The High King: A Tale of Alus (55 page)

Surprise and relief showed plainly on Terris’ face as he stood in General Falack’s tent. The message scroll he held was unbelievable. The gargoyles and dragons had deserted Merrick. One day they had been there and then in the middle of the night they had all left. The previous day word had come that their leader had been injured. He had been flown into camp by several others and been tended by the healers. The very next night they were all gone.

None of Sileoth or Maris knew what had befallen Kar’esh, but whatever had happened, things had just changed drastically.

Terris had received reports of a new army coming from the east. Word from his daughter’s carnal gulls had revealed that it was on the way long before the birds arrived in Maris and scouts of the Black Guard began telling of their movements. The knight’s general had helped the remaining defenders keep Merrick off balance with every tactic in his arsenal and had positioned them closer and closer to the help coming from the east. Could they have done something to make the gargoyles retreat?

“The gods may have changed who they favor and finally it is us,” General Falack replied elated with the news. He too was surprised, but the news, as long as it wasn’t some ploy, was the best they had heard since the coming allied army.

“I think it centers on what happened to their leader. He was seen flying towards the east rather abruptly the other day only to return wounded. The remainder of his men had not a scratch on them.” His mind raced, “Could there have been a duel that he lost?”

“My daughter had once said they had an idea to remove the threat of the dragons and gargoyles. Perhaps their plan came to fruition. We know the eastern army isn’t far off now. Have we made any contact with them yet?”

Shaking his head, Falack stated, “We’ve waited until they were closer.”
“I think it’s time now, general. We need to know their plans. Do we have any idea of their numbers yet?”
“Only from what your daughter said. The scouts know that there are many thousands. Your daughter stated well over ten thousand when we first knew of them. We can assume there is no less.”
Tapping his chin in thought, the former king and general began to formulate a plan. “I need the maps brought back out for around the hills just east of us.”
“You have a plan?”
“The beginnings of one,” he allowed. “If our new allies are willing anyway.”

Shouts and screams of rage came from the large tent in the center of Merrick’s army. No new battles had begun. No movement was pressed. They were on guard against the ambushes of the enemy, but pursuit was not an issue for the moment. As the rage of their high king rang out from the epicenter of the army, worry rippled through their number.

Everyone knew of the sudden disappearance of the gargoyles and dragons, but no one knew where they had gone or why. Some thought perhaps it was some great scheme designed to draw out the enemy or perhaps even the creatures had been sent to destroy some camp that had been found.

The cries of fury from the king’s tent caused many to fear that this was not a ploy of the Merrick’s design after all.

“Where have they gone?!” raged the high king. “This stupid letter makes no sense!” he screamed at his generals. No one said a word. Most didn’t even raise their eyes. Confrontation at this point could easily mean death. The High King was not known for his patience or kindness at the best of times and things were anything but good with the loss of the gargoyles and dragons.

Gripping the paper in both hands, Merrick tried to understand it’s meaning as anything other than what it was. `New more powerful ties force us to break our remaining contract’, the paper stated. It had no name written on it, though the messenger had stated that it came from Krulir. “We had a contract!” he screamed again. “What ties can break a contract? I don’t understand. Does anyone know where these creatures have gone?”

