by James Dale
"Close enough," Jack assured him. "How many men can you have ready in three months?"
"Forty-two thousand," the Dragonslayer replied. "Give or take. In six months, I can have twice as many when the reserves are fully mobilized after the crops are taken in."
"We'll just count your forty thousand for now," Braedan nodded. "Uncle? What about Ail'itharain?"
"In three months," the Ailfar replied. "Less than half Brydium can field. But they are Warriors of Goldenbriar. Each of them could give Lukas a challenge for Bowmaster if they desired."
"High Prince," Sir Dor said hesitantly, "with Kiathan's recent downsizing...I...Morgan estimates Doridan's armies to be far less than fifty percent. At present, even with the Knights of the White Horse, Queen Annawyn can field maybe…ten thousand."
"Judas Bloody Hell," Jack muttered.
"But we will begin rearming those Kiathan discharged at once," the Baron of Galfrey said quickly. "In two months, we can double our number. With a little luck and a lot of retraining, Doridan should be near to full strength by the time you return from Lordsisle. Thirty thousand troops should meet your return, my Lord."
"We'll split it and go with twenty thousand," Jack said, "Kaerl, about Annoth?"
"I can have five thousand men here in Dorshev within the month to supplement this force," the king of Annoth replied. “Thirty thousand more will remain with the fleets and be ready to blockade the Gulf of Nor at your command."
"What about Amorhad, Caladin and Donian?" Braedan asked. "Anyone care to make a guess?"
"I wouldn't think any of them could have troops here in two months," answered Theros. "Somewhere around four to five months would be a more reasonable estimate. Combined, the three should field less than twenty thousand. They all border grim'Hiru lands. They'll not send more for fear of having no kingdom left when they return. Amorhad will send all, but it is a smaller country."
"Okay," Jack said, counting the tally. "So, somewhere around...one hundred thousand troops can be ready within three months. Sound about right?"
"About," Tarsus nodded. "Jack, what do you plan to do with them? One hundred thousand men would be the largest army to take the field in Aralon in three hundred years, but if you wait only another three, you could have nearly double. Why this fixation on three months?"
"Because in three months’ time," he replied quietly, "I want them all assembled at Tanaevar. I will meet them there as soon as I return with Yhswyndyr. Then...then we are going to march on Gorthiel. We're not going to wait for Graith to fully recover his strength and gather his forces. We're not going to wait for him to cross the Whesguard and come at us behind our walls. We're going to the Iron Tower with every Lord of the Staffclave I can find, every Ailfar Spellweaver strong enough to conjure up a spark, and with Dragonslayer, Grimblade and Sunheart, we are going to burn it to the ground once and for all."
His plan was met with silence.
"Jack," Theros said hesitantly. "If I may..."
"I know what you're going to advise Theros," he interrupted wearily. "If we were fighting a war against anything but the Bloodstone, your advice would be sound. But we're not going to wait. Ljmarn waited. It cost him Arkand and Amar. It nearly cost him all of Aralon. I'm not going to make the same mistake."
"Will you trade his mistake for a different one, Prince Bra'Adan?" Kaerl An’kaera asked quietly.
"I'm not waiting," Braedan repeated firmly. "I'm going after him while he's still weak. If I have to go back to Agash Thugar by myself, I will. One hundred thousand men at my back or one hundred or ten is not going to make much difference. In the end, it will be a fight between the Sunheart and the Bloodstone."
"I know Jack," King Theros sighed. "But I, we all here, must also think of our kingdoms. If we move too swiftly, with a force too small to accomplish our goal...if we fail, the west will be left virtually undefended."
"Kadin could be across the River Whesguard within a week when word reaches Mullah Khan the entirety of Brydium’s legions have marched to Tanaevar," Captain du’Gail added.
"Word will reach him much sooner," Jack replied, removing his House of Khadda'Jhen royal ring and tossing it to Maadim Khalmiya, "I want you to go Mullah ad’Jhen and tell him exactly what we are doing."
