“Neither will the men of the region,” Mason added, puffing out his chest.
Zack decided to continue with what was quickly becoming a vain attempt to end this madness. “Lyson City can withstand a siege long enough for the cavalry from Fort Biscomp to arrive. You and these men will shortly pay the price for this incursion.” It was a bluff worth making.
Riitan shrugged his shoulders. “The vast majority of your much vaunted legions are far to the south, fighting the forces of Van Joppa and Van Kestral. Fifty men are at your fort and have by now fallen to the forces General Kalleth, my senior officer, sent in earlier. We are taking all the land east of the Aczen River, all the way to the border of Ducaun. That kingdom and its spell-casting knight have invaded Lobenia and are now claiming a big chunk of it as their own. Since your army is hundreds of spans to the south, fighting a civil war, you are unable to contain the threat of Ducaunan expansionism. Our king refuses to allow the ineffectiveness of your monarch to keep us from responding to the threat to the north,” he declared, along with a weak justification for his own monarch’s expansionism.
Good scouting by the enemy totally ruined the bluff and explained how the Captain learned a deputy had been riding toward him. Zack knew the man was correct, Fort Biscomp was operating with a minimal staff, and the vast majority of its fighting force is battling the rebels. The border with Ducaun lies about eighty spans to the north and the river about one hundred ninety spans to the west and flowed south hundreds of spans. These people were in the process of cutting a huge pie slice out of Taracopa and King Van Efery’s legions were so far out of position they could not possibly counter this new threat without losing ground to the rebels. Zack took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. He dared not show fear to these men.
“Release that man,” Captain Riitan ordered, and the soldier quickly obeyed.
Zack was confused. Was the officer going to take the deal after all?
Mason staggered over to Trooper and Zack gave him a hand up behind the saddle. The captain stepped closer. “Our forces will be settling in, your forts will become homes to our garrisons, Aczencopan civilians will be moved into your cities and towns, and you Taras will be forced to the other side of the river. All of the horse breeding ranches will be ours. Fight and die if you wish, either way this territory is once again a possession of Aczencopa.”
“Why are you allowing me to take him home?” Zack questioned the move while trying to ignore the bravado. His unspoken question was, “why are you allowing me to ride away?”
Riitan began laughing and it took several moments for him to contain his mirth enough to speak. “I am giving your citizen here the chance to collect his family and go. I suggest you do the same. My recommendation is for you Taras to keep going until you are on the other side of the Aczen River. I give my word that anyone who is heading west will not be harmed unless they choose to engage my men in battle.” His eyes hardened, indicating he was dead serious about what he was about to say. “You can go to Lyson City, but know it will not be a place of refuge for long, and I might not be so lenient with you a second time.”
“You are in for..,” Mason began with bravado in his tone.
“Thank you Captain, we will be going now,” Zack interrupt before his friend could say something they would both regret.
He shook the reins and Trooper trotted away from the soldiers and their crossbows that were still aimed at him and Mason. “I can’t believe you gave up so easily,” his friend chided after they traveled a safe distance from the invaders.
“Our only achievement would have been to die right on the spot. Mason, what Riitan said is true. This territory has no defense and we are vulnerable to invasion. My duty is to take you and your family into Lyson City and report what we just learned.”
“I lied about not crossing the border,” Mason admitted. “I took down a nice buck that would have fed my family well. Unfortunately, a patrol caught me two days ago, took my bow and arrows, and gave the meat to their cook.”
“Did they take you to their camp in the woods?” Zack needed to gather as much information as possible to figure out how much of the Captain’s story was true.
“No, they took me to a huge log fort, one that looked to be freshly made. I tried to escape; they roughed me up a bit, and then made me sleep in the stables. There must have been a thousand men and horses. A whole bunch of them rode out this morning. Riitan is their commanding officer and I suppose he was telling the truth.”
