Elsewhere

Claymont.

              “Two thousand!” He yelled, though he was attempting to keep his voice down. “We lost two thousand men during a surprise attack against an enemy half our size,” he continued, not truly wanting an answer.

              “Yes, but we killed far more. They are no longer strong enough to be of any concern. We would have utterly destroyed them if a Tarina had not appeared in their rear,” Captain Tramm said trying to explain.  “Travelers were involved. The Tarina appeared out of nowhere and held the road while the Massi cowards escaped to the south.”

              Hothgaard remained silent, thinking. ‘We should leave this land…the locals want it too badly. There were not enough Knights to hold it and Prince Gwaynn was learning the ways of war quickly. If the High King continued to push the issue he might just create an enemy of extreme power, someone to tear apart the very fabric of their society.’

“Any word from Speaker Nadler?” Hothgaard asked, not wanting to think about the possibility that a Tarina of Noble Island truly joined the fight against them. He turned to look at his second in command, who had yet to answer.

              Tramm blanched. He was hoping to avoid the subject of Speakers all together, but now that it was out in the open he trudged ahead. “We received word that the Massi infantry was moving out of Manse and toward Claymont, but since then nothing,” he replied. “And we lost Speaker Worlund; a group of Massi fled his way. He took an arrow in the back.”

              Hothgaard cursed. “Send out riders to the north and west. We need to find Nadler. I want to speak to the High King.”

              “And what of the Massi army?”

              “Infantry?” Hothgaard asked with disdain. He now had great respect for Massi cavalry, but no army composed of just infantry could stand against the Knights in a full blown charge. No, as long as the Massi cavalry was contained their army posed no real threat. Infantry could not move as quickly, as hard, or as long. Against cavalry they were all but helpless. They could not engage enemy cavalry at will nor could they disengage from a fight with cavalry, therefore they could not control the battlefield. In war, infantry alone was as vulnerable as a new born babe.

“They’re infantry does not concern me. If we can manage to eliminate the Massi cavalry then the infantry will be at our mercy; we can destroy them at will.”

              Tramm frowned. “Yes, but only if they leave the safety of their walls…which they foolishly have. If Prince Gwaynn is with them; if he is captured or killed, then I think the Massi threat will quickly evaporate.”

              Captain Hothgaard looked at his fellow commander as if he’d just been slapped across the face. His expression would have been comical had not the situation been so critical.

              ‘Of course! I’m a fool!’ Hothgaard thought, driving a fist into the top of his thigh. He’d been so focused on wiping out the enemy army he’d completely neglected to recognize the fact that everything hinged on the presence of their leader…the last of the Massi. Kill the young Prince and surely the heart would go out of the enemy.

              “Perhaps you should now be leading the Knights,” Hothgaard admitted with a sour grin, as only one confident in their own abilities could.

              Tramm smiled. “Perhaps,” he agreed. “Shall I send out men to scout the Massi army?”

              Hothgaard nodded. “Yes and send a detachment of a five hundred men back to the top of that high ridge,” he said pointing out the area he wanted covered. “I don’t want what’s left of the Massi cavalry surprising us from the rear.”

              “And if we catch the Massi infantry in the open?” Tramm asked.

              “Then we attack at once…before the sun sets,” Hothgaard replied, hoping they could be so lucky.

XVIII

              “My apologies M’lady, I cannot reach Captain Hothgaard,” Speaker Gan said trying to avert his eyes as the young queen pulled Prince Aiden to her breast. The boy was now old enough so that he reached out and gripped her soft flesh in his hands and thrust his eager mouth forward to cover the dark tipped, hardened nipple. Gan found himself a bit envious of the young Prince, who was now suckling with obvious pleasure. He glanced up and found the Queen’s eyes on his and he blushed despite his age.

              “I can locate Speaker Nadler,” Gan blurted quickly to cover his embarrassment, “but for some reason he refuses to answer…nothing of Speaker Worlund, he is no longer near Manse,”

              The beautiful and diminutive queen showed no sign of irritation from the Speaker’s lustful attentions. On the contrary she seemed somewhat pleased by his apparent desire, though her small smile quickly turned to a pout as she listened.

              “But I need to speak with Captain Hothgaard,” the Queen repeated, as if her very desires could control reality. With each passing day it grew more certain that Caiman was truly dead. And with the passing of Prince Nigel and his sister, it was clear that Aiden was now heir to the throne, but Audra needed to be sure where the High Captain’s loyalties resided.

              “I’m afraid that is not possible at the moment, but I will continue my attempts to contact Nadler or Worlund,” he said, carefully keeping his eyes from the queen’s bust.

              “Then get me Tar Nacht,” she finally said and Gan went pale.

              “M’lady, you must not trust Sinis,” Gan answered, abruptly.

              Queen Audra glared at him. “You forget yourself Speaker,” she said with a calm, cool voice, but there was no mistaking the danger in her words or manner.

              Gan bowed. “M’lady…I only thought to warn you of the assassins. They attacked and killed many of my colleagues…”

              “On the King’s orders,” she interrupted. “Noble is against me…I have no choice but to continue to align the King’s Island with the High Tar of Sinis. He is not a threat; he would not dare risk the wrath of the Temple Knights.”

              Gan nodded and wondered silently if what she believed was in fact, the truth. Sinis was growing bold, as anyone could see, but he yielded to her will and began to move through the motions of Speaking.

              “Then I will have Sinis momentarily,” Gan said somewhat reluctantly. “But if I could hazard one more piece of advice…” he added and received a blistering look for his trouble, but he was committed now so continued.  “Be wary of mentioning the fact that the King is missing, with the bulk of the Temple Knights in Massi, Nacht may be tempted to move against you.”

              Audra frowned. “And if he did, what would happen to him and Sinis when the Knights returned.”

              “Just be wary,” Gan pleaded. “There is no guarantee the Knights will return fast enough to save any of us.”

              The Queen considered this, decided the advice was prudent and nodded. She watched as the Speaker worked and minutes later he was talking to a Speaker on Sinis who quickly summoned the High Tar.

              “M’lady,” Nacht said softly facing the bubble of haze that hung in the center of the room.

‘The rumors must be true then, the High King is dead.’ The High Tar’s stomach did a quick lurch at the possibility. The entire kingdom was now ripe for the taking. “How can I assist you?”

              “The Cassinni have betrayed us,” Audra said, the High Tar’s helpful demeanor making her feel more confident. “They’ll have to pay.”

              Nacht smiled. The rumors were indeed true.

              “It can be arranged,” he answered quickly though he wondered just who he would send. They’d already lost Lacombe and he had Giodart, Rhinehold, Badawi, Sened and de Croix in Massi with King Weldon Palmerrio, and now that de Baard was with the enemy, his list of Tars was growing thin. Of course there were still over two dozen available Executioners, though many were otherwise occupied. He currently had three in the conquered lands of the Toranado, two in Palmerrio, one with King Donnis Rhondono and two in Deutzani, plus