Steel and Sorrow (16 page)

Tobin waved him off. He traced his finger along the southern path that led to Feruse.

Maybe Soyjid is right.

He grunted and raised his head. “The more I think about it, the more I realize this is our best path.” He continued before anyone could protest. “Now everyone leave. I have other things to consider.”

Soyjid bowed before exiting. Ufer scowled and followed. Walor left after a short pause.

Tobin breathed a sigh of relief once they left. His head pounded inexplicably and he could not imagine carrying on a conversation any longer. He sat in a chair.

Why did I ever want this? To prove I was better than Father and Kaz?
He rubbed his temple before relaxing.
I may have been unhappy, but life was simpler when no one cared about what I had to say.

Despite the light from oil lamps nearby, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, hoping the rest would ease his weary mind.

Chapter 12

Elyse stood at the end of a large table. A map of Cadonia lay stretched out on its surface. General Grayer and Kaz flanked her on either side. Kaz refused to allow any others into their meetings as they finalized the coming campaign. He had grown ever more cautious, worried that a spy might be in their midst. Or, just as bad in his opinion, someone who didn’t know how to keep his mouth shut.

Grayer read from a stack of messages that detailed recent activity behind Tomalt’s borders. Kaz repositioned pieces of varying colors on the map in accordance with the reports. Finished with the first stack, Grayer moved on to less precise reports that had come in about Bronn and Conroy. Using the information available, they brainstormed over the best route to travel in order to meet up with Jeldor’s army.

Elyse usually said very little during these meetings. It was not that she was uninformed. She had simply learned that those in charge of her military were more than competent in their roles.

Grayer and Kaz went over their plans for what seemed like the hundredth time, tweaking minor details. The contrast between the two made her grin. Both large men, Grayer was old, fair-skinned, and round, while Kaz was younger, dark as night, and lean. Grayer’s thick white hair and beard contrasted Kaz’s shaved head and neatly trimmed goatee. Kaz had lost his long braids in a fire at Cathyrium. He had decided not to grow them back.

Kaz stroked his chin while studying the map.

“It looks as though something still troubles you, Commander,” said Grayer.

“It’s the latest positioning of Tomalt’s troops. He’s withdrawn a large portion of his army away from his borders. That doesn’t make sense when he knows we’ll soon be on the move.”

“He must think he can’t defend them properly and he plans to fall back to more favorable ground.” Grayer pointed to a spot in Tomalt’s territory. “Here would be his best spot. We’d have quite a time against him, especially if he is able to bring up his other armies. Then he’d control the field and outnumber us in battle.”

Kaz scowled. “He’ll only outnumber us if Jeldor doesn’t meet us in time.”

Elyse jumped in. “Let’s not forget that he can only bring up so many of his southern forces before leaving those borders susceptible to an attack by Duke Olasi.”

Grayer smiled. “Good point, Your Majesty.”

Kaz inclined his head. “Your Majesty, what is your opinion on Tomalt’s behavior?”

Elyse blinked. Kaz rarely sought out her advice when discussing strategy.

She looked at the map and examined the troop movements. Bits of information she had read from Aurnon the First’s early campaigns came to mind. Coupled with what she knew of Tomalt, things just didn’t make sense.

“Well, we know that Tomalt rarely does anything that does not follow the rules of warfare. So, for him to abandon his borders, he either feels like his situation is hopeless as Grayer mentioned or he is trying to lure us into a trap.” She paused, waiting for Kaz to dismiss her. Instead, he gestured for her to continue. “Tomalt is too proud a man to admit that any situation is hopeless, so I’m willing to bet it is the latter.”

“What do you suggest we do?” asked Kaz.

“I’d suggest that we continue with the plan for now. Any changes with so little information could only come back to bite us. However, Aurnon the First believed in having a place for tactical retreat so if he had to face superior numbers, it would at least be on his terms.”

Elyse took a deep breath and waited for a response.

A grin crawled across Kaz’s lips. “I was thinking the same thing, Your Majesty. As a matter of fact, I have just the place in mind.”

A knock at the door stopped the conversation.

