“
We are with you, none of us would want to miss out on such an opportunity.”
“
Good then it is settled, you must all prepare for a long journey. I have decided that we will travel by land. I will not be teleporting us there as we will attend to other matters in our travels.”
Night looked at him and she felt a pang of nervousness, she knew that would mean traveling through her homelands. Wollfen looked and gave her a comforting smile, they would get to discuss it before leaving.
“
Alright people I will leave you to go discuss my plans with the military commander. You are free for the day to check the city out if that is of interest to you?”
Wollfen got up and Dark came to him.
“
I think I’ll take Night out and have a bit of a wander. Will you be busy all day?”
“
I may be free after lunch, I will let you know via mind touch.” Dark nodded.
“
Sounds good, we shall catch-up later.”
She gave him a kiss and left with Night.
Wollfen approached an attendant and asked to see Prince Fitzgerald. He then sat back down and waited. From time to time he picked at the remains of the food. Within minutes an adjutant to the Prince arrived.
“
The Prince is happy to see you immediately my lord.”
Wollfen requested the man lead the way. When they got to the main door to the Supreme Commanders office the adjutant signaled for Wollfen to enter. He went in and found Fitzgerald standing at his window looking out. He turned and greeted Wollfen.
“
Please take a seat.” The Prince too took his seat opposite Wollfen, “I have been going over the reports from Port Volarus. They are quite detailed and give high praise to a number of your lieutenants that were stationed there for awhile in helping with the establishment of a competent ground force.”
Wollfen nodded in acknowledgment,
“
You also had a hand in the training of this Kane who is in charge of the eastern force?”
“
Yes he is a protege of mine. He has had the least amount of direction since I was captured and taken to Isogorr.”
The Prince was taking a more than passing interest in Wollfen and he wondered what his intentions were. The prince turned to him and got to the point.
“
You may well be wondering why I have asked you all these questions and I will tell you. The simple fact is we don’t have enough experienced officers in the Kingdom army. I have plenty that will obey orders and fulfill them to the letter but a true leader? What I need more of is people who can operate with more autonomy, a certain number I can simply set forth and know that whatever actions they take will be to benefit the main campaign. Do you understand what I am getting at?”
“
Perfectly, you see me not necessarily as one of those leaders but at the very least a teacher of that type.” The prince nodded and went on.
“
Exactly, I have many officers and some lower ranking men who saw battle twenty years ago when they were young foot soldiers but none that experienced the campaign as an officer and having an appreciation of what is expected.
You on the other hand fought as a soldier but even then in those early days showed decisiveness and ingenuity. In leading those men in that battle where you saved two hundred men, not only did you do that, you also had a mind to fight on and change the course of the larger battle being fought. I want you to teach that same ability to some of my men.”
The Prince looked on waiting for Wollfen’s answer, he had laid his cards on the table and hoped it would pay off.
Wollfen sighed,
“
I’m afraid it isn’t that simple, it’s not something that can be taught. What you have to do is identify those special qualities within the person first. Then once you know you have the right person it is a matter of teaching them the ways and getting practice, a lot of it. You don’t have that luxury here.”
The Prince looked a little deflated.
“
Mm, I was hoping you had something I couldn’t think of.” The prince paused and considered his next words carefully, “The reason I tell you this and I have to say to you, what I tell you now doesn’t leave this room okay?” Wollfen agreed, “Kassandrea is in dire straights. Without some major victory out there beyond the walls sometime soon or if some relief army is able to march and help rout the enemy, this city will fall in five months. We have only enough rations to last us that long.”
Wollfen felt a little guilty about having had such a hearty breakfast. If he had known he would not have filled himself so.
“
How is this possible? The food reserves here should see you through a year at least.” The prince shrugged.
“
I arrived here just before the siege started and wasn’t informed of what supplies were within the walls when we were cut off. That only became apparent a few weeks later once I had started organizing the total mobilization of the civilian population onto a war footing. It seems my father was rather slack in dealing with the needs of the city, preferring to squander its riches on his own particular interests. Do you know even now he has a chateau being built up in the mountains to supplement his quarters in Hiddensound? Sometimes he disgusts me!”
The Prince spat. Wollfen was calculating quickly.
“
That means you food runs out a month after spring thaw,” The Prince agreed.
“
We won’t even be able to sneak any amounts in as the volumes one would be talking about are huge for a population of eighty five thousand.” The Prince continued on, “There is plenty of food to be found, but breaking the siege is what is needed to get it through. We have Oceania but only an army big enough to defend the small city. There is Gevalia in the north too, a larger number of men but the orcs are stirring for some reason. I can’t afford to deplete the reserves there for fear of losing the city to the orcs. The same is true of the northeast along the borders of the old nightclan territories. I have spent the last five years in the garrisons there and the orcs have been getting bolder. It’s almost as if they are expecting something to happen and they are preparing.”
It was disturbing news, the orcs were huge in numbers and could influence the course of the war if somehow they organized. Wollfen would have dismissed that notion only a few years ago. Orcs were one step above animals. They paid homage to no one and no superior. They were like ants in a nest with no queen, just doing their own thing. But now, only a week ago they had already faced off an organized attack on their cave and this talk of orcs banding together was serious indeed.
