That was the one thing about Caliss plan Erik grudgingly approved of: the men he had been sent to fetch had been hardened by years of fighting goblins, dark elves, and bandits. Most of them were mountain fighters by experience, and it would take little to meld them into the force Erik already had under his command.
Like the trained soldiers they were, the first twenty men spread out behind Erik. He told Garret, Get ready for trouble.
Orders were passed, and Erik, Garret, and the four men he had chosen rode forward.
They slowly picked their way through the trees and came within sight of campfires. Close to eighty men lay about or stood talking in a clearing in the woods. A few dozen tents of various size were erected in haphazard fashion, and some men tended cooking fires and saw to provisions near the middle of the clearing. Erik saw baggage wagons and horses staked out near the far edge. To Garret he said, This is no band of outlaws.
The older soldier nodded silent agreement. We better hit them hard. There was no question in his mind; they were heading for a fight. Erik wondered. While it was not quite midday, many of the men were sleeping. Erik held up his hand and spoke softly. Theyre waiting for someone.
How do you know, Sergeant Major? asked Garret.
Theyre bored and theyve been here for at least a week. He pointed to a slit trench over to their right.
Garret said, I can smell it. Youre right. Theyve been here for a while.
And unless Im mistaken, theres nothing here worth waiting for, so theyre waiting for someone else to show up.
Who?
Thats what I intend to find out.
He motioned the men forward and they walked their horses to within sight of the camp.
A bored soldier sat polishing his sword and he glanced up as Erik and the others hove into view. His eyes widened and he shouted.
As soon as Erik heard the mans voice, the hair on the back of his neck stood up and he shouted to the rear, Attack!
Swords were in hands without thought and the sound of the riders coming hard filled the afternoon air. In the camp, men ran to bedrolls and pulled on armor as they could, or grabbed shields and swords, bows and arrows, and the fight began.
As Erik had planned, the column of twos rode into the center of the camp behind him just as the sweeping skirmish line encircled the camp. Men screamed as arrows filled the air and steel rang upon steel as the riders swept into the clearing. Many of the men who rode with Erik were mounted bowmen and quickly picked off targets as men struggled to don armor.
Erik rode down two men as he headed for the center of the camp. Whoever led these men was certain to be there, and he intended to find the leader before some overly eager Kingdom archer skewered him with a bowshaft.
Erik saw the leader.
The man was an oasis of calm as those around him ran in every direction. He shouted orders and attempted to bend his men by force of will into an effective fighting force. Erik put heels to his horse and charged him.
The leader sensed more than saw Erik approach, so intent was he on directing his men. He turned to see the horse and rider almost on top of him and dove to one side, avoiding Eriks charge.
Erik turned his mount and found the man now armed with sword and shield, quickly retrieved from the ground. Erik knew he faced a tough opponent, for the man had dived in the direction of his weapons. He would not rattle.
Erik knew better than to charge him again, for to do so was to risk having the man duck under his attack and hamstring his horse. He was probably calm and confident enough to attempt that dangerous move.
His men were taking a terrible toll on those in camp, and Erik circled his opposite number, waiting. The man eyed him warily, ready for the charge that didnt come, and Erik shouted, Keep as many of them alive as possible.
When it became clear that the men in the camp were hopelessly outclassed by those on horseback, soldiers began throwing down their weapons and crying for quarter.
Quickly the matter resolved itself in Eriks favor, and when at last there was no doubt, the leader threw down his weapon. Erik knew that in Novindus, it was the accepted sign of surrender by mercenaries.
Erik glanced around and saw a banner lying on the ground. The emblem was familiar to him. Erik rode his horse toward the man. Garret and the other soldiers looked perplexed as the Princes Sergeant Major spoke in a strange tongue.
To the man, Erik said, Duga and his War Dogs, if Im not mistaken.
The man nodded. Who are you?
I rode with Caliss Crimson Eagles.
Captain Duga, mercenary leader of one hundred swords, sighed. You were to be killed on sight, and that was on the other side of the world.
