13 Day War (49 page)

The empty wagon halted at the gates to the Royal Palace in Farmin. One of the guards moved towards the wagon, but the captain of the mounted troops escorting the wagon intercepted him before he reached the driver.

“We have come for supplies,” stated the captain. “Open the gates.”

“Supplies?” scoffed the guard as he noted the patch on the captain’s uniform. “I think not. The 15
^th
Corps has been deployed to Alcea. Deserters are certainly not allowed entry into the Royal Palace.”

One of the other guards blew a whistle upon hearing his comrade’s words. Two squads of soldiers raced towards the gates, but the captain and his men did not flinch. The captain dismounted and waited. The gates of the palace opened slightly and soldiers flowed out to surround the wagon and the squad escorting it. A gruff sergeant approached the captain standing before the guards.

“What is going on here?” he asked.

“Your guard needs better training,” spat the captain. “He should be aware that the 15
^th
Corps has a special company that did not deploy to Alcea. I am Captain Ergard, and I have come for supplies.”

“Ergard, eh?” the sergeant replied. “I’ve heard of you. You are the boys holding Prince Harold captive.”

“We are safeguarding the prince,” corrected the captain.

“Whatever,” scowled the sergeant. “Why are you coming here for supplies? There is a depot for that.”

“The depot does not store the delicacies that Prince Harold demands,” retorted Captain Ergard as he waved a paper in front of the sergeant’s face. “I have authorization from the Crown Prince. Are you about to refuse his orders?”

The sergeant took the paper and looked at it. With a shake of his head, he handed the paper back to the captain and waved his men back inside the gates.

“Let them through,” the sergeant instructed the guards.

Captain Ergard mounted his horse as the guards swung the gates wide open. As the reserve squads returned to their patrols, Captain Ergard led his men through the gates and around to the side of the palace where the kitchen entrance was located. The captain proceeded down the steps to the underground entrance to the kitchens while his men dismounted and secured their horses. He banged loudly on the door, and it opened quickly. A soldier asked his business, and the captain once again showed the authorization from General Montero. The soldier nodded and handed the paper back to the captain. The captain stepped into the kitchens and looked around. When the soldier moved to close the door, the captain reached out and restrained him.

“I wouldn’t bother closing it,” the captain smiled. “We have a large list to fill, and my men will be coming and going so frequently that it makes no sense to close it. It would only slow us down. Unless you plan to help with the loading, you can take a break for a while. We will make sure that no one sneaks in while we load the wagon.”

The soldier laughed and nodded. “It’s not like anyone ever tries to sneak in through the kitchens anyways. I will be in a room just down the hall. Wake me when you are ready to leave.”

The captain nodded and slapped the soldier on the back. As soon as the soldier was gone, the captain signaled his men. His men gathered near the rear of the wagon to shield an additional soldier who had been hidden inside the wagon. The hidden soldier wore the patch of the 16
^th
Corps of Spino, and he carried a gaily wrapped box with a big bow. The infiltrator moved with the soldiers of the 15
^th
Corps as they moved down the stairs and into the kitchens. While the soldiers were entering the kitchens, the captain moved through the rooms until he found a young serving girl. He smiled at her as he pulled her aside.

“We’ve run into a soldier from Spino,” he whispered to her. “He is carrying a special gift for Prince Lyker from Princess Anadale, and he is trying to deliver it secretly. Do you know a way to reach the prince’s quarters without being detected?”

“There are servant ways,” frowned the young girl, “but only servants are allowed in them. He should speak to the guards at the front entrance of the palace.”

“That would sort of spoil the surprise now, wouldn’t it?” smiled the captain.

“The prince would still be surprised,” the girl answered, clearly confused by the captain’s words.

“While the gift is for the prince, the need for secrecy is to keep the king from finding out about Prince Lyker’s romance with Princess Anadale. He would be furious if he knew about it, but they plan to wed.”

“Oh!” brightened the young girl. “How sweet. Can they do that without the king’s blessing?”