Zack thought about Rya and Zed, his wife and five year old son were in Lyson City. He intended to go there and sound the alert. People from the neighboring towns, ranches, and farms needed to be given the choice of fleeing west or seeking refuge in the walled city. They had no time to bring in extra stores for a long siege and the defense consisted of only a sheriff and one hundred deputies armed with clubs and short swords. Folks like Mason and Carla would be excellent archers, but the arrows would eventually run out, and the Aczencopan forces could scale the walls or wait and starve out the occupants. Without the Taracopian Royal Cavalry there was no hope of fending off an invasion. Lyson City would become a deathtrap; anyone who stayed would be like the fly that buzzed him earlier, waiting for a bad end in a sticky web. If what was happening here was occurring all across the border, the kingdom was in big trouble and Zack did not take long to make up his mind. “Corporal Sumatra,” he addressed his friend as he did seven years ago.
“I’m right here Sergeant Cloven,” Mason replied.
“After we warn the people about what is coming, I am going to take my family, and anyone else who wants to come along for the ride, to Dolin. I am inviting you and yours to travel with me,” Zack offered.
“You mean we should run away?” Mason sounded indignant, but he was no fool and must see the danger in staying.
“Yes, but the way you say it sounds bad. Let’s call it a quick migration to the west where the grass is greener and our children can grow to adulthood,” Zack replied.
“You don’t think we can stop the Aczencopans no matter how hard we fight,” Mason rightly concluded.
“Riitan is in command of a thousand men, one of fifteen captains in the Seventh Legion, and that is not the only one on the move. So I know without a doubt the city is lost, probably the entire territory, and all we can do is die here or go prepare a hardened defense on the other side of the Aczen River,” Zack was truly sorry to say.
“Sergeant, it looks like we have a long trip ahead,” Mason said, as if they were still in the cavalry.
“Corporal, let’s go get the job done,” Zack replied and quickened Troopers pace from a trot to a canter.
It did not take them long to reach the A-frame house, but what they found caused Mason to drop off the back end of Trooper in a hurry and run ahead. A man in a wool topaz blue uniform with broad silver stripes on the shoulders and pant-legs stood speaking to Carla. The man-at-arms had a miniature crossbow attached to his belt along with a sword, dagger, and a dark club. On his jacket and helmet was the emblem of a house Zack did not immediately recognize. It had a falcon in flight clutching a lightning bolt in a sky of blue. The man, clearly of Taracopian descent, looked vaguely familiar, and Carla had just stepped back from an embrace as her husband arrived. But it was the four men wearing blue silks that frightened Zack to the core. Daniel Benhannon, easily recognizable from the countless pictures being distributed all over the world, it was no longer a mystery about whose house the emblem depicted. He stood tall among the Accomplisheds. One of which must be a Ducaunan, the second a Demfilian, and the third a Battencayan.
Zack began to wonder if this entire day was a nightmare and that perhaps he was still asleep in bed, the situation felt surreal. He stifled a nervous chuckle. Boy was Captain Riitan in for a surprise. He had justified the invasion as a way to thwart Ducaunan expansionism, and might find himself in a battle over this territory against the very people he had hoped to stop at the northern border.
“Deputy Sheriff, you nee
d not draw your sword. Come and join the conversation,” the foreign Knight called to him.
Zack glanced down at his side and realized his knuckles were white on the grip. Mason was shaking hands with the man who had been hugging Carla and the only one who seemed to be anxious was Zack himself. Even the children, giggling and smiling, seemed unconcerned. He dismounted and walked the short distance to the leader of the outlaw guild.
“So the Aczencopan legions are on the move right this moment with the goal of taking all of our land east of the river,” Mason was telling the foreign Knight.
“Nearly all of the horses Jared has on order are from ranchers in this territory,” the one of Battencayan descent told his leader, who nodded acknowledgement of the fact.
“Zackery, this is my cousin Jerome Tarkona. He is the one who was taken by the snatchers and Sir Daniel rescued him,” Carla explained.
Jerome extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you,” Carla’s cousin said and proved to have a firm grip.
“Did they snatch you?” Zack asked while glancing at the renegade Accomplisheds.
Jerome shook his head. “Aakacarns of the Serpent Guild took me and their leader, Vance Cummin, turned me into one of the Condemneds. It is Sir Daniel who made me human again and I chose to become one of the Chosen’s Sentinels.”
