Fredrik led Duke Everich into aprolonged discussion of how the two countries might be of benefitto each other. The Duke seemed to be uninterested in most of theconversation with the exception of the Cidal Mercenary Company, buthe was patient enough to let Fredrik rave about the great nation hewas going to carve out of old Sordoa. The Duke probably thoughtFredrik a young fool, but was trying to find some angle to getcontrol of the mercenaries for his own benefit. Fredrik was surethat the Duke would use the mercenaries in some grand scheme of theContest of Power.
It suddenly dawned on Fredrik why theDuke was being so patient. As long as Lord Wason was tied up in hisstudy, the other players in the Contest could not talk to him. Eventhe length of time spent with Lord Wason would probably be used tosome advantage. Fredrik was mulling over these thoughts when heheard the bump of something against the door. That was Arik’ssignal that the escape was underway. Arik had hidden where he couldobserve Tedi’s group leaving and shadowed behind them to make surethey got off all right. The signal meant it was time toflee.
“Well,” Fredrik began, “Ithink this talk has given me much to think about, Duke Everich. Iwould like to meet with some of the other Council members tomorrowif you can arrange it, but I must be going now. I am afraid that asgood as the Palace Shadow is, I did not sleep as well as I wouldhave in my own bed.”
Duke Everich snapped his head up as ifhe had just heard Fredrik speak for the first time. “I couldarrange for quarters here in the Palace if you wish,” he offered.“The other members of the Council have very busy schedules and Imay not be able to arrange your meetings for a fewdays.”
“That is unfortunate,” LordWason declared. “I must start my journey back home tomorrow at thelatest and the Palace Shadow will do for one more night. Perhapsthere will be time for another meeting with you before I go. We cancontinue our plans by courier if that is not possible.”
“A pity,” grinned the Duke.“Well, I should send a guard down for your man to spare yourbodyguard the trip while I see you out.”
Fredrik showed no sign of panic as hereplied. “That won’t be necessary, Duke Everich. If you don’t mind,I will leave him there overnight. Perhaps he will be moreunderstanding in the morning. I can easily find my own way out ofthe Palace while you check with the other Council members abouttheir schedules for tomorrow.”
The Duke merely nodded, lost inthought, as Fredrik opened the door and stepped into the corridorwhere Arik was waiting. As quickly as they could, without appearingto be in a hurry, Fredrik and Arik made their way out of the Palaceto the Palace Shadow where they met with Tedi and all checked outwith great haste. Within minutes of each other, the three groups ofAlcea Rangers started their journey out of the city towards thefield where General Gregor and Sergeant Trank awaitedthem.
Garth, Kalina, Niki, and Tanya werewaiting for Fredrik, Tedi and Arik a short way from the city andthe group reformed into one. The field where the General waited wasnot far away from the city, but it was between the main roadwestward and the main road northward, which placed it in the forestwhere few would go. The General and the Sergeant were alreadytalking with Mitar Vidson, head of the Targa Rangers, and DavidJaynes, head of the Red Swords of Targa, when the Alcea Rangersarrived.
Garth introduced everybody and sat bythe campfire as the rest of the group joined him. “General,” Garthbegan, “I am sure that your old friends have brought you up to dateon why we are all here. I believe that you have met most of theAlcea Rangers already today. We will be leaving in the morning, butyou four will have much to do before we return.”
“I must not have been toldeverything,” the General prodded. “Why have you formed the AlceaRangers? Where are you going? When and why are you coming back andwhat is it you expect us to do?”
“Many questions,” mused Garth.“Still, you have the right to know what you are getting yourselfinto. First, I must ask a harsh question. Is your Sergeant Tranktrustworthy?”
“I have staked my life on itin the past,” the General declared, “and I have not regretted it.You may speak of anything in his presence that you wish to speak tome about.”
“Very well,” Garth continued.“You four must prepare for the rising of Alcea which will occurwhen next you see us. Targa’s Army is young, weak, and untrainedand, yet, a tremendous army will be coming to crush us. You mustround up the remnants of the Red Swords and the Targa Rangers andget them ready for battle and you must do it covertly. No one is toknow that you are forming this army. Let our enemies believe thatTarga is ill-prepared to fend off their attack.”
The General looked around the campfireexamining the faces before him. He understood the reference toAlcea rising because he had heard of the Prophecy and had been toldto prepare for it or train a successor to prepare for it. What hedid not understand was the great army that would be descending onAlcea. Nobody had mentioned that before.
“You lead me to believe that Ishould be kneeling before one of your Rangers,” the General stated.“May I know which one?”
“Not until I do,” Garthstated. “We know the Prophecy has begun, but little more. When Ireturn, it will be with your King.”
“I will accept you at yourword,” General Gregor acceded. “What is this talk of a great armydescending on Alcea? This was never mentioned before in conjunctionwith the Prophecy.”
“The Dark One will soon knowthat the Prophecy has begun,” Garth explained. “If my plans gowell, he will be unable to find us. His only recourse will be toeradicate Alcea to see that it never rises again. He has many underhis control and he will not hesitate to use every last one of them.If he attacked Targa today, do you think your Army would stand anychance at all?”
“No,” conceded the General.“And if Targa gets wind of the building army, the battle will beginbefore the first of the Dark One’s minions even get close. Iunderstand the urgency now, but you must buy us time. Many of thosewe will recruit are past their prime years. They can still fight,but they will make better officers and trainers for whatever youngwe can induct.”
“We will buy you whatever timewe can,” Garth responded, “but every day we delay increases therisk to our party. Make haste with your efforts,General.”
* * * *
Duke Everich was enraged with hisSergeant’s report. General Gregor and Sergeant Trank haddisappeared from sight. His dungeon guard had been dealt with bychildren from all accounts, children! He picked up the paperweightfrom his desk and hurled across the room.
“I want those three guardshung in the morning,” the Duke screamed. “And I want it done infull public view with the entire Palace guard in audience. I wantthose children found and brought to me, all five of them. Now getout!”
Duke Everich’s words echoed through hishead. There were five children running around his Palace as if theyowned it. His face turned red at the thought of him falling for thechild’s story about being a Lord. It was obviously a ruse to gainthem access to the dungeon to free the General, but why? He wassure the three whom he had seen were not Targan. They were asSordoan as any he had met. Why would Sordoan children want to freethe General of Targa’s Army? Or should that be Alcea’sArmy?
Unbelievable as it was, Duke Everichknew it was something that had to be reported immediately, but ithad to be reported in such a fashion that his Master would notrealize that the Duke had been tricked himself. He wasn’t about tolose his rank because of one slip. There would always be someoneelse he could blame.
Chapter 21
Elves
The seven Alcea Rangers left thecampsite at first light and headed northwest as the Sword ofHeavens demanded. Garth had spent most of the night speaking withGeneral Gregor and his three men, but showed little signs offatigue. Niki had raved for an hour about her major role in theplot to free the General and Garth caught Tanya’s wink during thedissertation. Tanya revealed that Niki talked in her sleep and thatthe redhead had been feeling mischievous about not having a majorrole to play. Garth changed the plan for the escape to includeNiki’s participation and Tanya had built up the importance of therole. Niki had been so wrapped up in her own importance that sheseemed unaware of the efforts the others put into the plan. ThatFredrik had found a way to get into the Palace or that Arik hadfound a way to signal Tanya that the time to approach the Palacehad arrived seemed of little importance to Niki. Most of theRangers left the campfire during her boasting, but she did not seemto notice. She had continued to retell her tale to the four captiveTargans.