Youve come a long way, observed Erik.
Thats the truth. He glanced around and saw his men being disarmed by Eriks. What now?
That depends. If you cooperate, youll get a chance to stay alive. If you dont
I wont break oath, Duga said.
Erik studied the man. He had been almost a classic mercenary captain in Novindus. Clever, if not intelligent, but smart enough to keep his men alive, a requirement of any captain. Hed be tough enough to keep a surly band of cutthroats in line, and hed be honest enough to keep contracts, else no one would hire him.
No oath need be broken. Youre our prisoner, but we can hardly give you parole to return home.
Bitterly the man said, I dont even know where home is.
Erik pointed to the southwest. That way on the other side of the world, as you said.
Care to loan us a boat? Duga asked with bitter irony.
Perhaps. If you share some information with us, you might find yourselves with some opportunity to return home. Erik didnt comment on how slim the chance of that occurring might be.
Talk, said Duga.
Start with, how did you get here?
Through one of those magic gates the snake men make. He shrugged. They offered a bonus for any captain who led his men through. He glanced around. Though where Ill spend it, the gods only know.
Erik said, How long have you been here?
Three weeks.
Who are you waiting for?
I dont know, said the Captain of mercenaries from Novindus. All I know is the orders from General Fadawah were simple. Go through this rift thing and find a place to camp nearby. Then wait.
For what?
I dont know. I just know we were told to wait.
Erik felt a stab of uncertainty. Until the next element of his column arrived, he had almost as many prisoners as he had men to guard them, and at any moment new enemies might appear. Thinking quickly, he said, Limited parole. Youll not be harmed, but we wont let you ride away. Well negotiate better terms when we get to our camp.
The mercenary considered it for a moment, then said, Done. With obvious relief, he shouted to his men, No more fighting. Now, lets eat!
Erik once more was amazed at the attitude of mercenaries from Novindus, who treated conflict and fighting as jobs, who faced men across the line one day who might have been allies the year before, and might be again someday, and who carried little or no ill will as a result.
Erik motioned to Garret and said, After things settle down, make camp and let the men eat.
Erik motioned to Garret and said, After things settle down, make camp and let the men eat.
The Sergeant from Ironpass saluted, and started giving orders.
Erik stretched in the saddle and felt as if every bone were jangled out of its joint. His backside was sore and he couldnt remember ever having been this tired. With a silent groan he dismounted and, smelling the food on the fires, realized he was hungry.
Before beginning the questioning of the prisoners, he paused once more to curse his Captain. He started to tend his horse and again paused a moment to curse Calis.
Chapter Seven Schemes
Roo nodded.
The trade delegate had been speaking for nearly an hour, and Roo had sensed the entire course of negotiations within the first five minutes, but protocol dictated he endure the entire presentation before declining the opportunity. Roo wished the man would come to the end, as he knew this meeting was entirely pointless.
Since seizing control of the grain market in the Western Realm of the Kingdom, Roo had seen the control of his various companies, especially the Bitter Sea Company, grow by the month, until he had only one rival in the Western Realm in commerce: Jacob Esterbrook.
The one area where Jacob completely dominated was in trade with Kesh. The profitable luxury trade with the Empire was like a locked room to Roo, and no attempt of his to gain a foothold in that lucrative market had resulted in anything more than a minor contract or a marginally profitable trade.
He had again sought to gain a concession into Kesh, but now he was being told at great length by this minor Keshian functionary that his latest attempt would come to naught.
At long last the man finished, and Roo smiled at him. So, to put it another way, the answer is no.
The trade delegate blinked as if seeing something for the first time and said, Oh, I think it too harsh to simply say no, Mr Avery. He put the tips of his fingers together. It is far closer to the truth to say that such an arrangement is not feasible at this time. However, that is not to say that at some future date such an accommodation might not be possible.
Roo glanced out the window of the upper floor of Barrets Coffee House. Night was approaching. The afternoon is late, sir, and I still have much to do before enjoying my evening meal. May I say that when next we speak, I plan on starting a great deal earlier in the day.
