The Vlakan King (Book 3) (28 page)

"I do not doubt it," said Nar Tomak. "This is a much larger danger than we expected. With so many pieces moving over great distances it was long planned. There had to have been signs of such a large plot. I fear the answer to your question, sire. I don't think all our spies were truly our spies."

"And we suspected nothing? I cannot believe that Nar. Some of your Men must have known something. I fear Aulan has his eyes and ears too deep in our counsel. Make sure your soldiers are watching the East," said Armana. "I fear Mordyn soldiers are marching our way to trap us in a vise with a viper trapped here with us."

From the hills north of Curesia, unknown soldiers walked silently toward the city of Jespin. Their pale blue skin was visible through the telescopes of the Curesian officers. Captain Amatir of Her Majesty's Royal Knights watched the approaching soldiers. King Frotand promised High King Armana that his army would hold back the invaders and thus the field was full of Curesian soldiers waiting for the Sorcerer Pashar Bei and his Celaeri troops. Amatir counted less than six hundred of the sorcerer's fighters for his eighteen hundred soldiers to engage and he wondered at the urgency of the High King's message. King Frotand told him it was critical that these few soldiers be stopped. It didn't appear that it would be a lengthy battle. In a way, Amatir was disappointed that another chance for a battle slipped by him. He was an eighteen-year veteran of the Royal Knights and during that time the only battle was a border skirmish nine years earlier between nobles of Wierland and Curesia. It had been a glorious morning of fighting; Amatir felt his blood racing through him and every sight and sound was crisper and more tangible somehow. But in early afternoon the High King rode in with his army and squashed the whole conflict. At least he had those memories, thought Amatir. Most of the Royal Knights were too young to have drawn sword then. All the hours on the practice pitch could not prepare a knight for actual warfare. It was a unique experience available nowhere else. If you were not a good student you would die in battle; even the good ones died sometimes, but the ones with little skill and adaptability always died on the field.

Amatir wondered if he could send just a part of his soldiers to engage the Celaeri and hold the rest back. Perhaps that would make it exhilarating for those who fought. The rest would have to hope for another chance some other day. He nodded to himself; he had decided his course and felt much better for it.

Nine hundred soldiers marched out to meet the Celaeri. Amatir watched the battle take shape from a rise near the river. He instructed his Men not to wait for formal declaration of intent or the first strike by the Celaeri. He ordered them to strike immediately and give no quarter. Wierland would see how its neighbor defended itself and even the High King in Calendia would acknowledge their resolve. Curesia was a kingdom with its own identity, culture and history, not a subject of the High King but an ally.

The Curesia soldiers formed a wedge to strike against the Celaeri. Amatir saw the sunlight reflecting off their helmets. A horn rang and the wedge surged forward. The Celaeri raised their shields and their long spears leveled toward the attackers. When the leading edge of the wedge was about to hit the Celaeri line, the Celaeri split their numbers allowing the wedge to pass. Then the Celaeri closed in on the flanks of the wedge killing soldiers who hadn't realized their peril.

"Impossible," said Amatir. "They can't move that fast."

"They did Captain," said Corporal Perat. "Legend tells such stories."

"Your stories are killing my soldiers. Send the rest in before it's too late."

Horns blared from the hilltop and the remainder of the Curesian army surged forward. The land shook with the pounding of their boots but the Celaeri were ready, their bloody spears thirsty for more.

In three quarters of an hour it was over. The Curesia soldiers were routed and fled back to Jespin as best they could. The Celaeri suffered few casualties and now continued their march to Jespin. Amatir sank to his knees. Perhaps a third of his soldiers survived despite far greater numbers and he knew now Curesia could not hold back this tide.

"Orders sir?" asked Corporal Perat.

"Ride, corporal. Ride to Nantitet by way of Finald. Warn Wierland and then the High King that the swords of Men cannot stop this fey army. Ride Perat and may the gods guide your steps."

"Keep well Captain." Perat saluted and ran to his horse. Amatir watched him ride and then turned back to the Celaeri. They were still two miles from Jespin and on foot. Perhaps something could be done. Amatir found his horse and rode hard for the city, the laughter of the Celaeri urging him onward.

