Bloodstone - Power of Youth (Book 3) (15 page)

“We’re linked, remember?”

“Oh, that!” Sallia pursed her lips as the little spat played out to Shiro and her.

“Listen. Anchor and I are headed for Learsea and will help the King of Learsea command his land forces. We will coordinate our maneuvers through the stones,” Shiro said. “We can meet again tomorrow night at this time and talk about strategy.”

Princess Sallia nodded and wanted others to know about this exciting development. “I will include the Duke.”

“What about Armand?” Restella said.

“Armand? You mean Lessa?” Lotto said. She heard jealousy? Perhaps their linking hadn’t settled down the rivalry Lotto had told her about.

“I did. Armand.” Restella said, defiantly. Definitely not, Sallia thought.

“I will teleport to Happly and bring Lessa to Crackledown in time to include him,” Shiro said.

“Good,” Lotto said. “It’s time we put an end to this war. You’ll have to teach me how to teleport.”

Sallia wanted to teleport to see Anchor once again, too, but sensed it was a magical talent. Thankfully, the Bloodstone didn’t need magical talent to listen to the conversations.  Shiro and Lotto carried on a bit more, but Sallia had heard enough.

Shiro and Sallia put their stones away. The shock of their impromptu meeting took her breath away. She led them to the dining room. The meal hadn’t quite started. Lotto and Restella had bickered together like a married couple. She recalled how her parents would do much the same in private. She had an interest in Lotto after their trip to Crackledown and now she would have to adjust her thinking about him. The notion set her adrift a bit. She felt disoriented.

Sallia couldn’t get the conversation out of her mind. Her fellow stone-holders were active in defending Besseth and she stood by and watched. She didn’t want to feel useless, but what else could she do? Unca would have been able to help her through all of these changes. She looked forward to his help when she regained the throne.

