The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (14 page)

“The only pass around Urgenak into Velstorbokkin would require the army first pass through the bordering imperial province. That could provoke the empire into joining the war.”

“Well, Velstorbokkin’s strength lies in its superior navy. We dare not attempt to land troops from the sea. The pass is the only possibility. We’ll have to risk the emperor’s anger crossing his territory. Perhaps if we pass through fast enough, we’ll be in Velstorbokkin before word reaches the emperor of our transgressing his territory. He may not wish war at present. Is he not still on his grand tour?”

“So we’re led to believe, Majesty.”

“An auspicious opportunity,” Nindax said.

“All the more important we attack before the emperor returns to Engwaniria. We need to be out of the imperial province before Saxthor can organize any response to our trespass.” Nindax then turned to Xthilleon, whose ruddy face reflected his seething at being kept standing and waiting without recognition.

“We have missed you at court, Xthilleon,” Nindax said.

“How may I be of service to Your Highness?” Xthilleon asked. The low guttural tone was almost a growl, making Nindax hesitate.

“We’re about to make war on Velstorbokkin. What assistance can you offer to the war effort?”

“I thought Your Majesty wished to eliminate King Nemenese all together.”

“We’ve now decided to conquer Velstorbokkin and retain Nemenese as our subject. We wish to have him a puppet king to prevent rebellion as we consolidate his kingdom into a western empire. We need a force capable of resisting the Powterosian Empire, should the emperor decide to expand his holdings.”

“And what if the emperor decides to intercede on behalf of his relation?” Xthilleon asked.

“I must take the risk and seize the opportunity at hand.”

Xthilleon nodded to the king and general. “I shall leave the military conquest of Velstorbokkin in your most capable hands, Highness. I’m sure I can offer nothing more to the war effort there, but I’ll attempt to infiltrate the empire and divert Emperor Saxthor in my own way.”

“I see. I won’t inquire into your methods. Keep the war effort in mind and see what you can come up with to augment the army’s strength.”

“As you command, Highness.” And with that, Xthilleon bowed and withdrew to return to his tower and further his own plan.

* * *

Invasion of Velstorbokkin

“I’m glad you suggested we take a day out from my grand tour for a hunt,” Saxthor said to King Zirkin. They looked out along the mountain ridge dividing the kingdom and empire. The verdant valleys below on either side were clusters of forests interspersed with small farms, pastures, and open glens. The horses snorted, excited by the hunt and ride to the summit where they now stood. “It’s like the top of the world here.”

“Look two thirds down the slope there,” Zirkin said, leaning forward, pointing to movement among the trees.

“I see them, the deer we chased up here. How did they get so far ahead of us?”

“We must be getting old,” Zirkin said with a laugh.

They were about to race down the slope after the deer when Saxthor noticed a cave further along the slope in a break in the trees. A wisp of smoke drifted upward from the cave before the wind dispersed it. 

“That’s a strange place for someone to live. Must be a hermit,” Saxthor said.

“We must hurry or the deer will escape, Saxthor.”

“I must see who inhabits that cave.”

“Whoever it is, he can’t be of consequence. Clearly he must want to be left alone.”

Saxthor didn’t respond, but tapped his horse’s flanks and rode along to the cave.

“Is anyone home?” the emperor asked at the mouth of the grotto, but there was no response. He dismounted and went to the entrance but darkness descended just beyond the cave’s mouth. Smoke was the only hint of habitation. It had the aroma of oak, but there were other unfamiliar sweet and acrid scents mixed in.

“Have you seen enough?” Zirkin asked.

“What are you doing here when the war is in the west?” came a deep, scratchy voice from the darkness somewhere far back in the cave.

King and emperor looked at each other. Then a small haggard old person hobbled from the darkness, half naked except for animal skins wrapping the torso. The hair was long, wild, gray, and uncombed for years perhaps, and wrinkled skin hung from all exposed limbs.

Saxthor wasn’t sure if it was a man or a woman. “What do you mean?” Saxthor asked. “What’s your name?”

As the hermit approached still further, the stale scent of an ancient person mingled with the smoke. Then brilliant eyes radiated from the decrepit form staring straight at Saxthor. “I said, ‘What are you doing here when the war is in the west?’”

