An Empire Forged

by Michael Greenfield

  All we need to do his get our weapons and prepare our horses.”

  Maargsson looked curious, “Why are your packs always ready to go?” Three sets of eyes swung to the pretty blonde, but wisely none said anything.

  “Very well. You have my permission.”

  “Of course, Your Majesty.” She turned to the others, “Stables in one hour, we need to move fast.”

  All stood, and the three Helmers headed straight for their rooms to collect the weapons and anything else they thought they might need.

  “You’re not heading for your own room?”

  Edir smiled, “My travel gear is already down in the stable and a groom will be preparing my horse as we speak.”

  Bor’a

  Dorrin and Farsighter were finding their mood becoming fouler by the hour. Heading east from the main camp where they had spent a few days, they had made good time round the southern limits of the Shaler patrols. They had seen a few at distance, but their appearance just led the pair to become even more distrustful of what was happening.

  After the second patrol had been sighted, Farsighter had commented over their evening meal that they should not be seen so openly. Usually, the first you knew of a Shaler war party was the moment they commenced their attack. The suggestion had been put forward that they were purposefully allowing themselves to be seen in order to force the Boraan army to withhold from contact as they were unable to find out the true disposition of the enemy forces they faced.

  Travelling quickly, they had covered the distance in a little over a week and now were approaching the outer pickets of the Bor’a garrison. At least here they saw signs of a respectable level of soldiering, sentries posted in the surrounding high ground and barriers across the main trail they followed.

  Although their progress had been monitored by these troops, it was only now that they approached the barrier that they saw a young lieutenant step forward and hold up a hand, signalling them to halt.

  “If you’re heading for Bor’a you’ll need to head round the plain, the garrison is camped there.” He looked nervous, but his voice was steady.

  “Stand easy, Colonel Dorrin of the Joorat garrison. I need to see your commander.”

  The youngster snapped to attention, his salute not quite crisp, but Dorrin didn’t even notice.

  “Why are you still camped within a day’s ride of Bor’a?”

  “I’m told we received orders from one of the Lords, that’s all I know sir.”

  Dorrin considered that an unsatisfactory answer, but knew it was probably the best he was going to get at the moment.

  “In that case, lead the way.” He waved toward the centre of the camp, where a command tent could be seen rising over those near to it.

  Their progress was swift as they were led toward the tent. Farsighter looked longingly at some food being prepared in one of the mess areas but said nothing.

  There were no guards outside the command tent, but as they stepped inside they saw several men stood ready should they be needed.”

  “Commander, Colonel Dorrin of the Joorat garrison.” The young lieutenant stepped to one side so that the middle-aged man he addressed could see who he was talking about.

  Dorrin watched the man straighten from map he had been studying and turn his gaze toward him. His eyes flicked quickly to Farsighter as he moved round the table to stand in front of them.

  “Well I’m guessing things are worse than I thought if they’ve promoted you to colonel and sent you out in the company of a real man.” His face split into a wide grin as he grabbed Farsighter by the shoulders, “Damn, it’s good to see you Magron.”

  Farsighter returned the grin, “You to Clemen, it’s been how long?”

  “It’s got to be ten years at least, I’d been stuck down in Dorn when you announced your retirement.” He returned his attention to the younger of the pair, “It’s good to see you as well Dorrin. Perhaps someone will now tell me what the hell is happening?”

  “We’d been hoping you might have been able to tell us, we expected you to be in forward positions ready to start rolling the Shalers and J’dar back. It’s been months since they attacked, why are you still here?”

  “Months? We only heard about the incursion several weeks ago. We’re waiting on the Lords to finish running back and forward pretending to be diplomats.”

  “Incursion! I think the Commander needs to be fully briefed on the true situation, because you obviously haven’t been told the truth here.

  Where’s your tent? This is the kind of discussion that needs some wine, or ale at a push.”

  Commander Clemen Ramon ushered both men into his own tent. Although not as big as the command tent, it was still far larger than most of the other tents in the camp. There was a small table with several chairs arrayed about it, and a curtained area where his own cot and bedroll was situated.

  “Take a seat,” he indicated the chairs, “I’ll get some food brought over as well as liquid refreshment.”

  Both nodded their agreement and waited for him to pass on the order. When he returned, the experienced soldier wasted no time.

  “Speak to me. All I’ve heard is from the palace about an incursion by a couple of the Shaler families, and we’re out in the field as a show of force to help with negotiations. Someone wants to avoid open conflict.”

  Dorrin spoke, “Who’s giving the orders from the palace?”

  “We get runners almost daily. All intelligence is delivered there, including the Rangers.” He looked toward Farsighter, “we’re not seeing any of the raw intelligence, only second hand.

  Who’s looking over it at the palace I don’t know, but the orders are all under the royal seal.”

  Dorrin’s eyes narrowed, “That would be something to see. His Majesty died at the fall of Holdur Keep, and Her Majesty Queen Myriana is currently trying to gain the help of Galorn to repel a full-scale invasion of our country.”

  Stunned did not come close to describing the look on Commander Ramon’s face. “What do you mean? If Sielan is dead, who’s been using his seal?” He paused a moment, “And what do you mean the Queen is after Galorn’s help?”

