The Pool And The Pedestal (Book 2) (6 page)

“The North, eh Udas? That is where you feel we need to reinforce?” asked Macin. “Did your unparalleled military mind tell you that or the thousand year history of this war!? Let me see. Am I recollecting correctly, or did you actually go to the front once in your entire military career and return to me the useless hero of Rimdar Pass.

Ader speaks of words and stories to rally the people, and I’m left with two half-wit supply commanders stumbling through hostile territory with no escort. One manages to get himself killed and the other severely wounded. If you would have done me the service of expiring as well at least I could add some heroic color to what is otherwise an unmitigated, colossal act of stupidity!”

“Your ... your majesty. I ... I lost an arm, and the nation lost a ... a great warrior when the Keltar took General Ellow from us.” Udas stammered and fawned. “I only try to serve my king and country the best I know how. I am a ...”

“Yes. Yes. Udas.” said Macin dismissively. “But if we are here to stare the bald facts straight in the face, let me inform you of one. I will not make the mistake of promoting a supply officer to the General Staff again. Know your duties and execute them and you will receive no trouble from me.”

Udas reddened and clenched his teeth. The one armed colonel straightened and stared at the king.

“Well then, your highness. I will do my duty and remove Granu the Keltar from your presence!” stated Udas.

The colonel waved a hand toward his guards and several closed in on Granu.

“I wish to ask our hero something before we go any further.” stated Ader.

Udas started and a look of apprehension spread across his face.

“If I had my way, you too would be removed.” snarled Udas.

“Fascinating.” returned Ader. “Be that as it may, I will ask you some questions. How many were in this Keltaran Hammer unit which you encountered?”

“I don’t need to stand here and answer questions put forth to me by a broken down old magician! I stood toe to toe....” began Udas.

“Colonel! Answer the questions!” shouted Prince Manfir. “Didn’t you provide this information to our intelligence officers?!”

“Your majesty! I don’t see the point.”

Macin’s heavy eyes became animated and alive. The king edged forward in his seat and studied the supply officer.

“Humor the old man.” said King Macin. “Answer his questions.”

Udas’s eyes darted about the room. When the supply officer realized there was no one to help him, he exhaled and searched his mind for the right answers.

“I asked how many Keltarans in the Hammer unit?” repeated Ader slowly.

“Fifteen, I... believe.” stated Udas.

“Fifteen!” exclaimed Ader turning to Granu. “Extremely large for just one unit. Quite unorthodox I should think.”

The giant nodded his head in agreement.

“I don’t care what your lapdog thinks.” snarled Udas.

“Upon your return to the Capitol, you informed the medical staff that you were set upon by eight Keltaran.” interjected Brelg.

“The medical staff were mistaken!” snapped Udas.

“My briefing by the General Staff put the number at twelve.” added Macin smiling at Udas. “It appears as if the enemy in your little battle grows even today, Udas.”

“As your majesty is well aware,” stated Udas. “The heat of battle changes one’s perception of reality.”

“Quite true, my good man.” began Teeg. “I’ve been in enough to know. However, many true warriors may forget whether a particular day was sunny or cloudy, cold or hot, but they possess an unbelievable knack for remembering the most miniscule facts concerning their opponents and the battle itself. For example, were your opponents on horseback or on foot?”

“On foot.’” returned Udas smugly.

“Odd,” cut in Eidyn. “You were on horseback yet unable to outrun them.”

“We were cut off and set upon by surprise in close quarters. My exceptional horsemanship saved my life.” snapped Udas.

“Ah, were you on the north or the south of the river at Rimdar? The enemy often uses the river to their advantage and traps our forces against its icy flow.” added Brelg.

Udas’s eyes shifted uneasily about the room once more.

“Ah yes .... the river thwarted our retreat.” said Udas. “That is correct.”

“You were lucky the cut was so clean and you were able to stand the pain of searing the wound shut.” added Macin with a smirk. “A lesser man wouldn’t have been able to do that to himself. A lesser man would have bled to death on his mount.”

Udas shuttered with the memory of his injury. The images and sensations from Izgra’s fortress washed over him.

“I reacted with my training.” returned Udas weakly.

