Aleksei looked at the little bird sharply, “What do you mean?”
Half of Parliament has disappeared. Including Chancellor Perron. All the Lords involved are landed in the southern half of Ilyar.
“And let me guess,” Aleksei muttered, “they’re rallying around Krasik?”
I read some things in Dalita that are far from encouraging, Aleksei. When I spoke with Andariana she corroborated a great deal of it. Krasik’s magic is much more fearsome than I’d first imagined.
As Aleksei listened to Jonas' description, his eyes widened in surprise, “But then why has Krasik waited to make his presence known? Why not press sooner?”
Because he wasn’t strong enough. From what I understand, surviving the power of the Zra-Uul is no small feat. This is Kholod magic. I have no idea how it ended up bound to a human host, but I think the experience nearly killed him, and he’s spent the past twenty years regaining strength, and learning.
He was never a stupid man, Aleksei, and he’s the sort to know what manner of power he commands before making his move. His sudden readiness must signal that he has a considerable grasp of his abilities.
“That would certainly support the interchange you witnessed between Krasik and Bael.” Aleksei muttered.
The only question, Jonas continued, is what they’re planning to do now.
Aleksei sighed heavily, “And that’s going to be the real trick, isn’t it? They have to make the next move for us to get a solid idea of their intentions.”
Jonas chirped irritably, I’m pretty sure I can guess at their intent, Aleksei.
The Knight shook his head, “It’s not that simple. Realizing that Emelian Krasik will stop at nothing to get Andariana off the throne is hardly enough information to prepare a defense. We have to know what they’re planning before we can begin to generate our response.
“They might attack Mornj to secure a military base of operations. It’s what I’d do if I were pressing this war. Or they might take all their available troops and drive hard for Kalinor while they think our guard is down.
“I’m not sure what kind of tactician Krasik is, or if he’s even actually in command. These are things we have to know before we can start to arrange our troops.”
Aleksei could tell Jonas was angry, but he knew the anger to be more directed at the situation than at him. Still, he knew his Magus didn’t like being corrected, even if Aleksei was right.
So, we wait for them? Jonas asked after a long moment.
Aleksei paused, “Well, not necessarily. When you found Krasik in Relvyn, did you catch sight of the Drakleyn?”
Jonas shook his head, I was on my way there, but he was on the mountain path. I didn’t get far enough into the pass to see anything.
“But there’s the possibility that some part of the structure still exists?”
Jonas shuddered and stretched his wings, I suppose so. Why?
“Because,” Aleksei said, golden eyes glimmering in the firelight, “I think we might have found our renegade nobles.”
Colonel Fredrick Rysun stood at the window, a missive from Her Majesty gripped tightly in one gloved fist. A week ago he’d fancied himself a blessed man. He’d been granted a second chance, and he intended to prove himself worthy of the Lord Captain’s faith.
But it seemed the gods were fickle in their benedictions.
He’d received the news of Lord Perron’s disappearance not an hour before men started disappearing from the garrison. At first everyone assumed they were simply out on watch duties. He should have realized the danger of desertions from the beginning.
But he’d been too trusting. He’d even sent out search parties for the missing men, thinking they’d been caught out in one of the heavy Harvest rains Mornj was suffering lately. But then the search parties had vanished as well.
Finally, the reality of the situation sank in. And now this.
While the Queen wasn’t yet asking for his head, he wondered how safe he could truly be after he’d allowed so many men to vanish without a trace.
And then there was the matter of the garrison. His force had been cut in half already, and there was no telling how many more would try to desert before all was said and done.
With so few men it would become very difficult to hold the garrison should the city come under attack. And Rysun had to believe that if so many soldiers were deserting, there was a chance they were all headed in the same direction.
His mind was awash with the logistics of holding Mornj when a knock sounded at the door.
The Colonel turned, at once hoping for and dreading another communication from the Queen. “Enter.” he said, projecting all the bravado he could muster into his voice.
The doors swung open and Rysun’s eyes widened in surprise. “L…Lord Captain!” he stammered, falling to a knee.
Aleksei swept into the room, followed by two men Rysun didn’t recognize. “Get up, Fredrick.”
Rysun stood immediately, eyes still averted at the floor, “Lord Captain, let me start by apologizing for my shameful care of this garrison and the men you placed under my command. It seems I am cursed to fail you.”
There was a pregnant pause, and he finally glanced up as the silence grew unbearable.
The Lord Captain stood stock still, his thick arms folded across his chest, “Colonel, I’d like to discuss some matters of grave importance. For starters, how long will it take to strip this garrison?”
Rysun blinked, “Lord Captain?”
“We don’t have much time, Colonel. This garrison must be stripped of its weapons and supplies, and those men who still remain loyal must be made ready to march immediately. I have no intention of handing over the most fortified structure in the South without so much as a whimper.”
Rysun tried to sort out all his questions and understand what Aleksei was telling him to do at the same time. It was not an easy task. “Begging your pardon, Lord Captain, but who is going to take the garrison from us?”
Aleksei’s golden eyes glittered, “The enemy, Colonel. All those men who have vanished in the night. Every man who flocks to join Emelian Krasik’s cause.
