However, after that battle things had changed. The Elshavel troops had chewed up a lot of the front line forces before they were repelled with the satisfactory heavy losses. But at an extremely high cost, thought considering the quality of her master’s troops she really wasn’t surprised, a few of the smaller and less experienced bands had been completely wiped out, and quite a few larger ones ended up combining after the battle to bring their numbers back up. They’d lost more than half of what had been in the field and her master had directed all the reinforcements to move up to fill in the worst spots. The overall strength of the troops now was still far less than it had been.
Oddly enough, this didn’t dispirit the fighters here at all. She suspected that was partially their greed, her master was still paying out the same amount of money overall, however now there were less people to share it, so that meant bigger shares for everyone. In addition to that, the large amount of reinforcements that her master had convinced them that were being held in reserve in the rear.
He told their leaders that he couldn’t commit the rest of his forces until he knew when and where the next attack would be coming from. Then through the use of her magic, her illusions, and his standard deceitfulness, he was even able to show the commanders the troops that were supposedly waiting there.
Of course none of them really knew that the Elves would be back, because they didn’t know about the captives in the tower. Her master had just told the mercenaries and the rest that the greedy Elves were trying to expand their territory, and that last slap down should keep them in their place for some time to come. Oddly enough, she had noticed that the few mercenaries who were smart enough to question such logic had died in the original battle. She suspected her master’s hand in that, but knew better than to ask.
“Mistress Kulan!” the sentry nodded to her, waving her and her guards by and into the encampment. This particular group was all Humans. Mixed race bands were unheard of here, the lesser races tended to prefer their own company, and her master preferred them to. It meant the different bands were less likely to exchange information.
“Ah, Mistress Kulan,” the mercenary leader of this band greeted her as she dismounted before his tent. “All is well I take it?”
“Yes, Captain Moore, am I to expect your usual demands and complaints once again?” She smirked to herself and looked at the Human mercenary from within the hood of her cloak; she despised this poor excuse of a warrior. However the shadows hid her spiteful expression from his eyes, a simple trick, and one she didn't enjoy, but her master seemed to insist on such things when dealing with the inferior races. She of course now knew better than to go against anything her master suggested, much less insisted on.
“Mistress!” he protested, “How can you say such unfair things about I and my men? Have we not borne much of the brunt of this duty?”
She sighed inwardly, this captain’s constant complaints and attempts to void his contract while keeping his pay was wearing her patience thin. He’d been happy enough to move up here when the battle was nearly finished. However, as for bearing the brunt of things, she doubted he’d ever borne anything beyond his stomach. She waited for his latest complaint and wondered if she’d be able to maneuver his group into being in the leading elements when the next attack from Elshavel came.
“I fail to see why you are so unhappy with the section of the border to my master’s lands that you have been tasked to protect, dear Captain.” She knew why he didn’t want to be here of course. The last attack had come through here and all of the original defenders had died, almost to the last man, orc, or whatever there had been here that held a weapon.
“It’s just that it is far too hilly and rocky here to apply my cavalry to best effect, this is ground better covered by infantry.”
Yes, he could retreat much faster on the plains she suspected. She smiled to herself, an idea presenting itself in her mind as she considered those things her master had finally confided in her recently.
“You do make a compelling argument, Captain,” she paused a moment as if in thought. “I will discuss this with our master when I get back to the tower.”
“Thank you, Mistress,” Moore smiled, “now, if I may discuss the rationing issues with you?”
Later as she rode off to the next post she had to inspect this week, she motioned for her senior guard.
“Yes, Mistress?”
“See to it that orders are written to move Moore’s people to Gronzuk’s location, and have Gronzuk’s moved up here.”
“Yes, Mistress,” he paused a moment and looked unsure.
“A question?” She asked him.
“Well, Mistress, it is just that I seem to recall that the group to the west of Gronzuk’s position is made up of the survivors of the groups that died up here.”
“Ah, you mean the ones whose dead bodies Moore’s people were accused of looting?”
“Yes, Mistress,” he nodded.
“Hmmmm, so, you’re saying that if Moore had to retreat, his path would take him through people who don’t like him very much.”
The guard pondered that a moment and then smiled, “Should I alert them to Captain Moore’s new position, Mistress?”
“Oh by all means, and remind them about our master’s views on cowardice in combat when you do.” She smiled in the depths of her cowl.
“It will be my pleasure, Mistress,” her guard smiled rather evilly as well.
Yes, she was sure several people would get a great deal of pleasure out of this. Sadly Moore would not be one of them.
She managed to meet with two more captains that day, hear their complaints, and deal with their problems. Neither was as much of a pain as Moore was, though they were crafty in their own right. However, that was to be expected, they fought for money and not honor after all, and she remembered that years ago, someone had made the point of explaining the difference between the two to her.
She momentarily stiffened in anger as she remembered just who it was and quickly banished the memory of them once more from her mind, surprised to even be thinking of them. Setting her mind to the matters at hand, she reviewed the complaints and requests of the mercenary captains, and thought on how best to stall them until it really didn’t matter anymore.