She had spent too much time thinking of herself before she had to flee. Now she’d have to concentrate on Duke Jellas’s actions and begin to train herself to rule. The thought both excited and frightened. Anchor had risen quickly to prominence. She remembered the words of her letter to him and recalled how broken he appeared in the Everwet inn. If he could rise to the challenges of these awful times, then so could she. She needed Unca for advice and Anchor for inspiration, but most of all she needed to emerge from her exile as a queen worthy of them both.

~~~

Chapter Seventeen

~

A
nchor looked on with the rest of the Gensler rankers
and officers at the Ropponi drilling in the main yard of South Keep. Their style of fighting reflected their foreign origins. Shiro hadn’t returned, yet Tishiaki, Shiro’s military expert didn’t seem to mind.

“He’s been gone before. I don’t worry until he returns beaten up or having just escaped from an enemy.”

“So he’s not just a wizard?”

Tishiaki shook his head. Anchor estimated that the man wasn’t nearly as old as Unca. His hair was laced with gray and lines crinkled around his eyes as he smiled.  He moved oddly. Perhaps he nursed an old battle injury. “His father taught him sophisticated sword forms from the Imperial Guard. Shiro is as competent a swordsman as there is.”

“Humble?”

“Very. Smart and resourceful. He once escaped from a prison island, the only one likely to have ever done so. We all follow him because he is better than us all.”

The loyalty of the Red Roses impressed Anchor. He would have to spar with the Ropponi leader. Perhaps he could learn something about how Ropponi fight, about Shiro and about his own progress. Anchor had long realized that you could only be as good as your sparring partners as you learn. Well, maybe a little more speed, agility and strength would help. He smiled at the thought as he continued to watch the Ropponis. They seemed to do everything in unison.

“When do your troops train?” Tishiaki said. “We can leave the field at any time.”

“I think my men would rather watch yours train.” Both men laughed. “We work in smaller groups at various times during the day. I spar with the men at random times.”

“You train with your men?”

Anchor smiled. “I arrived here months ago, wounded in an attempt to save a lady from abduction. I gave my opponents my best at the time and it, quite frankly, didn’t even reach mediocre. I vowed to eliminate my lack of ability and did so. We had to put down our own little revolt in the keep aided by an invading company of Happly soldiers. I’m afraid I haven’t found a solution to a crossbow bolt to the back. Perhaps we might practice together? I’m unfamiliar with your fighting style.”

“I’m an older man,” Tishiaki said. “I would join you, only to respect your offer. I nurse an old battle injury, however.” Tishiaki put his hand to his chin and looked Anchor over. “Shiro would teach you a lot, I would think.”

If Tishiaki only knew how old Anchor was. “Shiro wouldn’t use magic?”

The commander shook his head and rubbed his chin. “It isn’t honorable for sparring unless both parties use it. The Ropponi use spells and by the time you think of a spell, your opponent has embedded his blade in your body.” He laughed. Because of Tishiaki’s evasion, Anchor didn’t entirely believe that no magic was used in a battle.

~

The door to the map room flew open as Morio and his men filled the room. Shiro and Chika followed. Anchor put a slip of parchment between pages to hold his place after reviewing another historical battle that he followed on a detailed map.

“My father and Princess Sallia send you their greetings.” Morio tossed two sealed letters on the map table. “We will be off for Crackledown as soon as we grab some supplies and get our horses saddled.” Morio held out his hand and Anchor took it. “You’ll have effective control all of the border keeps in the south, should you need it. Colonel Hesting should be here soon to take your place at South Keep and will coordinate efforts between Learsea and Crackledown. Father actually needs me at Crackledown to liase with Valetan and Prolan forces as they travel through Gensler south. Shiro’s stone communicates with Princess Sallia’s Bloodstone and Lotto,” Morio laughed. “Lotto doesn’t even need the Moonstone to join in, Shiro says.” He shook his head in wonder.

After all of this time, the Warstones still worked!  Three of them together after many centuries. The wizard in Anchor exulted. The soldier in Anchor only hoped that Daryaku wouldn’t have heard anything with the Darkstone. This teleportation technique of the Ropponi would serve well enough to keep the Dakkoran emperor out of their communications. He’d talk to Shiro about this later.

“So how much longer do we have the pleasure of your company?” Anchor said.

“We’ll be leaving tomorrow morning at first light. Inspecting the border keeps makes a man thirsty.”

“Man?” Chika said.

Anchor smiled along with Shiro. She must be a handful for Shiro, his new partner. But he guessed she was right. Shiro wouldn’t suffer a foolish woman. It didn’t seem like him.

“Very well, then. Lord Morio, you have my permission to leave,” Anchor said and gave Morio a Bessethian bow, while Shiro presented Morio with the jerkier Ropponi bow. At least that’s what Anchor surmised. He had a whole new culture to learn from his Ropponi friends.

After Morio’s men left, Shiro looked down at the letters. “You might want to read those. We will leave you.”

“Give me a few minutes to read them in my office, and then we can talk. Chika, Tishiaki and you?”

Shiro bowed and nudged Chika to do the same.

Anchor picked up the letters, one from Sallia and a thicker missive from the duke. He tapped them on his mouth as he walked to his office. When he entered he tossed them on his desk and restrained himself from reading Sallia’s first.

Lord Anchor,

I give you the title of Lord of the Southern Border. There are no lands to accompany the title, but you will need it to satisfy Colonel Hesting’s sensitivities about reporting to a superior. Shiro, Lotto and Councilor Lessa of Prola have consulted with me and have decided to create another front for the battle against the Red Kingdom. He will send one-third of his Red Roses under the command of his female commander, Chika to join an alliance of Gensler, Valetan and Prola. Tishiaki and Shiro have pledged to help you defend Learsea with the rest of his band.