“The first of them will have already arrived in Krasik’s stronghold by now, and his ranks will be swelling. We need to render this garrison as defenseless as we can before they return.”
“Sir? You don’t plan to hold Mornj? To even try?”
Aleksei scowled, “Do you honestly believe we could hold this garrison? This city? We’re already outnumbered five to one, and that’s a rough estimate at best. Colonel, I am not in the habit of throwing away the lives of good men.
“Garrisons can be repaired, cities rebuilt. But the lives of your men cannot be returned once they are taken. No, you will strip this garrison of everything of value. I also want the gate ropes cut, the wells salted, the latrines filled in and every door bolted as tightly as possible. I want this place in such shoddy condition that they won’t want it.”
Rysun nodded, “As you command, Lord Captain.”
If it had taken him a moment to catch up, the moment had passed.
CHAPTER 36
Baiting the Trap
ALEKSEI SIGHED, “THANK you, Colonel.” He gestured to the younger of the two men behind him, “Prince Belgi will help you with some of my more…unusual orders. Put his talents to good use, Colonel. We won’t get another chance like this to prepare for the enemy’s arrival; we have to make the most of it.”
Jonas stepped forward and smiled at Rysun, who seemed to be at a loss for words when faced with his prince. “Colonel, perhaps we could step out into the hall? I have some thoughts that I’d like to discuss with you before we begin.”
Rysun nodded dumbly and followed Jonas out of the room. When the door shut, Aleksei turned to his father, “I need to ask a favor, Da.”
“What could you possibly need from me?”
“I need your cooperation. And so far that hasn’t exactly been guaranteed.”
>
Henry grunted, “I will aid you in whatever way I can, Son. You know that.”
Aleksei took a deep breath, “Good. Because I need you to accompany Colonel Rysun and his men into the Sulaq Hills.”
“What?” Henry demanded, flushing with anger.
“I’m sending them into the wilderness, Da. They don’t know the territory; they don’t know how to survive out there. They’ll have supplies to last them for a few weeks, but right now it’s impossible to say how long they might have to wait for me to call them.
“In the meantime, I need you to teach them how to survive in the brush. You know that land, Da. You know how to live off it, and you can show Rysun’s men.”
“Are you asking me?” Henry said softly, “Or ordering me?”
Aleksei’s face hardened, “Whichever is required.”
Henry said nothing for a long moment, but he finally nodded, “Very well, Son. And what will you be doing while we’re out in the brush digging up roots and boiling river water?”
“Defending Kalinor.”
Henry stared at his son, suddenly speechless. It seemed no matter how many times he was reminded of Aleksei’s position, it never quite sank in. The thought of his son in command of all the military forces in Ilyar was simply beyond any thought Henry Drago had ever entertained.
“Yes, that’s right.” Henry said finally. “I…suppose I’d forgotten.”
It was a weak answer to such a statement, he knew. But perhaps, Henry mused, the reason he couldn’t accept Aleksei’s powers of command was because he didn’t want to.
Henry loved his son dearly, and to think that he was going to be standing on the gates of the capital while an army marched towards him, an army led by a madman possessed by a strange power that even Jonas couldn’t completely comprehend…it was almost more than he could bear.
And what would he be doing? Teaching soldiers to dig for grubs and fish in the wilds. For what? Why? So Aleksei could send them word if he survived? Henry could not have been more dismayed by the situation. He’d just given voice to it when Jonas' voice sounded from behind him, “Fortunately, your approval is not necessary, only your obedience.”
Henry turned, “Then you are fortunate, Highness, for that is all I can give you.”
Jonas smiled sadly and bowed his head, “And I appreciate it, Henry Drago. More than you could ever know.”
“Are you dead?”
Bael looked up at his sister, blood streaming from his eyes.
“No, Sister, I am more alive now than ever before.”
Darielle rolled her eyes. “Yes, little brother, but your body has most certainly died. You heart no longer beats in your chest, lest I am mistaken.”
Bael laughed, “Does it matter?”
Darielle shrugged, “It would to some. I trust you are satisfied now?” He glared at her, but it only seemed to amuse her all the more. “Ah, I see.”
“It’s impossible to describe, really.” he whispered, looking away. “The power, the hunger.”
“Everything you’ve dreamed of, I’m sure.” she drawled.
“And more. So much more. Now I am more than a match for even you, Sister.”
Darielle let out a surprisingly powerful laugh. “Don’t let your mind run away with you, dear. You may have allowed the Demonic Presence into your soul, but it is still weak. Time in this world will make it stronger, but for the moment I wouldn’t go about announcing myself.”
“Oh?” Bael growled, suddenly furious at her mockery, “And why should I listen to you?”
Darielle sighed, “Just some sisterly advice, I suppose.”
Before Bael could respond she vanished.
He looked around the vast cavern, but she was gone.
“No matter.” he muttered. “We have much to do before we deal with her.”
Yes, the Other voice thrummed, much to do.
The door opened and Rysun bowed to Jonas, “Highness, I’ve sent the orders you requested.”
Jonas nodded, “Thank you, Colonel.” He turned to Aleksei, “I’m going to go take care of a few things. When will you be ready to leave?”