That night was spent at one of the outposts manned by her master’s Orcs. One of many that they’d had to rebuild. Two more days and she’d be back at the tower; at least she wasn’t forced to sleep in a tent this time she reflected. The small forts had little room inside, and her Master had always claimed that for himself, when she’d accompanied him on these inspections. Now at least she could enjoy that small privilege herself.
# # # #
She had only been back at the tower less than an hour when Rammart found her, tired and still dressed in her riding clothes.
"Lady, our spy has reported that a ship carrying several passengers, including the queen's commander, has made port."
"Any further word from our agent in Portsmith? I'd like to know what he did to make up for his failure in Merrick; our master has inquired about it as well." She said turning from her work towards him.
"No, Lady. There has been no word since he talked to you last. I suspect the worst."
She nodded and looked at the Human spymaster from within the hood of her cloak as always. Once again, the hood hid her face and her contempt of this particular member of a lesser race. She could understand why her master hired such for mercenaries, but why he employed them to do these more important tasks she did not know. They were rarely trustworthy unless instilled regularly with fear, or bribed constantly with gold, and rarely were they very competent either. This one, Rammart, she found particularly distasteful. His outward obeisance covered up for his inner conniving. He thought he hid it well, but she had no trouble reading his inner thoughts when she needed to. A singularly unpleasant task however, given the other thoughts she had found there.
"How many were traveling with the captain?" She asked softly.
"Appare
ntly three others: A male, two females. The male went straight to the council, apparently while the commander went to the castle."
"I see." She pondered a moment, "Who was this other male?"
Rammart shook his head. "They did not know the male's name. They could not get close enough to see him. They're not even sure he was a Shrean, though he looked to be one."
"The females then?" She asked annoyed. Some spy, sending incomplete information like this. She'd have seen about punishing them; however, the city was locked up tight now and their best spy had already been found out. Pity that. So she was forced to rely on incompetent fools gathering gossip.
"Jenna of the Kalidasa Clan and Tam of the Harnirin Clan.
Her eyebrows raised in surprise, unnoticed fortunately by the spymaster due to the shadows of her hood. Jenna, she hadn't heard that name in a while. Why would Jenna leave the city? There had only been one reason in the past that she could think of and she suspected there was still only one reason now. Him. Could it be?
She decided then that she had to know, and she had to know now. She knew her master hated him as much as she did, and that her master would want to know immediately if he returned to the city. They still had one well placed spy left in the Valley who had been held in reserve and rarely contacted; it was time to use her. "Contact our spy in the castle. Tell her to find out that male's name, and what he's doing there. Immediately."
"But, Milady, to contact her now would be risky, our Lord said not to use her unless ...."
"Do not try to interpret my master’s wishes or test the limits of my authority!" She warned and then pointed to the door. "Now!" She commanded, "Go!" She let some of her power flow into her voice and sent him running from the room in fear.
She paced back and forth in the room after he had left, thinking about this new development. If only her powers were stronger. If only the valley and city were not so well warded. She could look herself. To have to wait on messages passed by something as unreliable as spies and birds drove her mad. It would be several days at least before she'd know; best she assumed the worst and started to plan accordingly.
She paused in her pacing and smiled at that, going to look out a window. Plan accordingly; yes, she had some surprises she could use. The trip here from the valley was by no means a short one, nor an easy one. There were a number of things she could do to make it more interesting. They'd be coming here eventually, whoever they were, her master had told her so, it was part of the plan. Even if it wasn't him she had a great deal of respect for the current leader of the queen’s army who would undoubtedly be coming here sooner or later, and if this new male was who she suspected, if it was him....
Oh yes, best she start now she decided, and headed off to her workshop to begin preparations. Her master would no doubt have his own plans, but if she dealt with this problem before he ever became aware of it, then he'd not really have grounds to punish her. Well at least not punish her much. She gave an involuntary flinch at the thought of some of the past punishments he'd inflicted on her, for lesser crimes.
But this male, this one, he'd been the cause of more than a fair share of her pain and as long as the end result was the same, she did not think her master would begrudge her the chance to settle the score herself, in her own way.
Yes, there was much planning to do, and many preparations to make. She did not doubt he'd be leading the attack, she'd plan accordingly and make sure that when the time was right, that she'd draw him in. A small variation perhaps to her master’s plan?
She headed off deep in thought, the spice of revenge giving rise to plans of her own.
The Queen's Castle - Elsheval
I came to a decision then and headed to the section of the castle that held the servant’s chambers. I needed to talk to someone, and I needed to talk to them before they left the castle. If they were smart they'd already have cleared out, but smart doesn't make for good conspirators. If they hadn't left years ago, they'd probably still be here.
"Excuse me," I snagged one of the older servants as they were passing. They looked a bit familiar; hopefully they'd remember who I was looking for, if they weren't here any more. "I'm looking for someone; they were once one of the Queen's pages, Nantia Sylviata?"