Elyse called out. “Who is it?”

“It’s Gauge, Your Majesty.”

“I thought you told him not to disturb us?” asked Kaz.

Elyse shrugged. “It must be important.”

Kaz gestured to a sheet near Grayer. They draped it over the table as Elyse went to the door.

Elyse cracked open the door and saw Gauge’s smiling face, creases forming around his old eyes. “Yes?” she asked.

Gauge bowed, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I pray I’m not disturbing you.”

“We were in the middle of discussing our plans for the campaign.”

“I see.” He craned his neck down either side of the hallway. “Could I come in and speak with you for a moment? I promise it won’t take much of your time.”

Elyse opened the door and Gauge stepped in, closing the door behind him. He looked over at Kaz and Grayer as they straightened the last of the sheet over the table. Kaz scowled.

Gauge’s eyes flicked back to the queen. He cleared his throat and leaned in close. “The council was upset that you were not at the meeting this morning.”

“I thought you were going to take care of their concerns. I had more pressing matters here.”

Gauge nodded. “Yes, of course. I was able to smooth things over and we actually got a lot accomplished.”

“Oh?”

“It would seem that Kaz’s absence put everyone in a more amiable mood. I will fill you in with the details later, Your Majesty.”

“Then I don’t understand. Why are you here?”

Gauge looked out from the corner of his eye toward Kaz. “It was Illyan. He tried to bring up the same point he attempted to discuss last meeting.”

“I see. What’s the problem?”

“I’m afraid to say that in the time between meetings, he was able to gain back some of his supporters.”

“How?”

Gauge shrugged. “He refused to give any more details without you present. He swears the matter is of high importance.” He paused. “And according to Illyan, he spoke with someone high in your confidence who encouraged him to continue digging into the matter.”

Elyse leaned back. “Who?”

“I did,” said Kaz.

Elyse wheeled around, furious. “We’ve talked about this several times, Commander. I’ve told you that it is a waste of time to indulge Illyan.”

“Nothing I do is a waste of time, Your Majesty,” said Kaz. “If you would listen to him—”

“No,” she snapped. “I will not listen to anything that man has to say until he has unquestionable proof and is willing to share his sources. I will not rule my kingdom through hearsay. My father caught himself up in such matters and that is why we’re in the mess we are today. You will not change my opinion on the matter.”

An uncomfortable silence followed as the two stared at each other.

Grayer cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should get back to strategy.”

“No,” said Kaz, boring holes through Gauge with his piercing stare. “We‘re done here.” He turned to Grayer. “See that the positioning of troops are shuffled before you leave. Meet me in the barracks tonight if you have any other concerns, General.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Kaz strode toward the door and halted a few feet from Elyse. He gave her an exaggerated bow. “Your Majesty, may I be dismissed?”

Elyse nodded, too angry to say anything.
Why this sudden act of defiance toward me?

“About Illyan, Your Majesty,” croaked Gauge.

“Later.” She said, staring down the hall at Kaz’s back.

* * *

Kaz closed the door to his quarters and stripped off his armor. After the last piece came away he sat in a chair, leaned back, and gulped water. He reached across the table, grabbed a heel of stale bread from the morning and gnawed on it between drinks. He had missed dinner again.

The army would leave in the morning and he felt behind after burning off his frustration in the training yard. A few soldiers sparred with him eagerly at first, hoping he would teach them something useful as he usually did. But their attitudes changed when they caught his sour mood. After some time, Kaz dismissed them and continued alone.

When Drake arrived at the usual time, the two trained together. However, both had too much on their minds and neither wanted to talk about it. So Drake went back to his books and Kaz back to his sword, easing their minds in the best ways they knew how.

Kaz forced down the last bite of bread and began cutting up an apple. A lot had changed since Slum Isle. Many of the men who once ridiculed him for his differences regarded him with respect. Some even looked up to him. However, those were soldiers of the royal army. Oddly enough, most of the people he had known the longest in the Hell Patrol still acted put off by him.

They would much rather have Jonrell leading them.
He threw a slice of apple in his mouth.
So would I.

