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?
Erik smiled. Roo is hauling some ridiculous amount of goods through mud and ice to be first into Darkmoor with what we need. Then Erik laughed. He told me hes the richest man in the world, according to his accounts, but has almost no gold left, so his only hope for recovery is to insure the Kingdom survives long enough to pay him back.
An odd kind of patriotism, wouldnt you say?
Erik smiled as he nodded. If you knew Roo as well as I, youd judge it entirely in keeping with his nature. Pausing for a moment as if considering a second cup of coffee, Erik looked with a faint show of regret at the empty mug. After a moment of silence, he said, Id best get back to see what Owen wants done.
He departed. Dash pondered what had been said there, amidst the bustle of the kitchen, then rose to find Jimmy and see how he fared.
The priest was just departing Jimmys quarters when Dash arrived.
Sitting on the bed next to his brother, who lay under a heavy wool blanket. Dash said, That was quick.
He gave me something to drink, washed my feet in an unguent, then told me to get some sleep.
How bad are they?
I was going to lose toes, at least, said Jimmy, if he hadnt been here. With a nod of his head he indicated the departed priest.
You paint a pretty bleak picture of whats out there.
Jimmy sighed. I saw places where men had stripped the bark off of trees to make soup.
Dash sat back. Patricks not going to be happy.
Whats happened here while I was gone? asked Jimmy, stifling a yawn.
Dash said, Weve got reports that things are stable up north, though no one has seen sign of that bastard Duko lately.
Jimmy said, If Fadawah is sending Duko south, Krondor could be very difficult to seize.
Yes, agreed Dash. Kesh is not happy about what went on down in Stardock, and weve got elements of the garrison of Ran and half of the Kings Own down near Landreth, just waiting for an excuse to move south. Kesh has pulled away from Shamata, but theyre a lot closer than Patrick likes, and the vale is once again a no-mans-land. Negotiations are underway, even as we speak.
The East? asked Jimmy, this time unable to stop the yawn.
We wont know until the spring, but some of the smaller kingdoms may get playful. Patrick and the King have exchanged messages, and I get the impression Borric wants some of his Army of the East back as soon as the thaw starts.
Whats Father say?
To me? asked Dash. Jimmy nodded. Not much, said Dash with a smile that reminded his brother of their grandfather in his more playful moods. Hes pretty closemouthed about things.
Mother? asked Jimmy.
Dash nodded again. I get the feeling it may be a long time before Mother visits us. She seems to find court life in Roldem preferable to living in a tent in the burned-out remains of Krondor, irrespective of the rank of Duchess.
Jimmy closed his eyes. She and Aunt Polina are most likely shopping right now, or having gowns fitted for a banquet or dance.
Most likely, agreed Dash. But its hard on Father. Youve been away for most of the winter, and the few times youve been here youve seen him when hes busy.
Grandfather and Grandmother? asked Jimmy.
Yes, said Dash. When hes alone and thinks I dont notice, he broods. He knows there was nothing he could do, but he silently rages about it. I hope once spring comes and we start the campaign hell snap out of it, but hes drinking more than he used to and seems withdrawn most of the time.
When Jimmy said nothing, Dash glanced at his brother and saw his chin on his chest, his eyes half-closed as he fought to remain awake. Dash quietly stood up and moved to the door. He took a long look at his brother, and for a moment saw an echo of their dead grandmother in his features, the pale skin and nearly white blond hair. Finding a tear coming unbidden to his eyes, Dash quickly left, silently closing the door behind, while he said a silent prayer of thanks to Ruthia, the Goddess of Luck, for the safe return of his brother.
Erik!
Dash turned to see Rosalyn hurrying down the corridor, and stood aside to let the young woman pass. Dash knew the girl felt overwhelmed at times by being the mother of the next Baron she was Gerds mother because of her rape at the hands of Eriks half-brother and Erik was her closest friend. They had been like brother and sister as children, and he was the first person she turned to when in distress. Dash watched as she came to the Captains door and started knocking.
Erik opened the door and said, What?
Dash hesitated a moment, then continued to walk past as Rosalyn said, Its the Baroness. Shes refusing to let me bathe my own son! Its just one more thing shes taken from me! Do something!
