An Empire Forged

by Michael Greenfield

The entire Royal Family was killed. How do we answer that?” Duke Vilstrom could follow his family line back to royalty but given the circumstance he held back from saying anything. Besides which, he knew that Kormick had just as strong a claim, if not better, as his own.

  “The decisions we need to make are not just about the succession.” Kormick looked pointedly at his niece, “The other Kingdoms are fighting, not just for their survival, but for ours as well. Can we stand aside and let them do it on their own?”

  Vilstrom shrugged his shoulders slightly, sitting back from the raised position he had adopted during his outburst. It was an indication that Kormick was right, but the only indication he would give.

  Kormick’s slight nod acknowledged the fact.

  “We need to begin mobilising the army in general, readying them to march north.” He looked about the table, seeing if anyone disagreed with him.

  “You’ll need to get runners out ahead of them,” Periman’s voice was quiet, but carried well, “unless you plan on dragging all your supplies from the coast all the way through the mountains.”

  “Many of the town barracks we’ll be passing will have dry supplies, grain and salted meat. As we’ll be collecting troops from those places it makes sense to get messages to them as quickly as possible to start preparations.

  I don’t want any garrison racing off on their own. That’s how we’ll lose a lot of men.” He beckoned a guard over, “Fetch Colonel Tarbrek.”

  The General’s aide had reached them two days previously, the day after the events in the palace. He had related to them that from what he could discover back in Ren, it was not Baridon that had organised the watchers across the street from the General’s house, or the troops to try and stop him.

  The Captain of the garrison had been paid by someone else, though the description given had raised Cal’s suspicions. This fact, and the discovery that the Chancellor had fled the palace before they could act, had left the men around the table with a distinct feeling of having failed, despite now having regained control of the Kingdom from the paid traitors of the Mythraan.

  They waited quietly for Tarbrek to appear. Cal taking the opportunity to study the men about the table. It soon became apparent by the way the lower ranking nobles reacted to Kormick and Vilstrom that this impromptu council was more or less evenly split in their support. He didn’t envy them the task of re-instating the monarchy.

  The Colonel appeared quickly, stepping into the room and coming to attention as he faced his General.

  “Relax Tarbrek. We’ve orders and I need you to be the one to carry them out.”

  “Of course, Sir.”

  “Mobilise our troops here in the capital, preparing them to march north. Whilst you get that organised, I want riders sent to the northern garrisons to be ready with supplies for the column as they pass.

  I think quite a few of the men from those garrisons are already here, so you shouldn’t need to delay all that long at each town.

  I want the strongest force you can muster camped just south of Saldar within the next six weeks.”

  Tarbrek grimaced but said nothing. It was not going to be an easy march to make it in that time. “I’ll start upsetting some officers and sergeants immediately Sir. What of the other Generals?”

  “I trust you, not them. If they have any issue with my orders tell them to come to me and I’ll upset some Generals.”

  “Yes Sir!” Cal could swear that Tarbrek was struggling to hold back a smile at the image Jerito’s last statement conjured up.

  Once the Colonel had left the room, Periman turned his attention to the General. “You’re not going with the army?”

  “No, I’ll be going with you.”

  Kormick leant forward, resting an elbow on the table, “And where do you think we’re going?”

  “Ketla.” He smiled at the Duke. “If I’m any good at reading people, I’d say you’re going to leave Vilstrom here to start working his way through the government, weeding out those we can’t trust and replacing them with those we can.

  You’ll be leading a delegation to express concern to the King of M’ur about his current position and bully him into offering us support at least, possibly in the use of some of the passes through the mountains up near Dwarfhome so that we can move troops into J’dar from multiple points.”

  Kormick shook his head, smiling as he did so. “You do realise that no-one likes someone that clever, don’t you?”

  “Maybe so. It’s not something I’ve ever worried about.” Jerito grinned in return, “Nice thing about being the General is that it doesn’t matter to me if I’m liked, just so long as I’m obeyed.”

  “We’ll take an honour guard made up from troops in Manin and take ship to that port south of Ketla, Leema. It’s only a day and half from there.”

  “We need to know exactly what’s happening there and we won’t be able to find out whilst we’re sat here. The hope is that Pallon won’t want to offend Galorn, whatever he’s doing to his people.

  We should be able to get to see him.”

  Myriana had been observing things quietly whilst the discussion had been about moving the Galorn army and reconstituting its government, but now she spoke.

  “We’ll be going with you, it’s on our route back to Boraan.”

  Cal just closed his eyes, having been wondering how long it would be before his Queen intervened. He had got to know her well over the last few months and knew that she hated being left out of things.

  “I’ll go and get my sword,” he hadn’t realised he’d said it out loud until he opened his eyes and saw Myriana glaring at him.

  Before he could begin to mumble an apology both Kormick and Jerito burst out laughing.

  Jerito spent the rest of the day going over details with Tarbrek, to the point where Tarbrek had asked him if he was going north with the army rather than west with the Duke’s party. Sheepishly, Jerito had eventually left the Colonel to get on with things and turned his mind to what they might find at Ketla.

