“Your Majesty, that is the perfect solution,” Shant Tenor said. The news of Haxus’ mobilization had almost made him spasm with fear, but then the thought of his city’s industries gearing up for war and the profits that would bring Kendra had calmed him remarkably quickly. And the thought of selling the food and extra supplies the heavy cavalry from the Twenty Houses would need almost had him salivating.
“We are going about this the wrong way,” said a new voice, calm and measured. All eyes turned to Father Powl. In the four meetings since he had been one of the council members, he had hardly spoken at all. Even Primate Northam looked in surprise at the priest. He was a small, thin man who often wore a smile but whose hard gray eyes never seemed amused at all.
Areava considered him. “Father?”
“I think sending our army north piecemeal is inviting disaster.”
“But the kingdom is under threat!” Shant Tenor exclaimed. “We can’t wait until our enemies reach the walls of Kendra itself!”
“Which is what will happen if King Salokan is allowed to destroy one regiment here and two regiments there. Even the renowned cavalry of the Twenty Houses could do little by themselves against an army more than ten times its size.”
“He speaks the truth,” Marshal Lief said despondently. “We have been caught by surprise, and our forces are too scattered or not up to full strength.”
“Not completely by surprise,” Father Powl said, “thanks to the offices of Chancellor Orkid Gravespear.” Priest and chancellor exchanged courtesy glances. “And there is a way through this problem.”
Shant Tenor could see all the city’s short-term profits evaporating before his eyes. “With all due respect to Father Powl, I think military planning is best left to the marshal.”
“Go on, Father,” Areava said, throwing the mayor a warning look.
“I suggest we reduce the border garrison to a line of lookouts. The remainder should be sent to garrison Daavis. In the meantime, a proper army is gathered here and sent north as soon as spring comes.”
“But we would be surrendering almost all of Hume!” Galen said.
“Only for a few weeks at most,” Marshal Lief said. “The priest is right. If the forces already in Hume garrisoned Daavis, the city should be able to defend itself against the army of Haxus long enough for our army to relieve it.”
“There is another factor to consider,” Powl said. “Prado and his force of mercenaries. He will be in Hume before winter bites too hard. He could reinforce Daavis, or support those forces we leave on the border.”
“Or change sides as soon as Salokan crosses the border,” Dejanus growled, still stinging over losing the command of that expedition.
“He will not,” Orkid said firmly. “He hates Rendle, and Rendle is with Haxus.”
“I would not see Prado deterred from his mission,” Areava objected.
“If Prince Lynan is indeed with Salokan, Prado’s mission and our need dovetail, your Majesty,” Powl said.
“Thank you, Father,” Areava said. “Your words have made the situation at once less dire and its solution much clearer.”
Powl nodded graciously. “There is one more issue.”
“Yes?”
“Who will lead the army north?”
“I will, of course,” Areava said quickly.
“Forgive me, your Majesty, but that is inadvisable,” Orkid said. “No one can deny your skill with weapons— after all, your mother gave you command of the kingdom’s armed forces—but your place is here, in the palace. What if some other emergency should arise in your absence? And your absence would be a long one. The same applies to the marshal. He needs to be in Kendra to organize the army’s mobilization, and then its continued supply.”
“Then who do you suggest?” she asked the chancellor.
“Why not someone from the Twenty Houses?” Galen asked.
“Or Prince Olio,” Father Powl suggested. “It would be fitting for Grenda Lear’s army to be led by a prince of the realm, especially if the enemy army is being led by another.”
There were nods around the table, and then everyone noticed that Olio was not present. He was usually so quiet that his absence had not really been noticed until now. The queen looked puzzled.
“Harnan? Was Prince Olio notified of the meeting?”
“My clerks could not find him,” her private secretary said. “I could send them out again.”
Areava shook her head. “No. There is much for me to consider. I will consult with my brother in private over this matter.” She stood up and everyone else immediately stood as well. “You have served me well today.”
* * *
When Olio finally awoke, the muscles in his back were knotted into painful bundles. The side of his face that had been resting on the tower’s stone floor was numb with cold. He groaned and lifted himself into a sitting position. His head beat with a sound like a hammer striking an anvil. His hand was in something wet. He looked down and saw a great red puddle of wine. He stood up uneasily. He moved toward the steps and his foot knocked aside an empty flagon. It rang on the stone floor, and he had to close his eyes in pain.
“God’s death,” he muttered, holding his hands to his head.
After the pain eased, he made his way slowly down the tower stairway and then along the corridors to his chambers. When he opened the door, he was met by a room filled with light. He squeezed his eyes shut and tottered into the bedchamber, closing the door behind him.
“Leave it open. I won’t stay long.”
“Sister?” He squinted, and could just make out Areava’s tall form sitting in a chair near his bed.
“You missed a council meeting.”
“I’m sorry. I was otherwise ... disposed.” He made it to his bed and sat on the end. “Was it important?”
“Haxus has mobilized its army. We cannot meet it with our full strength. Hume may fall by the middle of spring. Otherwise, no, nothing important.”
Olio shook his head to clear it. It did not work. “I didn’t quite get all of that.”
“You smell of wine. Are you drunk?”
“N-n-no, n-n-not drunk. M-m-my head hurts.”
“I needed you. You weren’t there.”
“I said I was sorry, Areava. Tell m-m-me again. What happened in the council?”
“In four months, maybe less, we will be at war with Haxus.”
Olio’s eyes sprung open. “War?” Areava nodded. “With Haxus?” Areava nodded again. “B-b-but the m-m-marshal and admiral were there, surely? And Orkid?”
“Your name came up.”
Olio sighed. His eyes were adjusting to the brightness.
“What is happening to you?” Areava asked.
He shrugged. “N-n-nothing is happening to m-m-me. I had a b-b-bad night, that’s all.” Distractedly, he ran his fingers through his brown hair.
“I see you wandering in and out of the palace at all hours. We don’t talk anymore. My servants have heard your servants complaining that your clothes always reek with wine.” She shook her head in frustration and asked again, “What is happening to you?”
“N—n-nothing is happening to me!” Olio spat.
Areava gasped in surprise.
Olio moaned and put his hand out to hold hers, but she jerked away from him. “I’m sorry, sister, I didn’t m-m-mean ...” She made no move to take his hand, and he eventually dropped it.
“Clean up,” she said imperiously, standing up. “Get changed. Get shaved. Get rid of that terrible smell. I want to see you in my chambers in an hour. Be there or I’ll send one of the guards to bring you.”
Olio forced a laugh. “Areava, you can’t be serious.”
“Be there,” she repeated, her voice hard, and left.
Orkid knocked on the door of the primate’s office and entered without waiting to be called in. Father Powl was sitting behind a huge desk reading through a sheaf of papers; when he saw Orkid, he stood up hurriedly.