Redemption (28 page)

The officers' faces paled at the prospect of trying to get through the lines of Odessian horsemen. They realized that Captain Hardan was calling their bluff, and their clamor for sending for reinforcements died out.

"What are we going to do then?" one of the officers asked meekly.

"I don't know," admitted Captain Hardan. "I am curious as to what the next step of the Odessians will be. I suspect that they would rather not destroy the city of Oran, but I know that they will if they have to. Perhaps that gives us a bargaining position."

"What do you mean?" asked one of the officers.

"I see only three options for us," explained Captain Hardan. "We can stay and fight in hopes of defeating the Odessians. We could surrender and hope they do not massacre us, or we can bargain for a peaceful retreat to Borunda. Given a choice, I would opt for the third option. We might be able to hold onto Oran, but for what purpose? We would need another army to complete the capture of all of Odessia, and General Wikner's army is already committed to the fight against Arin."

"I agree," conceded the defiant captain. "With no hope of reinforcements, we will be stuck in Oran forever. The only thing better than a retreat to Borunda would be if we could get word to King Zinan, but I am not willing to take that ride myself. Still, I think we should see if there are some men who would be willing to try it before we retreat."

Captain Hardan thought for a minute and then nodded in agreement. He waved the guards away, setting the officers free.

"There may be some men crazy enough to give it a try," Hardan conceded. "See if you can find any, but be quick about it. The Odessians are not going to sit there long before doing something."

Before the officers could depart, three riders separated from the long lines of Odessians and rode towards the wall. The outside riders were Odessian warriors, but the inside one was hooded. All of the officers moved to the wall and peered at the riders.

"That is King Rihad on the left," announced an officer.

"And Prince Umal on the right," added another. "Perhaps they are coming to parley?"

The riders halted some distance from the walls, but close enough to be easily identifiable. When Prince Umal was certain that all attention was on them, he reached up and pulled back the hood covering Jared's head.

"They have captured King Zinan!" gasped one of the officers. "We are doomed!"

Captain Hardan stared in amazement at the sight before him. He had expected the Odessian king to make a demand of surrender, but no words were required to fulfill the act. With the Borundan king captured, there was no chance of reinforcements, and there was no way that the Odessians would allow the Borundans to retreat from Oran. The war was over.

"Signal our surrender," Captain Hardan ordered the officers. "Have the men leave their weapons on the wall and retreat to the marketplace."

"But they will murder us all," complained one of the officers.

"They might," conceded Captain Hardan, "but I will try to make sure that they don't. Make sure that none of the men keep their weapons. I do not want to give the Odessians any excuse to start killing us."

"What are you going to do?" asked the guard.

"I am going out to surrender," answered Captain Hardan. "I am also going to plead for our lives. Wish me luck."

The captain walked down the stairs and ordered the gates opened. As the Borundan soldiers watched, the captain marched through the gates and approached King Rihad. He bowed to King Zinan and then drew his sword. He held the sword by the blade and extended it to the Odessian king.

"My men are willing to surrender the city to you King Rihad," Captain Hardan said formally, "but I would like to hear that they will be well treated."

The captain's eyes continually flicked towards King Zinan, and King Rihad noticed it. He waved his hand dismissively towards Jared.

"Take him away, Prince Umal," ordered King Rihad. "There is no need for his presence here while I discuss the terms of surrender with this captain."

Prince Umal took the reins to Jared's horse and led him away from the city walls. The captain watched his king being led away and shook his head.

"What is your name?" demanded King Rihad.

"I am Captain Hardan," answered the officer. "I was left in charge of Oran by General Bassner when he headed east."

"And you think I should spare the men who murdered the elderly of this Odessian city?" scowled the Odessian king.

"None of the men in Oran participated in that," replied Captain Hardan. "In fact, we found the general's actions reprehensible, but none of us are in any position to berate a superior officer. We are at your mercy, King Rihad, but I plead with you to be sensible in your moment of victory. We are giving up the city of Oran without a battle in order to save lives. Surely that is worth something of consideration to you?"

