Shortly after that, a band of five riders passed them. Later in the afternoon, they stopped to help another wagoner repair a broken axle. Nothing else of significance happened that day or night. Both Bernard and Karel insisted on standing watch, claiming that they felt nearly as good as new, though Zoran doubted that very much. Both were still healing, but he allowed them to stand watch.
Mid-morning, they finally left the Dark Woods proper behind them. While there were still plenty of patches of forest, the dim daylight was now replaced by sunshine, and the peaks in the distance quite visible and spectacular. Zoran found himself frequently gazing at them. This Brn country was very picturesque.
During their last day of travel, several lighter wagons passed by them on their way into Brn, while several heavily laden wagons lumbered on past them coming from Brn. Three sets of riders also past by them as well. At no time did Zoran get any sense that trouble was near at hand. At last, they rode into Brn late Saturday afternoon. Inside the gates, a dozen city guards took over for them.
“I’ll get rid of the horses and stuff for us; meet you at the tower,” Jarka suggested. Bernard volunteered to lend her a hand.
“We want gems please, pretty green ones,” Renata called out to Jarka.
“Make mine clear gems,” Emil added. Jarka smiled; they would be small ones, unless these horses were worth more than her initial guestimate. At suppertime, Jarka joined them in the tower.
“Okay, we got around eight hundred gold pieces worth from all their stuff. That amounts to one hundred fourteen for each of us. We were able to pick up seven gems worth about a hundred each. So here, have your pick. Each pouch has fourteen gold coins in it.” She dumped seven glittering gems onto the table.
“Ah, so small,” Renata sighed, as she picked up an emerald.
“How big did you want it?” Jarka teased her.
“Oh, this big,” Renata put her hands together, indicating a softball size. Everyone roared with laughter.
“You’ll need five thousand times more gold pieces than we got today to get one that size,” Jarka estimated for her.
“Oh! Ah well, this is very pretty, and it is my first, very own gem. I love it. Thank you Jarka,” Renata bubbled, very pleased with her small emerald.
Now the team went back to their studies once more.
Chapter 7 Sholov Province
Archmage Milos walked into the Baron’s War Room, a windowless, heavily guarded square room, located deep within Castle Dorumova’s walls. Metal shielding lined the walls to prevent mental spying by other Duskas. Metal tended to block their telepathy, or so the Baron had long ago decided. At least it did for him. Actually, Milos was responding to the Baron’s summons.
Milos closed the door behind him and sealed it. Baron Kazimir was talking with his top general, Bor Wenceslas. On a large table was a mockup of the Sholov Province and the fortress-castle Mik, where Warlord Mikolas ruled the province. Well, not for much longer, Baron Kazimir was making his last minute preparations for his assault on Sholov. Milos studied the three dimensional map, noting where the warlord’s fortifications were located and where the Baron’s powerful army was currently stationed. The fortifications he himself had worked out, having made numerous flights over Sholov Province while Invisible. Milos observed that none of the small army men and pieces of equipment had been moved from their previous positions. He took this as a good sign. The Baron was not changing plans at this late date.
“Ah, Milos. Thank you for coming on such short notice. We are ready to begin the assault on Sholov Province. General Bor wants to move the launch date up one week. He believes that spies have already gotten our planned staring date back to Mikolas, so this move may take him by surprise.”
“I told you that we should have used magic to locate those spies before they could elude our borders,” Milos replied, feeling that his previous position in this spy matter was now vindicated. The general overruled him, believing that his scouts could intercept the spies while they were en route back to Sholov Province.
“Hell, it doesn’t matter one iota whether we attack today, next week, or next month!” Baron Kazimir bellowed boastfully. “Mikolas will be crushed utterly. Now then I have two questions for you, well three really. Are your Mages ready to hit the field?”
“Aye, the seven are packed and awaiting your orders. I believe that they are anxious to show you and the world the kind of destruction that they can wreak on stonework,” Milos answered.