“Training is one thing.” stated Prince Manfir. “A man is cut on the battlefield and he or a compatriot must try to mend the wound. He must deal with the pain. Such is war. But to receive such a horrific injury and own the presence of mind to tend to it properly. That is true .... courage.”

Udas puffed his chest out and bowed toward Manfir.

“We do what we must to survive.” replied the colonel exhaling and closing his eyes.

Udas began to sweat as the horror of the Ulrog attack replayed in his mind. The stone chamber. The blackened maw of Sulgor the Malveel lord. Razor tipped claws. A flash of pain. The lumbering Ulrog armed with cleavers. The torch.

“What horrible weapon caused such a wound?” coaxed Ader abruptly.

“A cleaver.”  replied a dazed Udas.

The colonel’s eyes shot wide open. An awkward expression crossed his face.

“A cleaver, you say?” questioned Teeg. “Quite an odd weapon for a Keltar to be carrying, don’t you think? Cleavers are the chosen weapons of the Ulrog. An honorable Keltaran wouldn’t be caught dead with a cleaver.”

“I misspoke.” recovered Udas. “A battle-ax delivered the blow ... I believe.”

“Interesting.” said Teeg. “As I said before. Sometimes in the heat of battle a warrior may forget the bigger picture, but the details become burned in your memory. One would think the weapon that inflicted such a life altering injury would be imprinted in your memory forever.”

“It was a battle-ax!” snapped Udas.

“Wielded by a lumbering Ulrog, attempting to run you down as you fled on horseback?” returned Teeg quickly.

“Yes! I mean no. It was a Keltaran giant!”

“One of fifteen that trapped you and General Ellow hundreds of leagues from their homeland, in enemy territory!?” continued Teeg.

“Yes! The mountain dogs cannot be penned into their own borders! They want all of our land!”

“How did you manage to avoid the river?” demanded Manfir quickly.

Udas became frantic and turned once more to Macin.

“Your majesty! This is preposterous! I’ve proven myself from...”

“Answer him!” snapped Macin.

Udas locked his jaw and spun to face Manfir.

“I rode hard until I found a place to fjord it.”

“That must have been a tremendously difficult task?” added the prince.

“With one arm severely injured, yes it was.” snarled Udas.

“No, no. You misunderstand me, colonel.” smiled Manfir. “It must have been extremely difficult to fjord a river that doesn’t exist. No river runs through the Rimdar pass. It is a dry and desolate place.”

The room became silent and once again Udas’s eyes searched for support. He found none.

“Perhaps it was not as profound a waterway as I determined in my panic.” explained Udas. “It may have been a deep creek or ravine. As our Elven representative said, the larger picture becomes hazy. I remember we could not flee to the south due to some sort of drop-off. I rode hard until I found a flat area.”

“Interesting.” stated Macin eyeing the colonel.

“What symbol did the unit wear?” boomed a voice behind Kael.

Granu stepped past the boy and approached Udas. The colonel shrunk away in fear. Several supply troops near the dais moved forward.

“HOLD!” commanded King Macin, pointing a finger toward the troops.

Granu moved to within inches of the colonel. He glared down on the supply commander. Udas fidgeted and squirmed.

“Each Keltaran clan and their individual units wear a symbol emblazoned on their vestments. For example, I just buried a unit of my brethren who made the mistake of roaming too far from our homeland. The Keltar love their mountains and this unit you speak of acted unusually. Perhaps it was another of my brother Fenrel’s units. What symbol appeared on their vestments?” growled Granu.

Udas shook. His chest heaved and he averted his eyes from the giant’s penetrating gaze. His mind rushed through all that happened to him in the last several months. He found himself in a void. He had betrayed his country. This giant could crush him in an instant. His mind spun frantically searching for a way out.

“WHAT SYMBOL DID YOUR ATTACKERS BEAR?!”  the giant roared without warning.

Udas’s mind focused on the attack in that cold stone room so many months ago. That beast hovering over him as this Keltar did now. The foul breath of the Malveel Lord. Those crimson, burning eyes. The claws! The noose! His heart raced! The torch! His mind reeled! A clatter near his feet drew his attention. Precious gems and red gold lay scattered about him on the floor.

“No! Those are mine! I earned them!” squealed Udas.

“Of course you did.” rumbled the giant coldly and he turned and moved back to his companions.

