”

  The king smiled and shook his head, pulling Manfir to his feet.

  “No.” said Macin. “You are to be commanded no longer. Your lot is to command. We must first protect the Capitol, for in the end it will be our last refuge. I summon you, Manfir, to assume command of the militia. We will stop the steady stream of reinforcements to the North and consolidate the remaining militia forces here.”

  Macin turned back to the crowd of generals.

  “Wynard. You will send word to the North. Our troops are to abandon all the gains we made in the last year. Let the Ulrog overrun the ghost towns, they are nothing to us. We give them land to save Zodrian lives. Tighten your forces! Draw them back toward the Capitol!” barked Macin.

  “As you command, my lord!” replied Wynard.

  “Brelg!” called Macin.

  “Yes, my liege.” returned the old sergeant bowing.

  “There never has been, nor will there ever be a finer military instructor in this kingdom.” stated Macin. “You are charged with what you do best. Save the lives of my men by giving them the knowledge only you possess in whole. Take these militiamen and turn them from farmers and ranchers into soldiers!”

  “It will be my honor, my king!” replied Brelg.

  Macin turned and stepped from the dais. He approached Ader and bowed down before him.

  “I pledge to you and to my Creator Avra that I will do all in my power to save my people and this kingdom from the danger ahead. Tell me what else it is I am to do. I am yours to instruct.” said Macin.

  Ader smiled at the king and pulled him to his feet.

  “Please.” laughed Ader. “The reason we are in this mess is because your forbears bowed down to one of my brethren. Do not tempt me to start the whole process once more.”

  Macin rose and smiled at the Seraph.

  “Advise me then, Lord Ader.”

  “You don’t need me for that, Macin. Look about you.” said the Seraph sweeping his hand around the room. “All you need is here. You begin to swallow your pride and open yourself to the assistance of others. Continue down that path and you will receive the advice you require.”

  Macin slowly drew his gaze about the room. It stopped upon the beautiful young woman. The king’s sight locked upon her sparkling blue-green eyes and she unblinkingly returned his stare. Macin smiled and approached her. The king nodded and softly took her hand. He raised it to his lips and kissed it.

  “Thank you.” he said softly to the woman.

  She nodded in return.

  “I simply perform my duty, your majesty.” she replied.

  Macin turned to face Teeg and Eidyn.

  “What of the Grey Elves?” asked the king frowning. “You prove your skill at spying and subterfuge against your allies, but what of your skill at warfare against your enemies. Will you join us in defense of this world?”

  Eidyn stepped forward.

  “The Grey Elves always come to the aid of their allies, and we shall do so again. However, you perform a disservice upon our name with your accusations of subterfuge. As a prince of my realm and heir to the Almar throne, I assure you, the young woman who stands beside you is not in the employ of my father.” stated Eidyn.

  Teeg cleared his throat and quickly entered the conversation.

  “This matter is of no co
nsequence at this juncture.” commented Teeg. “The prince and I have been instructed to ...”

  “My lord, pardon the interruption.” called a voice from upon the dais.

  The Fox’s companion stepped forward. Teeg grimaced.

  “This may only complicate certain matters, my boy.” said Teeg to the young man.

  “Be that as it may.” said the boy. “Lord Ader said it is a time for reckoning. The world rushes toward the conclusion of a conflict that lasted many lifetimes. I am instructed by Sprite to cast our lot with the alliance of the great nations if there is to be one.”

  “Sprite?!” laughed Eidyn looking quizzically at the boy.

  “Yes.” replied the boy seriously. “The leader of our people.”

  Eidyn turned to Teeg and the old Elf frowned and looked to the floor.

  “This is nonsense!” exclaimed Eidyn turning back toward the boy. “ Old Sprite disappeared with his family into the Toxkri Swamp over five hundred years ago!”

  “I assure you.” stated the young woman with an icy glare. “My great-grandfather has never been about nonsense. The Grey Elves made that mistake in the first place.”

  Eidyn set his jaw and looked at Teeg.