  The pair spent the next half hour trying to bring Ramon as up to date as they could. It was quickly clear that whoever the traitor was that Dorrin had been tasked to find, a good place to start was the palace.

  By the end of the conversation, the Bor’a commander had agreed to start a more aggressive patrolling strategy, with orders for the troops to actively try to engage the Shalers whenever there was contact. The plan was to try and wrongfoot them and upset the plan they were obviously sticking to.

  In the meantime, Collett and Dorrin would head for the palace and endeavour to find out who was behind the string of misinformation that was pouring out of there.

  Although it was early evening by the time they finished talking, they both decided to carry on into Bor’a and find a place to stay there for the night, before proceeding the next day.

  They were only a couple of hours ride from the capital city, and when they reached it, they were slightly relieved to see that whoever was giving the orders was trying to maintain an air of normality. It made it much easier to enter through the western gate as no-one was asking awkward questions.

  They found a quiet inn and settled down to a meal before heading straight to the rooms they had paid for. The night passed peacefully, and they were back on their horses shortly after breakfast. The palace of Bor’a was only a short distance from the city’s port, standing over it and providing a clear view of the bay the port had been constructed in.

  In days past ballista had been mounted on the palace walls, covering all shipping that entered the area, but they had been withdrawn many years previously. In fact, Bor’a and its surrounding province had led a relatively peaceful existence for longer than anyone living there could remember. A fact not missed by Farsighter, who having lived closer to the country’s rougher frontiers knew all too well that the sights he was seeing wer
e of a people unprepared for war.

  As they made their way to the palace, they passed street markets with traders plying their wares, being viewed by soldiers and city guards with no sense of urgency at all.

  “Let’s speak to the Rangers first,” Dorrin gave him a questioning glance, “get the lay of the land. Whoever’s been spreading these useless orders we keep encountering is probably in the palace somewhere, I’d prefer not to be surprised by them or any of their friends.”

  “Makes sense.”

  They angled toward a smaller entrance that was part of the north-western section of the palace. Both knew from prior experience that it was the entrance usually used by people who worked in the building on a daily basis but lived in their own dwellings somewhere in the city.

  Two pairs of guards stood either side on the gateway, one of the quartet was an officer, and all of them took note as they approached.

  “Messages for the Rangers from Commander Ramon.” Dorrin spoke with authority, leaving no doubt he was who he claimed to be.

  “They’ve set up in the main yard, room just by the stable. The corporal will escort you.” They stepped aside and allowed the two to pass. As they stepped into the corridor behind the entrance a young corporal and two others joined them, the corporal leading the way.

  As they proceeded, Dorrin could see that the corporal was dying to learn any gossip from the garrison’s camp, but admirably held his tongue in check. A slight smile spread across his face.

  In short order they were led to the main yard and across it to the stables. From where they came, the room commandeered by the Rangers was just to the left of the horses. No-one stood guard outside, but that didn’t cause any concern for Farsighter. If someone was stupid enough to run in to a room full of Rangers looking for a fight, he would find one. A brief one anyway.

  “Thank you corporal, that will be all.” Dorrin nodded that they could return to their guard duty.

  Farsighter led the way as they entered. Inside they saw six men sat, two dozing, the other three involved in an animated conversation. Farsighter was about to say something sarcastic about the lack of attention being paid as they entered when one of the men who appeared to be dozing spoke.

  “Don’t bother Wolf, you’re too old to be a threat.” His eyes snapped open and he grinned impudently at the older man.

  “Cheeky bastard, bloody Dorrin could take you.”

  Both men laughed, Dorrin joining them as did the others. The seated man leapt to his feet and engulfed the former Ranger in a bearhug.

  “Damn, its good to see you. Perhaps you can explain why nothing we’ve seen recently seems to fit with what we’re being told?”

  “Gladly. Dorrin, this is Teegan. He used to be an average soldier, who doesn’t seem to be much improved since becoming a Ranger.” Dorrin grasped the man’s wrist. Quick introductions were made by the other four, before Farsighter grabbed a chair and sat.

  “I’m assuming that you’re passing information about a massive invasion of our northern borders to whoever in the palace?” He studied the Teegan as he waited for a response.

  “Of course, but we’re seeing damn little being done about it. We passed on the news that you brought to Riversmeet back when you passed through, including the news about the death of the King.

  You’d think we’d mentioned the weather in passing. I’ve not seen any sign of official mourning, flags draped or anything like that. The entire atmosphere around here has been strange to say the least.”

  Dorrin grunted, “It’s going to get stranger. Who gave the order for you to report here instead of to the garrison’s camp?”

  “Orders came a few weeks after you left us. We were just getting ready to send out first reports since your visit when a rider appeared with orders under the Ducal seal of Duke Shar.”

  “The Duke of Bor’a? He’d know beyond any doubt that the information would be of better use if Ramon received it unfiltered straight from the source.”

  Farsighter agreed, “We’ve joked about Cal being given titles for his marriage to Tamala, I think I see a vacancy coming.”

  Teegan looked curiously at the two of them, “I heard mention of you protégé when I was up at Riversmeet, but I’m not sure I follow.”

