Council of War (38 page)

"That is something that I cannot do," replied Garth. "I will be leaving with my men."

Baron Ohmson sighed and shook his head. "While I admire the spirit of you Alceans, I was hoping that you wouldn't join your fellow countrymen in their demise. It was Karl's spirit that got him in trouble in the first place. He absolutely refused to speak to the king unless the court was cleared of other people. He insulted the king."

"That is his crime?" balked Garth. "He insulted the king so he and the others must be hanged?"

"It is more than that," the baron said defensively. "They entered Zarocca through the Forest of Death. That alone is sufficient for a death sentence. I was not as stubborn as the king. When Karl demanded to speak to me alone, I granted his request, but I am not the king. King Persimon warned Karl what a failure to speak would mean."

"Karl was trying to avoid mentioning Alcea," Kalina pointed out. "The Federation knows that we are in Zara somewhere. They are searching for us with tens of thousands of soldiers. We cannot afford to announce exactly where we are."

"This is Zarocca," retorted the baron. "The Federation has no reach up here. It is not like we would send a message to Despair announcing your presence."

"I wish that were true," sighed Garth. "The Federation has planned these wars for years. We found in Alcea that the Federation had inserted spies into very high places. In one of our provinces, they had one of their men as the head of intelligence. It took years to manipulate things to get someone that high up. Do not think for a minute that they are not doing the same thing in Zarocca."

"Inconceivable," the baron shook his head.

"That is what they thought in Karamin," interjected Kalina. "And Vinafor."

"You seem to know an awful lot about Zara for strangers in this land," stated the baron.

"We were in Karamin the day after the king died," explained Garth. "And we got out of Vinafor just before it was turned over to the Federation."

"The queen died there, too," nodded the baron.

"Queen Romani is not dead," declared Garth. "In fact, we were hoping that there might be shelter for her in Zarocca."

The baron stared at Garth with his mouth hanging open. He shook his head, as if to clear it. "What do you have to do with the queen of Vinafor?"

"She is an ally," Garth smiled thinly. "One would expect all of the enemies of the Federation to band together. That is what makes this episode so unreal. There is no reason for Zarocca to execute Alceans. Not only have we not harmed you, but we should be working together."

"Why would Queen Romani take Alceans into her confidence?" asked the baron.

"Because we rescued her from the Royal Palace in Waxhaw," answered Garth. "General Daramoor and her advisor, Faldor, were planning to assassinate her. The only thing that delayed them was that they both were planning to seize the same throne, and they had no intention of sharing it with the other."

"This is preposterous," retorted the baron. "I cannot believe all the tall tales you Alceans have told."

"Do you mean the sinking of the Federation Fleet?" asked Kalina. "Or were you speaking of the destruction of the Giza shipyards?"

The baron looked from Kalina to Garth and back to Kalina again. He shook his head in disbelief.

"How many of you are there in Zara?" he finally asked.

"You are going to hang most of us in the morning," replied Garth. "For being enemies of the Federation, you are doing more to help them than you can ever know."

"I find no fault in your statement," sighed the baron. "I had not even heard about the destruction of the shipyards, but I am inclined to believe you. Karl told me about the fleet. I will admit that I was dubious, but there is no way that you could have communicated with him since his capture. How did you do it?"

"Flamorweed resin," answered Kalina. "We had a stolen Federation ship, and we sailed it around their fleet. We poured the contents of over a hundred barrels of the resin into the sea. When it was ignited, the entire fleet burned and sunk."

"Along with the Remora," nodded Garth. "That was our way back home to Alcea."

"I am in awe of your group," declared the baron. "Tell me what I can do to help, and I will."

"Get us in to see the king," requested Garth. "I must try to reason with him before morning."

"He will not be open to reason," the baron shook his head. "As I said before, he is growing old and bitter. Once he makes up his mind, nothing can change it. At times I think he is working at odds with the rest of us. It has gotten to the point that I do not share many things with him. I wish I had not shared my knowledge of Alcea, but the possibility of a new ally got the better of me."

