Richard Tuttle - Army of the Dead

“I never suggested that they were stupid,” smiled Lady Mystic, “but they are used to being pampered. I made sure that the captain took on fresh food for the voyage. I even suggested that he host a feast for the mages as they would soon be called into battle.”

“How nice of you,” Xavo replied dryly. “So now they will be well fed when they come storming back ashore.”

“Hardly,” chuckled Lady Mystic. “The food supplied to the captain was indeed food deserving of a royal banquet, even if it had been prepared with a bit too much salt.”

Xavo stared at Lady Mystic with a puzzled expression, but his features softened as the impact of her statement registered. Within seconds his face bore a wide grin and he laughed.

“I imagine that they will all drink at the same time,” he chuckled. “You are a devious one.”

“As if you hadn’t already known that,” smiled Lady Mystic. “Let’s go deal with the generals.”

Xavo smiled and took the hand of Lady Mystic. Together they walked away from the docks and towards the temple. When they got within eyesight of the temple, Xavo let go of Lady Mystic’s hand and fell back a few paces to let her approach the front temple guards on her own. As Lady Mystic purposely mounted the long stairs leading to the front door of the temple, the guards stiffened and moved to block her entrance to the temple.

“You are not allowed inside the temple,” declared one of the guards.

Lady Mystic glared at the guards and her mouth slowly opened to speak. Xavo quickly halted alongside her and addressed the guards.

“Perhaps you have not been informed yet,” Xavo said loudly, “but Vand’s daughter is back in the good graces of the Emperor. For the continued good health of the temple’s security force, you had best make sure that word of this spreads quickly. I am afraid that even Vand’s disciple would be at a loss to discipline Vand’s daughter if she were to become enraged by your careless questioning of her rights.”

The guard’s face registered shock as he realized that his life was in danger. He quickly bowed low to Lady Mystic and offered his sincerest apologies. He remained bowed while his partner moved quickly to open the doors to the temple and hold them while the two dignitaries passed through. Xavo smiled as he realized that word of Lady Mystic’s return to prominence would spread through the temple faster than a raging fire.

The traitorous duo made their way to the temple’s library and sent a soldier to summon the first of the three generals. While they were waiting for the general, Xavo got a map of the island and spread it out on a large table. The map was an exquisite work of art that overflowed the table. Xavo stared at the detailed markings of terrain and elevation. He was so engrossed in studying the map that he almost missed the knock on the door. Fortunately, Lady Mystic went to the door and opened it. The general entered with a look of apprehension evident upon his face.

“Join me at the map, General,” Xavo said as he waved the general towards the table. “The Emperor has been updated regarding the elven invasion. He has sent very specific instructions in regards to the movements of the armies left here for the protection of Vandamar.”

“Movements?” questioned the general. “Our plan is to fortify the city and defend it.”

“That is your plan,” snapped Xavo, “but not the Emperor’s. Your army is to move out of the city within the hour.”

“Where to?” asked the general, clearly unhappy with the turn of events.

“Your army is to head south towards the center of the island,” answered Xavo as he tapped his finger on the map. “You will divide your army into five groups of two thousand men each. I have placed coins on each of the five places where your men will make camp.”

The general’s eyes grew large as he studied the map. His head shook noticeably from side to side as he looked at each coin and its location on the map.

“There must be some mistake,” balked the general. “Those positions are untenable.”

“You wish to dispute my father’s wisdom?” scowled Lady Mystic.

“Certainly not,” the general swallowed hard, “but it is my duty to make sure that the Emperor is acting with the best information possible. Each of the chosen positions yields the high ground to a potential enemy and by dividing my forces I would further endanger them. If the elves are marching northward from the southern cities, they may strike any one of these positions and cost us two thousand good men. Further, my armies will be well outside the limits of being able to respond to an attack on Vandamar. Surely, there has been a mistake in the translation of the orders. I am sure that the other generals would agree with my assessment. I beg of you to ask for their advice.”

“You are assuming that the elven armies will march north,” Xavo responded, “but they will not. As for the safety of your men, that is the reason that your armies are being sent out of the city.”

“I do not understand,” admitted the general.

“That much is obvious,” replied Xavo. “Your armies are being hidden, General. That is precisely why they are being split into smaller groups and being sent to low-lying valleys. When the elves arrive by ship, your armies will receive orders to move northward and flank the elves.”

“Vand’s spies discovered documents that have been delivered to the elves by one of the officers in Vandamar,” interjected Lady Mystic. “Those documents lay out all of the standard defenses that would be erected during an invasion. It is imperative that your armies be absent from the city when the elves attack.”

“Your men will be the saviors of Vandamar,” nodded Xavo. “The elves will be smug about their knowledge of our defenses, but your men will surprise them.”

“A spy in our ranks?” frowned the general. “That is unbelievable.”

“To a loyal patriot like yourself,” nodded Lady Mystic, “but the evidence is irrefutable.”

“Which is exactly why your armies have been chosen to hide outside the city,” interjected Xavo. “Vand has complete trust in you. You will not mention your destination to anyone until you are well away from the city, not even the other generals. I must stress this need for secrecy. Do you understand?”

“Completely,” nodded the general. “The chosen locations make perfect sense for armies that are trying not to be noticed. They are well off the normal routes and their low elevation will keep them hidden from anyone passing by. One problem still bothers me, though. We have no mages detailed to us. How will our orders be communicated in time for us to flank the elves? We will not even be able to communicate between the five groups.”

“That is precisely why your men must be stationed precisely where I have indicated,” answered Xavo. “Lady Mystic and I are familiar with those places and we will personally send the orders to each group. Obviously, if your men are not there, the orders will never be heard. You must ensure that you follow these directions precisely. You are the only hope we have of surviving this elven invasion.”

“You can count on my men,” the general assured Vand’s disciple. “We will be out of the city within the hour.”

The general saluted and left the library. Xavo sighed with relief after the general left.

“I must go out to the balcony and contact Marak,” said Xavo. “He will get those locations sent to the elves. You send for the next general.”

“Shouldn’t we wait a while to let the first army get out of the city?” questioned Lady Mystic. “We don’t want both armies tripping over each other as we send them to indefensible positions.”

“Good point,” nodded Xavo. “I hope the elves don’t run out of arrows before they reach the city. What are we to do with the third ten thousand men? They will never believe the need to abandon the city.”