The Powterosian War (Book 5) (30 page)

“Alright, all of you,” Saxthor said, “I’m okay. I got your point.” He carefully folded the letter about Dagmar and slid it inside his blouse. “Go get some rest, both of you. After one day’s rest, we leave at first light for the border and you better be ready for a hard ride.”

Bodrin and Belnik looked at each other, grinned, and then rushed out the door. Saxthor chuckled when Bodrin was careful to grab another drumstick on his way out.

What would we do without friends? How would we survive? Saxthor thought as the door closed. He went to the bedroom, where Belnik had meticulously laid out his sleeping attire. Delia wouldn’t leave his side. When he’d dressed and climbed into bed, Delia nestled beside him before he could settle the covers. He couldn’t sleep for thinking about Dagmar. He got back up and, with Delia stuck to his side, he went out onto the balcony. The lights of the city still burned bright below the palace. He looked out over the river at the edge of town and followed it until it disappeared into the night. He hoped against hope Dagmar would come sailing out of the dark. Finally, he went back to bed with Delia beside him.

*

The next morning, while the army rested, Saxthor sent Belnik to find something and slipped away from the palace, traveling quickly to the royal tombs. He walked along the avenue, studying each monument, remembering what the queen and prince consort had told him about each ancestor and his or her accomplishments. The trees swayed in the morning breeze and flowers bloomed around each mausoleum, settling a sense of restful peace over the hushed site. He plucked a small clump of grass from beside the corner of a tomb and tossed it away.

“So much greatness here,” Saxthor said to Delia who walked along beside him, her tail wagging when he spoke. “So many generations who built and bettered the kingdom and their world. How shall my life measure up? How will they receive me in the next world?”

After realizing Saxthor represented no threat, a squirrel scampered down from an ancient oak where it had taken refuge when startled by the unusual visitor. Delia started at the little rodent who sat on a stone, gnawing open an acorn. Its tail twitched, betraying its wariness.

“No Delia, this is a sacred place of rest. All squabbles are gone from here.”

They walked on. Delia panted slightly but was quiet, apparently sensing Saxthor needed this time to his thoughts. She guarded but didn’t disturb. Saxthor stopped in front of his mother’s tomb as a small gust of wind spun some dried oak leaves in a whirl. They settled down, resting peacefully beside the marble base of the tomb. Saxthor stepped forward and placed his hand on the stone, then rubbed his fingers through the letters of the late queen’s name as if to touch her again. His throat grew tight; he swallowed as his eyes grew moist.

“How I wish I could speak with you again, mother. What would you say? I wish I had your approval for this campaign, but then you’d be queen and I wouldn’t have to make these decisions. What would grandfather have done? You’re all gone now, none left to advise and guide. I hope I’m doing the right thing. I hope it meets with your approval. I do the best I know how for the people and the kingdom, as you did. Forgive me if I’m wrong.”

He rubbed the stone again as if to release her once more to her rest. He moved to the neighboring sepulcher, the most recent, his father’s mausoleum.

“You were such a gentle man, father. You had such wisdom and strength. You had no need to prove anything or outshine, and yet you did in the end. You shone in your quiet way as brilliantly as any have. Your monument was your life, as well as the great palaces and public buildings you built in Neuyokkasin. I hope I can preserve those, but if we are overrun and the capital is overthrown, I hope you know I’m doing all I can to save the world we knew.”

He rubbed the letters of his father’s name as if to touch him. The cold stone was just that, but somehow it helped. He moved to his grandparents tombs and again asked for their guidance and forgiveness should he fail. There was some peace in being there with them. But then the squirrel that had followed them down the avenue hopped up atop the nearest one and began to chatter at him.

“Yes, little creature, it’s time for me to go. They must rest again, and I must go back to the living. Time for me to move along. Watch over them, little squirrel.” Delia watched the rodent and drooled. Sunlight broke through the trees and shone down strong rays, illuminating his mother’s monument. He smiled and walked away from the graveyard. He rode back on his stallion at a walk. It seemed a sacrilege to disturb the peace of the morning. As he approached Konnotan, the pace of movement around him increased with the tension of the nervous people moving around him. They were preparing for the approaching war. Then he saw Belnik at the city gate, arms folded, tapping his foot.

