Amethyst of the Gods Page 16

  "If their numbers are still at one hundred," mused Alex, "that leaves nine of them unaccounted for."

  "Only one unaccounted for," Prince Garong said as the elf stepped through the front door of the mansion. "We took out eight of them on the grounds outside."

  "Better make it two unaccounted for," frowned Zackary as he followed the elf prince into the mansion and stared at one of the bodies on the floor. "That head belongs to Colonel Salvo. We have been looking for him for some time now."

  "Klarg is one of the missing," Wylan declared. "The other would be a mage."

  "Probably Calastano," sighed Alex. "We must find them before they cause more damage."

  "Jenneva and Tanya," shouted King Arik. "If those two are missing, they are either looking for me, or they intend to verify the death of Jenneva. Prince Midge, get to the Gateway Inn and warn Zalaharic. Tell him to use whatever men he needs to fortify the inn. We will be there shortly."

  Prince Midge nodded and darted out of the mansion.

  Chapter 13

  Gypsy Prince

  The campfire burned low in the center of the small clearing. The clearing was so small that most of the gypsy wagons were wedged in between trees in the surrounding forest. The mood of the campsite was somber as Mandal and Hortice made their report.

  "There are thousand upon thousands of them," frowned Hortice. "You cannot imagine the size of the enemy."

  "There is no chance of our getting through them to Tagaret," added Mandal. "It is just not possible."

  "Maybe we should backtrack to Melbin," suggested Terrik. "We could use ships to reach King Arik."

  "There is no time for that," Adan shook his head. "Tagaret would no longer exist by the time we got there. We must do something now."

  "There is a way that we can help," contributed Tedi.

  "How?" asked Hortice. "We are but a thousand warriors against a force that makes the Lanoirians appear small in comparison."

  "True," nodded Tedi, "but we are certainly smarter than ogres, goblins, and yaki. I am reminded of a story about Alexander Tork when he was just a lad."

  "Tell us the story," urged Natia.

  "The story is long," smiled Tedi, "and there will be time for it later, but the lesson learned from the story is important to us now. The myric quills that we harvested play a central part in the story. The poison of the myric is swift and deadly."

  "Even so," interrupted Hortice, "we have but a handful of quills each. We cannot make much of a change in the war with so few quills."

  "But we can," grinned Tedi. "One of the points to the story was the fact that the yaki eat their dead. They also have enormous appetites."

  "Are you suggesting that we poison the yaki?" questioned Natia.

  "Precisely," nodded Tedi. "I propose that we silently attack the edges of Sarac's army. We use the myric quills to kill and poison a few thousand of the enemy, and let the yaki feast on their bodies. We do not stay in any one area, but we travel the circumference of their encampment, always staying just out of sight and smell of the enemy."

  "What do we do when we run out of quills?" asked Mandal.

  "Each warrior has about six quills," instructed Tedi. "I propose that he use five quills to kill the enemy and then return to our camp. If each of us do this, we will directly kill five thousand of the enemy. More importantly will be the indirect deaths of the yaki who feed upon the carcasses. That number could potentially be enormous."

  "Why only use five quills?" inquired Hortice. "Why not use all six?"

  "We are not likely to find more myric quills in this area," answered Tedi. "The myrics are marsh animals and scarce in these parts. I think we should maintain a certain quantity of the quills for the future, as uncertain as it is."

  As leader of the gypsies, Adan stood quietly and merely nodded. Many of the gypsies looked to him for his approval or disapproval, and he finally felt obliged to speak.

  "The plan is sound," announced the king of the gypsies. "I would like to propose one addition to it. While our warriors are attacking the enemy, the rest of our people should be moving our base camp. We will circle the outside of the enemy encampment until we end up on the north side of them. This will allow us to stagger our attacks and always maintain a large number of our warriors with the wagons."

  "That also ensures that we poison the entire circumference of the enemy," Tedi nodded approvingly. "I like it."

  "Then issue the orders, little brother," grinned Adan. "The plan is yours."

