“You want to send them back the way they came?”
He nodded. “I want them farther north and soon. We’ll send along a party to make sure they don’t get lost, but right now I think they are the least of our worries.”
“Are you going to leave anyone at this fortification?” Scarlet gestured to the stockade where they had faced the Tharan attack.
Dax nodded. “We’ll bring down the group from the other camp. That way we will have a strongpoint in the north in case some other party of Tharans just happens to be headed toward the city.”
#
They sent the Tharans on their way first thing in the morning. Immediately afterward Dax ordered his force to ride for Frohliem City. Late in the afternoon, scouts sent back word of a small mounted party headed toward them. Dax rode up to the front of the column. Shortly he saw six travelers being escorted in by two scouts. As they got closer, Dax recognized Lady Aylssandra, her maidservant, and four other men.
Dax rode up to the group, doffed his riding hat, and made a polite, horseback bow. “Lady Aylssandra. I am glad we encountered you.” She had no idea how true that statement was. She had to be connected to the Tharans they had just vanquished. He nodded deferentially again. “There are Tharans in the area, my lady.” He gestured helplessly. “We must be cautious.”
She eyed him up and down, her blue eyes dark in the shadows beneath her riding hat. Dax tried to look concerned and serious, but his palms were sweating. Although he remembered her beauty, he was not pleased by the strong effect it had on him.
Finally she smiled pleasantly. “Commander Daxdendraig.” She sounded delighted to see him. “You do turn up in the most unexpected places.” Her horse shook its head and stepped nervously to the side. Once she had quieted the animal, she looked back at Dax. “Tharans, you say?” She arched her eyebrows. “Well, I am glad you found them and warned us. We will be cautious.” Her smile was bewitching, but her words were lies. She looked down to pat her horse, but she looked back up and caught Dax’s eyes before she continued. “We were on our way to inspect cattle holdings in the northeast. My family is interested in purchasing a ranching operation. Part of my reason for being in East Landly is to evaluate estates. Although how my family will feel about acquiring a holding of their own if the borders are not secure, I cannot say.”
She was lying—every word—but what did it mean? Dax nodded courteously. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to accompany us to Frohliem City, my lady.” He made a deferential little bow in her direction. “You and your escorts will be made as comfortable as possible with what accommodations we have, but we are riding hard.”
Lady Aylssandra huffed impatiently. “My tour is much more important than your training mission. If you will not let me continue alone, then you must accompany me.”
“I am sorry, my lady, but we are no longer on a training mission.” He deliberately broke eye contact and gestured to the north. “We were attacked by a party of Tharans, and we are on a war footing. Please report to Mr. Hommer, who will see to your accommodations on the march.” He nodded respectfully and turned away. Immediately he gave the signal to resume the march. He should not take so much pleasure from Aylssandra’s obvious pique, but he hated the attraction that made him want to turn and console her.
#
At first he had thought to use the encounter with Aylssandra and her party as an excuse to stop for the evening. However, there was enough light to make a few more miles. Now he wanted to be sure Lady Aylssandra got the message that she was under his control. Under his control? He rebuked himself for the images that thought had brought to mind.
He straightened in his saddle. They had to ride on. He did not trust himself to spend a long evening in camp with the woman. Dax rejoined the huge, multilegged organism marching south toward Frohliem City. Scarlet fell in beside him. Dax nodded to his friend. After a few minutes, Dax invited him to circle back across their rear. He wanted to make sure all were on the march—especially Lady Aylssandra and her party.
“So what did the good Lady Aylssandra have to say?” Scarlet asked as they rode along.
Dax looked at Scarlet. “That she was out taking a ride to see about purchasing a farm.”
“Never would have taken her for the farming type.”
Dax smiled and shook his head. “She’s not. She lied about the whole thing—especially the part about being glad to see me.” His smile did not last. “She did answer one question I had.”
“What’s that?” Scarlet asked.
“She is almost certainly one of the reasons the Tharans were way out here where they shouldn’t be.”
