Bloodstone - Power of Youth (Book 3) (17 page)

The afternoon briefing in the map room only elicited yawns from Peeron. At dinner, the prince pursed his lips and sniffed at the food while Anchor told him about the stones and their communicative powers.

“So you have the Sunstone?” the prince said looking down his nose at Shiro.

“I do. If you wish, I’d let you touch it.”

The prince smiled. “Didn’t Anchor just tell us that it brought out the truth? I don’t want you rummaging around in my mind.”

“As you wish, your Highness,” Shiro said, parroting the honorific that Anchor used. He hated saying it to this man. He knew the prince wouldn’t dare touch the stone. He held too many secrets and petty thoughts within that royal cranium. “Then let me transport you to Duke Jellas’s castle. Your men can follow.”

‘Transport?” The prince looked interested for the first time since he arrived.

“I learned to transport myself in Roppon. It takes much power, but I can go anywhere on Besseth.”

The prince put his hand to his chin and thought. “My men could follow. Could I take a few men with me? Bodyguards?”

Shiro bowed his head. “At your earliest convenience.”

“Tomorrow after a good night’s sleep.” The prince rose from his seat. “I am ready to retire.” He said nothing and left the table and went straight to his rooms which were Travelwell’s old quarters.

~

The prince’s behavior hadn’t improved with age. Anchor continued to eat and refilled the goblet of Leef, the Captain over Peeron’s troops. Leef was just young enough not to be grizzled, but the weather spent in the field had seamed his face. Anchor liked the clear brown eyes. His hair was just showing signs of turning gray, but Anchor noticed his erect military posture.

“You’ll have to forgive the prince,” Leef said, embarrassment plain on his face. “He’s nothing like his father.”

Anchor nearly agreed, but that would reveal too much. “I’ve heard the prince was a arrogant and ‘difficult’, but I hadn’t imagined this.”

“Oh, he’s gotten worse. His father is rather worried and encouraged his joining with the other nobles in re-taking the Red Kingdom from Gensler.”

The Captain’s candor impressed Anchor as they continued to discuss the strategy session earlier in the day. Leef suggested a few changes in positioning the fortifications in Learsea and gave the reasons why. This was another man Anchor could work with. He quickly found out that Leef grew up in the Learsean interior. He’d fight for the farmers.

“Why don’t you escort us into Learsea?”

Leef rolled his tongue around on his teeth while he thought. “I would be pleased to join you. I think the Prince would be happy to be rid of me, if you just ask.”

Shiro interrupted. “Would you venture to touch the Sunstone? I’d like to be able to transport to the capital with Anchor. I don’t think waiting a month is acceptable to the Captain’s schedule.”

“Gladly. If you can find any secrets in my mind, you are welcome to them,” Leef said laughing. “Don’t tell the Prince or he’ll think up some mischief to keep you from going.”

Anchor liked Leef even more. “Consider it my first order, Leef.” Anchor clapped the man on the shoulder. The man’s body was hard muscle. “Now why doesn’t King Willom appoint a man like you to command his armies?”

Leef smiled in a wry kind of way. “The king, gods bless him, looks to the sea. His navy and his admirals are experts fighting pirates and uppity merchants. The inland kingdom was stripped of weapons soon after Learsea’s expansion to the mountains. The old kings set up strong duchies and baronies that served to keep the people in check. King Willom assumed it would just stay that way, but eventually the interior nobility gravitated to the capital and...” Leef shrugged.

“So a large contingent of subjects became forgotten,” Shiro said.

Leef continued to speak. “I’m not familiar with what’s happened all over, but the same thing happened in Happly, from what I understand. The people were impressed to fight without any training after being ripped from their families. They could hardly fight. Learsea isn’t under siege from the outside, but between foolish battles and the focus on the sea, King Willom has stripped the country of military leadership.

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, Captain Anchor, but the prince insisted that you be drafted to lead our armies. He browbeat King Willom, so that he accepted. He expects a weak leader so he can step into the role and become Learsea’s savior. But I don’t think the prince knows how well you’ve prepared to help us.” He grinned at Anchor. “You’ve got as good a mind as anyone I’ve ever had the pleasure to serve under and I won’t mind letting the king know.”