  Tedi blushed at Adan's comments. Natia grinned broadly, and many of the assembled gypsies erupted in laughter. Tedi finally shrugged and issued the orders. The gypsies immediately dispersed and began the preparations to break camp.

  "You are embarrassed, little brother?" grinned Adan after everyone had dispersed.

  "I think you have sport with me," shrugged Tedi. "I am just thankful that the gypsies are a compassionate people and did not take the opportunity to embarrass me further."

  "You still have much to learn about gypsies," chuckled Adan. "The laughter directed at you by our people was because of your embarrassment, not because of my words."

  "I am confused," Tedi admitted. "Why would they laugh at my embarrassment and not at your acceptance of a basta giving orders to your people?"

  "My people?" retorted the king of the gypsies. "That is your misunderstanding. These are OUR people, not mine. You have been accepted as one of us. Whether or not you were basta born, you are now a gypsy. Nothing but your failure to honor and care for our people can change that."

  "That notion has not yet penetrated his hard head," giggled Natia. "He still sees himself as a basta. It is a silly notion for the prince of the gypsies to carry."

  "Prince?" gasped Tedi. "Now you do mock me. There are many great people within the gypsies who would take offense at such words."

  "She does not mock you," smiled Adan, "and I know of none who would take offense. I have watched you closely, little brother, and for a reason. The day will come when I can no longer lead our people. This is something that is constantly on my mind. It is my duty to ensure for a smooth transition when that day comes."

  "But Natia is your sister," retorted Tedi. "She is gypsy born, and the people love her and respect her."

  "All that you say is true," nodded Adan, "but there are things unsaid that matter just as much. Natia is well respected and quite capable of leading the gypsies, but it is you that she wishes to rule when I depart. With that in mind, I have watched you closely, and I concur with her appraisal. Whoever your parents were does not matter anymore. You are a gypsy in spirit, and you have the gift of command. You proved that a few minutes ago, as you have done on numerous occasions in the past. Natia knows it, and I know it. Tonight I have put our people on notice about my intentions. There were no arguments. They understood what you did not. That is why they laughed at your embarrassment."

  "I do not know what to say," Tedi said sheepishly.

  "Then say nothing," grinned Adan as he slapped Tedi on the back. "Vow that you will always look after our people with their safety and security in mind. That is what is required of the king of the gypsies. The rest will come naturally for you."

  "I do so vow," Tedi said solemnly. "No matter what my position, I will always tend to the care of the gypsies."

  "As I will tend to your care," hugged Natia.

  "Send Button off to Tagaret with news of our plans," suggested Adan. "Maybe she will return with instructions from King Arik. There may be other ways that the gypsies can help to defeat these creatures."

  * * *

  King Arik leaped off the Dark Rider's horse and raced into the Gateway Inn. Alex was but a step behind him, and the others followed. King Arik threw open the door and almost tripped over Klarg's body. He instantly drew the Sword of Heavens.

  "What happened here?" asked the king as he spied the other body and Yorra's bloody horn.

  "Klarg and that magician tried to kill Jenneva," Sheri replied.

  "That
magician was Calastano," Alex informed everyone. "These are the two that were missing from the estate. Did they harm Jenneva or Tanya?"

  "No harm has come to them," answered Zalaharic without taking his eyes off of Tanya. "In fact, both of them will live. Our earlier efforts were stymied by their own shields. Our magic was having no effect. Fortunately, the unicorns are wiser than we are. They managed to get Jenneva and Tanya to lower their shields."

  "You say they will live," frowned King Arik, "but you do not appear happy about it. What did they say when they lowered their shields?"

  "They have said nothing," sighed Zalaharic as he glanced up at the king. "They have not regained consciousness. I cannot exactly explain how the unicorns managed to get them to lower their shields, only that it was an act of love. Perhaps they will explain it to you later. Right now we are busy trying to heal their wounds. Their shields saved their lives, but there is much damage for me and my people to deal with."

  Zalaharic mentally dismissed the king and his entourage and went back to tending the wounded.

