The Exodus Sagas: Book IV - Of Moons and Myth (20 page)

“Agreed.” Johnas Valhera hated losing such a killer as the brown minotaur that butchered Heathen the Red. He caught wind that Chalas had killed Rinicus Three-Blades without permission, something he would not tolerate from anyone.
Domenarchs were killed or removed by himself, his Emerald Eight, but never by a new member.
The sizzle of acrid smoke took his mind off of the matter quickly as Lord Koligail vanished from sight.

Before he could get a moment of clarity on which situation to handle next, Lord Valistor Waylen
of Willborne
approached from his left and the noble emissary
from Caberra on
his right. Johnas knew that thirty soldiers surrounded him, Vermillion was there as w
ell, and even Oggidan and fifty
agents watched
from shadowed vantage points
. Still, the Prince of Valhirst only desired the pressure he brought upon others, not the other way around.

Valistor bowed half heartedly, his blonde braids and beard streaked with gray and silver hung heavy despite the winds. His right hand never left the hilt of his longsword, his winged helm was tight under his arm, and his decorated steel scale armor would have impressed anyone as the white cape
was
draped half across his front. He looked up to Johnas Valhera, green eyes to green eyes, and he scowled intentionally.

“Do not begin with the Agarian blood and guilt rhetoric that Katrina has tossed for so many years, it holds no bearing upon my conscience, Lord Waylen.” Johnas smiled to the grimacing countenance before him.

“I was unaware of Prince Valhera having a conscience.” Valistor loomed half a foot over Johnas Valhera, yet turned and gazed upon the mounting battle that this wretch would be involved in very soon.

“Well spoken. Yet, I understand that King Phillip the First of Harlaheim has threatened war upon Willborne, and that troubles me.” The Prince of Valhirst glanced to his right as the Caberran man took a fast knee and rose next to him as well.

“He has, at a most
inopportune time
, I might add.”

“For you perhaps, but not for Harlaheim.” Johnas chuckled.

“Let us cut to the meat, Prince. You control Phillip, soon Chazzrynn
, but why Willborne? If it is war you crave, you have plenty here and my kingdom will not---“

“
Katrina’s kingdom
, you mean.” Johnas corrected with the wave of a finger as he leaned over the high walls of his castle.

“So that is it? Well let me inform your highness that
Katrina Willborne, queen or no
,
has not returned
in some time. My scouts heard in Shanador th
at she was killed
in the Misathi Mountains. So whether you long for her and seek revenge, or simply wish to take a wounded territory, it will mean war. I know you have sapped forces from Harlaheim to here, so we are not outmatched.” Valistor spoke fast and low, but knew the Caberran man and the dark clad figure behind Johnas heard every word.

“I have the Crossguard Legion in Harlaheim, deadliest force on the continent. You are outmatched, and I doubt you can rally your old nobles in Willborne to stand against the church. And
pity,
you just missed Lord Koligail from Devonmir,
I have them now as well.
”

“When the new Cardinal takes the Aldane
, you will lose your Legion
, and skulking slaves of old sorcery do not frighten me.” Despite the distance, however far it was, Valistor felt the red in his eyes from Rynnth, felt the power and confidence that her blood had given him. He looked at Johnas again.

“
Interesting, I fail to recall when Agarians had eyes that went from green to red. So, the dragon whose blood you drank still lives,
for now
. You think I was unaware? All I must do is target her, and that willpower and resistance in your council will fade and die with the dragon. Much like your kingdom has for centuries. But, since you have strength to fight, let us make it official, Harlaheim and Willborne then.
Declare it, Lord Waylen.
” He had wondered if the wyrm of Willborne had survived, and now he knew. It was time to twist it and delay, for that dragon would tear armies apart if half the reports were true.

“I will be king of Willborne with Katrina dead, and they will rally to me. It will be skirmishes at first, as I wait for the Aldane to withdraw the Crossguard Legion
in Harlaheim
. Then, I will unleas
h Rynnth upon the crown and rose
. Pray I do not come south after
, she may enjoy falcon hunting
.” Valistor smiled, he knew this mans game. He had done the same in Willborne to get to the
head of the council for
many decades
,
on a much smaller scale.

“What is your offer then, as you are verbally moving toward war
. I know Willborne could not afford it, yet I respect your desire at strategically making yourself a thorn at the least. Speak your terms, I am about to become a king, and have little time.”

“Traditional terms. Treaty for a decade, you take a
city with title in Willborne, I
in return, take a city and title in either Chazzrynn or Harlaheim, since you hold two kingdoms.” Lord Waylen smiled at the rather disgusted countenance upon the face of the Caberran man who seemed lost for words, yet listened to every one of them here and now.

“Agreed, as long as the treaty is for mutual support in all manners of the military, which may include your dragon. I will take Larkenport, as Prince thereof from you. I offer you Addisonia, lord with all titles and so forth.” Johnas cared not for Addisonia, too many temples there. He needed more ports to have a swift naval force, so his decision was easy.

“Then the war will be called off by Phillip?” Valistor reached out a hand to Prince Johnas.

He shook it
. “Yes it will. Let me know when you take the crown, I expect an invitation, I love ceremonies.”

“Who then, in
our mighty conglomerate, will be our adversary, Shanador?” Lord Waylen smiled and looked to the horrified Caberran man
who had now let his mouth open yet seemed at a loss for words
.

“
My conglomerate
. Shanador is to
o large to handle, for now.”

“Armondeen or Kivanis
then
?” Valistor winked at the messenger and grinned.

“No
, too early.
I need to hear from Harlaheim’s neighbor first. He has been most patient and respectful.” Johnas turned toward the emissary.

