LITMIR.BIZ

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You may not know it, but Pter has wooed many a maiden over the years. But I didn’t hire him for that. I hired him to keep the arrogant puppies like you in line.”

      Decklan saluted his general. “Yes, sir, General.”

      “What am I going to do, sir?”

      “I know how much you want to be in the fray, boy, but I have a duty to protect you. I’m sending you back to Eston for the king to put you where he sees fit.”

      “But I thought I would help you here.”

      “I’m riding out with the men tomorrow. Heading into Boones Ferry to prepare my garrison there. I have work to do and can’t be worrying about a boy under my feet.”

      “I’m no boy! I want revenge for the death of my family and my people.”

      “And you’ll have it, just not here. ‘Tis an honor to be in the king’s ranks, boy. It’s a squires rank for you.”

      That seemed to have calmed Maddon down, and Alban could see the pride finally gleaming in his eyes.

      “Yes, sir.” He saluted Alban just as his lieutenant had.

      “That’s better. Go get all your stuff together. I have four very able bodies ready to ride out in the morning as your escorts. I have already sent word to King Dainard that you’re coming. He’ll see that you get placed in the ranks, I promise.”

      “Yes, sir.”

      Maddon saluted again and left the war room and the three men sitting around the table.

      “I’m going to actually miss the lad. In the few weeks he’s been here, he’s learned a lot. He’s a fine boy and brave too. I see that one going far. King Dainard should be proud to have him among his men. He’s braver and heartier than a lot of men twice his age,” Pter said now. He looked at Decklan. “You could learn a thing or two from him, Decklan.”

      “Aw, Pter, you ole softie. I never thought I’d hear you speak so fondly of someone. It’s nice.”

      Pter leaned across the table and slapped Decklan on the back of the head. “If only I felt the same about you.”

      “You do; you just won’t admit it.” Decklan smiled at his superior.

      Pter changed the subject. “What do you want us to do, General?”

      “I want all the troops ready to ride out tomorrow. I’ll leave Captain Colay here to hold down the fort and the docks. We’ll ride into Boones Ferry and see what we can do to hold Fallon’s troops off. King Kevaan will handle the troops that are holding the castle hostage. Once he has enough men, he’ll storm it and take it back. But we need to keep more from riding in. Make sure you and your men are ready by six a.m. tomorrow. We ride out, ready or not. Anyone not prepared gets left behind, and that will make ole Alban very sore to say the least. Don’t disappoint me, gentlemen.”

      They both saluted him as they stood. “Yes, sir!”

      ***

      Alekzand’r Morgan and his men, four guards and two elves, rode through the desert sands, the hot sun beating down on them, their lips chapped and cracked. The horses were doing better than expected, the elves having given them some kind of elixir in their water to keep them hydrated for long periods. They had reached the border into the Free Province two days before and were on their way to Salador. There had been no sign of any villages or towns and they were starting to wonder if they would ever come into contact with anyone.

      When night came, they stopped wherever they were and made camp. It was too dangerous to travel through the desert in the dark, with all the scavengers and black wolvins lurking about searching for food. The cold night forced them to make a fire, but it was good for keeping the hungry creatures at bay as well.

      They were sitting around eating their nightly rations of warm meat and bread, smoking and talking. Alekzand’r was tired, and he would be relieved when this was all over, but knew that his wish would not come true for a long while. This war would take its toll on everyone, and, even if they managed to get the chancellor to join, Fallon’s army would not be overtaken easily. His place on Kevaan’s throne was already having an effect on the kingdom. People who were afraid of Fallon before had decided that not opposing him would keep them alive. Several skirmishes had arose inside Kingswell’s walls when troops from Kevaan’s army tried to make their way inside. The people didn’t care whose side the troops were on, they knew that fighting was their best chance of staying alive. Now peasants and townspeople with pitchforks and torches were no match for a trained military warrior, but, because they were told not to hurt any civilian, they were forced to retreat back outside the walls of the city. Fallon had them scared and nothing said would calm those fears. The troops were forced to camp outside the city until given the word it was time to strike. There may come a time when they would be forced to kill innocents in their way in order to reach Fallon, and Kevaan was dreading that day. Alek didn’t blame him.

      Alek was leaning back against a fallen tree, drinking a draught of ale, staring into the fire as it danced in the dark of the night. He tore his gaze away for a moment or two, to look into the sky, clear with no cloud cover, and the sea of twinkling stars were endless on this open plain.

      Tallyn, one of the elves enlisted to accompany them into the city of Salador to speak with the chancellor, sat down beside Alek and crossed his legs in front of him. Alek looked toward him and nodded a silent greeting, then concentrated his gaze on the sky once again.

      “The sky will not tell you what you need to know, Alekzand’r Morgan, only your heart can reveal what needs to be done.”

      “It’s not my heart that has no answers, for it knows what should happen; it’s my mind that has me confused.”

      “Tell me what you are thinking.”

      Alek sighed. “I’m thinking that nothing is going to be easy. Fallon has already done more damage in a short time than anyone would have thought. If he’s not stopped, Aelethia will perish.”

      “Aelethia’s hope will not fail.”

      “I think your faith in her is a bit misguided. I’ll admit that she’s tough, and I have no doubt that her heart will guide her, but she’s only one person, a woman, and I don’t understand how she could possibly win against Fallon and his dark minions.”

      “We are not made to understand, only to have faith.”

      “From what I’ve seen so far, my faith is a bit shaky at the moment.”

      “I know, but you must try. She needs all of us behind her to win this.”

      “I’m behind her, and I will be to the end, but how do I stay strong when I don’t believe we will win this?”

      “You humans are fragile. Your head and heart always fight against each other thus making it hard to see beyond your own understanding. Faith is understanding without doubt. Understanding without fear. You just have to believe things will work out as they should.”

      “I have been across this kingdom more times than I can count and I have seen many things, heard many things, but what I have seen and heard in the last few months is beyond my comprehension, and I don’t know how to fight against things I don’t understand.”

      “She will understand it all. All you have to do is stand behind her and do what you were trained to do. Fate will do the rest.”

      Alek looked at Tallyn now. “Are elves always so optimistic?”

      “It is not optimism, it is faith. We know the world will turn out the way fate wants it to. You cannot stop the sun from shining, or the river from flowing. Why should good versus evil be any different? If we are made to win, we will. It is as simple as that. That is how we live in peace.”

      Alek shook his head and finished off his ale. “We’re dealing with things we don’t understand, and I’m not afraid to admit I’m scared to my very core.”

      “As

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