An Empire Forged

by Michael Greenfield

  Gods, what do you think we’re here for!”

  Farsighter nudged his mount forward, “Where are the Rangers?”

  By this time the sentry had decided this was going too far, “Where are the Rangers? Why should I be answering you, why should I be doing anything you say?”

  This time Collett’s voice was deadly quiet, “Because I’m the man that’s going to single-handedly depopulate your officer corps unless there’s a very good reason for this disgrace.”

  “Commander,” Dorrin couldn’t help himself stirring things up a but further, “will you be doing the depopulating by court-martial, or are you just going to challenge them to duels one at a time?”

  It was now sinking in to the awareness of the poor sentry that this wasn’t quite going as he had expected, “Commander?”

  Collett just smiled and inclined his head slightly.

  Moments later Dorrin was struggling hard not to fall off his horse with laughter as the man sprinted toward the centre of the camp. “How long for the news to spread that you’re here?”

  “I’d be surprised if most of the camp doesn’t know already,” Farsighter answered. “Several men saw and heard all of that, and there seems to be a distinct lack of soldiers just standing around all of the sudden. Surprising really.”

  Even Collett smiled at that, “We’ll wait here for their commanders to arrive, then give them a day to get things sorted whilst we camp right here.”

  “You’re a cruel man Commander.”

  “I’m guessing that the commanders who turn up are not going to be some of our officer corps more outstanding members. I’m beginning to see a pattern arising here.

  Everywhere we go we seem to find confusion and misdirection. I’m pretty certain we’ll find the hands of Mythra stirring the pot here as well.”

  They immediately started to set up a small camp of their own but hadn’t even started to erect the tents when two officers came running from the main cluster of canvas.

  Both of them were out of breath as they skidded to a halt and presented themselves in front of Collett. They were both majors as well, not colonels or a junior commander as Collett would have expected.

  “Where’s your senior?”

  “There is no senior, Sir, Colonels Bartell and Pines left with three companies each to set up camps further west. They were to meet with other elements coming down from Holdur and the border patrols.

  We were told to hold here and await further instructions.”

  “And you took that to mean you could have a bit of a holiday?” In fairness, Collett could already see what had happened. For the first few weeks the camp had probably operated like clockwork, but as the weeks passed and no action was forthcoming, parades would have slipped, and exercises became more lax. But even so, it should not have happened.

  “There are no troops further west or north to join up with, so who gave the orders for them to leave?”

  “We’re not sure, Sir. We never met the messenger that brought the orders, we were informed by the colonels themselves.”

  “Damn,”

  Dorrin spoke, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “Yes, I think we’re short six companies of troops and two colonels.”

  Dorrin rolled out of his tent the next morning not entirely sure that the bollocking that Collett had given everyone the previous evening had been an altogether good idea. He hadn’t gotten much sleep because of all the shouting coming from junior officers and sergeants, getting the troops to sort things back into a military frame.

  To make matters worse, Collett and Farsighter both appeared looking suitably refreshed.

  “How? No, don’t answer that.”

  “Sorry?” Farsighter reached to his ears and pulled out two pieces of cloth he’d torn from one of his shirts and used as plugs. “What’s up? Didn’t sleep well.”

  The younger man turned in undisguised disgust at the former Ranger.

  “I suppose that’s some clever Ranger trick that you forgot to share, Cal told me about some of your ‘lessons’.”

  “No,” he turned to see Collett also removing cloth from his ears, “just good sense.”

  “Gods, I hate you both.” He reached back into his tent and grabbed his cloak and tied it about his shoulders. “Shall we?” He motioned toward the camp.

  “Lets.” The three of them strode straight toward the centre, where the command tent should be sited. Sure enough they found the largest tent of the collection situated there.

  Two guards snapped to attention as they approached the entrance, one pulling back the tent flap to allow entrance. Inside they saw both of the majors stood before a map table, a chart of Boraan spread across it. Several junior officers were also there, obviously awaiting new commands to be relayed.

  As they strode up to the table Collett glanced momentarily at the chart before he looked back at the officers.

  “Who supplied the intelligence for this map?”

  The nervous officers looked at each other before one answered, “It came to us from the camp of the Bor’a garrison. We were told the information had been provided by the Rangers.”

  “You’ve had no direct contact with the Rangers themselves?”

  “No, Sir.”

  The Commander waved vaguely at the map, speaking to Dorrin and Farsighter. “If this was even half accurate I’d be a happy commander, but as we know that the Holdur garrison no longer exists, I find it odd that they apparently still hold our northern reach.”

  “We can rule out these positions to the west.” Dorrin pointed toward the supposed locations of the troops that had left the camp previously, “Who do you think has been passing the information on?”

  “That’s the question I most want answered.

  Farsighter, I want you to make your way to the Bor’a garrison’s camp and get the Rangers to start passing information straight here. Leave first thing, might as well get another nights rest first.”

  “Of course, do you have any orders for the garrison?”

