fight. We’ll still need the East Guard to hem them in and finish the job, but it’s not beyond our doing.”
Some of the children began to point or cry out at our approach, but no doubt our presence had already been signaled by the watch on the hill. In short order, a group of seven ebony riders emerged onto the main road. All were male save what appeared to be a young girl and an old woman. Three men rode at the front of the group. Two, a lean, tall one and a short, powerfully built one, wore expensive clothes of red crushed velvet. The third was older and sported a thick beard at his chin. He wore black and silver and carried an ornate shield, broad and blazing with two silver quills crossed at its center. All the men carried some form of sword, but of a make I had never seen, and all had close-cropped hair as black as their skin. They rode easily at a trot on the graceful horses we had seen offloaded.
Our group came to a stop and, at a nod from Eric, four of our lead cavalrymen produced royal horns and blasted out a note that momentarily silenced the sea. Another note went out and billowed across the rising hills. The four lowered their trumpets and rode forth to announce Eric.
“Prince Eric Asgrand, governor of this province and those of Pennett and Kee, seeks audience with your leader that he may explain your unwarranted presence on sovereign land.”
The seven riders from the tents reigned in fifty feet from our trumpeters. The leaner of the three lead riders moved forward.
“I am Captain Eglanna Ujor,” cried the leaner one, “and I will answer his majesty, may he hear us in mercy.”
***** ***** *****
In a few minutes, we were seated at a table brought from the tents. Eric’s attendants raised a small, unwalled tent over the table and were soon pouring wine for our side. The young girl and old woman then took the bottles and served their masters.
“A good wine by its nose, or I’m no judge,” chirped the old servant with only a slight accent, her eyes wide and kind, her smile warm and ready.
“Please, Esmir, keep your chatter to yourself,” Captain Eglanna chided gently. His accent, too, was only slight.
I found myself staring at Eglanna and his companions. Repeatedly, I had to occupy myself with my wine or murmur some triviality in Eric’s ear to break my gaze. To my relief, my fascination with them was reciprocated. More than once, Captain Eglanna’s eyes studied some aspect of Eric’s face or hair.
Ujor was no stranger to protocol and neither were his companions. The shorter man was named Eldrazz, Eglanna’s older brother. The bearded shield bearer was Kannafen, an older advisor to the brothers.
Eglanna had brown eyes set in an open, eager face. The fact he was clean shaven added to an already boyish demeanor. His youthful appearance notwithstanding, he had the quick smile of a philanderer and the easy tone of a diplomat.
Eldrazz, the stockier of the three men, moved like a swordsman but with the attitude of a brawler, the kind of man you provoke in a fight to turn his pride against him. His eyes were darker than Eglanna’s and his mouth was set in the frown of some hidden anger.
Kannafen was balding, though his hair, like the others, was tightly curled and close cut. His heavy brows gave a seriousness to his face, but he was as fast to smile as Eglanna. He was broad shouldered but with a heavy paunch, a build not unlike the wrestlers used in the arenas of the Haru.
All three left their wine untouched until Eric and I drank and remained standing until we were seated. Wherever they came from clearly had the proper etiquette for whatever passed for royalty in their land.
Eric set his wine down and gestured to Ujor.
“Captain, you mentioned mercy, but before you present your case, I would like to know who you are and something of your land. I am not too proud to admit I have never seen your people.”
Eglanna nodded.
“We are from Kullobrin, a nation many times larger than all the Sand Republics. We have not been long in your part of the world. We only began trading with the Dolbiri a year ago.” Eglanna took another drink. “We are from across the ocean to the west that you call the Hard Water. I understand your ships’ hulls are not