All eleven men in the room gasped with disbelief. Before they could find their voices, Braedan continued. "I also want messengers sent to Urgiss in Norgarth and King Jelial in Denegarth. As well as any other eastern leaders you can think of. What I'm going to tell them...What I am going to tell them!" he barked, shouting down their questions. "Is when I'm finished with Graith, if I hear their armies have moved so much as one foot beyond their borders, I'll take Sunheart and burn their kingdoms to the ground! Every building from the palace right down to the smallest outhouse! I'll kill every male above twelve! I'll spread salt on every square inch of their land! By the time I'm done, nothing will remain of their kingdoms but the memory of lines on a map!"
"They are slaves of the Bloodstone," Jack continued more calmly. "Hamman Khan knows this. Others surely know it as well. The only reason they abide the Sorcerers of Sa'tan and the dark-King is fear. Well...I mean to make sure they understand if they fight for him this time, they will have cause to fear Sunheart even more. Follow the dark-King, and they will die, quickly, from Yhswyndyr or slowly from the Bloodstone. Stand aside and do nothing…stay within their borders, and they can live as their fathers have done for centuries, free to rule their own lands. Jack Bra'Adan will never cross the Whesguard except in friendship. If they can agree to do the same."
"And the grim'Hiru?" Cilidon asked. "Will you make them the same offer? You once said to me you would sign a treaty even with the beast-men if you could keep them from killing you long enough to ask."
"The grim'Hiru have no free will as long as the curse of the Bloodstone remains," Braedan sighed. "But if I can destroy it, who knows what will happen? Perhaps the curse will be broken? If not enough to restore them to their former place in humanity, perhaps at least enough to return their self-determination. If Yh’Adan wills it.”
"The Jahrkirin," he continued. "If Maelcain still lives, will not fight for the Bloodstone again. If he does not, and if Cil’lena has returned the Tears of Yh’Adan to them, it should be enough to convince them the Jha'ak will welcome them as friends."
"Jack," Theros said softly, "if anyone else proposed this, I would reject it without a second thought. But...but from the moment I knew...who you were, I placed my faith in you. My legions will be waiting for you at Tanaevar. You will go to the Iron Tower alone. Once in a lifetime is enough for any man."
"The Ailfar will be there as well," Cilidon nodded. "Grimblade will be there. As well as every Spellweaver who can conjure so much as a single spark."
"As will Annoth," Kaerl An’kaera nodded.
"The husband of Annawyn has no reason to expect anything but Doridan's full support," Dor Gaellen replied. "If he marches on Gorthiel armed with a willow switch, we will be at his side."
"Thank you," Jack sighed. "With a Horsemaiden Queen and the Knights of the White Horse at my side, Gorthiel would fear even a willow switch."
"Then our path is set," Theros nodded. "I will begin my journey back to Brythond tomorrow morning."
"Kaerl, how soon will you be ready to take us to Dorihil?" asked Jack.
"My ship has been ready to sail for three days," the king of Annoth replied.
"Then we sail before first light tomorrow," Jack informed him. "Your passengers will start boarding as soon as it's dark. We'll leave without fanfare, without any announcements, without anyone suspecting we've even left the palace. I'll not give another assassin the chance to shoot more arrows at me. Or anyone else."
"They can start boarding immediately after sundown," Kaerl nodded.
"Gentlemen," Jack said standing, "that's all I have. Is there anything any of you wish to add?"
"I believe all needing to be said has been," Gain Ellgereth replied. "May Yh have mercy on us all," he added quietl
y.
"Then if you'll excuse me," Braedan bowed. "I'm going to change into some non-descript clothes and sneak outside the city to find Snow Dancer. I need him to deliver a message to the packs in Riverslanon. Then I'm going to make to love to my wife and pretend I'm a simple newlywed with not a care in the world. If I don't see you at dinner, I'll see you in Tanaevar in three months."
"If I wasn't convinced he is Ljmarn's Heir," Kaerl An’kaera sighed after Braedan left the room, "I'd take my family aboard Muriel's Revenge and go live where the sun sets."
"I'd be asking to join you," Theros nodded.
"I don't know about the rest of you," Rhyn Dunnahel said quietly, "but I'm going to go home and make love to my wife. Then I'm going to go find the biggest willow tree in Dorshev. If he doesn't return with Yhswyndyr, he's going to need a strong switch when he gets to Gorthiel."
"Cyran," Jack said, emerging into the corridor outside Duke Morgan's suite, "get yourself into some mercenary leathers. Tell Arrgenn and Falan to do the same and meet me at the stables in fifteen minutes. We're going for a ride."