In most of the wars of men, the Men have been the foot soldiers. The nobility in Nantitet are Zidar or their descendants as are the kings in Curesia and Wierland. The Men have had few leaders to list alongside the Daerlan, Celaeri, Zidar, Anethean and Turuck leaders. Have they really been so bereft of quality, or has their short life-span concealed the impact of their notable warriors and statesmen? It is in my opinion the biggest lapse of judgment of the Zidar; to overlook the potential of the Men because of our perceived superiority. The narrow view of the Zidar has lengthened all the wars and troubles in Landermass.

From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.

Sneppe's company having been relieved by Leto's squad left Peradon to set watch on Mordyn. They traded the closeness of the forest for the heat of the plains. Twenty miles beyond Peradon the trees dwindled and the plains rolled before them. To the south of Mordyn the hills met the edges of the Koberi Desert and very little grew in the harsh land. There were few places for shade in that area and Sneppe ordered his men to dig caves in the side of the parched hills to hide themselves from the relentless heat. The hills were sandy and it proved difficult to dig shallow horizontal caves so the cave angles were very steep, nearly holes in the ground. Polesnap said he felt like a trap door spider.

Mordyn occupied the area between the Koberi Desert and the free cities to the East. To the north was the Inland Sea and to the south was the Great Plains of Anavar. Centuries ago a Jungegud, Natale Galamog, lay claim to the land and set out her borders with her magic. Her influence seeped through every crack and crevice and into every living thing. It was a web she spun around Mordyn and she held it close. She knew everything that moved within her domain and she gathered the nomadic people of the area and commanded them to build cities and temples to honor her. The Mordyn people were separated from the rest of Anavar thereafter and interacted with other races only rarely.

There were few travelers on the merchant road during their time in the wild and Sneppe drilled his soldiers to keep the boredom at bay. Everyone took turns on scout missions even Corporal Dogbitter who had been gone three days.

Docaw stood on watch that morning when the dust from the Mordyn roads began to rise. He had been prodding a snake with the tip of his sword when he thought a faint rumble came from the north. The skies were clear so he reasoned it wasn't thunder. The horizon gave no clues to changing weather. Docaw put his ear to the ground and thought he heard something but it was too faint for him to be sure. He stood and tried to brush the dirt off his sweaty ear. He stared northward and noticed the faint movement of dust in the distance. The early light of the sun flickered with color through the clouds of dust. When he was certain of what he saw he ran back to camp to awaken Sneppe. He poked the sergeant's shoulder.

"Mordyn is on the move!" Docaw said to Sneppe who slept just within the hill cave opening.

Sneppe rolled out of his blankets and rubbed his face. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir. They are raising so much dust there must be hundreds, thousands maybe. They are still within their land but heading this way."

Sneppe grabbed his sword trotted to the hilltop where Docaw has stood watch. The movement was unmistakable although it would be a few hours before the army was in view. He patted Docaw on the back. Sneppe went back to the caves.

"Up! Move it grunts!" He kicked sand into the caves. Yells and curses greeted him. "The enemy is on the move."

"How many?" asked Linal, spitting sand from his mouth.

"More than we can handle," said Sneppe. "Jalic, Hass and Pappa. Prepare to ride. I want word back to Kerreth yesterday. I don't know where he is so we need to spread the word to Toraba and Blackthorne's house and Nantitet. Jalic to Toraba, Hass to Blackthorne and Pappa to Nantitet. Ride together as long as you can then set your own courses. I don't like sending you alone, but the rest of us must keep an eye on the Mordyn and I may need to send more riders. Get your gear together."

"I hate Blackthorne," said Hass.

"Who doesn't?" asked Jalic. "At least his little goblin likes you. He doesn't snap those fangs at you whenever you walk by."

"Yes, Wotba is friendly to me and I don't know why," said Hass. "Brings me ale without my asking. Maybe I'll be lucky and Blackthorne won't be there. I could rest a bit and whet my whistle while Wotba chatters away. Sometimes he tells me what Blackthorne is working on and I admit it's often more than I want to know."

"Perhaps you should marry him if Wotba's so domesticated," said Jalic.

