Though I couldn't see the peril myself, I could understand its consequence and accordingly took advantage of it when appropriate. His last disguised foray into Darkon required that he gain access into the house of one of Azalin's highest ranking nobles. Darl's method involved the seduction of the noble's wife, and-in all aspects-he had performed flawlessly, even returning with the needed information ahead of schedule. As there had been no executions in the family, it was to be assumed Azalin (and the lady's spouse) still did not know of the breach in his defenses.
Darl's success had in turn altered my immediate plans, for the intelligence he'd brought back was no less than Azalin's invasion timetable.
I had already discovered broad clues of it by observing the massive build-up of his troops along the whole of our common border. For the last month the small raids made by his zombies had trailed off and finally ceased altogether. My inner core of commanders and I knew the first-and likely final-battle was coming, but not precisely when.
Darl changed that. The next dark cycle of the summer moon would bring them, and it was just a few nights away. It was time to get very, very clever.
I ordered Commander Resvalan to call up the volunteer squads and went outside to inspect them. They were a motley-looking group. Barovia's resources were such that there was little coin to spare for niceties like matching uniforms. Those were reserved for the senior commanders who could afford the tailor work. All my people did wear cloth arm bands with my colors so that in the heat of battle they would not mistakenly attack their own. Beyond that they were in whatever conglomeration of gear they could assemble for themselves. Without exception they were very well-armed. That was one detail I did not dare stint on; the smithies were at work night and day. All those in this particular assembly were excellent fighters, some even skilled with minor magic spells, imaginative, resourceful-and unencumbered by families.
They dutifully exchanged their armbands for neck kerchiefs bearing Azalin's colors. As with me, only his top people had uniforms. He could afford the expense, but just didn't care to bother with it. As far as Resvalan knew, this foray was no different than any other I had planned, except on a larger scale than past efforts. She had chosen people who had previously worked well together-with the exception of Darl's band of civilians who worked with none but themselves. I had them called out, and one by one they sauntered up to stand in an informal line with the others, two women and three men. Darl came last, wearing the disgruntled face of a man who had just been roused from a nap.
I looked everyone over, gave a curt nod, and had the first lot of volunteers-a half dozen- file into the commander's office for a final briefing. Leaving the commander and a most unhappy Aldrick outside, I went in to give my last orders in private. At the same time I hypnotically reconfirmed the truth of their loyalty and reinforced their commitment to the successful completion of their mission. When they awoke, I told them that they were the honored few of Barovia and to serve to the best of their ability (at thrice the normal pay), then opened the box and passed out such small magical items as they might find useful on their mission-like the necklaces to prevent them from being scryed upon. Included were two magical scrolls for the traveling spell, one to get them there and one for a return. They were preparing for a deep penetration sortie to Il Aluk and couldn't waste the next few days trying to ride there.
This procedure I repeated twice more. The third and largest group of two dozen retained their Barovian armbands, for I had a slightly different mission for them across the border.
Then I called for Darl's lot. In the yard Aldrick shifted a few times on his feet to get my attention, obviously thinking that if anyone tried to assassinate me it would be now, for he had no trust in my irregulars. I ignored him and got on with the briefing.
This lot varied from the others in its lack of formality and the frank discussion of money. Darl's five worked on a job-to-job basis, and if they didn't care for the level of risk compared to the level of pay, they didn't accept the assignment.
At the bottom of the box was a velvet bag bulging with gold, accounting for most of its weight. I opened the drawstring and let the coins spill out on the table. The gold caught the candlelight and winked alluringly.
Darl's stern face relaxed into an expression of pure pleasure at the sight. He was very fond of money, but sensible in his greed. "What's the catch?" he asked after a moment.
"I shan't lie; this one is very dangerous. It makes the past ones seem like jaunts to pick wildflowers."
They looked at each other, but their curiosity was up. They wouldn't leave before finding out what I had in mind. I smoothed my hand over the pile of gold. It represented lifetime retirement in luxury for the six people before me. They all knew it.
"I'm listening," said Darl.
I nodded, looking at them all carefully. "I want you to kidnap General Vychen."
That brought forth an instant reaction of disbelief. Vychen was Azalin's first commander, and next in line to the throne of Darkon itself should the unlikely happen and Azalin be destroyed. He was also the secret leader of the Kargat, making him the second most dangerous man in Darkon.
Darl snorted. "Why stop there? Why not have us kidnap Azalin himself?"
"I am only asking you to do the difficult, not the impossible."
"This is impossible," stated a nervous, wide-eyed balding fellow with a penchant for picking locks.
"Give his lordship a chance to finish, Alvi," said Ag'n, a large, gentle-looking man, whose only superior with a blade was Darl. "I'm sure he wouldn't send us in unless we had a chance to succeed."
"You're too trusting, you are." But Alvi subsided. Now that the first shock had passed his gaze arrested on the gold.
"One would hope we would have a chance," said Darl. "Why kidnap him? Killing him would be less of a risk to us."
"I have a use for him while he lives, something far more important than his death."
"I should think his death would be very useful to our side," put in Cylla, a slender, sharp-featured woman with curly auburn hair. She had certain gifts for sensing the thoughts of others and was an efficient archer.
"You need not worry about that part of things. What I want to know is whether or not you're willing to take the job?" I could hypnotize them into it, but though such was convenient for me, it was also no true substitute for actual enthusiasm for a task.
"I'm willing," said the other woman, Nanje, a soft-looking, fair haired beauty, who was very skilled with knives. "But before we finally accept, we need to know how it's possible for us to even get close to him."
"You shouldn't have any problem doing so. I've made a thorough study of the general's habits and they include a liking for comely young women. Either of you may serve as bait." I meant this in the literal sense, for Vychen's lethal appetite for blood was identical to my own. Unlike me, he had little practice at self-control, so his dalliances tended to be of very short duration.
Both ladies snorted contempt for the general's weakness.
"Do not underestimate him, for his is not an ordinary proclivity. It is well known among his officers that the women he fancies tend to disappear or turn up dead-or worse."
"What's worse than dead?" piped Alvi. "Oh-never mind, I shouldn't like to know."
And they would not know from me. If I told them about Vychen's true nature they would have sensibly turned heel and walked out the door no matter how much gold was offered.