Council of War

by Richard S. Tuttle

  "I will need to escort you out," the captain said. "I might as well go with you."

  Garth merely nodded, and the captain signaled his squad to form up. The Zaroccan squad escorted Garth to the gate, and Captain Baer dismissed them. The captain tagged along with Garth as he returned to the Courtyard Shadows and explained the situation to Kalina, Tedi, and Natia.

  "You can't joust," Kalina frowned. "What are you thinking about?"

  "I only have to unhorse my opponent," said Garth. "Then we can fight."

  "What if you fall off before he hits you?" asked Tedi.

  Garth looked at Captain Baer.

  "Technically," frowned the captain, "you would be dismounted, but it would be very embarrassing."

  "Could the other rider remain mounted?" asked Natia.

  "No," the captain shook his head. "A rider may not strike a dismounted opponent. Once a rider is down, both men must abandon their mounts, but you would not be looked on favorably."

  "It is not a beauty contest," retorted Natia. "We don't care what people think of us. We just want our men to live."

  "That is not entirely true," replied Garth. "I really do want a good relationship with Zarocca. We should be allies in the coming war."

  "Garth," scowled Natia. "Listen to what you are saying? You can't be allied with anyone when you are dead. Let me be the champion. I am not afraid to make a fool of myself if it means that I win."

  "She has a point," conceded the captain. "The men that you will be fighting will be the best jousters in Traginak. Perhaps a bit of embarrassment might be in order."

  "What are the rules?" asked Kalina.

  "It is a fight to the death," answered the captain.

  "Must it be?" asked Garth. "Can one submit?"

  "One can submit," answered Captain Baer, "but it rarely happens. I have only seen it twice, and each time the loser was disarmed. With no way to defend himself, it would be foolish not to submit."

  "Good," nodded Garth. "Can a staff be used?"

  "I have never seen one used," answered the captain, "but it should be allowed. The only weapons that are restricted are projectiles. You can use a knife, but you cannot throw one."

  "Alright," Garth sighed. "It is time to stop talking and start preparing. I am going down to the stables to get Kymia. I will see the rest of you out in the courtyard."

  Garth left the room, and the captain started to follow him, but Kalina detained him with questions about who would be at the contest. Garth entered the stables and saddled Kymia. He released Bitsy and told her to stay with Kalina and then turned his attention to Kymia.

  Can you talk to the Occans and make them do what you want?

  I can talk to them. I do not know if they will obey me. What do you want them to do?

  We must joust for the lives of my men. I am not a jouster, but I will stand a good chance fighting my opponent after we are dismounted. If you could cause the Occan to rear, you might save my life.

  Then I shall make the Occan rear.

  If you cannot make the Occan rear then you should rear and throw me off. Do what you can to make sure one of us is unseated before the lances meet.

  It shall be as you request. Fight well and stand victorious.

  Garth grabbed the reins and led Kymia out of the stables and into the courtyard. A crowd had already gathered, and Garth saw a cage on a wagon with his men inside. He was tempted to organize a rescue on the spot, but the courtyard was lined with soldiers. Captain Baer came up alongside Garth and saw where the Alcean was looking.

  "I can get you close enough to speak a word or two," he offered.

  "I would appreciate that," replied Garth.

  The captain led Garth across the courtyard and spoke briefly with the officer in charge of the prisoners. The officer let Garth approach the wagon and speak to his countrymen. He explained what was going on to the Alceans, but the conversation was short. Horns sounded the approach of the king, and Captain Baer led Garth to his position. Baron Ohmson was waiting there for him.

  "You already have an Occan," the baron commented with approval. "A fine looking stallion at that. I have your armor here."

  "I will not need it," replied Garth. "I want as much speed as possible."

  "I would strongly advise you take it," frowned the baron. "The king's champions are the best jousters in the city. They will most assuredly get in the first strike. No matter how good a swordsman you are, you can't win with a lance through your chest."

  "I will try to avoid getting any lances in my chest," retorted Garth.

  Garth mounted Kymia, and Captain Baer handed up a lance and a shield. Across the courtyard a large man rode into position and received his shield and lance.

