"There is the answer to your question, my friend. I am born into diplomacy and the world of southland politics. Just as you were born to rule, and have been taught the skills necessary to command respect, as well as martial practices."
"Oh."
"You see," Rak sighed, and picked Travak up and placed him on his lap. "If Brock of Callodon, for example, were to say: 'To Threlland! We must aid the Black Hills!' his forces would muster, and head north. But at the Jurian border? Word would reach Willam of Juria, word that a massive force of Callodonian warriors approached. In the long history between those two lands, there have been many wars."
"It is a simple question of trust, surely?" Gawain protested.
Rak shook his head sadly. "Trust yes, simple, no. A crown guards its throne and its people as jealously as Elvendere guards its forest. Sureties would be required, by means of which reparation and redress could be guaranteed in the event of…eventualities. In our example, who would feed the Callodon army as it marched north to aid Threlland? Who would recompense Jurian farmers for the beef that would be slaughtered to feed such a throng? And as for Callodon, what surety would they have that Juria would not take advantage of the fact that all Brock's forces were fighting in the Barak-nor?"
"As I said. A question of trust."
"As you said. If my neighbour asked to cross my garden to aid another neighbour, I, trusting him, would permit the passage without let or hindrance. But I and my neighbour have grown up together, and are good friends, and there is neither envy nor enmity between us, nor any history of such. If a stranger asked the same right, would I not naturally regard him with suspicion? Ask questions, have him watched, make arrangements for recompense should he damage Merrin's vegetables or flowers in his crossing?"
Gawain nodded sadly.
"Where kings are involved, the same principles apply, and that means politics, and wizards, and treaties, and formal alliances and agreements. Eryk made a telling point, my friend. Suppose Juria permitted Callodon to pass through their lands, but demanded command of that army? Can you see Brock of Callodon handing over control of his forces to Willam? Can you see Callodonian men-at-arms obeying Jurian orders? It is complex. Thus Eryk called you a boy. You are young, and in matters of politics, a child. It was not meant as offence, Traveller. It was an honest appraisal, and a fair indication of the response you may expect from the Kings' Council, should one indeed be formed."
"There is no time for politics, friend Rak."
"I know. Yet it is unavoidable. I fear Eryk was also correct when he said things would be different if you had five hundred Raheen cavalry lending weight to your words."
"I have nothing behind me but ash, and dust."
"And friends, Traveller."
"Few enough of those."
"One is all a man needs."
Gawain sighed, and then a servant appeared in the doorway.
"My Lord," the servant said quietly, "The wizard Allazar is without."
"Please send him in, Darrin, he is welcome as always."
Moments later, Allazar appeared, slightly breathless and flushed with apparent excitment.
"I have news, my friends," he beamed. "A message!"
"Sit, friend Allazar, warm yourself." Rak indicated a chair, and Allazar hurried to it.
"Brock of Callodon has sent word. Even now, he is with Willam of Juria, in the Castle Town of that land."
"So quickly?" Gawain gasped.
Allazar shook his head hurriedly. "No, he is there in response to my original message, before you travelled to Elvendere to bring your Lady out of Faranthroth. The snows clear late in the far south and Brock has only just reached Juria."
"What of his army?"
Allazar looked surprised. "His army? They remain in Callodon. Word has not yet reached the crowns from Eryk, it is far too soon."
"Then how…"
"You recall, Longsword, the messages Lord Rak dispatched when you returned from the Teeth? Brock answers that message. He travels north, and hopes to persuade Willam of Juria to join him. He brings no army, for the first messages spoke not of Morlochmen already in the southlands, but of a threat years hence."
"I would that you blasted whitebeards could communicate the way Morloch's do. It is far quicker."
Allazar stared at Gawain for a moment, and then gazed into the flames. "That requires aquamire, Longsword, which we do not possess, nor never shall, I hope."
Gawain sighed. "There must be something we can do to speed them here. To circumvent this…this damned politics that stands like a farak gorin between need and action."
Allazar glanced at Rak, who simply shrugged, and went back to keeping Travak happily occupied.
"Brock is a good man." Allazar said, at length. "And when he learns who you truly are, he will commit his forces, I am sure. He would do so anyway, for you rid his land of the Ramoths. Willam of Juria too, owes you his very life. Mornland and Arrun are a gentle people with few military resources, though I do not doubt they will gladly offer all they can. It is upon Elvendere, though, that our hopes are truly pinned."
"Then we may indeed be doomed." Gawain opined. "I fear my last encounter with Thal-Hak did not go well, and since it is appears that the forest is truly ruled by whitebeards, we cannot count on elven longbows to hold the enemy at bay."
"My father is not so weak as to be ruled by wizards, mithroth." Elayeen announced from the door. "Nor is my brother."
Gawain looked up at her, sheepishly. "Forgive me, Elayeen miheth. But you do not recall the disarray which prevailed when last I was there."
Elayeen strode across the room regally, and sat on the floor beside Gawain's legs, while Merrin picked up Travak from Rak's lap and sat beside her husband.
"Dinner will be ready in an hour. You will stay, Allazar." Merrin said quietly. It was not a question, and the wizard nodded politely.
"Meeya and Valin told me all that had transpired after you trespassed Elvenheth for me, mithroth. They and I are somewhat more familiar with Elvendere's governance than perhaps you are. Truly, the wizards there are not as powerful as you fear."
"Yet one called Yonas turned assassin when I bore you from the forest, and he did so at the urging of wizards. And was it not your land's whitebeards who have for so long poisoned the minds of all elves against Threlland?"
"Yes," Elayeen conceded, gazing up at him firmly. "But the thalangard are commanded by the crown, and do not take orders from wizards."
"Indeed?" Gawain frowned. "Yet Meeya and Valin were ordered here to kill me, by wizards."
It was Elayeen's turn to look sheepish for a moment. "True. But the wizards took advantage of my friends' grief for me. You yourself told my brother, so Meeya has said, that you would burn all Elvendere to ashes if anyone hindered my recovery. Is this not so?"
"I may have said something along those lines." Gawain mumbled.
"At the time, you doubtless meant the threat. Meeya and Gan certainly believed you did. Yet, you were…upset. Can you not see then, how easy it would have been for the wizards to use the thalangard's grief for me to their own ends?"
"Perhaps."
"But now Valin and Meeya ride for home, in company with four friends of this land. When they arrive, and the people learn the truth, Threlland may count upon my father's aid."
"Always assuming Juria will permit them to cross the plains." Rak pointed out.
"If not, then my father will simply send his forces north to the farak gorin, and along that approach to Threlland. I do not believe you should all be so downcast." Elayeen asserted.
"It is difficult not to be," Merrin sighed, "Knowing as we do now that six hundred of the enemy are camped in our lands, and may attack at any moment. And we with so few men-at-arms to defend us."
"In truth," Gawain said firmly, "I do not believe they will simply rise up and attack Threlland. Their task is to hold the line at the farak gorin when the breach is made, and thus permit time for Morloch's northern army to muster on the scree."