Blood of the Earth (21 page)

“I recovered the Thinblade from this very Keep,” Alexander said as he slowly walked around the table. “It was left for me by Mage Cedric and serves as the badge of office for the King of Ruatha. I have since recovered the Sovereign Stone, and so now I am faced with a dilemma. I can’t be both Sovereign of the Seven Isles and the King of Ruatha … I must abdicate the throne of Ruatha and relinquish the Thinblade.”

Those in the room who didn’t know this was coming were shocked, to say the least. The political leaders of Ruatha were stunned speechless. Such a thing was unheard of. Nobody gave up power, least of all when it was tied to one of the most potent magical swords ever created.

Alexander stopped in front of Abigail. He could see the uncertainty and discomfort in her colors, but she stood nonetheless. When he extended the hilt of the sword to her, she grasped it and drew the blade as though it belonged to her.

The room fell silent.

“Abigail Ruatha, I name you the rightful Queen of Ruatha,” Alexander said, as he handed her the scabbard.

She sheathed the Thinblade and bowed formally to him.

“Lord Reishi, I swear loyalty to the Old Law and promise to defend the life, liberty, and property of the innocent.”

Alexander stood aside and held out his open hand toward Abigail.

“I give you the Queen of Ruatha.”

There was a brief celebration as the room rose in applause and then the guests circulated around to congratulate Abigail on her very informal coronation. After half an hour or so, everyone returned to the table. Alexander brought them all back to the business at hand.

“General Valentine, what is the state of our army?” he asked his father.

“We have a total of sixteen legions in northern Ruatha,” Duncan reported, “including nearly four legions of Ithilian infantry. Nearly all are massed at the Gate. South of the Great Forest we have three legions—two in Kai’Gorn and a legion of Rangers in Southport. Glen Morillian has a single legion holding the forest road, and a single legion of Rangers guards the north against Elred Rake and his cavalry in the northern wilds.

“Many of our soldiers are inexperienced but they’re learning quickly. We are well provisioned thanks to the magic of Blackstone Keep and we’re ready to move on command.”

“Excellent. King Abel, what news do you bring?”

Abel Ithilian nodded deferentially to Alexander.

“I have mustered another four legions—three of infantry and one of cavalry,” Abel said. “They are encamped at the Gate. We have news from Fellenden that confirms your report. The island is being pillaged and the people are suffering horribly. I have ordered my fleet to ferry evacuees from the southern coast to Ithilian, but many more are lost than saved.

“In addition, I’ve ordered an armada to be assembled on the northern coast. My naval commanders estimate that they can muster sixty-three combat-worthy vessels.

“One report tells of Princess Lacy Fellenden. She was sent by her father to recover a family heirloom given to their house by Mage Cedric. She was supposed to have come to Ithilian, but as yet, she has not arrived. We fear the worst.”

Alexander’s mind raced, hoping and fearing that Princess Lacy might be carrying the one thing he needed more than any other, the one thing that would eliminate the threat of the Nether Gate, but he didn’t voice his thoughts. If she did have a keystone in her possession, she was in great danger, and the fewer people who knew what she might be carrying, the better.

“Mistress Magda,” Alexander said, turning to the triumvir, “have you anything to add?”

She nodded formally to Alexander.

“We have long been loathe to become involved in the affairs of the larger world, preferring to remain secluded and to focus on our self-appointed task of guarding the Sovereign Stone. Sitting here, seeing the Stone around your neck, I can’t help but conclude that our purpose must change.

“While there are many within the Reishi Coven who are still wary of allowing the Stone to remain in your care, I have come to believe that you are best suited to carry the burden. Furthermore, we too have looked on the enemies you speak of and agree that they must be stopped. The Reishi Coven and the Sky Knights stand ready to aid you in any way we can.”

Isabel smiled radiantly, her colors swelling with pride. Alexander gave her hand a squeeze. She had been taken hostage by these people and had turned them into allies, a triumph worthy of story and song.

Alexander turned to Kelvin and nodded for his report.

“We’re working diligently to understand many of the items we’ve discovered within the halls of Blackstone Keep. We also stand ready to support the army in a variety of capacities and we’re training the new additions to our ranks. I have a number of very capable wizards ready to deploy with the army as needed.”

“Very good,” Alexander said. “We know what we face and we know what we have at our disposal. I’ve called you together to hear your counsel. King Abel, what say you?”

“Fellenden is an important trading partner and her people are longtime friends and allies of Ithilian,” Abel said. “Their plight pains me greatly. I would choose to aid them in every way possible.

“Phane is a dangerous and treacherous enemy … I know this from personal experience. But at the moment he is distant, and the islands he controls are beyond the power of our forces.

“As for the shades, they are beyond me. I have neither the knowledge nor the power necessary to defeat them and so I choose to face those enemies that I can stand against.

“I say we destroy the forces that have invaded Fellenden and capture Zuhl’s shipyard for our own use.”

Alexander smiled slightly. He had similar ideas but he wanted to hear the suggestions of all those present.

“General Valentine?”

“I tend to agree with King Abel,” Duncan said. “The sheer numbers of soldiers on Karth or Zuhl place both islands beyond our capability. The Lancers on Andalia are also more than we can afford to face. Add that to the toll of human suffering being inflicted on the people of Fellenden, and I believe that to be our best objective.

“Additionally, we will be faced with multiple fleets of transport vessels from the south within the coming months. King Abel’s suggestion that we capture Zuhl’s shipyard is a sound strategy for adding to our limited naval capability.”

“Any objections?” Alexander asked.

The table fell silent. Alexander scrutinized the colors of all present. A few had misgivings about the plan but none voiced an objection.

