It had been just over two weeks since his journey to Te’Roek but Varren had not spent his time reveling in his success: he had been busy sending messages to the leaders of the provinces, requesting that they send as many men as they could spare as soon as the winter snows melted. He had sent so many letters, his hand had cramped. He rose from his writing desk and moved to the frosted-over window. He tapped his fingers absently on the glass and turned to survey his room. It was not the same as it used to be. Ever since he had returned from Te’Roek, it had seemed almost alien to him.
“What? Are you out of your mind?” Varren had exclaimed when the king had summoned him. “You want to make me your new general?”
“Listen, Archis,” the king had said firmly, “Commander Sheon was either killed or captured in the Kilsney attack. He would have been my first choice, but that option is not available to me at present.”
“Sheon is not the only senior commander able to take the post,” Varren had argued. “You need a general who has extensive military training and experience!”
King Samian had regarded him with his eyebrows raised. “You are a competent fighter and your understanding of warfare is more than sufficient.”
Varren had mumbled that the few years he had trained with the army during his teens did not make him a great soldier.
“You have never doubted your abilities before, Archis.”
“I am an adviser, your protector, an expert in the art of sorcery,” he had said. “The position of general should not go to me.”
“I have made my decision, and when the time comes for war, I want you to command my armies. There is no one I trust more than you.” The king had turned away, folding his arms. “The Ronnesians have broken the unspoken law. If we are to crush them into the dust, we must change our battle plan.”
So, for the past few days, Lord General Varren had been to a dozen meetings with military captains and members of the royal court. Paperwork had quickly invaded his private quarters, despite having been given another room in which to work and store the vast amount of documents he had inherited from Carter. He thought it ironic that he had written in his letter to Queen Sorcha that the death of General Carter would only give a greater man the opportunity to lead the Ayon army. He had never sought that position for himself and had enough to contend with already.
A knock at the door distracted him from his thoughts and he begrudgingly went to answer it.
“My lord,” Lhunannon said quietly, “forgive the lateness of the hour, but I must speak with you.”
Varren gestured for the enchanter to enter. It was not customary for Lhunannon to confide in him alone and Varren became concerned, even more so when the man refused a chair by the fire. The last time Lhunannon had come to him like this had been to inform him that King Samian had gone south alone to seek his sweetheart.
“Well, what’s wrong?” Varren asked anxiously.
Lhunannon turned to face him. “When has the king ordered for his armies to mobilize?”
Varren was taken off guard by the question and frowned. “I would have liked to have done it weeks ago, but it will have to be late winter, early spring. Why?”
“I fear that, if he is not watched, Vrór will take matters into his own hands.”
“Vrór?” Varren asked, relaxing somewhat. “He can’t possibly convince the king to push on with his plans.”
“I don’t believe he intends to,” Lhunannon said. “His bestial nature is sometimes more powerful than his human mind. You can reason with him only when his animal side is subdued. Often of late, I have found it harder and harder to communicate with that side of him. Anyway, I thought to alert you of his condition.”
“Yes,” Varren said, nodding, “you were right to. If he even thinks of going against the orders he has been given – ”
“You have given him orders?”
“Yes. Ever since I found him trying to sneak past the guards at the front gate a couple of weeks ago. He wanted to go down to Kilsney by himself!” He shook his head. “Though I admire his resolve at times, he’s lucky the king needs him, otherwise he would have faced trial several times over for disobeying his orders.”
“I will continue to watch him, my lord.”
“As will I,” Varren said, as the enchanter moved to the door. “In a month or so, the king may give us clearance to launch our campaign. Surely even Vrór can wait that long to satisfy his lust for war.”