Forever Knight (The Champion Chronicles Book 3) (15 page)

“Emperor Tarcious,” General Mace said with a raised eyebrow.  He stepped away from the others.  “We did not expect you so early.  The supply caravans are still a few days out and we had heard that you would be arriving with them.  Under guard.”

“I could not wait,” Tarcious said sharply, looking up at the map.  It was a leather hide that had been marked up with black marks from the burnt end of sticks.  Detail markings indicated geographic landmarks such as the mountains and the Blackenwood forest.  There were many other lines and scribbles that described the general’s plan of attack.

“You came alone?” General Mace asked.

“Of course,” Tarcious replied, his eyes scanning the map to study the general’s plan.

“It is a dangerous journey.”

“For the weak, maybe.”  He spun around and glared at the general.  With clear impatience in his voice, he snapped, “What is the state of the army?”

“The army is camped and settled.  We have begun our daily drills to stay sharp.”

“Tell me your plans.”

“We will split the army into four groups.  Our attack on the city will be from three locations, with the fourth group held in reserve.  This fourth group will also be moved to cover the eastern flank, to protect any attack that comes from Tyre.”

“We out-number them at least three to one.  Probably four to one.  Instead, you will mass the entire army together in the woods and march upon the city in a single formation.  Tactics and strategies are not necessary when we have such numbers.  The key is to get through their walls as quickly as possible.”

General Mace looked at his map, which held the sketches of his painstakingly developed battle plan.  It was the perfect plan to maximize effectiveness and minimize casualties on his side.  A frontal assault with the entire army would be bloody.  But he did have to agree with one element of the emperor’s plan.  It was the one way that they would be able to get into the city quickly.  If that was indeed his goal, the general estimated that deaths and injuries would exceed half their number.  This was going to be an expensive battle.

“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.  We will make the adjustments to the plan immediately.”

“Good,” Tarcious said.  “Now, the army will break camp and march south at once.  You will have your engineers conscript as many infantry as they need to assist in building siege engines.  You have five days until the assault will begin.”

“Five days!” another general exclaimed.  He was an older veteran who was not afraid to speak his mind.  “You are out of your mind!  Just breaking camp and moving the army into position will take two weeks.  You can’t expect us to march through the cold and snow and then construct the equipment we need in that time!”

Tarcious lifted a finger and the entire room flinched, expecting his anger to be expressed in a violent way.  But Tarcious unexpectedly found himself calm.  He knew that his quick temper was not always productive, but sometimes he could not just help himself.  Killing everyone who disagreed with him was not going to be productive in the long run.  The men in front of him were all veterans of many years of combat and were not wholly incompetent leaders.  But their many long years of fighting the same battles year after year had numbed them into complacency.  They had lost their edge and did not have any semblance of military combat imagination.

“I was not asking,” Tarcious said.  “I was telling you what you are to do.  You have today to pack your camp and if your men aren’t marching tomorrow morning when the sun rises, I will find other generals who won’t disappoint me.”

After an awkward silence, it was General Mace that spoke up with a soft voice.  “Your Imperial Majesty, if we are to march in the cold and snow, attrition will cut into our numbers.  We may lose a tenth of our soldiers.”

“Acceptable losses,” Tarcious replied with a firmness that ended any further conversation.

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty,” General Mace replied, with some relief in his voice.  Although he would be ultimately responsible for any of his soldiers dying, at least the emperor would not be surprised if a good number died of the cold and exposure.  “With your permission, we have many preparations to take care of.”

“Yes, be gone!” Tarcious said with a wave of his hand. 

The room quickly emptied, but as General Mace was about to leave, the emperor called out, “General Mace!  One more thing.”

A sudden fear of death swept over the young general.  No one knew what their new emperor was really capable of.  His short temper and rash decisions were legendary.  If it weren’t for the tremendous power and prestige that went along with being a general in the Taran Empire, he would have never taken the job.  But the luxurious life and power over life and death was just too appealing.

General Mace did his best to hide his anxiety as he replied, “Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.  How may I be of service?”