  "That is Captain Salvesen," Captain Baer reported. "He shoved his lance clear through an opponent's horse once. He is a brute and uses his weight to win. Even dismounted he will be a threat to you. If his sword strikes you once, you will wish that you had taken the baron's armor."

  "Thanks for the encouragement," Garth quipped nervously.

  "If you take his feet out from underneath him," smiled the captain, "you will win."

  "That sounds like a plan to me," nodded Garth.

  A nobleman called for quiet and the crowd fell silent. A sailor was led out of the cage and held by the side of the courtyard.

  "It appears the king has chosen the man that you will fight for," frowned the captain. "That is a breech of etiquette."

  "It doesn't matter," shrugged Garth. "I have to win them all."

  Garth glanced at the king and saw the advisor with the fancy robe beside him. "Who is that next to the king?"

  "Norman Sven," answered the captain. "He is the Royal Sorcerer. You don't have to worry about him. He is present to make sure that no magic is used during the contest."

  "Go tell my wife who he is," urged Garth.

  "I am supposed to stay with you until the king drops the cloth."

  "Just do it," pleaded Garth. "She needs to know."

  The captain nodded and dashed away.

  "The first challenge today is the Alcean Ambassador versus Captain Salvesen," announced the noble. "The fight is to the death to redeem the life of this sailor. Are the opponents ready?"

  The attendant for the king's champion shouted that he was ready. Captain Baer raced back to Garth and looked up at him. Garth nodded, and the captain shouted that he was ready. Everyone's eyes became riveted on the king as he waved a red piece of cloth in the air. When the cloth was released, both riders charged at one another. Garth held his lance casually; he had no intention of using it. Captain Salvesen, on the other hand, gripped his lance tightly, and his teeth bared as he stared at his target. Garth watched the big man approach, and he began to feel butterflies in his stomach. He thought that watching his opponent approach was probably pretty much like looking up at an avalanche that was coming down on top of you.

  Captain Salvesen's lance came closer and closer, and Garth prepared to throw himself off his mount. Suddenly, the captain's horse slid to a halt and reared. Captain Salvesen fell backwards, but he hung onto the reins, and his horse also toppled to the ground. Kymia flew past the opponent and stopped at the edge of the courtyard. Garth tossed his lance and shield to the ground and quickly dismounted and drew his two-handed sword. Many of the spectators shouted for the Alcean to move in while he could, but Garth didn't move. He waited patiently for Captain Salvesen to pick himself up off the ground. Many of the crowd thought Garth had thrown his advantage away, but the Knight of Alcea knew better. The Zaroccan had probably been dismounted many times in the past, and he would expect Garth to charge blindly while he was down. As Garth expected, the Zaroccan rose slowly to encourage such a charge. Garth smiled and waited.

  The Zaroccan finally got to his feet. He sheathed the knife he had been holding and unsheathed his sword. Garth raised his long sword high over his head and charged towards the Zaroccan with an Alcean war cry shouting from his lips as if he were going to split the Zaroccan in two. Cap
tain Salvesen raced towards the Alcean. He raised his shield over his head for protection, but he carried his sword pointing down. As the two opponents neared, the Zaroccan raised his sword upward to catch Garth's sword between his own sword and the shield. Garth smiled inwardly.

  When the collision appeared imminent, Garth casually let go of his sword, and it tumbled to the ground. The Knight of Alcea launched into a dive and aimed for the big man's feet. Garth Rolled into a ball and threw his arms wide to ensure he caught both legs as he plowed into the Zaroccan. Garth hit the legs hard, and the Zaroccan flipped into the air. Garth came out of the roll on his feet and spun around. The Zaroccan slammed face down on the stone courtyard, his sword and shield spinning away from him. Garth raced towards the downed man as the Zaroccan was reaching for a belt knife. Garth slammed his boot onto the man's hand and knelt on his back. The Alcean pulled his own knife and held it to the Zaroccan's throat.

  "The word you are looking for is submit," Garth said as he pressed the blade of the knife into the big man's flesh.