“Very well, our primary military objective will be to retake the Isle of Fellenden, capture Zuhl’s shipyard and utterly destroy his invading army. No quarter will be given in this campaign. I have seen the wanton devastation they’ve inflicted on the people of Fellenden and I judge them guilty of violating the Old Law. We will make them pay with blood.”

“When do you plan to depart?” Bella asked.

“I won’t be leading the army into Fellenden,” Alexander said.

Chapter 17

There was a moment of shocked silence before everyone started speaking at once. Alexander held up his hand to silence the room so he could explain.

“I have to stop the shades. Phane and Zuhl will impose a thousand years of tyranny if they’re victorious, but the shades will unmake the world of time and substance itself. They have to be stopped and I intend to do just that.”

“Who will lead the army against Zuhl?” Abel asked.

“I will,” Abigail said before Alexander could answer. He looked at her sharply. She was his little sister and best friend. He hadn’t expected her answer and he didn’t want her off fighting a war, especially if he wasn’t there to protect her.

“You made me the Queen of Ruatha. The majority of our forces are Ruathan, so it stands to reason that I should be the one to lead them into battle.”

“Abigail, think this through,” Bella said, clearly worried for her daughter’s safety.

“There’s not much to think about,” Abigail said. “I’m the queen now … my place is with our army.”

Alexander smiled sadly at his sister. “I’m proud of you, Abigail.”

“I’ll accompany you,” Duncan said.

Abigail shook her head. “No, Dad, you need to stay here. Ruatha needs a leader here who can command the respect of the other generals and the nobles in case Phane manages to land more troops or sends something else we haven’t even considered.”

Duncan frowned but bowed to her authority.

“Anatoly, I’d like you to go with Abigail,” Alexander said. “She needs someone watching her back that she can trust absolutely.”

Anatoly nodded slowly. “Who will be watching your back?”

“Isabel, Chloe, and Boaberous,” Alexander said.

“With your permission, I would accompany you as well,” Jack said.

Abigail looked at him with a mixture of surprise and dismay. Alexander held his tongue.

“I’m sorry, Abigail,” Jack said. “I want to be with you more than anything but my duty is with Alexander.”

“We’ll talk about this later,” Abigail said coolly.

“Aren’t you going a bit light?” Duncan asked. “You could take Lieutenant Wyatt and his men; they’ve served you well in the past.”

“There’s no question about that, but I’m eventually going to wind up standing in front of Bragador and I don’t want to come knocking on her door with a small army.”

“That’s wise,” Kelvin said. “Bragador is reasonable, to a point, but she does not take kindly to unannounced guests, especially those who look like they came for a fight.”

“You plan to visit the dragons of Tyr?” Magda asked, a bit taken aback.

“I have good reason to believe that she has one of the keystones to the Nether Gate,” Alexander said. “I plan to ask her for it.”

“Surely you jest,” Magda said. “Dragons do not part with treasure easily and they can be most unpleasant when they choose to be.”

“I need that keystone,” Alexander said. “I’d much rather bargain for it than steal it, or worse, try to fight her for it. One way or another, I have to get that keystone.”

“You play a very dangerous game,” Magda said.

“The most dangerous there is,” Alexander replied. “But I’m not a fool. I’m going to the Reishi Isle first to see if I can find the Nether Gate and destroy it outright. Barring that, I plan on taking the keystone from Jinzeri.”

Magda frowned with alarm. “Please do not speak the shades’ names aloud. They can hear you. To be honest, I’m not sure which path is more dangerous, confronting a shade or trying to bargain with a dragon for a trinket from her hoard.”

“I’m open to suggestions,” Alexander said.

“I’m afraid I have none at the moment,” Magda said. “Perhaps with time to consider the challenges we face, we may be able to offer a better alternative.”

“I’ll listen to any ideas you have, but right now that’s my plan,” Alexander said. “Given the threats we face, how would you suggest we deploy the Sky Knights?”

Magda and Cassandra shared a look before Magda took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“For centuries we have maintained a careful limit on the number of wyverns in our force. We believed we had sufficient strength to defend the Reishi Isle while remaining consolidated within the fortress island. Given the current threats we face, it’s time to begin breeding more wyverns and training more Sky Knights.

“I’ve inspected the aerie within this Keep and it can easily house two flights. Each of the other four fortress islands can house four flights. I would like to move one flight here and another into the northernmost fortress island to begin building another outpost there.

“Additionally, I believe a flight should accompany Lady Abigail to the Isle of Fellenden in support of the battle against Zuhl’s forces. I would like to accompany her as well. I may be able to offer some advice or insight that could be useful. Cassandra will return to the fortress island and coordinate the deployment, Bianca will take command of the northern fortress island, and Constance will remain here to command the flight assigned to Blackstone Keep.”

Alexander grinned slightly as he appraised her before he spoke.

“You have been very reluctant to take action until now. What changed?”

“Always before, we had the luxury of time and safety,” Magda said. “Now, we have neither. War is upon us, and while careful deliberation is our habit, we realize that bold action is required. We intend to do our part.”

“Outstanding,” Alexander said. “I agree with your plan completely, but, in addition, I’d like to use the Blackstone flight to offer support to General Talia in southern Ruatha. Your Sky Knights are uniquely suited to engage any naval assault out of Andalia or Karth.”

“Of course,” Magda said. “I would suggest sending two wings south. That will leave nearly fifty Sky Knights here for any contingency that might arise.”

“Good, I’d like to use those remaining here to support Duane in the north,” Alexander said. “It’s about time we dealt with Elred Rake.”

“I can send another legion north to assist,” Duncan said. “It would be good to eliminate all enemy forces on Ruatha.”

Alexander nodded. “We also need to discuss ways to destroy enemy ships from the air. The Sky Knights who are also witches can use their magic, but we need a nonmagical way for the others to sink enemy vessels.”