Gwaynn found that he could not truly find a good reason to argue so in the end he agreed.
“We’ll need your help to get us started,” Monde said. “Laynee and Daniel will assist you in getting us all out on the tip of the finger.” Daniel was growing stronger and the day of the wedding he Traveled for the very first time. It was quite an accomplishment, especially for a male student.
Gwaynn nodded, feeling worse by the moment that he would not be off with the rest of them.
“Let’s do this,” Endid said. It was quickly decided that he would be going after the Executioner in Malche, accompanied by the High Tarina Nystrom, Tar Myson and Tarina N’dori, while Tar Nev would lead the party against the female Executioner to the north. He would be taking along Tar Kostek and Halstad. Of course Monde and na Gall would also be going along on the first leg of the trip and would then send the others off to their final destinations. Vio, who was still wrapped up tightly in an air of melancholy, volunteered to go along with the Travelers to offer protection while they rested for the return trip and she would be joined by Saran, William and Tam. Gwaynn would be the lead Traveler for the move to the finger. He would be sorely tested and very tired when it was over. He just hoped Laynee and Daniel had grown in strength.
They had; in fact, Gwaynn was astounded in the growth of both young Travelers, especially Laynee, who might have been strong enough to send the group off by herself. From the very beginning the bridge was Laynee’s and it was Gwaynn and Daniel who offered support. Gwaynn could feel the power radiating out of the young girl and the vortex she created was enormously strong. When the task was complete and the large bridge that appeared over the grassing plains popped out of existence, Gwaynn and the two young Travelers shot back to their bodies and staggered in unison. Gwaynn felt immediately weak and hungry. He ignored the looks of awe he was getting from his two commanders and instead glanced down at the young girl to his left. She gave him an impish grin.
“I’ve been practicing with the High Zarina,” she explained and handed Gwaynn a sugar cube.
“Impressive,” he answered back, sucking on the sweet, hard block of sugar.
“Thank you M’lord,” she replied and gave an exaggerated curtsy.
“Quit that!” Gwaynn said with a laugh, “and go get your rest. We’ll need to bring them back when the job is finished.”
Laynee giggled but nodded, wondering just how long it would take the Tars to hunt down the evil people of Sinis.
“Both of you run along now and get something to eat,” Gwaynn told the two young Travelers and they smiled and headed off at nearly a run. Gwaynn shook his head, very impressed by their growing strength then he turned to Lonogan and Gaston.
“Walk with me,” he said and his two top men nodded.
The three turned together and walked back toward Manse at a leisurely pace, followed by nearly a dozen handpicked Knights who followed Gwaynn everywhere now. The morning was overcast and cold…there was the smell of snow in the air. They’d been lucky during the war and Gwaynn expected winter to hit them with all its fury any time now. Perhaps it would be a good thing to move to the more tropical islands in the middle of the Inland Sea.
“What do you think of Captain Hothgaard?” Gwaynn asked Jeffery Gaston as they made their way up to the main gates. The gates were swung open wide to accommodate the many peasants that now moved up and down the roads to Cape and Solarii. Trade was growing rapidly now that the war was over.
“He seems an honorable man…a master horseman,” Gaston answered as they moved off the road and let a large wagon rumble past. The wagon was pulled by six large oxen and was loaded down with goods to sell.
“Many pardons,” the wagon master said with a slight tip of his hat. Bock smiled and waved at the man, who undoubtedly would have been aghast had he known he’d just forced the High King off the road and into a muddy ditch. Gwaynn, however, thought nothing of it, they needed the trade; Massi needed the trade, and they were all happy to have it even if it meant stepping into a little mud.
“Someone you can work with?” Gwaynn continued as they moved back on the road and through the open gates. Gaston did not hesitate.
“I would say,” he answered. “I could learn much from the man and he seems fair, though tough minded.”
“I think his confidence is shot,” Bock piped in. “And he’ll need to regain it before going back onto the battlefield.”
Gwaynn nodded. “My thoughts exactly,” he replied then turned to Gaston again. “I’m putting him under your command when we move against Sinis. We’ll see how he performs. If he bounces back…I’ll probably allow him to lead the attack against the King’s Island.” Gwaynn paused, then. “No questions of loyalty?” He asked. Hothgaard had taken an oath of fealty after Gwaynn was crowned High King, still questions lingered, especially if the man was to lead an attack on his former home and Queen.
Bock deferred to Gaston who knew the Captain of the Temple Knights as well as any of them. For the past three weeks the two groups of cavalry worked and trained together, though not always without tension.
Gaston shook his head. “As far as I can tell Captain Hothgaard accepts your role as King completely…Mastoc is dead, but before he died he allied himself with the Tars of Sinis which the Captain found insulting and a bit distasteful. I think he can be trusted…it’s the rest of the Knights I’m unsure of.”
“How so?” Lonogan asked with a frown.
“I just don’t know them, or how loyal they are to Hothgaard himself, after all, he lead them to their first real defeat in over a thousand years.”
“It is a worry,” Gwaynn admitted, pausing every so often to acknowledge a greeting from a shop keeper or maid on the street. A group of small children had taken to following them through the roads of lower Manse, laughing and squealing and marching about, but they kept their distance so the three men ignored them. “We may not need their support to conquer the King’s Island, but my gut says it could lead to disaster if we do not take them along, at least symbolically. Their presence will go a long way to legitimizing my rule.”
Bock smiled. “What else does your gut tell you?”
Gwaynn grinned as they walked up on a large three story inn. It was familiar, not quite the same, but close. “It tells me I’m very hungry. Let’s join Taylor for an early lunch…if he’s around.”
“I’d hoped you’d say that,” replied Lonogan, but Gaston begged off. He was overseeing the ever growing herds…nearly three dozen mares were pregnant and would be delivering their foals in the spring.
Taylor was off on a buying trip…bed sheets and covers, but Carolyn his plump, severe wife greeted Gwaynn as if he was the High King himself…which in fact he was. She led them to a new private dining room behind the bar. Gwaynn allowed this because the constant looks of awe and excitement from the people around him were becoming a bit unnerving.