"You haven't kicked him or spit on him like most Men, Hass," said Gileas. "That's why he likes you. A little kindness keeps giving. Goblins have ever been persecuted by Men."

"And they never deserved it?" asked Jalic. "They are filthy creatures."

"You have much to learn mortal," said Gileas. "Do not force me to teach to you."

"Get moving," snapped Sneppe. "You have long hard rides and no time to spare. Now!"

Sneppe watched them run and then looked to the others; Linal, Polesnap and Gileas. Docaw remained watching the Mordyn.

"We have several hours before all the Mordyn pass. We will move west and take positions along the road to wait for them to pass. Gileas you are to follow the army closely. When they camp for the night enter the camp. Listen to what they say. I will send Polesnap to relieve you."

"I'm not Daerlan," said Polesnap. "I won't be able to sneak into their camp like Gileas can."

"No, but she will need a break. You can still watch them and no Mordyn is as clever in the field as you are."

"Yeah, that's right. I needed to remember that, Sarge," said Polesnap.

"Don't forget it again or I'll have to beat it into you. Linal, do you have any of those throwing bombs Retterwig made for us?"

"I have three mage bombs left. I'll have to get close; I can't throw them too far."

"I can throw them," said Gileas.

"Good," said Sneppe. "We may have to divert them so let's keep that in mind."

Jalic, Hass and Pappa led their horses from behind the hills and waited for any last orders from Sneppe.

"You know what to do, you are Talos Company. Ride, my friends, may we meet again."

"Farewell, comrades," said Jalic. "We will fight together soon."

The three mounted and rode away without a look back.

"Hey, Gileas. What kind of beetle is that? It's the size of my thumb."

"Polesnap why do you only notice the world around you when the action gets intense?" asked Linal.

"I see stuff all the time," said Polesnap.

"But you never mention it," said Gileas. "It is called a Lion Lighter. It likes the drier climate in this area but is not a desert creature. Its abdomen glows at night and it has a vicious bite. The bite is poisonous and if left untreated would dissolve your flesh right to the bone. Do not pick it up. I don't have any salve for the infection."

"Okay, okay. Just curious." Polesnap moved away quickly.

"Let's break camp," said Sneppe.

They rode hard to cross the path of the Mordyn army to be on the north side as they passed. The northern side provided better cover and as they near Calendia it would be the direction from which the Talos Company would arrive. It was mid-day when Sneppe stopped. Nantitet was still a few days away but this was a good place to wait for the Mordyn army. They would be able to mark their approach and there was enough cover to hide them from the sentries as they worked their way toward Nantitet. They settled in beyond sight of the old road and waited for the Mordyn ranks to pass them by. Then they would ride near the rear of the Mordyn as they marched into Calendia. Their path would take them north of Paglo and the sharp arrows of the Tuors then to the great plains of Calendia where they would turn southwest to head to Nantitet. Sneppe figured they had three hours before the Mordyn drew near.

"It was strange guarding someone I grew up with," said Docaw.

"Huh?" said Linal.

"Davan. I grew up in Peradon you know."

"I had forgotten. Do you still have family there?"

"No. My Ma had died when I was a kid and Pa died just before I joined the Company. I almost joined the Red Boars, them being a local mercenary company, but luckily Brevin suggested I come along with him to Toraba. Best thing I ever did."

"What do you suppose happened to Davan's father? Did he turn into one of those Vlakan things?"

"That's the rumor," said Docaw. "Ian Greyrawk was a member of the Red Boars when he was our age. His wife was a member too."

"Really? The red-head at the inn?"

"Yes. I heard she was deadly with the sword."

"So Davan's a fighter too?"

"No. His parents never talked about their mercenary days with him. The last time I spoke with Davan I tried to ease around the subject but it was obvious he didn't know anything."

"Obvious, even to you?"

"Yes, even that obvious," said Docaw. "But back to his father. He appeared to be a stable father and a hard working innkeeper. I heard no stories about him that would suggest shape shifting or that he was more than he said he was. Something tore up that old hermit and a Vlakan could have done the job easily. If he is a Vlakan now, I hope Davan doesn't catch up with him."

"But Brevin's with him."