Jimmy stretched, as if tired. He took another sip of coffee. Though what they could possibly find is beyond me. He looked at Patrick. Highness, Krondor looks like nothing Ive seen before or could dream of in my worst nightmare. Every stone blackened, and almost no board unburned. The smell of char still lingers in the air and its been months since the fires. Rain and snow have yet to cleanse the city.
The palace
What of the palace? asked Patrick, his voice anxious.
Gone. The outer walls stand in place, but great breaches exist. The inner palace is little more than a huge pile of blackened rubble the fire was so hot the timbers burned through and some inner walls collapsed. Only the ancient keep still stands, if you use the term stands generously. Its a blackened shell of stones. I climbed the stone steps inside, for no wood remains untouched, and reached the roof. From there I could see the entire city and some distance to the north and west.
The harbor is a sea of sunken ships, their masts blackened and rotting. The docks are gone. Most of the first street after the docks has been leveled. All the buildings in the western third of the city have been gutted or reduced to rubble, as if the fires burned the hottest there.
Arutha, Duke of Krondor, nodded. His father, Lord James, who had preceded him in his office, had fired the city to trap the invaders inside the flames, and had died, along with his mother, in doing so. Arutha knew the placement of Quegan fire oil in the sewers below the city would have concentrated the damage where his father would have judged it most appropriate, at the docks, near the ships unloading troops, then throughout the maze that had been the poor quarter of the city, then the merchant quarter.
The central third of the city is seriously damaged, but there may be a building or two that can be salvaged on every street. The rest will have to be razed before any construction can begin. The easternmost third is also heavily damaged, but many of the buildings there can be restored.
What of the outlying estates? asked Erik, thinking of his friend Ruperts large house, a days ride to the east of Krondor.
Many burned to the ground; others were sacked and left empty. A few of them were being used as headquarters for what I took to be companies of the invaders, so I didnt get too close, answered Jimmy. He sipped at his coffee.
I was about to leave when things turned interesting. Patrick and Arutha looked at Jimmy expectantly. Jimmy took another sip of coffee, then continued. A command of at least a hundred men rode past where I was camped He glanced at his brother. That little inn up the street from Weavers Road, where you got into that fight? Dash nodded. Looking back at the Prince, Jimmy continued, Its atop a little rise, and had an intact roof, which was welcome, and best yet, provided an unobstructed view of High Street and Palace Road, as well as several other byways from the north gate.
The men? prompted Owen Greylock.
If I understand the markings used by the mercenary companies, General Duko is now on his way to Krondor or is already there.
Erik swore. Then he glanced at Patrick and said, Sorry, Highness.
Patrick said, I understand. All the reports Ive read tell me Duko is a worthy foe.
Erik said, Hes more than a handful. He kept constant pressure on our northern flank along Nightmare Ridge, without wasting soldiers. Hes the closest thing the invaders have to a Kingdom general in his knowledge of tactics and deployment.
Owen nodded. If hes in Krondor, and ordered to hold it, our job just became a great deal more difficult.
Patrick looked worried but stayed silent a moment. Then he said, Why would they move into Krondor in strength? Theres nothing left, they dont need it to protect their southern flank. Could they know of our new base down at Port Vykor?
Perhaps, said Owen. Or they simply wish to keep us from using Krondor as a forward base.
Patrick suddenly looked tired, and worried, thought Jimmy. After another long silence, the Prince said, We need more information than we have.
The brothers exchanged glances, each acknowledging what the other knew: they were among those most likely to be sent ahead to get that information.
Patrick asked James, How long did you stay?
Long enough to see them start to secure the area, so I made for the eastern gate to get free before they spotted me. I got out of the city, but ran right into a patrol between Krondor and Ravensburg. I managed to get loose from them in the woods, but they killed my horse.
Patrick said, Patrol? That far east?
Owen nodded and said, Erik?
Eriks expression showed he was as perplexed as anyone else in the room. Weve gotten reports from refugees that General Fadawah might be pushing south again, or at least is making his presence known. If Dukos in Krondor, those rumors are true. But to have patrols already that far east means theyre quickly deploying to welcome us should we march home.
Patrick said, Its icy hell out there. Whats he up to?