“That thought crossed my mind as soon as I saw her.” Scarlet rode on in silence for a while. “So what do we do with her?”
“Do? I think taking her back to where she doesn’t want to be is just the thing. Frohliem City just staged a reception for the Tharan ambassador. I think more Tharan visitors are coming to stop by the city to say hello before long.” He nodded toward the troops riding ahead of them. “We missed the first reception, but I don’t want to miss the next one.”
#
They camped that night near a small wooded glen without fortification but with double guards. Dax wanted to get back to the city quickly. He conjured possible scenarios that might unfold in the days to come. Even though it was two days early in the normal cycle of communications, he sent the dragu Skat off that evening with another message for Renshau. A few more pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place, and Dax wanted to make sure the dragon-bound knew.
Out of courtesy Dax invited the newly arrived Lady Aylssandra to dine with the leaders once the evening meal was ready. She treated everyone with courtly politeness—even Markadamous, his family, and the other Ugori officers. Although she seemed as at ease as she had been at the prince’s party back in Frohliem City, her jaw was tight and her knuckles white as she ate.
Once the meal was finished and the group had broken up into individual conversations, Markadamous sought out Dax. “So we have to put up with Miss Pretty-Snake all the way back to the city? Why not send her off with the Tharans? That’s where she was bound.”
“I think I’d just as soon have her somewhere where I can keep an eye on her,” he replied. “Besides, I think she’s carrying information valuable to the Tharans. I’d rather not have it delivered.”
“There is that, isn’t there?” Markadamous pondered for a moment. “What do you think we’ll find when we get back to the city?”
Dax shrugged. “I can imagine all kinds of possibilities ranging from a capital in flames to business as usual, with the king saying, ‘What are you doing back so soon?’”
“That last one would be embarrassing.”
“Seeing Frohliem City in flames wouldn’t embarrass you?”
“As a soldier serving on treaty duty with the East Landly Lancers, yes.” Markadamous flashed his wolf-like grin. “But as an Ugori . . . Well, let’s just say it would warm my heart to warm my hands on that fire.”
Dax looked at him sharply. “You think the Tharans won’t look to Ugor if they take East Landly?”
Markadamous started visibly. “You really think their ambitions are that great?”
“I don’t know what to think at this point. I do know that the Tharan emperor, Darjazen, styles himself as ‘emperor of the world’ to his people.”
They continued to talk about the situation for some minutes until there was a sudden stir nearby. Dax looked up to see Lady Aylssandra and her handmaiden striding away toward their tent. The lady held her hand to her face.
Pulchra came over and sat down. She looked to Markadamous. “Well,” she said casually, “your daughter just committed an offense against a person of noble birth.”
“Pulla?” Markadamous smiled slyly. “Now what’s she done? It wasn’t that Lady Aylssandra, was it?”
Pulchra nodded. “Punched her right in the eye.”
Dax had just taken a sip from his mug, and he choked. When
he recovered, he asked, “What? Why?”
Pulchra looked at him. “The lady had been flirting with Scarlet, and our Pulla would have none of it.” She looked at her husband. “Would you have expected anything less of the girl?”
Markadamous shook his head and smiled. “No, and it’s a fair thing she didn’t have her knife handy, or there would have been blood.” He looked at Dax in appeal. “So how much trouble is the girl in?”
Dax smiled, and he spread his hands. “None at all from me.” His smile got broader, and he could no longer restrain a chuckle. “Good for her, in fact. However, I do wish she’d have waited until I could have seen it.” He thought for a minute before he went on a little more soberly. “If all is well in the city when we get there, Lady Aylssandra may choose to raise a fuss, but I would be willing to bet she won’t.”
Pulchra had heard some of Dax’s fears from Markadamous, and now she took the opportunity to question him more closely. “What are we going to do when we get back?”
“If all is well, we’ll make for our old campsite.” He paused for a moment. “I think I would like to see us dug in there.” He nodded to himself. “Once we arrive, Scarlet and I will go to the palace and see if we can see anybody.”