"It is," nodded King Rihad. "I am loathe to lose more warriors to a war that we never wished for, but I am concerned that my leniency will be cause for bolder steps by your people in the future. If there is no price to pay for waging war against your neighbors, won't others be more inclined to do so in the future?"

"I suppose that is possible," conceded the officer, "but I still must press for leniency. Surely you can think of some punishment other than murdering thousands of men?"

"Like only killing the officers?" asked King Rihad.

Captain Hardan swallowed hard as he stared at the Odessian king, but eventually he nodded. "If that will save the rest of the men," the captain conceded, "I will accept your punishment, but I must warn you that the others will not. If this is to be the terms of our surrender, I must insist that you do not seek retribution until the city is fully secured by your people. The other officers will panic and create a bloodbath. There is no need for that. Let me gather my officers in one place so they cannot sow discontent when the time comes."

"Only on the condition that these terms are disclosed to no one," countered King Rihad. "You are the only Borundan to know of what has been spoken out here. Will you abide by these terms?"

"I will," vowed the Borundan captain.

"Go and prepare your people for surrender," ordered the Odessian king. "Know that your soldiers will not be killed if they are disarmed and do not try to fight us."

Captain Hardan bowed and retreated to the city. King Rihad sat on his horse and watched the young officer walk away before turning and riding over the hill to where his camp was. He dismounted and was met by Prince Umal and his friends.

"An interesting man, that captain," commented King Rihad. "He offered up his life to save his men."

"A trick?" asked Prince Umal.

"I don't think so," the king shook his head. "He was sincerely eager to avoid the death of his men. I think if Borunda had more men like Captain Hardan, their armies would not be out marauding the world."

"You aren't going to massacre the Borundans, are you?" Jared asked in alarm. "I thought the purpose of this was to avoid bloodshed?"

"I do not intend to kill anyone," smiled King Rihad, "but it does not hurt to make the Borundans think there is a heavy price to pay. I suspect that we will enslave the officers for a few years, and they will welcome that solution over death. When we finally return them to Borunda, they will be more like ambassadors of goodwill. Perhaps the stories of this war will help to prevent the next one."

"You know best, father," nodded Prince Umal. "While I would like to stay and see the people of Oran returned to their homes, I must leave you once again."

"I know," the king sighed sadly. "Where are you off to now?"

"We go in search of the real King Zinan," answered Jared. "He is not far to the south from here. Maybe three day's ride."

"Three days?" frowned the king. "That will take you into Capri. It is not safe for you there. The Borundans are all over the place down there."

"Where else would we find the Borundan king?" Prince Umal smiled thinly, "but in the middle of all of the Borundans? I will not offer false promises, father, but I do hope to see you again. Give mother my love when you see her."

King Rihad's eyes began to water, but he offered no words of farewell. He embraced his son and hugged him tightly for several minutes. When the embrace was broken, Prince Umal turned and whistled loudly. His Odessian beauty came running and he leaped into the saddle and rode swiftly southward. The foreigners quickly ran for their horses to follow the Odessian prince, but Prince Antion did not ride directly south with the others. He rode towards King Rihad and looked down at the monarch.

"I will do everything I can to see that Umal returns home," the Arin prince vowed.

"But there are no guarantees," nodded the king. "I understand, son of Caedmon. You both must do what you are called to do. Go swiftly. Odessians do not care to see their king cry, and I cannot hold back the tears any longer."

Prince Antion smiled tautly at the king and nodded. He turned his Odessian beauty and galloped after the others.

In the forests of northern Capri, well off the Koar-Oran Road, the warriors bedded down for the night. Their close proximity to the Borundan army required that sentries be posted throughout the night, although the location of their campsite almost ensured that no one would stumble upon them. Prince Derri had chosen a spot at the summit of a hill that was only accessible by a single path, and the trail leading up the slope was littered with dead brambles, which would break noisily under someone's approach.

