Council of War (15 page)

"Well met, Garth Shado," replied the general. "I am General Omirro of Ertak. Have you come from Giza?"

"We have," nodded Garth. "They had a bit of trouble there recently. Is that where you are heading?"

"No," the general shook his head. "Aerta already has more than enough men to control their area. Did you see the state of the shipyards before you left?"

"No," replied Garth. "We were just finishing up a deal for gems when the explosions went off. The city was quite chaotic at the time, so we decided to leave. It is a good thing that we did. I heard that the city is now sealed off."

"That is normal here in the Federation," nodded General Omirro. "Anytime there is an attack, we try to cordon off the troublemakers. You must have good contacts in Giza to have been allowed to leave. That speaks highly for your group."

"I like to think that we are well known and respected wherever we go," smiled Garth. "Sidney Mercado would not have it any other way."

"He is well known in Ertak," nodded the general. "I have never heard a bad word about him. I have enjoyed your company, Garth Shado, but it is time to lead my army northward."

Finished with his meal, the general rose. He stretched and looked at the plates of the two colonels. Neither of them had finished eating yet, but they both pushed their plates away and rose to their feet. As the officers walked away from the table, the general whispered to one of the colonels. The chosen officer returned to the table as the other two officers mounted and rode off.

"I need to see your papers," the colonel said to Garth.

"Of course," smiled Garth as he rose to his feet. "I think I left them on my horse. I had not expected an interrogation over the midday meal."

As Garth walked to the horses, the colonel accompanied him.

"I am sorry to trouble you," the colonel said apologetically, "but the general is always suspicious of strangers."

"I understand," Garth replied with a tone that said he truly was offended.

Garth retrieved his papers and handed them to the colonel. The officer merely glanced at them and handed them back with a smile and a nod.

"I can't believe how long your column is," Garth said. "I doubt there will be enough ale in Giza to suffice."

"General Omirro frowns on drinkers," chuckled the colonel. "Besides, we are not going near Giza. We will have the pleasure of stomping around in the Kyber Woods. There surely won't be any ale there."

"Certainly not," chuckled Garth. "I feel for you, Colonel. There is nothing worse than being stuck in the woods with ten thousand thirsty men."

"Yes, there is," laughed the colonel.

Garth raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Being stuck in the woods with twenty thousand thirsty men," laughed the colonel. "Have a good trip, Garth Shado."

"And you as well, Colonel…"

"Verle," the officer replied. "Colonel Verle."

* * *

Gerant rode to the center of the Aranak Road and halted his horse. He gave a glance over his shoulder and nodded approvingly when he could not see any part of the campsite he had chosen. Passersby would still be able to notice the smoke from the fire, but that couldn't be helped. As the sun was already dipping below the western trees, there would be few travelers on the road to spot the camp. A few minutes later, the column of Alceans appeared. Gerant raised his arm high to signal that he was safe and had located a campsite.

Lyron was leading the Alcean party, and he saw the signal of his fellow elf. He announced to the others that they were stopping for the night, and when he reached Gerant, they rode together along a narrow trail to a wide clearing with a stream nearby. The column of Alceans followed, with Max Caber being the last in line. As soon as the group entered the clearing, they set out to secure the camp. Clint McFarren and Shawn Cowan went out to set a trip line, while Max Caber calculated potential attack zones and walked into the woods to scout the terrain.

Lyron and Gerant climbed trees and stored quivers of arrows in strategic places. Prince Rigal took care of the horses while Chanz organized the sailors in setting up a fire pit and gathering wood. Karl Gree prepared a deer he had shot earlier in the day. In less than an hour the camp was secured and the cooking was started. As the Alceans sat down to eat, a fairy descended through the trees and landed on Prince Rigal's shoulder.

"How are things behind us?" asked the elven prince.

"Very good," announced Mite. "The soldiers are still moving northward in the desert."

"Then we have a relaxing night ahead of us," smiled Karl Gree. "Let's make a short night of it. I wouldn't mind getting an early start to put more distance between us and the desert."

