"All set, Captain?" he called out.
"Yes, sir," Captain Carlson replied.
Heward peered back down the line to see Sergeant Gardner keeping an eye at the rear of the column.
"Very well," said the knight, "let's get moving."
When he was a knight in Shrewesdale, he had borne the burden of maintaining his horse all by himself, necessitating a much lighter mount, but now, by Royal Proclamation, the Knights of the Hound were funded entirely from the Royal Pocket. Heward smiled, realizing just how lucky he was to have a Mercerian Charger to ride, for such a horse would have been far too expensive for him to own otherwise.
He urged his mount forward, trotting along the southern bank and leading his men eastward, all the while keeping the north shore in sight. Here, the ground was relatively flat, but the occasional hill provided an excellent vantage point. And so, around noon, as they stopped to water the horses, he sent two riders up one such rise, the better to view the northern bank while the rest slaked their thirst.
Heward dug into his pack, extracting a cheesecloth and pulling forth some Stilldale White. He had just taken a bite of the cheese when he spotted Sergeant Gardner riding towards him, along with one of the sentries.
"Problem?" asked Heward.
"Wilkins has seen something, sir," said Gardner.
Heward let his gaze wander over to the young horseman. "Well, what is it?"
"A small group of riders," the man replied.
"Give him the details, man," ordered Gardner.
"Four men all told," added Wilkins, "and they're carrying a flag."
"A flag?" said Heward. "What kind of flag?"
"A yellow one, my lord," said Wilkins.
"I'm not a lord," said Heward, "I'm a knight. You address me as 'Sir'."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
"A yellow flag," said Gardner. "It appears they want to talk."
"So it does," said Heward.
"Are you sure, sir?" said Wilkins. "Perhaps it's a trap?"
"With four riders?" said Heward. "I think not."
"Orders, sir?" asked the sergeant.
Heward looked over at his men. Many had just dismounted, but it appeared their respite would be short-lived.
"Captain?" he called out.
Captain Carlson walked over. "Sir?"
"We've spotted some riders on the northern bank. It appears they want to parley."
"I'll mount up," offered the captain.
"No, I'm leaving you here to command the men," said Heward. "I'll take Sergeant Gardner and Wilkins here."
"Me, sir?" said the young recruit.
Heward turned to him in surprise. "Unless you know of another horseman named Wilkins?"
"No, sir," the man replied.
Sergeant Gardner leaned in close to the new recruit. "I can see that you and I are going to have a long chat after this, Wilkins."
"Yes, Sergeant," the young man replied.
"All set, Sergeant," asked Heward, "or do you need more time to calm the young recruit?"
"He'll be fine," the sergeant responded.
"Where's the nearest ford?" asked the knight.
Gardner looked around, taking his bearings. "Just east of here, sir, past that elm tree."
"Very well," said Heward, "then we'll leave the rest of the horsemen here. I shouldn't like to frighten away our visitors."
They trotted eastward, the ford soon coming into sight. Heward's mount splashed into the river, the water rising to his boot tops as he made his way across to the other bank. Gardner and Wilkins followed, though their smaller mounts had a harder time of it. The knight exited the river, halting as the others caught up.
"Where did you see these riders?" he asked.
"They should be northwest of us, sir," said Wilkins.
Heward pressed on, riding northward to find a better vantage point. He soon found it, a slight rise that gave him a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. Sure enough, off in the distance, he spotted the riders.
"Have you a flag?" asked Heward.
"Here, sir," said Gardner, pulling a yellow flag from his bag. He handed one end to Wilkins, and they rode side by side, draping the cloth between them.
Heward could tell they had been spotted, for the unknown horsemen changed their course, heading straight for them at a sedate pace. As they drew closer, the knight took a hard look at their equipment.
"Raiders?" asked the sergeant.
"No," said Heward, "they're too well-armed for that. These look more like professionals."
"Here, on the border, sir?" said Wilkins.
"It is unusual," said Heward, "I'll give you that."
"What do you think they want?" asked Gardner.