  “Not yet. You two,” he pointed at the majors who had been stood mute whilst they had observed the Commander implementing his authority. “Where’s the nearest village?”

  “There’s one a half hour walk to the southeast.”

  “Send for their woodsman. I want to be talking to him by noon.”

  “Sir?”

  “Don’t question, just do as I order!” Collett was in no mood to explain himself.

  Both men hurried from the tent, leaving the three of them staring at the map.

  “Dammit, I need accurate information!”

  “I’m guessing you want the woodsman to organise taking a look west, just on the off chance.” Farsighter raise his eyes as he spoke.

  “Correct. I don’t think they’ll find anything good, but we have to look.”

  Just under an hour later one of the majors returned breathing heavily, by his side a solid looking middle-aged man. He wore leathers similar to Farsighter’s and had the same look, one that spoke of more time spent outdoors than within.

  “Sorry to drag you here like this. I’m Collett, Commander of the armies of Boraan.”

  “My Lord,” the man bobbed his head in acknowledgement, “Dalen, of Farling Wood.”

  “My thanks for you coming under such a rude invitation. I have need of you and any others you judge to be close to your equal in outdoor skills.”

  Farsighter started to nod, “Clever.”

  “My Lord?” Dalen looked unsure.

  “Not My Lord, master Dalen. Magron Farsighter, from Fallon’s Glen.”

  “A name not unknown to me. How can we be of assistance?”

  Collett continued, “We need people to scout to the west,” he glanced to the officer that had brought Dalen, “roughly where did the other troops go?”

  Two locations were pointed out on the map. “There Sir.”

  “Right. Dalen, you are to scout those areas. If you find the troops set up in camps, then all well and
good. Grab some food and then come back and report.

  I don’t think you will discover this happy state of affairs, unfortunately. If you discover anything else, then you are to gather as much information as you can and then return here.

  Don’t take any risks. Getting a small amount of information is more important than finding out more and then not getting back. Am I understood?”

  “Perfectly sir.”

  “Good. Collect a few good men and then start out. How long to fetch them?”

  “I can have half a dozen good men hear tomorrow morning.”

  “Fair enough, you’re the best news I’ve had all week Dalen. Don’t let me down.”

  The older man nodded and turned for the exit without another word.

  Collett looked toward Farsighter, an eyebrow raised questioningly.

  “I’ve heard of Dalen, he’ll do.”

  They spent the next few hours poring over the maps they had, trying to discern between fact and fiction with regards to the information they portrayed. Collett started to get more and more irritable as the afternoon wore on.

  “This is ridiculous. Dorrin, I want you to go with Farsighter in the morning.

  I want our traitor, and I don’t care how many pieces you return him in.”

  Dorrin chuckled, “I think I’ll keep the more important pieces together, at least until we’ve got answers.

  You said earlier you thought you were beginning to see a pattern?”

  “Yes, all I see wherever we go is confusion. We don’t face overwhelming odds, but we are frozen in place because we have no idea exactly what’s going on.

  Once this has gone on long enough, without Tamala’s intervention, how long before we started employing wide scale magic use?”

  “I think they were a little too effective there. Had the hierarchy at Joorat not been quite so confused we could well have seen such usage already.”

  “That’s what I thought.

  I’m going to start getting things properly organised here, Westrom will have to fill in as my second until you return.”

  “That’s going to cause a bit of friction.”

  “That’s too tough. I know Westrom, I don’t know these men here.”

  Dorrin nodded his agreement, “We’ll set out as soon as we’ve breakfasted in the morning. We’ll need to skirt straight east to begin with to avoid any Shalers patrols, but we’ll cut northeast as soon as we’re able.”

  “Good. Dorrin,” he held a hand out, “try no to get yourself killed. I don’t want to have to explain that to your cousin, the Queen.”

  Laughing, Dorrin took the offered hand. “I’ll try.”

  Scouts

  Edir Kaal stood atop the walls of the keep at Talek. Another storm was sweeping in from the west, not unusual at this time of year. The wind was already buffeting the towers of the old stone fortress, and the rain wouldn’t be far behind it.

  She pulled the hooded cloak tighter about her shoulders and watched the occasional flash of lightning in the distance. She liked it up here when the conditions were like this. For a start, it meant that very few would disturb her as she ran through her thoughts. Considering and then eliminating various options for what they could be doing next.

  The word that Dorrin and Farsighter had brought, before their return to Boraan, had been disturbing to say the least. The disruption caused in Galorn, coupled with the chaos of the invasion and kidnap in Boraan, was cause for grave concerns. Especially when added to the news that J’dar had been spotted in the mountains to the north of the great woodland of Kal’s Deep.

  King Maargsson was starting to move his armies south, in keeping with his agreement with Dorrin and the Kingdom of Boraan. Around the keep there was activity everywhere. If no problems were encountered, then they expected to have the full force in position just south of The Deeps, a large inland body of water, within the next five or six weeks.