Tarcious waited until the tent was cleared, which made General Mace even more nervous.  He smiled at the attempt that General Mace was making to hide his fear.  He loved that power.  “Some weeks ago I sent a diplomat to South Karmon to reestablish official relations with the Karmons.  This diplomat was instructed to enforce the treaty that Admiral Hestor and their former King Neffenmark put in place.  Now with our army on the move, this diplomat will serve the empire in a much more productive manner.  I would like you to send a man into South Karmon to find this diplomat and make contact with him.  Once there, he will serve the empire more effectively as a spy, as diplomacy is no longer necessary.”

“That is wise,” General Mace replied, feeling a sense of relief that the emperor was not going to vent anger upon him.  “Having a spy in their midst while we launch an assault from the outside may be helpful.  He could disrupt their defenses, lure them into a false sense of security.  Any number of options.  But, should we not send a team of soldiers in now while they are unsuspecting?  They would more effective than this diplomat of yours.”

“Your soldiers would only alert the Karmons that something was amiss.  My diplomat will have spent several weeks establishing himself in the castle as a respected Taran official.  He will have developed relationships with their lords and possibly even the queen herself.  He will be placed just perfectly to serve the empire once the assault begins.  But he needs to be notified about the forthcoming battle.”

“What instructions shall I have my man to give to this diplomat?”

“I do not expect him to open the gates for us, but I expect him to act in any capacity that will hurt the Karmons and help us.  If he can get close to the queen, or to any of the favored lords and put a knife in their backs, then so be it.  We have the force to crush their army.  But if we can kill their queen, we can take the whole kingdom at the same time.”

Chapter Eleven

“Why do you keep doing that!” Melanie cried out.

Queen Elissa had pushed open the window, allowing a blast of cold air and snow to swirl inside the carriage.  She ignored the cries and pleas of her best friend and stuck her head out the side opening.  She knew that they should be getting close to home and wanted to see just how close they really were.  The heavy snowfall started up early in the morning and continued for their entire day, making it difficult for their driver to keep to the road.  More than once they drifted off the path and got stuck in deep snow.  What was supposed to have been half-a-days ride from their overnight campsite had turned into an all day journey.  It was becoming difficult to control her anxiousness.

“I think I see it!” Elissa cried out.  She squinted, trying to force her eyes to see what she really couldn’t see.  Along with the falling snow, the gray, overcast sky hid everything in the distance, including what might have been the tall towers of her castle.

“Your Majesty,” Kimmie said with calm restraint.  “It is cold, would you mind closing the window?”

The queen let out a sigh, frustrated that they were not yet home.  She closed the window and latched it tight.  It was still cold, but at least the wind and snow wasn’t filling their space.  With the excitement of trying to see her castle gone, she was suddenly very cold and pulled her wool blanket tightly around her.

“If only they could light a fire in here to keep us warm,” Melanie wondered aloud.

Elissa giggled.

“Do you have your dress picked out, yet?  And your mask?” Melanie asked, trying to keep her mind of the chill.

“Dress?” Elissa asked.  “Oh, for the ball.”

“My father is coming from his estate and he is bringing a special mask for me.  It is not just one that covers the eyes, but the whole top of the head.  Can you guess what it is?”

Elissa was not entirely in the mood for Melanie’s excited chatter, but she tried to play along.  “I cannot image what it could be.”

“A bear!” Melanie screeched.  “It’s actually made from the fur of a bear that my father killed.  What about you?”

“My thoughts have been on the business of the kingdom, so I haven’t had much time to think about it.”  The moment the words came out of her mouth, she realized how they sounded.  She did not intend to sound snotty or arrogant, because she spoke the truth.  She felt a definite longing for the time when she could just do anything she wanted, when she was free from any responsibility.

“This queen thing is getting in the way of your fun,” Melanie said with a pout.  “For the spring festival, you spent a whole week trying on every dress in the city to just find just the right one.”

“Times have changed,” Elissa replied softly.  “I just have so many things on my mind.”  She forced herself to change her tone and perked up her voice.  “I really am looking forward to the ball!  I will find a dress the moment we get back.”

“Well, you better hurry, because we only have five more days!”

The carriage suddenly slowed as its wheels got stuck in deep snow, but after a sharp shout by the driver, the team of horses lurched forwards, pulling the carriage with them.  Elissa grabbed her seat to keep from flying into the lap of Melanie.  They shared a forced smile, as they tried to comfort each other’s fear.

