by Candy Rae
Immediately,” answered the General and clicked his fingers to summon his Orderly Officer. He drew him to one side and they began to talk. After a while the young officer saluted and left.
“We meet them at Washington then?” asked General Karovitz. “We can’t hope to stop them, there are too many.”
“But we can slow them down; give the population every chance either to get to the coast or to fortify their manors and castles.”
Peter Duchesne had not yet informed his officers about the existence of the Dglai. He knew that if the Dglai did exist, neither walls nor water would save the people but he was still not a hundred per cent convinced about the truth of the information Susyc Julia had sent him. They have quite enough to be dealing with for the moment. Time enough if it happens. The situation is certainly grave enough.
He coughed and began to expand on his initial orders. “Gardiner will fortify his side of the River Murdoch. We will fight a delaying action, several delaying actions I should say and tactically withdraw towards the bridge. Once we are across; the bridge will be destroyed like the others.”
“If there are enough of us left by then,” noted General Ross. “Have you heard from Duchesne and Graham?”
“They’ll hold. They know the Larg must not reach the Island Chain. Now order your men to march once more Gentlemen, I’d hate to be late for the party!”
* * * * *
Elliot and Robain
Elliot and Robain were discussing their future plans when Duke William burst into their chamber.
“I’ve received a message from Fort,” he cried. “Rebellion!”
“Rebellion?” asked Elliot, “the Regiments?”
“No My Prince, they left Fort some days ago. All I know that the Citadel is closed and under armed guard.”
“Has my Father closed the Citadel?” asked Elliot who in that moment realised what it meant when someone said ‘my blood is running cold’.
“The messenger did not know,” answered Duke William. “The message was rather confused, but it appears that armed men, perhaps in South Baker livery are securing the river area and are rounding up all those whose sympathies are, shall we say, with us northerly dukes.”
“The Lord Marshall was right then” said Robain, looking at Elliot’s stricken face.
“I fear so,” replied the Duke with a sympathetic glance at Elliot.
“My Father? The King? My mother and sisters?”
“I do not know, the messenger only just got out before the gates were closed.” He turned to Robain to explain further and to let Elliot have a little time to gather his wits together. “One of my vassals is there, guarding the Duchesne interests when Conclave is not in session. The messenger is a member of his household. He believes my man has been taken but is not certain.”
“My uncle is planning a coup!” declared Elliot, jumping to the same conclusion that William Duchesne and Robain had reached moments earlier.
“Not planning it, doing it. Rumour is that Xavier is planning to secede the southerly duchies from the Kingdom and declare himself King of South Murdoch.”
“I don’t understand,” said Elliot, “why now, with the Larg about to attack us?”
“Because he knows neither I nor my ducal neighbours can do anything to stop him - during the present crisis,” said Duke William with suppressed anger, “and he doesn’t believe in the Dglai. I wouldn’t put it past him to have come to some sort of accommodation with the Largan either.”
“What can I do?” asked Elliot, looking at Duke William and Robain in turn.
“We continue as if nothing has happened,” said the Duke. “The Larg are coming, I must protect my people. You cannot go to Fort now Elliot, you must stay here with the army. Once this is over we can ride south to the rescue of your mother and sisters.”
Elliot shook his head. “I understand my Father is most probably dead. He would never agree to abdicate his rights over any part of his Kingdom. I realise that I cannot do anything to help my mother and sisters, but if my father is dead …”
“You don’t know that ,” said Robain.
Elliot thrust his chin out, “if my father is dead then I am Crown-Prince, if he is not then I am still Prince-Heir. My duty is clear.”
He turned to Duke William. “How long would it take Robain and I to get to Sahara?”
“Sahara? Well, about five to seven days on fast horses. What makes you want to visit Sahara?”
“I’m going to free the slaves,” said Elliot surprising the Duke of Duchesne almost out of his skin. “I’m going to take them to the Citadel, gathering up as many as want to join me and free what’s left of my family. No point bringing them here, by then your battle will either be won or lost. Then I’m going to go out and save as many people as I can. I could stay with you My Lord Duke, fight with you but here I’m just another soldier and a young and experienced one at that. There I can make a difference and even if it is a little difference, it is better than none at all.”
“I see,” said Duke William, “so you are just going to ride down there and declare that all slaves are free?”
“In my father’s name.”
“There are guards, overseers, even some estates of the minor nobility. You think they will let you take their slaves and do nothing?”
William Duchesne looked to Robain for support. The Duke honestly believed that what Elliot was proposing was a form of self-suicide.
Robain said precisely nothing and would not meet William Duchesne’s eye. All his attention was on Elliot.
“They will when I tell them that the Larg kohorts are on their way,” said Elliot. “Now, James, Robain and I must leave immediately. Where is James? I haven’t seen him since breakfast.”
“Neither have I,” agreed Robain, “strange, he’s usually hanging around.”
“There was another messenger,” said Duke William, “last night, from his uncle of Cocteau. I saw no reason why James should not be permitted to see him.”
