kitchen. He stopped short, staring at the table which was laden with an enormous variety of food. Samantha and N’dori were sitting and apparently nibbling at the offerings while Cobb stood over the stove, cooking eggs and pan fried potatoes.
“Good morning King Gwaynn Massi,” N’dori said with a smile and a gesture for him to sit, He did so and immediately began to eat.
“King Gwaynn?” He asked, knowing that his claim to the throne should not be recognized by those of Noble Island. The rulers of the families ascended only through the blessing of the High King and no one in Massi believed that Mastoc would give such a blessing to Gwaynn any time soon.
N’dori nodded. “Noble Island has chosen a King or two throughout the years,” she said with a nod, “including Mastoc’s line so many centuries ago.”
“And the High Tar of Noble?”
“Tarina…” N’dori corrected. “High Tarina Nystrom. She’s a supporter of yours,” the Solitary added.
“What of Ethelridge?”
N’dori scoffed. “She no longer holds sway over the Council…she gambled and lost on the strength of her sophistry. When Kostek decided to step down as High Tar and join your cause, it gave the Council pause. When the rest of us decided likewise it was enough of a threat to the Noble way of life that they amended their ways and elected Tarina Nystrom. She leads the Council now. She’s gritty and tough…you’ll like her,” N’dori added.
Gwaynn nodded but did not say anything, he just sat and ate for a bit. He ate a variety of meats, nuts, fruits and cheeses, plus nearly a half dozen eggs and a huge plateful of potatoes, his enormous appetite amusing Cobb to no end.
“More my King,” the simple man said with a laugh. “Eat more. You’re hungrier than Samantha was that time we…”
“Cobb!” Samantha yelled. Cobb immediately turned back to the stove, clearly mortified by his mistake.
Gwaynn, however, only smiled. “Perhaps I should starve you more,” he whispered to her under his breath and Samantha threw a piece of cheese at him.
“No need,” she whispered back and stuck out her tongue.
N’dori watched the exchange of the two young people with obvious pleasure but they all soon settled down to the act of eating with Cobb finally joining them. Even so Gwaynn continued to wolf down food for a good ten minutes after everyone else had pushed back from the table.
“Can you Travel?” Gwaynn asked, choosing to ignore the prospect of becoming High King.
The Solitary nodded. “As can you,” she answered. “Your speed and control were simply amazing,” she added. “You are everything Tar Nev claimed, but I was still…”
Suddenly both she and Gwaynn sensed a presence in the room but it was several seconds before a small shimmering appeared and a moment later a light and silvery mist drifted softly about in the middle of the room.
“Tarina re N’dori,” a soft voice said through the haze.
“I’m here,” N’dori answered using her ability to stabilize the connection.
“Tarina, have you made contact with Gwaynn?” The voice asked and Gwaynn recognized it as na Gall’s.
N’dori smiled. “I’m with him now.”
“My King,” the voice of Lonogan Bock said, clear and powerful now that the Speaker Bridge was fully formed. “I’ve sent Gaston and the cavalry ahead, but they will not arrive in Manse until early tomorrow.”
Gwaynn nodded, happy with the decision, though his General could not see the gesture.
“And the army?’ Gwaynn asked.
“Three days, maybe four,” Bock answered to Gwaynn’s surprise.
“Why so long?”
“We’ve just under a thousand prisoners,” explained Bock, “including King Weldon Palmerrio.”
“Do the Palmerrio soldiers pose a threat to the army?”
“No…they’re demoralized and many are wounded,” Bock answered with pride. “The victory was near total, thanks to Captain Gaston.”
“Then let the Palmerrio soldiers go,” Gwaynn answered immediately and N’dori raised her eyebrows. There was a discernable pause from the Speaker Bridge.
“Release them?” Bock asked, his voice betraying his confusion, if anything he expected Gwaynn to order their executions, something Bock did not relish.
“Yes, order them back through the Aleria Pass,” Gwaynn explained. “If they fail to comply execute their King.”
Samantha gasped and there was another pause from the Bridge. N’dori just chuckled softly.
“Prince Phillip may not like the strategy,” Bock replied and Gwaynn could hear the smile in his voice.
“Of course to continue to guarantee the safety of their King, the Palmerrio will have to vacate the Toranado Capital and homeland,” Gwaynn stated.
“Very well,” Bock said.
“Traveler na Gall,” Gwaynn continued. “How many troops could you and Zarina Monde move to Manse within the hour?”
Again there was a pause. “With proper preparation…several hundred…perhaps as many as a thousand if they’re quick.”
“See to it. General, give control of the army to Captain Brandt and move to Manse with the others…I will meet you there later today.”
“M’lord…Brandt is dead,” Bock answered, “killed by an Executioner.”
Now it was Gwaynn’s turn to pause. “Did he ever know about Cyndar?”
“No,” Bock replied.
“Just as well,” Samantha breathed softly.
“I’m sorry for the loss,” Gwaynn added. “He was a mighty fighter, a mighty friend. Any other prospects? We’re getting low on Captains again.”
“Marcum is here,” Bock replied. “He rode in with Gaston. I’ll give him control of the army…he’s a foot soldier at heart in any case.”
“Lynndon?” Gwaynn asked suddenly concerned.
“Sergeant Birdsong is more than capable according to Captain Marcum,” Bock answered. “And you know Marcum; he doesn’t throw praise around lightly.”
“Very well contact Captain Birdsong and let him know of his promotion,” Gwaynn replied finally satisfied. “See you this afternoon.”
?
“We should land midway up the finger in two days,” High King Mastoc said once the bubble was solid, “but it will take another four days to move down to your position. Proceed at your own discretion.”
“And what of King Weldon?” Captain Hothgaard inquired. “Have you made contact with him since he engaged the Massi army?”
“There’s been no contact,” the High King’s voice came back. “But that is irrelevant to what we are planning.”
“I have over ten thousand Rhondono troops now under my command,” the High King said with confidence. “We’ll join forces and smash the Massi once and for all.”
“As you say, M’lord,” Hothgaard answered…deciding then and there to delay any further attempts to take Manse. He would wait until the High King and the Rhondono arrived. As far as he was concerned his main