“I heard the question, but what does it mean? What war? There’s no war that I know of.”

“As emperor, and you sir, as king, you should know of the war. The old woman was clearly unaffected by the regal status of her visitors. She turned back into the cave then stopped, peering at Saxthor with a steel cold eye. “One day that war will spawn an empire and topple three.”

Saxthor glanced at Zirkin. “What does she mean?”

“I have no idea,” Zirkin shrugged his shoulders. When they looked back, she had disappeared again.

“Old woman, please explain what you mean,” Saxthor shouted into the darkness, but there was no response.

“Perhaps we should continue on the hunt,” Zirkin suggested.

“I must resume my journey. A war in the west, what can it mean? Is there rebellion in my absence? I must return to Engwaniria.” The two men rode back to the border fortress, where they said goodbyes. Saxthor terminated the tour and rode directly for Engwaniria.

Half way back, through the nearest province, an imperial messenger overtook the emperor’s coach. The man was quite out of breath and wild-eyed but soon recovered enough to speak.

“What is it, man?” Saxthor asked.

Still hunched over, catching his breath, the man said, “Majesty, the chatra sent me to find you. King Nindax of Senoshesvas has declared war on King Nemenese of Velstorbokkin. The Senoshesvasian army has invaded the empire, crossing through the northwestern tip to invade Velstorbokkin!”

“What madness is this that King Nindax dare invade the empire?”

“Apparently, it was the only land route into Velstorbokkin other than through the Urgenak Forest, which no one passes through. King Nindax has sent a message to Your Majesty asking for permission to pass briefly through the empire. He doesn’t wish war with you, or so the chatra said the letter says. No one knows what his intentions are, but he didn’t wait for a reply.”

“Captain!” Saxthor shouted. “Give me your fastest horse. Have the coach continue on to Engwaniria. I’ll travel faster on horse with only a small escort to the capital.”

The captain nodded and went to retrieve a suitable horse for the emperor.

“Young man,” Saxthor said to the messenger. “It’s clear you have nearly ridden yourself and your steed to death. Rest at the nearest village for a day, then return to Engwaniria.” With that, Saxthor and his escort left behind the state coach and rode at full gallop toward the capital.

* * *

Dressed in garish war regalia, with metals dangling everywhere across his chest, King Nindax stood atop his warhorse, looking down on his troops. They marched precariously along steep slopes and cliffs just west of Shinnadda, the Neuyokkasinian imperial fortress guarding the mountain pass. It stood at the juncture of the two kingdoms and the empire. The king’s hair flipped in the wind where it extended beyond his helmet and his sparkling eyes reflected his excitement, surrounded by his generals.

“The crossing is going well, Majesty,” the senior general said. He looked toward Shinnadda where imperial troops stood shoulder to shoulder along the massive battlements, but none came out to challenge the army passing below on the slopes.

“It had better. The men must not stop to rest, no matter how exhausted they are from the forced march. We must pass beyond the imperial border before orders come from Engwaniria to allow our passing or to attack us. Winning this war will depend on surprising Nemenese. You’re certain the advance guard can keep Nemenese’s men in their fortress?”

“They were told failure to contain the Velstorbokkin forces would result in the execution of all involved, as you commanded.”

“You must not permit a single man to escape from there and warn Nemenese or the emperor.”

“None shall pass, Majesty. Your plan is ingenious.”

Nindax nodded at the general then turned to the chatra, who was squirming on his horse. “I see you’re not used to riding high-strung horses.”

“No, Your Majesty, but I’ll survive.”

“You’re certain the message sent to Nemenese recounting the supposedly intercepted letter to the imperial ambassador was as precise?

As you specified, it said the empire was sending a fleet against the eastern Velstorbokkin coast.”

“And you’re quite certain Nemenese received it?”

“Yes, according to Xthilleon. I’ve no intelligence confirming it, or if Nemenese fell for the ruse.”

“If that didn’t work, Nemenese may well suspect some other attack and prepare his army for our invasion. It had better work.”

“Xthilleon assured me Nemenese is in a panic at the prospect of an imperial invasion at Soondaree.”

