"He is right," Queen Samir said softly. "The alliance of our four countries is fragile, and we all now know who has the upper hand. Perhaps a truce among ourselves is in order?"
"I think his choice of Kyrga is now clear," nodded King Harowin. "The man may not be the ideal general, but he will do whatever the Emperor tells him to. Kyrga feels no allegiance to any of us."
"He is like a trained attack dog," nodded Queen Samir. "We can reason with the other generals, but we have been outplayed by the Emperor."
"Kyrga needs to die," spat King Anator. "When that happens, we can place our own man in his place. Then we shall see if the Emperor is ready to treat us as true equals."
"I concur," smiled Queen Samir.
King Harowin nodded in agreement as the Aertan ship slid alongside the dock. King Anator did not waste words on farewells. As soon as the ship was stable, he proceeded along the dock and jumped onboard.
"He is unstable," King Harowin commented.
"True," smiled Queen Samir. "Perhaps the two of us should keep our dealings from him."
"Oh?" asked the King of Ertak.
"I am not saying that we should exclude him from everything," stated the queen, "but there might be a few things that the two of us should keep between ourselves."
"We must stick together," nodded the king. "That is my yacht coming to the dock. We should talk later."
King Harowin moved onto the dock to board his yacht. Queen Samir stood and watched him leave, unaware that she was being watched from behind. Grand General Kyrga retreated from the tall hedge near the docks and made his way back into the Imperial Palace. Emperor Jaar was waiting for him.
"I see that you have not given up your old habits," stated the Emperor.
"It never hurts to verify the loyalty of those near to you," shrugged the general.
"And what did you discover?" asked the Emperor.
"King Anator may become a problem in the future," declared the general. "I noticed that you chose not to share your knowledge of the portals with the others. Do you doubt their loyalty?"
"Of course," laughed Emperor Jaar. "Would you trust any of them?"
"Certainly not," smiled the general.
"That is what I like about you, Kyrga," stated the Emperor. "You are not prone to falling for the lies of our friends. I am thinking about putting you in charge of finding the Alceans. I do not think the others are capable of it."
"I have more than enough to keep me occupied," replied the general. "The logistics of using the portals will take careful planning. We still have Vinafor and Karamin to squeeze for soldier recruits, and we need horses badly. I would prefer that you assign the task to a lesser officer."
"Very well," sighed the Emperor. "Speaking of horses, what is happening in Tyronia? Have they agreed to supply our army with mounts yet?
"Not yet," smiled the general, "but I suspect that they will fairly soon. In any case, the horses will be ready when the armies are. You can count on me."
"I am counting on you, Grand General Kyrga," the Emperor smiled thinly. "Do not fail me as those before you have."
Chapter 8
Sharing the Bounty
The Federation Highway between Giza and Farmin ran right along the coast. On the inland side of the road sat farm after farm, and they stretched away from the coast for as far as the eye could see. Each farm was enclosed by fences, not to keep out wild animals, but rather to dissuade thieves from stealing the food. Many of the farms had armed guards and roving patrols, which tended to come close to the fence whenever someone was near. On the other side of the Federation Highway was the Sea of Tears. Occasionally a fishing village would sprout up, and the Federation Highway would curve inland just long enough to bypass the rundown shacks. Bandits appeared to be nonexistent, and the road was fairly well traveled. It was a wide boulevard, and wagons could easily pass one another without having to stop to let someone by. Most of the travelers the Knights of Alcea passed were merchants and cargo haulers, but the occasional courier or traveler was not uncommon. While people traveling the road were not necessarily friendly, neither were they fearful of constant attack.
Trees were almost nonexistent along this section of the Federal Highway, and the Knights of Alcea had spent the previous night camped on the shore of the Sea of Tears where they had found two palm trees for tethering the horses. Waking up to the morning sun shining over the Sea of Tears had been pleasant, and the group was in good spirits.
"It is so pretty," remarked Kalina. "It is hard to remember that we are in such an impoverished land."
"That will change once we reach Farmin," replied Morro. "It is a dirty city that started out as a fishing village and resort for the elite of Ertak. There are many ancient mansions along the coast, but they seemed to forget how to build a city once people started pouring in. Many of the streets are dead ends, and it is easy to get lost in Farmin. The sewers only serve the old part of the city along the coast, so the streets in the rest of the city are difficult to maneuver."
"It sounds as if you don't care for Farmin," commented Natia.
"It is the worst of the Federation cities," replied the elven thief. "It is not as dangerous as Despair, nor even as large as Valdo, but it is by far the filthiest of them all. You must be careful in buying food within the city. Many first time visitors to Farmin get quite sick from eating in the wrong places. In fact, the thieves there are always on the lookout for sick visitors. They are easy marks, and they usually have a fair bit of coin on them to pay for their travels."
"Where should we stay?" asked Garth.
"The Bluff House Inn," Morro replied without hesitation. "It is right on the coast and not far from the Royal Palace. It will be expensive, but at least you will all survive the visit. I will touch base with Juggler as soon as we arrive so that the thieves do not bother you."
"Juggler?" asked Natia.
