“You will order your men from Eno and Toranado,” Gwaynn repeated, staring directly into the King’s eyes. Real, deep fear appeared there as the older man stared back but Gwaynn did not pause to enjoy the look, instead he slowed time again and quickly cut the head from the Executioner and then sheathed his kali and return to his chair. He was very tired, and hunger was knifing through his belly, but he was determined to show no weakness before King Weldon Palmerrio. Time lurched forward, Gwaynn’s control slipping a bit in his exhaustion. King Weldon gasped loudly as Calbrick’s head thumped to the ground, even before his body crumpled. But his surprise was lost among the host of others, only N’dori seemed unperturbed by the eerily quick movements of the Prince. Her light laughter now filled the stunned hall.
“You will order your men from Eno and Toranado today, this very hour,” Gwaynn demanded again and Weldon gazed at him in sheer terror.
Gwaynn fought against another crippling cramp but somehow remained upright. N’dori could see the beads of perspiration on the young King’s forehead and knew what the performance had cost him.
“He,” Gwaynn began, gesturing to Calbrick, “was not a Tar,” he continued and stared coldly at Weldon. “He was not even a very good Executioner,” he added and N’dori’s laugh echoed once more through the courtyard.
“He…he was a trainee, not a Tar,” Weldon replied still shaken by the unbelievably fast movements of the boy in front of him. It was not possible.
Gwaynn shrugged. “You will order your men from Toranado,” he stated simply and spun one bloody kali for emphasis.
Weldon stared fearfully at the swinging weapon and said nothing…but in the end, he did cooperate.
ǂ
“The Massi army has arrived in Manse,” Captain Tramm said with surprise and dolefulness. Tramm was a handsome young man with dark hair and eyes. He was tall with a slim build but with wide strong shoulders and thighs, the absolutely perfect build for a Knight. He’d risen through the ranks quickly and was a deadly horseman, but lacked the experience to understand the subtleties of strategy. He was learning, however.
Hothgaard looked up and sighed. It was what he feared as the days past and no word came from the King Weldon. The Palmerrio had obviously lost the Plateau.
“How strong?”
Tramm shook his head. “Hard to tell but there are cheers coming from the city.”
“Not returning in defeat then,” Hothgaard answered, knowing that taking Manse now was beyond the ability of his forces, maybe even with the arrival of the Rhondono army. The desire to pick up and leave this land suddenly threatened to overwhelm him once more.
“No…it doesn’t seem so,” Tramm answered, then asked. “Any word from Gan?”
Hothgaard shook his head. “Nothing yet, the King should have landed on the finger late yesterday…or perhaps this morning. We should have heard from him in any case.”
“We should pull back,” Tramm suggested, moving farther into the tent. He poured himself a small glass of water from the pitcher on the table and poured one for his commander as well. “Maybe threaten Cape again and perhaps they’ll be foolish enough to abandon their safe haven.”
Hothgaard nodded his head, which no longer hurt and his fever was gone. He was still weak but would completely recover within a day or two. He sat looking at the younger Captain, encouraged by the young man’s thoughts.
“Taking Manse may be out of the question now,” he finally replied. “The High King will not be happy, but I think we should move to the east, put pressure on Lynndon, perhaps join up with the King at the base of the finger.”
Tramm smiled, finished his drink and set the glass back on the table. “They’ll have to move if we threaten Lynndon.”
Hothgaard shrugged. “Perhaps, but without the Palmerrio our position on the Plateau might not afford us any advantage.”
“You think Weldon is finished then?”
“The Massi army would not have returned to Manse otherwise.”
Captain Tramm frowned. “We need to draw them out. Lure them away from their defenses and out on the plains where we can crush them.”
“You speak lightly of the army that has managed to destroy the Deutzani twice and now apparently the Palmerrio,” Hothgaard replied.
“They were not Temple Knights,” Tramm replied confidently.
“Beware young Knight,” Hothgaard warned, suddenly very serious. “Underestimate the Massi at your peril,” he added, thinking about their recent clash with the Massi cavalry.
