homes," reasoned De'Unnero, and he noted that Aydrian excluded the use of Olin's title - not a minor oversight.
"That was not unexpected."
"Abbot Olin desires Jacintha more than you can understand," De'Unnero went on.
"He has ten thousand hired mercenaries, a fleet of bloodthirsty pirates, several Ursal warships with well-trained crews, and the garrison of Entel, two thousand strong and second in Honce-the-Bear in experience and equipment only to the Allhearts. Having that force, if he cannot assume control of a nation torn asunder, he is hardly deserving of our respect."
Again, the level of disrespect toward Olin coming from the young king surprised De'Unnero. "Do not take Jacintha lightly," he warned.
"The Behrenese are killing each other, by all accounts."
"True enough, but that may change quickly when a foreign army walks into the great coastal city. Abbot Olin is being cautious. We still do not know the disposition of the Coastpoint Guards manning the eastern coast.
If they do not come over to King Aydrian, Abbot Olin will be forced to hold his garrison in place to ward any possible incursions."
"The Coastpoint Guards will not go against Entel!" Aydrian insisted.
"They are but a few hundred in number, if all joined in the effort, and Entel is a great city. And the Abellican brothers in Entel serve Olin."
"The brothers of St. Bondabruce," De'Unnero reminded. "There is a second abbey, St. Rontlemore, whose abbot and brothers have never been friends of Abbot Olin."
"A minor abbey compared to St. Bondabruce," Aydrian argued.
De'Unnero conceded the point with a nod. Indeed, it seemed to him as if Abbot Olin should have more than enough strength to accomplish his mission, if there was indeed opportunity for Honce-the-Bear now to insinuate itself into the affairs of Behren. Olin had all the assets that Aydrian had claimed, and more, for the largest cache of nonmagical gemstones taken from Pimaninicuit remained in St. Bondabruce, and with that wealth, Olin should be able to swell his ranks two-or threefold if necessary.
Still, the level of agitation within Aydrian at that time struck the monk as curious.
"Abbot Olin will not fail us," he said to the young king.
"I fear that I may have to travel there," Aydrian replied.
"It is warmer, particularly with winter coming on in full. We will find no trouble from Midalis until the late spring, at least, and probably not until midsummer or beyond. If you are needed for the efforts in Jacintha..."
"No!" Aydrian said flatly, his tone surprising the monk. "I have business here."
De'Unnero looked at him closely and curiously. "What is it?"
Aydrian moved as if to answer, but stopped suddenly and waved his hand.
"It will all sort out, and soon enough," he said. "If Abbot Olin requires me, then I will go to him, and swiftly."
"Even on that horse of yours, it will take you a month and more to reach Entel."
"There are ways to make a horse run faster," Aydrian assured the monk.
"There are methods with the gemstones to leech the strength from others and give it to the horse, and Symphony will prove most receptive."
"Two weeks, then," De'Unnero conceded.
"If I am needed, and I hope that it will not come to that."
"If you go, you go with the understanding that we are in complete control of Westerhonce," said the monk. "The two cities to the north will fall to Kalas in short order, and he will sweep out to the west, securing all the land." Aydrian nodded, and with that, De'Unnero turned to go. He still had much to do in sorting out the captured brothers of St. Precious. Some had shown signs of possible conversion, though most, predictably, had remained stubborn.
"If I go to Jacintha, you cannot join me," Aydrian remarked before De'Unnero had gotten out of the door.
De'Unnero turned about and considered the young king, considered his tone most of all.
"I'll not leave Duke Kalas alone here with such a force," Aydrian explained, a perfectly logical though ultimately unconvincing addition.
"I have no desire to travel anywhere but to the east," De'Unnero assured him. "To the gates of St.-Mere-Abelle, where I reclaim my Order and church in the name of St. Abelle."
Aydrian agreed, offering yet another nod, but then as De'Unnero turned once more to go, he surprised the monk once again by adding, "But I would wish Sadye to travel with me."
The blunt remark froze De'Unnero in place. In the quiet moments that followed, he replayed all the looks he had seen Sadye giving to Aydrian over the last few days - nay, over the last few