Rob Scott - Lessek_s Key

Gita paced back and forth before the fireplace, thinking through their story, and their intention to move south towards the Blackstones. Steven watched her, hoping she wouldn’t try to accompany them into Meyers’ Vale; he didn’t want a military escort. If their group got any larger, it would slow them down and make them an obvious target for the army.

Gita said finally, ‘We’ve received information that the forces around Orindale have broken up and battalions are moving to take up their regular patrols. The prince’s generals argued for almost a Moon after Malagon disappeared and they have finally decided there is nothing to protect; that the prince must have left the city incognito.’

Garec said, ‘They’ll be scattered all over the countryside. It’ll be difficult to avoid them.’

‘You won’t avoid them,’ Gita said. ‘You need to take some of us along. Brand’s company can escort you.’

‘How many men do you have?’ Garec asked.

‘Ninety-seven here now with more on the way.’

Steven shook his head. ‘That’s foolish, Gita. We’ll succeed in nothing but getting them hacked to pieces. Gilmour and I can see us into the Vale.’

‘A stray arrow, Steven, one single arrow will silence you or Gilmour. We can’t afford it. You have to be escorted. Brand’s soldiers are tough, solid fighters. They’ve lived a long time, and through hundreds of raids. They know what they’re doing, and they can travel fast. If you’re attacked, the orders will be clear. Brand and a squad will ride with you, while the lieutenants engage and retreat, engage and retreat, pulling them off your back. Afterward, if they can get past the Malakasian forces, they’ll meet with you along the road further south.’ She stared down at a map of the flatlands in central Falkan. ‘They will see you through the first skirmish, anyway.’

Steven didn’t like the idea, but he waited to hear what the others thought.

Mark spoke up first. ‘I think it’s a good idea.’ He looked to Brand. ‘Chances are you’ll lose some of your soldiers, but this trip is critical to Falkan’s freedom and Prince Malagon’s defeat. If we can’t avoid encountering soldiers, then we need help.’

‘Gilmour, what do you think?’ Gita asked.

‘I understand Steven’s point. Alone, we are powerful and very fast. But you’re right as well: one lucky shot, and we lose Steven-’

Steven interrupted, ‘But that could happen anyway. It’s a risk we have to take.’

‘That is a risk we have to mitigate as much as possible and then take,’ Gilmour corrected. ‘I agree. We should accept Gita’s offer and move south with Brand’s escort.’

‘A hundred people? We’ll be ringing the clarion all the way down there. Every Malakasian soldier and informer in the midlands will be on our tail.’ Steven tried not to get too emotional, but Hannah was alive and possibly on her way to Orindale right now, and he was not about to take unnecessary risks. The odds of a stray arrow taking him would go up severalfold if he were travelling with an armed Falkan escort. If the Malakasian forces were dispersing, the only way to reach Meyers’ Vale would be to move in the shadows, off the main roads, hiding at every sight of black and gold uniforms, otherwise it would be suicide. ‘Think about what comes next.’

What do you mean?’ Brand asked.

‘If we get to Meyers’ Vale and find the table, Falkan and the Eastlands will need a solid fighting force to move across the plain, dividing the occupation army in half, and trying to turn either north or south, to establish a foothold over here. That’s going to be a back-breaking task as it is and there’s no way you could attempt it without Brand’s company.’

‘You are right, Steven,’ Gita said, ‘you’re really not bad as a military tactician. However, I have others gathering every able-bodied soldier up here to join us. At first, I thought we would come together here, see you into Gorsk, and then turn back towards Orindale for our final stand. But knowing how disorganised the Eastern Army has become in the wake of Prince Malagon’s disappearance, we might be able to take a corner of the Eastlands, a stretch of Falkan with a port, perhaps Capehill, if we can capitalise on a momentary lapse in their command hierarchy.’

Mark finished her thought, And taking leadership from Welstar Palace out of the equation, we create exactly that opportunity.’

‘Does that mean we won’t have to face Seron, those ground demons, or any more of the cloud creatures?’

‘If my speculations about Prince Malagon are even close to correct, Gita, that’s exactly right – although I’m not sure about the Seron. They may be here for good,’ Mark said.

‘But the almor, and the cloud creatures?’

‘And the wraiths,’ Mark added, ‘all of them, they’ll still be in Eldarn, but I’m betting they won’t be following orders any longer. I have a strong belief that Prince Malagon has a weakness, maybe something to do with Steven and his stick. All the creatures he has sent against us have a few things in common and if we deal with Prince Malagon in Meyers’ Vale, I believe it will take care of those creatures as well.’

‘Steven has already proven himself against the clouds and the almor,’ Garec added.

Gita laughed. ‘When you put it that way, I think we have the easier task taking over the Eastlands.’

‘When will the rest of the Resistance arrive?’ Gilmour asked.

‘It’s hard to say. We weren’t expecting you fellows for a while, so I would guess another Twinmoon.’ Gita looked again at the maps spread across the table. ‘I’d like to give them that long, anyway.’

‘That should give us time to get there, but we don’t know how long it’ll take to excavate the table – if we find the table.’ Garec joined Gita near the fire.

‘It will be enough time,’ Gilmour said. ‘Do you have anyone under your command who can work magic, even simple festival tricks? Anyone at all?’

Gita glanced at Brand; something passed between them.

‘I don’t know where he is,’ Brand finally said.

‘Can we get him here in the next Twinmoon?’

‘I can send a rider, but Gita, he’s a mess. He can’t-’

Gilmour interrupted. ‘He won’t need to work any spells. He’ll simply need to receive a message from me.’

‘You’ll talk to him?’ Brand asked sceptically, ‘from the Blackstones?’ Gilmour laughed, ‘No; it’ll seem like he’s been belted by an invisible fist – unless he’s very talented, he won’t know what hit him, but it will at least confirm that we’ve been successful.’

‘So we bring him here and watch him until you clobber him senseless from somewhere south of Orindale?’

‘Exactly.’

And all he has to do is…’

‘Have a thimbleful of magic in his bones and take a solid, unexpected punch to the head.’

Now Brand laughed. ‘That, I would like to see.’

‘Send the rider,’ Gita directed.

‘Very well.’

‘Who is this man?’ Gilmour asked.

‘His name is Stalwick,’ Gita said. ‘He rode with us for a time but then he…’ She searched for the right description.

He’s a blazing idiot,’ Brand finished for her. ‘But if all you need him to do is be around here until you kick his head in, he can handle that.’

‘Where is he?’

‘Capehill.’

‘Good,’ Gita clapped her hands together. ‘It’s decided then. Brand’s company will ride south with you. We’ll bring Stalwick here and continue to build up our forces. We have many friends and supporters in the Notch, and the local mining industry provides us with an excellent cover. When Stalwick collapses, I will assume that you have done whatever it is you plan to do with this table you seek and that we should begin our march to Capehill.’