The Eternal Darkness (16 page)

There was general agreement with the plan, but Genela stood.  “I have no doubts that your plan is sound, Commander, but to do so would leave the city unprotected.  How will we defend the city if the army is in the north?”

“We will order the southern garrison to mobilize and come to the city,” Reiden stated.  “However, we do not have time to wait for them to arrive before departing.  We can seal the gates when we leave.  There are enough provisions to provide for the city until the garrisons arrive.  It is a risk, but the bigger risk is to allow this army to march unchallenged to our north.”

“If I may, Majesty?” Norlan asked, standing behind those at the table.

“Please, Mastersmith; I want your view on this,” she told him.

“There are men in the city who have military experience or know how to fight,” Norlan said.  “We could gather those men with this experience and form a watch to help protect the city until the soldiers arrive.  If need be, we can have the older boys join as well.”  He looked at Reiden.  “Surely there are retired soldiers whom you trust that can provide instruction and leadership.”

When Reiden nodded, Keria spoke, “I believe that your proposal has merit, Mastersmith.  I will approve it, if you agree to lead this watch.”

Norlan looked uncomfortable, but nodded.  “If you wish it, Majesty, I will do it.”

“Does this address your concerns, Lord Genela?” she asked.

“I still fear that the risk is too great, but I understand the reasons, Your Majesty,” he replied.  “If the council agrees this is the course of action, then I will support it.”

“Does anyone have any objections?” she asked.  As she looked around, she saw general agreement.

“Very well,” she said, straightening.  “We will follow Commander Reiden’s plan.  I expect the nobles to go with the army, to oversee your men-at-arms.  Commander Reiden has overall authority on military matters.  Brother Trence, please gather your clerics.”  She looked over at Reiden.  “Commander, prepare the army to march.”

C
HAPTER
N
INE

Nodding to the people as he passed, noting the surprised looks on their faces, Marcus turned and rode up the small alley, Daen at his side and leading another horse.  They approached a stone building at the end of the alley, a sign hanging over a brightly painted door.  The faded letters of the sign read
The Happy Warrior. 
Below the name was a painted scene of a knight in armor, a wide smile on his face, holding a tankard of ale.  Marcus tried to keep his expression neutral, but he could not help but smile slightly at the picture.  This seemed the perfect place to find Nathen.

He dismounted and went inside, Daen close behind.  The room was small and dark, with the only light coming from a small window near the bar and single candles on the tables.  He spotted Nathen immediately, sitting at a table with two other soldiers, tankards in hand.  Marcus recognized them as members of the Royal Guard, Reman and Lane.  Those two had been friends since childhood, their families living next to each other, and had joined the Guard together.  Nathen shared their love of drink and women, so they were often found together in the taverns.

Shaking his head, Marcus went over to their table.  Reman and Lane saw him first, their eyes going wide, and quickly stood at attention, but Nathen was preoccupied whispering to the serving woman sitting on his lap.  When he finally noticed the other two standing, he craned his head around.  He smiled widely at Marcus and Daen as they approached.

“Have you come to drink with us, Marcus?” he said gregariously.  “I will admit to being surprised. You can be such a prude at times.”

“You know that I have not, Nathen,” Marcus said, frowning slightly. 
Prude, am I?
  “I do drink, just not as often as you do.  That may indeed make me a prude, but we can discuss that as we ride.  The time for drinking is over.  The army is almost assembled and will be ready to march shortly.  There will be no more ale for any of us until we drive the invaders out.”

“Why do you think I am here?” Nathen replied, draining his cup.  Setting it back on the table, he leaned in and kissed the woman soundly.  Marcus saw Daen roll his eyes at the sight.

“Will you miss me, my darling?” Nathen asked as he broke the kiss and gently helped her to her feet.  He stood and reached out to brush her face with his fingers.  “I am off to defend you and all of the good people of the city from the demon hordes.”

“Of course, my lord,” the woman said, smiling, as she kissed his hand.  “You are always the best tipper.”

Marcus hid a smile with his hand, but Daen laughed openly at that.  Nathen did not seem to mind as he smiled widely.  He plucked a gold coin from his purse and pressed it into her hand. “That is why I like you, dear girl; you’re honest.”