  “I will explain later.” whispered Teeg.

  Macin seemed mildly amused.

  “It seems quite a few details have been kept from the royalty in the room.” smiled Macin.

  The king strode over to Eidyn and threw an arm around the prince’s shoulder.

  “Don’t feel too upset, son of Leinor. Apparently, you’ve been kept in the dark about some things. However, you don’t sit on the throne yet. I’m the one who looks to be the biggest fool. I supposedly rule this mess of a kingdom. Let us discover what secrets Lord Teeg has kept from you..” laughed Macin turning to the boy on the dais. “First may I be so bold as to inquire your name Master...?”

  “Chimbre, my lord.” replied the boy.

  “And where do you hail from, Master Chimbre?” asked Macin.

  “I call the Toxkri swamp my home.” returned the boy.

  The room broke out into conversation once more. Kael heard exclamations of “impossible” and “ridiculous”. Macin simply smiled and nodded his head.

  “Today has been a heady mixture of revelations, Master Chimbre.” stated Macin. “Yours seems the most fantastical. Am I to believe that you and your small band live in that steaming cesspool of poisons and death?”

  “Since the day that Sprite and his family trekked into the Toxkri, we have grown from just a ‘small band’. The Toxkri is home to our society. There are thousands of us.”

  The murmur in the room grew.

  “Secondly,” continued Chimbre. “What misinformed outsiders consider a ‘cesspool’, we consider our homeland. It is true that to those with an untrained eye, the Toxkri may be considered a dangerous place, but there is much beauty to be found in the secrets of the swamp.”

  “As evidenced by your companion.” said Eidyn stepping forward and bowing to the beautiful young woman.

  She returned his bow.

  “However, with milady the reverse is true. The beauty is self evident,” said Eidyn rubbing the small red cut on his neck where her blade had been. “It is the danger that you stumble upon.”

  Macin arched an eyebrow to Eidyn.

  “Perhaps you are not so uninformed of this situation as I assumed.” said the king.

  “Oh, I remain completely uninformed.” returned Eidyn and he turned to the woman. “But for now I will settle with your name.”

  “My sister’s name is...” began Chimbre.

  “... For her to give of her own accord.” the woman icily snapped to her brother.

  “You are quite correct.” nodded Chimbre. “My apologies.”

  “Accepted.” she smiled back.

  The woman turned to Eidyn and gave a light curtsy.

  “I am Lilywynn, eldest daughter of Jenpry, Lead council of Sprite’s people.” she stated. “I apologize for your minor injury, but I could not allow you to drive an arrow through my cousin Sprig’s heart.”

  “The fox.” whispered Kael to himself.

  “Apology accepted.” said Eidyn bowing. “Is Master Kael correct in assuming that Sprig was the lead scout before our encounter with the warlock and his Keltaran raiding party?”

  “He was.” replied Lilywynn.

  “Warlock?” inquired Macin. “And what of this battle?”

  “We were set upon by a Hammer unit yesterday, father.” answered Manfir. “A warlock directed their movements.”

  Macin’s expression grew grave.

  “Those who commune with Chaos and Amird the Deceiver are a twisted lot.” stated Macin. “How came you so close to the mountains?”

  “We were not near the mountains, father. We were a day and a half ride South of the Capitol.” stated Manfir.

  “And you were set upon by a Hammer unit?!” exclaimed Macin. “We are vulnerable indeed.”

  “If not for the warning by Sprite’s people and their help on the battlefield, we may have been overrun.” added Manfir.

  “On the battlefield you say?” stated Macin turning to Chimbre and raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

  Chimbre laughed out loud.

  “A jest? Something is amusing, Master Chimbre?” asked Macin.

  “My grandfather is a wise old Elf, your majesty.” began Chimbre chuckling. “He instructed me to offer our service to the nations. Then he told me I would need to convince you to accept it.

