“Indisposed at the moment,” King Gavinsteal said. “I have him hunting down other more pertinent information.”
“A blind army is a dead army,” stated King Olegaurd bluntly.
“His absence is necessary,” replied King Gavinsteal simply. There was a pause as if the Annurien king was expecting the king to continue, but he did not add any more information.
“They also have orcs, and possibly goblins,” General Ruthalis added, filling the silence. The general was not very tall, but he was built like a warrior, lean and strong, his handsome face tanned from many days in the saddle under the hot sun.
“What could possibly force Moredin to fight alongside orcs?” Lord Dynure asked. “The man is a backstabbing dung eater but even he must draw the line somewhere. And how was he able to unite that many tribes to fight?”
“Something is binding them together,” replied the first lance. Tilvus was pale, with plain features, but his mind was sharp and he was a natural at leading men.
Prince Baylin addressed the men. “We do not know what is binding them together, nor why he would openly attack us. His force sounds formidable, larger than I would have guessed he could bring together. But even if he defeats us here there is no way that he can take Finarth with his army, and surely he must know this.”
“Perhaps, but maybe he does not mean to win,” said General Gandarin. Gandarin was thick and his big head was covered with shaggy brown hair. His scarred face sported a bushy mustache and beard. Well known and respected, his presence resonated raw power and strong leadership. All eyes turned to him immediately.
“Meaning?” questioned King Olegaurd.
“Maybe they are just stalling. If the early reports from Alerion are accurate, then perhaps Malbeck’s army is massing to attack Tarsis, and in order to keep any of us from going to Tarsis’s aid, he occupies us here with another smaller force.”
“We had thought of that,” Baylin answered, “but it would take us over a month to march to Tarsis, and that is only if the weather holds before winter.”
“Might be just a precaution though, a guarantee that Tarsis and Finarth could not aid one another,” reasoned King Gavinsteal.
“So, Malbeck is back?” asked the stunned King Olegaurd.
“We do not know, but we suspect so,” said King Gavinsteal wearily. “An army is massing near Banrith, and we have reliable information that the Banthras are back, or at least one was. And then we have reports that many of our cavaliers have been hunted down and killed.” The king sighed in frustration.
“I know about the cavaliers, a great worry no doubt, but a Banthra? Are you sure?” asked Lord Dynure, his tone skeptical.
“We are. Airos, the cavalier, killed one, but unfortunately he died in the process,” Prince Baylin said.
“Let us discuss what we should do here and now, not about what is our best guess.” Prince Nelstrom spoke for the first time. “Tomorrow Moredin’s army will be here. What are we going to do about it?”
King Olegaurd looked at Prince Nelstrom. His dark eyes narrowed momentarily as he took in the prince’s curt words. Then he looked away and down at the maps on the table. “It is a foolish commander who ignores intelligence that has been gathered,” he said slowly before turning his gaze to the other commanders. It was not often that someone spoke to the prince that way, but none of them seemed to be terribly concerned, except for Prince Nelstrom of course, who looked as if he might boil over. But before he could respond, the Annurien king continued. “The young prince is partly right, though. Let us plan for tomorrow, and then the living can worry about whether Malbeck is back or not.”
***
Fil stood with his modrig facing the massive army assembling before them. The grasslands beyond the Lindsor Bridge were a perfect place for a battle. They were open as far as the eyes could see and covered with knee high grass. The colossal bridge was the only spot that an army could cross the river to approach the city of Finarth. It would have to be protected.
The Finarthian army, now combined with King Olegaurd’s troops, had assembled early that morning as their scouts had reported the enemy army moving into position. Fil’s modrig would be part of the infantry that stormed the center of the enemy ranks. King Oleguard and King Gavinsteal had met with their war commanders all night planning their attack. Fil had a fairly