“They feel confident that King Harowin will agree once he is properly prepared,” answered the captain, “but they don’t dare broach the subject while the king’s mind is on the Alcean War. Can you escort the Spinoan to the prince’s chambers?”

“The prince is not in his chambers,” replied the serving girl. “He is with Prince Lindmyr and the son of one of the nobles. I just took some ale up to the three of them. If you wish, I could deliver the gift to him. I will keep it secret.”

The captain’s smile widened. The difficulty of the mission had just lessened a great deal. “Take the Spinoan to the princes,” urged the captain. “He will see that you are amply rewarded for your service to the heir of Spino.”

The infiltrator walked into the room and stood beside the captain. The young serving girl looked at him and the precious gift he held in his hands. She smiled and nodded. The captain whispered in the ear of the Spinoan soldier and then departed.

The girl led the Spinoan soldier through the underground corridors and opened a door in the corridor. She led him up a narrow stairway that was unlit, warning him of all the sudden turns and chattering on about her life in the palace. The Spinoan soldier paid no attention. His mind was elsewhere.

Eventually the serving girl opened a door unseen by the soldier. The light flooding into the stairwell seemed brilliant, but it was not. They stepped into a dimly lit corridor and the young girl moved to a door across the hallway. She knocked on the door and someone called back, but the words were unintelligible. The young girl merely smiled. She seemed to know what was expected of her, even if she hadn’t been able to decipher the actual words. A moment later, the door opened a crack and someone looked out at the young girl. He mumbled a question and the girl turned to point to the Spinoan soldier who had not been noticed up to that point. The soldier pushed the young girl into the room and leaped over her, dropping the gaily wrapped package and drawing his sword.

The three young men in the room leaped away from the door, but the soldier was prepared for just such a reaction. He raced across the room, his sword swinging in a wide sweep as he pivoted sharply. He sliced open the belly of the younger prince and hacked into the arm of the visitor with the same swing. The young girl started screaming, but the soldier paid no attention to her. He had little time to get away, and he could not afford to be distracted. The elder prince made a break for the door, but he was not quick enough. The soldier raced after him and shoved the sword into his back. The blade passed through the prince’s body, taking his life force with it. The girl was still screaming, and it suddenly annoyed the soldier. He pulled the sword out of the prince’s body and stabbed the girl in the throat. The screaming stopped. As silence reclaimed the room, the soldier turned and surveyed his handiwork, making sure that his Spinoan patch was visible to the visitor. Satisfied that both princes were dead, the soldier left the room and headed for the servants’ way just as distant voices shouted in alarm.

King Harowin of Ertak was outraged. He shouted at anyone who came within the sound of his voice, and he struck anyone foolish enough to come within his reach. When General Harford entered the room, he stood in the doorway and surveyed the devastation. Chairs were overturned and banners were ripped from the walls. Shards of pottery littered the floor and wall paintings were slashed. The king stood near his throne, a long sword in his hand. The general wanted to sneak out of the room before he was seen, but it was already too late. The king had seen him.

“What have you discovered, Harford?” shouted the king. “Has the culprit been caught? Where is he?”

The general glanced around the room again to see who was within listening range. The few servants present in the room were all cowering in the corners.

“I have need to speak with you in private,” the general replied. “May we retire to your study?”

The king raised his sword threateningly and his mouth opened wide to shout an answer, but his energy was spent. He dropped the sword on the floor and nodded. Without a word, the king turned and left the room. General Harford quickly followed the king and the two men entered the king’s study. The general closed the door.

“What more bad news do you bring, Harford?” the king scowled as he walked around his desk and sat down.

“The duke’s boy will survive,” replied the general, “but he may lose his arm. The story he tells is frightening, and we need to discuss it before it spreads.”

“Out with it then,” snapped the king.

“The boy said that the soldier who killed your sons wore the patch of the 16
^th
Corps.”

“The 16
^th
?” gasped the king. “Is he sure?”

“He says that he is certain,” answered the general, “but the boy is not in his right mind. I don’t know that we should take his word as truth, and I can’t imagine how a Spinoan could have gotten into the palace, never mind out of it again. It makes no sense.”

