Home Lost

by Franz McLaren

  "A general grumbling rose around the fire. Several men openly suggested perhaps the near drowning affected my thinking.

  "The King asked whether I was proposing suicide. It sounded as though my plan would end the war quickly, but not reduce Sauwerdan losses. Although every man there was willing to die for his country, none wanted to sacrifice needlessly. Had I not just explained that failing to provide an opposing army would not ensure peace? Would this strategy be the same thing?

  "I held up my hand to silence the protests. I pointed out I had suggested giving him the battlefield he wanted, not the battle.

  "Silence again descended, but now there was distrust on several faces. This was where I would convince them or lose them forever. I laid out my plan.

  "We spent the rest of the night arguing and plotting, encouraging objections and laying them to rest. Finally, just before dawn, all agreed it just might work."

  CHAPTER 37

  Clouds hid the moon and stars. Without their light, it was impossible to see the road. The horses began to stumble.

  Leena drew her wand and cast an illumination spell. The warming spell was necessary full time now. She was glad they rested this afternoon. The twin spells were not a large energy drain, but they were constant. If she sustained them through the night, by morning she would be exhausted.

  With every step the horses took, ice cracked with loud reports shattering the chilled silence. She looked at Darius. He rode hunched, his cape pulled solidly about him. A thick scarf wrapped his chin and nose so only his eyes were visible. The temperature was dropping sharply. Although they had been on the road a short time, she wondered whether they should seek shelter.

  She had never tried casting a warming spell on another person and was not sure she could. Casually she rode next to Darius and mumbled the spell, pointing her wand at him. He sat straighter and turned to look at her.

  "Thanks."

  It was a simple word, but she saw appreciation in his eyes. She also felt the added spell draining her faster. She hoped her reserves would hold out until morning.

  "The town of Lovell is about twenty miles ahead," Darius said. "There's an inn there. We should arrive by dawn. It will be a good place to hold up. We need some time off the road."

  The scarf had slipped a bit. His nose was red tipped and she found it hard to keep from grinning.

  "There is little I would not do for a hot bath about now." She blushed as the sparkle in his eyes alerted her to the implications of her words.

  "Well, almost," she huffed, turning to look ahead.

  She wondered what Darius thought as he rode beside her in silence. Once, she thought she heard a chuckle, but when she looked he was staring intently at the road ahead.

  "It took more than a month for the pieces of the plan to come together. That left barely two months before reinforcements would arrive from Allivan. As we scrambled to locate suitable locations, we received several reports of cruelty from Ler Dan. We could do nothing about them. However, they did harden the resolve of King Ballan’s men.

  "The King’s personal guard continued to train and improve their sword skills. They, in turn were training the regular army. I watched them improve daily, while hoping their skills would not be needed in the coming campaign. Still, we had to be prepared.

  "In early autumn, the King gathered an army of fifty archers and two hundred and fifty freshly trained infantry in a field far from any town. Messengers were sent a week earlier to start the rumor in Ler Dan of an army massing to march on the town. The Colonel would not want to fight a battle in or near Ler Dan. Too many of his troops would be diverted standing guard against sabotage or attack from townspeople.

  "It took a week for the rumor to reach the Colonel. As expected, he sent scouts to confirm an army was gathering. Although the Sauwerdan army was twice the size of his, the Colonel knew the superior weapons and training of his troops would easily win any battle. As we hoped, it was too good an opportunity for him to ignore.

  "Shortly after his scouts confirmed the rumor, Allivanian scouts were sent to watch the battlefield selected along our path toward Ler Dan. We planned it so a perfect site lay directly across our line of march. It would take Allivanian troops a week to arrive. We paced our march to arrive a day or two after the Colonel secured the location and prepared for the battle he could not lose.

  "We offered a force large enough to ensure the battle would be recorded as a great victory. He would find it irresistible.

  "Following well-trained battle strategy, the Colonel would estimate the time to travel to the battle site, set up, fight the battle and return to Ler Dan. He would have his quartermaster provide sufficient provisions to complete the campaign. The Colonel was astute enough to know his men did not know how to forage in this land. Therefore, he would allow an extra few days of provisions to prepare against contingencies.

  "The King, Sergeant Wolffang, who rarely left my side, and I sat on a hill far from town to watch the Allivanian troops leave Ler Dan. The Colonel and Marta led a column of twenty-four horses. I imagine she used her knowledge of my murder as a lever to elevate her status. No witch had ever been permitted to ride in column with knights and she was proudly displaying herself at the front, in the position traditionally reserved for the second-in-command. I wondered how the knights were accepting the change.

  "The mounted cadre was followed by ninety foot troops in three separated formations. Three supply wagons followed, carrying the six wizards and the army's provisions. Ten knights guarded the wagons to prevent theft from bandits or pilfering from the support personnel that brought up the rear of the column.

  "Seeing my companions, armor shining in morning sunlight, marching proudly to their first battle, was a glorious sight. I also felt a bit of shame at the way they would be dealt with if our plan succeeded.

  "For the first six days, we trailed the column avoiding detection. When we were sure they were bound for the intended battle site, we rode forward to monitor the conflict and support contingency planning if necessary.