“Where have you been? I’ve looked all over for you. The guards at the gate here told me you rode out this morning, none knew where. Your majesty must not run off like that. It disturbs the whole palace. Things are too unsettled for you to disappear without a word.”

“Okay Belnik, I had something I had to attend to. I’ll let you know where I’ll be in the future, if I have a future.”

“Don’t talk like that.”

“Yes, nurse.”

“Please don’t call me that, Your Majesty. You know I’m entrusted with your care. That’s not fair.”

“No, I do appreciate you, Belnik. You must allow me some freedom from time to time.”

“Very well, Majesty, but remember I’m to look out for you.”

“Shall we get to the business at hand?”

Delia wagged her tail and licked Belnik’s hand before trotting off beside Saxthor. Belnik followed his king back to the palace through the throngs that increasingly filled the streets.

“At least Delia appreciates me,” Belnik said.

Saxthor heard the grumbling but wouldn’t give Belnik the satisfaction of knowing it. He grinned but wouldn’t look back, giving himself away.

*

Saxthor, Delia, and Belnik approached the palace as Bodrin and Tonelia were coming out through the gate. Bodrin in the lead was adamantly shaking his head with Tonelia following, her arms spread, making her case.

“Here comes trouble,” Saxthor said to Belnik who shied away from the approaching storm.

“You’re not coming!” Bodrin insisted, looking at the ground, refusing to look back at her.

“I am coming along, Bodrin,” Tonelia repeated. “I’m coming with you.”

Bodrin stopped instantly, turning on the spot. “It’s too dangerous. You’re not coming and that’s final.”

“Well then, you better look the other way if you don’t want to see me with you,” Tonelia said, crossing her arms once more.

Bodrin caught sight of Saxthor approaching the gate and rushed over to him. “Saxthor, you must command this woman to do as she’s told.”

Saxthor patiently looked at Bodrin, then Tonelia, then back at Bodrin. “I’m only king, I command the kingdom, but not a woman’s heart. You two must work this out. I have wars enough to overwhelm me.” Saxthor continued into the palace with the combatants following. Belnik kept a safe distance.

“But Saxthor, she’s a stubborn woman and won’t listen to me.”

“What makes you think she’s going to listen to me?”

Bodrin looked at Tonelia next to him. She said nothing in the king’s presence, but evidently she stood there making sure Bodrin didn’t win the argument. Frustrated, he turned back to Saxthor. “She’s an unreasonable woman. I don’t know why I ever married her in the first place.”

“Sounds like she loves you if she’s willing to follow you into a hopeless battle. I think you’ve lost this argument too.”

Bodrin stamped his foot on the floor and stormed off out of the palace with Tonelia close behind.

“We’re all packed, Bodrin,” Saxthor heard Tonelia say, her voice placating. The last Saxthor saw of them, Bodrin was walking fast, shaking his head, unable or unwilling to continue the argument.

Saxthor looked at Belnik and laughed. Belnik smiled, looking sheepish.

“Does your wife give you as much trouble?” Saxthor asked his valet.

“She’s the most patient of wives, Your Majesty. She’s happy to take care of our house and children. She knows I have other responsibilities that take me from home.” He glanced at the king and flushed.

Saxthor reflected again on his morning visit to his antecedent’s tombs, peaceful but memories now, such contrast to the vibrant life around him. “Life is a precious fleeting thing; we must make the most of it while it lasts.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Were you thinking of marrying?”

Saxthor cleared his throat. “Be sure the baggage is packed for an early start in the morning.”

“As you say, Majesty.”

