Alutar: The Great Demon (58 page)

“Many of them note that we have had a sterling record of securing this keep until the day you arrived,” replied Colonel Craz. “They do not consider it a coincidence that the keep was penetrated within hours of your arrival. They also pointed out that King Mectin and K’san died, and only you seemed to have noticed both deaths. I think you can understand their concerns. I think you need to be a little more sensitive to their feelings if you wish them to be loyal.”

Clint smiled thinly and nodded towards the growing crowd of thousands outside the keep. The colonel returned his attention to the mob, and Clint deftly pulled a knife from his belt and held it alongside his leg.

“I have learned to speak my mind,” General Forshire said softly, “but you have no need for concern about me taking King Mectin’s place. While that is the plan according to Emperor Jaar, I will not be accepting the position. I truly have no desire to rule Tyronia.”

“Then who will rule?” asked the colonel.

“King Myer,” Clint said with a smile.

“King Myer?” the colonel echoed with a frown. “He is dead. You killed him yourself.”

“Actually,” Clint replied softly, “I did not. While it was meant to look as if I did kill King Myer, the body was actually that of the real General Forshire.”

Colonel Craz’s eyes widened in horror as he turned to stare at the man he had been calling General Forshire. Clint’s smile broadened as he shoved the knife into the colonel’s stomach and ripped upward. As the colonel’s life forces fled him, Clint reached out and eased the body to the floor. As General Forshire straightened up, he saw a series of fireballs stream towards the front gates of the Old Keep. Recognizing the fiery fusillade as the signal to attack, Clint stared down at the front wall of the Old Keep. Each member of the A Corps suddenly drew his sword and held it in the air as they shouted, “Long live the king!”

Colonel Craz’s men looked around in confusion as the supposed archers of the A Corps drew their swords and shouted. When they finally recognized the treachery for what it was, it was too late for most of them. The men of the A Corps were sufficiently intermingled to have every defender close at hand. Within seconds, the Battle of the Old Keep was over. The gates were thrown open and the Tyronian Patriots streamed in. Among them was King Myer, and Clint signaled for him to be brought up to the balcony to address the men. While he waited for the king to arrive, General Forshire addressed both the men of the A Corps and the Tyronian Patriots.

“The first step in liberating Tyronia is complete,” the General shouted, “but the worst is still ahead of us. We leave within the hour to pursue General Marashef and the men of the 32
^nd
Corps. That coming battle will not be easy, nor will it be swift. Many of you will die in the coming fighting, but our victory will banish the Federation west of the Barrier, and that is a goal worth dying for. Are you with me?”

The men shouted affirmatively, but General Forshire shook his head with disappointment.

“Are you with me?” he shouted.

The men roared their response as they raised their swords high to show their eagerness to do battle with the Federation. Clint smiled broadly as King Myer stepped up beside him.

“Your people are ready to destroy the Federation interlopers,” Clint said to the king with a smile.

“You do make a fine general,” grinned the king. “Maybe General Forshire should return to my service when this is all over.”

“General Forshire will cease to exist,” Clint shook his head. “I look forward to a small cabin in the woods of Alcea when this is all over. Raise your arms and encourage your men, King Myer of Tyronia.”

The king smiled and nodded as he raised his arms for the crowd below to see. Immediately the crowd began shouting his name, and it quickly fell into a steady rhythm as they shouted, “Long live the king!”

Natia and Colonel Fisker sat in the common room of the Palace Keep Inn in Giza enjoying an expensive meal. The conversation had been pleasant, and the topics had been varied, but nothing sensitive had yet been discussed. The colonel glanced furtively around the room before speaking.

“The 33
^rd
Corps has been taking a beating since your last visit,” the colonel said softly. “Over three hundred officers have been killed so far. I have heard that some of Hedstorus’ men are refusing promotions as they fear being an officer inside the city.”

“Yet he is still here,” frowned Natia. “That is not good for the people of Giza. Perhaps it is time to involve General Antero.”

“General Antero has given me permission to ignore the killings as long as our people are not among the victims,” Colonel Fisker replied. “He has also banished the 33
^rd
Corps from the Royal Palace. Short of open warfare, I do not think he can do anything else.”