  "Was this skill or luck?" asked the Zaroccan.

  "I don't believe in luck," replied Garth.

  "I submit," declared Captain Salvesen.

  Garth rose and extended a hand to his opponent. The captain accepted the assist, and nursed his hand that Garth had stomped on.

  "You have a rather unorthodox way of fighting, Alcean," the Zaroccan said.

  "I had to be unorthodox," grinned Garth. "Did you think I wanted to stand toe-to-toe with a brute like you?"

  The Zaroccan laughed. "I suppose not, but you would be surprised how many fools give it a go."

  Garth turned away and walked back to where he had dropped his sword. He bent over and picked it up as the nobleman called for quiet.

  "The first match of eleven has been decided," the man said loudly. "By defeating Captain Salvesen in combat, the Alcean ambassador has won the freedom of one of his men."

  Chanz was let go by the soldiers, and he moved quickly to where Tedi and Natia were standing.

  "Who will be the next champion to go up against Mikal Obanik?" shouted the nobleman.

  Sven's face contorted with disbelief when he heard the name of the Alcean ambassador. The sorcerer's arm rose to point at Garth.

  Chapter 25

  Sven

  Baron Ohmson happened to be staring at King Persimon when the name Mikal Obanik was mentioned. He saw the Royal Sorcerer's face contort in rage. He watched as Sven's arm rose and a flaming projectile sped from the sorcerer's fingertips.

  "Garth!" the baron shouted in warning, knowing that there was nothing he could do to stop the fiery projectile.

  Captain Baer started running across the courtyard, hoping to tackle the Alcean and save his life, but he knew inside that he would be too late.

  Garth, who had just picked up his sword, started turning towards the sound of the baron's voice. The flare of the fiery projectile caught his attention, and Garth swiftly raised his sword to intercept it. The flaming missile struck the sword and veered off into the crowd. Pandemonium erupted throughout the courtyard as Kalina sent lightning bolts streaming off her fingertips towards the Royal Sorcerer. The shields around Sven blazed intensely, and the sorcerer turned his attention to Kalina.

  While the magicians dueled across the courtyard, and people scrambled for cover, Garth pulled one hand away from his sword and grabbed a Lanoirian star out of his pouch. He tossed the star towards Sven, and it struck the magician in the throat. The sorcerer's shields instantly evaporated and Kalina's next bolt of lightning slammed into Sven and scorched the life out of him. Sven's charred body collapsed to the ground. Captain Baer slid to a halt in confusion. He turned and started walking towards the corpse of the magician.

  Screams filled the courtyard as soldiers raced forward from the rear. A pair of soldiers roughly seized Kalina, and others ran towards Garth. Baron Ohmson called for his men to rally as he raced towards Garth. The baron and his men quickly surrounded Garth and put their backs to him to protect him. Tedi and Natia came up behind the soldiers holding Kalina. The gypsy prince's staff moved swiftly, and two Zaroccan soldiers fell to the ground. Natia grabbed Kalina's hand and started dragging her away from the courtyard, but Kalina resisted as her eyes remained glued on Garth. Scores of soldiers surrounded Baron Ohmson and his men, and the courtyard grew quiet and tense as the standoff became apparent.

  Suddenly a woman's shriek split the air. "The king has been felled!"

  Baron Ohmson stared uncomprehendingly at the king's body alongside the charred remains of Sven. He glanced and saw that Tedi and Natia had freed Kalina and then he turned to face Garth.

  "Put down your sword," he said sternly. "While I would protect you for killing the sorcerer, you had no cause to kill the king. That is unforgivable."

  "I did not strike the king," Garth replied.

  "It matters not which of your people killed him," stated the baron. "You will all pay for the crime. Put down your sword."

  Garth nodded and placed his sword on the ground. The baron waved his men away, and the king's soldiers came forward and seized the Knight of Alcea.

  "It grieves me to see how things turned out here," the baron said sadly. "I truly believed in you and thought you were a far better man than any other I have met in my lifetime."

  The soldiers started dragging Garth towards the wagon with the cage on it when someone shouted, "The king is alive."

