Nord pounded his fist on the table. He sat at the head of a long table in the palace war room with Arkon on his right and the only surviving officer of his once-great army, a Jalin something, on his left. While it felt good to be home, Nord couldn’t exactly relax and enjoy it.
“They wiped out the entire patrol?” Nord demanded.
“Not all of them, my lord. They left one alive to report back,” Jalin said.
Nord fought with all his might to keep from drawing Heat’s Bane and striking the fool down where he stood. With so few men remaining every warm body was valuable, even stupid ones. “Get out.”
With no further prompting Jalin scampered out of the war room like a scared rabbit. When he was gone Arkon asked, “What do you want to do?”
“We need more men,” Nord said. “Try and contact Duke Benwa again and tell him to send whatever troops he can raise south as soon as possible.”
“Perhaps it would be best if you told him yourself. I can arrange for you to speak to him directly.”
“You’re afraid of him,” Nord said.
“Damn right,” Arkon agreed.
“Fine, do what you must. I’ll handle Benwa.”
Fifteen minutes later in the crude lab Arkon had set up, Nord sat before the wizard’s crystal ball. A thin blue light connected Nord to the crystal. Benwa’s face floated in the sphere. “Close your eyes, my lord, and you’ll be able to speak to him.”
Nord did as he was bid and closed his eyes. Benwa’s face appeared in his mind’s eye.
“Duke Benwa?” Nord said hesitantly.
“Good day, Prince Nord. What can I do for you?” Benwa asked.
“I need you to gather as many soldiers as you can and send them south to reinforce my position. They should be on their way in a week at most.”
“I don’t think so,” Benwa said.
“What?” Nord demanded.
“I believe you heard what I said. I’ve been watching your efforts with considerable interest. It appears to me that Daktari takes less interest in your wellbeing than I originally thought. I simply can’t imagine the great sorcerer would allow you to fail so miserably if he cared about the outcome of your efforts. If Daktari doesn’t support you, then I see no reason I should. I will send no troops south, and should you consider returning north I can assure you, you won’t find a pleasant welcome waiting.” Benwa snapped his fingers and the connection broke.
Nord shuddered slightly as the mind link vanished. Benwa wouldn’t help and any attempt to return north would be suicide. Arkon made a slashing gesture and the blue light that connected him to the crystal ball vanished.
“You heard?” Nord asked.
Arkon nodded. “What now, my lord?”
Nord ran his fingers through his hair and laughed. He sounded more than a little hysterical even to his own ears. He couldn’t imagine what Arkon thought.
Then again maybe he could. The boss is going mad. Maybe I should disappear while I’m still in one piece.
But no, Arkon was loyal. As long as his life wasn’t in any immediate danger he’d stay. “My friend, it’s time to survive. Cease all patrols. We’ll keep our people inside the palace walls. Perhaps if we can last long enough, fate will deal us a better hand.”