“As I say, Your Highness, Slithzalien has told me himself that the armor is impenetrable,” Salkar said. “It is made in the same fashion as General Soren's armor. It is the strongest in all the land.”
Oxen could feel his jaw tightening. “You have heard if from the mouth of Slithzalien himself? When he is in the far north with his forces?”
“He has written to me on the matter,” said Salkar. “My master would not give you ill-suited armor. Just as General Soren is his champion in the north you are his champion in the south. He sings nothing but your praises.”
“What will happen when the war begins?” said Oxen. “Not the war here in Ganwin, but Slithzalien's war. What will become of you and I? Will I retain my throne?” If the answer is nay, then I will drive a sword through your master myself and be done with it.
The royal priest seemed to be fidgeting and Oxen thought that the notion had crossed his mind as well and troubled him. “There is to be another war, yes. As for the outcome it is hard to say. Neither Slithzalien nor Bolsee have ever succeeded. The first Dark Lord, Bolsee was struck down by Erdwick as you know. And the second Dark Lord has not yet waged his war and in that we should count him wise, for he sees many things that we do not. If and when he wins this war, he shall be the supreme lord over all who live.”
“Over all who live?” echoed the king. “That includes those in the Forgotten Isles, those in Condeth Rahal? Those in his old Realm?”
“After Eclestia falls, so too will Condeth Rahal and the Forgotten Isles. And as for the Dark Realm, not a soul remains there unless I am mistaken. That was the land of Bolsee.”
“I do not know how easily Condeth Rahal will fall,” replied the king. “They are a strong nation, vaster than ours. For every king of ours they have two and the High King as well. Slithzalien as of yet has no claim on that land. The east is out of his reach.”
“That may be,” said Salkar,” but there are other matters which you have not considered. Condeth Rahal does not know of its danger as Eclestia does. That is my master's secret weapon against them. He will strike at them unawares and they will fall, to be sure.”
“Do not think the people of Condeth Rahal are so blind,” said the king. “They remember their old enemy well. All too well do they know the sorrows of war and the shadow that rides at your master's feet. They will not suffer another attack upon their shores. They will be ready this time. A fire will be in their hearts, a fire that has burned through the ages and every man, woman, and child will have a sword, spear or axe in hand. They will rush the shores and slaughter every last one of the beings of darkness and kill Slithzalien once and for all and end his line. Do not count on their folly; count only on their resistance.”
“That may be so,” replied Salkar Stadeus. “And now there is one final matter to discuss, one that does not have to do with the east or the future, but with the here and now in our town. We must prepare for war. The war with the rebels and the war with Ing Roan who will be here in short time. We must have a guard posted at the south gate for his arrival. He may have the mountain people with him. But we cannot guarantee it and we will need the rest of our guards here guarding the palace to keep you safe. Those that we can spare I will send out north and watch for signs of his coming. I will send Horace Horn among the ranks with Jinse Fey. I do not trust Horace guarding the castle and I do not trust him on his own so Jinse will watch over him.”
“That may be wise to send Jinse off with Horace,” said the king. “But we may want more than one guard on the gate if Ing comes this way with the mountain people alongside him. One person will not be able to hold the gate and we have more to spare. Our numbers are not so few, royal priest. Hilt Crossbar, Deek Nend, Wey Clerk, and Desmile Mills will stay with me in the palace and watch over my room at night. I trust them above all else as they came with me on my journey from the north. I also trust their blades as I have seen them used in the wars with the Hector LaBelle II and his garrisons.”
Chapter 19: Return Home
“They have spoken with the Lady of the Lake,” said the cloaked figure. Behind the darkness of his cloak his eyes peered out looking into the horizon. “They are now returning to Ganwin. Everything is going according to plan.”
“Do you suppose he will take control of Bolsee’s Rod?” asked the Illusionist at his side.
“I do not think so,” replied the cloaked figure. “Regardless, I will be the one to use the Rod’s power. Hector LaBelle III does not know how to properly use it. The Rod answers to one and one alone and that is I. In the hands of another it would be no more use to them than a wooden staff. All of its powers would remain hidden to that person. And the Rod is still separated into two pieces, struck asunder from its