Zack turned to the foreign Knight. “It was good of you to rescue Carla’s cousin,” he began on a positive note. “But that does not justify you annexing land in Lobenia or here in Taracopa, even if you are protecting the contracts with our ranchers made by this Jared fellow your associate spoke of.”
Those dark eyes seemed to stare into his soul, causing him to swallow spit. “I am here because of Jerome and the concern he has for his cousin’s safety,” the foreign Knight replied in a respectful, non-threatening, tone. He sounded sincere but Zack had difficulty believing him.
“It is true and after what Mason just told me about the Aczencopans, and your idea of fleeing west, the offer to go live in Lanta, in Sir Daniel’s jurisdiction, sounds pretty good,” Carla said. It was obvious she trusted the man who evidently saved her cousin.
“Sergeant, he can transport us all there quick as a blink,” Mason added his enticement. It was a good one that held some intriguing possibilities.
These men had no horses and it was unlikely they walked all the way from Ducaun; spell-casting had to be involved. Zack thought of his wife and son in Lyson City. “My home and family are about to be attacked by a foreign legion. The warning still needs to be spread to the towns and villages and I must guide those who want to flee westward. Unless,” he paused and looked to the Knight, deliberately banishing the word foreign from his mind. “You and your army of Sentinels and Aakacarns can stop the Aczencopans.”
“Maestro, that may not be such a good idea,” the Battencayan-born Accomplished gave his opinion as if fearful his leader might agree and fight the battle.
The Knight glanced at the man and then focused those dark eyes on Zack. “I must earn the trust of King Van Efery and launching my Sentinels into his kingdom without permission would have the opposite effect. He would likely believe I am taking his sovereign soil as I did Mount Shantear. No, I think a certain amount of diplomacy must come first. I am not very good at that sort of thing but have people who are.”
“So the residents of this territory must die for the sake of diplomacy?” Zack blurted out, disappointed, not quite believing this reputed to be man-of-action would give such an answer.
“Battles are fought, people die, it happens all the time, and probably will be more frequent when the War of the Champions fully consumes the world,” the other Ducaunan Accomplished stated.
Sir Daniel glanced at the man. “Carlos, while I have learned the butcher always gets paid for a battle, the price need not be paid by these people, we have the resources to move them out of danger, and I will make that offer. The choice here is to walk away, stand and watch, or lend a hand.”
It was a generous offer to be sure, but did not go far enough and cost more than Zack wanted to pay. “I am a Taracopian, I do not want to live in Ducaun, and I don’t want my family to die.”
“I don’t expect you or your people to change citizenship. The invitation to live in Lanta has been extended to the relatives of Sentinel Tarkona, the rest I offer the talents of my Accomplisheds to transport them to Dolin. Mason told us that is where you intend to flee,” Sir Daniel gave an answer Zack could live with.
He made up his mind. “I will spread the word and anyone who is willing can come here to be taken to Dolin. I will be back with my family.”
Sir Daniel gave a quick nod of acknowledgement. “Some of the men currently serving in my navy were captured by Serpents after their Taracopian warships were destroyed at the docks. These men have told me Van Joppa is an ally of the Serpent Guild and my scouts will learn whether or not Van Kestral is a dupe or a willing conspirator,” he revealed things some citizens have been whispering about but were discounted as being too far-fetched. “I’ll assign Samuel to sort out who is an ally of the Serpents. What I ask of you, Deputy Sheriff, is when the time comes, for you, Jerome, and the former senior officers from Port Joppa, to testify before King Van Efery of what you have witnessed.”
“But I know nothing of Serpent Guild activities,” Zack was quick to point out.
“I want you to testify about the Aczencopan invasion of this territory,” Sir Daniel explained.
“Maestro, I stand ready to be of assistance,” the Demfilian spoke up.
“Sero, I know I can depend on you,” the Knight assured the Aakacarn, who appeared to be the oldest Accomplished of the four.
“You have a meeting in half a mark,” the Battencayan man told the Knight.