“Good, good. Now then, is Radek really ready? He’s insisting on personally commanding a regiment himself, but how goes his magic training? I don’t want to risk him if he is not up to Mage standards.”
“I believe that I have taught him everything that he can learn. He is not the most intelligent Duska I ever taught, which is limiting his ability to grasp the top power spells. So yes, I cannot teach him anything further. Your daughters, they still have a year to go.” He knew that the Baron cared little for them; his only plans for them were to marry them off in some manner that benefitted him with stronger alliances. The Baron grimaced at the notion that his favored son and appointed heir, Radek, was not so bright. Yet, he knew this to be true; his facial muscles tightened and then relaxed. There was nothing he could do about that, unless he wanted to take another wife and try again, but then there was the age problem. He was now approaching sixty. Even if he did manage to remarry and father another boy child, he would be long dead before the boy reached adulthood and would very likely be assassinated long before then. No, it was Radek or nothing and certainly not the bastard son, Zoran, who had run away like the true coward that he was. Pity the assassins had failed, he thought.
“Your third question, Baron?” Milos nudged him, after two minutes of silence filled the room.
“Oh, any news on where that cowardly bitch of a son of mine has disappeared to?”
“No, no trace of him as yet. Spies are alert for his appearance in all of the Courts. Nothing as yet. I will let you know the moment he is spotted.”
“Good. Good. One day I will beat some sense into that fool of a kid! Now where were we? Oh, yes, launch date will be on Sunday. Have the Mages report to General Bor’s field position by seven a.m. That will be all.”
“Aye, Baron.” Milos unsealed the door and left, casting a Mystical Door back to his tower adjacent to Castle Dorumova.
On the 1st of July, Baron Kazimir donned his finest military uniform, assisted by his wife, Katerina. He had gained some weight since he last wore it two years ago, and she had to make some last minute adjustments, which only aggravated him further. Radek knocked and was allowed into their quarters. “Hi dad. How do I look?” He wore a very fancy uniform, green with red stripes, befitting a field commander.
“Just great son. Do me proud, son, but don’t take chances. You are the heir to the throne. I ought to have my head examined for allowing you onto the battlefield,” the Baron argued.
“Yes, dad, yes. If you don’t, how will I ever gain the firsthand experience and knowledge that one day I will need when you are gone and I have to tackle the unconquered provinces that remain, eh?” His mother gave him a stern look, indicating that his father was not in the best of moods at the moment. He changed his tact. “Sure dad. I will be extra careful, and you, you be careful too. I don’t want anything to happen to you just yet. While I know all the magic I need, I am still learning how to manage a whole army from you. So please stick around a while longer, dad.” He grinned and knew that he’d just pleased his father. Radek knew just how to handle the old man. He’d had years of practice doing it.
“There, now you are all tucked in,” Katerina declared. “Off you boys go to have your little battle. Please be careful and not get hurt.” She kissed both men. The Baron resisted making a snide comment; the Baroness was often “not all there,” when it came to matters beyond the simple managing of the castle life. Perhaps that was a result of the bad spill she had taken many years ago, when her horse had stumbled and broken its leg. She�
��d hit her head on some rocks and had never been quite the same since. He’d never say it out loud, but she was now very dim-witted, bordering on ignorant. Ah well, she was still good in bed and dressed up nicely for the formal affairs. Indeed, she still got numerous comments about her beauty when she appeared at these affairs.
The two men did a very short Shadow Walk and stepped into General Bor’s tent. Shortly after that, Commander Radek stepped into his own field tent, where his aides were awaiting his arrival. Radek had one thousand men under his direct command. Good seasoned soldiers, well-armed, and well-armored. One handed him his field glasses and Radek surveyed the enemy’s position across the valley from his position. Between them, a V-shaped valley with steep sides lay; a small river flowed at the very bottom.