"My Lord," the Lion saluted.
"And send Cassy and Brian to go fetch Erlwin. We sail before sunrise and he’s going with us. He'll have three months at sea to finish recovering. If he's playing kiss and tickle with Inga, give him half an hour, then drag his lazy ass back to the palace."
"Half an hour it is," Cyran grinned.
"And Cyran," Jack said quietly, "tell the Lions going with us they have until the third hour after sundown to complete any unfinished...business at The Wicked Maiden. What they can't do before then will have to wait until we get back from Lordsisle."
"How long will we be gone," Cyran inquired.
"And hour or two I'd guess?" Jack shrugged. "Why?"
"Arrgenn will be disappointed to find Maelissa booked for the evening when we return."
"Have someone give her this," Jack said, tossing him a pouch of coins. "Take enough to pay for her time until Arrgenn can...visit."
"And you think we're corrupting young Dunnahel?" Cyran chuckled, pocketing the pouch.
"It will be his last chance at...companionship for some time," Jack said quietly.
"Then I think I might seek a little companionship for myself this evening," the Lion said, seeing the grave look on his lord's face.
"Tell them all to do the same," Braedan muttered, tossing him another pouch, this one containing the last remaining gold from his purchase of the Val'anna. "On me."
Cyran snatched the pouch out of the air with a grim bow. He knew the look of coming danger when he saw it. "Fifteen minutes in the stable," he nodded.
Annawyn wasn't in their room when he returned. Braedan guessed she had been called away quickly on some sort of queen's business since she hadn't left a note. She'd be disappointed at missing a chance to see Snow Dancer, but he'd make it up to her somehow. Changing into clothes borrowed from Harran the day before, he donned his Ithelmere mail, strapped Grimrorr around his waist, and headed to the stables. Cyran was already waiting for him, but instead of Arrgenn and Falan, Lukas a'Maeridon and Sergeant Elhaer were with him.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked.
"Arrgenn paid me twenty gold Dorrkars to take his place," the sergeant smiled.
"And you Lukas?" asked Jack. "Falan doesn't have that kind of coin."
"I overheard Cyran say you were going to see your talking wolf, High Prince," the Ailfar bowman replied. "I'm off duty, so I volunteered. If it's not worth the trip, I'll think of some way for him to repay me for a wasted afternoon."
"Did you okay this Cyran?" asked Jack.
"Kirk did my Lord," the Lion replied.
"Then Captain Vanar will repay you," Braedan informed the Ailfar. "And Arrgenn...will explain to me why he decided a few extra hours with Maelissa was more important than obeying his Lord's orders. Well...I know why he did it," he sighed, "but he's got to learn he's no longer just Rhyn Dunnahel's son. He's a Golden Lion of Thonbor."
"It won't happen again," Cyran promised.
"See it doesn't," Braedan muttered. "Or Arrgenn will find himself swinging a pike as a dog private in the Doridanian infantry."
"I'll pass along your thoughts along to young master Dunnahel," Cyran grinned.
"Everybody ready?" Braedan asked, turning to the two substitutes.
The stable boy led out four horses borrowed from the palace guard and they were off.
It wasn't as difficult as he expected it would be for his small group to slip out of the city. With the kings of Brydium, Ail'itharain, and Annoth in Dorshev, elves and Dragon Guardsman roaming the streets, a dead king to mourn, and new queen and her Swordmaster husband to marvel over, four unremarkable swordsmen was cause for little stir. They did not receive a second glance from anyone save the guards manning the city gate, and a quick word from Sergeant Elhaer soon convinced them there were more interesting travelers to keep an eye out for. Like Norgarthan assassins for starters.
Braedan led his party out to the crossroads and the small grove of trees where he and Tarsus had been set free by Annawyn and her false executioners nearly a year ago. There the party dismounted and he pushed his thoughts out into the surrounding countryside, calling out to the young wolf. Snow Dancer must have been far away, for he barely sensed his beaming reply, though the young wolf’s Mindspeak was becoming almost as strong as Eaudreuil's. Nearly an hour later, their horses caught a dangerous scent on the breeze and shifted nervously. Braedan sent out a wave of calming thoughts to their mounts, and called to Snow Dancer.