If we knew that, said Dash dryly, we wouldnt have to go slogging about in that icy hell.
Owen smiled. Duke Arutha tried to hide his own amusement, but failed.
Patrick said, True, ignoring the breach of protocol. The winter shared in close quarters had turned this group into a fairly informal band of friends when court wasnt in session.
The invaders had been defeated at the Battle of Nightmare Ridge, but the destruction done to the Western Realm of the Kingdom of the Isles was unimaginable. As spring approached, and with it the ability to move his forces, Patrick was desperately trying to imagine what had happened to his principality.
Patrick turned to Greylock. How soon can you move?
Highness? asked Owen.
How soon before you can move to retake the city?
Owen said, I can marshal the men and have them ready to march in under a week. Weve got some of the garrison scattered along the ridge and down toward the Vale of Dreams, but most are near enough to muster, though from what Ive seen, well need better information than we have to know what strength well face.
Patrick sat back. I was hoping for better intelligence.
Jimmy glanced at his father, who shook his head slightly, warning him from making any comment. Dash allowed his brother the confirmation that what the Prince had just said was thoughtless by raising his eyebrows ever so slightly.
Patrick said, Weve got a massive front to the south, and all the major units of the Army of the East are ready to answer any invasion from Kesh, but we have limited resources to reclaim the Western Realm.
Jimmy said nothing.
Finally the Prince noticed Jimmy, nodded and waved his hand. Dismissed. Get some clean clothing and bathe. Well discuss this again at length after the evening meal.
Jimmy left, finding his father and brother following him out of the room. They paused just outside the door. Arutha said, Ive got to get back inside, but I just wanted to see if you were all right.
Im fine, said Jimmy, with a faint smile of appreciation for his fathers concern. With the death of their grandparents, Aruthas features had taken on a drawn, haggard edge, from too much worry and too little sleep. Just some cold toes.
Arutha nodded, squeezed his sons shoulder a moment. Get some food and rest. This isnt half over, and while Patrick may be ready to storm the enemy, we need a great deal more information. He opened the door and returned inside to the Princes council. Dash said, Ill go with you to the kitchen.
Arutha nodded, squeezed his sons shoulder a moment. Get some food and rest. This isnt half over, and while Patrick may be ready to storm the enemy, we need a great deal more information. He opened the door and returned inside to the Princes council. Dash said, Ill go with you to the kitchen.
Jimmy said, Fine.
The two brothers walked down the long hall.
Erik entered the kitchen. He waved across the large stone room to Milo. The innkeeper from his hometown of Ravensburg had been put to work in the castles kitchen, along with his wife, so they could be close to their daughter, Rosalyn, mother of the next Baron of Darkmoor. She and her husband Rudolph the baker lived in the castle where they took care of the baby baron.
Eriks own mother now lived in one of the buildings close by the castle the long history of animosity between her and the Dowager Baroness made it prudent to keep the two women separated. The Baroness had been humiliated publicly for years by Eriks mother Frieda over Erik being the illegitimate son of the late Baron Otto. Eriks stepfather, Nathan, was furiously working in the Baronys smithy, readying weapons and other iron goods for the coming spring campaign. It was a socially awkward situation at times, but Erik enjoyed having his family close by.
Erik sat. You all right? he asked Jimmy.
Just tired. Came close to not making it once, but its not much of a story. I had just lost my horse and had to hide from a patrol for a while, and damn near froze hiding under a log. The snow was falling so they didnt track me after I had crossed some rocks, but I could barely move when they finally left.
Frostbite? asked Erik.
Dont know, said Jimmy. I havent taken my boots off. My fingers are fine. He wiggled them.
We have a healing priest here. The Temple of Dala, at Rillanon, sent one to provide advice to the Prince.
Dash grinned. You mean the King bullied them into having one close by in case Patrick was wounded.
Something like that, admitted Erik as he returned the smile. Have him look at your feet. It wouldnt do to have you going toeless.
Jimmy chewed, then swallowed. Why am I suspicious youre motivated more by my fitness for duty, Captain, than out of any concern for my well-being?
Erik shrugged theatrically. Because you have a reasonable comprehension of how things work in court?
