Shadows moved around them. Flitting between the trees were wolves, in greater numbers than he'd ever seen. They padded along silent as gray ghosts until the lead wolf raised his head and howled. His cry was answered down the lines until the woods resounded with their song.
Rhanu's strides were unflagging. He broke into a clearing, alone for a moment. Then a crowd emerged behind him, both men and wolves. Noses to the wind, they were focused on their goal and united in their pace. And as they advanced through different territories, their numbers only grew. Straight as an arrow in flight, they soared toward the heart of the impending battle.
Chapter 54: Marcellus
The rolling green hills were decorated with tents as far as could be seen. Marcellus' army joined with Theron and the warriors he had recruited from the upper regions. The Silver Horn fluttered side by side with the Isbjorn for the first time. Soldiers of both camps mingled freely, any lingering animosity between former contending nations put aside by their common goal.
Infantrymen from Parand had arrived as well, along with crossbowmen. They camped separately. The joke from the other soldiers was that they kept themselves busy polishing their breastplates and oiling their long, curled mustaches. Marcellus could have done without their superior attitude, or the antagonizing sneers they gave to the much rougher looking Norlanders. But despite their misgivings, they happened to be a well-disciplined force that would be handy for strategic purposes.
General Archambault led the Parandian soldiers. He was an ambitious man, a High Lord of one the more powerful Houses in Parand. In typical Parandian fashion he insinuated much while revealing nothing, indicating the risks he took and the rewards he would expect should their campaign prove successful. Marcellus gave Archambault equally vague assurances in response.
King Theron greeted Marcellus with his bear-like roar. "Is this all the might you could muster? By Dunnar's Hammer, man! A single Ulfhenar could crush the whole of this lily-livered lot."
Marcellus could not help but smile. "Well met, your Majesty. And what of your Ulfhenar? Will they be joining us?"
"Aye. I dared not have them accompany us anywhere civilized. The countryside would be seen only as something to plunder. They will join us in the Barrens, have no fear."
"Have the Epanites sent word to you?" Marcellus imagined they weren't happy. Epanos and Norland had bad blood between them from the long years that that Norlanders plundered their southern neighbors until the peace had been brokered. There was no doubt Epanos would be in arms over the Norland presence there.
"Only that if we pass their border we will be greeted by a hailstorm of arrows." Theron shrugged. "Mighty Theron be not impressed. When they learned you led us, they did send word to the queen. She means to arrive here in person." He raised a shaggy eyebrow. "Seems you make quite an impression."
"This is not my first trip to Epanos." Marcellus had not thought to ever return, given what had transpired the last time.
"Aye. It be said that you brokered the peace between your nations without the threat of a sword. Or perhaps not the sword that cuts, har! Mayhap there did be more relations than just between kingdoms, eh?" Theron roared a laugh and gave Marcellus a wallop on the shoulder that nearly unhorsed him.
A company of soldiers in the dark green and violet surcoats of Epanos rode into view, bearing the Eagle of Epanos on their banners. They wore the characteristic morrion helmets — kettle-shaped with a protective crest from front to back, topped by a decorative comb to strengthen it. Their burnished breastplates flashed in the sunlight, as did the gleaming poleaxes carried by the foot soldiers. The heavily-armored cavalry on horses were armed with shorter axes and heavy rapiers. At about a hundred meters they pulled rein to wait for the commander of the opposite army to meet them.
Marcellus called for his horse, and a few moments later rode to the emissary with Theron, General Archambault, and Nyori. He practically ground his teeth when the bannermen rode with them, carrying the standards of Kaerleon, Norland, and the Companions. The usual band of fools also accompanied him as his Honor Guard.
The Captain of the Epanite envoy was an olive-skinned man with a thick mustache and a warm smile. Epanites were cordial by nature, and formalities were light. He removed his helmet and dipped his head. "You are Lord Marcellus Admorran, se? It is indeed an honor to meet you in person, Al Champio. My name is Captain Ayrton de Vallegera. I will escort you and a small company of your men to the grace of Her Royal Majesty."
His smile slipped for a moment as his eyes flicked to the endless sea of tents behind Marcellus, and at Theron, a distrusted Norlander. "She is very much interested in your intentions regarding this army that sits on her border."
"I am sure she is. Rest assured, sir, all we seek is safe passage through her lands. It is Aceldama, not Epanos that we seek."
The man's eyes widened slightly. "The Forbidden City? Few still believe it exists, let alone is inhabited."
"But you do."
Vallegera's face grew serious. "Mistro, the Barrens border our country. We know the manner of creatures that dwell in those Goddess-forsaken fields. Tierra delos Fantasmos—The Land of Ghosts is what my people call that domain. We fight to protect our borders, but have never ventured into those fog-enshrouded lands in force, for none who have passed into them has returned."
"Then it's past time we do something about that."
De Vallegera's face was decidedly neutral. "We all have to die sometime, Al Champio."
THEY WERE ESCORTED into Salino, the city on the western border of Epanos. Marcellus had chosen Han, Nyori, Meshella, and General Archambault to accompany him. He left Theron in charge until they returned. Both agreed that the Norland king's presence might be regarded as an insult in the presence of the Queen.
Marcellus smiled at Nyori's expression. It was her first visit to the famed kingdom, and she took in the sights with great interest. It was good to see her light-hearted, if only for the moment. She had been entirely too somber of late.
She turned to him with a small smile on her face. He was still surprised by how quickly her demeanor had changed since he first encountered her in the wilds of the Dragonspine not so long ago. She had quickly grown into her station, more mysterious than not with her thoughts and emotions. The soldiers seemed to take her as a wise woman of sorts, and a talisman of good fortune for their campaign. The stories of her 'magical staff' had spread, and many came to her to heal their ailments and even for practical advice. Perhaps she merely took on the expected guise for practicality's sake, but if so she had certainly become adept at it.
"This is a beautiful country, Marcellus. Does it look the same as the last time you were here?"
"Very much, although the roads and buildings have improved. The time of peace has benefited the country greatly, it appears." He gazed at the endless fields of grapevines that would yield the fruit for fine wine, their most lucrative export. The lands of Epanos were rich with agriculture, and besides the grapes there were fields tilled for corn, potatoes, peas, and many more vegetables. From sunup to sunset workers toiled in the fields, their heads covered by scarves or wide brimmed straw hats to protect them from the heat of the sun. The orchards of apple, pear, and peach trees were carefully pruned by expert hands.
They rode into the heart of Salino, a small yet distinct city surrounded by a myriad of humble buildings of adobe or wooden frames topped by clay tiles. The buildings were a mixture of the ancient styles of the long past civilization that once dwelt there, and the newer styles that imitated the nations around them. Only the main road was stone paved; the rest were dirt or gravel. The winding streets rolled uphill to the High Don's manor and the enormous cathedral that overlooked the city.