  You look at beings of diminutive stature and you misjudge our usefulness. So it was when our forebears were excluded from participating in the first great conflict against the Ulrog. Sprite gathered important intelligence concerning the Horde and presented it to King Leinor. This information was used to drive the Horde back into the Scythtar, but Sprite and others in his family were forbidden from joining the ranks of the Elven army. King Leinor trusted grandfather’s ability to supply information, but not his ability to stand beside his countrymen in battle. This mistrust led Sprite to leave Luxlor centuries ago and set out with a small group of family and friends to found his own community. A community where all could be respected and admired for the special abilities given to them by their Creator.

  Over the past week we proved these abilities to the heirs of the world’s great kingdoms. Today, we showed what we can accomplish under the very noses of the most diligent security. We live and thrive in a place others won’t set foot. It’s been centuries since my people held a place in your world. We return now to claim our part in it.”

  “Your abilities have been recognized and appreciated much to my embarrassment, Master Chimbre.” replied King Macin. “An alliance with Sprite’s people will be welcome news in troubled times. We encourage you to step out of the mists of your homeland and show the forces of Chaos they have more to fear than the tattered and tired Guard of Zodra.”

  Prince Eidyn glanced at Lilywynn then back to Macin.

  “And the Elves, as always will emerge from our woods in time of trouble. Leinor commits our forces to the fray.” began Eidyn turning back to Lilywynn. “And with such formidable allies already in league with the Zodrians, our success is assured.”

  “Be careful with flattery of your allies, Prince Eidyn.” frowned Lilywynn. “For you might take their mind from the task at hand. Overconfidence undermines many an endeavor.”

  “I am a determined individual, Mistress Lilywynn.” smiled Eidyn to the girl. “I seldom falter in the tasks I undertake.”

  Lilywynn flushed slightly then turned to Sprig.

  “Prepare to leave. Jenpry must be informed of the developments.”

  The tiny man bowed to Lilywynn and in a flash ran through a service exit and vanished. Macin stepped back upon the platform steps and turned to face the room.

  “And so old alliances are rekindled and new ones are formed.” he said thoughtfully. “The return of my son is bittersweet. I grieve for a life of friendship lost, a life of squandered opportunity
.

  However, his appearance fills me with hope. Our eyes are opened to the real dangers we face and the true friends we possess. I fear that even with the help of the Elves and Sprites, our militia will be desperately overmatched against a combined force of Ulrog and Keltaran in the West.”

  “That is why I intend to man the front lines with trained troops.” stated Prince Manfir.

  General Wynard grimaced and glanced at Granu.

  “I see you put some trust in the words of this ... of Prince Granu.” said Wynard nodding to the giant. “But to pull support from the North is a death sentence to the men you leave behind. We cannot afford to thin our ranks along the Scythtar.”

  “I will require none of your veterans for support, General Wynard. The king is absolutely right. You must pull back toward the Capitol and wait. My militia will be supported by the Rindoran Spear.”

  “What!?” exclaimed Macin.

  Manfir turned to his father.

  “The treaty states a member of the royal house of Zodra may call upon the Spear for support.” stated Manfir. “I chose to invoke that treaty several days ago.”

  Macin scowled and reddened.

  “They have sat on their precious boulder for centuries allowing us to protect them! They can stay there and rot for all...”

  “Macin.” interrupted Ader smiling. “You’ve made such tremendous strides today. Don’t allow an old, childish rivalry to surface and deny Zodra the help of a well trained, willing ally.”

  The king quieted and clenched his teeth. After a moment he sighed and nodded to Ader.

  “You are right, Seraph. The river folk did naught but honor a treaty that has existed for centuries. We need them.” mumbled Macin turning to Manfir. “How is the old fool? Does he realize what he has committed to?”

  “If he doesn’t, she will school him on all he needs to know.” stated Manfir smiling.

  Macin’s eyes lit up at the reference to Queen Lucyn. He looked past his son, lost in revelry.

  “Remarkable woman.” murmured Macin. “So like your mother. A true pair of gems they were.”

  Manfir’s head dropped slightly.

  “Yes, father.” replied the prince softly.

  Macin snapped out of his memories and looked to his son.