Even though the army now accepted him, Kaz only considered a handful of them his friends. Perhaps that explained why Elyse’s tone and expression had bothered him so much.

He understood that politics played a large role in their difference of opinion, an area Kaz knew lay outside his expertise.

Could it be I’m sensitive because I’m such a stranger here? Maybe I should just tell Elyse I will no longer support Illyan, even if it’s a lie since I can’t ignore his claims. I just don’t want to leave on bad terms.

A knock sounded and the door opened before Kaz could respond. A lithe figure glided into the room. Kroke leaned against a wall and whipped out a blade, closing the door with his foot. “You wanted to see me.”

Kaz refrained from commenting on Kroke’s lack of decorum. He knew the man cared little for Kaz.

Another of the old crew who doesn’t understand that I’m doing this to honor Jonrell, not replace him.

“Have a seat,” said Kaz, gesturing toward a chair.

“I’ll stand,” said Kroke. “What’s on your mind?”

“Elyse.” Kaz saw Kroke flinch slightly at the name.

“What about the queen?”

“With the army moving out tomorrow, she’ll be by herself and vulnerable again.”

“You mean because you won’t be here to shadow her every move.”

“Something like that.”

“You’ll need a few to stay behind and keep an eye on her then?”

“No, just one.”

Kroke looked up slowly as realization set in. He scowled. “I ain’t no babysitter.”

“She doesn’t need a babysitter,” said Kaz, nodding to the blade in Kroke’s hand. “That’s what she needs.”

Kroke worked his mouth. “You sneaky piece of garbage. I see what you’re doing. You’re trying to get rid of me.”

“What?”

“Yeah, leaving me here means there is one less from the old crew to worry about. Well—” started Kroke, moving forward.

Kaz stood and slammed his fist on the table. One of the legs splintered and the table crashed to the floor. “Stop!” He had enough.

Kroke froze.

Kaz tried to calm himself. He had done his best to lead as Jonrell would have.

But I’m not him.

“I know you hate me. You want to stick that blade in my gut right now and watch the light fade from my eyes, don’t you? Well, then do it. You might succeed. Then again you might not. Perhaps we’d both die. But what good would either scenario serve? Whether you like me or not, Elyse put me in control of the army and Jonrell is dead. I wish as much as you do that he wasn’t, but neither of us can change that.” He paused. “Whether you agree with all my decisions, haven’t I at least tried to do the right thing?”

Kroke said nothing.

“Good enough. You know Grayer or Jeldor cannot win Elyse the war. I know you don’t want to see her lose. And we both know Jonrell wouldn’t either.”

Kroke relaxed ever so slightly and put away the blade in his hand. “I’m listening.”

“I need you to watch Elyse. Everywhere she goes, I want you there. Whatever we accomplish in the field will be useless if someone kills her first. I know you won’t allow that.”

“What did she say about this?”

“I haven’t told her yet. But I’m not worried about her reaction. I know you get along. It will do her some good to have a friend nearby, someone who is not looking to advance their station like all the other nobles around here.”

“No argument there.”

“So are we settled?”

Kroke nodded. “We’re settled. I’ll stay. Just don’t screw things up while I’m gone or we may have to revisit this conversation.”

* * *

Kroke left Kaz’s room confused. He still hated the man, but strangely enough, he found himself respecting him too. That only muddled his thoughts further.

He had been looking forward to leaving Lyrosene in the morning, hoping the distance from the queen would clear his head and allow him to focus on what he needed to do. But now Kaz had taken away that refuge of war, and rather than distancing him from Elyse, he was going to shadow her every move.

To be her friend.

He couldn’t decide how he truly felt about those orders.

And that scared him.

Kroke pulled out a knife and flipped it in his hand as he walked.

If I don’t kill something soon, I’m going to go crazy.

* * *

“Stay focused, Yorn. Your right side is faltering again.”

The green mage cast a scowl at Krytien. “I’m doing the best I can.”

“Then you need to do better. I don’t have a lot of time to teach you how to fight as a unit in combat.” He pointed to a group of yellow mages. “Tighten your circle. There are too many gaps in your formation.”