"Not until we stuff ourselves with the bounty you have provided," chuckled Max. "I am as hungry as a bear."

"You are always hungry," quipped Shawn. "Shall I go gather some berries for you?"

The banter was cut short by the sound of a tiny bell, and the entire camp instantly fell silent. Lyron and Gerant scampered to their posts in the trees, while Max directed the sailors into the forest away from the road. Karl, Prince Rigal, Shawn, and Clint grabbed their bows and faded into the trees in various directions. Everyone waited silently for the enemy to appear. An old man leading a mule walked into the clearing and stared at the burning fire. He scratched his head and turned to look at the large number horses tethered to the trees.

"Hello the camp," the old man called. "Where is everyone?"

Karl Gree stowed his bow and walked into the clearing. "Are you alone?"

"It is just me and my mule," stated the old man. "The name is Fakir Aziz. May I share your camp?"

Karl Gree frowned, but the old man had already seen the number of horses. To refuse his request would only create more suspicion than anything he would be able to determine from seeing the rest of the group.

"You are welcome to share our bounty," Karl smiled. "We were afraid that bandits were attacking us."

"Not many bandits bother with the Aranak Road," Fakir said as he led his mule to the stream. "There is not enough traffic to make thieving profitable."

Prince Rigal stepped out of the trees and took the reins of the mule. I would be happy to see to your mount," he smiled. "Go get some food. We were just about to start eating."

Fakir raised an eyebrow at seeing the elf, but he smiled and nodded. He turned and headed back towards the fire as other members of the party emerged from the woods.

"You have quite a large party," he remarked to Karl. "Perhaps there is not enough to share?"

"There is plenty," smiled the Knight of Alcea. "My name is Karl Gree. Come, I will introduce you to the others."

Karl introduced the members of the party, but he conveniently forgot to mention Prince Rigal's title. Fakir nodded and smiled to each member as he was introduced.

"I don't often see humans and elves traveling together," Fakir mentioned. "Where are you heading?"

"West," Karl answered ambiguously. "What about you?"

"I was heading to Tyronia," answered Fakir, "but I think I have changed my mind."

"Oh?" asked Karl. "Why is that?"

"Can't get through Sebastian Pass," answered Fakir Aziz.

"Why can't you get through the pass?" asked Clint.

"Well," Fakir said slowly, "perhaps I have misspoken. I guess it is possible to get through the pass, but it is not something I want to go through."

"Could you elaborate?" pressed Karl. "We had intended to go through the pass ourselves. If there is a problem with doing that, I would like to know about it."

"The Federation Army has the pass sealed off," replied the old man. "From what I have heard, they are interrogating every single person who tries to get through it. If they are skeptical of your papers, they will send a rider out to verify them, and you have to sit there and wait for the rider to return. They don't seem to care if that means that you might end up waiting a month for the rider to get back. I have no desire to spend the rest of my life waiting for the army to do something."

"Nor do we," frowned Karl. "How long has this been going on?"

"Just started from what I heard," answered Fakir.

"How do you plan to get to Tyronia?" asked Max.

"I heard that there is a boat that travels between Tyronia and Korocca," answered Fakir. "I suppose I will head north from here and catch that boat."

"I thought it was impossible to get to Korocca?" asked Lyron.

"Nothing is impossible," shrugged Fakir. "All you have to do is head north through the forest."

"The Forest of Death?" asked Clint. "I heard that no one passes through that forest."

"What a gruesome name," replied the old man. "Can you imagine anyone calling some woods the Forest of Death?"

"Perhaps there is a good reason for the name," Prince Rigal said. "Have you ever been through it before?"

"Can't say as I have," replied the old man, "but ask me the same question next week, and I will have a different answer."

"That is quite a risk to take just to avoid the Federation Army," stated Shawn. "Are you a criminal?"

"Me?" chuckled the old man. "Do I look like a criminal to you? I just happen to know how it is to deal with the army when they have orders to harass people. I will take my chances in the Forest of Death. Besides, I have always wanted to see the birthplace of the Occan horses. They are magnificent animals."