* * *

“This quiet makes me nervous,” King Grekenbach said, scanning the enemy encampments on the slopes around Graushdemheimer. The king, chatra, and two leading generals were conversing on the situation some weeks after they killed the last whingtang. “What are they waiting for? They just sit around their fires waiting for something. With all those reinforcements, why don’t they attack again? You think they might be waiting to starve us out?”

“They must know no help is coming from Neuyokkasin. General Vylvex is aware by now that General Tarquak has captured Botahar and taken Sengenwha. They may want to wait us out, thinking Tarquak will arrive soon,” a general responded.

“It would make sense, except the Dark Lord is too impatient. He’ll not wait out anything,” the chatra said. “Tolalo gained us time, but Vylvex won’t fall for tainted meat, spells, or other tricks again. The next attack will be with all his forces, I expect.”

“Thank goodness Tolalo is better,” Grekenbach said. “We’ve taken that little wizard for granted in the past.”

“Indeed,” the chatra agreed.

“Are we prepared for another attack, general?” Grekenbach asked.

“We are, so far as we can prepare.”

“Then all we can do now is to wait, delay, and hope King Saxthor can defeat his enemies and come to our aid.” The men nodded and mumbled agreement. They turned again to watch the enemy for any signs of change. “I’m going to see Tolalo.”

Grekenbach left the leadership group and went to the tower, where the recovered Wizard Tolalo was again working in his enclave amid open books and scrolls scattered everywhere. Grekenbach coughed and knocked as he entered the workroom amid strange blue vapors mixed with small patches of swirling dust. He looked at an overturned ingredients jar with some sort of wings spilled out on the table. A sudden plop sound brought his attention to the small pot bubbling on the fire as something went in. Tolalo stood over the vessel, his face flushed from the heat but smiling at the king. “How are you, Tolalo? Are you fully recovered?”

“I am, Majesty, thank you for asking.”

“What are you brewing there?”

“I’m just experimenting with some spells I found in the old books here. They’re from the Wizard’s Hall days, long ago. I hope they might prove useful in some fashion, if I can see how they work and think of applications suitable for our situation.”

“Excellent, but don’t go bringing anything dangerous out of the void, Tolalo.”

“I’m being very careful. I know well that the wrong thing brought from the void could as easily be attached to the Dark Lord as potentially favorable to our interests. It’s a dangerous business, but I know we need all the help we can summon.”

“Among other things left here long ago, I found the broken blade of an elfin sword in the ingredients inventory. Elves knew how to pound energy into their swords along with magic. There’s power locked there still; that’s why a previous wizard kept it, I suppose. I’m using an incantation to transfer that energy to the crystal of my wand. Well, that’s what I’m attempting to do. The magic is intertwined with the energy and I’m not sure what will come across to the crystal.”

“You worry me, Tolalo, after that love potion trick… well, be careful.”

“Yes, thank you for your concern.”

Grekenbach left the wizard to his experiment. As he headed back to the city walls, he heard a boom behind him and, turning, saw white smoke swirl out of the wizard’s tower window high above the palace. He thought of how closely he’d missed being near the explosion. He rushed back to the tower, but as he ran up the stairs he saw Tolalo, covered in soot, coughing over the landing above. I don’t want to embarrass the wizard, Grekenbach thought, shaking his head. I’m heading back to the walls with generals and troops I understand.

“Majesty!” A messenger called. He was running toward the king from the south.

“What is it?”

“The south gate, it’s under attack.”

Grekenbach rushed past the messenger to the sound of the confrontation. Ahead of him he saw a swirl of dust rise over the roofs near the city walls. His stomach turned. He pushed past a crowd of gathering onlookers staring at the dust cloud. When he rounded the corner of an apartment block, he saw the rubble in the street by the wall and then the collapsed tower and right side of the gate. Banging swords and smashing shields rang in his ears. The dust cleared slowly, revealing the orcs swarming over the rubble of the former tower, fighting hand to hand with the surprised defenders. His troops were rushing down the walls from both sides, shooting arrows into the orc horde; but the orcs had quickly massed at the breach, and though many fell to the arrows more climbed over the bodies pouring into the city.