Tossing another coin on the bar, Nathen turned to Marcus.  “What are we waiting for?” he said grandly.  “We don’t want to miss the fight.”

“You are right, of course, Nathen,” Marcus said as he gestured to the door.  “After you.”  With a laugh, Nathen gave him a bow and went outside, the rest following.

As Reman and Lane set off for the barracks, Marcus, Daen and Nathen climbed onto their horses.  They went back up the alley and turned towards the palace.

“You know, Nathen, you are a knight now,” Marcus said as they rode side by side.  “You may want act a bit more dignified.”

Nathen laughed.  “I’m happy the way I am,
Sir Lord Prince
Marcus,” he replied.  “I will leave acting dignified to you.”

Marcus chuckled and slapped Nathen good-naturedly on the back.  “I will try to meet your expectations.”

The mirth faded as they approached the palace and saw the gathering of their forces.  Most of the army and men-at-arms had mustered outside the city walls, in the field just north of the Royal Highway.  The Royal Guard and some of the city garrisons were in the courtyard, assembling weapons and supplies, as they prepared to join the rest of the army.

The three friends rode through the gathering, Marcus returning the salutes as they passed.  At the palace gates, two old men in the armor of the Royal Guard stood at attention.  They had served the crown in years past, pensioners that had stepped forward to offer their services again.  While they were past their prime, both carried themselves with dignity and, Marcus noted, a seriousness of purpose.  He sensed that they had not forgotten how to use the spears in their hands or the swords on their hips.  While he would worry for Keria’s safety while he was gone, he was confident that these men would do their best to honor those uniforms, if the need came upon them.

There were many older veterans that had stepped forward and joined the City Watch.  They dug out their old armor and uniforms from chests and closets, wearing them with pride, even though some did not fit as well since age and weight had taken their toll.  While Norlan was nominally in charge, he had left the organization of the Watch to his second, a gray haired man named Jansen.

Jansen had been in the Royal Guard many years before, serving for decades before retiring when Dominic was still commander.  A veteran of many battles, he had been the commander overseeing the new recruits when he decided it was time to leave, known for his tough, but fair, demeanor.  He was well respected, had the confidence and support of Commander Helgrant, and still looked tough-as-iron.

Even as he thought of him, Marcus saw him standing at the base of the stairs leading into the palace, speaking with Norlan.  Though his close-cropped hair was completely silver, the man held himself with the confidence of one much younger.  His lined face, with his squared jaw and hard dark eyes, still radiated an aura of danger.  He was slim and sinewy, his armor neat and spotless, and his swordhilt showing the wear of many years of use. 
A hard man even now
, Marcus thought. 
I don’t think I would want to be his enemy.

As he got closer, Marcus overheard Norlan, dressed in his thick breastplate and holding his spiked maul, discussing the organization and positioning of the Watch.  Norlan stopped when Jansen pointed in Marcus’ direction.

“Greetings, Prince Marcus,” Norlan said with a small bow.  There was a twinkle of humor in his eyes as he glanced at Nathen.  “I see that you found your wayward friend.”

“It was not too hard, Commander Norlan,” Daen said.  As the leader of the City Watch, Keria had granted Norlan that title.  “We only had to follow the sound of bawdy songs, badly sung, and the smell of day-old ale.”

While Nathen sputtered in indignation, Norlan laughed and even Jansen cracked a smile.  “I’m glad to see that you have such refined friends, my prince,” Norlan said.

“They say that friends are a blessing from the One, but in my case, they may be a test of my patience and forgiveness,” Marcus said lightly.  Daen and Nathen shared an exasperated look at that.

Norlan chuckled, but his smile slowly faded.  He stepped closer to Marcus.  “Helgrant has ordered the Guard to be ready to depart by mid-afternoon.  Reiden wants to get the army marching quickly.  He is concerned about making it to the selected ambush location in time to intercept the invaders.”

“Then we will gather our belongings and be ready as well,” Marcus stated as he dismounted.  He looked over at his friends.  “I must see the queen before we leave.  I will meet you back here in two hours.”

