Council of War (31 page)

"And where did you get the ship to sink the fleet?" the baron asked, clearly skeptical of the story.

"It was a Federation ship," replied Karl. "We stole it from them."

The baron shook his head with disbelief. "You are asking me to believe an impossible story. I fear you have played me for a fool."

"I swear by the gods that I am telling you the truth," Karl declared. "Bring any one of my men into this room. I will say only three words to the man you choose, and he will validate what I have said."

"What three words will you say?" asked the baron.

"Tell the truth."

The baron sighed and moved around his chair. He placed the sword on the table and sat down opposite Karl.

"Assuming that I believe your tall tale," the baron said, "your group would have to have incredible skills to pull off such an adventure. Anyone with those kinds of skills would already be highly placed in the Federation army, unless you were working for another government. Are you Tyronians?"

"No," Karl said after a moment's hesitation.

"Koroccan?"

"No."

"Then which country are you working for?" asked the baron.

"I would rather not say," answered Karl. "Let me just say that my country has no ill will towards Zarocca. The Federation alone is our enemy."

"That is not sufficient," stated Baron Ohmson. "That fleet of warships was to be used to attack Korocca. I must insist on knowing what nation is getting involved in the coming war."

"Korocca?" frowned Karl. "No, those ships were heading for us."

"Exactly who is us?" pressed the baron. "I insist that you divulge this."

"Alcea," declared Karl. "We are all from Alcea."

"I have never heard of such a country," replied the baron. "Where is it?"

"Far across the sea," answered Karl. "For several years the Federation has been sending spies and provocateurs to Alcea. We discovered that they plan to invade us with massive armies, but we knew nothing about them. We found one of their ships off the shore of Alcea and took it for ourselves. We sailed here to find out more about them, but the Remora was badly damaged in a battle with a Federation warship. The next best thing we could do was to use it to destroy their attack fleet."

"Mercy!" exclaimed the baron. "I think I am actually beginning to believe you. I think before this goes any further, I will take you up on the offer to hear this from another of your men."

The baron shouted for a guard, and a dozen burst into the room with swords drawn. He ordered them to bring one of the elves up and then waved the rest of the men out of the room.

"Will an elf truly validate this story?" asked the baron.

"It is the truth," nodded Karl, "and a truth that I want kept secret. I have given you the truth you demanded to save the lives of my men, but I request that once it is verified that you either release us, or escort us to the ship that will take us to Tyronia."

"I can do neither," countered the baron. "If what you say is true, I am duty bound to deliver you to King Persimon. In fact, I will be going with you in the morning."

The captain of the Yio Clipper ordered the sails shortened as they headed south through the Gulf of Ur. Morro and the Alceans huddled in the bow and watched the rolling hills along the shoreline. Some children on the shore waved to the sleek vessel as it sailed by, and Natia waved in return.

"We didn't see any happy children in the Federation," the gypsy princess remarked. "I just realized that."

"We haven't been anywhere that would cause anyone to be happy since we left Alcea," replied Kalina. "Maybe Tyronia will be a breath of fresh air."

"Ur is just appearing around the bend," Tedi pointed. "What do we do when we get there?"

"I want to head straight for Sidney's estate," answered Garth. "Perhaps we can buy some horses and ask for directions."

"We can walk," stated Kalina. "It is not a short walk, but I know the way. Besides, I think it will be good to have some land under our feet once again."

"And Sidney will probably have horses that we can use," said Natia. "We may not have to spend any gold for them."

Tedi chuckled and returned his attention to the city as it grew larger before them. "Those walls look ancient," he commented, "and the waterfront is not protected at all. I guess I expected more from a pirate stronghold."

"The pirate days are long gone," smiled Garth. "Besides, I don't think the Tyronians are as unprepared as you think. Turn around and see what is on the backside of the hills we passed."

Tedi turned around and saw fortifications dug into the back side of the hills they had been admiring. Large catapults sat ready to fire on ships sailing on the ever-narrowing Gulf of Ur.