Udas blinked and regained his composure. He looked up from the fortune into the blue green eyes of a beautiful young woman. She held an empty saddlebag in her hand.

“This sack and its contents were recovered from the quarters of Udas.” announced the young woman. “The origin of the gems is difficult to pinpoint, but the red gold is most assuredly from the Ulrog mines of the Northern Scythtar.”

“ It seems your failings have no end, colonel. You allowed another uninvited guest into my chambers?” frowned Macin. “Albeit a lovely one.”

The young woman bowed to the Zodrian king and Macin returned the gesture.

“ I would like to be introduced to such a talented young lady, however I must first deal with the matter at hand. What to do with you, Udas?” continued Macin as he glared at supply commander. “Apparently, my supply staff has become a breeding ground for treason and sedition.”

The colonel glowered at the old king and spat on the floor.

“You all stand here scheming while Chaos gathers an insurmountable force against you! You fools think you can defend yourself against Izgra and his minions?!” scoffed Udas. “I’ve seen Amird’s chosen! He builds armies while you scrape for militia! He breeds death while you pray for salvation. The only way to survive Chaos is to join it you simpletons!”

General Wynard slid up behind the ranting colonel and quickly disarmed him. Udas’s troops looked about in confusion. Macin slid a short sword from beneath his throne and held it at the ready before those by the dais were able to react to the situation. Others from the General Staff drew their swords and closed on Udas’s troops.

“Some of you may be in league with this madman and some of you may have followed him out of loyalty or greed.” stated King Macin. “Your reasons will be determined and a punishment will be determined. For now, go quietly and the worst you will see is the front lines of a battle that will eventually envelop us all. I give you a chance to redeem yourselves.”

A heavy shouldered supply soldier near the platform glanced about the room. His knuckles were white from the tight grip he maintained on the hilt of his sheathed weapon. He finished his assessment and nodded to his compatriots. He slowly drew his sword from its scabbard and laid it at the feet of Macin.

“Mercy is the gift of the mighty.” mumbled the man with his head lowered.

Sergeant Deling burst into the room with a small contingent of Guardsmen. The Fox stood by his side heaving.

“Deling, where the devil have you been?” demanded Ader.

“Your pardons, Lord Ader. I was momentarily detained. After your departure, Udas’s guards found it difficult to relinquish their post.” stated Deling. “I was forced to
instruct
them that their departure was in their own best interests.”

“Sergeant Deling.” said King Macin.

“Yes, your highness.”

“Please take Colonel Udas and these others into custody.  Be sure to treat them with respect. They have my word on this.”

“Of course, my lord.” returned Deling.

The old sergeant’s troop quickly rounded up Udas and his men and marched them from the hall. Macin watched them leave then shook his head and smiled at Ader.

“I will say this, old man. You certainly make life interesting.” laughed Macin. “Complicated, but no doubt interesting.”

Ader bowed to the king.

“It is time for you to look in the mirror Macin of Zodra. I am not the only old man in the room.” replied Ader.

“Tis true. I’m but one out of one hundred of your years yet we share the same look. The struggle has burdened me.” smiled Macin.

Manfir stepped toward the platform.

“It’s time for you to share the burden, father.” stated Manfir. “I’m here to do what I can.”

“I’ve held on this long, I will hold...” began Macin’s protest.

“Father.” interrupted Manfir. “This is too important for your pride to interfere. The enemy changes tactics. We face challenges from without and within. The costs become too great.”

“I’ve guided us in war before. I will continue...”

“Father.” said Manfir softly. “Your grandson is dead.”

Macin froze. He looked lost. His eyes locked onto those of Brelg and the drill sergeant slowly nodded his head. Macin became unsteady and dropped into his chair. He stared down at the marble floor.

“How?” whispered the king.

“He encountered two Malveel in the Nagur Wood.” stated Manfir calmly. “He was alone and unprotected.”

“He ...never knew me.” mumbled Macin, his face falling into his hands.  “I hoped one day....”

The king’s voice trailed off. Manfir set his jaw and climbed the dais to kneel before his father.

“The enemy attacks us on the front lines and in our own cities. They subvert and corrupt our supply lines. Rumors spread amongst our people to dishearten them. Our most closely held secrets betrayed. You can’t do it all, father. Call on me. I’m ready to share your burden.”