"He is the head thief in Farmin," replied Morro. "He is a shrewd man and will probably have questions about you. Is it safe to continue using Sidney Mercado?"
"I don't see why not," nodded Garth. "In fact, I am hoping to purchase some things in Farmin to sell further down the road. We need to generate some money to keep paying for the accommodations."
"I have a couple of things that will help with the expenses," grinned Morro. "When the shipyards were destroyed, people ransacked what was left among the wreckage. One of Headman's boys picked up two DeCardia figurines. Headman didn't know what they were. When I explained it to him, he gave them to me. He figured they were too hot to dispose of in Giza."
"It sounds like Headman really likes you," commented Garth.
"I get along real well with him," smiled Morro. "I could not have gotten my references if I was not likeable to the head thieves. They really are not bad people, Garth. Their profession might be despicable, but there is little else they can do."
"With their organization skills," retorted Garth, "they would make fine officers in the army."
"The army is corrupt," countered Morro. "It is seldom the best soldiers who get to be officers in the Federation Army. Promotions are more often determined by whose boots you lick, and none of the head thieves are those kinds of men. You've met two of them now. Cracker is a bit of an egotist and tends to underestimate others, but Headman is clever and decisive. He sees opportunities where others wouldn't waste their time looking. You saw how quickly he arranged an alibi for you. It may not have been the best alibi, but it kept you out of prison long enough to get out of the city."
"Do I represent an opportunity for Headman?" asked Garth.
"He certainly sees some worth in befriending you," smiled Morro. "He also respects power, and Kalina showed him more power than Giza has ever seen. He also correctly identified you as a fearless warrior, regardless of what your supposed occupation is."
Button dropped from the sky and landed on Tedi's shoulder. "There are soldiers heading towards us," the blue fairy announced. "They are coming from the direction of Farmin."
"Will they hassle us?" Garth asked Morro. "There is not any place to hide on this road."
"Doubtful," Morro replied. "Soldiers travel this road all the time. We should just keep going."
"You will have to get off the road," frowned Button.
"Do they demand that other travelers get off the road as they pass?" Tedi asked Morro.
"That is not what I mean," frowned the tiny fairy. "They are taking up the whole road."
"Just how many soldiers are coming towards us?" asked Natia.
"Thousands," declared Button. "Maybe tens of thousands. The columns stretched on forever."
"I don't like the sound of this," Morro said anxiously. "How much time do we have before they arrive?"
"Two or three hours," answered Button. "Not all of the soldiers are mounted, so they are going slowly."
Garth gazed across the road at the endless string of farms. He shook his head in dismay at the thought of hiding in the fields.
"There is another fishing village within an hour's ride from here," suggested the elven thief. "I think we should get there quickly and take a long break for the midday meal."
"I agree," replied Garth. "Let's pick up the pace a bit, but I don't want the horses lathered when we stop. We should have plenty of time to get to the village before the soldiers do."
Morro and the Knights of Alcea rode along the Federation Highway for slightly less than an hour before entering the fishing village. The village was not much more than a dozen ramshackle huts, and the villagers gazed upon the newcomers with a mixture of fear and curiosity. While bandits were not prevalent in the area, outsiders were usually looked upon as troublemakers.
The group dismounted at the edge of the village. Morro handed his reins to Natia and walked towards a group of men mending nets. They were the only men in the village as most of the fishermen were out at sea.
"Greetings," smiled Morro. "I am showing a group of Tyronians the bounty of Aerta. I think they would be impressed with a fresh meal from the renowned Sea of Tears. Would it be possible to have a midday meal served?"
The men ignored Morro as they continued to work on the nets. The elven thief saw more than one of their hands shaking as they worked. He smiled in sympathy, knowing that others probably stopped and merely took what they wanted. He pulled a coin pouch from his belt and purposely jingled it. The men looked up.
"I am willing to pay handsomely to impress these people," Morro said softly.
"Are you now?" one of the villagers asked. "Five people could eat a lot of food."
The other two fishermen looked on expectantly as the vocal one tried to bargain.
"I figure five silver might get you all a meal," he said as if he were robbing the visitors.
Morro smiled broadly and pulled three coins from his pouch. He placed a gold coin in each of the men's hands.
"What I had in mind was a little bit more than a simple meal," Morro said. "I would like them to sample the best that your women can manage."
The men stared at the coins as if they had never seen gold before. Finally, the vocal fisherman's face broke into a broad grin.
"Don't just sit there gawking," he said to the other two fishermen. "We have a banquet to prepare."
The three men separated and ran to different huts. In mere minutes the village was a beehive of activity as the men worked to set up a makeshift table on the sand while the women started preparing the meal. By the time the vanguard of the army appeared on the road, the visitors were enjoying a wondrous sampling of local cuisine and chatting amicably with the villagers. Three riders detached from the vanguard and rode into the village. One was a general, and the other two were colonels. The officers dismounted near the other horses and tied off their mounts. Their eyes took in the whole village as they marched towards the feast.
"What is the celebration?" asked the general.
"No celebration," Garth said as he rose to his feet and faced the officers. "We are from Tyronia, and we had heard that the bounty of the Sea of Tears was much tastier than the Gulf of Ur. We are putting it to the test," he added with a grin. "Would you care to sample something?"