“How would he know that if your spies haven’t confirmed it?”

“I don’t know, Majesty, but he seemed quite certain of it.”

“Let us hope the ruse causes Nemenese to concentrate his forces on the coast and that the imperial garrison remains at Shinnadda.”

The two men laughed. The general turned back studying the troop movements along the perilous mountain trail. One man, burdened with a heavy backpack, slipped on a ledge and tumbled to his death below. The stream of soldiers behind him continued uninterrupted and without a break in the pace.

* * *

King Nemenese was all aflutter in his sleeping gown, pacing the floor of his sitting room. He reread the message in his hand, paced more then reread the message in disbelief, repeating the process until interrupted by his chatra and son. The chatra and crown prince had hastily and incompletely dressed.

“You see this?” Nemenese asked. His voice crackled glaring at the two men. He thrust the document at the chatra, who quickly read it before handing it off to the heir.

“War… Just as I suspected! It was the emperor who failed to kill me at Engwaniria. Now he’s forced to make open war on Velstorbokkin to seize the kingdom. He wants our commerce with Tixos.”

“The emperor has trade with Tixos through Neuyokkasin, Majesty,” the chatra insisted. “Why would he make war to seize our trade when he already has treaties for such? Surely it will not be worth the alienation of the empress and dowager empress.”

“Velstorbokkin is a rich kingdom. Saxthor is a warrior; the Great War proved that. The man is drunk with power and wants to rule the world.”

“Calm yourself, Father.”

“Calm myself!” Nemenese shouted, his chest pounding. “It’s your throne that you will never sit on.” Nemenese turned to the chatra. “Send for the generals and admirals. Send messengers immediately to the coastal fortifications, alerting them to the threat and putting them on a war footing.”

“I’ve already sent for the senior military leaders within the city.”

A knock on the king’s door interrupted the conference.

“What is it?” Nemenese shouted.

The door opened and a portly old general entered, dressed in his uniform, his hair in disarray and his sword clanging with his pace. The old man bowed. “You sent for me, Majesty?”

“I did indeed. Prepare for war at once. Make preparations to move the army from the interior and the border regions to augment the coastal fortifications. This letter King Nindax intercepted proves Emperor Saxthor is moving the northern imperial fleet against our eastern coast. They must not be allowed to land an army on our shores.”

“Are you certain of this letter?” the chatra asked. “It’s only King Nindax’s word; you know how wily he is. The actual intercepted letter is not with this message.”

“Of course I’m certain. Didn’t I just return recently from that harrowing journey to make an alliance with Nindax? Apparently, just in time too. He knows he’s next on the conquest list if Velstorbokkin falls. Where is that admiral?”

The senior admiral knocked and entered, still buttoning his uniform.

“We might have lost the war before you got here, admiral,” Nemenese said. He noted a slight grin on the general’s face, which quickly disappeared when the king glanced at him.

“Leave immediately for the coast and take command of the war preparations. The northern imperial fleet is sailing as we speak to attack and land the imperial army on our eastern shores.”

The admiral’s mouth dropped open. “Forgive me, but is Your Majesty certain?”

“Of course I’m certain.”

“Do we know their destination, which port they will attack?”

“All I know is that the fleet has sailed and should reach our shores any day now. Likely, it’s Soondaree. They think to surprise us, sailing out of sight from land, but they’d be spotted before reaching Lundamer.”

“Father, can’t we negotiate with the emperor?”

“It’s too late for that. Saxthor has the whole imperial army and navy at his command. He defeated the Dark Lord of Dreaddrac in the Great War, what hope have we against such might unless we sink his navy, and the army with it, before they land.”

The wide-eyed admiral jerked to attention, saluted the king, glanced at the others in the room, and disappeared out the door.

“Majesty, if the emperor is sending an army by sea, wouldn’t he also send a larger army by land? Yet, there is no report of an army massing at Castilyernov Shinnadda.”

“Yes, well perhaps the emperor didn’t want to risk our discovering an army building up there. We know there is a fleet on the seas heading toward our shores in any case. Move your troops from the border and internal garrisons to Soondaree.”

The general left instantly.

* * *