Sandar and Winona drew the second shift of the night. They stood concealed by a large rock where they had an excellent view of the trail to the base of the hill. The nearly full moon cast a broad glow of light over the forest, and the two foreign warriors felt their minds drifting as their eyes kept watch. Half way through the watch, Sandar noticed that Winona kept staring back at the campsite. He followed her gaze, but he saw nothing alarming in the camp.

"Is something the matter?" Sandar asked softly.

Winona quickly tore her eyes from the campsite and shook her head. "No," she answered. "There is nothing wrong."

Sandar thought that Winona had acted with embarrassment, and he dwelt on his thoughts in silence for some moments before pursuing the matter.

"What were you thinking about?" he asked.

"Many things," Winona answered distractedly.

"Like what?" pushed the Arin soldier.

Winona remained silent for several minutes as if pondering some inner debate. Finally she sighed softly and smiled thinly.

"Life in the Land of the Nine Kingdoms is not what I expected," Winona confessed. "Since I was a young girl, I have been taught that the royalty of our neighbors were terrible people, yet that is not true. I have watched your princes critically since this journey began, and I have not seen anything that would not make my fellow countrymen proud to associate with such men. We have been treated with respect in every country that we have been to. How could my people be so wrong about what exists outside of Harangar?"

"Perhaps what you were taught was necessary," shrugged Sandar.

"What do you mean?" frowned Winona. "Since when is it necessary to speak lies?"

"What did you think of the Lomites?" asked Sandar.

"They were a strange people," admitted Winona, "but they truly cared for the people of the nations around them. They would not have agreed to send out their warriors if they did not believe so."

"Yet the Lomites forbid visitors to their land," Sandar pointed out. "To enter the jungles without an invitation is punishable by death. Is that not a contradiction to you? How can they care for their fellow man and yet threaten to kill them for visiting?"

"I do find that strange," conceded Winona. "Perhaps the stories of such a punishment are not true?"

"The stories are true enough," countered Sandar. "Prince Antion has stated so, and he would never lie to me."

"But it makes no sense," frowned Winona.

"To me," smiled Sandar, "it makes as much sense as the attitude of the people of Harangar. Your city also threatens to kill those who trespass."

"But we must," retorted Winona. "Our very safety rests in our ability to hide from the hordes of the Land of the Nine Kingdoms."

Winona's face screwed up in confusion as she listened to her own defense of Harangar.

"You are beginning to see what I see," Sandar smiled widely. "The people of Harangar have isolated themselves as a form of protection, but man's curiosity can spoil such defenses. I imagine at one time long ago, the threat to Harangar was quite real and such a defense was required, but the threat is long gone. Still, the best way to remain safe is to prolong the beliefs of long ago. Those beliefs may indeed be lies now, but who could possibly know that?"

"No one," Winona nodded grudgingly. "Our people never leave the mountains. Perhaps that is why I will not be allowed to return? Could it be that Orro knows what I will discover on this journey, and he fears my spreading the word to the other people?"

"I cannot speak for Orro," shrugged Sandar, "but your leaving Harangar certainly does present a problem for your people. If Harangar were to let down its defenses, who knows what might happen?"

"Or it could simply be that Orro has foreseen my death," frowned Winona. "We shall never know."

"I think we will know very shortly," replied the Arin soldier. "I heard Jared speaking earlier this evening. It sounds like King Zinan is within two day's ride of here."

Winona nodded without reply. Her eyes swept over the sleeping forms in the campsite once again, but she turned to face Sandar as soon as she realized what she was doing. Once again she appeared to be embarrassed, but Sandar did not pursue it.

"What is he really like?" she asked after a while.

"King Zinan?" asked Sandar.

"Prince Antion," replied Winona. "He acts very nice on the trail, and the other rulers seem to respect him, but that does not mean a lot to me. What do the people of Arin think about him?"