“
Tell me Prince, you have been dealing with orcs for quite awhile on a regular basis. Do you think they are operating under orders?” The Prince shook his head.
“
No I wouldn’t go that far. I would say it’s more like they all have an urge to move south. There isn’t any organization to what they are doing. They just seem to be driven to get somewhere.”
He contemplated the Prince’s words. Driven or urged, but to what end and to where? Maybe the elves would have some answers. The more he thought about it the more he felt they would be of importance.
“
My Prince, I intend to journey to the Elven lands starting tomorrow. I know the elves and even count some as my friends. I will put your case before the Elven King on your behalf if you wish.”
The Prince looked astonished.
“
Do you think they would help?”
“
I cannot be sure, but I know of elven custom and while I won’t go into it, I am sure I can influence them into thinking they have a responsibility here. They have their own army that is second to none and even if they only send a small contingent, it could be all that you need to tip the balance.”
Prince Fitzgerald felt real hope shine again.
“
I will write a letter for you to present to the King on the behalf of the Kingdom, will that help?”
Wollfen agreed it would be a good idea. There was no telling what would tip the elves in their favor. The prince addressed Wollfen in a formal tone.
“
Thank you for the efforts you are making. I understand that since you are not in the formal service of our King, this really is a personal choice isn’t it?” Wollfen smiled at that.
“
Well, less choice than you would imagine I’m afraid, but thank you for your kind words, they are much appreciated. Also, would it be possible if records of our meetings and my efforts were not made? I like my anonymity and when this war is over I would like to return to it.”
The Prince paused in thought then nodded.
“
Very well, that is not a big ask.”
He found it a curious request. What man didn’t want his exploits recorded for the history books? The Prince brought up his own request.
“
Would you accompany me to a tour of the wall? I like to personally check on the enemy each day and see if anything has changed for myself.”
Wollfen agreed, he wanted to see the enemy formations in clear daylight. The Prince ordered an adjutant to ready a couple of horses. They then arose and made their way down to the courtyard.
At the wall the two of them looked out onto the panorama before them. For as far as the eye could see there were tents in the distance. At the front of the Isogorrean lines was the earthen embankments they had built up against counter attack, they were about four hundred yards off out of range of even the biggest of the Kassandrean catapults and there was nothing to be seen in the open space between that and Kassandrea’s walls. Wollfen looked down off the edge. They were a hundred feet in the air here and it was quite obvious the Isogorreans would not be making any conquests over them.
He could not tell which tent they had come from, it was probably too distant from here anyway. He wondered what would become of the subdued sorcs once it was discovered that they no longer had any powers? Other sorcs in the group would probably step forward and hide the fact. He hoped they wouldn’t be disposed of. He was well aware of their harsh ideals. The prince spoke up,
“
As you can see, their army controls all the lands in every direction, we have managed from time to time to get word out at night but apart from that, nothing. In a few months we have another fifteen thousand of them to look forward to according to what you tell us.”
He looked grim watching out over that parapet. There was no easy answer to what lay before them.
Prince Fitzgerald got a little philosophical.
“
It's strange isn’t it?” Wollfen turned to him, “Here we are fighting for our lives, defending to the death all that we have and even now we have no idea of why they are here. I mean, why spend so much in resources to sack this city? What do they hope to acquire? Maybe if we bleed them enough on the battlefield they will give up and go home.”
Wollfen realized all of a sudden he hadn’t explained how desperately the Isogorreans wanted to get in here.
“
I may be able to shed some light on that. It seems the King of Isogorr has got it into his head there is wealth beyond imagining within these walls. They have every intention of grabbing it.” The Prince thought about that a bit.
“
Well then it is more true. We bleed them heavily enough then they will give up knowing the prize is too expensive.”
Wollfen sighed and the Prince turned to him,
“
You know something I don’t, don’t you Wollfen?”
He was reluctant to tell the truth, it simply wouldn’t make sense to the Prince. He would have to tell some of it though.
“
The sorcs across the way believe that a terrible power is buried deep below Kassandrea. They want to release it you see. There is a staircase somewhere buried that leads deep into the earth and at the bottom of that staircase lies their prize.” Wollfen looked him directly in the eye, “I know for a fact; they will not stop and never give up until they get in there. They will expend whatever it takes to make it happen.”
“
Do we know it is there? And if so, what do they intend to do with it?”
Wollfen went on.
“
I have searched deep below here with my mind and yes a power does exist. But beyond that I cannot tell you anything more, it’s all I have.”
Wollfen wasn’t going to say any more. He had said enough already. The prince looked back out at the enemy encampment now. This put a different spin on everything. This was an all or nothing battle he realized, no quarter would be given. He turned back to Wollfen.
“
You have given me much to think about and it will affect our preparations for the spring. Thank you Wollfen for what information you have been able to give me, it has proven to be invaluable.”
“
I am happy to be of service your highness.” Wollfen began thinking of other things, “I believe that will conclude these matters for now?”
The Prince considered his question, he couldn’t think of anything else that had to be addressed.