"There are more on the other side of the gulf," Morro pointed out. "Enemy ships might get close to the city, but they would never depart again."

"It seems as if they learned a lesson from their defeat in the Needle," commented Kalina as she turned and looked at the elven thief. "Make sure to keep your hood close about your face, Morro. It would be nice to reach Sidney without attracting attention."

Morro nodded silently as the sailors scrambled to prepare for docking. One sailor came forward with a mooring line, and the Alceans moved to one side so that they would not be in the way. Twenty minutes later the Yio Clipper was docked, and the passengers were allowed to go ashore. The people in the city of Ur were neither overly friendly nor hostile. Almost everyone ignored the strangers, and those who showed interest did so with mere curiosity. The streets of the city were fairly clean, and the people seemed neither impoverished nor diseased. In fact, Ur could easily have been mistaken for a large Alcean city.

The wharf area of the city was a long series of warehouses and inns. Beyond the waterfront were blocks of tradesmen and shops before the houses began. A large open marketplace stood in the center of the city near the Old Keep. Several modern inns lined the marketplace and then blocks of houses began on the other side. Kalina led the group completely through the city and out the eastern gate. About a league outside the city, she turned off the road and followed a well-used path that passed between two low hills. Looping around behind one of the low hills, Kalina saw Sidney Mercado's estate. It was a magnificent sprawling great house sitting on top of a larger hill. As she led the group past the corrals at the foot of the large hill, several of the men working there shouted warm words of welcome. The Alceans waved to the men who had ridden with them on Sidney's caravan through Karamin and Vinafor.

The commotion had not gone unnoticed at the great house, and Sidney was on the porch waiting for them when they arrived. A broad smile spread over Sidney's face as he saw the Alceans climbing the hill, but he grew more cautious when he noticed the hooded stranger with them. The merchant's lips moved almost undetectably, but four armed men suddenly flowed out of the house and flanked Sidney.

"How is my special agent?" Sidney asked in a businesslike manner. "Have you made me a profit?"

Garth smiled as he realized that Sidney was trying to maintain the cover that he had provided. "He is one of us," Garth announced as they reached the porch. "Sidney Mercado, meet Morro, the elf."

Sidney's eyes opened wide as Morro reached up and lowered his hood.

"Are you sure of his loyalty?" asked the merchant.

"Other than him being a thief," chuckled Garth, "I trust him explicitly."

"Then come in, all of you," smiled Sidney. "I will have a meal served. Where are your horses?"

"It is a long story," sighed Garth as the group moved indoors. "We gave some of them away and were forced to sell the last two in Farmin. We could use replacements."

"Then you shall have them," promised the merchant as Edmond came down the stairs and saw the visitors.

"You still live!" Edmond said excitedly as he embraced Garth. "I was worried about you. I heard about the destruction of a Federation fleet and thought you might have been involved."

"We were involved," admitted Garth. "The Federation is very anxious to find us. That is the true reason that we are here. We were coming too close to being captured."

"You might have come to the wrong place then," frowned Sidney. "I am beginning to feel that Tyronia is close to following in Vinafor's footsteps."

"Why do you say that?" asked Kalina.

"King Myer is a wise and benevolent ruler," explained Sidney, "but his son is another matter entirely. The king has tried everything that he can think of to make Prince Mectin understand his duty to the people, but it has all been in vain. The prince has moved out of the Royal Palace and into the Old Keep in the center of the city. Father and son no longer talk to each other."

"That is sad," commented Kalina, "but hardly cause for fear."

"I would have agreed with you a month ago," replied Sidney, "but now I am left to wonder. Do you remember the black priest in Waxhaw, Garth?"

"K'san," Garth nodded. "What about him?"

"He was seen going into the Old Keep recently," answered the merchant. "There are also twenty thousand Federation troops in the Sebastian Pass. If that does not give you feelings of the way things were in Waxhaw when we were there, then nothing will."

"I fear that we are responsible for the troops in the pass," replied Garth. "They are there to stop my people from escaping to the west."