“
This is…this is
…I do not believe my ears hear such things! I am
Wil
dell Escada, sent from Cordolla. On behalf of the Caberran courts, I seek answers to our missing Prince Edians dell Barrato and to discuss the trade route agreements between Harlaheim and my kingdom.” His slick black hair and trimmed beard were offset by his smooth tan face that was going rather pale at the moment.
His eyes of deep caramel darted back and forth between Johnas and Valistor.

“What would make you think I know of your missing prince? Is he not in Harlaheim? As for y
our trade agreements, I am the Ambassador of T
rade to Caberra and will be arriving to meet you in due time.”
Johnas smiled, this man was dressed in his golden surcoat and cape, tridents galor
e sewn proudly in the cloth,
yet had just realized what sort of man he was dealing with.

“I come with the wishes of my king
and queen and their sons
, and those are that his daughter is found, his
eldest
son released, and your title withdrawn. He wants nothing to do with you or Ha
rlaheim, Johnas Valhera.” Wil
pulled the parchment from his sleev
e.

“Wil, not shor for Wilian, is it perchance?” Johnas knew the princes of Caberra, suspected, but then thought otherwise.

“It is, Wilian dell Escada, but taking me hostage will earn you nothing. My family is not valuable, as you surely know.”
He showed the parchement
to the Prince of Valhirst, and then to
r
e it to pieces and let the wind take it over the castle.

“Ah, so brave of you. You may inform your king that when I arrive to write a new agreement, he had better produce some
new
daughters to my guest rooms.
And if he thinks his illicit dealings with Altestan go unnoticed, tell him to try harder. Agarians have little tolerance for such things.
”

“You are a sick man, in many ways sick and less than sane. Dealings with cursed demon-loving sorcerors, pacts with dragon worshippers, and waging war in your own kingdom
for the crown
, that shall be just the beginning of what I inform his majesty of from you, Valhera.
”

“You reek of wine, emissary. I mean that both actually and in the verbal sense, mind you. Perhaps another bottle, and when you calm yourself
,
and see how politics truly manifest, we can talk some more.”
Johnas waved his hand at
the shorter Caberran man.

“I will not lower myself to treating with one such as you. King
Marcellian
and Queen Sharsian
will hear the truth from my lips.” Wilian dell Escada crossed his arms over his chest.

Johnas looked to
Valistor Waylen. “Caberra then?
”

“Caberra it is, Prince Johnas. I shall meet with King Phillip in Harlaheim and assist him with his eastern borders. Rumor has it that King Marcellian holds him responsible for much and wishes war.” Valistor smiled, bowed, and walked off with his retinue from Willborne.
“After my wedding, of course.”

“This is…I said nothing of the sort! What is---“

“Best hurry across the seas then, emissary.
Word has a way of spreading faster than the winds can drive a galleon, even a fine Caberran vessel.” Johnas reached out his hand for a farewell shake to Wilian.

The Caberran man looked at the gesture in disgust. “You will regret this day, Johnas Valhera, you will. The Caberran fleet has never known defeat in any war. My king will not look kindly upon your filthy deals and tricks. Farewell.”

Johnas watched as the Caberran emissary fell in with his entourage and took a brisk pace toward his courtyard. Willborne was his, Harlaheim, and soon Chazzrynn. To hold his growing empire in place, they would need a common enemy. Caberra would do just fine. He smiled as Vermillion of the South took his side on the battlements once more.

“Do you plan to just let him leave?” Jehrale asked.

“Yes and no. Send three doppelgangers guised as crewmen while he loads and boards. Tell them not to touch the emissary. I want his words to reach Marcellian in Cordolla.”

“That will accomplish what?”

“Either an agreement that will have me a fourth kingdom, or information on his military that will assure I get Caberra by force.”

“And with four kingdoms, then what?”

“Take more, brother. My ambition does not suffer restraint.” Johnas sighed. “
I think it is time to meet our
uncle on the field, family reunion if you would. You will join me, of course?”

“I would not miss it. Oggidan is coming with, learning fast that one is.
Let us get you dressed then.
” Jehrale walked with his brother across the catwalk of their castle. He glanced to the kris blade sheathed on Johnas’ hip, the emerald with the impure dark fleck noticed him looking, he could sense it.

“Mother says to stay close to me, she is proud of you, of us.” Johnas felt the vibrations, they had grown stronger from the sword now that Jehrale was close to him. He could pick up on small empathic feelings here and there.

“Give her my love.” Jehrale lowered his head as they walked.

“I will give her blade Salganat blood, far better than love.” Johnas laughed out loud, startling many of his already tense soldiers, and even his
scarred
younger brother.

LCMVXILCMVXILCMVXILCMVXIL

Mikhail rose from his knee slowly. He did not want to end his prayers, to Alden or otherwise. The men around him, all noble lords that had come to war for their king, rose s
lowly after him and waited for his
word
in silence
. His eyes glanced up as he turned to face them, asking even the sky for assistance
this day
. The king felt Aelaine’s hand on one shoulder, then Chancellor Marcus Mederris on the other. Kendrynn Shilde of Vallakazz, General Fandruss of
Loucas,
Lord Dimitri of Addisonia, Lord Burrain of Silverbridge, and even Lord Corey from Thoranack bowed with their armies behind them. Just over five thousand swords had answered his summons, yet nothing from the west. As he feared, the war with the ogre and troll hordes must have begun, lest he knew Alexei T’Vellon would have rallied all of Hurne, Elcram, Roricdale, and Southwind.
His scouts had reported that Johnas had his defenses in place, a few thousand more men, so it was honor and courage that
he prayed would see Chazzrynn to victory.