“Aye,” Markadamous said in agreement, “and hope to bloody hell we’re a bunch of nervous ninny hens who got themselves all a-twitter over nothing.”
Chapter 12
King Ernect Kankasi stared at his desk. He had a hundred things to do. No, make that a thousand, he thought. The Tharan army had invaded East Landly in the Chammanie Valley to the west. It was war. Pure and simple. But there were so many details he had to attend to in the next two days. He had to be ready to lead the lancers forth to meet the Tharans, but the clerks would do nothing unless he approved it first. He scowled at the paper before him, a royal order for redirection of supplies needed for the march to Drundevil Pass. He scrawled his royal signature across the bottom and impressed the royal seal over the top. The end of this first of many stacks of papers was near. He signed and sealed the last three royal orders without reading them.
He still rankled from the arrogant attitude the Tharan ambassador had displayed on their recent visit, but now he understood it. The Tharans had wanted him to sign a trade agreement guaranteed to beggar East Landly’s rich trade with West Landly. But now—now!—he understood their devious, scheming plot in full. The ambassador’s visit had been a distraction to let the cursed Tharans bring an army into his kingdom for plunder and conquest.
Kankasi rubbed his hands together in satisfaction. He would send them home in disgrace, their plans unfulfilled. The unwitting Tharans had given him a chance for undying renown. They had marched right into a time-tested trap. At its opening to the sea, the Chammanie Valley had a fine sheltered harbor, perfect for mooring an invading fleet. But using that harbor committed the Tharan forces to a long march up the Chammanie River until they reached Drundevil Pass, the only way for an invading army to get through the Kakaras Crags and into East Landly proper. Just like King Elmarak had stopped an army from Chrethold a century ago, he would lead East Landly to a historic victory on the plains of Chammanie west of the pass.
On their march the Tharans would damage the Chammanie Valley, a part of his kingdom. That troubled him. There was not much loot for plunder among the Chammanie farmers. Even their largest estates were modest compared to those on the Frohliem City side of the pass. Still the Tharans would disrupt the flow of produce to the rest of his kingdom. He needed to check with Galdage about the palace stock of honey berry preserves. He sighed and added that item to his growing list of tasks.
Kankasi hated inaction. He burned to summon forth the lancers with a wave of his hand. But he looked down and sighed in frustration. It could only be done with the wave of a pen. He had to work his way through the list of meetings Rital Llewel had given him this morning along with the stacks of royal orders. He scanned the list and sighed. So much of it made no sense. For example, next on the list, Rital insisted he take time to talk with an advisor from Iron Moor who was standing outside the chamber. Kankasi waved the man in. What could he possibly have to add to war planning?
Protocol demanded that no one speak until invited to do so by the king, so Kankasi brusquely said, “Yes, what is it?” before the advisor had even stopped and bowed.
“Your Majesty, thank you for receiving me. I have some insight to offer on the Tharan plans and some speculation on their tactics.”
The man’s confident tone irritated Kankasi. “Iron Moor keeps track of the Tharans these days?” he sniffed. “Why wasn’t I notified they were planning an invasion of East Landly?”
“No, Your Majesty. I was commander of the Ugori force who encountered the Tharans in the plains to the north of Frohliem City.”
Kankasi took a moment to study the man. He had heard the Ugori barbarians had encountered a force of Tharans where they had no business being. Ah, yes, the commander with insolent eyes. He recalled his name—Daxdendraig, the advisor from Iron Moor whom Ruprek had insisted he assign to the Ugori. Time to test the man. “So,” Kankasi smirked, “what revelations does a man from a school for boys and girls have to offer the king of East Landly?”
“If Your Majesty doubts my qualifications”—the commander sounded completely unruffled—“I would refer you to Counselor Llewel. It may give weight to my thoughts . . .” He hesitated. “My fears, about the Tharan plans.”
