Leon was nodding thoughtfully on the other side of the table, agreeing with Khollo’s analysis of the situation. Janis was frowning in concentration, lips moving soundlessly. Khollo suspected that the lord of the West Bank was moving through the problem a little more slowly. Relam on the other hand seemed to have grasped the import of Khollo’s assertions immediately.
“So, you are saying the vertaga have been there a long time,” the young king continued slowly. “And we know there was a city in the Fells long ago – ”
“ – and that vertaga need shelter and protection just as much as we do,” Khollo added.
“And it makes sense that this could be their stronghold,” Relam finished. “Yes, I think that makes perfect sense. Any objections or counterarguments?”
“Yes, I object!” a minor lord shouted. “This is insanity! We can’t go marching into the Fells.”
“What choice do we have?” a soldier standing near the door shouted back. “You would rather let the vertaga dictate this war? Let them run amok across the kingdom? I say we put an end to this!”
“And are you willing to accept that the end you get might be the destruction of our army and the fall of the Sthan kingdom? Of the world of men?” Garenes said grimly, staring at Khollo.
“It will not be the end of the world of men,” Relam put in.
“And how can you know that?”
Relam exchanged a glance with Khollo. “Because the Keepers have returned,” he said finally.
“What nonsense is this?” a major lord growled.
“Hundreds and hundreds of years ago, the Keepers vowed to protect and preserve, to intervene in times of war and restore peace to the world,” Relam explained. “The Order was composed of dragons and men, inexplicably bonded. For hundreds of years they were successful before the Order fell. And now it is rising again, beginning with Khollo and the dragon Kanin.”
“You can’t raise a new Order out of one dragon!” a man said derisively.
“We know where to find more,” Khollo said confidently, even though this was a massive stretch of the truth. He and Kanin had suspicions certainly. In the vertaga stronghold, for instance, or in the northern mountains. But there was nothing concrete.
“Even still . . . we only have one dragon now. How is that going to be enough to defeat the vertaga?”
“Are you blind or stupid?” a general replied heatedly. “You’ve been riding at the head of an army thousands strong for days! Or have you somehow managed to overlook that minor detail?”
“And the vertaga have already lost many in this fight,” Khollo broke in again. “They have died in droves at Ishkabur and here at the West Bank.”
“But how many are there?” another lord dithered. “Without knowledge of what we are facing – ”
“If the vertaga had superior numbers to ours, they would not waste time sending a couple thousand to the West Bank,” Relam replied curtly. “They would have simply wiped Lord Kurkan’s forces out.” He glanced apologetically at Janis. “That’s not a knock against you, Janis, it’s a fact.”
“I agree,” Janis said quickly. “Frankly, I’m surprised they didn’t just hit us with everything.”
“They were trying for stealth at the time,” Khollo reminded them. “Which would also indicate that they might not be so numerous after all.”
“We have more than six thousand foot, seven hundred cavalry and some heavy equipment with us,” Relam said, looking around the room. “That should be plenty to take on whatever the vertaga have.”
And one dragon, Kanin said to Khollo.
“You can also have a hundred or so from our garrison here,” Janis said to Relam. “And we can write to Ishkabur. If they have broken the siege, perhaps their soldiers can join us as well.”
“That would be a potent force,” a soldier leaning against the wall observed. “I’d pit seven thousand of our men against the Fells any day.”
“I still don’t like it,” one of the major lords muttered. “We’re assuming an awful lot, and risking even more!”
“But we are agreed? We will move forward and march on the Fells?” Relam asked, looking at the major lords.
The lord of the red boar nodded slowly. “I will support you.”
“And I,” said a man with a silver stag on his breastplate.
“And I as well,” agreed a lord with a blue lion on his chest.
All eyes turned to the lord of the green hawk. He swallowed nervously, looking around at the others.
“This . . . this is utter folly,” he whispered hoarsely.
His assessment was met with silence. Finally, Relam leaned forward.
“Will you join us?”
Garenes licked his dry lips, looking up at the ceiling, calculating.
He’s not going to agree, Khollo thought grimly. He’s going to refuse to fight.
The last major lord glared at Relam. “I will follow, but only because I see you will not be deterred, no matter my decision.”
Khollo let out a small sigh of relief, glancing over at Relam. The young king’s eyes were glinting with anticipation as he looked around the crowded council room.
“Good,” Relam said finally, leaning back. “You have three days, my lords. On the fourth, we march for the Fells and Dun Carryl.”
Chapter 53
Khollo looked down at the assembled army, standing on the flatlands just south of the West Bank. The multitude of tents that had dotted the landscape were gone, replaced by foot soldiers and cavalry standing ready in strict formation. Wagons pulled by horses and oxen were safe in the middle of the army, along with the precious pieces of siege engines that they carried. Banners flew all across the army at regular intervals, the hawk, boar, stag, and lion chief among them.
Impressive, Kanin observed as he swooped low