Tramm sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment, but then Hothgaard stood. “But you are correct; we need to lure them out onto the plains. In Manse, I fear we will never defeat them. If we moved on Lynndon perhaps we can coax them to split their forces, then we’ll have them.”
Tramm said nothing, having no further ideas of his own. Hothgaard moved out of the tent and the young Captain rose and followed him outside. The cheers from the besieged city of Manse were still echoing off the distant Scar.
Hothgaard glanced around and noticed that most of his men were just standing about and glumly listening to the celebration.
‘Morale is falling,’ he thought. ‘We need to take action.’
Hothgaard turned back to Tramm who waited expectantly. “Pass the word. We break camp in the morning.”
“And?”
“And we head to the east.”
ǂ
“Tar Nev has taught you some of our secrets I see,” Tarina re N’dori said a day later as she helped Monde, na Gall and the new little Traveler Laynee, hold open a massive bridge to the Scar Gap. Gwaynn nodded, smiling at the Solitary’s control; he was not helping in the effort, his body still not recovered from his manipulation of time the previous day. Once the connection was made, thousands of Toranado heavy infantry poured through along with a couple of hundred Toranado cavalrymen and an additional five hundred Massi Archers. The Speaker Wynth also made the trip for communications purposes. They were to hold the Gap against all comers including the Temple Knights if they attempted to retreat back to Toranado lands. The bridge was immense and strong; it was the strongest bridge created since the passing of Galen Dawkins over three thousand years ago, but the group was not aware of the fact. N’dori was very powerful and both Monde and na Gall had grown in strength since the war began, the constant need for bridges and Speaker bubbles increasing their potency.
The Travelers stood in a loose semi-circle facing west while Prince Phillip, Tabernas, General Bock and Tar Kostek watched from relatively close by. Queen Ramona, who was still not well, was back in her quarters after much persuading. Captain Dolan would send out a squad of riders to the Toranado Capital to make sure the Palmerrio kept their word. Ramona wanted to return to Eno immediately and it was all Phillip could do to convince his mother to delay her trip and move by Traveler once they knew it was safe. She was ready to go home.
“Yes, Tar Nev taught me many things,” Gwaynn answered in a hushed voice once the troops were through and the bridge winked out of existence.
“Many things,” N’dori agreed. “Some that are not for the eyes of outsiders,” she reprimanded, her tone unusually serious.
“I’m an outsider,” he retorted and began to move off toward the kitchens with the rest of the Travelers. They lagged behind, walking slowly, his body far from recovered. “High Tarina Ethelridge made that very plain.”
N’dori grunted, glancing up at the flat gray sky. There was snow in the air but the small flakes were so light that they actually floated about in the air, like dust.
“No longer High Tarina. As I told you, Ethelridge has lost the Council’s backing, Nystrom is now in charge,” N’dori corrected. “Noble now knows that the Cassinni have joined the fight against the High King. We have a true civil war on our hands.”
Gwaynn glanced at the Solitary, pulling up his collar against the snow which was beginning to fall a bit harder now, but was still very light and in all likelihood would not accumulate. “And just who will Nob
le support in the end?”
N’dori shrugged. “Perhaps no one. But the danger is to allow every Tar to decide individually…like the Tars and students who have joined you. If such dissent spreads it could split the land and Noble into many, many pieces. I believe the Tars that remain on Noble, if forced to make a choice, will follow High Tarina Nystrom’s advice and remain neutral for now. After all they would be following Tar Nev’s example.
Gwaynn frowned. “Tar Nev is not leading anyone, anywhere,” he spat with obvious frustration as they moved into the large dining hall.
“Do not be so sure,” N’dori answered the smile back on her face. “I’m here plus Kostek and the others, and he did stand for you against the Council not so long ago.”
Gwaynn grunted.
“But he’ll not fight personally against the High King,” N’dori explained as Bock and Hahn joined them. They sat at a wooden table large enough to accommodate thirty troops to a side, but they were all huddled together down on one end. Trays of food soon began to appear and it wasn’t long before all the Travelers were eating and eating and eating. Gwaynn and na Gall would have preferred peach juice, but the fruit was well out of season so they had to make do with meat, breads and nuts.