Aleksei paused for a moment and considered. They couldn’t afford to stay in Mornj much longer. If he was going to get to Kalinor in time to mount an adequate defense….
“Within the next half hour.” Aleksei said finally.
Rysun’s face registered his surprise, but Jonas nodded, “I’d second that.” He turned to the Colonel, “Will that give you enough time to get the information you need from me and the Lord Captain?”
Rysun winced, but managed a nod. “I believe so, yes, Highness.”
Jonas smiled, “Excellent. Well if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I have some urgent matters to attend to.”
Rysun turned to Aleksei, “Half an hour, Sir?”
Aleksei nodded, “I have to get back to Kalinor as soon as possible. It’s only a matter of time before Krasik launches his attack, and I intend to be ready for him when he does.”
“And what of us, Sir?” Rysun inquired softly.
Aleksei smiled in a way he hoped was reassuring, “I need you and your men to disappear for a while, Fredrick. I need Perron to think you’ve all deserted or joined him.”
“You want to make twenty-five thousand men disappear?”
“Twenty-six.” Aleksei corrected, “And I’m sending my father with you. He will take you into the Sulaq Hills, where you will camp and await word from me. I’ll send orders when I have a clearer picture of what we’re dealing with. Until then I need you to stay out of sight.”
Rysun frowned, “And you believe we’ll be able to survive in the wilds, Sir?”
Aleksei nodded firmly, “I do. You will have all the provisions of this garrison to sustain you for a time. And as I said, my father will accompany you. He knows the land. He will train your men, show them how to hunt, how to track. Combined with the supplies you’ll be taking from the garrison I believe you should be able to live from the land for a few weeks, until I can send word to you.
“If absolutely necessary, start a supply chain from Keiv-Alon, but be careful not to betray your actual position or your allegiances if possible. Until one side or the other makes the first move it’ll take weeks, perhaps months before half the realm knows which end is up. Keiv-Alon is central enough to be divided in its allegiances at best, and nowhere near as well-guarded as Mornj.
“If winter hits too hard in the Hills, there’s always the chance we might have to take the city to weather the men through Solstice. But it’s impossible to predict too much of the future until we know Krasik’s plan.”
Rysun bowed his head, “As you say, Lord Captain. When do you want the men ready to march?”
Aleksei sighed, “You’ll leave in the morning, Colonel. You’ll start south and then swing up to the west through the Southern Plain and into the Hills. I don’t want to make it too easy on anyone who might be following you.”
Rysun nodded, knowing that there was no sense in arguing with the Lord Captain. Aleksei knew what he was doing, and Rysun knew the time to ask questions had passed.
“As you command, Lord Captain.”
Aleksei spent his remaining time in the garrison briefing Rysun on what he and Jonas had learned about Krasik, in addition to his best guesses as to Krasik and Perron’s movements in the coming weeks.
“It’s difficult to speculate on the strategies of a madman, but if someone more rational is in charge of troop movements they’re going to have to start moving before the snows set in. Otherwise they could end up trapped in any number of places between Relvyn and Kalinor. In all likelihood Krasik will attempt a siege of Kalinor for the winter, hoping to starve us into submission.”
Rysun was staring at the map laid out before him, his mind racing just to keep up with Aleksei’s pronouncements. He was still a young man, and had only fought minor skirmishes against raiders along the Yrini border. But he had enough experience to app
reciate his Lord Captain’s foresight. And more impressive still, Rysun saw where Aleksei was going with it.
“You want to keep us in the brush until there’s a siege,” he thought aloud, “so that by the time Krasik’s force gets comfortable holding Kalinor we can cut off their supply line from behind and cut them apart piece by piece. We’ll know the land by then; we’ll be hardened and battle-ready. And they’ll have grown lazy sitting around waiting for the siege to end.”
Aleksei’s eyes glittered with pride, “Very good, Colonel. From your position in the Sulaq Hills you should be in perfect proximity to any supply lines Perron and Krasik establish between Relvyn, the Southern Plain and northern Ilyar. Furthermore, you’ll be far enough south that it will take weeks for news to reach Krasik. Those weeks will wear on his army.
“By the time you and your men arrive, Krasik’s men will be half-starved and frozen. All that will be left for you is a simple clean-up operation, which I will be able to aid from within the Palace.”
“It’s perfect.” Rysun breathed. “Assuming that Kalinor is actually the target.”
“Hardly perfect, Colonel, but it will work, assuming that Krasik falls into the trap I’m setting. If he does something unexpected, all this,” he gestured to the map before them, “will be nothing more than worthless conjecture.
“But I have confidence they’ll commit the majority of their forces straight for the capital, splitting off a smaller force to solidify training facilities and supply lines along the southern border; advancing north as their numbers grow.
“That would give them this garrison to the south as a fortified base of operations, feeding into their supply chains while we’re trapped in Kalinor. Many of these men aren’t warriors. They aren’t prepared for a long war. They need to make their coup quick and surgical, or else the whole thing will fall apart.”
Rysun was opening his mouth to agree when the door opened and Jonas stepped into the room, looking enormously satisfied with himself.
The Hunter's Gambit Page 47