“Actually, Anja and I …”
“Wait … Anja, the dragon whelp?” Anatoly asked.
“She stowed away in human form when I left the dragon isle. Bragador knows, and she isn’t coming to eat me, at least not yet anyway.”
“So where’s Jack?” Abigail asked, a hint of fear in her voice.
“He’s playing the role he was born to play-the most popular minstrel in all of Andalia, maybe in all the world.”
Abigail smiled, struggling to contain her emotions.
“I’m glad to hear that Master Colton is well, but let’s get back to this assassination you’re planning,” Anatoly said. “After you kill the king, assuming you manage that, then what?”
“Then we leave,” Alexander said. “This isn’t why I’m here. I need to know what Zuhl’s up to.”
“We’ll get to that in a minute,” Anatoly said. “I’d like to hear your plan for getting out of the Andalian palace after you’ve killed their king.”
“All right … Anja can turn back into her true form whenever she wants, but then she’d have to go home and she doesn’t want to do that, even though her mother and I both agree that it would be for the best. Once we kill the king, there’ll be only one way out-for her to fly us out. We escape and then Anja goes home where she belongs.”
“Huh … well, it’s not a perfect plan, but it is a plan, provided the dragon isn’t too stubborn to cooperate,” Anatoly said.
“About Zuhl?”
“We have reports that the northern ocean is navigable, but dangerous,” Abigail said. “We had snow last week, the last of the season according to Mage Jalal. He predicts warmer weather over the coming days, so we’re preparing to move north. Zuhl’s force has abandoned the shipyards and withdrawn into the walls of Irondale. I suspect they’ll receive reinforcements before we arrive, so I’ve called on the Ithilian Navy to sail north and blockade the city.”
“Where’s his countermove?” Alexander muttered.
“I’ve been wondering the same thing,” Anatoly said. “We hit him pretty hard. He has to be looking for a way to hit us back.”
“What does he want?” Alexander asked.
“Iron Oak ships,” Abigail said, “but he hasn’t even tried to rebuild his shipyard.”
“Not that one, anyway,” Alexander said. “I’ll be right back.” He vanished, moving his awareness to the Iron Oak Forest in a blur. Once there, he moved to the point where it met Irondale and the ocean, then followed the coastline west as fast as he could while still registering the landscape.
“He’s got five more shipyards,” Alexander said, reappearing beside his sister a few minutes later. “Each looks just big enough to build one ship; all five are along the northern coast. The terrain is so rugged it would be difficult to get enough men to any of them over land.”
“Well, at least we know what he’s doing,” Abigail said. “I’ll send scouts to map their exact locations and then we’ll get to work. Stay safe, Alex.”
“You too,” he said. “Oh, I almost forgot, Phane has Isabel and Wren. They’re both safe for now, but his plans for them aren’t good.”
“How did that happen?” Abigail asked, alarm in her voice.
“Isabel pretended to switch sides so she could get close enough to stab him in the belly.”
“You did well with that one, Alexander,” Anatoly said, nodding approvingly.
“Unfortunately, Phane survived and she was captured. Then he abducted Wren from Blackstone to use as leverage against Isabel.”
“What are we going to do about that?” Abigail said.
“I’m working on it.”
Abigail nodded as Alexander faded away.
Next, he appeared in a war council room with a dozen officers, including his father and Hanlon. Both looked like they’d come from the battlefield several hours before and hadn’t bothered to get cleaned up.
Duncan looked up, confusion ghosting across his haggard face, and then he smiled. “I’ve been worried about you, Son.”
“I got sidetracked,” Alexander said. “Abigail is in Fellenden City with Anatoly and the rest of her army. She’s planning to move against Zuhl’s forces in Irondale soon. Phane has Isabel. She’s safe … for the moment.”
“What does that mean?” Hanlon asked, worry evident in his voice.
“He’s trying to turn her to the darkness, so he’s treating her like royalty. I don’t believe she’s in any immediate danger.”
“I hope you’re right,” Duncan said, straightening up. “I’m sorry to say we’ve lost Warrenton, Buckwold, and Headwater. We suspect the Lancers will regroup before attacking New Ruatha … at least that’s been their pattern.”
“Casualties?”
“The bulk of our losses have been soldiers … we managed to get most of the people out before winter’s end,” Duncan said. “We’ve been fighting a retreating action since winter broke in the east. The first battle went our way-a lot of Lancers fell, but those that got through managed to break our lines and cripple our defensive emplacements. We retreated when they fell back to regroup.
“Over the winter, we built a series of defensive positions between Buckwold and New Ruatha where we could make a stand against a charge. It’s been costly … we’ve lost nearly a legion, but we’ve killed a legion of Lancers as well. It also slowed their advance, giving us the time we needed to relocate the people. They’re not happy about being refugees, but they’re alive.”
Alexander nodded sadly. He felt like he should be doing more, like he should be with his father, leading the fight for his home.
“I’m in the capital city of Andalia right now. If my plan works, the force lances will lose their power tonight.”
“I wondered why General Talia thought you were on Andalia,” Hanlon said, sitting forward. “As soon as Commander P’Tal heard where you were, he left Glen Morillian to find you. I wouldn’t be surprised if he shows up any day now.”
“That’s good news. I could use his help.”
“Back to your plan,” Duncan said.
“I don’t have time to explain it right now, Dad,” he said. “Just be ready if the force lances stop working. It’s good to see you both. I wish I could stay longer, but I have a lot to do.”
“Stay safe,” Duncan said as Alexander vanished.
He found Jataan next, standing impassively outside a large tent in the midst of a hastily built camp, deep within the forests of the western province of Andalia.
“Hello, Jataan.”
“Lord Reishi,” Jataan said with a slight bow but almost no surprise.
“Report,” Alexander said with a smile.
“I arrived on Andalia with a company of General Talia’s best soldiers and a squad of Sky Knights two weeks ago. The soldiers have been organizing the local population into resistance units with significant success. The people who remain in this area are very motivated to fight but lack training and leadership. With our help, they’ve managed to destroy three slave camps and draw a number of Lancer patrols into ambushes. At present, the Lancers have consolidated into two large camps along the edge of the forest and have stopped patrols within.
“Where are you, Lord Reishi? I’ve healed and I’m ready to stand with you.”
“I’m in Mithel Dour at the moment, but I plan on leaving tomorrow. If everything goes well, I’ll make contact with you before I leave. If you don’t hear from me by tomorrow night, make your way into the city and look for Jack.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll be glad to have you back at my side, Jataan.”
Alexander returned to his body and opened his eyes to a mild headache. After a few minutes of quiet meditation, he returned to the firmament and thought of Tyr.
The bull-necked man was looking at a number of suits of clothing being presented to him by a tailor while his wizard sat nearby.
“I hate fancy clothes,” Tyr said.
“Your customary attire would be considered an insult to the king,” the wizard said.
“What about your robes?” Tyr shot back.
“I’m a wizard … my robes are fashionable in any situation.”
“Be careful, Edric.”
“Of course, My Lord.”
“Tell me again why I have to go to this thing.”