Chapter 3

All eyes turned to the tent flap as Helgar entered followed by Bardolf and finally Rangor. They were the last called to the council that now met in a makeshift hall hastily raised by joining two small tents together. Quarters were cramped but afforded just enough space for those who had been called. A quadra of guards took their places at the outside corners mostly to keep any of the refugees from listening in. Ranse felt it best that no one “accidentally” overhear something that might throw the camp into greater panic.

All participants were seated on what carpets could be acquired giving the meeting a disheveled look that, from appearances only, more resembled a meeting of the local beggars guild than one having representatives from five different races that also included two princes. Helgar and the two other dwarfs sat where room had been made between Jack and Colonel Braxton. Ranse was standing at the back of the tent while his ever-present bodyguard, Jace, took a commanding post by the tent door. Jne, Thane, Dor, Tam and finally Teek, who sat near Jack, completed the assemblage. Now that all were present, all eyes focused on Ranse waiting for him to reveal the cause for such a meeting.

The prince took a deep breath as if preparing himself. Looking about the room one final time he finally spoke. “Thank you all for coming tonight. I know this is somewhat unexpected and sudden, but I felt a need for us all to be prepared for what may very well await us when we enter Calandra in the morning.”

“A city that be preparing for war I would think,” Helgar state flatly.

Ranse looked at the dwarf prince and frowned. “Yes,” he continued, “that would be as most would suspect but I am afraid that in this case it is very unlikely. As most of you know, your calls for help while under threat in Haykon all but went unanswered and, as some of you have witnessed, the only answer that did come was in the person of Prissley Maggest who was sent to negotiate. I don’t need to remind any of you what it is we face with the enemy coming behind us, but many of you may not be aware of the enemy before us. For quite some time now the ease of life that has surrounded the city of Calandra has had an ill effect in poisoning many a mind into thinking that nothing can ever threaten our existence. Too many years of plenty have blessed us creating a ruling class that no longer thinks much farther than what is being served at the next meal and who will be serving it to them. Prissley is a prime example of the type of people who rule over us in this dark hour.”

“My prince,” Braxton spoke, his voice tight, “I fear that you edge very near to words that might be considered treason by some.”

Jace moved forward slightly but a look from Ranse sent him back. “I understand your concern, Colonel. You are duty bound by your covenant to the king and I respect that loyalty. It is not my intention to start a revolt against our king, or to even suggest such a course of action. My intentions are that we prepare ourselves for what will likely occur in court tomorrow.”

“What be ye saying, lad?” Helgar harrumphed, never one for long speeches or much talk. He was a dwarf, and dwarfs acted; they didn’t sit around talking pleasantries or bantering words that veiled their true intent. Dwarfs addressed the problem and then attacked it with full strength—generally with battle axes flying. “Let’s have it out and quickly. What is it ye are trying to say?”

Ranse smiled slightly at Helgar’s words. As a member of the court he’d learned the art of speaking using the dual meanings of words to relay information without seeming to relay information. He had been taught the subtleties of speech and how to decipher each little nuance of a person’s meaning through not only words, but inflections, body posture and the indistinct pauses between words that could speak more clearly than the words themselves. But, like Helgar, he’d never stomached it much. He also preferred direct speech with clear intent.

“What he means to say,” Jack volunteered, “is that we need to plan for the worst. We need to have a plan that we can use if the king’s diplomacy fails.”

“Thank you, Jack,” Ranse said, “but I would change one thing that you said. Not ‘if’ the king’s diplomacy fails, but when.”

Braxton stood and Jace’s hand dropped closer to the hilt of his sword unnoticed by all save Jne. “My apologies my lord prince,” Myles said, “but this is certainly treasonous talk and I cannot be part of it. Nor do I desire to be privy to such arrangements as you would make. My honor will not allow it.”

Jack looked up at his friend, the regret obvious in his eyes. Myles returned his look and then continued as if speaking only to Jack. “I am sworn to the king, and unless one can prove that Dagan is not the king and another should rule in his place, I must retreat from these proceedings.” There was a long moment of silence as if the very world had paused for breath. Colonel Braxton’s expression was hard as he stared at Jack as if willing him to say something but his old friend just closed his eyes and bowed his head. Braxton’s eyes looked like they meant to bore a hole through Jack’s skull but his fierce gaze only lasted briefly before changing to one of deep sadness. Turning back to Ranse, he saluted quickly and then hastily left the tent. All eyes followed him as he went before snapping back to the prince whose face had also dropped. Jace watched his liege as if waiting for some sign of action on his part, but Ranse merely sighed and shook his head. “Are there any others who feel as the Colonel,” he said, his voice almost too low to hear.

“We have seen the king’s disregard for his people,” Jack suddenly spoke. “If it be treason to speak it, then so be it. All who witnessed what happened at Haykon and have ever been to the capitol city know that Calandra will fall even quicker and with a greater slaughter. We are no longer discussing the intricacies of politics or the pros and cons of one man’s rule compared to another. We are now in a situation where our very survival, and that of all of our people, is in question.”