Heward halted, indicating with his hand for the others to do likewise. "I have no idea," he said, "but we'll let them come to us. Keep your hands away from your weapons. We don't want to antagonize them."
The riders continued until they were only a couple of horse lengths away. Here they halted, looking at one of their number, an elderly man, apparently their leader.
"Greetings," the man called out. "I am Lord Wilfrid of Hansley, representative of His Majesty, King Halfan of Norland. To whom do I have the honour of addressing?"
"I am Sir Heward, Knight of the Hound and commander of the Mercerian forces in this area. My men saw your offer of parley. Might I enquire as to the reason for this act?"
"I have come at the express order of my sovereign," said Lord Wilfrid. "King Halfan wishes there to be peace between our peoples."
"Peace?" said Heward. "Our nations have been at war for centuries, why now?"
"The king is ailing," replied the Norlander, "and wants the realm to prosper. This war that we have fought for so long is draining both our kingdoms. The time to end our hostilities has come."
"Does that mean he renounces his claim to the Mercerian crown?" asked Heward.
"His Majesty wishes me to assure you that such is the case."
"I take it you have an official request of some type?" asked Heward.
"I do," said Lord Wilfrid. "In fact, I am charged with delivering the message directly to your queen."
Heward looked over the man carefully, trying to ascertain if this were some sort of trap, but he could detect no sign of deceit on the Norlander's face.
"Very well," he replied. "You may ride with us across the river. There, we will join my company and return to Wickfield. I'm afraid you'll have to remain there until we get Royal Approval to take you to Wincaster."
"That," said Lord Wilfrid, "is much as I suspected it would be. Lead on, Sir Heward, and together, let us forge a new future for our two realms."
Heward led them south across the river, sending Wilkins ahead to warn the captain of their unexpected guests. By the time they rejoined the company, the rest of the men were ready to ride. Heward led the way, travelling beside Lord Wilfrid while the rest of the men, under Captain Carlson, brought up the rear.
By late afternoon, Wickfield was in sight, with a small crowd gathered as they rode into the village. Living on the frontier, the villagers were used to soldiers, but to see Norlanders who weren't intent on killing them was an altogether different experience. They gaped at the delegation riding by as if they were some strange kind of creature never before seen. Heward halted before the village's church and climbed down from the saddle.
"Come inside," he beckoned, "and we'll give you some food."
"In a church?" asked Lord Wilfrid.
"I'm afraid there's no inn in Wickfield to house you," said Heward, "but we can offer you a modest repast. I'll send word on to Hawksburg of your arrival, but until I receive instructions, I'm afraid you'll have to make do with the lodgings we can provide."
"I understand," the Norland lord replied, dismounting. "It's a curious thing," he continued, "to be standing here, among our traditional enemies."
"I could say the same," said Heward, "but the truth is that we are not so different, you and I, we both want to liv
e in peace."
"As does my king," declared Lord Wilfrid, "of that, you can be assured."
"It is not me that must be convinced," said Heward, "but Queen Anna. Only she can speak for the realm."
Heward led them inside, where a small group of soldiers stood ready.
"These men will see to your wellbeing," said Heward. "I fear the locals here hold you in some contempt. Many have lost loved ones due to the privations of your raiders."
"As have we," said Lord Wilfrid, "but we must see our way forward if we are to live in peace."
"It will take some time to get word to Wincaster," said Heward, "and even more time to get a response. I'm afraid you'll likely be in for a long stay."
"Understood," said the Norland delegate. "Wincaster is some distance away, and we cannot change the laws of nature."
"Captain Carlson will see to your lodgings," continued Heward, "but I'm afraid I'll have to leave you if this letter is to be sent off before nightfall."
"Of course," said Lord Wilfrid, "and thank you for being so gracious. You know, when I set out on this mission, we had no idea if you'd even let us into your kingdom. Half the court was sure you'd kill us on sight."
"I think you'll find us much more reasonable than that," said Heward. "Good day, Lord Wilfrid."