"Where are you young one?"
"Here Great Lion," came his reply, and Snow Dancer rose from the tall grass beside the road. With him was a white and gray female. "I was becoming worried. I thought you had gotten lost in the two-legs stone den."
"Not lost," Jack grinned. "Mated to Fire Mane."
"So, I've heard," the young wolf cuffed. "Long Tooth might say the two are the same."
"Not with Fire Mane," Jack replied, opening the wellspring of joy flowing from his heart to the wolves.
"I...glad...for Great Lion," the female beamed. “I am Winter Stream,” she introduced herself with a toothy, canine grin. “As an unmated female, I have been chosen by the pack to…advise Snow Dancer, the new pack leader of all who follow Great Lion.”
"Welcome Winter Steam," Jack nodded. "I hope you can find a mate one day who will bring you just as much happiness, as Fine Mane brings me."
"Perhaps...one day," the she-wolf beamed, glancing quickly at the young male by her side.
"Snow Dancer," Braedan continued, "I need you carry a message to the packs gathering in the land of many rivers." He said aloud for his human companions, at the same time sharing his mind with the young wolf.
"Your message Great Lion?" the wolf asked.
"I go far beyond the great water to find Bright Flame," he replied. "I will be away for a perhaps three changings of the moon. When I return, Great Lion will lead the two-legs to the place of The Angry Mountain to battle Red Slayer. I wish for the packs to meet me in the hills of the Storm Fighters west of the plain of restless spirits."
"Do all two-legs know the packs fight for Great Lion?" Snow Dancer asked.
"They do," Jack nodded.
"I will tell them Great Lion," the young wolf cuffed.
"Take care of yourself young one," Jack smiled. "Take care of him Winter. He will be a fine pack leader. And a fine mate one day."
"I...will," the she-wolf beamed. "Good hunting...Great Lion.” Winter called back as the pair disappeared back into the high grass of the countryside.
"Well," he asked, turning to Lukas a'Meridon, "was it worth the trip?"
"It was worth it," the Ailfar Bowmaster nodded. "That young male is going to be a monster one day. And I wouldn't want the female stalking me on an empty stomach. Thank you for the honor of allowing me to see this, Great Lion."
Their task completed, the party returned to the palace and Jack dismissed Cyran to join the Wicked Maiden fo
r the few hours remaining until they sailed. Though also a Golden Lion, such diversion held no interest for Lukas a'Maeridon. His heart lay in Elvendale, gently held in the hands of an Ailfar maiden with hair like spun gold and eyes like emerald fire. Jack's heart was waiting for him as he entered their room.
"Where were you, Anna?" he asked, taking in wife in his arms and kissing her tenderly. "You missed your chance to see Snow Dancer again."
"I saw them last night," she smiled.
"What do you mean? How could you have?"
"Ailicia and I went Dreamwalking!" Annawyn replied, green eyes sparkling with wonder. "After we finished...ummm..."
"I told her..."
"It was only the outer edge of a wolf-dream," she assured him quickly. "I could only hold it for moment...but I talked to him!" his wife laughed, glowing with pleasure.
"And what did he say?" asked Jack, his anger quickly melting away under the heat of his wife's sun-bright smile.
"We barely had time to say more than hello," Anna said, hugging him fiercely. "I told him we were mated, how happy we were. Jack, it...it was wonderful! I had no idea anything so marvelous was possible!"
"I know," he sighed, holding Annawyn tightly. He was going to have to have a long talk with Ailicia. No matter how safe she claimed the outer dreams to be, the Dark One was not bound in the Land of Dreams. Until he had Deathbane, they were no place for his wife. "You didn't answer my question," Jack said, pushing her to arm’s length and cupping her chin. "Where were you?"
"Jealous?" Annawyn grinned. "You should be. I was curious to see if the palace guards thought my body as old and wrinkled as you."
"And?"
"Alas, they do," she sighed heavily. "They ran screaming from the room before I was barely undressed. I fear you are the only man who can look on me with longing."
"That's terrible," Jack whispered. "Maybe I should have a look at what scared them so badly," he said, reaching for the buttons of her bodice.
"First I have something to give you," she laughed, fighting off his quick hands. He had two undone before she could stop him.