This is not going as I wished, Kaz. Be alert and stay ready to bolt at a moment’s notice.
I am always ready to fight or flee as you wish, Alex.
Colonel Pierce led Alex to the large command tent and dismounted. Alex also dismounted, and a soldier came forward to take the reins of both horses. The guards pulled back the tent flap and Colonel Pierce led the visitor inside the tent. A Federation general sat inside the tent, and he looked up as the colonels entered. Colonel Pierce saluted the general and Alex mimicked him.
“What is this, Pierce?” asked the general.
“A visitor from the 11th Corps, General Ritka,” answered the colonel. “I thought it best that you speak to him. He is Colonel Belasko.”
The general waved Alex forward. The Knight of Alcea immediately complied, but his eyes scanned the interior of the tent as he walked across the room. The general noticed the visitor’s gaze and frowned.
“You have a great deal of curiosity, Colonel,” stated the general. “Have you never seen the inside of a command tent before?”
“I apologize, General,” Alex replied as he openly looked around the tent again, “but I am sure that you will want to know why I am here, and I am hesitant to speak of such things openly. My mission is confidential to the Crown of Ertak.”
“This is a Spinoan operation, Colonel,” replied the general. “While there is a contingent here from Aerta, there is nothing in this camp that would be of interest to the Ertakan Crown.”
“Except your black-cloaks,” declared Alex. “May we speak privately?”
General Ritka raised an eyebrow at the mention of the black-cloaks. He stared at the Ertakan colonel for a moment and then nodded. He waved dismissively at his guards and they retreated from the tent, but Colonel Pierce remained. Alex looked questioningly at the general.
“Colonel Pierce has my full confidence,” stated the general. “This is as close to alone as you will get with me. We are, after all, in enemy territory.”
Alex nodded in agreement and sighed. “Very well, but I must stress that word of my visit and its purpose must be kept confidential. It is a rather sensitive issue for King Harowin.”
“We have no desire to embarrass the Ertakan king,” assured the general. “What do our mages have to do with Ertak?”
“I am not sure how aware you are of the situation in Ertak,” Alex began, “but there is bit of a rift between King Harowin and his son, General Montero. General Montero has kept his brother, Prince Harold, in a secluded castle in the Dark Forest. With General Montero marching off to war, King Harowin was eager to ensure that there is an heir to the throne of Ertak. As part of my duties for the king, I was dispatched to that castle to bring Prince Harold back to the Royal Palace of Ertak for his safety. I also took a group of black-cloaks with me to check on the health of Prince Harold. I believe one of those black-cloaks is now assigned to your command, and I need to talk to him.”
“And you came all the way to Alcea to do so?” the general asked, his eyes narrowing as he gazed skeptically at the Ertakan colonel. “Why am I finding your story a little hard to believe?” Before Alex could open his mouth to reply, the general continued, “I pride myself on knowing the up and coming officers in the Federation armies, Belasko, and I have never heard of you before. I find it hard to believe that King Harowin would trust the life of his son to an unknown officer. Why are you really here, Belasko?”
Chapter 18
Day Six
Colonel Belasko stood in the command tent of Team Gortha, General Ritka staring at him in a very hostile manner. The general had made it clear that he did not believe Alex’s story, and the Knight of Alcea felt the mission coming dangerously close to failure. He sighed anxiously and returned the general’s stare with one of determination.
“I know little about your familiarity with up and coming officers,” retorted Alex, “but I am proud of the rank that I have attained. As for why I would come halfway across the world and into a battle zone to speak to a mage, I do so because my king demands it, and I am loyal to King Harowin even unto the point of death. I have stated my request to speak to your black-cloaks. You are the leader of Team Gortha, and it is within your power to refuse me, but I think such a choice on your part would be unfortunate.”
“Unfortunate?” snapped the general. “Who do you think you are to stand before a superior officer and threaten him?”
“I have issued no threats,” Alex stated quickly. “I have not come here to cause harm to anyone, but I understand King Harowin better than most men. If I return to Farmin without resolution of this problem, King Harowin will take the matter directly to Emperor Jaar. Honoring the line of succession in the member countries of the Federation is a cornerstone of the agreement.”
Deep furrows marred the general’s brow as he stared at the Ertakan colonel. “What does talking to this mage have to do with the line of succession in Ertak? You said that you returned the prince to the Royal Palace. There is no threat to the throne.”
“But there is,” countered Alex. “The man that I returned to the palace was not Prince Harold. I need to find out how this is possible and whether the black-cloaks know where the real Prince Harold is.”
The general stared dumbfounded at Alex. He suddenly tore his gaze away and looked at Colonel Pierce. “What is it, Pierce?”
“I might be able to shed some light on this,” stated the Spinoan colonel. “While we were at Camp Destiny, I spent some time with Colonel Patrey. He serves under General Montero, and he did mention to me that Montero was quite upset about losing Prince Harold.”
“Was Belasko’s name mentioned?” asked the general.
The colonel nodded. “Very strongly, General. In fact, had Colonel Belasko inadvertently gone through the wrong portal tonight, I guarantee that he would be dead by now. General Montero wants his head.”
General Ritka’s body lost the tenseness that had been evident during the verbal altercation. He sighed with relief and shook his head at Alex.
“You have made yourself a rather powerful enemy, Belasko. Montero is not the type of man to forget such transgressions easily.”
“I understand, General,” replied Alex. “I take no pleasure in hurting the Crown Prince, but I am sworn to carry out the orders of King Harowin. That is all I seek to do here tonight. May I carry out my orders?”
“Our camp layout is standard, Colonel,” answered the general with a dismissive wave. “The tent will be on your left as you leave.”
Alex saluted the general and turned to leave. Colonel Pierce also turned to escort the visitor, but the general spoke before they reached the tent flap.
“Let Belasko go on his own, Pierce,” ordered the general. “As far as we are concerned, Belasko, we never heard of you, and this meeting never took place. I will not allow Ertakan escapades to put me between a king and a Crown Prince. I want nothing to do with it. Speak to your mage and then get out of my camp.”
Alex nodded wordlessly and exited the tent. A soldier came out of the shadows and handed Kaz’s reins to Alex. The Knight of Alcea headed towards the mage tent. As he passed into an area unlit by the torches lighting the tented area, he felt a slight weight upon his shoulder.
“I have tested the tent,” Bitsy chirped softly. “I felt nothing. Fairies ARE fearless.”
Despite the tension, Alex felt himself smiling. “I had no doubts about it,” he whispered. “Now we shall discover if unicorns are as well.”
Kaz snorted derisively. Unicorns do not delude themselves. Fear is always present, but one can learn to control it.
Alex left the unicorn’s statement unchallenged, his focus already set on the flap of the mage tent, which was fast approaching.
“Keep watch, Bitsy,” Alex whispered. “If anyone in the camp takes special notice of me, alert me immediately.”