In Treachery Forged (The Law of Swords) (42 page)

“When the armies are as large as they are in this war, the battles rarely use everyone at once,” Maelgyn noted. “Sixty thousand people could mean quite a bit. Especially sixty thousand cavalry.”

“Most of them aren’t cavalry,” Wybert disagreed. “Wolf-riders don’t even match up well against light horse-mounted cavalry, and Nekoji... well, they aren’t mounted at all, are they?”

“No,” Maelgyn agreed. “But you’ll have a mixed unit of Nekoji infantry, Dwarven wolf-riders and llama riders, and Largo’s Human cavalry. That will give you a unit that functions as an infantry, a light cavalry, a heavy cavalry, and – thanks to the mix of a standard Dwarven wolf-riding unit – archers, all in one.”

“Doesn’t count for much in a prolonged war,” Wybert sighed. “But I’ll come up with something. I have the whole march to Happaso to learn just how effective they might be. When you get back, you’re going to be stuck with just Sopan’s cavalry and a fairly large infantry. Your future command will be forming a second line in case there’s a breach at the front while you’re off in the Borden Isles. You still intend to set it up along the river, I gather?”

“Of course,” Maelgyn agreed. “If they break past the front line, the best place to set up a new defense is the Largo River.” He started to say something else, but then noticed something. Tightening his arms around Euleilla, he turned her slightly to face the coastline. “Look at the harbor,” he whispered in her ear.

She knew he didn’t really mean “look,” but she turned her head anyway. She pushed out her magic to the coast, probing it to find the harbor like Maelgyn wanted. It was then she sensed him.

“Gramps!” she cried.

“Gramps?” Wybert asked, sounding confused.

“You might know him as Admiral Ruznak,” Maelgyn explained with restrained laughter, squeezing his wife as if he somehow shared her happiness. “If it were light enough, you’d probably also be able to make out Count Gyato, former Emperor of Caseificio, and Captain Rykeifer, a highly competent militia officer I met on my travels from the village of Elm Knoll.”

Euleilla was so excited about meeting Ruznak again that she didn’t even realize what she was doing. It took her a moment to realize she was practically jumping up and down in Maelgyn’s arms.

When, exactly, had she become so demonstrative with her emotions? It used to be she’d restrain herself from even saying more than a word or two just to keep from letting anyone know what she was feeling. Now, she couldn’t keep her happiness from showing... or keep herself from planting a big kiss on Maelgyn’s lips.

Maelgyn’s arms tightened around her once again, comforting and understanding. “I’m very happy for you, Euleilla.”

Chapter 25

Maelgyn squirmed uncomfortably on what was usually the most comfortable couch in the Left Foot Inn, almost wilting under the piercing gaze of his wife’s foster-father. It didn’t help matters that she was, right then, lying with her head on his lap, dozing.

“So, boy,” Ruznak growled. “You went and married her, did ya?”

“It was... well... uh...” Maelgyn started. When that glare intensified, he figured it wasn’t in his best interest to prevaricate – not even just to explain how that marriage came about. “Yes, sir, I suppose I did.”

The old admiral grinned. Maelgyn had guessed that Rykeifer explained everything that had happened in Elm Knoll, but Ruznak insisted on a confession from him, anyway. The fact that he hadn’t blamed the whole thing on his ignorance of Largo’s marriage laws seemed to win him some points. “Good. She needed someone in her life other than me, especially since I’m not likely long for this world any more. I figured you might be it when I first saw you, but the way things are in this world I was far from sure. Now, what is it you need me to do?”

“We’re sending an expedition to the Borden Isles,” Maelgyn said, absently stroking the now sleeping Euleilla’s hair as he relaxed. “A secret mission, one lone ship, so that I can meet with the Golden Dragons. I need a guide, and you’re about the only Borden Islander I know of in Svieda.”

“I haven’t been there for decades,” Ruznak said slowly, doubtfully. “I may not be who you’re looking for.”

“You’re the only one I know who can do it,” Maelgyn said. “And I suspect Euleilla would be happy if you came.”

There was a long pause, before Ruznak slowly nodded. “Okay. For Euleilla... although I don’t think she needs me much, any more. I’ve never seen her as alive, or as expressive, as I have today. Marriage must agree with her.”

