By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,7

of heart?”

“That is between him and God.”

Tanel nodded.

“Please allow my daughter to have some rest before you tell her.”

“Yes, Sir.”

They parted ways.

The loss of men that Edandir had known for years weighed heavily on his spirit. He would have to push his sorrow aside for the time being. He had to stay focused.

Although Sanctus’ army was greater in number, Ittonifer was a clever man. He would think of some plan to try and overpower the last God-serving nation. The man was worse than a contagious disease.

Edandir was going to find out what his next plan was. It was time to put a stop Ittonifer’s madness for good. He should have done so long ago. That treaty the sadistic ruler had signed was pure symbolism. Edandir had tried to convince Queen Roselyn of that. Men like Ittonifer never changed. They might go into hiding for years at a time, but they always reappear – with the intensity of an erupting volcano.

That evening, Edandir sat with his commanders at a long table in the grand banquet room of Queen Roselyn’s palace. Dinner was about to be served, but they were still waiting for the queen to enter the room. It was unusual for her to be late.

“The sooner we rid ourselves of that tyrant, the better. I don’t see what there is to talk about!” grumbled Commander Sanere from across the table.

Edandir nodded in agreement, but their diplomatic queen would most likely suggest that they evacuate the country, rather than stay and fight. Until he convinced her to do otherwise, of course.

“I’ve heard that the queen might clear everyone out of the city by the end of tomorrow,” scoffed Timlin, a twenty-something knight at the table next to Edandir’s.

“Idle gossip is never worth listening to,” said his wise twin brother, Pori.

General Edandir grinned as his friends debated about what the queen would decide. The fate of their country rested in her delicate hands. It was ironic that such a quiet, peaceful ruler was about to stand before a room of anxious warriors.

This will be interesting, to say the least.

The large doors of the banquet room opened. Two palace guards walked in and stepped to the side as the queen entered into the room.

Everyone stood.

Queen Roselyn was striking as always, dressed in a dark green evening gown with her dark hair pulled back into an elegant high bun. Her quiet confidence gave her a noble air, regardless of what she wore, Edandir thought. She sat on her purple velvet throne. Her troubled hazel eyes betrayed an otherwise stoic countenance.

“Warriors of Sanctus,” the queen’s authoritative voice resonated throughout the large room as she spoke, “you all know my stance on going to war. We are now the last nation independent of the empire. I understand that it will now be very difficult to peacefully reason with them…”

“Reason?” a commander down the table scoffed.

“There is nothing peaceful about those Malinorian animals,” said another.

“Silence!” hissed Edandir.

“While it is extreme to suggest that we evacuate the land, I cannot yet bring myself to send my entire army into war. We have already lost so many. I will need to hear from God before deciding on what we must do, but I wish to obtain your input before I do so.”

A deep murmur circulated throughout the room. Several commanders and knights stood.

Roselyn’s bright eyes flashed toward Edandir.

“Sit down!” shouted Edandir.

They quickly returned to their seats. Edandir would deal with the fools later. He stood and nodded at the queen.

“Queen Roselyn,” he said.

“Speak, General.”

“Our army is as skilled as it is large. I think that, at this point, we need to know what Ittonifer is planning to do next. Our spies have informed me that the majority of Malinor’s men have marched back home. Only a handful of them have remained in Cardamon, so there is no immediate threat.”

“Go on.”

“I would like to lead a small group of spies to Malinor the day after tomorrow. We could take the firedrakes for faster travel. I hope this will put your mind more at ease as you decide what to do.”

“That is a wise proposition,” the queen nodded. “Is there anything that you would like to add, Commander Sanere?”

Sanere stood quickly.

“I think that we could wipe them out if we attacked tomorrow!”

“Too soon,” said Edandir.

“None of us feels that running away is the answer, Your Majesty,” said another commander.

“Your Majesty, we wish to stay and fight!” cried a knight.

The queen stood and the room fell silent once again.

Finally, her troubled gaze