  "Our army camped half a day's march from of the valley where the Colonel intended to conduct his battle. In the morning, he deployed his troops in the expected battle formation and waited our arrival.

  "To the Colonel, this situation seemed perfect. We had sufficient archers to guarantee enough of his troops would be killed to make this seem an impressive battle. He knew Sauwerdan infantry would be easily overcome. I could almost see his glee. By the end of this day, his legend would begin.

  "However, his opponents failed to show. Had the Sauwerdan army decided to set up at another site? Were they afraid to confront him? He had no way of knowing.

  "The next morning he sent scouts to locate the Sauwerdan forces. They found a clear trail leading away from the Colonel’s army. The trail was designed to show we intended to avoid his army and approach the town while he waited in the field. I knew he would accept the tactic, perhaps even admire it.

  "Our new line of march led us toward a site more suited to the Colonel’s battle strategy than the first. We selected a field where the afternoon sun would be behind his troops and in our eyes when we attacked. We timed our march to take two days to reach the new site. His horsemen could easily arrive in a day and prepare the battlefield to his advantage. He would think it an act of divine intervention.

  "Later I learned the Colonel had allowed sixteen days light rations for his men. He did not want to be slowed by a large logistics burden. By the day he was setting up the second battlefield, they had consumed ten days rations. The new battlefield was eight days from Ler Dan.

  "While the Colonel waited, he sent soldiers to scrounge the countryside for food. However, we had chosen sites with no farms in several days' march. Unknown to the Colonel, we used the hunting trick I had seen in Riverford. A day before his troops would pass, we sent lines of beaters into the brush for more than a mile on each side of his line of march. Days would pass before any game felt safe enough to return.

 
"We arranged it so the area selected was the only suitable area for the battle from his perspective. He was forced to wait for our army to arrive or give up and return to Ler Dan. Returning without a victory was not a consideration. His legend could not withstand being made a laughing stock by a gang of backward foreigners. He cut his troops to half rations, as we slowed our march.

  "On the morning of the twelfth day, we halted half a day from the Colonel’s prepared position. Throughout the day, we sent squads forward as though to line up for battle only to have them retreat at the first sign of enemy preparation. After dark, we marched away toward a third site that matched the Colonel’s strategy.

  CHAPTER 38

  "Late the next morning, his scouts located us. Again he sent riders along our line of march to locate a suitable field for battle. Again, one was just over a day’s march from their position. The new field would leave them ten days from Ler Dan.

  "We had reached the trickiest part of the plan. By the time they could reach the site and prepare for battle, fourteen days would pass since leaving Ler Dan, four on half rations. He had selected light rations for the campaign believing the battle would be over and his men back to base before reduced rations could have a damaging effect. I am certain he planned to recover some food from the defeated army.

  "Now, with a day for battle and ten days to return to Ler Dan, even at half rations his men would be without food for three days. However, fear of failure goaded him.

  "From a distant hill, I watched the Colonel split his forces. He sent mounted troops to our rear to protect against another change in direction or to goad us to battle if necessary. Even from a distance, it was clear their reduced rations were having an effect. Like witches, wizards consume large amounts of energy performing magic. The Colonel had been using his wizards to avoid posting guards at night and during the march. Now, at half rations, the wizards were depleted. They lay inert in two, now empty, supply wagons.

  "All rations were cut to support personnel. As they fell behind, the Colonel ordered they be left to survive or perish on their own. The knights and their mounts were also tiring.

  "We arranged our new line of march to pass near a forest that could hide us when necessary. Throughout the next two days, we let the Colonel’s riders see us slowing. The Colonel had obviously ordered them to keep us moving swiftly. Time was against him.

  "Every time we slowed, his riders charged at full gallop hoping to panic us into running toward the battle site. Instead, we faded into the trees and left them milling in confusion. Should they enter to search or retreat to their trailing position and let us continue? Being afoot, we had the advantage in the close confines of the forest. They chose to withdraw and let us continue, but time was lost. With each charge, it took longer for their steeds to recover.

  "On the second day of our trek to the third battlefield, we slowed and they charged. A horse stumbled, shortly after, another fell and refused to rise.

  "This was what we waited for. Our army disappeared.

  "We watched knights dismount and lead horses with no strength left to carry them. Our troops remained in the woods. This time we did not reappear.

  "For a while, the knights searched for any sign of where we had gone. However, they were exhausted and starving. They soon lost interest and walked toward the battle site to report to the Colonel.

  "We gathered the fallen horse. He was the first casualty of our battle strategy. He was given water and oats. With a few days' rest, he was as good as new.

  "Hidden by the trees, we followed the bedraggled horsemen as they straggled listlessly toward the battle site. They left eleven more horses behind. By now, we had gathered a large group at our rear position aid station. In addition to twelve of their twenty-four steeds, we collected the abandoned support personnel. We provided dozens of people to tend the Allivanian victims. We had planned well and our resources were more than sufficient.

  "On the sixteenth day since his departure, the Colonel decided to return to Ler Dan. He had six days of half rations remaining for ten days travel. His troops and his remaining horses were starving.