Heward bowed, then turned and left. He was already forming the report in his mind as he exited the building.
* * *
Kraloch, Orc Shaman of the Black Arrow Clan, examined the note, then returned his gaze to the dispatch rider.
"When did this Norland delegation arrive?"
"Two days ago," the courier explained. "Sir Heward insisted I ride out as soon as possible."
"I can imagine," said the Orc. "Are you aware of its contents?"
"No," the rider replied, "but I was told to return with an answer as soon as practical."
"Your mount must rest," said Kraloch, "but we will send a reply first thing tomorrow morning. I shall hold onto this until the arrival of Lady Aubrey. She is due this very evening."
"The baroness is coming here?" asked the rider.
"Of course," said Kraloch. "It is her city, and the magic circle makes such travel easy for her."
"Should I not change horses and head back to Wickfield, then?"
"You would do better to wait," said the Orc, "for Lady Aubrey may have other messages for you to carry. Now come rest and get yourself something to eat from the kitchen. I shall take it from here."
The courier nodded his head and made his way into the manor house that served as the army's headquarters.
Kraloch read the message again, trying to glean more information from its contents. It was clear that the Norlanders wanted to negotiate something, but would the plight of his people be addressed? The Norlanders had been brutal in their subjugation of Orcs, and he wondered what Queen Anna might make of such things, but then shook his head. The queen had an alliance with the Orcs. Surely she would not abandon them.
He gazed skyward, judging the time of day. It was still mid-afternoon, plenty of time to commune with the Ancestors.
* * *
The magic circle glowed brightly, then a solid wall of light sprang upward, almost blinding Kraloch as he watched. Moments later, the light faded, revealing Lady Aubrey, Beverly, and Aldwin.
"Kraloch," said Aubrey, "I didn't expect you to greet us. Is something wrong?"
"I have received word from the frontier," said the Orc. "It appears a Norland delegation has arrived seeking an audience with the queen."
"For what purpose?" asked Beverly.
"To negotiate a peace, apparently," said the Orc.
"Peace?" repeated Aldwin.
"Yes," said Beverly, turning to her husband. "Technically, we've been at war with them since their founding."
"What brought that on, I wonder?" said Aldwin.
"Sir Heward says that the Norland King, Halfan, is ailing," said Kraloch.
"He likely wants to leave a legacy," offered Aubrey.
"This is important," said Beverly, "we'd best get it to the queen as quickly as possible."
"We'll have to eat first," said Aubrey. "I need to regain my strength after using my magic, but then we can recall back to Wincaster."
"And here I was expecting a nice uninterrupted evening," said Aldwin.
"We can still do that back in the capital," said Beverly.
"I doubt that," said Aldwin. "It's not every day that the Norlanders send a message like that. You'll likely have to spend half the night at the Palace."
"Sorry," said Beverly, "but I must do my duty."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way," said Aldwin. "Don't worry, we'll make time later, I have to work on my sketches anyway."
"Sketches?" said Aubrey. "Now you have me intrigued, Aldwin. What are you drawing?"
"I've been going over some designs for the next magic circle," he said. "Queen Anna wants them in all the cities of Merceria, eventually."
"I thought all the circles were the same," offered Kraloch.
"Each is unique to its school of magic," said Aldwin. "Albreda explained everything to me."
"Yes," said Beverly, "and Aldwin has already been immortalized."
"That's right," said Aubrey, "he put his maker's mark onto the circle in Wincaster, didn't he. You'll have to study the one here, Aldwin, it might give you some ideas."
"That's an excellent idea, Aubrey," said Aldwin. "You're a handy person to have around."
"It runs in the family," the Life Mage replied. "Isn't that right, cousin?"
Beverly laughed. "It is," she admitted, "but I think we'd best spend our time poring over Heward's dispatch."
"You go ahead," said Aldwin, "I'll follow Aubrey's advice and examine the Hawksburg circle in more detail."
"All right," said Aubrey, "but don't be late for dinner."
"Don't worry," said Beverly, "I've never known him to miss a meal."