Nathen, a smile playing on his lips, had a look like he was prepared to say something sarcastic, but Daen nudged him, glancing meaningful at the people all around them.  Nathen nodded and simply replied, “We will see you then, Your Highness.”  The two rode away, heading to the far side of the palace.

“I will have someone take care of your horse, my prince,” Jansen said, motioning for a young man standing nearby.  When the youth approached, looking unsure of himself in his uniform and mismatch pieces of armor, Marcus could see that he was only fifteen or sixteen.  He knew that they were recruiting the older boys into the Watch, but this one seemed much too young to be carrying a spear. 
Norlan and Jansen have to work with what they have
, he thought grimly.  He handed the boy his reins, giving him a nod and word of thanks.

“Is there anything you need from the queen?” Marcus asked Norlan.

“No,” he replied.  “I’m scheduled to meet with her after the army departs.

“I will see you before I leave, then,” Marcus stated and went up the stairs into the palace.

He made his way to Keria’s study and saw the two Royal Guardsmen standing watch next to the door.  Unlike the men manning the gate, Keria’s personal guards were current members of the Guard.  Helgrant decided to leave a small detachment of Guardsmen behind with the sole mission to protect Keria.

“Is she alone?” Marcus asked as he stopped at the door.

“She is, Your Highness,” one of the guards replied as the other one opened the door for him.  “She is expecting you.”

He went inside and the door shut behind him.  Keria was standing near the window, looking out over the soldiers forming up.  She turned when the door closed.  Marcus could see that she had been crying.

“What’s wrong, Keria?” he asked gently as he went over to her.  She threw her arms around him and clung tightly to him.

“You know,” she said softly, fresh tears coming to her eyes.

“I have to go, Keria; we have discussed it,” he said quietly as he tenderly wiped away the tears.

“I know, but part of me still wants to order you to stay,” she murmured against his chest.

Marcus simply nodded.  He did not want to reopen this issue.  Their first argument had arisen two nights ago over the issue of him going with the army.  He had simply assumed that he would go and was stunned when Keria stated she wanted him to stay in the city.  Unable to agree, they had turned to Norlan, the one person they trusted to help them resolve it.

Marcus knew Norlan was uncomfortable to be involved, but once he knew that they truly wanted and needed his advice, he had listened to them with the concern of a father.  He had evaluated each one’s reasons, and then found a solution to which they had agreed.

“While I know that it is very hard to part, especially in these circumstances, I think Marcus should go,” he had told Keria.  “You may have placed Reiden in charge of military matters, but once the army leaves the city behind, he will have to contend with the nobles.  You need someone there to speak with your voice to keep them in line.  Marcus is Prince of the Realm and will be king one day.  He has shown that he has the courage to face the danger and the skill to deal with the nobles.  He seems to be the perfect one to go.”

“However, he will go with the understanding that he is there to lead,” Norlan then stated, looking at him, eyes firm.  “He will leave the battle to the soldiers.  He may defend himself, of course, but he will not seek out the fighting.”

Marcus shook his head slightly at the memory.  He did not like to be bound to something that he could not control.  Battle was unpredictable, shifting in ways that could not be foreseen, but he would try his best to honor his part of the agreement.

“I wanted to say farewell while we are alone,” he told Keria softly as he reached down and turned her face towards his.  He smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her.

They held each other close for a time, speaking words of love, but finally, reluctantly, they slowly let each other go.

“Promise me that you will be careful,” Keria said, her voice breaking slightly.  “You must return to me.  You are my heart.”

“I will, my love,” Marcus said, kissing her one last time.  “I love you and I will come back to you.”

Feeling both content and anxious, Marcus left and walked quickly to his rooms.  He put on his armor and sword, strapped his shield across his back, and then gathered his saddlebags and bedroll.  Sitting on the table was a new helm adorned with the circlet of gold.  He put it on and left his rooms, going to the palace courtyard.

Once his horse was brought to him, he slung his saddlebags and tied off his bedroll.  As he prepared to mount, Norlan appeared.  The smith had a serious look on his face as he glanced around, and then stepped close, grounding his maul.