“I still don’t understand one thing,” Ser Aleanna drawled out. “If this is just a retrieval mission, why do you need all of us?”
“An excellent question,” Ser Duras said, his voice flat. I could feel his eyes on my back. “Seems a bit excessive. Even to me.”
I let out a snort. “Most of the troops are staying on our side of the border, along with Euri and Aleanna. You two are, if memory serves, immune to charms. You two will hold down camp and the border, and come at our signal if things don’t go according to plan A, B, or C.”
“How many back up plans do you have this time, Captain?” came Euri’s voice from a bit further back.
“Five or six,” I replied over my shoulder, casting my voice so he could hear. “You two are part of the last three, and one of them involves all-out war.”
Grins from my Knights told me which plan they preferred. I met their grins with one of my own. It wasn’t often we got to kill mortals without any consequences.
“So while we stay behind at the border, you guys are either going to… what? Sneak over with a contingent, snatch the bitch, and run?” Aleanna asked.
Laughter rumbled through my chest and I shook my head. “That’s part of the backup plan. First plan is to march up to their doors and talk. Politely ask the Jarl and her family to accompany us back to the Capitol as the Emperor would very much like to speak with them.”
“You know that isn’t going to work,” Duras muttered, “so is that a fake plan?”
“Oh, it’s a real one. We’re starting politely. If they refuse, however politely, we withdraw a fair distance, send a message to you guys, then split into three teams. First team will be the largest, meant to distract them on land. Second team will go to their ships and prevent anyone from leaving. Last group will sneak into the Jarl’s home while she’s distracted and take the princess. Signal retreat and escape over the border.”
“And if that doesn’t work? What’s plan C?” Duras and his flat, unimpressed tone made me take a calming breath.
“If that doesn’t work, we set fire to the forest near their main port city, engage any who come to put it out, prevent them from leaving on their ships, and sneak back to the city and take the princess. We have to drag as many of their warriors out into the open as possible.”
“So our main target remains the princess,” Ser Ji’u said, his quiet voice barely a whisper over the noise of the caravan.
“Yes,” I replied, turning in the saddle to look at him. “Everything else is secondary.”
“Why start politely then?” Aleanna huffed. “Why bother with all that when we could just sneak in, the six of us, and get her? In and out, no one the wiser.”
“Because,” I began, turning to level a flat stare at her, “the Emperor wants to use their navy. That means we need as many of their warriors and sailors alive as possible. We cannot burn their ships to prevent escape. Starting with the diplomatic route gives the Emperor the best outcome, should it work.”
“And who’s going to do the talking?” Duras asked. “I’m not tactful and neither are you, Captain.”
“True, but that’s another reason for bringing Ji’u and Eyvindr.” Glancing towards the two in question, I grinned. “Don’t purposely screw up negotiations this time.”
Eyvindr flushed and turned to look at the hills and sparse forest. “That was one time and it was an accident.”
“I’m sorry, Ev, but no one believes that,” Euri said, leaning forward in his saddle, his grin wide. “I don’t know how you could screw negotiations that badly without meaning to. I mean, we were all told going in that water was a precious resource used only for drinking. And you talked about not just bathing in it, but using the bathwater for agriculture. I mean you sounded smart and all - in literally any other setting.”
Eyvindr’s flush darkened. “Okay, fine, but it was only because that pruney raisin of a duke put his hand on my rear.”
“Huh. I’d always wondered why you specifically chopped his hands off, out of all the people involved,” I mused, turning back to the road in front of us. “Everything makes sense now. Just don’t do that here.”
“As long as no one touches me,” she said, her hand falling to her swords at her hip, “then we won’t have an issue.”
I shook my head.
“Alright, Boss, so that’s three plans,” Euri said, “what’s the plan if it all goes to shit?”
“Then we signal, and the reserve troops cross the border. All-out war. Try not to burn the ships, but who cares about the warriors at that point. Secure the princess. Try to keep the Jarl alive so the Emperor’s plan remains viable. That answer your questions?”
A few ‘yes, sir’s sounded.
“Is it bad that I’m hoping it all goes to shit so we can bust some heads?” Aleanna replied instead.
Laughter from the Knights followed our steps as we rode in. The commander remained silent for a time before he spoke.