The group of Travelers remained quiet for a time just consuming calories, as Bock and Hahn stared at them all in amazement. “I’ll never get used to this,” Lonogan told Gwaynn with a smile.
Gwaynn nodded, his own hunger easing off far earlier than that of N’dori’s and the Travelers. He took a deep swig of water and turned to his General. “Send for Gaston,” he ordered and Bock nodded and waved to a nearby messenger, but Gwaynn did not wait and moved his attention to Hahn.
“How many halberdiers are ready?”
“Nearly nine thousand,” Hahn answered enthusiastically. “The men are practiced and ready. The Knights will be caught by surprise…I know it. The new diamond formations and the halberds will work. The Knights will not realize what they are up against until it is too late. I’m positive they’ll rush through the designed gaps in the formation, thinking to divide and exploit the lapse, without ever realizing they’re entering a trap,” he finished confidently, going briefly over the plan once more, though they all were very aware of it. The plan was wildly unconventional; nothing like it had been tried in recent memory, though it did share a few elements with another famous battle from Old Earth…a battle fought at a place called Waterloo.
“I hope you’re correct,” Gwaynn answered and looked to Bock and N’dori, feeling his own excitement rising. “The archers and light infantry will be the bait and if they can hold their positions, then the Knights will be trapped between the Toranado and the cavalry.”
“They’ll hold,” N’dori said softly. “I’ll be with them as will the others from Noble.”
“We’ll hold,” Hahn added with even more confidence than before.
Twenty minutes later the Travelers finally finished eating. Gwaynn, though sated some time earlier, continued to pick at the food until Captain Gaston strode in, his face eager despite the amount of war he’d experienced.
“Are you ready?” Bock asked as Gaston approached. The Captain nodded.
“We’re ready,”
“How many cavalry men in total?” Gwaynn asked, beginning to grow nervous about the plan. Splitting his forces was dangerous and they’d gotten away with it so many times in the past that he was beginning to feel they were due for a disaster.
“If I take Captain Kommidi and his men we will be about forty-five hundred strong,” Gaston answered immediately.
Gwaynn nodded. “You will be taking every man available…full strength. Keep na Gall and Sarbeth close…and wait for our call,” Gwaynn answered suddenly very serious, “and Captain, please avoid engaging the Knights alone if at all possible.”
“And if an opportunity presents itself to do the enemy real damage?” Gaston asked. Gwaynn shook his head, astounded by the change in the man before him. Less than a year ago, Captain Gaston, while not actually timid, struggled with a fair amount of self-doubt, now…well now, he was a tiger.
“You take it,” Bock answered, “but it better be one hell of an opportunity. Your horsemen are the very heart of the trap, don’t jeopardize that lightly.”
Gaston remained thoughtful for a time, then nodded. “When do we leave?”
“Within the hour,” Gwaynn replied, “ride due south for a mile or so before heading east; let’s keep the Knights in the dark.”
XVI
“The horses are gone!” Captain Tramm said early the next morning, nearly running up to Hothgaard in excitement.
“What?”
“The horses…the Massi horses are gone.”
Hothgaard stood quickly, his own excitement growing. “Are you sure?”
Tramm nodded, glancing about the camp which was already in the process of being dismantled. “Yes, our scouts just returned. The horses are definitely gone…all of them. The trail appears to be heading due south.”
“South…” Hothgaard said thoughtfully.
“You think they’re hiding their route?” Tramm asked.
“That’s exactly what I think.”
“But which way will they ultimately go? Possibly the Scar Gap,” Tramm suggested, “try to cut us off from the Palmerrio in Toranado and any possible reinforcements.”
Hothgaard shook his head. “No, they wouldn’t send their entire cavalry to guard the Gap, it would be pointless overkill. No, the cavalry will be heading east…”
“To help guard Lynndon and the pass to the Plateau…it could be,” Tramm stated.
Hothgaard shook his head again, wondering why his fellow Captain continued to think the Massi strategy was defensive, even passive.
“No…” he disagreed once more. “They’ll not be sent to guard the pass at Lynndon…with only the Knights occupying Massi lands there’s little need. No, the cavalry will be sent onto the plains, probably from Lynndon. Prince Gwaynn won’t sit idly by and wait for our attack. He’ll be aggressive.”