“Prince Toknon was nice,” Melanie said suddenly, trying to be as nonchalant as she could.

“Yes, he was,” Elissa replied, averting her eyes from her friend. 

She did not want to have this conversation right now.  There were too many other things on her mind.  But she couldn’t help but to think about the handsome prince from Thell.  It had been an enjoyable time visiting him, much more enjoyable than she had thought.  Even though it had ended on a sad note with the passing of his father, she felt a connection with the soon to be King of Thell.  Their kingdoms were very much alike, and yet so different.  Thell had no large cities with walls to protect them, but their people lived and worked just as she witnessed from the top of her own walls.  There were merchants of all sorts that sold their goods from open markets.  Some were skilled tradespeople, who wove clothes, or made shoes, or forged the tools that farmers needed.

Their words were different, but they still spoke Commoner, so she could understand them.  They knew who she was, knew that she was from the kingdom to the south and yet they did not look at her like she was the enemy.  She had a hard time looking at them as anything other than the people who killed her father, but she also knew that she had to change that attitude and it would have to start right away.  They were no longer the enemy and she had to stop thinking of them in that manner.

The Taran Empire had already shown itself as being interested in their little kingdom.  Neffenmark had shattered any innocence that their kingdom was allowed to have.  As much as he had done, it had been the Tarans that has started it all, and she could not forget that.  Their kingdoms would have to forge an alliance that was stronger than friendship, one that would be built to last generations to come.  There truly was only one way to cement that alliance, and it was a thought that made her stomach queasy.

She thought of Conner at that moment.  It had been some time since his face had come into her mind, and that alone made her sad.  She loved him in every way.  He was a tall and handsome man, but it was his heart, strength, and courage that really attracted her to him.  In some way, she hoped that she would never see him again, because it would break her heart to see him right now.  She wanted him so much to be right next to her side, for the rest of their lives, but she had a duty to her kingdom and her people.  As tall and strong as the walls of Karmon were, the support and friendship of the Thellians were more important.

From the moment it had been first broached so many months ago, she had known deep down that marriage to Toknon was the right thing to do.  Some sort of peace came over her as the decision was finally made in her mind.  Her heart ached and she just wanted to crawl up into a ball and cry, but that was a luxury that she could not have anymore.  For the second time in less than a year, she was going to make a sacrifice of her body for the betterment of her kingdom.

***

“Hail!  The city!”

Elissa had dozed off under the warmth of her blanket, but was instantly awake at the shout from her drivers.  The words were followed by the sound of horse hooves pounding the ground away from them.  She popped open the window to see Kern and Hollin, her two armed escorts, race for the main gate of the city.  There were a few people coming into the city and they stood aside as the riders bore down upon them.  She let out a smile at the sight of her home.

Melanie leaned out the window next to her and let out a gleeful screech.  If anyone was not meant for travel, it was Melanie.  Although she spent so much time complaining, she would have to admit that getting away from the castle in the middle of winter was actually enjoyable.

Their drivers led them straight towards the open gates and paused only slightly for the city guard who manned the gates to give a proper salute to the returning queen.  As they passed under, a trumpet blared five times, formally signaling the arrival of the queen for all the city to hear.

To Melanie’s dismay, Elissa left the window open while the carriage drove through the city.  She didn’t just poke her head out, she leaned all the way out, her entire torso out the window, waving to everyone she saw.  Within minutes, the streets were lined with revelers who cheered the queen’s arrival.  Most probably did not know that she had left.  But the excitement of seeing the queen in the middle of a cold and snowy winter day rose their spirits.  The queen laughed and smiled all the way to her castle.

The portcullis dropped the moment the carriage rode under.  Hardly a moment later, the carriage came to a quick stop and the side door was opened.  Arpwin stepped back to allow the ladies to step down into the courtyard.

“Your Majesty,” Arpwin said with a smile and a dip of his head.  “Welcome back.”

Elissa returned the smile.  “Thank you Arpwin.” 

Arpwin fell into step with her as they walked towards the main doors of the castle.  She glanced over at him and caught an odd look on his face.  Although his lips were still lifted in a smile, his eyes had lost their luster.  It lasted only for a moment when he thought that she wasn’t looking.  Clearly something was wrong.

She stopped and asked, “The preparations for the masquerade ball.  They are all in order?”

