Zoran Chronicles Volume 1 A Dragon in Our Town (14 page)

            
“Your third question, Baron?” Milos nudged him, after two minutes of silence
filled the room.

            
“Oh, any news on where that cowardly bitch of a son of mine has disappeared to?”

            
“No, no trace of him as yet. Spies are alert for his appearance in all of the Courts.
Nothing as yet. I will let you know the moment he is spotted.”

            
“Good. Good. One day I will beat some sense into that fool of a kid! Now where
were we? Oh, yes, launch date will be on Sunday. Have the Mages report to General
Bor’s field position by seven a.m. That will be all.”

            
“Aye, Baron.” Milos unsealed the door and left, casting a Mystical Door back to
his tower adjacent to Castle Dorumova.

            
On the 1
^st
of July, Baron Kazimir donned his finest military uniform, assisted by
his wife, Katerina. He had gained some weight since he last wore it two years ago, and
she had to make some last minute adjustments, which only aggravated him further.
Radek knocked and was allowed into their quarters. “Hi dad. How do I look?” He wore a
very fancy uniform, green with red stripes, befitting a field commander.

            
“Just great son. Do me proud, son, but don’t take chances. You are the heir to the
throne. I ought to have my head examined for allowing you onto the battlefield,” the
Baron argued.

            
“Yes, dad, yes. If you don’t, how will I ever gain the firsthand experience and
knowledge that one day I will need when you are gone and I have to tackle the
unconquered provinces that remain, eh?” His mother gave him a stern look, indicating
that his father was not in the best of moods at the moment. He changed his tact. “Sure
dad. I will be extra careful, and you, you be careful too. I don’t want anything to happen
to you just yet. While I know all the magic I need, I am still learning how to manage a
whole army from you. So please stick around a while longer, dad.” He grinned and knew
that he’d just pleased his father. Radek knew just how to handle the old man. He’d had
years of practice doing it.

            
“There, now you are all tucked in,” Katerina declared. “Off you boys go to have
your little battle. Please be careful and not get hurt.” She kissed both men. The Baron
resisted making a snide comment; the Baroness was often “not all there,” when it came
to matters beyond the simple managing of the castle life. Perhaps that was a result of the
bad spill she had taken many years ago, when her horse had stumbled and broken its
leg. She’d hit her head on some rocks and had never been quite the same since. He’d
never say it out loud, but she was now very dim-witted, bordering on ignorant. Ah well,
she was still good in bed and dressed up nicely for the formal affairs. Indeed, she still got
numerous comments about her beauty when she appeared at these affairs.

            
The two men did a very short Shadow Walk and stepped into General Bor’s tent.
Shortly after that, Commander Radek stepped into his own field tent, where his aides
were awaiting his arrival. Radek had one thousand men under his direct command.
Good seasoned soldiers, well-armed, and well-armored. One handed him his field
glasses and Radek surveyed the enemy’s position across the valley from his position.
Between them, a V-shaped valley with steep sides lay; a small river flowed at the very
bottom.

            
Radek was on the far left flank of the main assault, which would be focused on the
barrier wall erected to prevent the Baron from entering Sholov Province by the main
mountain road. Radek’s task was simple. Once that wall had been breached, Mikolas
would certainly begin pulling his troops garrisoned here across from Radek on down to
help fight the Baron’s main army. Radek would then assault their position, overrun it,
and begin a sweep of his own, marching towards the rear of the enemy troops on the
march to stop the Baron’s advancing army.

            
Baron Kazimir never told Radek that this particular assignment was not very
dangerous and that in all likelihood the troops he would be facing would head south to
help stop the Baron’s forces. If he did manage to get his regiment down to join up with
the Baron’s main army, there would be plenty of glory for the commander. If he did not
succeed, nothing much would be said, except that they met heavier than anticipated
resistance.

            
The real battle would take place first at the fortified barrier wall, where the team
of seven Mages would attempt to breach the stone wall and gates. Of course, if Mikolas
had any Mages on his side, they would counterattack the Baron’s Mages. By all reports,
Warlord Mikolas had only one Mage with him. Thus the odds were heavily in the Baron’s
favor.

            
The Baron, resplendent in his uniform, saluted his men and bowed to his team of
Mages. He decided against giving any last minute speech; he had already let it be known
that he was offering a reward of ten thousand gold pieces for the man who brought him
the head of Mikolas. That should ensure an otherwise certain victory. He raised his right
hand high and then brought it down sharply, the signal to commence the battle for
Sholov Province. It was ten in the morning.

            
His Mages teleported to their positions, and from General Bor’s tent he could see
the thousands upon thousands of his men marching down the mountain side or riding
down the road, all bent upon smashing through the barrier wall on the opposite side of
the steep sided gorge. Soon, mighty explosions were heard as his Mages began
detonating their spells against the granite stone of the walls and the heavy, iron re-enforced pine gates. Arrows filled the air like a summer’s rain, falling down at last onto
the Baron’s men. While it was impressive, the arrows had little effect on the heavily
armored shock troops that the Baron placed here at his spearhead assault.

            
General Bor had two thousand cavalrymen at the ready. The moment the shock
troops smashed their way through the barrier, the cavalrymen would charge and create a
massive breakthrough. The main foot soldier army, another five thousand strong, would
follow along behind, dragging the large siege engines needed to assail the mountain
fortress-castle wherein Warlord Mikolas was sure to hold up.

