Holding The Line (15 page)

Caldar thought about the offer, "and why would we need offer of military aid, when everyone knows only too well we have probably the most powerful man on the planet aiding us." Issac was not so sure how to say it, and he did not want to come out, insulting the king, by calling him a liar. "Perhaps your majesty, the tales of this great magician are somewhat exaggerated, though of course if you would perhaps permit me to see this man in action," he left the suggestion open.

The two spoke for another half hour, and Caldar had surmised exactly why this man had made the journey north. He was to loan him money at rates he could not afford, offer him military aid in return for handing over rights to southern lands. The Murati, as his father had always told him, only ever looked after themselves. Deciding his little lie had gone on long enough, he signalled to Levin, who nodded and left the room.

Levin, walked out of the office and down the stairs to the hall. Inside were Jak and the General as well as the most important figure of all, Prince Luken. Bowing before the prince, "The King is bringing him down your highness," he said before standing off to one side next to Jak. "Well done lad," he smiled, "I got another coin from him this morning as well, shame it has to end really," Levin replied, causing the others to laugh.

After just a minute or so, the doors opened, and in stepped Caldar, Issac and the guards, who closed the door behind them. The Murati prince was suddenly confused, "your majesty, what is going on?" he asked nervously, feeling perplexed as to why he was here, and more to the point why others were also. Caldar ignored him and sat down upon his wooden throne on the dais. "Right, how about we start again Issac. I may call you Issac, I do hate formality." The man nodded, "of course your majesty," he replied, suddenly not feeling quite so confident.

"Now how about you tell me why you are here," Caldar asked again. The Murati Prince replied, if a little shakily, "we are here to offer aid, as I explained to your majesty in his study." Caldar smiled, "really? On the other hand, is it you turn up now, thinking us a broken nation, penniless and vulnerable? You came here to manipulate me, to take advantage of the situation did you not? You do not come with real help, just more misery. Am I correct?" All eyes in the hall looked at the agitated man in the centre of the room, "majesty, of course not. You yourself admitted your treasury near empty, and of course your story of the magical wizard, well you did not really expect us to believe such nonsense."

Caldar let the man continue, "A good story like that of course takes the pressure off, and the people would have a hero. Naturally other nations would have to take note of such a powerful man, if he existed." Caldar stood finally having enough, "Oh do be quiet you snivelling little creep. You mean you were sent here by your father to see if we really did have such a man aiding us. When you thought we did not, you would have even more leverage over us, correct?" Prince Issac had underestimated the king, he may only be young but he certainly was as sharp as tack.

When the Murati spoke of allies being hard to come by, and that Besemia was a broken nation under the control of the Darekians, Caldar put him straight. "Let me tell you, Issac. South Besemia has already signed treaties with us. They are now run by a council of seven lords, and we have as much military aid from them as you could ever give us. That added to the fact we have the most powerful man on the planet on our side." Issac thought he was being taken for a fool, "No, you lie; there is no magic, nor any treaty," he said sounding somewhat braver than he was feeling.

They had at last reached the part everyone had been looking forward too; Caldar looked over to Luken and nodded. "You have met my little brother, nice young man, lovely wife and children. He does however act a little peculiar sometimes." Luken stood and stepped toward the Murati, feeling the force flowing inside, he flicked a finger in the man's direction. Prince Issac was sent hurtling backwards, sliding along on his backside on the polished floor, before he came to a halt against the closed doors.

Caldar smiled, "Now tell me Issac what you believe? Luken if you will." Luken looked at one of the lamps that had been lit for only this purpose, he was quite good with fire, and so felt confident. However, he was a little concerned of over doing it, and turning the Murati to a cinder. He waved his finger again, and the flame shot across the room before spinning in a vortex and stopping just before it reached the Murati still on the floor.