  "On the forth day of his return trip, the first soldier collapsed. By the sixth day all but two horses, the Colonel's and Marta’s, and more than half his troop had been left behind. After the column passed from sight, our men gathered starving soldiers and beasts and nursed them until healthy enough for the trip to the aid station. When they were recovered, they were sent to Riverford.

  "Every day it became more apparent the Colonel and Marta had not shared in reduced rations. They, and their mounts, were strong and healthy. The Colonel spent his days berating the remaining troops for their weakness and threatening severe punishment if they failed to increase their pace.

  "We had gathered more than fifty swords and as many strong yew bows. Now was time to end the war.

  "We left a group to follow the retreat and pick up the fallen. The rest of us headed to Ler Dan.

  "The road the Colonel was on would take fresh troops four days to arrive. Cutting across country, we arrived on the morning of the third day.

  "The Colonel had left twenty-four knights to guard the town. However, in his zeal for victory he had taken all the wizards. That meant the knights were split into two twelve-man shifts, too few to protect every entrance. In addition, several knights were needed to guard the imprisoned townspeople.

  "I had not seen the Lieutenant on the march and assumed he would be in charge. I had no doubt he had been told of my treachery. However, I believed he would at least listen to me before attacking. So far, no lives had been lost. I wanted to complete the campaign that way.

  "Using buildings as protection, we assembled an advance party of thirty soldiers in Jonathan’s barn. We waited while Jonathan went to talk to his family. We had to know the situation in town.

  "Jonathan returned to tell us the knights in town were trying to ease the tension created by the Colonel’s repressive orders. Although the Lieutenant knew his orders would be countermanded when the Colonel returned, he was easing as much suffering as he could while he had the opportunity.

  "He was allowing the remaining hedge witch, Jen, to serve the needs of the sick and injured, a policy forbidden by the Colonel. He returned most provisions commandeered, with instructions they be hidden where the Colonel’s searchers would not find them. He authorized the release of the Town Leader and the Council of Elders during the day so they could take steps to halt the collapse of the city. Everyone knew the Lieutenant would be severely disciplined when this campaign was over. Without informing him, the townspeople were making plans to help his escape to Riverford before the Colonel returned.

  "I had to admire the Lieutenant. He knew these acts would end his career. He knew he would face long imprisonment and, in the Colonel’s current mood, he would probably suffer physical abuse. Despite the consequences, he did what he knew was right. This is the trait of a good knight.

  "We had several plans for how to approach the town depending on what we found. After listening to Jonathan’s report, I suggested we simply walk in under a white flag. Just to be on the safe side, we also developed a plan for using the troops hidden in the forest to free us should the need arise.

  "We left Jonathan and five soldiers in the barn. Using Jonathan’s family, they would stay current with our progress. Should it become necessary, they would alert the troops in the woods."

  CHAPTER 39

  "The King, his personal guard, Sergeant Wolffang and I stepped from the barn under a white flag and approached the road to town.

  "I was more than a little nervous. The Lieutenant’s leniency to the townspeople did not mean he would automatically forget my alleged treason and accept me as a brother knight. I hoped he would honor the white flag and listen before acting. Every knight in this town was a friend.

  "Under our flag, we walked the main road to town. The sentries saw us at a distance and one was dispatched at a run. In minutes, I saw the Lieutenant running beside the man
, shouting orders as he approached the guard post.

  "When we were within fifty yards, he shouted for us to halt. He waited as we stood quietly. As time passed, it became obvious he waited for us to begin the conversation.

  "I called that we came in peace to talk. The King and I asked leave to approach, unarmed.

  "He looked behind us, trying to determine whether this was a trap. After a few moments, he decided to trust us and agreed.

  "We removed our weapons, passed them to the personal guard and approached. As I neared, I searched his face for signs of hatred or anger. I saw only wary acceptance. On an impulse, I extended my hand in friendship. Without hesitation, he grasped my wrist and welcomed me.

  "He asked whether I knew the Colonel was out looking for me. I told him that actually the Colonel thought me dead and at the moment he was struggling to make it back to Ler Dan. My latest information was he would probably not be here until the day after tomorrow.

  "The Lieutenant invited us to join him for midday meal. We gratefully accepted, having been on field rations for a month. However, I told him that besides the King’s personal guard, we had more than two hundred and fifty soldiers and archers in the woods. I asked whether he would permit them to come into town and relax for a while. Several of them were from Ler Dan and would appreciate the chance to see family and friends.

  "I could see wheels turning in the Lieutenant’s mind. I had an army with me. We could have easily overwhelmed his small force yet chose to negotiate. Refusing to let the troops in might delay the King a victory, but could not prevent it. Although he never voiced the question, his eyes asked whether he could trust my word as a knight. After barely any hesitation, he agreed.

  "I called Sergeant Wolffang forward, told him to pass the word the men were free to come into town, but were to be on their best behavior. After all, we were guests.

  "During the meal, I told the Lieutenant about the attempt on my life and recounted the tale of campaign. I assured him the people and horses we rescued were well treated as guests of the King. I suggested we plan for the Colonel's return and how we should deal with the army sure to arrive once the merchant told his tale to the Great Wizard.