            
Among the many officers, a betting pool had sprung up on just how soon the
battle would be over. One month was the going favorite; however both one week and
three months had the highest payout odds. Baron Kazimir had placed a bet on one
month.

            
All the rest of the morning, explosive detonations echoed though the valley, as the
Baron’s Mages did their work thoroughly. Early reports came back. The opposition Mage
was killed after he had killed one of the seven. Now the six had an unimpeded
opportunity to smash the barrier to rubble, which they enjoyed doing.

            
At noon the shock troops stormed through the many breeches, and the battle for
Sholov Province began in earnest. It was not until three in the afternoon that Radek
spied large troop movements on the opposite side of the gully. As predicted, they were
making haste to help stop the Baron’s shock troops. Radek gave his first official battle
command, and his regiment headed on down the gully.

            
By suppertime, the battle broke off for the day. The Baron’s forces had suffered
their first setback. “Spike jacks, sir,” the field messenger reported. Evidently, the entire
land just beyond the barrier wall had been filled with steel spikes, like a child’s jacks.
When his shock troops attempted to crossover them, the sharp spikes often punctured
their boots, laming them completely. Fully five hundred shock troops were being
treated. Worse, many of these spikes appeared to have been poisoned! Thus, many of
these top fighters were not expected to live!

            
“Well, that was a surprise move,” General Bor explained over dinner with the
Baron. “Got to give Mikolas some credit; he is a brilliant warlord. Tomorrow we will deal
with these spike jacks. Have no fear, Barron.”

            
“Well, take your time, General Bor. If you had conquered the whole province in a
week, I would have lost a fortune on the betting. I’m holding out for one month.” Bor
laughed heartily; he, too, had placed a wager on one month’s duration for the war.

Chapter 8 Revelations and Actions

On the first of July, Rayna contacted Zoran.
Happy birthday, baby brother! How are
you?

            
Thanks. Doing fine. Miss you and Lida. How’s everything? Keeping up with
your magic studies?

            
All fine here. Baron has launched his war against Sholov Province this morning.
Radek is now a field commander. Maybe we will get lucky and both will get killed.

            
Ah, not likely, they are Duska too. Wishful thinking. I’m into the midrange spells
now, making really good, fast progress, according to the Archmage at least.

            
From her tone, he knew that she was impressed.
Wow, you have caught up to us,
Zoran! That makes you at least a whole year ahead of the usual training level around
here. Excellent progress. Wish we could come and get trained with you. Lida has been
having strange dreams.
He sensed that there was something far more ominous that
mere dreams behind her simple message.

            
Can you tell me about them? Have you had them too? Please, be honest with me.
I can’t look out for you from so far away, but I will try, sis.

            
She — she is seeing mom falling and falling. Lida thinks that mom is going to die
somehow.

            
Baroness Katerina was not quite all there after her head wound; Zoran knew that
his mother had not recovered at all well. That was plainly obvious to everyone. Her
passing would be a blessing for her in many ways. She no longer could Shadow Walk or
even cast any spells, not even Clean. About all she did was look petty for the Baron, not a
life for a true Duska. Zoran sensed there had to be more to this.
Is this all that Lida has
been dreaming about, sis?

            
Well, no, not really.
She was hesitant, so Zoran sent her a feeling of calmness and
tranquility, an image of the white swans floating on the reservoir beside their castle. He
sensed Rayna sighing.
She is seeing something happening to the Circle of Ascension, all
the Circles of Ascension, Zoran, all of them. Something strange, something powerful,
but she cannot tell what. You know the priests, they never tell us anything, though Lida
has asked them about it. I’m sure is it really nothing. Should I try joining with her
when she is having another one of her dreams, Zoran?

            
Sure, why not. Let me know all the details. It may, as you say, be nothing at all.
Then again, it might be important. Who can say? Probably it is just her imagination
running a bit wild —you know, with the Baron on his insane conquer the world trip
and all that. Thousands more are going to die this month. God, the blood that is on his
hands and soul!

            
We know, Zoran. How can we keep all that blood off of us? I feel so horrible
about it. So many innocent families are going to suffer. I hate the summers now; that’s
when he fights his battles.

            
I know, but then half of the other barons are doing much the same on their
worlds too, Rayna. Have faith; someday something will change. The Baron cannot live
forever.

            
Yes, but Radek is following in his footsteps. One tyrant replaces another. That
always seems to be the way of things.
Yes that cycle did seem to perpetuate itself among
the ruling houses, Zoran noted. What could he say to make her feel better? Alas, he
could think of nothing. A long pause followed.
I’ll let you get back to your studies. I just
wanted to say happy birthday, little brother. Love you.

            
Thanks, love you too, Rayna.

            
“Hey, you looked like you were off in dream land or something,” Zdenka
whispered to him. They were studying away, now up on the third floor with the many
other advanced apprentices. Ever since they had returned from their guard duty errand,
they had been allowed up here. The more advanced spell materials and texts were
housed here on the third floor. Still, the Archmage kept their group isolated from her
other students, though Zoran had no idea why. Marek did give them a clue, however.
One evening he mentioned slyly that their team was progressing almost three times as
fast as all the previous groups the Archmage had trained or was training. Zoran then
wondered why the rush.