Luken stopped, letting the flames disperse and returned to his seat, trying not to show any exhaustion from his little display. The Murati prince looked flabbergasted at what he had just witnessed. He quickly stood, afraid, and made a turn for the door handle, hoping he would get out before the guards stopped him, but he felt his body being pushed backwards by some invisible force, and found himself back in front of the king. Caldar clapped, "excellent, thank you little brother. Now Prince Issac of the people of Murati, I will give you two choices. I will let you run back home with your tail set firmly between your legs, and a boot up your ass, or if you wish to actually help us, then I will listen."

Caldar warned him however, any further attempts of subterfuge or efforts to take advantage of him or Corlan would result in a state of war between them. Reminding him, Murati's other, much larger neighbour South Besemia, was actually treated with him, and hence aid any military action Corlan may decide to take. Prince Issac nodded, he guessed, as the magic part probably was true, he doubted the king need lie about anything else. He looked up at the young boy Levin, and gave him a hard stare, "the boy, he was feeding me misinformation all the time?" Levin just shrugged, and gave him a smile. Issac spoke again, "well I have to admit he played his part well. Very well, I promise I will make no further attempt at running, if you promise he will stop flinging me across the floor, "he nodded in Luken's direction.

The Murati also promised to enter talks, that would benefit both nations, not just his own. Caldar stood and suggested they return upstairs to the offices, where such discussions could take place in a more relaxed setting. Not that Prince Issac had much choice; he could have gone home without any deals, and lost nothing, except an enemy on their northern border. Not just any enemy, but one who had a prince that could, he was now certain, wipe out an entire army with a wave of his fingers.

Chapter 12.

It was afternoon, and Dane had once more been summoned to the office of Captain Jak Corley. Inside there were several men he did not know, and after he was introduced to them, he was asked to take a seat. "Don't worry Dane you're not in any trouble," Jak told him.  He sat a little more at ease, and then one of the men spoke, "We are here to ask your advice Dane. We have spoken to the soldiers who went on patrol with you, and they have given us their perspectives on the matter."

They required Dane to give them every detail he could remember about the fight with the Orlacs. How they reacted, how they attacked and more importantly how they were killed. The youngster told them that Rowan's charge with his short lance had been the attack that worked best. He explained the weapon had slammed straight through the Orlac's chest, bursting out the other side, felling the creature, almost instantly.

The beasts were large targets for archers, but he thought the arrows used only caused them the minimal of damage. "Both Vincent and I, hit one with at least six shots, but the beast fought on. The only arrow that did any real injury of consequence was the one that luckily went through the eye socket." He paused while the men took notes, and questioned him further. They asked where his arrows had struck, his estimation of how deep they had penetrated and from what distance he had fired.

Swords were in his opinion not a weapon that should be considered in fighting Orlac. This statement had the men before looking strangely at him, "why do you say that Dane. It is my understanding two of the four beasts were slain by swords." That much was true, as far as he remembered. "Yes that is true sir, but only after we had lost six men. I recall the last beast only fell after seven men surrounded it and slowly ground it down, before dealing the final blow." He was not certain whether they valued his opinion, but he gave it anyway.

He surmised that range was best, but not so effective. Cavalry was most effective if you could catch the beasts unawares. In defence of him saying infantry was not so good, he used the nightmare image still fresh in his mind. Shane had been picked up with one muscular clawed arm, and had his face bitten off. He told it graphically, but truthfully, and noticed the men's faces change as he did. He thought how perhaps a stronger bow than the standard issue, would maybe have more success, or even an arrow with a different point.

After he had told them all he could, they thanked him and dismissing him, so he could return to the camp. After he had left, "A fine man you have there Captain," one of the men said. Jak nodded, "I think if he continues as he's started, he will go far." They spoke briefly about the information Dane had given them and discussed the options of his suggestions. As strange as it was, Dane and the soldiers who had defeated the Orlacs were the experts on how to defeat them. Hence, these men had to take all the information at hand, and come up with a strategy on how to fight the beasts.