"Oh, I don't know," said Aldwin, "I seem to recall missing a meal or two on occasion."
Beverly blushed, "That was different, husband mine. Now get to work before I get distracted."
Kraloch led them from the building. The Hawksburg circle had been built in the cellar of the old manor house by Aubrey's great-grandmother and had only recently been rediscovered. It had taken a great deal of work to make it more usable, resulting in significant renovations to the old structure. Now it was guarded, day and night, by Orc hunters from Kraloch's tribe.
"Remind me to teach you the recall spell," said Aubrey.
"I shall," said Kraloch, "though I'm not sure the queen would allow me to study the Wincaster circle."
"Nonsense," added Beverly, "I'm sure she'd have no objection."
"There is something that I need to bring to your attention," said Kraloch, "a matter of some import."
Aubrey halted, turning to face the green-skinned Orc. "What is it, Kraloch? You can tell me anything."
The shaman looked at Beverly, deep in thought for a moment. "These Norlanders," he said at last, "there's something you need to know about them."
"Which is?" asked Aubrey.
"They have not been kind to my people," said Kraloch.
"Can you be more specific?" pressed Beverly.
"As you know, the Orcs once lived in great cities," the shaman began. "There are even ruins of one in the eastern part of their kingdom."
"I assume that means there are still Orcs in the region," said Aubrey.
"There are," agreed the shaman, "but they have been ruthlessly hunted down by the Norlanders."
"I shall bring this to the attention of the queen," promised Beverly. "I can assure you that we will honour our alliance with the Orcs. When we needed help, your people, all of your people, came to our aid. We will not abandon them now. Any negotiation with the Norlanders will have to include provisions for the Orcs."
"Definitely," agreed Aubrey, "and I'm sure Queen Anna will agree."
"It would not be the first time the Orcs were used and then
discarded," cautioned Kraloch.
"That will not happen!" declared Aubrey.
"And yet," said the Orc, "we still have no representation on the Nobles Council."
"You're right," said Beverly, "but I can assure you it's never far from the queen's mind. Her main problem is dealing with the existing nobles."
"I understand," said Kraloch, "for your ways have become familiar to me, but there are some among my people that are not so patient."
"I shall do what I can to bring your plight to Her Majesty's attention," promised Aubrey.
"I greatly appreciate it," said Kraloch. "Now, when are you going to let me teach you how to spirit talk?"
"Spirit talk?" said Beverly. "What's that?"
"Kraloch has been teaching me some new spells," said Aubrey. "Spirit talk would let us communicate over great distances."
"Sounds like a useful spell," said Beverly. "Does it work for anyone?"
"It's a Life Magic spell," said Aubrey, "and it only allows us to send messages to people we know well."
"Still quite useful," said Beverly. "You should learn it as soon as you can."
"I have been quite busy," said Aubrey, "overseeing the rebuilding of Hawksburg, not to mention helping out at court."
"I hear you, cousin," said Beverly. "You'd think we'd all have more time now that the war's over, but life just seems to get busier and busier."
"I miss the old days," said Aubrey. "Remember when you first visited Hawksburg?"
"Of course, how could I forget, your parents were so welcoming."
Aubrey fell silent.
"Something wrong, Aubrey?"
"I miss them, Beverly. I never got to say goodbye, and Valmar is still out there, somewhere, unpunished."
"You let me worry about Valmar," said Beverly. "I promise you he'll meet the end he deserves for his treachery."
"I know," said Aubrey, "but all of this," she waved her hands around, indicating the town, "it can just be so overwhelming at times."
"We're here to help," said Beverly. "You can always lean on Aldwin and me for support." She stepped forward, hugging her cousin.
"As are we," said Kraloch. "Despite what some may say, the Orcs are loyal to the Baroness of Hawksburg. Your people have welcomed us with open arms."
"Thank you," said Aubrey, standing back, "I suppose I just needed to hear that."
Defender Of The Crown: Heir to the Crown: Book Seven Page 3