“Then you’ll tell him, once the prince has left. Shiro needs to look in your mind to locate a place to arrive. The problem with transport is that you’ve had to have been to the place you are going. A little session with the Sunstone circumvents that requirement if Shiro can fix a location from your mind.”

“Fix away,” Leef said, lifting his goblet and taking a deep draft of wine.

~

The prince wore a scarlet silk uniform. The man’s red-orange hair looked awful atop his tunic.

“Leef, I command you to lead Captain Anchor to my father. I’ll allow you most of my escort now that we are safely in Gensler lands. Anchor offered to provide a unit of guides to lead the men to Crackledown.”

“I live to serve, your highness.” Leef bowed and put his fist to his chest.

“Ropponi, whatever your name is, take us away,” the prince said as he stood with three very fit men. Each of them held large bags that held the prince’s possessions.

Chika stepped up to join the group.

“What’s this, a woman?” Prince Peeron laughed and shook his head. “Ropponi customs?”

Shiro smirked at Anchor and wiped it off of his face as he turned to the prince. “We will need to touch.” In less than a moment, the prince disappeared.

Anchor noticed a sense of relief among the Learsea contingent. Leef let out his breath. “Good riddance.” Leef’s eyebrows went up like a naughty child who’d been caught. “Don’t tell him I said that, but every man here feels that way. I don’t envy those that will lead the attack on the Red Kingdom from Gensler.”

“Perhaps Peeron just needs a bit of seasoning,” Anchor said.

Leef shrugged. “He might surprise us all, but not until he’s been in a battle or two.”

“You mean an armed struggle? I’d imagine that he’s led a number of battles already.”

Leef just pursed his lips and shook his head. “He’s ridden on ships of war and let others do the fighting until he could claim victory.  Tested? I don’t believe so.”

Anchor hoped that Shiro would be able to deliver the letter to Princess Sallia that he had written the previous evening. He continued to ask Leef about the conditions in Learsea when Chika appeared.

“Captain, your presence is requested.” She held out her hand to Anchor.

Anchor suffered an attack of hesitancy. He didn’t mind corresponding with Sallia, but her presence caused a measure of internal conflict. “A moment while I freshen up.”

Chika smiled. “I sense trepidation. Fear? You can freshen up in Crackledown.”