King Caldar and Prince Luken continued in their talks with the Murati prince. No more pretence, they discussed what Corlan needed. It was not loans of money, or even men to fight with; they needed long term trade agreements that could ensure a long-term economic stability. Issac was no fool when it came to such things, and quickly pointed out the problem with having New Easton as the nations trading hub. The problem of course lay in the fact the river was not suitable for sea faring ships, of course, barges could be used, but they were not ideal for venturing out at sea.

What Corlan needed was a port further up river, perhaps at the estuary. Issac finally thought of someway of aiding them, and put forth his suggestion. Murati would build a small port on the south shore of the River Fivan's estuary. Here large sea faring vessels could unload and load cargo that could travel up and down the rest of the river by barge. The port when built, would belong to Corlan, and operated by their people. In return for this generous gift, Corlan would agree to buy a predefined amount of goods from Murati. In addition, any ship trading out of Murati would be exempt of any import taxes.

Corlan must buy a certain tonnage each year, made up from silks, spices, exotic foodstuffs, fine textiles, sugar and tobacco.  Luken looked at Caldar, it was a good offer, though did mean a long-term commitment. Corlan already bought most of its silks and fine textiles from Murati anyway, and Caldar thought the other goods would be of a type required by its people. It was after all, no good agreeing to purchase ten tons of tobacco if no one used it. The building of a port was a big cost, both financially and in terms of labour. Against that was the cost of importing goods, many goods if truth were told. In addition, allowing Murati ships to trade without the cost of any import tax would cost the treasury long term, a considerable amount.

Caldar pondered, "No," he said much to the surprise of not only Prince Issac, but his brother as well. "Yes the offer is a good one, but long term it is not worth it. In addition Murati ships trading with us would have an unfair advantage." Luken just looked at his brother, and was glad he was not the one having to make the decisions.

Caldar stood and started pacing around the room talking as he went. "I tell you what, you build us the port, and I will sign an agreement to purchase half the goods you asked earlier, for five years at a fixed price. Murati ships will have a discounted import tax for twelve months, after that they pay the same as everyone else." He then turned to Prince Issac awaiting his answer. "That does not seem fair your highness, Corlan must surely commit to more. The deal you suggest would see us out of pocket."

Caldar stepped toward the Murati prince, "We commit to keeping the Darekians from your front door. Because if we fail Issac, guess who will be next." The man nodded, it was something of which his father was afraid. If Darekia could defeat a nation like Corlan, it would not have much trouble overwhelming Murati. "Very well your majesty, draw the agreements up, and we have a deal. I may say you drive a hard bargain."

In Darekia, in a dark dusty chamber, Overlord Fenlor unrolled the parchment once more. He held the candle closer reading the ancient writing upon it, and he had at last found what he was looking for. Upon this brown stained coiled up paper lay the answer to his problem. A new spell, for an improved form of demonic beast, its only drawback meant the sacrifice of those most loyal to him. If he was going to push forward with his plan for domination, it needed to be done.

He returned to his summoning chamber, and called one of his priests to join him. "You wanted me your eminence," the cloaked figure asked in a low hoarse voice. Fenlor gestured for him to approach, "Do you serve me?" "Of course eminence," was the reply. "To what end?" asked the overlord. "Until my end if need be."

The priest willingly lay down on the blood stained stone slab, as Fenlor started the chant written on the parchment. The fires around him burned upwards, and taking his dagger, he slit his own palm dripping his own blood into the flames. He chanted, and plunged the blade deep into that of his priest. Gauging out the heart, its blood dripping down his arm, he tossed it into the flames. The fire burned a strange green colour, as the sizzling organ was consumed.

Fenlor felt his own energy wane, but managed to remain stood, as the earth pit rumbled. The ground shook as a creature summoned from the very depths of hell emerged. Fenlor smiled as stood before him was his latest achievement. Standing nearly eight foot tall, and with fur of dark red, rather than the black of its smaller relatives, the beast let out its first bellowing roar. The creature stretched out its long muscular limbs, and then roaring once more showing the huge yellow teeth set in its jaws.