I have sent birds to the southern dukedoms and have yet to receive a reply. That is a new development. Oringia and Histo have also rejected any communication. These have long been suspected to be under Daryaku’s sway. We have to plan for that eventuality. As you know the southern dukedoms rely more on magic. That might affect your strategy.

You are King Willom’s leader, but I trust you will, through Shiro, counsel with us all.

I have prepared various writs of title and patents that verify your role to present to King Willom when you see him at his castle.

We are relying on you and as a subject of the Red Kingdom, so does the Princess.

Do your best,

For Gensler

    Alon Jellas, Duke

Anchor sat back and thought of Besseth. He would have to assume that Histo, Oringia and the southern dukedoms of Teryon, Venato, Deshine, Ashof and Blintz were at Histron’s disposal. If that were the case, then they might be outnumbered. He thought back to the map. A campaign of sorts would be undertaken. Valetan would have to split their forces. A contingent to Oringia and whatever they could spare for the Red Kingdom. Perhaps. Learsea could roll up the southern dukedoms and converge on Foxhome in a final battle. That might work only if he could stop Histron from invading Learsea from the northwest.

He blinked as he realized that Sallia’s letter still lay unread. Anchor smiled. She would certainly wish him well again and that would be enough for him. He set aside the other documents for later review and picked up Sallia’s letter.

“Oh, Sally. If you only knew me, truly,” he said out loud.

His knife slid beneath the seal and broke it to see what was inside and let a red silk handkerchief fall to the floor. He picked it up and began to read.

Lord Anchor,

Duke Jellas suggested that I start this letter with your new title. Who would have thought the broken man in Everwet would now have power over southern Gensler, including that very same village. I’m am glad for it. I continue to follow your exploits and I take inspiration from them.

Forgive me for seeming a bit personal, but I know not where my original advisor is. Perhaps you might take Unca’s place for a while. A commission from a grateful princess, no, a grateful woman. You embark on a task that I wish I could undertake for the Red Kingdom.

I have spent my life as a willful princess. A willful girl, if you may. Unca, my mentor, unknowingly unlocked a different part of me. Perhaps a milder side, a more womanly side. I clung to that role while in hiding in my land. I still cling to it, in a way, but it is now time to re-assert the more willful part of me, if I am going to rule.

Your work on behalf of Besseth has given me a hope that I really didn’t have before. In exile, I found that I lived day to day. Even when Horas Eberlo’s men tried to abduct me, I only thought to save myself without a thought of my land. Now to see you rise to your present position, I must use your example to rise as a queen. From a royal exile, dependent on the good graces of Duke Jellas to the rightful heir of the throne of the Red Kingdom. It is my goal to prepare for that eventuality, for I know you work for that as well.

My mentor, Unca, sent me the Bloodstone. Shiro can communicate with me and I trust that you will keep Duke Jellas and I up to date as your campaign progresses. I wish you could meet Unca, but perhaps it will require taking back whatever part of the Red Kingdom he has chosen as his hiding place.

I can’t bestow a royal title on you as you deserve, but I can declare you my Champion. Take this token with you into battle so that I might participate in your conquests in some small way.

My previous letter declared that I’d like you stand with me when I retake the throne and I still intend to have you by my side when that occurs.

My heart goes with you.

Sallia,

Princess of the Red Kingdom

Anchor clutched the letter and then reached down for the scarlet token. He put it to his nose. It smelled of roses. He re-read the letter and tucked it with the scarf into his uniform. Her words meant everything to him, but at some point, she would have to know that Anchor and Unca were one and the same. Would she feel betrayed? Would she withdraw the trust she so obviously had in him?  He’d save that consideration for another time.

His first priority would be re-taking Besseth from the Dark Lord. His agents had nearly succeeded in Prola, Valetan and Gensler. King Willom had not succumbed, but Learsea, by itself, could never withstand the rest of Besseth arrayed against it. A chance now existed to fight back. Those chances might have increased if the War Stones truly worked.

Anchor left his office and found the three Ropponi eating in the common room.

“I don’t know what you eat in Roppon, having never been there. Let me know if you have any particular needs.” Anchor said as a serving woman from the village set a mug of ale in front of him. “Some people refer to this as liquid bread.” He had to smile at his guests’ reaction.

Shiro nodded. “Oh, I see. It’s made from grain. We generally drink wine made from rice or from grapes as you do. We drink water as well.”

“You’ll get sick doing that,” Anchor said.

“There are many among us with Affinity to purify what we drink.”

Anchor nodded. He’d done the same as Unca, but not as Anchor. “Perhaps I can share some of your water. I miss it.”

Shiro glanced at him and nodded. Anchor had just slipped up, revealing his wizardly roots and Shiro had caught it.

Anchor called for a ranker to summon Gasso.

When the officer arrived, Anchor said, “I’m now Lord of the Southern Borders, whatever that means. You probably know all of this,” he looked at Shiro and Chika, “but when Colonel Hesting arrives, he will report to me.”

Gasso laughed. “Such a quick rise!”

“I like Hesting. He and Pillar became friends as we traveled from Everwet to here. He’s going to be the one to protect southern Gensler, not me. My title is to give me some kind of rank above Hesting if we have to coordinate the defense of Gensler. Anyway, I will take one hundred men and two-thirds of Shiro’s company. The other third, under Chika, will proceed back to Everwet and wait there until forces from Prola and Valetan arrive.”