"You know why Karl refused to speak," said Kalina. "Is it not obvious by now that he was wise in doing so? Alcea was only spoken of in front of the court, yet word of it is now all over this city. How could the Federation not hear of it?"

"What does it matter now?" replied the baron. "They will not come to Zarocca to claim the bodies."

"At last count," stated Garth, "the Federation had over fifty thousand soldiers searching for us. In the very least, it has kept those men from preparing for war."

"Good point," agreed the baron.

"How about helping us manage an escape from the dungeon?" asked Garth. "If you can help get my men free, I will take them far away from Zarocca."

"We do not have access to the cells," the baron shook his head. "We were not even permitted to put them in the cells. We had to turn them over to the king's men. I am afraid that your cause is hopeless."

"Then I advise you to leave the city before dawn," scowled Garth. "I will not watch my men be executed."

"You can't be serious?" gasped the baron. "Do you have any idea how many soldiers are in this city?"

"There will be a lot fewer this time tomorrow," stated Garth.

The baron stared at Garth in disbelief. "Just who are you that you think you can make such an outrageous threat?"

"I am Garth Shado," declared Garth. "I am a Knight of Alcea, and I do not abandon my men."

"I have no idea what that means," replied the baron, "but I suppose the Knights of Alcea must be some special group from your country."

"There are thirteen Knights of Alcea," Kalina said as she watched Garth clench his fists. “They are the best that Alcea has to offer."

"That must be quite an honor," the baron said respectfully. "Maybe there is a way out of this. Can I assume that you are willing to offer your life in an attempt to save your men?"

Garth's eyes widened with hope. "I am."

The baron sat silently for several minutes staring at the floor while Garth waited impatiently for him to continue.

"There is a law," the baron eventually said, "that allows a champion to challenge the king for a condemned man's life. Of course, you would not actually fight the king. King Persimon will appoint a champion to stand in for him. It is a fight to the death, so dwell upon it before you eagerly accept this proposition."

"I accept," Garth said immediately.

"There are eleven men scheduled to hang in the morning," stated the baron. "Which one will you save?"

"All of them," answered Garth.

"That would mean eleven fights," the baron pointed out.

"It does not matter," replied Garth. "I can no longer leave one of them to die than I can walk on air. If I must fight elven times, then so be it."

"Garth," Kalina warned, "listen to yourself. The king will bring out the best fighters in all of Zarocca. While I have faith in you, no one can win every fight, especially if they wear you down."

"And they will wear you down," agreed the baron.

"I have another fighter," suggested Garth. "Perhaps we can alternate?"

"I am afraid not," sighed the baron. "There is one more catch. Only the highest-ranking member of the province of the accused can issue the challenge. Should you die during one of the battles, your second could then claim to be the highest ranking and continue the fights."

"Alcea has four provinces," interjected Kalina.

"There is no way for us to determine that," frowned the baron. "If the king even accepts Alcea as a legal entity, I doubt that he would allow you to divide it for your own purpose."

"If he accepts Alcea?" echoed Garth. "You mean that I might identify myself as Alcean, and he still might refuse to acknowledge the challenge?"

"That is correct," nodded Baron Ohmson, "but I have a plan for that."

"What is your plan?" asked Kalina.

"Should Garth appear at the gates to the castle and claim to be an ambassador from Alcea," smiled the baron, "he will either be accepted or turned away. If the king agrees to see him, he will be acknowledging that Alcea exists. Then the challenge must be accepted."

"This is getting very risky," Kalina said. "First you must expose yourself as an Alcean and take the chance of being arrested and then you must battle eleven champions. I do not see any upside to this approach."

"When I come before the king as an ambassador," asked Garth, "will the king give me a chance to reason for the lives of my men?"

"Doubtful," replied the baron. "He will assemble the full court before you are brought before him. Seeing as he has already been insulted in front of them today, he will not look kindly upon any suggestion of negotiations."

"Alright," Garth sighed. "I will do it, but I must request a boon of you, Baron Ohmson."

"What is that?" asked the baron.

"I will use another name when I present myself," explained Garth. "I do not want you to say anything."