  "Maybe you could take those bodies with you?" suggested Sheri. "I keep expecting them to rise up again. They make me nervous."

  Bin-lu and Wylan stepped forward to clear the bodies from the room.

  "Remind me to never anger a unicorn," Bin-lu quipped as he picked up Calastano's head.

  "She must have been quick to get both of them," Wylan nodded in agreement as he hefted Klarg's body.

  "I killed Klarg," offered Sheri. "Yorra killed the mage."

  Wylan turned to stare at his wife with disbelief.

  "What?" frowned Sheri. "You do not believe me? I am a Knight of Alcea," she protested. "King Arik said so himself."

  "She speaks the truth," offered one of the elf healers. "She got close enough with her short sword to kill the one called Klarg. He never suspected what was coming. I feel safe in her presence."

  Sheri grinned broadly as Wylan dropped the body of Klarg and crossed the room to hug his wife.

  "If you were not already a Knight of Alcea," smiled the king, "I should have to make you one for the service you performed this night. Let us leave the healers in peace. They have much work to do."

  Wylan kissed Sheri and picked up Klarg's body as the group left the inn. Outside the inn, Wylan and Bin-lu dumped the bodies. Prince Darok immediately stepped forward and swung his dwarven axe. It sliced cleanly through Klarg's neck.

  "There is no need for that," remarked Alex. "Only the Black Devils can become revenants. It requires casting a spell so people like Klarg cannot rise from the dead."

  "It still makes me feel better," shrugged the dwarf prince. "I do not like the idea of dead people coming back to life."

  "I need to find General Gregor and learn the status of the army," commented King Arik. "Will you find him for me, Prince Midge?"

  "No need," interrupted Colonel Nolan. "He is napping across the street. I saw him when we rode by."

  Zackary Nolan led the group across the street to where many of the soldiers were resting. General Gregor saw the group approaching and rose to his feet.

  "General," greeted King Arik, "what is our status?"

  "Two thirds of the Rangers returned," the general reported emotionlessly. "Sergeant Witzak's group has been cut off. The tunnel that they were using had to be sealed to prevent the enemy from using it. We abandoned the area between the new wall and the defensive wall. The enemy surged into that area without destroying our fortifications. The battle raged along the new wall until darkness. It has been quiet since then with the exception of some yaki trying to sneak forward and feast upon the dead. We kill them when they get close enough."

  "If the yaki found one of the dwarven tunnels," King Arik mused aloud, "do not the other two tunnels represent a danger to us?"

  "Yaki would never find dwarven tunnels," boasted Prince Darok. "They must have found the entrance by magic."

  "How can you be sure of that?" quizzed the king.

  "Simple," grinned the dwarf prince, "all of the entrances were very carefully placed in thickets of hacklebush. The Yaki couldn't smell their own leavings in such a thicket."

  "We call it stinkweed," explained Alex. "It produces a very strong and foul odor. I noticed it when I went out with the Rangers last night. There is no chance of the yaki following our scent to the tunnels."

  "Still," frowned the king, "we have open avenues into the city. If they can find one of the tunnels, why not the others?"

  "It is possible," shrugged the dwarf prince, "but we would collapse it just like we did with the northern tunnel. The enemy will not get into Tagaret by using dwarven tunnels. That I can assure you."

  "What about Randi's men?" questioned Alex. "Have we heard from them? Do we know their state?"

  "Not a peep," frowned the general. "They did not have a fairy assigned to them, and it is too dark to send one now. I will try to make contact with Sergeant Witzak in the morning."

  "The more important concern is the host on the other side of this wall," interjected Colonel Zackary Nolan. "Can we hold them at bay until our mages are healed?"

  "That is something we cannot count on," Alex shook his head. "We need to plan without the use of any major magic. Opening the gates for the enemy was a brilliant move. Perhaps we can lure the bulk of their army into that section of the city and then attack from the rear. Their creatures will be hard pressed to get through those gates to defend against such an attack."