Whatever thoughts that had crossed his mind were now gone.  Arpwin’s bright eyes and sharp smile were back.  “Of course, Your Majesty.  On schedule.  Five days from today, the courtyard will be filled with carriages from around the kingdom to celebrate you!”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Of course not!  The plans are all set.  You just need to come with your beautiful smile.”

“And Marik?” she asked, too anxious for news about Conner to acknowledge the compliment.  “Has he returned?”

Arpwin hesitated for only a moment, and the look flashed back across his eyes.  Elissa knew that whatever was about to be said would be a lie.  She didn’t know why she felt that way, but every ounce of her being was telling her that.

“Oh…no,” Arpwin replied.  “There has been no word.  I would not expect any word until spring when travel is less dangerous.  I would expect he is holed up in some warm tavern, doing whatever it is that old soldiers do.”

A commotion and shouting brought her attention away from her thoughts of Marik and Conner.  After some pushing and shoving, the soft, plump form of Lord Martin emerged from the crowd that had gathered around the queen.  Two soldiers clad as city guard were trying to get between him and the queen, but the lord was persistent.  If not for his rank, the guardsmen would have drawn their swords and threatened life and limb, but Lord Martin was as important an official as there was.

“Queen Elissa!” Lord Martin shouted as soon as he made eye contact with the queen.

“It is okay!” she called out.  “Let Lord Martin pass!”

Instantly, the two guards stepped aside to let Lord Martin approach.  He huffed and puffed his way past the guards, casting them a harsh look.  But even as the guards allowed Lord Martin to come forward, there were many others calling her name, shouting for her attention.  She waved and wanted to greet them all, but the look on Lord Martin’s face was not one of casual greeting.  He had the sour look of bad news all over him.  She felt Hollin and Kern, still relegated to escort role, move casually to her side.  Their mere presence made her suddenly feel safer, even though she was in her own castle, protected from the outside world by a heavy iron gate.

With her attention centered now on Lord Martin, the servants and other courtiers that had gathered to greet her slowly dispersed.  They remained in the courtyard in their own clumps, awaiting the next chance to present themselves to the queen.  

The queen smiled a greeting and said with a friendly, diplomatic voice, “Lord Martin, it is good to see you.”  She looked him up and down and even accounting for a large, warm cloak, his girth seemed to have expanded since she had left.  Or at least since she had last noticed.  The tinges of gray that had been apparent at his temples had not yet taken over his entire head of hair, but it was clearly turning from its original solid jet black.  The interspersed gray actually made him seem more aristocratic and noble, but his plump cheeks were tinted a bright red, which made him look like a chubby child.

“My queen…” he started, but he had to catch his breath before he continued.  Sweat dripped from his hairline, despite the frigid temperatures.  “My queen, it is about time that you returned!  The kingdom is in disarray!”

In as royal of a voice as she could muster, she replied, “Lord Martin, I am weary from my journey.  I would like to take a rest before I am inundated with the problems of the kingdom.”

At that moment, she wanted to laugh.  A smile even crossed her face.  She had said the words, but they did not seem like her own.  They would have been something that her father would have said in his stiff and serious mannerisms.  But the words had been hers, and they rolled off her tongue as if she had been trained to use them her entire life.  She felt oddly comfortable saying them and liked how they rang in her own ears.  Maybe she truly could be royal and regal even though she still felt like she was still a little girl.

Lord Martin placed his hand on her arm as a father might do to a young child to get their attention. He didn’t grasp or pull hard, but the mere touching of the queen sent all the soldiers to twitch their hands towards their swords.  Elissa casually pulled her arm away, out of his reach.

“The queen’s business is never done,” Lord Martin said, trying to ignore his indiscretion.  “While you were out socializing with our enemies, I have been struggling to keep the merchants at bay, the former knights from fighting the former Royal Guard, and making sure that the food stores are not depleted before spring.”

“Socializing?” the queen responded as delicately as she could.  She held her tongue, as she wanted to snap back at him for insulting her twice in such a short time.  But even though she was tired, cold, and cranky, she remembered she was still queen and needed to act as one.  “I don’t know what you think I was doing in Thell.  But I was doing the kingdom’s business.  The Tarans have made themselves into a threat that we must not ignore.  King Toknon…”