A Shore Too Far - By Kevin Manus-Pennings Page 0,2

the sun warm my dark hair and darker armor.

Eric waved away what servants there were and motioned for the guards to secure the room. “I’ve just had word that Admiral Pulgatt has sent twelve ships,” Eric began. “Another thirty will be here tomorrow.”

“Too few,” grumbled Gonnaban, “if it comes to a matter on the water. On land we should have them, but….” He shrugged.

“Your report was brief, Eric. What more is there?” I asked.

Eric took a breath and faced the bustling harbor. “The ships are large, fine vessels unlike anything seen. And they don’t want their coming to be known. Our initial information came from a Dolbiri merchant who was headed here in a caravan with three other vessels. His first mate had not watched the sails, so the merchant’s vessel had moved considerably ahead of his companions. The strange fleet was just then visible over the aft horizon, and yet the foreign ships overtook and boarded the laggards in the merchants’ caravan. Another of this fleet was dispatched for the merchant’s ship, but he had seen their game and dumped his cargo. Still, it was dangerously close and the merchant was shocked at the speed of his pursuers. The fleet’s ship eventually turned away, but not before the merchant’s hold was empty and he had started hacking off parts of his ship.”

“These are no Haru,” said Gonnaban.

“Nor Dolbiri, Master-at-Arms,” Eric said. “In all his years, the Dolbiri merchant said he’d never seen ships like these. Say what you like about the Dolbiri, but they know their ships.”

“That could still mean they are allies of the Haru,” I said. “The Northmen may have found a land well north of Mun Dovar that we know nothing about, some sailing power that has agreed to smash our navy and seize our northern colonies.”

“I’ve never heard of more pitiful tribes in the northern extremes of Damendine,” Gonnaban countered. “Even the Hard Water is said to freeze that far north.”

“And what land could the Northmen know that the Dolbiri and the Mun Dovari do not?” Eric asked. “Both are naval powers in their own right and surely they have explored what coasts lie north of their own lands, even if their ships cannot endure the full swells of the Hard Water. Damendine is a large continent, but not so large as to hide a kingdom from two sailing nations. And what power would risk war with the Dolbiri by unjustly seizing merchants?”

“Regardless, we must be prepared.” I stood from my seat on the windowsill and looked at my brother. “I will not let Abringol come to harm, Eric.”

Eric regarded me for a moment. “That is your duty, High General,” he said coolly. Then he added with a smile, “But I’m glad to be in your hands.”

I turned to Gonnaban. “Large ships, Gonnaban, not the vessels of the Haru. What does that mean for our numbers?”

“Difficult without knowing the size, but if they’re large—say larger even than ours or the Dolbiri’s—then let’s say at least 40,000. That’s more of a mountain than a hill, if you take my meaning,” Gonnaban said, shaking his head. “We could hold the city perhaps, but not free it. We’d need all of the East Guard and they’re ten days away at least.”

“And unfortunately, that could mean another fleet is on the way,” I said. “Even at 40,000 men, it’s almost enough to take the city, but not all of Avandi. Either this fleet is in league with the Northmen or they are the first of three or more fleets carrying more men. Pulgatt should send his fastest ships out to watch for more fleets.”

“Six hundred ships?” Gonnaban wondered aloud. “What power has such a navy?”

I shrugged. “Obviously a power we’ve never encountered, and one that will take all of our resources to confront. Eric, what men could we pull from the countryside?” I asked. “We’ll need everything we can get to fill our numbers.”

“From the south, a few thousand perhaps. The north has been scarred by plague these past three years. Those villages that aren’t empty are too small to volunteer and not risk starving their children.” Eric sat heavily on a couch and looked up at me. “You’ll not find any help there.”

“Damn their children,” I said. “Starving will be the least of their problems if Avandi falls. Press them into service for the kingdom,” I said.

Eric’s eyes searched my face and opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it.

“We should also begin gathering each of