"Well," said Karl, "we wish you well on your journey. What is your trade, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I am a tutor, philosopher, and historian," Fakir Aziz said proudly.

"And you have never heard of people going crazy in the Forest of Death?" Karl asked suspiciously.

"Oh, I have heard the stories," shrugged the old man, "but I have also heard of people going crazy in the desert, and in Giza, and in other places. I have spent my life in a very secure environment, and now I have realized that I have missed much of what life has to offer. If anything in the Forest of Death can make me go crazy, it is welcome to try. I am not afraid. Going crazy is all in your mind after all."

Prince Rigal rose and walked away from the fire as the others continued to talk. When he caught the eye of Karl Gree, he waved for him to come away from the fire. Karl rose nonchalantly and joined the elven prince.

"It sounds as if the old man is trying to lure us into the Forest of Death," whispered Prince Rigal. "I don't trust him."

"Perhaps," replied Karl. "I will dispatch a fairy to check out Sebastian Pass the first thing in the morning. I am not so sure that the old man is luring us, though. He may already be crazy, or perhaps he has a death wish of some kind. We just don't know enough about him to take his word as truth."

"We passed a village not an hour before we camped," mused Prince Rigal. "Perhaps we could also check there in the morning to see if they have heard anything about soldiers blocking the pass."

"The fairy will suffice," stated Karl. "They have never failed us yet. Go out and find the bell the old man set off. Make sure that it is restrung. I don't want any more strangers roaming into the camp."

The sound of the distant bell was as faint as the turning of a key in a lock, but it was enough to instantly arouse the campsite. Karl Gree, the Rangers, and the elves all bolted upright and scrambled for their weapons. Prince Rigal nudged Chanz with his foot while he held a finger to his lips. Captain Gomery's mate looked up with sleepy eyes and saw the elven prince give the signal for danger. He promptly woke the other sailors, and Max Caber led them into the forest. The other members of the team split up and prepared for battle. Only after he was in position did Karl notice that the old man's mule was gone, as was Fakir Aziz.

Karl woke Peanut and softly whispered to the fairy. Peanut darted into the air and wove his way through the trees to the main road. There he saw the old man slowly leading his mule along the road. Following Karl's instructions, the fairy backtracked along the narrow trail until he found the bell that had been disturbed. He flew back to the campsite and informed the Knight of Alcea. Karl whistled a signal and everyone returned into the clearing.

"It was Fakir Aziz," Karl announced. "I guess he did not learn his lesson after his arrival here last night. He tripped up another bell."

"How was he to know?" asked Chanz. "I didn't know what the bells were the first time."

"Surely, he heard it," replied Shawn.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that," commented Lyron. "I don't think the old man's hearing is as good as it used to be. I bet he didn't even know that he was waking the whole camp."

"His hearing may not be any good," remarked Prince Rigal, "but his stealth is superb. None of us even heard him leaving the camp. He must have been up and about for some time to get his mule packed and saddled."

"Now that we are awake," Karl said, "let's get the morning meal underway. We will be leaving as soon as Peanut returns from the Sebastian Pass."

The Alceans moved into action slowly, but efficiently. Karl looked at the fairy on his shoulder.

"You do remember what I told you last night?" inquired Karl.

"Fairies never forget," boasted Peanut. "I am to investigate the soldiers at the pass and see if it is safe for us to proceed there."

"Then get to it," smiled Karl.

"Am I still here?" quipped the fairy as he leaped into the air.

Karl laughed as the adventurous fairy darted out of sight. Within minutes the fire was roaring, and the Alceans gathered around for a morning meal of venison and tea. A while later, the first rays of the sun started tinting the sky, and Karl felt a fairy land on his shoulder.

"That was quick, Peanut," he said as he turned to stare at a blue fairy.

"Peanut?" balked Button. "Do I look like Peanut? Perhaps I should mistake you for a big, hairy ogre."

Karl laughed heartily and inclined his head in an apology. "It just goes to show that one should never expect fairies to be predictable. I sent Peanut on a secret mission to Sebastian Pass a while ago. I am waiting for him to return. What news do you bring, Button?"