Maelgyn grimaced. “So far, perhaps, but I’m worried that with this war it’ll get tougher....”

“Tell me,” Ruznak said, looking at him challengingly. “When you first met her, how often did she say more than two or three words in a row?”

“Not often,” Maelgyn admitted.

“And now?”

Maelgyn nodded slowly. “I know. I agree that she’s more open. But you raised her, Admiral. She’ll always have need of you.”

“I’m not going to be around much longer,” Ruznak grumbled. “She’d better be able to get by without me.”

“She can. She could get by without either of us, I suspect,” Maelgyn replied. “But while you’re still ‘around,’ as you put it, I suspect she’d rather enjoy it if you were with her.”

“Maybe,” the old man sighed, shifting the knee of his missing leg so that he could scratch the end of his stump. “Golden Dragons, eh? That might get a bit uncomfortable, I’d think. Even if they aren’t trying to cook you or eat you, they tend to live in hot areas. Like volcanoes.”

“Which is where I might be of some assistance,” Gyato said, coming into the room carrying a few rather odd-looking cloaks. After leading the Nekoji and Dwarven armies into Largo, he had since sequestered himself in a cabin on the boat for quite some time without offering any explanation. His sudden re-emergence was a bit of a surprise. “Since my people and I have had nothing better to do since arriving in this town, we have worked to manufacture a few dozen of these.”

Maelgyn, careful not to wake Euleilla, took one of the unusual garments and looked at it closely. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this, before – what is it?”

“A Nekoji-fur cloak, made the right way,” the Nekoji man stated. “I admit, it’s not as effective as some of those which poachers have skinned off of my kind, but it should make your trip into dragon lands more comfortable. We use the fur we shed from our bodies to make these, and sell them to those powers which help protect our kind from hunting. It won’t survive a direct blast from dragon fire unaided, but it will protect you from grazing blows and the burning heat of a Dragon’s den. We only have a few dozen available now, but if you desire we can have as many as a hundred others finished in another week.”

“A few dozen is all we’ll need. We can’t stay more than a day or two before leaving, anyway. But I truly appreciate the gift, Emperor Gyato,” Maelgyn answered, honestly quite touched by the gift. Despite Gyato’s claim that the furs were sold to those who protected them from hunting, he knew that it was a rare thing for the Nekoji to simply gift them to others. That his kind were willing to donate as many as they had to his cause was remarkable. That they would consider donating a hundred more was beyond Maelgyn’s comprehension.

“Emperor no more,” Gyato said. “I am Count Gyato. My claim to any throne is gone, your highness.”

“I suppose we never really discussed that,” Maelgyn mused. “I imagine the title of ‘Emperor’ could be preserved, given the lack of precedents. No province has ever been a part of Svieda for long without a Sword being designated to run it. By virtue of our treaty, Mar’Tok and Caseificio will never have a Sword ruling over them.”

“Keeping the title of Emperor could help smooth the transition for my people,” Gyato conceded.

“I figure it’s worth it,” Ruznak huffed. “Emperor Gyato, you and Merchant Prince El’Athras have both gifted Svieda with your nations, but Svieda is not the Sho’Curlas Alliance. While you are now a part of our kingdom, I doubt Maelgyn, nor any of the rest of us, have any intention of usurping your traditions in favor of our own. Your titles, whatever they may be, will never be an issue.”

The discussion of titles halted as several others arrived. El’Athras and Dr. Wodtke, Rykeifer, Onayari, Sword Prince Wybert, Wangdu, Valfarn’s son Agaeb, and Admiral Rudel streamed into the room for an expected council of war. As they were filing in, Maelgyn paused to nudge his wife awake. “Euleilla? You might want to hear this.”

“Hm?” she whispered, and then sat up rather quickly. “Oh, has the meeting started already?”

“Just starting,” he answered. He bowed his head to greet the new arrivals. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. Before we begin, though – Sir Agaeb, I invited you here to act as Sword Prince Wybert’s second on his march, but you will also have to answer to Emperor Gyato, here. If you would prefer to participate in the Borden Isle expedition, I could find someone else to take your place. If not, the two of you will be responsible for demonstrating the legitimacy of our new alliances. With the Sword Prince of Largo and the son of the regent of Sopan verifying each others’ stories, the treaty should go unquestioned.”