The man had not even blinked, and he continued to meet Kankasi’s eyes in the most impertinent manner. “Very well,” the king finally said, his nod of assent an excuse to break the uncomfortable eye contact. “What great insights do you bring that the leaders of this kingdom have not already anticipated?”
“I think the force we encountered was a back door guard intended to intercept and cause mayhem with any who would flee the city. To me that says they have great confidence they will be able to lay siege to Frohliem City.”
“Now there you are wrong,” Kankasi interrupted smugly. “The Tharans will never get within fifty miles of my city. On the third day hence, I will ride forth with the East Landly Lancers to crush them into the ground beyond Drundevil Pass. It will be a day of glory for the lancers to rival any in the history of Landly, East or West.”
The commander nodded. “With what I have seen of the lancers, I agree with you. However, it’s what I haven’t seen of the Tharans that worries me. Why would they choose this time and place? Why would they land in the Chammanie Valley?” The commander stepped to the map of the kingdom that hung on the wall. “It takes too long to stage an attack from there, and the Drundevil Pass is a natural choke point. It’s their only route from there into the heart of the kingdom.”
Did the commander know nothing? Kankasi stood up from his audience throne and joined him at the map. Irritated beyond measure, he stuck his finger squarely on the west end of the Sundering Straights. “The Gray Ramparts, sir. There is no good landing on that whole damn coast from Chammanie to Frohliem City.” He poked the map again. “Of course they had to land there in Chammanie.” He kept his words simple to make sure the man understood. Iron Moor, indeed.
“I agree, Your Majesty. However, I still have to ask, why there? Why not land the invading force on your kingdom’s gentle shores well to the east of Frohliem City where they would have more options to maneuver?”
Kankasi lost his patience with the man. “Well, my goodness, I don’t know.” His voice was heavy with sarcasm. “Maybe they are poor sailors. Maybe they couldn’t afford the passage. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter. I have to deal with them where they are.”
The commander nodded. “It’s that lack of a clear reason that bothers me. Can we afford to assume the Tharans have made such an obvious blunder?”
Kankasi struggled to keep his temper. This was ridiculous. “I, as king, have decided, and I”—he laid special emphasis on the word, enjoying his ability to speak with authority others dare not question—“don’t have time for idle specul
ation.” He returned to his throne and sat down heavily. “Do you have a proposal? If not, I must get on with my other meetings.”
“The Ugori are a highly mobile force, and they are excellent scouts. Let me send a detachment to the pass to reconnoiter. They will bring word if there is anything untoward about the Tharan invasion.”
Kankasi threw back his head and laughed. “And let that undisciplined, barbarian rabble claim any glory? Oh, I think not, Commander. I have seen quite enough of their abilities, and I have come away less than impressed.”
The commander started to say something, but Kankasi raised his hand. The man held his tongue—as well he should. “I tell you what I will do.” He smiled. “Since the Ugori were good enough to rout the Tharans in the North, you may bring along a detachment in trail of our mighty legion. Say, two or three days behind.” Kankasi smiled to himself at the thought of leaving the Ugori behind—out of sight and stepping over the lancers’ horse apples. “Who knows,” he said, “if one or two of the Tharans manage to make it through our lines, you may actually have a chance to be of assistance.”
Kankasi dismissed the man with a wave of his hand. After the leader of the troublesome rabble had gone, he unclenched his other hand and smoothed out his crumpled list. He looked at it. Still a thousand things to do. No, he corrected himself, now there were only nine hundred ninety-nine.
Chapter 13
“Thunderclouds feel better after a little lightning,” Markadamous observed.
Dax sighed and looked at the man riding next to him. “The man is an unmitigated fool.”
Markadamous nodded, and Scarlet chimed in from the other side. “While being an unmitigated ruler—bad combination.”
They rode on a little farther before Dax said anything else. “Maybe the king is right,” he offered finally. “Maybe the Tharans have bit off more than they can chew.” He scowled and studied the ground for a bit. “But are they really that stupid? Somebody needs to find out what they are up to.”
King's Dragon: Chronicles of the Dragon-Bound: Book 2 Page 17