  Edir’s task now was to decide what to do about the rumours of J’dar troops and scouts being sighted in the mountains to the far northeast of the country. What Edir would dearly like to know is what they were doing? The areas they had been sighted in were not the kind of mountainous area you would scout for an invasion, some of those passes would kill more than they would allow through.

  She suddenly straightened up, her hood being pushed back as she did. Wind whipped a few loose strays of her blonde hair, as she turned and strode purposefully back to the nearest tower and the entranceway that would lead back into the warmth.

  As she reached the heavy wooden door, she addressed the poor sentry stood there.

  “Go and find His Majesty, tell him I need to speak with him.”

  “Of course, My Lady. Where shall I say you’ll be?”

  “The Long Hall, I need a drink.” As she passed him she spoke again, “No need to rush back,” she made a show of looking round at the deteriorating weather, “might be a good idea to get something warm into you before you come back.”

  “Thank you, My Lady. I’ll be sure to take your advice.” He briefly saluted as he held the door open for her.

  She quickly made her way down the stairs that spiralled into the interior of the tower, ignoring the first few doors she passed. She was almost back to ground level when she stepped through an open archway and headed along the corridor that led away from it.

  She passed several people scurrying about on their errands, nodding to each as they acknowledged her. From up ahead she could hear the boisterous sounds of drinking. A lot of drinking. It all seemed to be coming from a door just ahead on her left.

  She did not bother knocking, but just shoved the door open. Inside were half a dozen Helmer men, all sat, all engrossed by the card game they were embroiled in. Mugs of ale sat next to each, as well as small piles of counters.

  “Reglan! Maargsson will have your ears if he catches you gambling again.”

  The tall man sat at the far side of the table grinned, “I’ve no idea what you mean, do you see any coin?”

  “I’m guessing the counters are purely that, just to keep score?”

  “But of course, why else would we be using them?”

  She stepped up to the table and leant over it, reaching for one of the piles, “So if I take them it won’t make any real difference will it?”

  “Now hang on, let’s not be too hasty.”

  “That’s what I thought. Pack up and meet me in the Long Hall, bring Tarron and Golt.” Without another word she turned and left.

  Reglan watched the door shut, “Damn, I hate it when she does this.”

  One of the others looked at him quizzically, “Does what?”

  “Tries to get me killed.”

  Edir entered the Long Hall a short while later. The King hadn’t appeared yet, so she strode to one of the tables to the side and filled a mug with ale from a barrel set upon it. She drained half the mug, before topping it back up and heading for a free table.

  Several other people were sat around, talking or eating. She noted that none paid her much heed as she sat, and even the entrance of King Maargsson moments later drew little comment. He was accompanied by Reglan and two others.

  Both had light blonde hair, common to many Helmers, but there the similarities stopped. Tarron was almost as tall as Reglan, lean with a look of speed about him. Golt was nearly as short as Edir herself but looked to carry more bulk than the other two put together. It didn’t take much to imagine the strength contained within his heavyset shoulders and bulking muscles.

  Maargsson grunted as he approached the table. Despite there many years of faithful service, the three brothers were also one of the biggest headaches he had to put up with during the day to day tedium of ruling the kingdom.

  Reglan was almost always to be found drinking and gambling when off duty, whilst the other two were a two-man wrecking crew when let loose in town, sparking and ending more fights than most of the rest of the keep garrison put together.

  Despite all of the cons to their natures, the three
of them were also one of the most formidable fighting trios in the land. Loyal to a fault, they had been the difference in several border skirmishes with the J’dar, and also served as Edir’s personal trouble-shooters. Any time news came of unrest somewhere, or one of the Lords starting to get ideas above their station, Edir would despatch the trio and any issues were swiftly resolved. Sometimes they even managed it without bloodshed.

  “Dare I ask what they’re doing here?” His expression was not that of a man who was having a good day.

  “Problems, my Liege?”

  “You’d think with the warrior heritage we project to the rest of the kingdoms, we’d be able to organise a forced march without much difficulty.”

  “From what I hear, the march is being well organised. You just don’t like waiting for them to set off.”

  The King pulled a sour face and glared at his closest advisor and confidante. “You’d do well not to spread that rumour any further.”

  “Majesty, the whole keep knows you hate waiting. I don’t think I’m spreading any secrets.”

  “Well, maybe.” He turned his gaze to the brothers, “What are they doing here?”

  “We need to know what’s happening up north.”

  “I know that!”

  “My, you really are testy today.” She ignored another glare directed at her. “We know that the J’dar are looking for something, but we don’t know what.

  She indicated the trio with her, “I’m leaving later today to try and get some answers.”

  A rumble of thunder from outside brought distasteful looks from the brothers and brought a question from the King.

  “You’re going to start off in this,” he gestured vaguely outside. “What of provisions and whatever?”

  “How long to be ready Reglan?”

  “Unfortunately, not long enough. We can be ready to ride within the hour.” Both of his brothers nodded. “Our packs are always ready to go, dried trail rations and the like. We can get fresh meat and water as we travel.