David Wells - Linkershim

“Any idea who they are?”

“Brigands and bandits,” Kagosi said. “The ones I killed last night were known associates of Nightshade.”

“Interesting,” Alexander said.

They set out at first light with the bulk of Udane’s forces riding escort, two hundred Lancers, leaving a minimal guard force in the base camp. Kagosi and Yasim were becoming more anxious by the hour, but Alexander was getting calmer and more centered. The time for battle would arrive soon enough.

The Lancers seemed nervous as they wound through the forest on well-worn trails that, nevertheless, confined and constricted their ability to move and charge.

Alexander pulled up next to Udane. “Doesn’t seem like the best terrain for Lancers to operate in,” he said, off-handedly.

“It’s not,” Udane said. “If it were up to me, we’d burn the entire forest to the ground. See how well the resistance does against us out in the open.”

“You could change your tactics,” Alexander said.

“What do you mean?” Udane asked.

“Wear lighter armor, go in on foot, and learn to use a bow,” Alexander said.

“We’re Lancers,” Udane said, spurring his rhone ahead.

They reached the meadow just after sundown, setting up camp in the rapidly encroaching darkness.

“We should discuss our plans for tomorrow,” the Lord Protector said.

“It’s simple enough,” Alexander said. “We go search around the forest until I find the place where I hid the Sovereign Stone.”

“Commander Udane has expressed serious security concerns,” Kagosi said. “Perhaps it would be best to send Lancers to retrieve the Stone, so that your safety will not be compromised.”

“I’ll have a hard enough time finding the spot myself … there’s no way your men would be able to find it without me. I have to go myself.”

“As you wish, Lord Reishi,” Kagosi said.

That evening, Alexander noticed that the security force around his tent had doubled. Now that they were getting close, the Andalians were getting nervous. Yasim nodded ever so slightly to Alexander when he entered his tent.

“Are you ready, Little One?”

“Yes, My Love.”

“Jack should be waiting for you.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

Alexander linked his mind with Chloe, watching through her eyes as she flitted through the aether, passing right through the trees of the forest. She flew with unerring precision, following a straight path between Alexander and the Sovereign Stone, and found Jack at the prearranged spot, covering a broken and rotting tree stump with his body and hidden by his magical cloak.

“Whoa!” Jack whispered when Chloe materialized inside the tree trunk, bringing the Sovereign Stone and Alexander’s pouch with her in a dazzling flash of light. “You certainly know how to make an entrance, My Lady.”

“Be careful, Jack,” she said. “Everyone in the world is looking for this.”

“Tell Alexander that everything’s in place,” Jack said, slipping the Sovereign Stone into the pouch and securing the pouch to a lanyard he wore under his armor.

“I will,” Chloe said, flying up and kissing him on the cheek. “For luck,” she said before vanishing in a ball of light. Jack adjusted his cloak and started moving through the forest.

Alexander gently disentangled his mind from Chloe’s and lay back on his bed. Much would be decided in the coming hours, but for now all he could do was wait.

He woke with a start, not even remembering dozing off. The warning horn blew again. He reached out with his all around sight and took in the camp springing to life in preparation to meet an attack. He breathed a sigh of relief and pulled on his boots. Yasim was waiting for him at the door to his tent, as expected.

“Report.”

“The force that entered the forest ahead of us is moving into position for a dawn attack from the north,” Yasim said.

“They seem very determined for bandits,” Alexander said. “How confident are the Lancers in the outcome of a battle?”

“Very … though I doubt it will come to that,” Yasim said. “If everyone is smart, the Lancers will not go into the forest and the bandits will not come into the meadow.”

“Stalemate … until I go looking for the Stone.”

“Yes,” Yasim said.

Shouts came from another direction, toward the little valley where Alexander had been ambushed and where the Stone had been hidden. He smiled when he saw Tyr leading a small band of men up to a Lancer guard post.

“He’s certainly persistent,” Alexander said.

“Perhaps too much so,” Yasim said, looking to the Lord Protector for instruction. The look he got back said it all.

“I will return shortly,” Yasim said. Alexander moved to get a better view, two over-armored guards trailing behind him.

As the Royal Assassin approached Tyr, the shadows around him began to coalesce into something more substantial, forming into two small flying creatures that looked almost like dragons, wing and claw and fang. Both darted out, closing the gap between him and Tyr with alarming speed, ripping into Tyr with soundless ferocity, yet falling on empty air. Tyr and Edric both vanished, their projections interrupted by the attack. Failing to draw blood on their first attempt, the two creatures turned to the four men escorting Tyr, tearing into them with such sudden viciousness that Alexander actually felt a little flutter of fear in his stomach. The four men died screaming. Their horses bolted, but not quickly enough to survive the onslaught.

The shadows vanished, and Yasim ordered Lancers to search for Tyr and his men, but before they were ready to leave, a flare of orange fire streaked into the sky from the west side of the big meadow and hundreds of men answered the signal at the top of their lungs.

“It seems that Tyr has assembled a substantial force as well,” Yasim said, returning to Alexander.

“Nightshade to the north and Tyr to the west,” Alexander said.

The Lord Protector stomped up. “I hope you know where you’re going,” he said to Alexander. “We can hold this position for as long as we want, but I can’t guarantee your safety within the forest.”

“It’s close … within an hour’s walk due west,” Alexander said.

“Tyr’s men are dug in that way,” Kagosi said.

“Well … that’s where we have to go,” Alexander said.

The sky was just starting to lighten when Alexander saw Jack moving ever so cautiously through the camp. Alexander turned to conceal his cloak pocket from his guards.

“The Lancers are at a disadvantage in the forest,” Kagosi said.

Jack got closer.

“That’s where the Stone is,” Alexander said with a shrug.

Jack slipped the pouch containing the Sovereign Stone into Alexander’s pocket, then backed away slowly and quietly, fading into the morning shadows.

Alexander felt a little thrill of victory … now for the escape.

“We’re very close, Lord Protector Kagosi,” he said. “Now is not the time to falter.”

“We’ll lose a lot of Lancers,” Kagosi said.

“I believe you’re right,” Alexander said, without a hint of sympathy. He was discovering what a window it was into the minds of his enemies to pretend to be one of them. Trying to see things from their perspective was a challenge, but the insight it offered was invaluable … and frightening.

“By your order, Lord Reishi,” Kagosi said, turning on his heel and stomping away.

As light broke over the treetops, a great battle cry went up from the north.

“Looks like the brigands have decided our course for us,” Yasim said. “Come, you will be safer in the command tent.”

Alexander followed, his eyes to the sky. Yasim led him to a large tent on the highest hill in the meadow, which was only five or six feet higher than the surrounding area.