Agaeb nodded. “Thank you, your highness. I will gladly accept any role you have for me, and will be honored to act as both Emperor Gyato’s and Sword Prince Wybert’s second.”

“Very good. Also, Admiral Ruznak has agreed to come with us—” he paused feeling the delighted wave of magic burst from his wife. “Ahem. Ruznak has agreed to come with us, and I’m going to ask you to join us as well, Captain Rykeifer.”

“I’ll be glad to,” Rykeifer said doubtfully. “But I am unsure of what help I can be. You already seem to have a significant number of command staff with you on this expedition. In addition to yourself, Admirals Ruznak and Rudel, Gyato, that Elf I have yet to meet, and El’Athras are all very experienced military leaders. Compared to them, your highness, I am not exactly—”

“Believe it or not, you are the only one of us with any real experience commanding a Human army in battle,” Maelgyn noted. “Gyato will be marching with Wybert. Ruznak and Rudel are navy, El’Athras has only ever commanded armies of Dwarves, and Wangdu usually acts alone. As far as I am concerned... well, I have had some training, but most of my common foot soldiers have more experience than I do. Sir Leno also will travel with us as an officer of the army, but he has a special mission and will be at great risk of capture. I don’t want him to bear the burden of protecting our plans and secrets, so until that is complete he will be out of the loop. I want you to lead our ground forces until his mission is over, and then act as his second in command afterwards. I witnessed you in action at Elm Knoll, Captain, and believe that you could be a great asset to our mission.”

Rykeifer nodded, pleased with the praise but slightly overwhelmed. “Very well, your highness. I will do my best.”

“Now, let me bring everyone up to date,” Maelgyn said. “Lord Valfarn is currently leading the Sopan Province cavalry across Mar’Tok, with Lord Mathrid as his second, and will arrive here within a week. Lord Yergwain is taking the Sopan Province Infantry and whatever can be spared of the Largo infantry to prepare new defensive fortifications along this river – including one here in Rocky Run, which will be the headquarters for this secondary defensive line. Emperor Gyato, Sword Prince Wybert, and Sir Agaeb will be commanding the Largo cavalry and the assembled Dwarven and Nekoji forces as they head to the front lines. The navy will be bringing in the rest of Sopan’s infantry before attempting to break the remaining blockades. The rest of us, in the
Greyholden
, will head to the Borden Isles. When there, Sir Leno will be taking about five men to meet our contact in the Borden court while the rest of us will head toward the volcanoes and hopefully open negotiations with the Golden Dragons. Any questions so far?”

“I believe we all knew our own roles, already,” Wybert said after a short pause. “And we have no questions on anyone else’s.”

“Good,” Maelgyn said. “The thing to remember, for those of us going to the Borden Isles, is that secrecy is paramount. If we are very fortunate, we may find a way to restore those islands to Svieda’s control, but we have no idea how realistic those plans are until we receive Sir Leno’s report. When I return, I will take control of whatever forces have gathered here and take them out to join Wybert. El’Athras, have you had any opportunity to gather additional intelligence about the front?”

“Not much, your highness. All information about the war I have received is several weeks old, but it appears as if the Sho’Curlas’ advance has stalled, with the heaviest fighting actually very close to the Sviedan Royal castle. Sword Prince Brode is in charge of the Sviedan army opposing them, at the moment. Sword Prince Arnach was forced to retreat to Happaso city when his leg was injured severely in battle, though he left a sizable force with Brode and is expected to recover and eventually return to the fight. There is no word regarding your father or the other members of the royal family. We have some suspicions, however: Sho’Curlas may have taken your father prisoner following his surrender of the Royal City, but none of those who were in Sycanth survived the battle. Sycanth city was utterly destroyed, and there were few survivors of any station. Three of the Swords are now in Sho’Curlas hands: Prince Hussack kept the Royal Sword he stole from the King; Prince Mussack has been seen wearing the Sword of Rubick; and Lord Gandrug, ruler of the Sho’Curlas Grand Duchy of Adrabba, now holds the Sword of Sycanth – we suspect from the body of the Sword Princess herself. There have been no sightings of any Black Dragons so far, but we believe there may be plans to station them in Sycanth’s ruins – we’ve witnessed the construction of what might be dragon stables.”