“Ser, if I may?” he began, spurring his horse into a trot to keep pace with my beast.
My nod signaled him to continue.
“Striking fast and hard may be a better option first,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “If negotiations fail, they will expect an attack. They won’t be as distracted as you hope.”
But I shook my head. “We don’t know what the princess looks like. She could be anyone. The secondary reason for negotiations first is so we can get a good look at the princess. She’s the Jarl’s only daughter. Jarl Patrova will keep her close.”
The commander nodded and saluted. “Then I shall inform the other commanders, Ser.”
With my nodding dismissal, the commander spurred his horse and headed into the heart of the column.
“Awful thoughtful of your commander to tell our commanders what’s what,” Duras muttered.
With an internal sigh, I slowly turned towards the albino watching me. “Saves us time, doesn’t it? I do hate repeating myself.”
“Sure, sure,” he replied half-heartedly, turning away with a wave of his hand. “Just sets a precedence, that’s all.”
“Ser Duras,” I began, my tone dropping, “I realize you haven’t been on many smaller missions with me in the last century, so allow me to explain. Do keep in mind this is how it’s been. The other commanders are well aware. My commander speaks with my voice. While he is not ranked above any of the Knights, he is most certainly above your legion commanders.”
My tone dropped another dangerous octave, daring the white Knight to argue. “Is that clear?”
Most of the Knights had never heard my voice drop that low. Not even Duras.
If it was even possible, his pale features paled further and his voice came out quiet, with a barely noticeable quiver. “Yes, Captain.”
A full week’s march brought us to the border between the Holy Empire and the snow-covered Tolstal. The temperature dropped rapidly a full day from the border until boots crunched through snow up to our ankles. Beyond the border, it only got deeper.
The legions set up camp along the border, making use of the guard towers on our side of the line. We rested the troops there before leading our chosen thousand over the border. From the border, and through the snow-covered forests of the north, it was only half a day’s journey to the main city-camp of the Tolstal clans; we’d be there in the early afternoon. We passed two smaller clan holdings on the ride, spotting several large bodies bundled in fur bringing animal carcasses into the center of the community. A few children came running to the road, stopping several feet away to watch the column pass. Their upturned faces stared with wide eyes and open mouths, before running back to their people, high pitched squeals carrying through the stillness of the forest.
“Shouldn’t we be trying for a bit more stealth?” Ser Duras asked, brushing off a bit of snow that had fallen onto his shoulder. “At this rate, the Jarl will know we’re coming before we even get there.”
I shook my head, glancing at the white knight who nearly blended in with the landscape. “I told you already, we try diplomacy first.”
He eyed me, narrowing his red eyes for a brief moment before his face relaxed into his usual nonchalance once more. “Yes, Captain.”
Perhaps I should have left him at the base camp as well.
It was far too late to send him back, however, as the leather, wood, and bone structures of the Tolstal came into view around the bend of the road. To our right rose a small mountain, covered in snow. Lining the road from all other sides, the snow-covered pines crowded in.
Sneaking up later would be more difficult than I’d thought.
“Duras,” I said suddenly, “New plan. I want you to take a few men and check the surrounding area. Find a good avenue for a quiet approach. We’ll need it when negotiations fail.”
A too-wide smile split his lips, showing his dagger-like teeth. “Yes, Captain. Normal procedure?”
“Kill anyone you encounter.”
“Finally.” He pulled his beast around, shouted for a dozen volunteers, and disappeared into the woods.
I pointedly did not watch him go, keeping my eyes forward and watching the movement within the main city-camp as we neared. Permanent longhouses made up the center of the transient city, surrounded by the nomadic large tent structures the Tolstal were known for. These tent-like structures used the bone and leather of their kills, supported by a wood pole in the center and a few wood supports on the sides.
I’d only been inside one of these tents a few times; their appearance belied their ability to protect mortals from the elements, keeping inhabitants warm in the harsh winters.
Nearer to the large river that cut into the north, wooden structures and docks lined the banks. Attached to the extensive docks were the famous Tolstal warships. Single masts, rows of oars, longships that cut through waves like butter - these were the ships the Tolstal navy used to out-race and harry the pirates of the Island Nations.
The ships the Emperor wanted so badly bobbed in the rolling tide of the frigid northern waters.
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