"Agreed," nodded the baron. "What name will you use?"

"Mikal Obanik," stated Garth.

"Garth!" Kalina shook her head fiercely. "You cannot do that. If there is anyone from the Federation in the court, they will try to kill you on the spot. They would surely reveal themselves just to take you out."

"That is exactly why I must use that name," declared Garth. "If I must fight to free the men, what good does it do if we are still criminals in Zarocca? We will be banned from the country, and where will we go?"

"Back to Tyronia," answered Kalina.

"Exactly," nodded Garth. "And if we leave a Federation spy in King Persimon's court, where will the Federation be waiting for us to appear?"

"Tyronia," sighed Kalina.

"I want you in the court when I am introduced," Garth said to Baron Ohmson. "Watch the reactions to my name. If you see the glimmer of recognition on a face in the court, it will come from a Federation spy. They have been hunting for Mikal Obanik since we arrived in this land many months ago. There were two spies on the ship we used to get here. While we eventually discovered them, it was not until they had reported the name of Mikal Obanik."

"I will be there," promised the baron, "but we must move quickly. If there is not enough time left in the day, the king will tell you to come back tomorrow."

"That would be too late," sighed Garth as he rose to his feet.

Baron Ohmson also rose, but a knock on the door sounded before they could move. The soldiers in the room stiffened, and the baron looked at Garth questioningly.

"That will be two more of my people," Garth stated. "Open the door and let them in."

The soldier nearest the door looked to the baron for permission. The baron nodded his approval, and the soldier opened the door. Tedi stared at the dozen soldiers in the room, and his hand tightened on his staff.

"Come on in," smiled Garth. "Let me introduce you to Baron Ohmson. Baron, this is Tedi and Natia."

The baron nodded politely as he glanced at the couple entering the room.

"I have to leave," Garth said to Tedi. "Kalina will fill you in while I am gone."

Tedi and Natia moved to the couch while Garth left the room with Baron Ohmson and his men. The baron and his men escorted Garth out of the Courtyard Shadows and to the gates of the castle. The guards at the gate looked questioningly at the baron, but it was Garth that spoke.

"I am the Alcean ambassador to Zarocca," he announced. "I wish to see King Persimon."

The guards looked at one another as if someone was playing a joke on them, but the baron's glare convinced them that the announcement was serious. One of the guards turned and ran into the castle. Despite the baron's escort, Garth felt suddenly very exposed. He stared at the entrance to the castle and then the passersby as time seemed to slow. The Knight of Alcea fought the urge to turn and run by reminding himself of the eleven men in the dungeon depending on him. Finally the guard returned, and right behind was a squad of soldiers.

The squad of soldiers stopped at the gate and an officer stepped forward. He glanced at Baron Ohmson and his soldiers and then fixed his eyes on Garth.

"You are the Alcean Ambassador?" the officer asked.

"I am," replied Garth.

"May I ask your name?" the officer asked respectfully.

"I would prefer to announce myself to King Persimon," replied Garth. "Will he see me?"

"I have been ordered to escort you inside," replied the officer, "but I must say that it is unusual to deny me your name."

Garth smiled slightly. "I suppose it is not every day that an ambassador from Alcea arrives. I would say that is unusual in itself."

"It is, sir," agreed the officer. "Baron Ohmson, do you know this man as the Alcean Ambassador?"

"I do," replied the baron. "I would also like to be in court when he is presented."

"Certainly, Baron," replied the officer. "If you will follow me, Ambassador, I will make you comfortable while the court assembles."

"Thank you, officer," nodded Garth.

"Captain Baer, Ambassador," smiled the officer.

Garth followed the captain, and the squad of soldiers fell in behind them as an escort. Baron Ohmson and his men trailed behind. Captain Baer led Garth to a lavish sitting room and posted his men inside and out. One of the soldiers asked if Garth would like something to eat or drink, but Garth declined.

"It is not considered acceptable to carry weapons before the king," the captain said as he nodded at Garth's sword. "If you wish to leave them here, I will make sure they are not disturbed while you are before the king."