This question had to be answered, but which general would risk his life.
“Well, Komus, speak up.”
The general of the first army winced as Merrick made the decision for them. He had to answer now that the king demanded it. “We only know that they went north, sire. Scouts have been sent to follow the dragons’ paths. Perhaps they will lead us to Kar’esh and we can drag him back.” The idea of that working was ludicrous if the creatures did not want to return. Nothing they had could bring them back against their wills.
Snarling incoherently for a moment, Merrick ranted, “So close! I was so close. We only had to finish off Maris and the remains of Sileoth.”
“We still outnumber them, sire. We can finish them even without the creatures,” Komus volunteered now that his head was already on the block. “We finish this rabble now and then we can hunt those beasts down to make them pay. They’re strong but we’ve seen the enemy slay them and we have numbers.”
“Bah! Numbers, numbers. I know we have the numbers, Komus. Caldor is gone, but we have their soldiers. Cadmene is conquered and we have all but those few knights that escaped. They will pay for their rebellion. I will see to that. Sileoth is all but conquered. A few soldiers still harass our march to Oapril with the dogs of Maris who they ran to for help is all they are. Even Maris has been half taken, but I want it all. Let’s finish off these annoyances. We’ll consolidate Marshalla’s power. Caldor’s nobles are all but gone and that will be the way of the rest of these kings and royal nuisances. Once the people have only me to serve, then all will be at peace. Perhaps Kardor will wish to challenge us. Staron lent us their arms. Word of their dead king has not reached the troops, however. The little country that was little more than a city and a pair of mountains will disappear into my kingdom and that will be the end of it.”
The generals all eagerly agreed and assured the king that the goals were in sight and all but
accomplished whether any believed their own words. Merrick’s words of conquest had led his mind away from his anger, so they simply wished to encourage that thinking.
“Get me a plan to finish this army that plagues me so that we might take Oapril, generals. Have it for me by tomorrow. This cat and mouse game of theirs needs to end. This kingdom will rule all the country south of the mountains before the weather turns or I will be looking for new generals.”
They knew the High King and conqueror would not be keeping any of them, even in a lesser position, if they did not finish what they had started. Their necks were stretched for the hang man if they failed. With renewed fervor, the men worked on a trap for the smaller armies of Sileoth and Maris. Merrick was correct that they needed this over now. The rest of the empire needed close attention or it could break apart in the distraction and failure. This war must end.

Riding into the camp of Maris and Sileoth’s combined armies was like entering a castle. Though the two armies broke camp nearly every day to stay ahead of Merrick’s forces, when they set up it was in a manner that Gerid had never seen before. The outer tents were set very close to one another. Like a great wall of canvas, the perimeter was a closely knit square. The slim gaps between the structures held guards and a small fence of stakes facing outward. The fence would mean little if the enemy sought to cut through the canvas, but perhaps that was half the idea. If the enemy could be spotted and the soldiers alerted rose to the challenge within the tents. The enemy would be cutting blindly at the canvas. Troops could retreat or form on the other side for a defense.

The remainder of the camp was made of straight lines. One side of the camp displayed the banners of purple and silver for Sileoth while the blue celitrose flower on plaid revealed Maris. Despite the division in camp, the two armies were truly becoming one. Like any grouping of companies, order by forces was common. Getting mixed in a battle changed what proper divisions could do as a whole. The center tents with both nations’ flags were the truth of it. The two nations were working as one against a greater threat. Egos had been thrown out the window long ago.

Noting a third set of banners in blue and white, the knights of Cadmene occupied the rear center with their horses. If a fight began from the front or sides, they could slip out the back and bring a charge into an enemy from around the camp. It was another smaller army in the midst of the others, but just one more that had the same goal as the other two.

With a trio of Blackguards leading his score of soldiers, the leader being Iylin, Gerid had little difficulty entering the encampment. Though the generals expected them, the guards would have been sure to slow them down otherwise. Led through the only wide point, like a castle’s gate, the men on horse slowly followed the ebon clothed hunters.

Soldiers could be heard chattering about the new guests almost immediately. The white haired giant leading the score of Holtein armored mercenaries was the center of most talk. It was common for him unfortunately. At six foot eight, Gerid would tower over most normal men. Atop his black stallion brought from Hala’s military stables, he appeared a juggernaut of immense proportions.

At the main tent’s mouth, he and Finneas dismounted to enter. Gerid found himself ducking as he entered though the interior sloped upwards quickly enough that he could straighten once more after a few steps. The men inside all gave a start despite the announcement of visitors.

“Greetings, gentlemen,” the commander said with a smile. “I am glad to finally be standing here with you all.”