Jimmy suddenly looked very tired, as if letting down his mask. How soon? he asked.
Erik looked sympathetic. The end of this week. Three, four more days.
Jimmy nodded. He stood and said, Id better find that priest.
Down the hall from the Princes quarters, next to my own. His name is Herbert. Tell him who you are; you look like a rag-picker.
Dash watched his brother leave and said, As his feet thawed he could barely walk. I think that priest is going to earn his keep.
Erik took a cup of coffee from Milo, said thanks, then turned to Dash. He already has. Ive got a score of men fit for duty who would still be laid up if it wasnt for that priest. And Nakor.
Where is that scrawny lunatic? asked Dash. I havent seen him in a week.
Hes out in the city, gathering converts for his new faith.
How goes the summoning of the Blessed to spread the word of Good?
Erik laughed. Recruiting those willing to work on behalf of good in the midst of winter, after a war has reduced the population to near starvation, is nearly beyond even Nakors conniving ways.
Any takers?
A couple. One or two are earnest, the others looking for a meal.
Dash nodded. Is this next mission something I could do? Jimmy could use a rest.
We all could, said Erik. Then he shook his head. But youre not being spared, my friend, for were all going.
Where? asked Dash.
Krondor. Patrick cant sit here forever. And if what your brother has reported jibes with the other reports were getting, the longer we wait, the stronger Fadawahs forces are going to get in Krondor. We may have to hit them with everything we have sooner than wed like.
With Kesh threatening our southern border, Patricks been reluctant to return the Armies of the East. Well, the King has ordered some elements back. Seems some of the Kingdoms eastern neighbors are getting fractious now there isnt a large standing army or huge fleet there to keep them in line. So Patricks in a hurry to retake Krondor before King Borric orders more soldiers home to the East.
Dash said, So how many of us are going to Krondor?
The Eagles, said Erik, naming the special command of soldiers that had been gathered and trained by Dash and Jimmys grandfather Lord James, the late Duke of Krondor. Well have some auxiliaries, Dugas crew he named a large force of former mercenaries who had come over to the Kingdoms side during the invasion and well be working with Captain Subais Pathfinders.
Thats all? asked Dash.
Thats all to start, said Erik. Were not trying to conquer all of the Principality in the first week. He sipped at his coffee. We were going to find a likely place to hold so we can stage, then we ride in and secure Krondor.
Sounds easy, said Dash in a sarcastic tone. If there wasnt another army already there. He studied Eriks face. Theres something else going on. Why is Patrick in such a hurry to secure the city? I can think of a half-dozen better places from which to stage a retaking of the West if I didnt care about Krondor; we could cut it off and starve out whoevers there, staging from a camp to the east.
I know, said Erik, but part of it is pride. Its Patricks city, the capital of his realm. He was Prince of Krondor for only a short while before it was lost. And he followed a legend in that office.
Dash nodded. Growing up in Rillanon, Jimmy and I met Prince Arutha only a few times; when I was old enough to appreciate him, he was getting on in years. But what my father and others said about him made him impressive, even then. He looked at Erik a moment, then said, You think Patricks of the notion that Arutha would somehow have held the city?
Something like that, said Erik. The Prince doesnt confide in me. But theres more to it than just wounded pride. The other part of it is logistics. That harbor is going to be useless for years. If we had the manpower and equipment we had before the war in Krondor, all the workers, dredges, and a few cooperative magicians, even, it would still take a year to clear the harbor, maybe more. As it is now, I have no idea if Krondor will ever become the shipping center it once was.
But we have a new port south of there, in Shandon Bay, Port Vykor, and for it to be any use to us, we have to insure we have a clear trade route between there and the rest of the West, which means Krondor needs to be secured. We dont need it, but we certainly cant have Fadawahs generals using it as a base to attack us. He lowered his voice, as if not wishing for a perverse fate to overhear. If we get cut off from Port Vykor, we may never reunite the Eastern and Western Realms.
Dash nodded. That makes sense.
Erik put down his now empty mug and said, Thats about all that does.
Dash nodded in agreement as Erik stood. Looking up at the tall, powerfully built captain, he said, I havent seen my sometime employer about lately. How fares your friend Rupert?