“You do not want open warfare within the city,” stated Natia. “That is what we are trying to avoid, but you are running out of time.”

“What do you mean?” asked the colonel. “Why are we running out of time? What have you not told me?”

Natia’s lips pressed tightly together as if that would stop words from inadvertently being spoken. She sighed as she knew that she was close to the point of revealing her true loyalties.

“Natia?” Colonel Fisker asked imploringly. “What are you not telling me? Do you not trust me?”

“You know that I do,” Natia eventually said, “but I am not sure how much should be told to you. I am trying to guide you towards a better Aerta, but others will look upon my words as treasonous. All I can say is that it is imperative to get the 33
^rd
Corps out of Giza, and it must be done soon.”

“It can’t be done,” the colonel replied. “Hedstorus only takes orders from Grand General Kyrga. Perhaps you could use your position to get Kyrga to issue such orders?”

“I cannot,” Natia answered.

“But you are the emperor’s person,” frowned the colonel. “Surely he would listen to you and issue the orders.”

“Emperor Jaar is dead,” declared Natia. “And before you even think about spreading word of that, you should be aware that such an allegation will be strongly refuted by Despair.”

“Dead?” echoed the colonel, his brow creasing in confusion. “How could anyone refute such an allegation if it were true?”

“A black-cloak has assumed the emperor’s body,” answered Natia. “There is someone in Despair making an attempt to seize power. That man controls Kyrga and the mage acting as the emperor. They are trying to discover who the rightful heir is, but they are not having much luck in that regard.”

Colonel Fisker sighed loudly. “If I did not have such faith in you,” he said, “I would not believe your words, but you have proven yourself to be right time and time again. Still, it is an outrageous story that King Anator would never believe.”

“Nor should the story ever reach his ears,” retorted Natia. “That is what I meant when I said that I must be careful how much I tell you. If King Anator was to try to verify this information, the 33
^rd
Corps would quickly receive orders to take over Aerta. That is not something either of us wants to have happen.”

“Agreed,” nodded Colonel Fisker, “but what is the urgency concerning getting the 33
^rd
Corps out of the city? Your words do not explain that.”

Natia hesitated to reply. She was not sure how the colonel would react to the news that Giza was about to be invaded by a foreign army, but within days that would become a reality.

“What do you know about Alcea?” she asked instead.

The colonel frowned at the sudden change of topic. “Very little,” he replied. “Most of what I know came from you, and that was not much. What does Alcea have to do with us?”

“Alceans helped to liberate Karamin and Vinafor,” declared Natia. “They also helped Tyronia throw off the chains of the Federation, but I doubt that you have heard of that yet.”

“Tyronia has fallen?” gasped the colonel. “I had not heard. Are you sure?”

“Tyronia did not fall,” frowned the Knight of Alcea. “Tyronia was liberated. You really need to learn to make a distinction between those two statements. The Tyronians are celebrating their freedom as are the Karaminians and Vinaforans. The question you need to answer, Colonel Fisker, is whether you will describe Aerta as fallen or liberated when the Federation is thrown out of your country?”

The colonel gaped at Natia as the full import of her question hit him. “The Alceans plan to attack Giza?” he gasped. “Is that what you are afraid to tell me?”

Natia did not respond. She waited patiently for the colonel to process his own words. The colonel’s brow creased severely as he pondered the situation.

“I don’t want Aerta attacked at all,” he eventually said. “If Aerta is to be liberated, it will be done by Aertans. If you know about a coming invasion, you must tell me about it.”

“And how will the Aertans throw off the yoke of the Federation?” asked Natia. “You can’t even get the 33
^rd
Corps out of Giza.”

“We have tried,” retorted the colonel. “As you suggested, we have let the murders of his officers continue, but it has only created greater turmoil. General Hedstorus will not leave Giza voluntarily, and King Anator would never sanction a civil war to eject him.”

“Time is running out, Colonel,” stated Natia. “Assassinate General Hedstorus, or burn down the barracks where the 33
^rd
Corps is staying. Do whatever it takes to make them leave the city or Giza will soon become a battlefield.”