"Perhaps," mused Sidney, "but maybe they serve more than one purpose with their deployment. You once told me that you did not believe in coincidences; well neither do I."

"Speaking of Waxhaw," Kalina interjected, "how is she?"

"Oh, pardon my manners," Sidney said apologetically as he glanced once more at Morro. "She is fine. Edmond, would you have our guest join us for the meal?"

Edmond also glanced worriedly at the elf before turning and retreating up the stairs.

"Morro truly is an ally," Garth declared. "I feel no need to keep secrets from him. He has become a valued member of our team."

"That is good enough for me," smiled Sidney. "Come, let us retire to the dining room."

The merchant led the group through the mansion to an elegant dining room. They stood talking for a few moments until Edmond entered with Queen Romani. Sidney introduced her to Morro, and they all sat down for a meal. During the meal, Garth described what had happened since the Knights of Alcea had parted company with the merchant. He ended up with describing the deal he had made with Abel Ormon and the voyage to Ur on the Yio Clipper.

"Captain Carlos is a good man," Sidney stated. "I will send word to him to keep his mouth shut about your passage from Farmin. As for Abel Ormon, he is correct about the value of emeralds in Tyronia. Green is our national color and emeralds are always in demand here. May I see them?"

Garth removed a pouch from under his tunic and handed it to the merchant. Sidney emptied the contents onto the table and smiled with approval.

"These are magnificent," he commented. "Abel must have wanted your ruby rather badly."

"He said it was perfect for a necklace he was making."

"You truly have done well as a special agent, Garth," chuckled the merchant. "I especially enjoyed the stories of the figurines. I would loved to have seen one."

Morro grinned as he reached into his pack and produced one of DeCardia's figurines. Sidney examined it with curiosity, but Queen Romani was actually quite taken with it. She took it from Sidney's hand and inspected it closely before setting it down and looking at Garth with admiration.

"You have a good eye, Garth," she complimented the Knight of Alcea. "You are truly a man of many talents."

"Actually," smiled Garth, "Natia sold the figurines at the inflated prices. We would have been broke without her gypsy ways."

"I am sure that Morro will let you have that one if you like it," Natia offered with a glance at the elf.

"Certainly," Morro said quickly.

"Thank you," smiled the queen. "I will treasure it. Did you happen to hear any news about Vinafor? The stories that we have heard are not warming."

"We have had no news about Colonel Pfaff at all," added Sidney. "Queen Romani is very concerned about him."

"We have heard nothing at all," Garth replied.

"I have heard that the Federation takes one senior officer from each country they conquer," interjected Edmond. "They look for a man who is amenable to the Federation and keep him in Despair in case they need to bring in someone to replace the ruler of the country. The officer is used to keep the chosen rulers in their place."

"Well," Garth said, "Colonel Pfaff would certainly not fit that description. I would not fear that he has been taken."

"I wish I had such confidence," frowned the queen. "General Daramoor is a devious man. If he had learned of the Federation's practice, I would not put it past him to alter the records of his officer to have an undesirable one sent away. He would be laughing about how he put one over on the Federation and also got rid of someone troublesome. If Colonel Pfaff was sent to Despair, or if he was killed, my chances of returning to Vinafor will be shattered."

"Perhaps we can discover something about his welfare," suggested Kalina.

Garth raised an eyebrow at his wife, but the queen smiled gratefully.

"You mentioned another group of your men," Sidney said. "What are they up to?"

"I sent them here," answered Garth, "but they learned that the Sebastian Pass was closed. They chose to turn north through the Forest of Death."

"That was not a wise choice," frowned Sidney. "After our talks about that forest, I started asking around to see if I could find out more about it. I do not think they will survive the journey."

"They have lost a man already," replied Garth, "but they felt pretty confident about getting out of it. They met a man called Fakir Aziz. Have you ever heard of him?"

"I have," answered Queen Romani. "He is a learned man, a tutor, philosopher and historian. Many of the nobles of the eastern countries have hired him in the past to tutor their children. What does he have to do with the Forest of Death?"