  “Since we spoke to Balton we’ve travelled to both Galorn and Leefs’elm. The information we’ve picked up paints a picture of an enemy using infiltration and deception to keep us out of the way of whatever they’re planning.”

  “So, whatever we’ve been passing on….”

  “Hasn’t been passed any further. Commander Ramon is camped less than a day’s ride from here, having been told that a minor incursion by a couple of Shaler families is going to be sorted by diplomatic methods.”

  One of the other Rangers had just lifted a mug of mead to his mouth and nearly lost most of it as he spluttered at that statement.

  “Gods, what a mess. But if we’ve been passing information straight to an agent of the enemy, they could use that to work out our patrol routes. Once they’ve got that they can avoid us and do pretty much what they want.”

  “You’ve got that right, although I think that’s about to change.

  The guard will inform Lord Bor’a that you’ve received messengers, how long before he will expect a briefing?”

  “Probably this evening.”

  Farsighter was thoughtful for a few moments, “Right, you.” He pointed at one of the other Rangers, “You’re heading back to Riversmeet.”

  “Riversmeet?”

  “Sort of,” Farsighter’s smile was not a friendly one.

  The following day Commander Ramon was interrupted from his daily chore of staring at the map of the region, trying to discern what was really happening, when a Ranger was shown into the tent.

  “Yes?”

  “I bring greetings from Colonel Dorrin and Commander Farsighter. They ask if you wouldn’t mind joining them at the palace tonight?”

  “Tonight, what are they up to now?”

  “We think we’ve learned where the blockage is in the flow of intelligence you need, and they were wondering whether you’d care to join them in unblocking it?”

  For the first time in a while Ramon started to smile, “Oh you know I would. Who are we visiting?”

  “Lord Bor’a.”

  “Lord… Well, that explains why they want me there. I assume I’m to be present as legal authority when they confront him?”

  “Something like that. We need to move quickly, and your arrival at the palace needs to be kept quiet.”

  “I’m assuming you’ve got that organised?”

  “Commander Farsighter can be quite nasty when he wants to be.” Both men were smiling now.

  The sun had set when Ramon and the Ranger reached the palace. Torches lit the entranceway, but behind it shadows extended a short distance down the corridor before more torches forced back the dark.

  The guards on duty were just starting to move toward the pair when four figures materialised out of the shadow behind them. A sword came to rest on the shoulder of each guard and Farsighter’s quiet voice carried to all of them.

  “Now we’re not going to do anything silly are we?” Four pairs of hands carefully moved away from their own swords. “That’s good.”

  He nodded to the Ranger that had approached with Ramon who made short work of binding the guards, first their hands, then once they were sat against the wall back in the gloom, their feet. They were gagged, though the Ranger did apologise as he was doing it, and he made sure the gags were secure, but not unduly uncomfortable.

  A quick nod and the six of them speedily made their way back to the room by the stable. Teegan waited inside for them.

  “I’ve arranged for the briefing. His Lordship will be awaiting us when we get there.”

  “Good. Teegan, meet Commander Ramon.”

  “Commander.” Teegan nodded his head briefly in acknowledgement.

  “Teegan.” He glanced at the others, “Shall we?”
<
br />   “Let’s.”

  Lord Bor’a had an office in one of the eastern towers, affording a view of the bay from its windows. Ramon and Teegan both knew the way, and they reached it with no trouble. Ramon occasionally had to angle his head so that his face wouldn’t be clearly seen by those passing, but it did not cause undue problems. Most people traversing the corridors at this time of night tended to have a specific place they wanted to be as quickly as possible.

  The two guards outside Bor’a’s office took note of the approaching party, but as they were expecting Teegan they were not concerned. Ramon purposefully stayed at the rear of the group, not knowing where the allegiance of the guards themselves lay, and not wanting to give them prior warning that something was up.

  Again, the Rangers resolved the issue with speed and precision. The two guards barely had time to register that something wasn’t as it should be before they were pinned against the wall with knives against their throats.

  “Nice and quiet please.” The first Ranger leant close to the guard he held. “We don’t want any mis-understandings.”

  They spun the guards around, Teegan pushing open the door and stepping through. The others followed.

  Sat behind a solid wooden table, Lord Bor’a glanced up at the unannounced intrusion.

  “Teegan, good.” He realised that the Ranger wasn’t alone, “What’s the meaning of this?”

  “A good question My Lord, we were going to ask you the same question. May I present Colonel Dorrin, of the Joorat garrison.”

  “Bah, Dorrin’s no colonel.” He stood, his frame that of a powerful man, despite his age. “Guards!”

  The shout brought the two Rangers and their captives into the room.

  “How dare you,” this time his call for the guards was a full-blooded yell, easily heard several corridors away.

  “Thanks, we were wondering how to get some other witnesses here.”

  Dorrin stepped forward, “Lord Bor’a, it is my duty to place you under arrest.”

  “Arrest, what for?” By this time several other palace guards had reacted to his call for assistance. That there appeared to be something untoward happening in their Lord’s office chambers was obvious, but they also recognised Teegan, so swords were held at the ready, but no action was immediately taken.