Colonel Fisker sighed with frustration. He looked at Natia and shook his head. “I can do neither of those without orders from General Antero,” he said. “I think it is time for you and the general to meet. Will you come to the Royal Palace with me?”

“Only if I am guaranteed safe passage out of the city when we are done talking,” Natia replied, “and that guarantee must come from both General Antero and you. Without such guarantees, I will be leaving the city immediately.”

“You have my word,” Colonel Fisker replied, “but I cannot speak for General Antero.”

“Then go and ask him,” Natia said. “I will be waiting for you upstairs, but come alone. If you bring soldiers with you, I will not be there.”

The colonel nodded and quickly left the inn. Natia rushed upstairs to her room and released Button to keep watch on the palace.

“Did he bite?” asked Tedi.

“No,” replied Natia. “He is a good man, Tedi. He refuses to commit what he would consider a crime, even though he wants the 33
^rd
Corps out of the city. We might have to act ourselves, if the colonel doesn’t return with a squad to arrest me. If he does, we will have to flee the city and leave the killing to others. Get our things together and ready our mounts. We might need to make a hasty retreat from Giza.”

“Returns with a squad?” echoed Tedi. “Where has the colonel gone?”

“To set up a meeting between me and General Antero,” answered Natia.

“Is that wise?” frowned Tedi. “General Antero might seize you and then we will have to storm the palace to free you.”

“It is our last chance to talk Giza into a bloodless surrender,” sighed Natia. “It is worth the risk. Just get everything ready for a swift departure.”

Tedi nodded and left the room. Natia sat down and anxiously waited for Colonel Fisker to arrive. Shortly before he did arrive, Button reported that he was coming and that he was alone. Natia met the colonel at the door when he knocked.

“General Antero was hesitant,” reported the colonel, “but he agreed to your terms. I suspect that he is more curious about my spy than anything to do with an invasion. I hope this ends well,” he added nervously. “I have long enjoyed our relationship.”

“So have I,” smiled Natia. “I hope that this meeting does not cause the general to look unfavorably upon you.”

A frown fell across the colonel’s face as he tried to read between the lines, but Natia stepped into the hallway and closed the door. She did not speak again until she was in the general’s office and the door was closed.

“So you are Natia,” General Antero said in greeting as he waved his hand towards a chair before his desk. “I would like to say that Fisker has told me a lot about you, but that would be a lie. The best I could get out of him was that you were some type of spy for Emperor Jaar. Is that correct?”

“I have been conversing with Colonel Fisker for over a year,” Natia began. “I do not wish to restate everything that has already been discussed with the colonel. I will release Colonel Fisker from his vow of secrecy and allow the two of you to chat about my past in detail once I am gone, but right now we need to talk about a more urgent matter.”

“The attack on Giza?” scoffed the general. “Frankly, Natia, I find it hard to believe that the Alceans, if they were capable of getting troops to Zara, could possibly amass enough men to pose a serious threat.”

“That is disappointing, General,” Natia replied calmly. “General Alden has high praise for you, but you have just casually dismissed a serious threat to your nation. I must admit that I had not expected such a cavalier attitude.”

The general’s face reddened, and Natia was not sure if it was from anger or embarrassment. His expression was stoic.

“And you have spoken to General Alden about me?” questioned the general.

“Not personally,” answered Natia as she removed a sealed note from her pouch and handed it to the general. “That note is from General Alden, and it is meant for you to open upon the death of King Anator. It will describe the general’s wishes in his absence.”

General Antero examined the note with a hint of surprise in his eyes. “General Alden never returned from Alcea,” he stated. “Are you trying to tell me that you, or one of your cohorts, has the ability to go to Alcea and speak with the heir?”

“That is stating the obvious, General,” replied the Knight of Alcea. “General Alden is fine by the way. He is looking forward to his return to Giza.”

“His return to Giza?” echoed the general. “When will he be returning?”

“When his father dies,” answered Natia. “The Alceans have agreed to release him when that happens, but not before.”