Anchor forced a smile. “So I can. Of course.” He tried to push his fear deep down and took Chika’s hand.

~~~

Chapter Eighteen

~

T
hey arrived in the palace courtyard.
Anchor marveled at the activity that surrounded him, even though his stomach protested the teleportation. Hundreds of men drilled and marched to and fro. Had Duke Jellas called in every soldier he could?

Chika gently pushed him towards the doors to the main building. “Calm down. You look like a lamb being led to slaughter.”

Her words broke his panic. “Of course. I’ll be crushed by all of the nobility.” He said, but felt his anxiety shedding away as Chika began to banter.

“I’d like to be crushed by a certain member of the nobility.”

Anchor smiled. “Shiro is noble?”

“Noble enough for me. His father was a commander in the Imperial Guard. They are all lords of one thing or another, just not landed. The father married and left the capital settling on a northeast island, as far away from Boriako as he could. He raised Shiro as a farmer, but the bred-in nobility couldn’t be squashed.”

“He doesn’t act like a farmer or a lord,” Anchor said.

“And that is his appeal; to me anyway.” Chika smiled. “I’d like him to appeal off my clothes at times.”

Anchor laughed. “Your command of our language has given you additional fodder for your repartee with Shiro. It’s wasted on an old man like me.”

“You’re not old.” Chika said, winking at Anchor.

“No, but sometimes I feel the weight of responsibility.” Anchor’s fears came back in a rush. He’d have to watch himself. He had never slipped talking to rankers and fellow officers, but these casual conversations… If Sallia cornered him, he’d have to be on his guard. He both dreaded and hoped with all his heart that she would do so.

“Anchor!” Morio, the duke’s son, walked up to him and grabbed both of his shoulders. “Welcome to Crackledown. We are assembled in my father’s war room.”

Chika followed behind. Anchor looked back to see her smirking. He said nothing, not wanting to provoke another colored comment. He didn’t know how Shiro could put up with her perpetual impishness, but he knew Shiro loved the woman. She just made Anchor blush or laugh and he didn’t know what comment would prompt which reaction.

“The prince started spouting off about your strategy as if it were his own. Shiro dragged me aside and said that the prince’s version didn’t match yours. I mentioned to father that you should be explaining your own plans and answering any questions.”

Anchor had no idea that the prince would presume to present his plans and from his nonchalant attitude in his own map room, he could well imagine Shiro’s concern. They finally reached their destination and all eyes followed him in. Lotto had been brought into the conference as well as Lessa. He saw the Duke and a military man in the Duke’s colors that he had met before was Jellas’s General. The prince stood by the window, playing with the edge of a drape, away from the other participants. Peeron looked petulant.

“Duke Jellas,” Anchor went down to one knee.

The duke gently helped him rise. “Not in a war council, Lord Anchor. Save the bowing for court. Now, if you start from the beginning and let us know of your plans in Learsea.” The duke glanced over at Peeron, who now took on a disgruntled look.

Rearranging the maps on the vast table while he gathered his words, Anchor finally found his voice. “If I had known you would have pressed the prince for my Learsea strategies, I might not have been so offhand in presenting them to him yesterday.” Anchor bowed his head towards Peeron. The prince’s face softened as he nodded towards Anchor. With Peeron’s loss of face restored, Anchor cleared his throat. He took the chance to look around the room to make sure he didn’t notice Sallia. He felt disappointment, but relief as well. Even in her absence, she confused him.

He began to describe his strategy from the fortifications in northwest Learsea to his plan to move on the southern dukedoms.

“What about timing?” Lotto said.

“We can’t determine the timing until we know how many troops Histron commits to Learsea. How is Princess Restella doing in Oringia?”

“Don’t worry about Oringia cutting you off. She’s making mincemeat of them, now that her hands aren’t tied as they were before. They’ll be under control when the fighting season ends.”

Anchor nodded. “I suggest that you eventually take Port Scarlet in the west, since it’s Oringia’s only suitable place to land an entire army from Dakkor. But the timing is critical that we coordinate our efforts. If we move together, when the time is right, it won’t matter what Histron does. We can bend on one side and penetrate on another.”

“That’s assuming Histron’s army doesn’t take Learsea,” the prince said, strolling to the table.

“I am confident that won’t happen,” Shiro said with such unshakeable confidence that all eyes were on him. “If Histron commits all of his troops—” He looked towards Anchor.

“Indeed. If he overcommits, we will seal him in Learsea and walk into Foxhome. That would be a last resort, but I believe that Histron is too shrewd to do such a thing.”

“And how do you know?” Peeron said. Anchor didn’t like the challenge in the prince’s voice. It looked like he hadn’t assuaged the prince, after all.

Anchor cleared his throat as he fought down the urge to put the prince in his place. “I have observed his recent decisions and there are journals in South Keep that documented other skirmishes with the Duke. His lands are not so far from South Keep. All of his military activities have been documented. Histron has never been one to keep his activities particularly secret.”

“You talk as if you know the man,” Prince Peeron said, scoffing Anchor’s description of the enemy.

“Do you think I have lived my life in isolation, Prince? I am a Red Kingdom subject and have a good enough knowledge of the man as well as having read the journals.” Nearly another slip. Anchor felt his forehead warm up. He hoped that weak explanation would be enough.