Radek was on the far left flank of the main assault, which would be focused on the barrier wall erected to prevent the Baron from entering Sholov Province by the main mountain road. Radek’s task was simple. Once that wall had been breached, Mikolas would certainly begin pulling his troops garrisoned here across from Radek on down to help fight the Baron’s main army. Radek would then assault their position, overrun it, and begin a sweep of his own, marching towards the rear of the enemy troops on the march to stop the Baron’s advancing army.
Baron Kazimir never told Radek that this particular assignment was not very dangerous and that in all likelihood the troops he would be facing would head south to help stop the Baron’s forces. If he did manage to get his regiment down to join up with the Baron’s main army, there would be plenty of glory for the commander. If he did not succeed, nothing much would be said, except that they met heavier than anticipated resistance.
The real battle would take place first at the fortified barrier wall, where the team of seven Mages would attempt to breach the stone wall and gates. Of course, if Mikolas had any Mages on his side, they would counterattack the Baron’s Mages. By all reports, Warlord Mikolas had only one Mage with him. Thus the odds were heavily in the Baron’s favor.
The Baron, resplendent in his uniform, saluted his men and bowed to his team of Mages. He decided against giving any last minute speech; he had already let it be known that he was offering a reward of ten thousand gold pieces for the man who brought him the head of Mikolas. That should ensure an otherwise certain victory. He raised his right hand high and then brought it down sharply, the signal to commence the battle for Sholov Province. It was ten in the morning.
His Mages teleported to their positions, and from General Bor’s tent he could see the thousands upon thousands of his men marching down the mountain side or riding down the road, all bent upon smashing through the barrier wall on the opposite side of the steep sided gorge. Soon, mighty explosions were heard as his Mages began detonating their spells against the granite stone of the walls and the heavy, iron re-enforced pine gates. Arrows filled the air like a summer’s rain, falling down at last onto the Baron’s men. While it was impressive, the arrows had little effect on the heavily armored shock troops that the Baron placed here at his spearhead assault.
General Bor had two thousand cavalrymen at the ready. The moment the shock troops smashed their way through the barrier, the cavalrymen would charge and create a massive breakthrough. The main foot soldier army, another five thousand strong, would follow along behind, dragging the large siege engines needed to assail the mountain fortress-castle wherein Warlord Mikolas was sure to hold up.
Among the many officers, a betting pool had sprung up on just how soon the battle would be over. One month was the going favorite; however both one week and three months had the highest payout odds. Baron Kazimir had placed a bet on one month.
All the rest of the morning, explosive detonations echoed though the valley, as the Baron’s Mages did their work thoroughly. Early reports came back. The opposition Mage was killed after he had killed one of the seven. Now the six had an unimpeded opportunity to smash the barrier to rubble, which they enjoyed doing.
At noon the shock troops stormed through the many breeches, and the battle for Sholov Province began in earnest. It was not until three in the afternoon that Radek spied large troop movements on the opposite side of the gully. As predicted, they were making haste to help stop the Baron’s shock troops. Radek gave his first official battle command, and his regiment headed on down the gully.
By suppertime, the battle broke off for the day. The Baron’s forces had suffered their first setback. “Spike jacks, sir,” the field messenger reported. Evidently, the entire land just beyond the barrier wall had been filled with steel spikes, like a child’s jacks. When his shock troops attempted to crossover them, the sharp spikes often punctured their boots, laming them completely. Fully five hundred shock troops were being treated. Worse, many of these spikes appeared to have been poisoned! Thus, many of these top fighters were not expected to live!
“Well, that was a surprise move,” General Bor explained over dinner with the Baron. “Got to give Mikolas some credit; he is a brilliant warlord. Tomorrow we will deal with these spike jacks. Have no fear, Barron.”
“Well, take your time, General Bor. If you had conquered the whole province in a week, I would have lost a fortune on the betting. I’m holding out for one month.” Bor laughed heartily; he, too, had placed a wager on one month’s duration for the war.
Chapter 8 Revelations and Actions
On the first of July, Rayna contacted Zoran. Happy birthday, baby brother! How are you?
