Looking west as the road climbed upward, he gazed out over the deeply wooded hills and hollows that separated Wallensia from the distant green vale of Elam. Panax, ancient city of evil machinations, was down there to the southwest, lost among the towering hardwoods that even after so many centuries were loath to encroach upon its vile limits. Ahead of them, the road wound gradually up and through a low, wide pass. An hour or so past mid-day, they crossed over the crest of the height and shortly afterward looked out over the tumbling hills to their front upon the barrenness of the valley of the dry lake shimmering in the far distance with the deep green of Cumberland barely visible off to the left.
Where the road wound laterally over a long ridge and out onto a rocky plateau before beginning its descent toward a long defile that led out to the valley, Aram drew the company to a halt.
“This is now the border of our land,” he stated to the others. “Wallensia is behind us, Cumberland is before us and Elam is to the west.” Looking around, he studied the ground. The crest of the line of hills was a few miles behind them. To the right, eastward, as well as to their front, the wooded slope ran on for a few hundred yards and then fell away rather steeply. Less than a hundred yards to the left, westward, the road began its long, slow descent into the bottom of the ravine where a small seasonal stream erupted from several springs in the stony hillsides and flowed away toward the valley.
“We’ll build an outpost right here,” he announced. “A small fortress which we will keep permanently garrisoned. Does anyone see any tactical weakness in doing so? Examine the ground – give me your best judgment.”
Slowly, the others looked around and then scattered, moving toward the edges of the plateau and gazing back toward the distant heights and down along the hollow that led to the valley of the dry lake. As the others moved away, Aram sent a thought up into the blue.
“Are you there, Lord Alvern?”
“As always, my lord,” came the eagle’s reply.
“Where is Kipwing?”
“My grandson is to the north,” Alvern answered. “In the skies above the plains, as you instructed him.”
Aram acknowledged this gratefully. “Good. Any movement of the enemy?”
“He reports that there are only trains of wagons, going to and from Elam, my lord. But they no longer use the road through the gap to your front. These days, since the battle, they take the longer route down across the south and west of the plains, westward through Aniza and thence into Elam from the northwest.”
Aram smiled grimly. Though it disheartened him to hear that Elam yet provided his enemy with the wombs of innocent young women, nonetheless it pleased him to hear that at the least his enemy was inconvenienced as he continued his evil pursuits.
He stared into the north where, far away across the rocky brown hills beyond the valley of the dry lake, his gaze could just resolve the southern reaches of the vast rolling green of the great plains. After staring into that far distance for a few moments, he dropped his gaze closer to the hills across the way. He would have preferred to establish his frontier there, at the northern end of the gap that led to the plains. But the issue of Elam was unresolved, and Cumberland, though not unfriendly, could not at this time be considered an ally. He returned his attention to Alvern, sailing high in the sky above him.
“I want to build an outpost here, my friend, to guard the borders of our land. But that will take time and is not likely to be done inside this year. In the meantime, I must keep the people behind me safe. I want your people, the hawks and any eagles in this region, to be our eyes and ears on this border. I must know immediately if agents of the enemy approach this road.”
“You will know at once, Lord Aram,” the eagle promised. “Are there not also many wolves in the countryside round about?”
“Yes,” Aram affirmed. “But their focus will remain on Elam.” He considered for a moment. “Talking of Elam, my friend, I know that you have instructed the hawks to watch that land, but I would greatly appreciate it if you would also turn your eyes upon it from time to time and keep me informed as to what occurs there. I trust your judgment above all others, and I want no surprises from that quarter. But I wish to know what occurs inside that land as well, among its various peoples, especially in those provinces of which Prince Marcus told you.”
“Will you now turn your attention to Elam, my lord?” The eagle inquired.
“Soon, yes – I must. I cannot effectively prosecute the war against Manon with an enemy at my rear. Elam must be addressed.” But even as he gave this reply, Aram lifted his gaze once more and looked into the north at the edges of the great plains. Scattered far and wide across that vast land, there were thousands of others that yet languished in chains. And more than any other people, even more than Ka’en’s, those people were his.
38.
To Aram’s gratification, many of the people in the villages along the Stell, but especially those to the north of the ancient city, upon seeing Aram and his companions returning to them unmolested, expressed a desire to remain upon the lands they had worked as slaves and try to get used to the novel idea of being the masters of their own destinies. A good number, however, though surprisingly much less than half, opted to move across the Broad where the tribulations of their old lives would be removed to a distance and therefore rendered more easily forgotten.
After promising to send Dane with wagons and men to help them make the journey northward to the crossings of the Broad, Aram and his company returned to the fortress. Aram briefed Boman, Edwar, and all the commanders and captains on everything that had occurred in the south. Findaen was not in attendance, of course, nor, to his surprise, was Nikolus or Timmon. No one seemed to know where they had gone, but it was thought that they were in the green hills, acquiring materials for the final completion of the fortress.
After relating a summation of what the company had seen and done in its circuit of southern Wallensia, Aram also told them of his desire to construct an outpost far to the west, on the plateau overlooking the valley of the dry lake.
