The halls of the palace seemed to never get really warm during the harsh Westridge winters. The great fireplaces and heavy, ornate draperies of the palace could only do so much to block the drafts and take the chill off the cavernous spaces and stone hallways. Only the palace?s bedrooms, the kitchen, and the royal suite could possibly be described as ?cozy? during the winter months. The remainder of the palace varied from cool to outright cold, and was most conducive for the wearing of clothes in warm layers.
The half-elven king pulled his heavy over-cloak more tightly about him as he walked quickly through the hallways with an advisor on each side of him. They had come to hurry him along and get him out of Princess Gwenilbeth?s room, but now it was Gavilean?s long strides that made it difficult for the advisors to keep pace as they headed down the steps to the Strategy Room.
?What?s the latest with Caemalin and Rocky Point?? Gavilean asked the advisors as they reached the bottom step and headed to the Strategy Room. He was referring to Westridge?s two most northern cities. Rocky Point was a harbor city where the Western Ocean met the mouth of a wide channel that formed the northwest border of Westridge. Caemalin was also on the Northern border, but when the wide channel narrowed to the cold and fast-running river that made the remainder of Westridge?s norther border.
?It?s not good, Your Majesty. Caemalin is overrun and Rocky Point is soon to fall. The latest reports are awaiting us in the meeting.?
?I thought we had enough forces up there to protect them.?
?We all did, Sire. No one could have anticipated the enemy?s numbers.?
Guards pulled open the doors of the Strategy Room as the king and advisors neared. As Gavilean walked inside, the Knight Marshall announced his arrival and those in the room stood. There were eighteen gathered around a large central table. These were generals, strategists, and high military officials. Some were Elves, some Dwarfs, and others were men and women. The one obvious omission was the Arch Mage, Thulin Nell. Gav motioned for them all to sit. His countenance was stern and there was no doubt that he meant business. ?It?s been twelve years since we defeated the Dark Lord?s forces and his allies to the north. They?ve been years of peace and prosperity for us, but I fear we have become too complacent and underestimated the ability of Krellians to recover and build back their army.? He turned to the Knight Marshall Stout, ?What are the estimates of their strength?? Sir Stout was good, but he was no Sir Arch Fane. Gav missed Fane. He always felt safer when Arch Fane was directing the forces of Westridge, but two years ago Queen Samleanus of Mana returned and Arch took his rightful place as her husband.
?Your Majesty, we estimate 50,000 Krellians at Rocky Point. Even more at Caemalin, with estimates of 75,000 to 100,000. They have sorcerers with them, strengthening their already superior numbers with weapons of magic.?
?What has happened to the citizens of Caemalin??
Knight Marshall Stout laid out a map on the table.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x174/Flyguyii/WestridgeMap3.jpg
?Women, children, and those who couldn?t fight fled south to West Sirion, Sire. Our army is retreating slowly along the same route, trying to hold of the Krellians as long as possible.?
?But that going to leave those at Rocky Point no retreat.?
?Worse then that, Sire. Orcs, Dagamors, and every other creature from the pits of hell have been coming out of Taur-Im-Duinath and attacking from the south. The Krells have split their forces. Those not heading toward West Sirion are marching west to Rocky Point, cutting off all chance of escape.?
?All routes except the ships,? Gavilean said, resting his knuckles on the massive table. ?If Ulgoth?s dominions are coming out of the Dark Woods, there?s more going on than just the Krells attempting again to conquer Westridge.? He stood erect and looked over the table which was now in turmoil with everyone trying to talk at once. The king let each one speak their peace and give their thoughts, and the meeting drew on an on for the most of the morning.
It was time for decisions to be made, and Gav held up his hands for everyone to be quiet. ?This is what we?re going to do. There are 20,000 soldiers in the Elveton region. Move them up to East Sirion. Ships from Sea View are to head north to help evacuate Rocky Point. The Southern Army is to fortify Fohrhill, Raey Point, and the tri-cities of the Leoglin.? He was referring to Astroath, Gelion and Dir-nan. ?Those cities cannot fall.?
?But Sire, that could leave Westridge City virtually defenseless,? the Knight Marshall interrupted.
?We?ll still maintain 30,000 soldiers in addition to the elite Westridge Guard. Plus we?ll send word to Mana and ask Queen Samleanus for assistance. If they can secure the area from Athelstan to Himring to out city,? Gav?s finger traced the map, ?then we can send more reinforcements north.?
?Perhaps Sir Fane will be able to join with you once again at the palace,? an Ambassador spoke out, remembering past days.
?Fane wouldn?t be content to sit in the palace with a war going on,? Gav responded. ?Besides, I?m not going to be here.?
Sir Stout slowly turned his head, ?Your Majesty, you are not thinking of heading north to Sirion, are you? We need you here.?