  "Come!" Natia urged Kalina. "We cannot help him now. We must retreat and plan for his rescue."

  "I did not strike the king," Kalina shook her head, "and I know that Garth did not. I cannot run from this. I have done nothing wrong. You and Tedi flee. Tedi may have to become the champion to free Garth."

  Kalina pulled her arm from Natia's grasp and started walking across the courtyard towards the king. Some of the soldiers saw her and tried to grab her, but her physical shield repelled them. Shouts of alarm filled the air once more as the magician crossed the courtyard and knelt next to the king.

  "Get her away from the king!" shouted a nobleman. "She is trying to finish him off."

  Baron Ohmson raced to the king and glared at Kalina. "Do not make this worse on yourself," he warned.

  "Restrain your men, Baron," Kalina said calmly as the soldiers tried to hack their way through the invisible barrier. "Neither Garth nor I struck the king. I am seeing what I can do to help him."

  "We have our own healers," scowled the baron. "Move away."

  "You had your own Royal Sorcerer as well, Baron," retorted Kalina. "The only way for me to free Garth is to ensure that the king survives. Stop these men from hammering at my shield. It is making my work difficult."

  The king suddenly opened his eyes and stared upward. The soldiers hesitated in their beating at the shield, and Baron Uloof suddenly appeared and pushed his way through the ring of soldiers. Baron Uloof was the baron of Traginak, and considered second to the king. He gazed at the king and then looked at Baron Ohmson.

  "What is going on here?" he asked.

  "I am not sure," admitted Baron Ohmson. "There was a battle between Sven and the Alceans. Sven was clearly the aggressor, but the king was struck down during the battle."

  "He wasn't struck down," offered a woman nearby. "He just fell over. Like a faint, I suppose."

  "She's right," nodded Kalina. "The king has been under a spell for some time. He is suffering from shock from the instant withdrawal of the spell. We need to get him into a bed. He needs rest."

  "Will he live?" asked Baron Uloof.

  "He will," smiled Kalina. "He will be fine in a day or two."

  Baron Uloof turned to the officer in charge of the squad of soldiers surrounding the king. "Take him inside and guard him."

  Kalina dropped her shield and stood up as the soldiers moved in to take the king. Baron Uloof looked at Kalina and then Baron Ohmson.

  "I want both of you in my office immediately. I want to know everything that happened here."

  He turned to anoth
er officer and ordered that the courtyard be cleared of all people. When the Baron of Traginak turned and marched into the castle, Baron Ohmson and Kalina followed. Not a word was spoken until all three were seated in the baron's office.

  "What mayhem is this?" sighed Baron Uloof. "I am no sooner back in the city than someone is shouting that the king is dead. I hope the two of you can explain what is going on."

  "How long have you been gone?" asked Baron Ohmson.

  "Only two days," replied Baron Uloof. "Why does it matter?"

  "You have missed much," sighed Baron Ohmson. "First, let me introduce Kalina. She is the wife of the ambassador of Alcea."

  "Alcea?" frowned Baron Uloof. "I thought when you said Alceans that you were referring to a family. Where is this country of Alcea?"

  "Far across the sea," Kalina replied. "Baron Ohmson is correct. There is much that you have missed. The explaining will take quite some time."

  * * *

  In the library of the Royal Palace in Tagaret, Runt completed telling the tale of the final voyage of the Remora and the events that took place before he left to come home to Alcea.

  "I will have that ship sunk before it reaches our shores," promised General Gregor.

  "No," the king shook his head. "I do not think that is the wisest way to proceed. There are three Doors onboard that ship. What we need to do is find out where they are to be positioned."

  "You intend to let the Zarans complete their mission?" frowned the general. I think that is extremely dangerous. Once those Doors are on Alcean soil, the enemy can come through at any time."

  "I understand that," replied King Arik, "but I think it is vital to understand more about their plans for the attack. I cannot believe that this is the only ship carrying Doors to Alcea. If we merely sink it, they will simply send another ship to replace those Doors, but if we are able to track where they put the Doors up, it may tell us a great deal about their plans for the invasion."