Thanks. Doing fine. Miss you and Lida. How’s everything? Keeping up with your magic studies?
All fine here. Baron has launched his war against Sholov Province this morning. Radek is now a field commander. Maybe we will get lucky and both will get killed.
Ah, not likely, they are Duska too. Wishful thinking. I’m into the midrange spells now, making really good, fast progress, according to the Archmage at least.
From her tone, he knew that she was impressed. Wow, you have caught up to us, Zoran! That makes you at least a whole year ahead of the usual training level around here. Excellent progress. Wish we could come and get trained with you. Lida has been having strange dreams. He sensed that there was something far more ominous that mere dreams behind her simple message.
Can you tell me about them? Have you had them too? Please, be honest with me. I can’t look out for you from so far away, but I will try, sis.
She — she is seeing mom falling and falling. Lida thinks that mom is going to die somehow.
Baroness Katerina was not quite all there after her head wound; Zoran knew that his mother had not recovered at all well. That was plainly obvious to everyone. Her passing would be a blessing for her in many ways. She no longer could Shadow Walk or even cast any spells, not even Clean. About all she did was look petty for the Baron, not a life for a true Duska. Zoran sensed there had to be more to this. Is this all that Lida has been dreaming about, sis?
Well, no, not really. She was hesitant, so Zoran sent her a feeling of calmness and tranquility, an image of the white swans floating on the reservoir beside their castle. He sensed Rayna sighing. She is seeing something happening to the Circle of Ascension, all the Circles of Ascension, Zoran, all of them. Something strange, something powerful, but she cannot tell what. You know the priests, they never tell us anything, though Lida has asked them about it. I’m sure is it really nothing. Should I try joining with her when she is having another one of her dreams, Zoran?
Sure, why not. Let me know all the details. It may, as you say, be nothing at all. Then again, it might be important. Who can say? Probably it is just her imagination running a bit wild —you know, with the Baron on his insane conquer the world trip and all that. Thousands more are going to die this month. God, the blood that is on his hands and soul!
We know, Zoran. How can we keep all that blood off of us? I feel so horrible about it. So many innocent families are going to suffer. I hate the summers now; that’s when he fights his battles.
I know, but then half of the other barons are doing m
uch the same on their worlds too, Rayna. Have faith; someday something will change. The Baron cannot live forever.
Yes, but Radek is following in his footsteps. One tyrant replaces another. That always seems to be the way of things. Yes that cycle did seem to perpetuate itself among the ruling houses, Zoran noted. What could he say to make her feel better? Alas, he could think of nothing. A long pause followed. I’ll let you get back to your studies. I just wanted to say happy birthday, little brother. Love you.
Thanks, love you too, Rayna.
“Hey, you looked like you were off in dream land or something,” Zdenka whispered to him. They were studying away, now up on the third floor with the many other advanced apprentices. Ever since they had returned from their guard duty errand, they had been allowed up here. The more advanced spell materials and texts were housed here on the third floor. Still, the Archmage kept their group isolated from her other students, though Zoran had no idea why. Marek did give them a clue, however. One evening he mentioned slyly that their team was progressing almost three times as fast as all the previous groups the Archmage had trained or was training. Zoran then wondered why the rush.
“It’s my birthday,” he admitted. “My sister sent me a message just then, wishing me a happy birthday. Nothing important, really,” Zoran replied.
“Gang, it’s Zoran’s birthday today!” Zdenka playfully called out.
Jarka couldn’t resist and started to sing “Happy Birthday to you.” Soon they all got in on it, hamming it up, much to Zoran’s embarrassment.
“Okay, now you’ve gone and done it. Just you wait until I find out when all of your birthdays are, then you’ll get it!” he threatened jokingly. Everyone laughed and returned to their studies. Today, they were learning how to create a Killing Cloud, which was a fog-like cloud whose vapors poisoned all living creatures that breathed it into their lungs. It was a nasty spell indeed.
Zoran Chronicles Volume 1 A Dragon in Our Town Page 9
