A Shore Too Far - By Kevin Manus-Pennings Page 0,19

the departing royalty lit the air as Prince Eglanna and Prince Eldrazz rode out of the tent city with an escort of some fifty riders.

Our own escort, a gleaming 200 men, met them near my tent and took position in front and back of the Kullobrini. They were on our soil, and I intended them to feel every mile of it.

Eglanna and Eldrazz nodded as they rode past, Eldrazz holding my eye for as long as he could.

When they were out of sight beyond our little lookout hill, I watched our scouts as they followed the princes’ departure with a farlook. As soon as the princes were beyond sight of the farlook, our scouts signaled Gonnaban at the healers’ camp, and wagon by wagon, the healers came rolling toward the fluttering city of fabric.

Gonnaban rode up to me as a six-man cavalry escort assumed formation in front of the medicinal caravan.

“Well, we should know more by tonight if this works,” he said as he dismounted.

“There are two central questions we must answer, Gonnaban,” I said, watching the caravan trundle down the road, bags and barrels swinging with the weight of poultices and charms. “Is the illness real? And why does the fleet mix children and soldiers?”

“And what of the answers?” Gonnaban asked. “What will we do when we know?”

“If the illness is faked, or even exaggerated,” I said, “I will recommend that my father and Eric order the Kullobrini from our lands or risk being exterminated.”

Gonnaban watched me as I studied the sea breeze playing at the edges of distant tents.

“As for the children…,” I said, “I can’t yet imagine any possible answers, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

After several moments, the wagons reached the tent city and the Kullobrini guards were allowed to inspect the wagons. The moments passed slowly, but I knew all that we had hidden was in plain sight, and only a truly sharp eye would note the lack of warmth between the healers and the “assistants” we had planted among them. I wondered for a moment if I could spot such nuances anymore or if I no longer had an eye for how people were linked, what held them to one another.

At long last, the healers were permitted entry and the caravan was directed through the narrow opening of the road that was not covered by the broad, red cloth that surrounded the mass of tents like a collar around a fat merchant’s neck.

“Have we learned the purpose of that ground cloth the Kullobrini use?” I asked.

“Some of our boys have asked the Kullobrini guards,” Gonnaban replied. “They call it a Cloth of Blessing. It’s, I dunno, for luck and such. No one’s allowed to ride over it, touch it, or the like. It’s so thick the wind doesn’t even move it.” He laughed sharply. “Or maybe even the wind knows better.”

“Maybe,” I said absently. “Signal the lookout, Master-at-Arms. Send Gwey’s people through.”

As I spoke, Kullobrini children appeared on the road within the tents and chased after the healers’ wagons. One girl’s high laugh was carried to us by the breeze as clearly as her masters’ horns were earlier. I realized that I was glad children laugh whatever their skin may show.

Gonnaban waved at a hill sentry, and the signal was passed on behind and above me. These were the moments I loved among my father’s soldiers and armies. A supple and robust structure that acted, responded, obeyed without the need of henpecking or debate. The signal had been passed and now another six-man escort was taking the lead as the laden wagons of the merchants fell in behind. I did not enjoy the fact that I had the power to make this happen with a word. Rather, we had power together as an army, the power to carry out the right and proper will of the land’s sovereigns and to spread that will wherever our lords had cause.

“Unless the pay’s on time this week, I don’t have a penny to spare for your thoughts, Highness,” Gonnaban said.

“We do some good work, Gonnaban,” I said as the first of the merchants’ escort edged into my periphery. “We do some good work.”

“Aye, ma’am,” Gonnaban replied softly.

I could feel more than see Gwey break off from the line of merchants’ wagons and approach me. His spirited mare sparkled with tassels and baubles, and I remembered thinking her beautiful and stately until I saw the grandness of the Kullobrini’s horses. I wondered what else would change