The king rose suddenly from his chair and the general flinched, but he need not have bothered. The king began pacing the floor behind his desk, his mind considering the implications of the Spinoans sending someone to assassinate his sons. Eventually he stopped pacing and turned to face the general.

“Queen Samir is a despicable tyrant who would not hesitate to assassinate someone, but she gains nothing from killing Lyker and Lindmyr. Who came into the palace today, and who left?”

“Mostly the usual people,” answered the general, “but there was one strange group. Captain Ergard and a squad of men from the 15
^th
Corps arrived for supplies. They produced an authorization from General Montero to get supplies from the kitchens.”

“Now we are onto something,” snarled the king. “This is something that Montero would do.”

“But they were only here for a few minutes,” frowned the general. “They got their supplies and left. The guard in the kitchens watched them the entire time.”

“Did he?” challenged the king. “Then he will be able to tell us how the kitchen maid happened to end up slain in the same room with my sons. I was wondering what she was doing there, but now it makes sense. How else could an unauthorized soldier gain access to that wing of the palace if not through the servants’ ways? That girl led the assassin to my sons. I want that guard properly interrogated.”

“I will see to it,” promised the general.

The general turned to leave, but the king was not finished with him. “I also want every member of the 15
^th
Corps arrested.”

The general turned and looked questioningly at the king. “There is an entire company of the 15
^th
Corp in Ertak. You do realize that General Montero left them to safeguard Prince Harold?”

“Safeguard?” scoffed the king. “Is that what you call imprisonment these days?”

“Call it what you will,” frowned the general, “but you are talking about a civil war. Ergard’s company inhabits Montero’s castle in the Dark Forest, and they will not surrender without a fight. I suspect that they are tasked to defend that castle to the death.”

“Then they will die,” King Harowin replied without concern.

“It is never that easy, Your Highness. General Montero has a strong following in all of the Ertakan armies, including my own 11
^th
Corps. If it comes to a battle to take that castle, there will be heavy losses on both sides. Plus,” he added with an ominous tone, “that will leave General Larus and his 34
^th
Corps in charge of security in Farmin while my men are out in the Dark Forest. Are you sure that is wise?”

“Blast Jaar,” snapped the king. “Have you discovered the reason for Kyrga posting the 34
^th
Corps in Farmin?”

“I have not,” frowned the general, “but it is not just Farmin. Valdo and Giza also have new armies posted to them, and each of the generals is sworn to Kyrga. I have a bad feeling about their purpose. What if Montero is not behind the assassination at all? What if it is Emperor Jaar trying to foment a civil war to weaken our home guard? We would be playing right into his hand if we attacked the castle.”

The king thought for a moment and then shook his head. “The assassinations have Montero’s mark all over them. This is typical of what he would do.”

“For what purpose?” asked General Harford. “Montero is already the Crown Prince. He gains nothing from the deaths of your other sons.”

“He gains security,” retorted the king. “With Lyker and Lindmyr dead, I cannot afford to lose Montero, or Ertak would have no heir.” The king’s eyes widened as if he had just seen something remarkable. “Harold! Montero no longer holds Harold in that castle of his. Either Harold is dead, or he has escaped. That is why Montero made his move. He no longer has a hold over me.”

“That does make sense,” agreed the general, “but I still advise against attacking the castle.”

“Forget the castle,” stated the king. “Arrest Captain Ergard and his squad of men before they reach the safety of the castle. Given the proper incentive, those men will tell us what we need to know.”

* * * *

Jenneva stood at the gates to the Everich estate while Alex refastened the wheel onto the mortician’s wagon. Darkness had claimed the sky, but not before Jenneva had managed to get a good look at the estate. The great building that had once housed the King’s Advisor no longer existed. In its place a field of debris was scattered across the ground. There was no sign of life, but she knew from Alex’s attitude that she was missing something. She waited patiently for him to finish. A soft whistle caused her to turn around. Alex waved her to the wagon and then hopped up onto the seat. Jenneva turned away from the destruction and mounted the wagon.