Teek brought up a hand to his eye, wiping what may have been a tear. Of all at the council, he knew what Jack meant, his own people having been completely destroyed by a single dragon. He still fought the nightmares brought on by that terrible day.

“And what is this plan?” Jne said, addressing Ranse.

“As Jack said, that Calandra will fall is not a question,” he started. “Though it puts on the façade of being a fortress city, it was not built for defense. And with the size of our enemy, it will fall quickly under their weight.”

“Where else then, can we go?” Dor asked. “Are there no HuMan keeps strong enough to hold against such a horde?”

“Not in the close proximity but there may be one place that might hold against our enemy’s numbers,” Ranse paused as he briefly scanned the room, “Bedler’s Keep.”

“Yes,” Jack immediately agreed, pulling at his beard. “But it is quite some distance. And what army will we have to hold it?”

“Where is this keep?” Thane asked.

Ranse turned around and grabbed a parchment leaning against the tent behind him that he then laid on the ground and spread out for all to see. He pointed to their current position just outside of Calandra. “We are here.” Then moving his finger to the southwest he rested it on Bedler’s Keep. “And this is the keep.”

“Aye,” Rangor said, nodding his approval. “We passed it on our way here. It be a mighty place indeed.”

“But,” Bardolf added, “as friend Jack has said, what army will ye be havin’ to protect it and how will ye be supplyin’ it? There be near to no one there now.”

“We’ll have to gather as we go,” Ranse replied.

Jack sighed loudly. “With your father’s blessing and help we might be able to get the people there with an army and enough supplies to last, but we both know that he will not only refuse to help, but he will stop you from even trying. He’s proved that much already.”

“Well,” Ranse shot, his temper suddenly coming to the surface, “if you have a grander idea then I would have it!”

Jack bowed his head and Ranse almost instantly regained his composure, silently running through the mental exercises he’d been taught since a child to enable him to mask his feelings while in front of others. It wasn’t that he was angry with Jack, or his questions. He was, like everyone in the tent, at the end of his strength. Too many would die, perhaps some or all now sitting before him, before it was all over.

“I have none,” Jack admitted. “But the question remains, how will we gather enough strength?”

“Will any of the people in Calandra come with us?” Thane asked, his own doubts arising as to whether they could actually accomplish what was proposed. It was a long distance, and there were so few of them.

Ranse stared hard at the map stretched out before him. He hesitated and then sighed heavily. “Jack is right on that account. The soldiers at Haykon, like the good Colonel, will give their lives for the king. They will not join with us.”

“We possibly could sway Wess and his lot from Hell’s End Station,” Jack said, trying to give some hope where there was none.

Ranse nodded his head. “They had reached the city before I left and were causing any number of problems.”

Jack smiled slightly. “There was purpose in sending them away in the first place. That is a group that will willingly snub a finger to the king’s loyalty.”

“Be they many?” Rangor asked.

Jack and Ranse both shook their heads. “Not so many as needed,” Ranse answered, “but it’s a start. I think we could get the garrison stationed in Aleron, here,” he said moving his finger south of Calandra to a mark on the edge of the Underwoods forest, “to join us also. They are a hardy lot accustomed to fighting with what they face almost daily coming out of the Underwoods.”

Jack nodded his agreement. “You very well might, but it is out of our direct path to Bedler’s Keep.”

Ranse absently tapped his finger on the map. “We’ll have to split up.”

“What?” Thane, Jack, and Dor all asked in unison.

“Master Ranse,” Thane continued, “we are struggling with uniting a force together as it is. Splitting it will only weaken us.”

Ranse smiled. “We won’t be splitting the army. Jace and I will go alone. You are right, Thane, we do need to keep to the little strength we have. Also, only one from the royal family can convince the soldiers there that they need to leave their posts. You just leave it to me.”

Thane looked at Jack for a brief moment. “It’s still not enough,” Jack sighed.

“What of the Tjal,” Dor shot, “and the dwarfs,” he continued, turning his gaze toward Helgar. “Will you stand with us?”

“I was beginnin’ to be feelin’ unwelcome,” Helgar huffed with a gleam in his eyes. “We dwarfs be always ready to join in a good fight when there be orcs wantin’ to be killed.”

“And what of the Tjal?” Dor asked, redirecting everyone’s focus to Jne.

Jne’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she met each gaze in defiance and open challenge. “The Tjal have been hated and reviled by you humans since the very beginning,” she spat. “Your race is without honor and you further prove that by asking us to spill our blood in your defense when you have treated us as less than dogs.”

Thane nervously glanced about the room seeking to read the reactions of those present but all kept their expressions extremely guarded. Though her words were probably true, the irony of his own situation mirroring that of the Tjal, he also recognized that none of the races would survive unless they all worked together. He suddenly felt as if they were all pressed against the edge of a knife. “Jne,” he said tentatively, trying to calm her and the situation. But she ignored him and continued with her tirade.