Tramm scratched his head and looked up into the cloudy sky. It was colder this morning and had the smell of snow in the air. Winter was now only a few weeks away. Their food was getting scarce and if the High King did not arrive with additional supplies there was a real danger of running out. There was only so much foraging they could do in an area before they would need to move on. The local farmers had long been depleted of any livestock and grain.
“So what would you suggest?”
“We’ll stick to our plans and move east,” Hothgaard answered looking up at the walls of Manse. “Send extra scouts out…immediately. I want to find their cavalry…also when we break camp, let’s leave a small group behind under Sergeant Vutek, include the Speaker Nadler. I have a feeling the Massi Prince might actually sally forth after us.”
“You think he’ll leave Manse and attack without the support of his cavalry?” Tramm asked, clearly shocked at the idea. Prince Gwaynn, though young, had shown no indications that he was a fool.
Hothgaard nodded. “Yes…and we must be careful not to be caught between the two forces…remember he has Travelers on his side.”
Tramm looked around suspiciously, even though he knew that Travelers could spy on anyone invisibly.
“And if they come from behind the walls of Manse?”
“Then we crush them quickly before they can coordinate any counter,” Hothgaard said hoping it would be so easy and he could get back to the King’s Island.
ǂ
Gwaynn was still getting dressed when Lonogan Bock burst in without knocking. Samantha, who was still lying naked in bed, scrambled to pull the covers over her body and up to her chin, her face going slightly pink. Bock did not apologize.
“They’re packing up!” He said and Gwaynn could hear the panic in his friend’s voice.
“The Knights?” Gwaynn asked, though he already knew the answer.
Bock nodded wringing his hands and pacing throughout the room. “I�
�ve already spoken to Monde and had her send a message to Jess…Gaston,” he corrected himself.
“A message about what?” Gwaynn asked. “Can you tell the Knight’s intentions?”
Bock looked sheepish for a moment. “No…but…”
“She’ll be fine,” Gwaynn said with more confidence than he felt, “and now that she knows the Knights are on the move she’ll keep a careful eye on them.”
Lonogan nodded, somehow feeling younger than the man before him though he was over a decade his senior. Gwaynn however, was far more experienced in dealing with a loved one heading for war.
“Prepare the army…but do it quietly,” Gwaynn ordered. “There’s no need to hurry, if the Knights break camp we can move out and bait the trap without the need for Monde and N’dori to weaken themselves. This could be a very lucky move for us.”
Bock said nothing, wondering just how many other commanders would count themselves lucky to be going up against the Temple Knights…he guessed not many. He left the bailey, walking fast; his mind moving even faster. He had a sudden desire to visit Zebo and talk to Jess again…better yet he wished he were a Speaker so he could talk to her with just his mind.
‘Yes, that would be something,’ he thought and wondered how hard it would be to learn. Obviously it was not impossible, after all Gwaynn was taught at a later age. True, the King was still young, but perhaps he could broach the idea with Jess…if he ever saw her again. Without realizing it he began wringing his hands again as he walked.
ǂ
Jess na Gall and Captain Gaston were currently thirty miles to the east looking down from the Scar and out across the plains below. Ironically they were going to use the very same pass Samantha had when she was fleeing the Executioner Navarra. Now however, the pass was guarded by a high wooden fence and a host of men and women of Massi…nearly two hundred in all. It was a sizable force but it consisted mostly of those who were too old, or too young to join the actually army. They were here under the guise of guarding the pass, but Gaston had little doubt that though they may send a barrage of arrows at any approaching threat, most would flee in the face of any determined crossing. The hope however, was to bluff the enemy into thinking the defenders were more numerous than they actually were and so move on. Or, if there was an attack, the defenders would be able to delay an army long enough for word to get back to Manse and General Bock. Most of the people guarding the pass were simple folk…farm folk, here to help defend their country and few among them had any formal training. But it would be unwise for anyone to underestimate them. The inhabitants of the Plateau could be quite ornery.
Elsewhere ti-3 Page 31