* * * *
General Bledsoe strode through the portal and into the barn in Miram. His personal detail immediately formed around him, and they moved out of the barn in a group. The barrel-chested general halted as he stepped fully into the morning sunshine. His bright eyes scanned the farm, instantly taking in the activities of 7th Corps of Barouk. He nodded in satisfaction, his long, brown beard swaying rhythmically. Within moments, Colonel Sawar noticed the general and ran towards him to report.
“We are right on schedule,” declared the colonel. “Your horse will be brought to you shortly. Would you care to review the defenses?”
“No, Colonel,” replied General Bledsoe. “You seem to have everything under control. Hold up the first company of cavalry until my horse arrives. I will be joining them for the journey to the rendezvous point.”
“We are in enemy territory now,” the colonel warned gently. “We would not want to present the Alceans with a symbolic victory.”
The general smiled paternalistically at the colonel. “The Alceans will claim no victory from Team Miram, either symbolically or otherwise. A company of the empire’s finest cavalry is more than a match for anything the Alceans would have this distance from their walled capital. My safety is ensured, and I want to be at the rendezvous point to welcome General Kozinski and to discuss marching orders with him.”
Colonel Sawar nodded and saluted smartly. “I will see that your horse is brought to you promptly.”
The colonel raced away, and General Bledsoe continued his observance of the men under his command. He was pleased with what he saw. Within minutes the general’s horse was brought to him, and Bledsoe dismissed the group assigned to guard him on the farm. He mounted his stallion and rode swiftly across the farm to where the cavalry was forming. A young captain saluted him and quickly issued instructions for his riders to form a protective shield around the general. The general smiled as he noted the efficiency of the company.
“You were prepared for me to join you on the journey to the rendezvous point?” asked General Bledsoe.
“Colonel Sawar informed me just a few minutes ago,” admitted the captain. “It is an honor to have you ride with us, General. Are you ready to leave?”
“More than ready, Captain,” answered the general. “I am anxious to reach the rendezvous.”
The captain needed no stronger hint of the general’s desire to move with haste. He called the company to order and instructed them to move out. The captain personally took the point and led the company along a narrow trail leading towards the main road. The company moved quickly along the trail, but not haphazardly. The general noted with pride that the riders constantly scanned the sides of the trail as well as the trail before them. The riders were alert and as quiet as a swift-moving company of cavalry could be. Within minutes they reached the rendezvous point, and the captain issued orders to his men to define a perimeter and maintain it. The general dismounted and waited for the vanguard of the 17th Corps of Spino. He did not have long to wait. When it did arrive, he was pleasantly surprised to see General Kozinski among the first riders. He respected the Spinoan general, but he had not thought that the Kozinski would take such a risk. It gave him more confidence in the plan he had in store.
“Right on schedule,” General Kozinski greeted the team leader.
“Any problems?” asked General Bledsoe.
“None,” replied the Spinoan general. “The Alcean countryside is quiet this morning. Shall I have my army fall in behind yours?”
“For now,” answered General Bledsoe, “but I want your army to remain intact as a separate unit. There will be no mixing of cavalry or infantry units. Even your battle mages will remain separate from mine. The formation you choose for your army is up to you.”
General Kozinski returned a questioning gaze at the Baroukan. “I have no problem with your orders, General, but I must confess to being curious about the reason for them.”
“We are not one army, but two,” answered General Bledsoe. “I know most team leaders would look upon such a joining as doubling his forces, and there is nothing wrong with that, but I tend to think there might at times be an advantage in having two forces capable of maneuvering on their own. You will retain leadership of the 17th Corps, General, but you will also obey my orders. It will be up to your discretion to fulfill my orders as you see fit. Does that satisfy your curiosity?”
General Kozinski smiled and nodded. He knew that General Bledsoe was paying him a compliment, and it pleased him. The Baroukan general was known within the Federation as a bulldog in battle, and Kozinski had been apprehensive about serving under him. In fact, he had taken a bit of ribbing from other generals. They had joked about Bledsoe using the 17th Corps as sacrificial fodder while the bulldog sunk his teeth into the enemy’s side. He could see now that the taunters had been misinformed. It was an unexpected surprise.
“You honor me, General Bledsoe. I will endeavor never to disappoint you.”
* * * *
Long shadows melted away into an overall gloom as the fading light of day fled from the forest north of the Mya-Tagaret Road. The Elderal elf who ran swiftly through the forest, gauged his footsteps carefully, refusing to let a single errant sound betray him. He reached the meeting spot well before the horsemen.
“They are coming, Prince Garong,” the elf runner reported softly.
“All eight of them?” asked the Knight of Alcea.
The elf runner merely nodded.
“What of the soldiers?” asked Princess Rhula. “Are the mages escorted?”
“They come alone,” answered the elf runner.
The elven princess raised an eyebrow. “I will admit that I am surprised, Garong, but this mission is still foolishly risky. Those men are battle mages. You have to expect them to be shielded. After our arrows fail to slay the black-cloaks, they will unleash their battle magic on us. Everyone here will die. Is this how you want to be remembered by our people?”
“I am not here to generate memories for future generations of Elderal,” retorted the prince. “I am here to ensure that the Elderal have a chance to have future generations. Rhula, the time to discuss this is long past. I am committed to see this through, but you bring up a valid point. The Elderal need an heir. It serves no purpose for both of us to remain here within danger’s grasp. Leave now and with haste. Mother would never forgive me for endangering both of her children needlessly.”
“So, you do acknowledge the risk in your plan,” Rhula replied with a grin of victory. “That pleases me, but I am not one to abandon my brother in his hour of need. I can place an arrow as well as any of your men. Where do you want me?”
Prince Garong sighed and smiled at the same time. “Behind the enemy. We do have a fallback plan, and that is the most critical part of this mission. If the mages are not shielded, we will not need expert archers, but if they do erect physical shields, every arrow will count. Circle around behind the black-cloaks. One of my men will explain what is to happen. Be quick. They will arrive in just a few moments.”
The elven princess faded into the growing darkness, and Sprout glided down out of the trees and landed on Prince Garong’s shoulder.
“Some of the mages are leery and some are not,” reported the fairy. “I would be surprised if none of them erected a physical shield. I think we must go with the fallback plan.”
Prince Garong hesitated to respond. He was loath to use the backup plan unless he needed to, but he suspected that Sprout was correct in reading the moods of the black-cloaks. He used precious moments pondering in silence before eventually nodding to the fairy.