The two colonels glanced nervously back at the column of soldiers, but the general smiled broadly.
"I should think it was my duty to ensure that Tyronians appreciate the best of the Federation," stated the general.
Morro, Natia, and Tedi rose from their seats to allow the officers to sit down. The villagers did not look happy, but Morro solved the problem by pressing two more gold coins into a fisherman's hand. The conversation was cordial, and Garth confined it to safe topics until the officers felt comfortable. At first he spoke about the beauty of the Sea of Tears and his admiration for the vast fields of produce. The colonels remained rather quiet, but the general delighted in speaking of the wonders of neighboring Ertak, leading Garth to believe that the army was based there. After some time had passed, Garth decided to see what he could learn.
"That is a mighty large army that you are commanding," Garth said. "How do you ever keep them provisioned?"
"There are supply wagons at the rear," the general answered hesitantly. "What is it that brings you down here from Tyronia?"
"I am Garth Shado," replied the Knight of Alcea. "I am a special agent for Sidney Mercado."
"Special agent?" the general echoed respectfully. "I have heard of men like you. You carry the worth of an entire caravan in your pouches. I didn't think you would advertise your true occupation."
"I am fairly well known already," replied Garth. "It does no good to try to conceal it, especially from the Federation Army. Besides, I am on a purchasing mission at the moment, so bandits would not prosper by attacking me."
"Well met, Garth Shado," replied the general. "I am General Omirro of Ertak. Have you come from Giza?"
"We have," nodded Garth. "They had a bit of trouble there recently. Is that where you are heading?"
"No," the general shook his head. "Aerta already has more than enough men to control their area. Did you see the state of the shipyards before you left?"
"No," replied Garth. "We were just finishing up a deal for gems when the explosions went off. The city was quite chaotic at the time, so we decided to leave. It is a good thing that we did. I heard that the city is now sealed off."
"That is normal here in the Federation," nodded General Omirro. "Anytime there is an attack, we try to cordon off the troublemakers. You must have good contacts in Giza to have been allowed to leave. That speaks highly for your group."
"I like to think that we are well known and respected wherever we go," smiled Garth. "Sidney Mercado would not have it any other way."
"He is well known in Ertak," nodded the general. "I have never heard a bad word about him. I have enjoyed your company, Garth Shado, but it is time to lead my army northward."
Finished with his meal, the general rose. He stretched and looked at the plates of the two colonels. Neither of them had finished eating yet, but they both pushed their plates away and rose to their feet. As the officers walked away from the table, the general whispered to one of the colonels. The chosen officer returned to the table as the other two officers mounted and rode off.
"I need to see your papers," the colonel said to Garth.
"Of course," smiled Garth as he rose to his feet. "I think I left them on my horse. I had not expected an interrogation over the midday meal."
As Garth walked to the horses, the colonel accompanied him.
"I am sorry to trouble you," the colonel said apologetically, "but the general is always suspicious of strangers."
"I understand," Garth replied with a tone that said he truly was offended.
Garth retrieved his papers and handed them to the colonel. The officer merely glanced at them and handed them back with a smile and a nod.
"I can't believe how long your column is," Garth said. "I doubt there will be enough ale in Giza to suffice."
"General Omirro frowns on drinkers," chuckled the colonel. "Besides, w
e are not going near Giza. We will have the pleasure of stomping around in the Kyber Woods. There surely won't be any ale there."
"Certainly not," chuckled Garth. "I feel for you, Colonel. There is nothing worse than being stuck in the woods with ten thousand thirsty men."
"Yes, there is," laughed the colonel.
Garth raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Being stuck in the woods with twenty thousand thirsty men," laughed the colonel. "Have a good trip, Garth Shado."
"And you as well, Colonel…"
"Verle," the officer replied. "Colonel Verle."
* * *
Gerant rode to the center of the Aranak Road and halted his horse. He gave a glance over his shoulder and nodded approvingly when he could not see any part of the campsite he had chosen. Passersby would still be able to notice the smoke from the fire, but that couldn't be helped. As the sun was already dipping below the western trees, there would be few travelers on the road to spot the camp. A few minutes later, the column of Alceans appeared. Gerant raised his arm high to signal that he was safe and had located a campsite.
Lyron was leading the Alcean party, and he saw the signal of his fellow elf. He announced to the others that they were stopping for the night, and when he reached Gerant, they rode together along a narrow trail to a wide clearing with a stream nearby. The column of Alceans followed, with Max Caber being the last in line. As soon as the group entered the clearing, they set out to secure the camp. Clint McFarren and Shawn Cowan went out to set a trip line, while Max Caber calculated potential attack zones and walked into the woods to scout the terrain.
Lyron and Gerant climbed trees and stored quivers of arrows in strategic places. Prince Rigal took care of the horses while Chanz organized the sailors in setting up a fire pit and gathering wood. Karl Gree prepared a deer he had shot earlier in the day. In less than an hour the camp was secured and the cooking was started. As the Alceans sat down to eat, a fairy descended through the trees and landed on Prince Rigal's shoulder.
Council of War Page 11