“He will have gone to Cocteau,” declared Elliot in a dull voice and an angry glint. “His uncle has called him home to help with the secession and he has gone. I thought he was my friend. My mistake. Philip Ross warned me, he said blood is thicker than friendship. Robain and I will go to Sahara alone.”
* * * * *
Julia
“That’s Lindar Hanei reporting in,” announced Alyei.
Julia looked up, “already? They’ve made good time. How many Alyei?”
“Sadei, their Susa, tells me that they are a thousand strong,” he answered her question in an impressive voice, “two hundred more than would be usual.”
“The two hundred?” asked Sindal of Alyei. Sindal and his Lind Tanya should have been retired but Julia had made the pair responsible for both calculating the numbers coming in to swell the ranks of the Armies of the North and for arranging the supplies needed to feed them. They had been 2IC Vada in the years before Davin and Razdya.
“A hundred and fifty ltsctas, all of at least twelve summer seasons old and fifty older, returning to the Lindar,” answered Alyei.
“Right.” Sindal did some rapid calculations and glanced over at the timetable attached to a portable notice board on which were affixed the details of the travel arrangements south for the myriad parts of the army. “There’s a spare slot for them to start over the Island Chain first thing in the morning.” He turned to Tanya.
: Tanya, would you tell Sadei that they will begin their crossing at dawn please? Then perhaps you would go and take them to Clearing C, its empty right now, where they can rest and get a meal before their journey? I’ll let you know who will welcome them in the south once I’ve been on touch with Fastia and Xlei. They’re in charge of the escorts from the beach to the staging area in Duchesne :
: Wilco : she agreed and moved away out of the temporary command tent. The day was windy and Julia had been forced under canvas after the boards and papers had begun to fly away.
“Yet another Lindar bringing i
n more than we had estimated,” noted Julia to Sindal, “and Lindars Xya and Zalya have brought eight hundred each.”
“They are aware of the seriousness of the situation,” said Sindal with a grimace of acceptance, “though I deplore the need, we should be grateful.”
“I deplore the need all right. Some of the younger cadet duos are very young, although the human parts are at least fourteen but a few of their Lind haven’t quite reached fourteen summer seasons either. However, when Alyei and I heard that the rtaths were sending their over twelve’s we could not hold them back at Vada. This isn’t a battle but an all out war and our survival is at stake.”
Sindal nodded and leaned across to update his deployment charts.
* * * * *
The Lindar
Sadei, Susa of the Lindar of rtath Hanei led his nine hundred and ninety-nine warriors into Clearing C and looked approvingly at the meal awaiting them, a huge mound of new-killed zarova.
It had proved impractical for live meat to be provided in the numbers required so wagons had been hired from the nearby farmers to bring the food from the butchering area to where it was needed. The Lind preferred to make their own kills but speed and necessity meant this was impractical for now quite apart from the fact that driving herds of live kura and zarova through the trees would have been a recipe for chaos.
Sindal was a practical man.
“Roots and greens will arrive soon,” Sindal’s Tanya informed Sadei. The Lind, like humans, ate a varied diet of meat, cereals, roots and greens, as well as fruit when in season; unlike the Larg whose diet was predominantly protein heavy.
“Thank you,” Sadei said to the elderly Lind. Tanya was pure white and this demanded the respect due to her years, and not only as an honourably retired vadeln of the Vada and veteran of many a fight against the mountain predators and pirate raiders.
“I will return when the sun rises,” Tanya said as she prepared to return to Sindal.
“We will be ready,” promised Sadei, “but before you leave could I ask you about something that has been worrying me.”
“If I can answer I will,” she replied.
“Do you know how Susyc Julia and Alyei intend to use our younger warriors?”
Tanya nodded, “the fourth ryz?”
“Yes.”
Tanya did her best to allay his concerns.
“They will be used as support, Sadei, that I can promise you. They will not be fighting in the front lines of the battle unless …”
“I understand,” said Sadei with relief, his fears partly put at bay. Susyc Julia understood. If the young had to fight it would because the north was losing the battle. Julia would not insist that the part-trained fourth ryz of his Lindar meet the demented and battle crazy charges of the Larg kohorts unless she had to.
That was why it was the Susa of the Vada who always commanded the Armies of the North and not the Garda Field Marshall who did not have experience of the Lind, or one of the Lindar Susas who had little or no experience of humans.
“I will see you with the sun,” said Tanya and left the members of Lindar Hanei to eat their meal.
* * * * *
Niaill
Niaill and Taraya splashed on to the rocky beach as they led the First Ryzck ashore.
: The welcoming committee is waiting, I see : Niaill made the comment.
: I do see : replied Taraya and added, surprised : it doesn’t smell any different! :
: Why should it? Salt air, rock-pools and seaweed smell the same the world over :
: Perhaps : She sounded disappointed. She stopped and began to shake the water off her paws, one at a time, as they waited for the other thirty-four vadeln of the Ryzck to catch up.