Gav placed his hand on the Knight Marshall?s shoulder. ?No, I won?t be going there, but you will. I need you to lead our army.
?Of course, Sire,? he said, looking relieved.
?I?ll be going into the Silvanus Forests.? There was total silence.
?But, Sire . . .?
?Thulin Nell is somewhere in there celebrating the Yule with other wizards and the Fae, just as he does every year. We need him in this war if the enemy is using sorcerers and Ulgoth?s demons. I?ll go with a small group of Elven guard. It should only take a few weeks at the most.? He was not going to allow any arguments. ?That?s all. You?re all dismissed.?
Gavilean headed out of the room to make preparations, but was stopped in the main hall by Lord Richard Stang, head of internal affairs. ?Your Majesty, I need to speak with you. In private.?
?I?m in a hurry, Lord Stang. Can?t this wait??
?I?m afraid not, Sire. Please . . . come with me.? They walked to a private out cove in the main hall.
?Make this brief, Lord Stang. I?ve got a lot to do.?
?I will, Sire. It?s about Her Majesty.?
?Des is in Rhydin. Has anything happened to her?? He thought that she?d be safer there than in Westridge, and hoped that was still the case.
?Yes, Sire. She is well. But the Westridge Guard assigned to her have reported something that is of concern.? He paused to collect his thoughts. ?It seems that two nights ago the Queen left the Inn on the arm of some ship?s captain.?
?Who was it?? Gav asked, his eyes narrowing.
?We don?t have much information yet. Some sailor named Drake whom just arrived in Rhydin and she had met only fifteen minutes earlier.?
Gav smiled, ?Des is always making friends. It?s one of the reasons I love her. Plus, it?s her job in the inn ? to make everyone feel welcomed.?
?Sire, they followed her to the man?s ship, some dinky thing in the harbor.?
Gavilean frowned, this didn?t seem like something Des would do. ?She didn?t stay there, did she??
?No, but she was there for some time.?
?She must have had a reason.?
?But sire, this behavior is not appropriate for the Queen of Westridge.?
Gavilean glared at the Head of Internal Affairs. ?I, Lord Stang, and no one else say what?s appropriate and what?s not appropriate. Do you understand me??
?Yes, Sire, of course. But . . .?
?There are no buts!? Gav had enough trouble with the war going on and he didn?t need this information at this time. ?Just make sure she?s not harmed. And find out who the hell this Drake character is.? Gav stormed away and headed up the stairs to the royal suite. He needed to check in on the Princess, and then make plans to journey to Silvanus.
The half-elven king pulled his heavy over-cloak more tightly about him as he walked quickly through the hallways with an advisor on each side of him. They had come to hurry him along and get him out of Princess Gwenilbeth?s room, but now it was Gavilean?s long strides that made it difficult for the advisors to keep pace as they headed down the steps to the Strategy Room.
?What?s the latest with Caemalin and Rocky Point?? Gavilean asked the advisors as they reached the bottom step and headed to the Strategy Room. He was referring to Westridge?s two most northern cities. Rocky Point was a harbor city where the Western Ocean met the mouth of a wide channel that formed the northwest border of Westridge. Caemalin was also on the Northern border, but when the wide channel narrowed to the cold and fast-running river that made the remainder of Westridge?s norther border.
?It?s not good, Your Majesty. Caemalin is overrun and Rocky Point is soon to fall. The latest reports are awaiting us in the meeting.?
?I thought we had enough forces up there to protect them.?
?We all did, Sire. No one could have anticipated the enemy?s numbers.?
Guards pulled open the doors of the Strategy Room as the king and advisors neared. As Gavilean walked inside, the Knight Marshall announced his arrival and those in the room stood. There were eighteen gathered around a large central table. These were generals, strategists, and high military officials. Some were Elves, some Dwarfs, and others were men and women. The one obvious omission was the Arch Mage, Thulin Nell. Gav motioned for them all to sit. His countenance was stern and there was no doubt that he meant business. ?It?s been twelve years since we defeated the Dark Lord?s forces and his allies to the north. They?ve been years of peace and prosperity for us, but I fear we have become too complacent and underestimated the ability of Krellians to recover and build back their army.? He turned to the Knight Marshall Stout, ?What are the estimates of their strength?? Sir Stout was good, but he was no Sir Arch Fane. Gav missed Fane. He always felt safer when Arch Fane was directing the forces of Westridge, but two years ago Queen Samleanus of Mana returned and Arch took his rightful place as her husband.
?Your Majesty, we estimate 50,000 Krellians at Rocky Point. Even more at Caemalin, with estimates of 75,000 to 100,000. They have sorcerers with them, strengthening their already superior numbers with weapons of magic.?