The Keshian rose, his expression showing Roos humor was completely lost on him, and bowed slightly, then departed.
Duncan Avery, Roos cousin, sat almost asleep in the corner, and stretched as he rose. Finally, he said.
Luis de Savona, Roos general manager, said, I agree. Finally.
Roo said, Well, we had to try. He sat back in his chair, glanced at the coffee and rolls that had sat upon the table for hours and were now cold and stale, and said, Someday Im going to figure out how Jacob has such a stranglehold on Keshian trade. Its almost as if He left the thought unfinished.
As if what? asked Duncan.
Luis glanced at Roos cousin. The two men barely got along, though they remained civil with one another. Luis, a former comrade-in-arms with Roo, was hardworking, conscientious, and meticulous in every detail of whatever task lay before him. Duncan was lazy, paid no attention to detail, and was in Roos employ only because he was his cousin. He was also charming, funny, and an excellent swordsman, and Roo enjoyed his company.
Luis said, When did you become interested in trade?
Duncan shrugged. Roo started to say something. I just wondered what. Thats all.
Roo said, Never mind. I have some things I need to investigate.
Duncan said, Anything you want me to do?
Roo shook his head. No, but I need to speak to Duke James. He stood, walked to the rail, and shouted down, Dash?
Yes, Mr Avery, came the response from below. Dash looked up from a Bitter Sea Company desk where he was going over shipping invoices with two of Roos scribes. What can I do for you, sir? While informal when alone with his employer, Dash always observed the formalities at Barrets and other public places.
I need to see your grandfather at his earliest convenience.
Now? said Dash, half rising.
Roo waved him back into his chair. Tomorrow is soon enough.
From the doorway a voice said, Now would be better.
Dash looked up as Roo craned his neck to see who spoke, and Dash said, Grandfather!
The Duke of Krondor entered, flanked by two palace guardsmen. A general stir sounded in the lower floor and several of the members rose and bowed slightly as word of the visitor spread. James came to the railing that prevented non-members from entering the trading floor, and one of the guards opened the gate. James passed through and mounted the stairs to the upper floor of Barrets. It was a tremendous breach of protocol for a non-member to do so unless he was there on business, but Roo decided it wasnt the time to inform the most powerful noble in the Kingdom of that detail.
James spoke to Luis and Duncan. Leave us. He leaned over the railing and said, Dash, ensure were undisturbed.
Dash moved to the foot of the stairs and tried not to grin as he saw his grandfathers guards also take up position at the foot of the stairway.
Keeping his voice low so as not to be overheard below, James said, Its time for us to do some business.
Roo didnt like the sound of that, but he shrugged. Sooner or later.
I need two million golden sovereigns.
Roo blinked. His net worth was several times that, but he wasnt that liquid. To put his hands on that much gold would require some restructuring of his business. How soon do you need it?
Yesterday, but tomorrow will suffice.
And the interest?
James smiled. Whatever you like, within reason. You understand that we may not be in a position to repay this loan.
Roo nodded. If you cant repay this loan, I doubt Ill be in a position to complain.
James said, How soon can I see the gold?
I can have a half-million golden sovereigns at the palace by the end of business tomorrow. The other million and a half will take a few days to arrange. Im going to overtax most of the moneylenders in the city. Im going to have to do some business in the East, as well. Leaning back, he said, Would you do me the courtesy of a bit more advance notice next time, Your Grace?
No, said James. Things come up.
Speaking of which, said Roo, I just got another trade concession rejected by the Keshian trade legate. Is there anything you can do to help me overcome this problem?
Possibly, said James. Right now were doing a lot of business with Kesh.
The gold? asked Roo, raising an eyebrow in question.
A very fat bribe for several well-placed Keshian nobles.
Very fat, agreed Roo. Are you attempting to overthrow the Emperor?
James stood. It would take a great deal more gold than that to even dream of such a move. There may not be enough gold in existence to overthrow Great Kesh. James hesitated, then said, So you know. We have a southern border to worry about.