“Thank you, Simon, for that timely reminder,” Sir Daniel replied, and then smiled. “You do know I once again have total recall and could not forget the meeting even if I wanted.”
“Yep,” the young Accomplished replied with an impish grin and clearly no intention of elaborating further.
The knight glanced up at the sky for a moment and then focused on Zack. “Can I count on you to testify?”
The testimony of a deputy sheriff would carry a certain amount of weight and the king needed to be notified quickly of the Aczencopan incursion. To Zack, this was not a gratuity for the transportation for he and his family, it was a matter of duty to his countrymen and king. “You can count on me.”
He mounted Trooper and headed into the woods. Zack trusted his instincts and believed the young Knight would keep his word and get people to safety. There was no time to be wasted, the Aczen legions were on the move and many people could die before help arrived from Sir Daniel or the king. It occurred to Zack that if the Knight’s Accomplisheds could transport large groups of people hundreds of spans in the blink of an eye, and can instantly bring his army of Sentinels and Aakacarns into battle, then he could also bring legions of the justly vaunted Taracopian Royal Cavalry to the region as well. Lyson City could withstand a siege long enough for all of them to arrive. In that case fewer people would flee, preferring to stay behind and hold out until help came. Zack was tempted to send his family to safety and remain behind to help defend the city, but the need to testify of the invasion to King Van Efery overruled the desire to stay. He would go to Lanta until his testimony was required. If Sir Daniel and the King can come to an agreement and act swiftly enough, the Aczencopans would rue the day they dared to cross the border. All Van Efery had to do is trust a man who has already claimed land in Lobenia, which might prove to be difficult.
-----
Andrew Trelan stayed in the bushes at the top of the hill while below him men, horses, and wagons headed south toward Lobenia, which would not be a problem if this was the back end of the procession rather than the front. This particular train was in the process of bringing supplies and reinforcements to the legionaries already in place. Twenty or so days ago a legion of Pentrosa’s Sutton Guard led a combined force of Fon Kayan an
d Battencayan legions through this region of Battencay, crossed the border, trapped the Lobenian legion in the city of Polatca and then moved on, leaving half of the Battencayan forces to maintain the siege. A Ducaunan legion was based at Bolover, opposite Polatca across the border, about thirty spans south of Mount Piron, but likely would not get involved unless ordered to do so by Queen Cleona. That was the extent of Andrew’s knowledge of military matters. His concern was getting his family and friends out of Battencay and into Ducaun. Refuge is east, seven spans ahead with an army in the way, and he needed to figure out how to pass unnoticed, which would not be so difficult if he was alone.
Slimmian Moniker crawled up beside him in the bushes. “How long do you think we will have to wait?” His friend asked, even though he could see for himself and make as good a guess as any.
Andrew looked into a pair of green eyes that were nearly a match for his own. It would do no good to point out the fact that if they had arrived at this spot sooner there would be no waiting. “Go back and tell the others to hunker down and stay quiet,” he replied in a hushed voice, and looked to the sun, which at this point appeared to be a big orange ball above the horizon. He scratched at two days growth of whiskers and made up his mind. “We will wait as long as it takes for that train to pass. My guess is we will be here for a mark, maybe two.” Unless the train stops, he did not add out loud.
Ever since King Josher surrendered and became a vassal of Gloria, the ruling Queen of Fon Kay, life in Battencay had changed, and not for the better. Worse, seeing members of the Serpent Guild accompanying the invaders made the new reality even more dangerous. Say one word against the new order and you will probably find yourself among the Condemneds, that message had spread quickly, which is why many people were trying to flee the country. The refugees farther west toward the coast could easily cross south into Lobenia, but few wanted to head east into Ducaun, and Andrew knew why. They were afraid of the spell-casting Ducaunan Royal Knight who seized Mount Shantear in an Aakacarn battle felt around the world. Some of the men Andrew once thought of as friends actually joined the military, figuring that to be better than fleeing the country or running the risk of being turned into Condemneds. Andrew could not in good conscience serve the new regime and neither could the people journeying with him now.
To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) Page 18