“Don’t question my orders, General,” Wilam said angrily. “Do as I say or I’ll have you removed.”
“Aye, sir, I’ll do it now.”
“See that you do. I want those centuries moving quietly, and I want them out of sight before dawn. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good,” Wilam said, dismissing the man with a wave of his hand.
As the night came to a close, Wilam felt a knot of nervous tension in his stomach. He knew he needed to relax, but he didn’t see how that would happen. He no longer cared about any woman but Gwendolyn, and she was far away in the Grand City. He hoped that soon he would be marching back to her victorious, but just the thought of seeing his queen again filled Prince Wilam with nervous energy. He couldn’t sleep and he didn’t want to dull his senses with strong drink, so he forced himself to sit in his command tower and wait for dawn.
He stood to his feet as the sun came up and his troops began to prepare themselves for the battle. He could see them strapping on armor and checking their weapons. As much as Wilam felt anxious for the battle to begin, he also knew that it was better to let the enemy come to fight on the ground he had chosen. His men had been drilling on that ground long enough to know it well. It was one more advantage they had over King Zorlan’s forces.
A slow hour passed, then another with no sign of the invaders doing anything. Scouts reported the enemy forces preparing for battle, but there was no sense of urgency. Wilam finally could wait no longer.
“Saddle my horse,” he bellowed. “Send for the generals.”
There was flurry of activity around the tower. When Zollin descended he found his horse saddled and ready, his generals mounted and waiting on him. He climbed into the saddle and rode away without a word, the generals following behind.
Wilam rode through the ranks, eyeing his troops critically, and was pleased to find them ready for battle. He turned when he reached the front lines and began shouting. “Men, our enemy waits out there,” he said, pointing with his sword in the direction of the invading army. “They are slow to action because they are afraid. We have every advantage on this field of battle and we will make them pay with their life’s blood for engaging us. We fight for the Queen of the Sea. We fight for our Lady Gwendolyn. We will show her our valor and bring her glory, and then we shall reap our rewards.”
The soldiers shouted. Wilam had no doubt that each man envisioned his reward in Lady Gwendolyn’s bed, but if it motivated them, he saw no harm in it. He would harness that desire and use it to give his queen the Five Kingdoms, then he knew she could no longer deny him.
Prince Wilam turned his horse and rode out across the plain, followed by his generals. He could hear the cheering of his men and it gave him a sense of pride and excitement. When they came within sight of the invading army they stopped and waited. General Trevis raised Lady Gwendolyn’s flag, which had been designed by tailor while they were still in Lodenhime. It was outline of a woman in gold on a background of sea green.
They waited several moments, no one talking, just watching their enemy. Finally, one of the generals spoke.
“What is taking them so long? Surely they were ready for battle?”
“They are afraid,” General Trevis said.
“If they fear to engage us, why invade Osla?” the first man asked again.
“They aren’t afraid,” Prince Wilam said. “It’s a tactic. By making us wait they try our nerves and, at least in their own minds, elevate themselves. Don’t underestimate your opponent, gentlemen. Prepare for every possibility, even if you feel certain you know what the enemy will do. If you are prepared for every thing they might do, then nothing they actually do will daunt you.”
“I don’t like waiting,” said another general. “We’ve lost the element of surprise. We should attack. They’re obviously using this time to prepare their troops.”
“That’s exactly what they want us to do,” Prince Wilam said. “By attacking them, we forfeit all our advantages.”
“But they’re unprepared,” the general said. “We could crush them if we attack.”
“Are you certain of that? Are you sure it’s not a tactic to lure us into engaging them? We cannot know, but we do know the ground we have selected and the maneuvers we have drilled these last several days. You don’t throw that all away because you’re nervous, general.”
The chastised general fell silent and they continued waiting. It was almost half an hour before King Zorlan appeared with a much larger retinue of men. They rode horses that seemed to prance rather than walk, lifting their feet high with each step and bobbing their heads. They all wore brightly polished armor and weapons. One held the flag of Flaxis, another the flag of Osla. They spread out in a line facing Prince Wilam and his generals.
“Prince Wilam,” King Zorlan said in a haughty voice. “I am surprised to see you here. I heard you fled north after you were convicted of harboring a wizard and spying on your fellow ambassadors in the Grand City.”
“Turn your army back to Falxis,” Prince Wilam said menacingly, “and perhaps the Queen of the Sea will let you live.”
“Ah, you are referring to the witch from Lodenhime?” Zorlan said. “As I recall, Lodenhime is my sovereign possession, which makes her my possession too.”
“The queen belongs to no one, especially not a pompous fool like you.”
“Well, that’s to be determined. For now, I request that you march your army back to Ortis, or that King Oveer does. Where is the good king? I prefer to converse with equals.”
“A worm is superior to you, Zorlan,” Wilam sneered. “Do not bother us with questions or demands. Surrender or be destroyed. You have no rights here.”
“On the contrary. I am leading the Olsan troops home. It is you, my young upstart, who has no rights. You are invaders and usurpers. You have broken faith with your fellows and I must insist that you stand trial for your crimes.”
“I’m glad you’ve shown your hand, Zorlan. You always were a pompous windbag. We shall await you on the field of battle. Then you shall know our quality. We value actions, not words.”
Prince Wilam didn’t wait for a reply. He turned his horse and rode away. The generals hesitated only for a moment, watching King Zorlan’s men to ensure they wouldn’t be attacked from the rear. Then they too turned and followed Prince Wilam.
“What did that accomplish?” General Trevis asked when the generals had come even with Prince Wilam again.
“Nothing of merit,” Wilam said. “But I was anxious to find out who exactly we were facing. I did not see King Belphan or any of his generals, so the rumors must be true.”
“King Belphan was killed, you mean?” asked one of the generals.
“Yes, and his generals too, or so it would seem. The good King Zorlan has some gumption then, but he seems like the same fawning imbecile I took him for in Falxis. He is weak willed, but greedy for more power. I don’t think he expected to face an army led by warriors. He’ll be even more hesitant now, fearful and probably second-guessing every decision he makes. I want scouts out beyond the flanks of our forces. I wouldn’t put it past the coward to try and go around us without fighting.”
“And if he does?” Trevis asked.
“Then we’ll be forced to destroy him.”
Chapter 20
Eustice finally arrived late the following day. Zollin had begun to worry about the mute servant, but he came riding merrily into the camp they had constructed near the broken down well and burned cottage. Nycoll had gotten more comfortable with Zollin and Brianna after the dragons had gone hunting. The great beasts slept out in the bright sunshine during the days and roamed through the countryside at night hunting.
No one else came by, and Nycoll, unaccustomed to visitors, was slow to join the group. But by the time Eustice arrived she was sitting with the others, adding an occasional comment and even laughing at Mansel’s jokes. Brianna had tried to bond with Nycoll, who was only ten years older than Brianna-although she seemed much older than that-but Nycoll kept her distance. It was obvious to Zollin that Nycoll couldn’t journey far with them. They would have to find a safe place to leave her while they continued on. He wasn’t looking forward to bringing the subject up with Mansel, but he knew he would have to do it sooner or later.