Dash stopped and said, Excuse me.
Both Erik and Rosalyn turned to the young man. Yes? asked Erik.
I hesitate to intrude on the basis of overhearing a conversation Im not party to, but to avoid any embarrassment, may I make an observation?
What? said Rosalyn.
Given her somewhat forceful nature, the Dowager Baroness has actually been rather leisurely in acquainting your son with his new office.
Rosalyn shook her head. She had been a pretty girl growing up in Ravensburg with Erik, but the birth of two children, hard work in her husbands bakery, and the travail of the recent war had put premature grey in her hair and robbed her face of the softness Erik had known in his youth. Her eyes were now hard, and she was leery of hearing anything from Dash that would further remove her from her son.
Gerd is now Baron von Darkmoor, said Dash, trying to be patient and instructive without sounding patronizing. Rosalyn might be an untutored common woman, but she wasnt stupid. For the rest of his life, many of the things you did for him will be done by servants. Had you been Baroness, you would never have bathed him, nor changed his diapers, nor perhaps even nursed him.
Its time for you to begin his education as Baron. Dash waved around, indicating the castle. This is now the frontier of the Kingdom, until the West is retaken, and may continue to be a critical stronghold for years, far into Gerds adulthood. Gerd is almost five years old, and soon will spend most of his day with tutors and instructors. He needs to learn to read, to write, the history of his people, riding, weapons, court protocol
Erik nodded, putting his hand on Rosalyns shoulder. Dash is right. The young woman looked defiant and Erik felt her shoulder tense under his hand. He smiled. But theres no reason you cant stand nearby and watch as the servants care for him.
Rosalyn said nothing for a moment, then nodded and turned off to retrace her steps to where her son was housed in the Barons quarters of the castle. Erik watched her retreating back, then turned to Dash. Thanks for pointing things out.
I hesitated to insert myself into your conversation, but its only the truth.
Erik glanced down the hall to the corner where Rosalyn had turned out of sight and let his eyes fix on the distant space. So many changes. We all have so much to adjust to.
Dash said, Again, I dont mean to presume, Captain, but if you require any assistance
Erik smiled. I suspect I will. And I will count on you and your brother. If you havent heard yet, youre both being assigned to my command.
Oh? said Dash.
Its your fathers idea. Hes going to take a hand personally in this coming campaign.
Dash nodded. Hes his fathers son.
Erik said, I didnt know your grandfather well, I must say, but well enough to know thats a compliment.
Dash grinned. If you had known him better, you might not think so. Ask my mother if she ever decides to return to the West.
Anyway, continued Erik, the King has his hands full in the East, with most of his army absent and his navy sunk, in keeping the Eastern Kingdoms from starting trouble. The Prince has Kesh in the South, so that leaves it to our merry little band to reclaim the West.
Why does that not fill me with joy? asked Dash rhetorically.
I believe you would be in need of a healing priest if it did. You would obviously be bereft of your senses.
When does this campaign begin? asked Dash.
When you hear the first sound of ice breaking in the West, start packing.
Dash said, I heard ice break this morning.
Well, get packing, said Erik. We leave for Krondor within the week.
Dash nodded. Very good, Captain.
As Dash turned away, Erik said, One other thing.
What, sir? asked Dash.
Your office as Court Baron does you no good in the army, so you and James are both being given the rank of Knight-Lieutenants.
Thank you, I think, said Dash.
Tomorrow head down to the quartermaster and draw uniforms for yourself and James.
Sir, said Dash with a weak salute, then he turned and walked toward his own quarters. Muttering to himself, he said, Damn. Im in the army.
Jimmy tugged at his ill-fitting black tunic. Damn. Im in the army.
Dash laughed. He gently elbowed his brother, indicating the Prince was about to speak.
My lords, gentlemen, he began, addressing the gathering in his audience hall, formerly the Baron von Darkmoors. The King requires the presence of most of the Army of the East along the Keshian border and to the east. That leaves it to what is left of the Armies of the West to drive the remaining invaders from our shores.
Dash whispered to his brother, Perhaps we shouldnt have sunk all their ships. It makes the trip home so much more difficult.
