did connect with nature, even if it was in its most predatory state. The bengar actually made him more elf than he otherwise would have been.
“Why haven’t you sent out search parties for the missing soldiers?” Konowa asked.
A cannon broadside boomed in the distance before Yimt could reply. Two more followed in quick succession. “That’s why. The town is deserted. About the only thing left alive in it now are rakkes. The ships have been shelling the waterfront to keep the buggers at bay. I hate leaving anyone behind, but orders is orders. We’re setting sail within the hour. That’s why we had to come and wake you, recovered or not.”
It was a blow to realize just how quickly the Empire was collapsing, but it gave Konowa renewed strength. “About bloody time. We should land on the Hyntaland in a few days with good winds. You know, I’ve wanted to throttle His Highness more times than not, but he’s finally seeing things right.”
Pimmer held up his hands. “Major, I think it important to remind you that you’re still recovering from a multitude of grievous wounds. You need to avoid exerting yourself as you recover. Any aggravation could have serious repercussions to your health.”
“Not to worry, Viceroy, this is good news. I feel great.”
Pimmer’s smile froze on his face. He looked to Yimt for help.
“Am I missing something?” Konowa asked.
“You could say that,” Yimt said, slowly getting up from the stool. He stood braced as if he’d just walked into a pub expecting a fight. “Here’s the thing, it’s about our destination. .”
Konowa waited for him to finish. When he didn’t he looked back at Pimmer. The man held up his hands and shrugged as if to say “I tried.” “We’re not sailing to the Hyntaland, are we?” Konowa asked.
The man held on to his frozen smile. “Not as such, no. The Prince has determined the wisest course of action is to head for Calahr and assemble a much larger force before tackling the Shadow Monarch.”
Konowa’s following curses were drowned out by a broadside fired by the
Konowa threw off the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The pouch with the black acorn in it swung from the leather thong still tied around his neck. A brief stab of cold reminded him it was there, not that he needed any reminding. The cost of the oath was a permanent weight on his shoulders.
He set his feet down on floor and almost smiled at the feel of the cool wood beneath his feet. It was the closest he was likely to come to bonding with a tree. He stood, fighting off the light-headedness that threatened to topple him. He looked down at himself and except for the leather pouch was completely naked. “Where’s my uniform?”
“Now, Major, please, you have to understand,” Pimmer said, moving to stand at the foot of the bed. “The regiment is all but depleted. Even the shades are gone. The Empire is in utter turmoil. Everyone, including the Prince, understands the need to finish this business with the Shadow Monarch once and for all, but it needs planning, and resources. If we just sail straight there with this ragtag collection of ships and soldiers the outcome could well be disastrous.”
Konowa stared at the Viceroy. “I’ll walk out of here like this if I have to.”
Yimt came into view with Konowa’s uniform. It looked clean and repaired. He wondered when anyone had had time to put needle to thread, but he was grateful. He really would have stormed out of the room naked, but he suspected his argument for going straight to Her mountain would have more weight if he were wearing more than a snarl. “I had a feeling you’d be a bit motivated to go have a chat with His Highness so I got your things ready for you.”
Konowa looked away from Pimmer and down at the smiling dwarf. “Is that also why I can’t see my saber among my things?”
“Got it out with one of the lads for sharpening. Should have it back to you, oh, right about
Konowa held Yimt’s stare for several seconds then grabbed the uniform out of his hands and began to get dressed. “I know what I’m doing,” he said, struggling into his trousers.
“Do you now?” Yimt said, helping him on with his boots. “Because from my perspective, and admittedly it isn’t quite as lofty, it appears that you’re about to go charging wildly.”
“Then why are you helping me?” Konowa asked, stomping down harder than he needed to adjust his boots. If anyone was wondering if Major Swift Dragon was up, they’d know it now.
“A good old-fashioned charge is sometimes exactly what’s called for. I just think you’d be wise to consider what you intend to do when you get to the other end of your charge. See, starting a charge is easy. You’re better than most at it. Someone lights a fire under you and off you go. It’s how it ends that can get sticky.”
Konowa fought with the sleeve of his jacket. “I really thought he’d changed, at least enough that he wouldn’t do something as stupid as this. Was he always this pig-headed, even in school?” Konowa asked, turning back to Pimmer.
“Well, it would be highly indelicate of me to comment on-”
“Pimmer!” Konowa shouted, ramming his arm into a sleeve then pulling it back out when he realized he was putting his jacket on back to front. “The fate of the world is at stake. We don’t have time to gather more forces. If we don’t do this now there’ll be nothing but dark forest from here to the horizon and beyond.”
Pimmer moved closer, lowering his voice. “I know this, Konowa, but we’ve received word that the royal court is under siege and Her Majesty ails. The Empire is besieged within and without and the Queen wants her son and heir home where he can better attend affairs of state.”
Konowa snorted, then looked down at his uniform to make sure he didn’t get anything on it. “Let’s be honest, at least among each other. If the Queen has summoned her son home, it’s to keep him safe.”
The diplomat stood up straight and his voice took on a more commanding tone. “It wasn’t just His Royal Highness. She summoned all of us home. The Iron Elves, too.”
Some of the steam firing Konowa left him and he sat down on the bed. “What is she thinking? We need to face danger, not turn and run from it.”
“I think,” Pimmer ventured, looking toward the door as if to ensure it remained closed, “she wants to save as many as she can, including you.”
“But this will only ensure more die. No,” he said, standing up again and taking his shako from Yimt’s outstretched hand. “She is wrong, and the Prince is wrong. We are the key. We need to strike now.”
Pimmer took a moment before responding. “And you can’t be dissuaded?”
“Not as long as I’ve got breath in my lungs.”
Pimmer smiled and gave a quick salute to Yimt. Konowa looked between the two of them. “What in blazes are you two up to now?”
“As Her Majesty’s representative it was my sworn duty to make the case for returning to Calahr with all due haste per royal decree. Having made my case I can report, in due time, that it was unsuccessful. Now, we simply need to convince the Prince.”
“You couldn’t have just told me this at the start?” Konowa asked.
“That was my idea,” Yimt said, brushing away a few dust motes from Konowa’s uniform. “I told the Viceroy that after your twoday nap you’d be a bit slow off the mark unless we gave you the proper incentive. I’d say we succeeded.”
Konowa placed his shako on his head and walked to the door. He stopped with his back to Pimmer and Yimt. “Next time, you could try telling me the truth right off. I might just surprise you.” He opened the door and stepped out. As he walked away the conversation behind reached his ears.
“He seems a bit upset with us,” Pimmer said.
“Naw, he’s just temperamental. Besides, time is fleeting. Did you see how fast he got out of bed? Can’t boot an officer in the butt like you can a soldier. You have to find other ways to motivate ’em.”
Konowa kept walking, his fists clenching as he did. Yimt was right, he felt
Rallie, Visyna, and his mother materialized in front of him as if they’d been waiting there the whole time, which, he imagined, they probably had.