"Arinites think the world of Prince Antion," Sandar answered, "as they do every member of the royal family. I know in some countries the royalty think themselves above the people, but Arin is not like that. King Caedmon thinks of himself as a servant to the people, and so do the rest of the royals in Arin. Prince Antion used to travel around Arin a great deal. He would always stop in a village or small town and talk to the citizens. If there were a problem that they were working on, he would join with them to help. I have seen him help build a barn and harvest a crop. He would always be invited to spend the night with a family, and he often did. He held no false airs of being above the people."

"That is so hard to imagine," admitted Winona. "Can the people really respect him after they learn that he is no different from them?"

"The people love him," Sandar beamed. "Princess Glynis spends at least one day each week in the marketplace buying goods for needy people. She does not spend money from the royal treasury, but rather her own personal allowance."

"A nice sentiment," replied Winona, "but surely her allowance comes from the treasury in an indirect manner?"

"Probably so," agreed Sandar, "but that is of no concern to the people. The funds are hers no matter where they come from, and she is free to do with the gold as she wishes, but her actions show that she cares more for the people of Arin than herself. Everything the royal family of Arin does is for the people. You cannot imagine how good that makes my countrymen feel."

"I think I can imagine it," Winona replied after a short pause to think about it. "Is Princess Glynis his wife?"

"Wife?" Sandar echoed with surprise. "Oh no. She is his sister."

"Then he is unwed?" Winona asked hesitantly.

Sandar sighed and bit his lip as he began to understand what was going through Winona's mind. His eyes fell to the ground and he shook his head.

"Prince Antion is not married," he said softly, "but when he is betrothed, it will be to a princess of one of the nine kingdoms. That is a tradition as old as Arin itself. Prince Antion would no more break such a tradition than he would cheat a citizen in the marketplace. He would not be a prince if he acted so poorly."

"You answered that delicately," Winona smiled thinly as sadness fell over her face.

"I am sorry," Sandar said softly, "but you are entitled to the truth. One could not miss the attachment growing between you and Prince Antion, but nothing will ever come of it. Do not blame him, Winona. It is not a decision that is his to make."

"You are imagining things," Winona blushed vividly. "I never claimed any attachment to your prince."

"You did not have to make a claim," Sandar replied. "Prince Antion is an easy man to love. On the trail you stare at him constantly, and you blush and turn away whenever he catches you staring at him. That is nothing to be ashamed of. Were I a woman, I would feel the same as you do, but I am not. The best I can do is to offer my life to protect his."

"I think I was sent on this mission to protect Jared," confessed Winona, "But I find myself thinking about protecting Antion instead. Perhaps my foolish mind did seek some sort of union after this was all over, but I can see that will never happen. Perhaps it would be better for me to give my life protecting him after all. I see no future for myself in a few day's time."

"We will be extremely fortunate to survive the next few days," offered Sandar. "Put your mind on protecting Jared, and I will protect Prince Antion. If the Land of the Nine Kingdoms is to survive, those two must not be allowed to perish."

"I will concentrate on Jared," promised Winona. After a few moments of awkward silence, she continued, "You won't mention this to anyone, will you, Sandar? It is embarrassing to know that one's affections are not mutually shared."

"There is no point in wagging one's tongue about things best not repeated," Sandar replied. "I will not whisper a word about our talk tonight."

* * *

The warriors rode single file through the thick forest. Prince Derri set a slow pace and kept his eyes set on the forest floor. As the sun began to lower, the Salacian prince silently signaled for a halt. He slid off his horse and knelt before it, his eyes studying the tracks that he had come across. His brow knitted with deep furrows as he tried to count the individual prints. Eventually he shook his head and rose to his feet. When he turned around, he found Prince Antion standing behind him.

"That looks like a lot of prints," The Arin prince said softly.

"More than twenty," nodded Prince Derri, "and they are fairly fresh. It could be as many as forty or fifty. It is hard to tell for sure."

"Borundans?" asked Prince Antion.