“The Tjal do not answer to the calls of humans who think themselves masters of all. I will seek my people again when we reach Bedler’s Keep and we will counsel together, but whether or not we decide to cross swords on the side of the humans is our choice. It will be because we decide it is best for the Tjal, not because the humans beg our presence.”

The room was silent except for the perceptible exhale of relief that seemed to come from all corners. In her own way, Jne had agreed to call for the Tjal to help. Even though she may hate it that their coming would directly help and benefit those who had spit upon and ridiculed her people for centuries she had also been witness to the foe they faced and knew enough of war to recognize the futility of the situation should any one group stand alone and not fight.

“It is decided, then,” Ranse said breaking the silence. “We will approach the king when we reach Calandra and try to speak reason to his mind. If that should fail, then we will carry on with our current plan.”

“And what of the people in Calandra?” Jack asked. “Are they to be left for fodder?”

Ranse shook his head. “We will use the good people of Haykon to quietly spread the word. Whether or not the king decides to give in to reason and quit Calandra matters not at this point. We need to act immediately upon arrival to gather as many as will come. Our time is short, so as soon as we can supply ourselves we need to be heading away from the city toward Bedler’s Keep.”

“Once I find Wess, which shouldn’t be very difficult,” Jack said, “I can get him to help with his men.”

“And we will be marchin’ back to Thornen Dar within a couple of days to be rousin’ the alarm there,” Helgar added.

“I’ll find Kat and Bren to get their help,” Thane said. “We’ll need all of the healers they can muster. I don’t think they’ll have any problems getting them to come.”

Just then a loud EEEEEERRRRROOOOOCCCCCC called out in the distance and Teek jumped to his feet racing for the tent door. “She is back!” he shouted as he bolted out the door. Thane, Jne, Dor and Tam all rose quickly to follow after him.

“I guess this council is adjourned then,” Ranse said with a shrug and a half smile as Thane and the others exited the tent after Teek.

They were out just in time to see Tchee land and Teek throwing himself into the soft feathers that covered her chest. All stopped short for a moment as if not wanting to intrude on such an obvious display of affection between bird and boy as he hugged her and she, cooing, rubbed the side of her head on top of his. It was just like seeing a mother with one of her chicks.

After a brief pause, Thane stepped forward, followed by the others. “Teek,” he said softly, calling the Waseeni boy away from his giant bird.

“Thane,” he smiled. “She’s back!”

Thane smiled back at the boy who was really only a year or two his junior. “Have you asked if she will take us to the Ardath?”

Teek frowned for a moment as if not understanding before he shrugged and looked back to Tchee. “I don’t know how. I mean, she seems to know what I want and what I need but it’s not as if I can directly communicate with her as I do with you.”

Thane nodded his understanding. The others were now exiting the tent and all but Jack, who joined them, dispersed to other duties in the camp. “Will you let me try?” Thane asked, slowly approaching Tchee. Teek nodded and Tchee just merely looked at him with her sharp blue eyes though seemingly unbothered at Thane’s advance.

He locked on her eyes drawing them in as he willed his inner self forward. Almost instantly he found he was staring down at his own body and he could feel Teek stroking the front of his chest. “Welcome, earth child.” The words seemed to form in his mind though they weren’t really words at all. It was communication on a different level than that shared by people. It felt like pure emotion yet he could understand the meaning behind it as if it had been spoken with words. It made normal communication between people seem barbaric and base.

“How do you know me?” he asked using his own emotions to convey his thoughts in return. He couldn’t really say how he did it other than it just felt innate. It was as if they shared the same intellect and the thoughts just naturally formed and communicated.

“All know the earth child. Your mere existence calls to us.”

Though he wanted to follow along the current path and ask how he called to them and if there were no others who did the same, the urgency of the situation would not allow it. “I need your help.”

“It is all for the earth child to ask.”

“I need you to take my friends and me to our home in the Ardath forest beyond the Shadow Mountains.”

“I know the place you seek, but I cannot do it. It would be unnatural.”

Unnatural? What did she mean by that? How was her giving them a ride unnatural? “Why is it so?” he asked.

“I have chosen. Once one is chosen, no other may take his place.”

Though the words themselves did not answer his question directly, Thane knew she was speaking about Teek. She had chosen him and would therefore not carry another. “But you carried me once before,” he pressed.

“It was my duty. You were in danger.”

“But we are all in danger now. My friends and I must get to the Ardath for the protection of all.”

“I am sorry, earth child, but it is not possible in this situation for me to carry you.”

Thane was getting desperate. He could feel it in his emotions as they began to strengthen and grow darker. “Is there no way?”

Tchee paused and he could see through her eyes as she regarded him as if searching for something hidden. “There may be an alternative but I make no promise.”

Thane was about to respond but suddenly felt himself jolted back into his own mind and body as if he’d been pushed. He was now looking at Tchee who suddenly spread her massive wings and leaped into the air before winging her way southward.