  Cal spent his time checking and cleaning his weapons, as well as sparring with one of Tarbrek’s officers. They had found Cal another sword to spar with as they were still unsure exactly how the use of the Fireblade actually worked.

  Myriana, Kormick and Periman spent the day closeted away, discussing what path they would take politically, depending on what circumstance they discovered in M’ur.

  Realistically, they all spent their time trying not to think overly much about the events of the last few days.

  The ship Periman had again arranged waited for them to leave on the evening tide, and it was a sombre party that walked up the gangplank as the crew readied everything for departure.

  Eastward

  Dorrin sat at breakfast but he hardly touched his plate. Instead, he stared at the far wall, his eyes not really seeing anything as he contemplated the news that Tamala had brought.

  Given his magical background he fully understood the importance of Tamala’s encounter with a daemon. They might not have been seen in the land of Boraan for centuries, but there were many texts and books in libraries in Bor’a and Joorat that described the devastation just one of those creatures could cause.

  He was interrupted by a polite cough. Refocusing his eyes, he saw Tamala stood watching him.

  “I don’t need magic to tell what you’re thinking about.”

  Dorrin pushed a piece of sausage about his plate as he thought about his reply.

  “You told me that the daemon was within Kordell’s body. It was controlling him?”

  “That’s what it looked like. I was busy trying to stop Eshek, so I didn’t get a clear chance to study it, but it definitely looked as if it was using the Koldari as a vessel.”

  Looking troubled, he asked, “Have you considered that the plan for those taken from M’ur isn’t just as a source of magical energy?”

  “I have. From what you told us I’d say that the Mythraan have taken a fair number of trained soldiers, as well as th
e general population.

  If they were to use them the same way,” she left the thought hanging, though it was abundantly clear that Dorrin was having the same thoughts, he didn’t like the at all.

  “Even a small army of daemons would be almost unmanageable. Backed by whatever power Eshek could bring to bear.”

  “We need to get word to Collett.”

  “Is there any way you can contact Asrak?”

  “I can try, but I don’t know where he is so I’ll have to cast my thoughts pretty wide, and that would leave me open to attack by Eshek.”

  “Best not then.” He stood from the table, pushing his plate aside. “We’ve no choice but to try and catch up with Collett.

  I would ask if you can help, but I’m guessing if you could travel straight to Collett you would have already done so.”

  “Yes, I would have as we didn’t know you were still here.”

  “Then it’s a good job that Maargsson has lent us a couple of Fastships. Ostensibly to maintain communications between Churek and Bor’a, but I’m sure one of the Captains will be willing to run us up the coast.”

  “What about the situation here?”

  Dorrin slumped back down into his chair, “Not as bad as it could be, but far from what I’d like.

  I’m using some of Commander Ramon’s officers to fill in for several posts that were suddenly vacated recently, so the government continues to function, though it would dearly love to have it’s Queen back in the city.”

  “We’ve had no word from Galorn?”

  “Nothing as yet, although I really have no idea how long it takes to rescue a country and convince them to help us.”

  Tamala smiled, “She did give herself a lot to do. I keep forgetting that she’s not even sixteen years old yet. Can you possibly imagine what she’s putting herself through?”

  Dorrin laughed, “What really gets me is that she seems to be coping with it all better than we are.”

  Tamala joined in his reaction with a laugh of her own, “You’re not wrong there.”

  Dorrin paused a moment, “I’ve had an idea.

  When we head off for M’ur, we’ll take a couple of the Rangers with us, they’ve still maintained feeding us reports here since Collett moved away from Holdur, so there’s always a few around.

  Drop us off and continue on to Mid’gra. We give them messages for Her Majesty and leave it their discretion if they are able to deliver them or not. Then get them to head back to M’ur and let us know what they found.”

  “Sounds reasonable. I’ll let Luda know to get ready.”

  “Best that I go and let my deputies know that they’re answering to Ramon again for a while. At least they’ll be used to that.

  I’ll get a report to the Commander letting him know the information you’ve provided as well as where we’re going.”

  “Good, I’ll go find Luda and we’ll see you back here in a couple of hours.”

  Trail to Ketla

  Collett had pushed his men hard, but there was no way he could avoid it. If the reports they had received whilst in northern Boraan were accurate, then his force could be all that stood between the innocent people of M’ur and slavery or worse.

  Despite the need for haste, they still had to stop each night and rest, and it was early one evening, as he stood on the edge of the camp, that he saw two figures loping along from behind them

  The younger man was unknown to him, but the older of the pair was familiar and welcome sight.

  “Farsighter, what are you doing here?”

  “We’ve got intelligence that we thought was important enough to send someone after you, and I thought it would be a good chance to tag along.

  Everything’s under control between the north and Miri, the J’dar there haven’t got a clue what’s going on and we’re not letting them settle long enough to decide.”

  Collett grasped the old Ranger’s shoulder, “It’s good to see you again.

  Come, let’s grab some wine and you can fill me in on what you’ve discovered.