"No," Prince Derri replied, "at least they were not shoed by the Borundan army, but who can tell these days. Their army has grown so large and so quickly that they might be using public smiths in Koar for all we know. All I can say is that a large group of riders turned onto this trail not too long ago."

"How long ago?" asked the Arin prince.

"Perhaps an hour," shrugged Prince Derri. "Certainly not much longer than that. Should I seek another trail?"

"We must be getting awfully close to the Koar-Anatar Road," frowned Prince Antion. "We are bound to bump into somebody fairly soon no matter which path we take. I would rather be behind a large group than run into one head on. Keep a close eye on their tracks. If we start getting too close, we will take a break and let them move on ahead of us."

Prince Derri nodded and remounted his horse. He waited until Prince Antion was back on his Odessian beauty before leading the group forward. As the sky began to darken, Prince Derri halted again.

"Are we catching up to them?" Prince Antion asked as the Salacian prince hovered over the tracks.

"We are," Prince Derri nodded, "but what concerns me more is that they just split into two groups. I don't like it."

"You think they are setting up an ambush?" asked the Arin prince.

"Quite possibly," nodded Prince Derri. "We came over a hill about a mile back. It is conceivable that they saw us behind them when they reached that summit. In any event, it is getting too dark to keep an eye on their tracks. I don't think we should continue onward tonight."

"I agree," stated Prince Antion, "but they might come back if we don't stumble into their ambush."

"That is a possibility," shrugged Prince Derri, "but every night is a danger for us this far south. Even if we turned around to put some distance between us, they still might backtrack to find us. It is your call, Antion."

"Find us a secure campsite," ordered the Arin prince. "We will camp without going any further, but we will not leave ourselves unprotected this night."

Prince Derri looked curiously at his blood brother, but Prince Antion turned and walked back to his horse. The Salacian prince turned the group around and within a half hour had selected a clearing well off the trail. As the group set up camp, Prince Antion stood in the center of the clearing and slowly rotated to view the surrounding woods. Slowly a plan began to form in his mind.

"Talot," Prince Antion called softly, "start a small fire. We might as well enjoy a hot meal tonight. We will not get another chance."

Everyone stopped what he or she was doing and turned to stare at the Arin prince as if he had gone mad. Prince Antion ignored them all and waved for Winona to join him. The warrior from Harangar crossed the clearing and stood in front of the Arin prince, but she did not voice the question that was on everyone's mind.

"I want you to use the Talent tonight," instructed Prince Antion. "You will need to use the Talent within me to toughen the skin of each of us."

"But we are within a day's ride of King Zinan," Winona protested. "If your well is empty when Jared meets his brother, our mission is doomed to failure."

"I think your protection only lasts a day," replied Prince Antion. "At least that is what it did in the deserts of Odessia. If I am wrong, we will delay the meeting between Jared and his brother until I am refilled."

"How could you know how long it lasts?" asked Winona.

"I used my knife to test my skin the last time you protected me," answered the Arin prince. "Besides, Orro taught me to understand what is within me. His purpose was to allow me to shut off Jared's flow when I ran empty, but it also allows me to sense when I am full. Do not fret about it, Winona. I am not about to endanger Jared at this late stage, but we must survive this night if we are to ever meet up with King Zinan."

"So you are confident that we will be attacked?" asked Winona.

"I am," nodded Prince Antion. "Capri is notorious for bandit raids, and I think that is who we have been following. They will come when they think we are all asleep."

"That is why you allowed the fire," Winona nodded with understanding. "They will know where we are anyway."

"Exactly," smiled Prince Antion. "Will you use the Talent?"

"Of course," Winona quickly agreed.

* * *

Babul dismounted and tied his horse to a tree. He signaled to his men, and they also dismounted and secured their horses. The almost full moon tinted the forest with pale light, but the bandit leader's eyes were focused towards the occasional flickers of fire that were barely visible deeper in the forest. He waited for his men to become still before cocking his head to listen to the sounds of the forest.