: I don’t look my best : she complained : I’m all covered in sand, my fur is all matted and I don’t smell nice. I could do with a bath in some fresh clean water :
: Vain woman : teased Niaill, who knew his Taraya : perhaps later :
: I think I’ll have to insist :
: Lets get the greetings over with first shall we? :
: Very well : replied Taraya with a flicking flounce of her tail : the others are here now :
Niall glanced up the beach to where ‘the welcoming committee’ stood waiting, four men and two Lind. The two latter must be the Avuzdel Julia had told him about and who had relayed Duke William’s message that the Armies of the North would be welcome in his Duchy.
: Who are the men? : asked Taraya as she began to walk up the beach towards them.
: Duke William will be one, he’s that fair haired one at the front if the descriptions are to be believed. The other with the same hair is likely to be his son, the Duke-Heir, name’s William too. As for the other two, I have no idea. Probably retainers of some sort. Tell the others to stay well back. I think it best if we make the first contact ourselves, less threatening :
: I am sensing nothing but relief from the men and Baltei and Jilesei are relaxed. They wouldn’t be here and be so if there was any danger. Baltei tells me that it is the Duke and his son. The other two are senior vassals of his whatever that means :
She stopped just in front of the six and Niaill dismounted.
“Duke William?” he greeted the tall fair man. Now that he was closer Niaill saw that his short hair was greying at the temples. “I am Ryzcka Niaill of the Vada First Ryzck. I bring greetings from Susyc Julia.” He bowed.
“I am Taraya, also Ryzcka of the First Ryzck,” Taraya said, determined not to be outdone. “I bring greetings from Alyei, also Susyc.” She inclined her head towards him, her furry ears cocked forward.
Duke William also bowed.
“Welcome to Duchesne,” he said, straightening up. He snuck a short glance over at the First Ryzck. “I was expecting more of you.”
“We’re only the first of the advance party,” Niaill explained. “The Fourteenth Ryzck should be here in a bell or so, but you say candle-mark here do you not? After them will come the Thirty-third and the Fifty-first and then the cadets who will help direct the rest of the army to the staging area.”
“When do I meet Susyc Julia?” asked the Duke.
“Her second-in command, Ryzcka Davin and his Lind Razdya are due here first thing in the morning. He brings the first of the Lindars. Julia should arrive the day after. She and Alyei left Settlement for the Island Chain this morning. She is most desirous to meet you.”
“And I am, as are the rest of my War Guard. It is a novel situation for them to be under the direct command of a woman.”
“The first transports containing battalions of Garda and Militia are due at the port tomorrow,” Niaill continued, ignoring the Duke’s comment, “You are ready for them?”
“Baltei here informed me that they were coming,” Duke William answered. “The people who are being evacuated will be ready.” Thus Duke William forestalled Niaill’s next question. “The jetties have been emptied of all shipping and the dock-hands warned so the transports can sail straight in.”
“The staging area?” asked Niaill.
The younger William Duchesne coughed. “It’s ready too,” he told Niaill. “Also the routes from port and beach to the staging area have been marked out with white flags. The escort has been detailed.”
“The staging area is on some farmland to the south of the town,” his father added.
“Horses and carts are also waiting to help transport the equipment,” continued the young man, “and we’ve been gathering together as many cattle as we can persuade the local farmers to provide. Baltei said they would be needed.”
“He actually said that the Lind eat rather a lot,” interrupted Duke William with a laugh, “we thought it best to be prepared.”
With that laugh the strained atmosphere began to thaw.
“There are transports containing dead and live meat on their way,” smiled Niaill, “Susyc Julia is very aware of how much food is required. She doesn’t want to cause resentment as her army eats you out of house and home.” : Taraya, tell a
ll the Ryzck but Alfei and Deby to go to the dom. Follow the white flags. Any problems report to Alfei. We stay here with the Duke :
Niaill turned to Duke William, “sir, do you wish to remain here to welcome the others as they come in?”
Duke William grinned at Niaill, “I wouldn’t miss this experience for all the kala in the south.”
: I take it that was a yes : laughed Taraya.
* * * * *
The Prince-Duke
Xavier was restless. He paced up and down the opulent chamber, one of the main royal retiring rooms in the new palace.
He was a King, admittedly not of the entire Kingdom of Murdoch, only of the southerly duchies but he wasn’t going to lose any sleep over that. His hated brother was dead, his heir a boy of eighteen and who would be able to do nothing to stop his uncle’s advance to power.
He had the support of the southerly dukes and the northerly dukes would soon be embroiled in this crisis with the Larg. By the time it was resolved he would have consolidated his power-base and it would be too late to attempt to oust him.
Xavier would come to an accommodation with his nephew Elliot in due course and Elliot might get himself killed and then Xavier would be able to do what he wanted. He had in his possession Elliot’s three sisters.
A thought struck Xavier, perhaps he should marry the elder of the three? She might be his niece but he was confident that the Church could be ‘persuaded’ to lift the rules of impediment, but even better, he could marry his son to the younger niece, which would unite the duchies again. He would send the two elder girls to a convent, one of the Thibaltine houses by choice. Yes, that was the better option.