"Ah yes, I remember her. She lives in the castle still. She's the queen’s seamstress now."
I let go and ran down the hallway, I remembered where the old seamstress had lived, and my memory did not fail me, as I found my way there without any problems. The door when I got there was locked, but that didn't stop me. A swift hard kick and it yielded.
"Ah Nantia," I smiled as she looked up at me, her face going pale with fear as she recognized who I was.
"Out, you!" She said in a quivering voice, "Out or I'll have the guard on to you!"
"Not likely this time, Nantia." I smiled and leaned against the door frame, "I'm on the queen’s business once again, and I have some questions I want you to answer."
"I'm nothing but a seamstress. Now leave me alone!" She picked up a pair of shears cowering back in the corner.
"Who told you to lie to me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Oh, I know you do. Too bad you haven't been paying attention to current events, isn't it? You probably thought I wasn't coming back. Now, answer me, or I'll get a truthsayer and we'll ask all sorts of interesting questions."
She looked at me, then at the door, then at me again. Then without another word she drove the scissors into her neck and fell over.
I swore and jumping forward I grabbed some cloth and tried to stem the blood, but it was no use. She was dead before I could even call for help.
"Damn!" I swore again. I thought I knew who told her what to say, but I needed to confirm it, hear it from a witness. I wanted proof that I could hold out to all to see. If I had thought for a moment she'd do this....
I shook my head. The only possible thing for it was that she was even more involved than I had suspected. I pulled her body to the center of the room so the pooling blood wouldn't get in the way, and proceeded to search the room, inch by inch. Looking for any kind of clues, any evidence at all.
Four hours later and I hadn't found a damned thing. I'd have to get Clint to have someone search all the places she was known to go, but whatever she was up to, she'd been careful. It didn't bode well at all. I drew one of my swords and hacked off her head, then wrapping it in a bolt of cloth I carried it out to the front gate and then set it on one of the pikes. The guardsmen all stared at me.
"Get a sign made. Hang it under her." I ordered one of them.
"What's it to say?"
"Traitor to the Queen." I said.
I went and borrowed a horse from the stables next and rode out of the same gate. I stopped and turned to look at the head on the pike. The message was clear I felt, the rules of this game were being changed. And this time, I was the one changing them.
I turned the horse again and rode off to my clan's home. They'd put me up until I had to leave. It would be nice to see the family, the clan again.
I wasn't to be so lucky, at least not yet. I had gotten half way down the hill, when two guards riding hard caught up to me coming from the castle as fast as they could.
"You've been ordered back to the castle!" The first one said.
I sighed and turned the horse around. "What is it now?"
"Seems you're being accused of murdering the seamstress." He said.
"I thought I was working for the queen now, carte blanch, and all that."
"I think they draw the line when you start killing the servants." He motioned for me to ride ahead.
"We're supposed to ask for your weapons as well." He said as he reined in behind me following me back up the path.
"It's, Jonus, right?" I asked him, he did look familiar.
"Yessir," He kept his horse close as I led a brisk pace up the hill. It was getting late and I wanted to get this all over with so I could go back home.
"You can
tell them you asked and I said no."
He coughed, "Umm, they were kind of clear about it, Sir."
"Yes, well, I'm being clearer. I suspect the order doesn't come from the queen, the king, or even the captain."
"Be that as it may, Sir."
"Jonus, I'm not under your boss, so I don't have to obey his orders. Whoever they are. If that's not enough of an argument then please know that I'd be very unhappy if you forced me to hurt you and that recruit over there when you should know I won't hurt the queen or the king."
"Maybe it's not the queen or the king people are worried about."
"Maybe it's the guilty?" I turned and grinned at him. I suddenly remembered when and where he had served under me.
"Maybe it is, Sir." He still looked unconvinced.
"Remember that fight we had at Rush Falls?"
"Yessir!" He perked up, "I remember."
"Remember what I said then?"
He paused for a moment and then nodded, "I reckon I do, Sir. You said 'A good and dedicated soldier knows when to not follow orders, because he is there and his commander is not."
I nodded, "So, just how have you been doing? Marry into my clan yet?" I asked changing the subject again.
"Well, Sir, very well. And yes, I married your cousin Kialla two years after you left, Sir. Just had cubs last year."
"Well, after this gets settled I'll expect to see you tonight. Give you my best wishes and all."
"Jonus," the other guard spoke up, "The weapons?"
"Are fine where they are," Jonus responded smiling now.
"But, our orders!"
"We were only told to ask for them, they never said what to do it he refused, now did they?"
"But, but it was implied!" The younger soldier sounded outraged.
"Not to the hero of Rush Falls it wasn't" Jonus laughed.
"What?" The younger soldier looked dumbfounded.
"Don't you tell any of the old stories around the barracks anymore?" I asked Jonus, the castle gate was drawing into view once more.
Lost Souls Page 10