Arutha, Duke of Krondor, threw his younger son a dark look, and Dash fell silent, while Jimmy attempted not to laugh aloud. One thing James admired about his younger brother was an ability to find something funny in almost any situation, no matter how bleak.
Prince Patrick said, Of course it does, looking directly at Dash.
Dash had the good grace to blush before his Prince.
But we can arrange to transport them home at a later time. First they must surrender.
Dash tried to wish himself invisible.
Patrick continued. Intelligence confirms that this General Fadawah is seizing the opportunity created by the Emerald Queens defeat to fashion a little Empire for himself.
He walked to a map and took a pointer and indicated the area between Krondor and Ylith. From Sarth to Ylith, Fadawahs forces are in complete control. The pointer swept to the east. They control the forests up to the mountains, and most of the passes to Nightmare Ridge. We have a stable front along the ridge.
To the north the pointer moved north of Ylith hes run into some stern opposition at LaMut. Earl Takaris holding the city, but barely. Only the harsh winter kept Fadawah from taking the city. Looking at Arutha, he said, Tell me of Duke Carl.
Arutha said, The Duke is a boy. Hes barely seventeen. Earl Takari is only three years older.
The men in the room knew the fathers of the two nobles mentioned had died in the invasion. Arutha continued, But Takari is Tsurani stock, and has been studying under his Swordmaster since he could walk. Hell hold LaMut until the last man if needs be.
Carl may be a boy, but hes surrounded by a strong, if small, army. Arutha nodded to a man standing behind Erik von Darkmoor, a tall, dark-haired man wearing a kilt and sporting a longsword hung over his back. Dash and Jimmy knew him to be the leader of a company of Hadati hillmen from Yabon, by name of Akee.
Akee said, Most of my people are serving in Yabon. Fadawah will not take Yabon.
Almost to himself Patrick said, But come spring hell be inside the walls of LaMut, and all the Tsurani honor in that city wont keep him from doing it. Patrick was silent a moment, then said, Can Duke Carls forces save LaMut?
Yes, said Owen. If we can assume well have no trouble from the Brotherhood of the Dark Path he used the common term for the moredhel, the dark elves who lived to the north and count on the elves and dwarves, and the Free Cities keeping the western front stable, then Carl can strip his garrison, leaving what he must along his eastern flank, and move the bulk of his men south to LaMut. He should be able to hold Fadawah under those circumstancs.
If he does, can he then retake Ylith? asked Patrick.
Akee glanced at Erik and Arutha, both of whom nodded to him. Akee looked at Patrick and said, No, he cannot. He would need three times the number of swords he has at his call to stand a chance of retaking Ylith. He can hold where he is, unless this General Fadawah turns his entire force northward which he wont do if hes moving soldiers south to hold Krondor but Duke Carl cannot retake Ylith.
My lords and gentlemen, said the Prince, LaMut is, by necessity, the anvil. He looked at Owen Greylock and said, My Lord Marshal, your army must by needs be the hammer.
Owen said, Its a small hammer, Patrick.
The Prince said, Indeed, but Kesh is arrayed in force along our southern border, whats left of our fleet is keeping Queg and the Durbin pirates at bay, and some of the eastern kings are getting ambitious. Youll have to make do with your current force.
Owen said, Thats barely twenty thousand men, against how many? A hundred thousand?
Patrick said, We cant just let them keep what theyve taken until we resolve these other issues, can we?
His question was greeted by silence.
Patrick looked from face to face in the room. Im not ignorant of the flaws of my own ancestors. We took every inch of land from somebody else to make the Western Realm. Only Yabon joined the Kingdom willingly, and that because we saved them from the Brotherhood of the Dark Path, else they would have fallen.
But the only reason theres a Baron von Darkmoor in the first place is the bandit ancestor of your own Captain Erik was too tough a nut to crack, and it was easier to make him a Kingdom noble and let him keep the land he had already taken than it was to kill him and put some kings idiot nephew here in his place. Patricks voice began to rise. And several other accommodations have been made over the years, allowing former enemies to become valued vassals. Now his voice was raised to the point of yelling. But Ill be damned to the Seventh Hell if I let some murdering bastard set himself up as King of the Bitter Sea and rule over my Principality. If Fadawah does, it will be with one foot on my dead body!