and would reach the border north of us before the end of the day,” General Tallen spoke in his calm and steady manner, almost as if the news was just one more item on his daily checklist. “I was also informed you have declared a Realm Alert, validated by the Queen, and the entire kingdom is to prepare for war.”
“Could it be you did exactly the opposite of what we discussed in our meeting yesterday? Did you cross the border in the night and declare a Realm Alert this morning after stirring up a hornet’s nest and seeing we were right?” Sir Tomas inquired, starting in a polite tone and then ending with an accusatory edge.
“Judging by the presence of Accomplished DeSuan at this table, whom you told us was a captive of Serin Gell, it would appear the answer to the questions posed by Sir Tomas is, yes,” General Malcus apparently decided to answer for Daniel. “And it would not surprise me to see Accomplished Jenna walking around somewhere in this new holding of yours.”
“She is here,” Daniel readily admitted. “My question is why have you gentlemen requested this meeting?”
Sir Carlo snorted, stifling a laugh. “Because as of half a mark ago those legions you warned us about showed up and have massed not many spans north of where we sit. General Kall is demanding answers about a fallen legion from Los Collins, apparently defeated in Foothills of Pentrosa,” Sir Carlo told him, and then added, taking on a more serious tone. “I thought I.,” he paused and looked towards his fellow knights before returning his attention to his host, “We made it clear that what you do in that uniform is considered to be an official act of the Queen.”
“I put on this uniform this morning after delivering my message to Lieutenant Benettle,” Daniel responded.
“A fine distinction,” Sir Laurence began. “I’m sure the diplomats will have a good time arguing the finer points of inter-kingdom law while we deal with the reality of invasion.”
“Half my legion is still in northeastern Ducaun. I only have two hundred fifty cavalrymen in addition to seventy-five support personnel from the regular army at Fort Casum. My reinforcements will not be here until tomorrow morning and they numbering only a few thousand horsemen, not nearly enough to hold back twenty thousand highly trained Pentrosan cavalrymen with ten thousand infantrymen backing them up,” General Tallen said, his brow wrinkling in concern.
“And my legion is fifty-two spans east of here and even traveling all night cannot reach us until tomorrow about this time. Even so, an additional ten thousand horsemen and two thousand infantrymen to Jathem’s forces will not be enough. If General Kall invades anytime soon, Fort Casum will be overrun and this nice new facility of yours north of it will be first to fall ,” Malcus added his assessment.
“So you came here to chastise me for rescuing all but two of the Accomplisheds at this table and the vast majority of Ducaunan citizens walking around my holding, built by these same Aakacarns,” Daniel replied, keeping his voice smooth in the face of their growing consternation.
The Generals and Knights glanced at the Accomplisheds sitting across from them, none of the nobles wanted to insult the spell casters, who would certainly differ with anyone who suggested rescuing them was a bad idea. Their presence produced the restraining effect Daniel hoped for, yet was not the entire reason he had asked them to come.
“We came not to chastise you, but to ask that you accompany us to the meeting demanded by Kall,” Sir William answered.
Daniel eyed each of the Generals and his fellow Knights of the Realm. “The demand relayed through Captain Johannan is to see General Tallen, Sir Laurence, and however many Ducaunan Royal Knights of the Realm are with him. The dead and the unconscious cannot speak to Kall. He clearly doesn’t know what happened last night, of General Malcus being here, or how many Royal
“Could it be you did exactly the opposite of what we discussed in our meeting yesterday? Did you cross the border in the night and declare a Realm Alert this morning after stirring up a hornet’s nest and seeing we were right?” Sir Tomas inquired, starting in a polite tone and then ending with an accusatory edge.
“Judging by the presence of Accomplished DeSuan at this table, whom you told us was a captive of Serin Gell, it would appear the answer to the questions posed by Sir Tomas is, yes,” General Malcus apparently decided to answer for Daniel. “And it would not surprise me to see Accomplished Jenna walking around somewhere in this new holding of yours.”
“She is here,” Daniel readily admitted. “My question is why have you gentlemen requested this meeting?”
Sir Carlo snorted, stifling a laugh. “Because as of half a mark ago those legions you warned us about showed up and have massed not many spans north of where we sit. General Kall is demanding answers about a fallen legion from Los Collins, apparently defeated in Foothills of Pentrosa,” Sir Carlo told him, and then added, taking on a more serious tone. “I thought I.,” he paused and looked towards his fellow knights before returning his attention to his host, “We made it clear that what you do in that uniform is considered to be an official act of the Queen.”
“I put on this uniform this morning after delivering my message to Lieutenant Benettle,” Daniel responded.
“A fine distinction,” Sir Laurence began. “I’m sure the diplomats will have a good time arguing the finer points of inter-kingdom law while we deal with the reality of invasion.”
“Half my legion is still in northeastern Ducaun. I only have two hundred fifty cavalrymen in addition to seventy-five support personnel from the regular army at Fort Casum. My reinforcements will not be here until tomorrow morning and they numbering only a few thousand horsemen, not nearly enough to hold back twenty thousand highly trained Pentrosan cavalrymen with ten thousand infantrymen backing them up,” General Tallen said, his brow wrinkling in concern.
“And my legion is fifty-two spans east of here and even traveling all night cannot reach us until tomorrow about this time. Even so, an additional ten thousand horsemen and two thousand infantrymen to Jathem’s forces will not be enough. If General Kall invades anytime soon, Fort Casum will be overrun and this nice new facility of yours north of it will be first to fall ,” Malcus added his assessment.
“So you came here to chastise me for rescuing all but two of the Accomplisheds at this table and the vast majority of Ducaunan citizens walking around my holding, built by these same Aakacarns,” Daniel replied, keeping his voice smooth in the face of their growing consternation.
The Generals and Knights glanced at the Accomplisheds sitting across from them, none of the nobles wanted to insult the spell casters, who would certainly differ with anyone who suggested rescuing them was a bad idea. Their presence produced the restraining effect Daniel hoped for, yet was not the entire reason he had asked them to come.
“We came not to chastise you, but to ask that you accompany us to the meeting demanded by Kall,” Sir William answered.
Daniel eyed each of the Generals and his fellow Knights of the Realm. “The demand relayed through Captain Johannan is to see General Tallen, Sir Laurence, and however many Ducaunan Royal Knights of the Realm are with him. The dead and the unconscious cannot speak to Kall. He clearly doesn’t know what happened last night, of General Malcus being here, or how many Royal
Similar Books
