«That you should attack.»
The King smiled. «The Rover mercenaries have all pulled out, the whole bunch of them. Boarded their airships and flown off. They're on their way home, back to the coast, off the Prekkendorran. We've confirmed it. This isn't a stunt. Either they've quit or they've been dismissed, but either way, they're gone. The best pilots, the best craft, the best of everything, gone. The Federation is on its own.»
Pied nodded. «Any idea as to why this happened? Have we heard of a rift between the Federation and the Rovers? Anything out of the ordinary, I mean. Now and then, some of them quit anyway. But not all of them at once. Why now?»
«You're suspicious?»
«Aren't you?»
The King laughed. «No, cousin. You're suspicious enough for both of us. You always have been. It's worrisome.»
Kellen Elessedil was not one to sit when he could move, rest when he could work. He was a big man, taller than Pied and broader through the shoulders. There was nothing soft about him, his muscular body hardened by hours of exercise and training, his devotion to physical perfection legendary. He was so different from his grandfather and father in this respect that it was hard to believe they had come out of the same family. When they were children playing together at Arborlon, Kellen had always been better at every sport, every game. The only way to beat him, Pied had discovered early on, was to out–think him.
Nothing had changed.
«Part of my role as your protector is to suspect everything and everyone of being something other than what appearances suggest. So, yes, I am suspicious of this Rover withdrawal. I am suspicious of the Federation leaving itself so obviously vulnerable, of inviting us into its lair like the spider does the fly.»
«They still have their armies, and their armies are formidable,' the King pointed out quickly. He pushed back his long dark hair and knotted his hands. «They may think these are enough to keep us at bay. They know we would never launch a frontal attack against their lines, because if we did, they would smash us to pieces.» He paused. «Which is why an aerial attack is so perfect. Look at the opportunity they've given us! Their fleet is big, but unwieldy. Their airship Captains are no match for ours. One quick strike and we can set fire to them all. Think of what that would mean!»
Pied shook his head. «I know what it would mean.»
«Complete and unchallenged superiority of the skies,' the King continued, so caught up in his vision that he was no longer even listening to his cousin. «Control of everything that flies. Once we have that, their ground forces no longer matter. We can ravage them at will, from too far up for them to do any real damage, from too far away for them to do anything but cover up. We can break them, Pied! I know we can!»
His face was flushed with excitement, his blue eyes bright and eager. Pied had seen him that way before. When they trained together with staffs and swords in hand–to–hand combat, it was the look he assumed when he believed he had gained the upper hand. What he had never learned was to distinguish the difference between when Pied really was in trouble and when he was only pretending at it in order to lure Kellen into making a mistake.
Nothing had changed about that, either.
Pied nodded agreeably, hiding his frustration. «You may be right. But just to be certain about all of this, I have sent two of my Home Guards into the Federation camp to see what they can learn. I would like to wait for their return before we act.»
The King frowned. «How long might that be?»
«Today, I should think. Tomorrow, at the latest.»
Kellen shook his head. «Today, perhaps. Tomorrow, no. That's too long. By then, reserves might be called up and the odds made too great for us to chance a strike. The time to act is now, while the Federation fleet is diminished, while we are clearly superior in numbers and experience. Waiting is dangerous.»
«Acting out of haste is more dangerous still.» Pied stepped in with both feet, his eyes locked on his cousin's, watching as the other's face darkened angrily. «I know you want to attack now, but something about all this doesn't feel right. Better to wait and chance losing this opportunity than to seize it and find we have been tricked.»
«Tricked how, Captain?» His cousin's tone of voice had turned dark and accusatory. «What exactly is it you fear?»
Pied shook his head. «You know I don't have an answer for that. I don't know enough about what the Federation's intentions might be. Which is why I want to wait—'
«No.»
'—until we have a report—'
«No, cousin! No! There will be no waiting, no hesitation, no second–guessing what seems clear to everyone but you. None of my other advisers, commanders on the field and off, has voiced your concerns. Suppose you are correct. Suppose this is a trap. What risk do we take? We fly superior airships. We can outrun and outmaneuver our enemies at will. We cannot be hurt from the ground. At worst, we will find we were mistaken about the size of their fleet and be forced to retreat. We have done so before, and it has cost us nothing. Why would this time be any different?»
Because this time you are beinginvitedto act against them, Pied wanted to say, but did not. He knew the argument was over and the matter settled. Kellen Elessedil was King of the Elves, and the King had the final word on everything.
«Cousin,' the other soothed, stepping over to put his arm about him, «we have been friends a long time. I respect your opinion, which is why I asked you to come speak with me before 1 gave the command to proceed. I knew what you would say, but I wanted you to say it. I wanted you to question me, because frequently you are the only one who will. A King needs candid and reasoned advice from his advisers, and in most matters, no one gives better advice than you.»
He gave Pied a small squeeze with his powerful arm. «That said, a King must listen to what his instincts tell him. He must not waver once his mind is made up. You know this.»
He waited for Pied's response, so it was necessary to give it. «I know, my lord.»
«I have made a commitment to turn the tide of this war once and for all, and now, at last, I have a way to do so. It would be cowardly of me to turn away a chance such as this merely because there are risks. It would be unforgivable.»
«I know that, as well.»
«Will you still come with me when we fly into battle?» The King stepped away, releasing his grip. «I won't ask it of you if you feel strongly about not going. Nor will I think less of you.»
Pied arched one eyebrow at his cousin. «I am Captain of the Home Guard, my lord. Where you go, I must go, as well. That isn't open to debate. Don't make it seem as if it is.»
The King's intense, considering gaze locked on him. «No, cousin, I guess it isn't. Not with someone as dedicated as you. And I wouldn't want it any other way.» He paused. «I'll give this matter several hours more thought before acting. I had planned a late afternoon strike in any case, so that we can come at them from out of the twilight, out of the shadows. You may keep watch for your scouts until then. If they return in time, bring me whatever news you think matters. I promise I will listen. But if none comes, I will see you on the plains an hour before dusk.»
Pied turned and started for the door. «One thing more,' the King called after him. Pied turned. «I intend to take Kiris and Wencling with me.» He must have seen the confusion in Pied's eyes. «Aboard the flagship, cousin. I want them to watch.»
Pied stared. Kellen Elessedil was talking about his sons. About boys who were fifteen and thirteen. About taking them into the heart of an engagement with a dangerous enemy. «No,' he said at once, before he could think better of it.
The King seemed unruffled. «They need to see what a battle is like, to understand what happens. They need to experience it for themselves, not just hear about it. They are future Kings, and this is a part of their training.»
«They are too young for this, my lord. There will be other times, safer times, when the risk is not so great.»
«The risk is always great in war, cousin,' the King said, brushing his arguments aside.