  "That might work," mused General Gregor, "but we must balance the need to maintain our hold on the new wall. If we send too many men out to attack from the rear, we will not have enough to defend the city."

  "Plus goblins on the backs of yaki can move swiftly," added Zackary. "If they are smart and only have the yaki and goblins react to our attack on their rear, we may lose on both battlefields."

  "If we do nothing," frowned Alex, "we are assured of defeat. We must do what is unexpected. That is the only way to break the back of Sarac's army. Maybe we can find a way to close the gates during the night. That would slow any response to our attack outside the walls."

  "You will never get anywhere near those gates now," the general shook his head. "Last I looked, the evil host was swarming through the gates. By morning the bulk of Sarac's army will be inside the defensive wall."

  "I must see what this looks like," announced King Arik. "Let's go up on the new wall."

  King Arik led the way to the western gate of the new wall and climbed the steps. Elves, Dwarves, and human defenders nodded grimly to the king as he led the small group to one of the crenels. King Arik gazed over the wide expanse of the city that had been prepared as a defense against siege engines. Goblin campfires dotted the barren ground between the walls. In the light from those campfires, King Arik could see new siege engines being pulled through the distant gates.

  "They will be ready for a full assault come morning," the king frowned. "We will never be able to hold them."

  "They have been pouring in all night," commented Fredrik as he and Niki walked over from the next crenel. "Niki says that they are excited about victory tomorrow."

  "Can she talk to them?" asked Alex.

  "She managed to get the yaki to attack the goblins yesterday," nodded Fredrik. "Her range is limited, though, and it exhausts her."

  "They did listen to me," beamed Niki. "They stopped charging us and attacked their riders."

  "Can you talk to goblins as well as yaki?" asked Alex.

  "Anyone can talk to goblins," shrugged Niki. "They talk just like anyone else."

  "I don't mean verbally," probed Alex. "Can you put thoughts into their minds as you did with the yaki?"

  "I don't know," admitted Niki. "I have never tried."

  "What are you thinking?" Fredrik asked skeptically.

  "We were discussing the need to close the gates in the defensive wall," explained Alex. "I do not think we can get anyone near those gates, but maybe Niki can convince some of the enemy to close them for us."

 
"I could try asking the goblins," shrugged Niki, "but I think it would be easier to ask the ogres. They always seem to be confused. Someone is always yelling at them to do something."

  "You won't ask them," Alex grinned mischievously. "When the time is right, you will command them to close the gates."

  "What are you thinking?" asked King Arik.

  "They are bringing in a lot of siege engines." Alex pointed out. "We have to destroy them somehow or this new wall will crumble before the enemy. I am thinking that we need to use fire glue on the siege engines and have the gates closed at the same time. If we time the attack from the rear at precisely the same time, we will have Sarac's army in total disarray."

  "That will be quite a gamble," responded General Gregor. "Will having the gates closed slow down the yaki a great deal?"

  "It will when the ogres flee from the fires," nodded Alex. "Everyone is going to want to get out through those gates."

  "Or in through this one," Zackary shook his head.

  "There are no yaki inside the gates," interjected Niki. "They all left a while ago. They were quite excited to eat."

  "They were eating the dead along this wall before," the general said.

  "That was before," shrugged Niki. "They were excited about fresh food outside the city."

  "The Rangers," frowned Zackary. "They must have been slaughtered."

  "Not necessarily," greeted Button as she swooped down to land on the king's shoulder. "While I do not know about the Rangers, I do know what the yaki are excited about. The gypsies are using myric quills on the enemy. The yaki are devouring the leavings."

  "Excellent," grinned Alex. "The goblins will have no yaki to ride when we attack from the rear. They will all be out feasting."

  "There are likely to be no yaki at all come morning," corrected Button as she bowed to the Bringer. "I was sent to tell you that the gypsies will use five thousand myric quills this night. Tedi will position the gypsies to the north of the city and await your instructions."

  "Five thousand?" echoed Alex. "This is the break we have been waiting for. Their feasting may affect five to ten times that amount."