  Heading back to his command tent, he led the old Ranger inside and picked up a clay flask from one of the smaller tables to the side, before heading over to the map table and pulling the one of northern Boraan to the top of the pile.

  “So, what news from the Rangers?”

  “We think the J’dar are pulling out.”

  “Pulling out… as in retreating?” Collett had expected many possible things to be reported, but not that one of their enemies was giving up the fight.

  “We’ve seen signs of them withdrawing to Miri and can think of no reason to do so unless they’re giving up and going home.

  If they were looking to regroup and move southwest again, why give up that much land? It’ll only cost them more men and there’s a good chance that pulling that far back they wouldn’t be able to regain what they had.”

  Farsighter stood over the map and started pointing out locations that were known to be J’dar supply camps. “We’ve hit them hard all around this area, well behind their line of advance. The boys have been having a lot of fun leading them on a merry chase.”

  Collett studied where the Old Wolf indicated, “They’ve done a damn good job these last few weeks. The desert tribes have been unable to mount any kind of offensive against the troops we have positioned to hold them, and are almost ready to start rolling them back.

  I’ll get a rider to catch up with Edir and the cavalry, he can pass on this new information to Maargsson along with a suggestion he hold off from any action against the J’dar he finds near Miri.

  If we don’t have to fight then I don’t want to, we’ve enough left to battle with without pulling people back into the fight that have decided to leave.”

  Farsighter nodded, before speaking again, “Are you going to pour that wine?”

  Overnight rain had kept the dust of their march down as they approached Ketla. Collett held a hand up to signal the column to come to a halt, turning to Westrom as he did.

  “Set camp here. I want sentries and patrols out as soon as they can be organised. Any sign of Shaler or J’dar is to be reported immediately.”

  “Sir.” The Adjutant quickly rode back to the main body of the column and started shouting orders, whilst Collett turned his attention to the party of riders he could see approaching.

  Farsighter had acquired a horse after catching up with the Boraan force and now brought it up alongside the Commander.

  “Time to find out what’s going on then?”

  “Yes. Good news to start with though, that looks like Harlin riding at the front of that group.”

  They sat waiting as the small party rode up to them. It was indeed Harlin, along with his son, Arlor, and a man and woman that Collett didn’t recognise.

  “Harlin, we got your message.”

  “So it would appear.” The dwarf pointed to his human companions, “This is Earl Qar’a and Lady Kerin. They’re in charge.” Both nodded their acknowledgement of the introduction.

  Collett raised an eyebrow at the pronouncement, “That sounds like a story that needs telling.”

  “Aye, and it’s not a pretty one.”

  “The King?”

  “Back at the keep, under arrest.”

  Collett didn’t say anything further, but instead looked back to see how the camp was progressing. Bringing his mount about he indicated that they should follow him and made for the group that were raising his own tent.

  All six of them sat under the canvas shelter, Collett have foregone the table he usually had in the room as it would have taken up too much space.

  “So, the King abandoned his people? What do you plan to do with him?”

  “That’s something for the people’s court that we’re going to convene to decide.

  The bigger problem is who will now wear the crown. The Prince is only thirteen, too young and inexperienced to deal with the situation we face.

  Harlin has told us some of what’s been happening in both Bor’a
and Galorn, and its clear that we need to stand as one against the Mythraan, but I’ll freely admit that I don’t know exactly what we of M’ur will be able to do.”

  Collett felt great pity for the man. Upon the telling of the full story of what had happened here in M’ur, it had become abundantly clear that Qar’a had been bounced from one bad choice to another with no real respite. It was great credit to him that he had managed to pull these people together, with the help of Lady Kerin.

  “We’ll need guides and supplies. I hate to sound cold-blooded, but there should be plenty of supplies now.”

  Kerin nodded, “We still have some of our mountain troops, those that escaped like Qar’a and managed to make their way back here. They’ll be able to provide service as guides should you need.”

  “We have need.

  Farsighter here has brought word that all is not rosy amongst our J’dar friends. If we can cut up to the east of Miri and through the high peaks, we should be able to force them to concede, else they’ll be completely cut off and unable to supply their own men, with a force of Helmers in front and our forces behind them.

  It would be suicide for them to try and fight their way out of that.”

  “How quickly will we need to get your troops moving again?”

  Collett smiled for the first time in a while, “We’re catching a bit of luck there. I find it hard to believe that the J’dar will fall back further than Miri without being pushed.

  The Sand Wall along the desert’s edge provides too good a defensible position and why would you want to give that up to your enemy whilst trying to withdraw?”

  “I certainly wouldn’t,” Qar’a acknowledged Collett’s smile with one of his own.

  “That gives us time. We can give you a few weeks to start rebuilding.

  I’d advise setting up temporary villages to start as that will be quicker than clearing the debris and repairing the established ones.

  The main concern at the moment is getting shelter for your people. Tent’s will only last so long and we’re short of those anyway.

  It’ll be cramped and it won’t be pretty, but with the help of the dwarves, my men and any you can spare, we should be able to get something done in a hurry.”