“That’s good enough for me, Prince Peeron,” Duke Jellas said. “Continue on, Lord Anchor”

Anchor laid out his entire plan and let the others in the room pick it apart. When they had finished, the group had done less picking apart and more additional planning for various contingencies were put into the plans of the rest of those present.

“I’m of the opinion that we have made sufficient progress here to proceed in a more coordinated fashion. Anchor, I’m impressed with your work,” the duke said.

“As am I,” the Gensler general said. “You have wisdom and creativity beyond your years.”

Lotto clapped Anchor on the back. “I can’t wait to save the world!” He seemed eager enough. Anchor realized that they probably looked to be much of the same age. Perhaps Anchor looked four or five years older, but he had no idea what age his body really was.

“Your plan will serve Learsea well,” Peeron said. “Perhaps next time my father will be invited.”

“Prince,” Duke Jellas said. “Anchor will brief your father next. When we hold another such session, perhaps Shiro can bring the king here.”

“Why don’t you all go there?” the prince said. Anchor wondered why King Willom had neglected to teach his son proper manners and tone of voice. Every sentence carried an undertone of resentment and condescension.

“Perhaps we will,” Anchor said. The others nodded.

“My servants will show you to quarters where you may freshen up before we dine a bit earlier than usual. All of this talk has parched my throat and deprived my stomach of a midday meal,” Jellas said, laughing. Even the prince smiled.

Anchor stood with Shiro and Chika as the others left. “How badly did the prince botch the plans?”

“He described a long withdrawal to the capital and then defeating Histron during the siege by cutting off his supply lines.”

“At least he got the supply line angle right,” Anchor said. “He didn’t mention that the Learsea army would be whittled down substantially enough to let Histron’s forces retreat at will?”

Shiro shook his head.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” Anchor said. “I think our Learsea strategy helped the others better figure out what they can do and I feel that we now fight as an alliance.”

“I do, too,” Shiro said.

“I like alliances, if they’re done properly,” Chika said.

Shiro ignored Chika except for a quick glance and ghost of a smile. Anchor was sure Shiro would come up with some kind of equally provocative retort if he was absent.

Anchor noticed someone coming to the door. He glanced over and went to a knee. “Princess Sallia.” Shiro and Chika gave short bows to the princess and left the room. Anchor’s palms began to sweat. Why did she affect him so?

“Rise, Lord Anchor,” she said.

Anchor felt like someone glued his tongue to the top of his mouth.

She smiled and the room seemed to lighten up. Unca could have made the room lighten up with humor and magic, but she did enough merely with her presence.

“Your Highness,” he said.

She sauntered over to the map table. “Can you give me a summary of what you talked about today? The men thought that I wasn’t needed.”

“Not me, your highness. The goal of the entire plan is to restore Foxhome to you.”

She smiled, wistfully. “To me? I think not. Foxhome will be restored to the people of the Red Kingdom.” She fingered the pouch that held the Bloodstone as she said it.

“If you will allow me?” Anchor said and then launched into the briefest of summaries that would give her a good idea of what they planned.

Sallia put the stone in her palm. “So this i
s
you
r
plan?” She closed her fist around the stone.

Anchor chanced a smile. “Precisely, your highness.” He longed to call her Sally once more. “Then you can ride triumphant into Foxhome.”

She smiled again. “I wish I didn’t have to. So many people will die before that can happen.”

“More will die if we don’t,”

Sallia’s face turned grim. “I know. We have no choice.” She pressed her lips tightly together and sighed. “And I know where my royal responsibilities lie.” She laid her hand on his own. Anchor’s heart beat a bit stronger. “I’m glad to have you with me, Anchor. This has all been overwhelming. I’ve had a lot of growing up to do in a very short time as have you?”

He nearly laughed, he had done just the opposite of grow up. “For me, it’s not the same.”

Sallia’s eyebrows shot up.

“How could it? I didn’t lose a kingdom.”

She looked down at the maps. “I didn’t either. I never had it. My father did. How can I rule the Red Kingdom? I don’t know if I’m up for it.”

“You just have to display the courage you have exercised from the very beginning. Remember how you saved the burning inn? You probably never had to draw water from a well before, but you performed splendidly in no time.”

Sallia’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”

Anchor panicked for a moment. “Unca told me before I first headed into Gensler.” He began to sweat a little more. “That’s why I sought you out. Remember?”

“I don’t remember you saying that Unca told you.”

Anchor forced a smile. “I wasn’t exactly in the kind of shape to provide you with much information in Everwet, your Highness.”

She relaxed. “Certainly. Of course. He mentioned that he knew of you in my only letter from him.”

His smile widened. “How may I serve you further, Princess?”

“Answer my letters as I will answer yours.” She pulled out his letter to her, still sealed. “What is in here?”

Anchor took a deep breath. “Much the same summary as I just gave you.” He dare not repeat the entire letter where he repeated his oath of loyalty.

He noticed Sallia drawing one of her hands into a fist. “I wish I were queen right now. I very much wish you to be titled in the Red Kingdom as well as Gensler, Anchor. Your counsel is important to me and I want you to continue to advise me in matters not precisely connected with the war. I miss my Unca. Since he is unavailable, perhaps you can you divert your attention to take his place advising me from time to time?”

“I live to serve, your Highness.” Anchor bowed to her.