After listening to all of this in silence, Boman nodded his head in satisfaction. “The world of free people gets larger then, both in population and in size. That is a very good and proper thing.”
Edwar stated his agreement to this and then looked at Aram. “How productive are those farms to the south along the river, my lord?”
“It is rich ground,” Aram told him. “And I see that your thoughts match mine. We will need its produce.”
Boman frowned. “But will those that stay be enough to work it properly?”
“I think so,” Aram said after a moment’s consideration. “People tend to do better when they own that upon which they expend their labor. Besides, we will make it worth their time by trading with them for things that will serve to improve their lives and help them to comprehend and make the most of their new situation.”
When a silence had fallen, Matibar looked around and then focused on Aram. “What now, then, my lord?”
Aram met his gaze. “The first of your people should be arriving from the east soon,” he answered. “There are almost two hundred horses which have not yet chosen a mount. In a few days’ time, Findaen will take them and go to Durck with several men to begin the process of bringing Seneca north.” He paused and remembered his thoughts as he had sat atop the plateau and gazed into the north.
“We are not yet certain of what Elam will do – or what we must do about Elam,” he continued. “Alvern informed me that Elam’s tribute of women to Manon continues, but that the route has been moved westward, no doubt due to our exertions in the spring.”
He looked around, meeting every eye. “I would like to put an end to this vile commerce – for good, we can.”
Abruptly realizing that Matibar did not know of the ongoing slave trade, he gave the Senecan captain a short history of what it meant to the peoples of the west. Even before he finished, however, Matibar held up his hand.
“Lord Ara
m, I came to fight the Scourge. This traffic in innocent souls aids his cause, it is the very essence of evil, and I am all for ending it.” He frowned, and for a moment his eyes glittered hard and dark. “Besides all this though, you have a fought a great battle with the soldiers of the Scourge and driven them from the field. I came to fight but as yet have not put an arrow into a single enemy, nor have I bloodied this very fine sword which you provided me. I came to fight,” he repeated, his voice as hard as his eye, “and I’m very anxious to get on with it.”
From the other end of the table, Mallet erupted with a roar of laughter. “I like you better and better, my lad,” he said.
At this a slight grin replaced the frown upon Matibar’s face. “You will find, sir, that we Senecans will not shrink from war.”
“Alright,” Aram interjected, smiling. “Lord Alvern will keep us informed of that which occurs in Elam. Kipwing is yet over the plains.” He looked at Bowman and Edwar. “Let us rest tomorrow. On the day after we will take ten mounted men each from Duridia, Lamont, and Wallensia and go west onto the great plains to find and stop any slave trains.” After a moment’s hesitation, he added. “And it may be that we can begin to prepare the inhabitants of the villages in that land to become free.”
That evening as Aram and Thaniel approached the gates of Derosa, Aram looked down and asked him, “What do you think of my decision to renew the attacks on the slave trains?”
The horse swung his head around as he slowed his pace. “By attacking Manon’s slave trains, my lord, you will also be acting aggressively toward Elam.”
“I know.”
Thaniel waited until Aram dismounted at the gates and then turned to face him. “Young Marcus states that there is division in that land. Do you think it connected to the tribute that is paid to the grim lord?”
“I do.”
“And will attacking the trains increase the division that exists there?”
“I do not know,” Aram admitted, “but that is my hope. If I can stop the movement of slaves northward, it will undoubtedly cause strife between Elam’s High Prince and Manon, and it might give encouragement to those who oppose the tribute – and the High Prince.”
Thaniel was watching him closely. “My lord, you believe that this will be a long war, do you not?”
“Yes – five or ten years, perhaps longer. It will likely consume the better part of my life,” Aram admitted, and then he sighed. “I cannot see how it will be otherwise.”
The horse watched him for a long moment. “Five or ten years – that is the measure of much death, much separation from family and home.”
Aram’s sigh deepened as he nodded agreement. “There is no question of that.”
“Then anything that can be done to shorten it is good strategy.” Thaniel stated bluntly. “Deprive the grim lord of his spoils; create division between him and Elam and encourage the discord in that land. Any and all of these will actions might bring the end nearer.” With that, the horse turned and moved away into the evening, going toward the river.
Aram watched him go, and then gazed up into the darkling sky and wondered silently if there was anything else that could be done to shorten the war and its attendant devastation.
He found Ka’en in their room sorting clothing and other personal items on the bed.
“What is all this?” He asked.
She came to him and kissed him. As she did, her belly pressed against him, causing him to look down. “How long until –?”
She smiled. “After the summer. Sometime this fall.”
He frowned over at the piles of clothing on the bed which had the appearance of being sorted in anticipation of travel. “What happens here?”
She went quiet, watching him, and then she sat on the edge of the bed and turned her gaze out the window toward the eastern hills, just now turning purple in the twilight. “I told you that I would give birth to our first child in the city of your fathers.”
She did not look at him, but kept her gaze directed out the window, and as she did her chin lifted in quiet determination. Watching her, Aram felt the muscles of his stomach tighten. Slowly he nodded and then caught himself and shook his head instead. “I remember that you desired this, my love, but now is not a good time. Regamun Mediar is not safe.”