General Falack stepped forward from the other four men arrayed beside him. Grey hair looking as if it needed a cut but beard trimmed freshly, the general was the tallest of the men and still he found himself looking up more than half a foot as he shook the younger man’s hand. “I am General Falack, of Maris. My fellow generals, Lionoet from Sileoth,” he gestured towards a middle aged man in the purple and orange of his nation’s army. “General Tremale, my second in command for Maris,” he included another dark haired man of middle years in the green and orange plaid that Falack also wore. “Our last member, General Terris, the former king of Cadmene, our advisor and friend,” he finished with the dark haired man whose rough recent history had brought grey to his hair. Shortest of the men, Gerid noted shrewd eyes in the last man. Intelligence that defied them all, he thought.

Bowing slightly, the commander introduced himself, “Sir Gerid Aramathea, knight of Rhearden, admiral of the largest fleet, Protector of Rhearden and former son of Marshalla. I am here to defeat Merrick and end his tyranny. I have lead roughly fifteen thousand soldiers here, though fifteen hundred knights would gladly rejoin their former king,” he said nodding towards Terris and smiled at the man’s surprise. “They and your family send greetings, King Terris.”

With a rueful smile, Terris replied, “I appreciate their greetings, but I am no longer king.”
The giant shrugged. “You are to them. Cadmene has overthrown those left to hold it captive. Your son rules and strengthens the kingdom for your return, sir. Your daughter may have sent word. We have Hala and no army remains for Merrick to call on to save his own.”
Eyes narrowing in thought, Terris asked, “And do you know what has happened with the gargoyles and dragons he held in his army?”
A big smile painted the white haired
commander’s face. “Kar’esh and I came to terms. Your nephew Baitrum and my sister met with others of his race. The remainder of the mar’goyn’lya and che’ther have come to our world and moved north to find new homes. They told of a practice of their kind that over rules contracts between Kar’esh and Merrick. I merely had to duel their commander and win after setting the conditions that would be decided. I hope they held their end and left?”
The generals all registered varied levels of surprise. Falack spoke for them all, “You dueled their leader? Such madness and yet you look as fit as if you had spent a month in leisure. We had word that their leader was wounded and looked to have gone through a war. How did you manage such a thing?”
“The gods have blessed me with more than just size. I am well trained and strong. Kar’esh put up a good fight, but in the end I won and he was taken from the battle field.”
Finneas’ eyes lit up with the zeal of the first days they had met, “My lord, is Turas’ right hand! No one can defeat him in battle.”
Waving the man’s enthusiasm off, with a pat on the shoulder, Gerid nearly blushed with the praise. “Please forgive my captain’s remarks. It was a rather grand battle, I guess.”
“He broke the beast’s arm and skewered him, but my lord is merciful and left him alive and treatable. That gargoyle won’t soon forget the White Haired Demon, I bet!”
“Finneas, please,” Gerid warned with a sigh. That he had taken his share of damage and showed no sign of the wounds was not something he needed these men to know. In fact, trying to make them believe he had won a duel was probably pushing matters as it was.
Shaking his head, Terris took things back in hand. “Well, however you did it, we are grateful. An army of fifteen thousand nearly equals our forces here. Together I think we can end Merrick’s reign as well. Without the gargoyles and dragons, we are nearly on an equal ground.”
“His supply lines are cut, the strength of this army is all you have to fear now,” Gerid nodded.
“It is still something to fear and respect,” General Falack stated with an echo of agreement from the other generals. “Even with the soldiers you bring we will be outnumbered, but Terris has worked with us and has devised a plan, if you are willing to hear it.”
With a smile on his face, the commander nodded. “You have the knowledge of this place and Merrick’s forces that I do not. I will gladly hear your suggestions.”
Terris led the way to Falack’s desk of maps for all the men. He then led them through his audacious plan.

The valley of Calmaris lay a mere day’s hard riding away from the border of fallen Caldor. A mile wide at its largest and more than two miles long, the valley lay between the forested hills and revealed an army. The late morning sunlight touched purple and silver banners along with nearly twice as many blue celitrose flowers on plaid. The blue and white banners of Cadmene were
represented merely by one flag near the rear with the generals and their guards.