?What has happened to the citizens of Caemalin??
Knight Marshall Stout laid out a map on the table.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x174/Flyguyii/WestridgeMap3.jpg
?Women, children, and those who couldn?t fight fled south to West Sirion, Sire. Our army is retreating slowly along the same route, trying to hold of the Krellians as long as possible.?
?But that going to leave those at Rocky Point no retreat.?
?Worse then that, Sire. Orcs, Dagamors, and every other creature from the pits of hell have been coming out of Taur-Im-Duinath and attacking from the south. The Krells have split their forces. Those not heading toward West Sirion are marching west to Rocky Point, cutting off all chance of escape.?
?All routes except the ships,? Gavilean said, resting his knuckles on the massive table. ?If Ulgoth?s dominions are coming out of the Dark Woods, there?s more going on than just the Krells attempting again to conquer Westridge.? He stood erect and looked over the table which was now in turmoil with everyone trying to talk at once. The king let each one speak their peace and give their thoughts, and the meeting drew on an on for the most of the morning.
It was time for decisions to be made, and Gav held up his hands for everyone to be quiet. ?This is what we?re going to do. There are 20,000 soldiers in the Elveton region. Move them up to East Sirion. Ships from Sea View are to head north to help evacuate Rocky Point. The Southern Army is to fortify Fohrhill, Raey Point, and the tri-cities of the Leoglin.? He was referring to Astroath, Gelion and Dir-nan. ?Those cities cannot fall.?
?But Sire, that could leave Westridge City virtually defenseless,? the Knight Marshall interrupted.
?We?ll still maintain 30,000 soldiers in addition to the elite Westridge Guard. Plus we?ll send word to Mana and ask Queen Samleanus for assistance. If they can secure the area from Athelstan to Himring to out city,? Gav?s finger traced the map, ?then we can send more reinforcements north.?
?Perhaps Sir Fane will be able to join with you once again at the palace,? an Ambassador spoke out, remembering past days.
?Fane wouldn?t be content to sit in the palace with a war going on,? Gav responded. ?Besides, I?m not going to be here.?
Sir Stout slowly turned his head, ?Your Majesty, you are not thinking of heading north to Sirion, are you? We need you here.?
Gav placed his hand on the Knight Marshall?s shoulder. ?No, I won?t be going there, but you will. I need you to lead our army.
?Of course, Sire,? he said, looking relieved.
?I?ll be going into the Silvanus Forests.? There was total silence.
?But, Sire . . .?
?Thulin Nell is somewhere in there celebrating the Yule with other wizards and the Fae, just as he does every year. We need him in this war if the enemy is using sorcerers and Ulgoth?s demons. I?ll go with a small group of Elven guard. It should only take a few weeks at the most.? He was not going to allow any arguments. ?That?s all. You?re all dismissed.?
Gavilean headed out of the room to make preparations, but was stopped in the main hall by Lord Richard Stang, head of internal affairs. ?Your Majesty, I need to speak with you. In private.?
?I?m in a hurry, Lord Stang. Can?t this wait??
?I?m afraid not, Sire. Please . . . come with me.? They walked to a private out cove in the main hall.
?Make this brief, Lord Stang. I?ve got a lot to do.?
?I will, Sire. It?s about Her Majesty.?
?Des is in Rhydin. Has anything happened to her?? He thought that she?d be safer there than in Westridge, and hoped that was still the case.
?Yes, Sire. She is well. But the Westridge Guard assigned to her have reported something that is of concern.? He paused to collect his thoughts. ?It seems that two nights ago the Queen left the Inn on the arm of some ship?s captain.?
?Who was it?? Gav asked, his eyes narrowing.
?We don?t have much information yet. Some sailor named Drake whom just arrived in Rhydin and she had met only fifteen minutes earlier.?
Gav smiled, ?Des is always making friends. It?s one of the reasons I love her. Plus, it?s her job in the inn ? to make everyone feel welcomed.?
?Sire, they followed her to the man?s ship, some dinky thing in the harbor.?
Gavilean frowned, this didn?t seem like something Des would do. ?She didn?t stay there, did she??
?No, but she was there for some time.?
?She must have had a reason.?
?But sire, this behavior is not appropriate for the Queen of Westridge.?
Gavilean glared at the Head of Internal Affairs. ?I, Lord Stang, and no one else say what?s appropriate and what?s not appropriate. Do you understand me??
?Yes, Sire, of course. But . . .?
?There are no buts!? Gav had enough trouble with the war going on and he didn?t need this information at this time. ?Just make sure she?s not harmed. And find out who the hell this Drake character is.? Gav stormed away and headed up the stairs to the royal suite. He needed to check in on the Princess, and then make plans to journey to Silvanus.