She turned her topaz eyes upon him. “It is as safe as any other place where you are not present. And you are away more than you are here these days.” She held up her hand to prevent his protestations. “I understand that your attention is needed elsewhere. You belong to the world – it needs you, and probably always will need you. But I am the wife of one who is descended from kings, and the mother of another. I am determined, my love. The wolves guard the northern reaches, do they not, and the hawks still patrol the skies?”
“They do,” he admitted, “but as you stated, I will not be there. Nor can I spare many men at this time. You will be safer here, with your father.”
“He is going with me,” she said.
He stared. “What’s this?”
“Father is going with me,” she repeated. Still meeting his astonished gaze, she stood. “Your ancestors were kings in Regamun Mediar, Aram. I am determined that your heir will be born there. I will not be dissuaded.”
He gazed at her for a long moment, trying to think of what he might say to change her mind, and then her words found register. His eyes widened. “Heir? Is it a boy, then?”
She laughed and her eyes brightened. “See? You are not truly a Wallensian. In my land, it is the daughter that inherits the responsibility of future rule.”
“But is it a boy?”
Her laughter deepened as she shook her head. “I do not know, my love.” Then her laughter trailed away and seriousness reasserted itself in the set of her features. Rising, she came close, took his hands and leaned back to look up into his eyes. “Whether I give you a son or a daughter, my child will be born in Regamun Mediar.”
He drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I could forbid it.”
“No.” Her topaz eyes grew sharp. “No, my love, you will not forbid this. My child will be born in our house in Regamun Mediar. I will give birth in the city of your fathers.”
Aram had always known that she was a strong-willed woman, but never before had he seen the depth of determination that shone in her eyes at that moment. In her reference to “our house”, however, he thought he saw an argument that she could not refute.
He shook his head. “I’ve done no work on the house. Even if I had the time to attend to it, I could not get it ready before fall.”
She arched her delicate eyebrows. “But you do not need to trouble yourself about that, my love – I’ve already seen to it.”
“You – how?”
She smiled. “Nikolus and Timmon have been in the valley for two weeks now, making our home ready. I described the house for them; they will know the right one.” Her eyebrows arched higher. “They are very talented in designing and constructing, you know. I believe they once built a fortress for you.”
“Yes – and it’s not completed.” For just a moment, irritation rose in him. “So, that’s where they went. How many more of my men do you send off to do your bidding? I need them, you know, all of them. We are at war.”
Her eyes clouded. “Please do not be cross with me. I only borrowed them for a time.” She sighed but the look of unassailable determination came back. She met his eyes. “I am going to give birth in that house.”
Only a few times had harsh words passed between him and his beautiful wife and he had always found it unbearable. Despite his deep concern about her decision, Aram knew that he could not sustain his anger. He released her hands, went to the chair, sat down and stared at the floor. Ka’en remained standing where he’d left her. After a long moment, he looked up at her and sighed.
“Gorfang is in the valley. I will instruct him to never leave your side. He, at least, will be overjoyed.”
“Florm and Ashal are there,” she reminded him.
“Yes,” he agreed. “They are there, and will be good company. Also, I will have Alvern place every hawk on high alert – and ask that he looks in on you as well when I cannot be there.”
Her eyes softened. “Thank you, my love.”
He nodded, in hesitant acquiescence. “I’m going into the west for a few days. Will you at least wait until my return? I want to move you and your things to the valley myself.”
She laughed. “I can wait a month, maybe two, though no longer. I can’t do anything until I’ve heard from Nikolus and Timmon, anyway.”
He grinned at her ruefully. “And that’s another thing,” he said. “I need my engineers back – when you can spare them.”
He stood and went to her, enfolding her in his arms. After some time, he leaned back and looked down at her. “You’re a determined woman, aren’t you? What else will you give me trouble about?”
Her eyes were serious – but soft – with reproof. “It is never my intention to give you trouble about anything. But this is important to me, Aram, or I would never trouble you at all. I know that you face difficulties enough.”
He let his gaze rove over the marvelous contours of her face, once again amazed that a woman as beautiful as she would love him. After a moment, he smiled.
“It is right, isn’t it, that our son – or our daughter – be born there?”
“It is,” she answered quietly. “And sometime this fall, that is what will happen.”
39 .
More than any other pursuit in his desultory life, Flinneran enjoyed snooping around in “Lord” Aram’s beautiful city of stone. He poked through the “lord’s” personal possessions – which were, in fact, few and in general, uninteresting. But there had been one big, amazing find. Tucked away beneath a crude bed in the dwelling below the tower, Flinneran found a sack of gold coins, forty-four in all.
Instinctively, he knew that it was an enormous fortune. How Aram had come by them, he had no clue. He also comprehended that Aram would not have forgotten something so valuable; no doubt he kept them hidden for future use in enhancing his “lordly” status. Though he coveted them upon sight, it was instantly obvious to Flinneran that he could not take them all. But perhaps two or three? He could not take so many that a shortage would be noticed immediately upon Aram’s return to the city, whenever that would be. With Aram’s suspicious nature and the ill will the villagers held toward him, he would be the primary target of investigation.
Kelven's Riddle Book Four Page 28
