Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 09:03:59 EDT
From: Bwstories8@aol.com
Subject: Sword of Kings - chapter 7

Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts.
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

Don't read this story if:
**You're not 18 or over,
**If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live,
**Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

The author retains copyright to this story.  Placing this story on a
website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's
permission is a violation of that copyright.  Legal action will be taken
against violators.

I wish to extend my thank you to Ed for his editorial assistance with this
chapter and to Ian for his suggestions to improve the flow and readability
of this chapter.

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at
http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive'
comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.

         *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

*******************************************************************************
*  AUTHOR'S NOTE - PLEASE READ!
*  First, I'd like to apologize for the lengthy delays in between chapters.  I
*  have just begun a new job it is taking up most of my time.  I will keep this
*  story going, just bear with me about the delays in posting.
*
*  I also wish to apologize to those readers who may find this chapter slow
*  paced.  This chapter discusses the planning sessions for the upcoming war
*  and it also describes the events of the Second Council of War.
*
*  For those of you who are interested in this type of material, I need to
*  briefly describe the basic military organization groups, so you can get an
*  idea of troops sizes.
*              Unit          15 - 20    troops    (smallest group)
*              Company      150 - 250  troops     (10 or more units)
*              Regiment     300 - 500  troops     (2 or more companies)
*              Legion       750 - 1500 troops     (2 or more regiments)
*                                                                         Bill
*******************************************************************************

The Sword of Kings - by BW  (Fantasy/Sci. Fi.)   Copyright 2000 by billwstories
Chapter 7 - The Second Council of War.           July 2000

Beraut sat silently in his room, going over his journal in preparation for
the meeting of the Second Council of War.  The wizard had been using his
journal to keep his notes about the lesser meetings that he had been
holding with the various races and factions living within Tarolia.  Now he
was mentally preparing himself for the all-important gathering that would
be held later that evening, having already done much preliminary work for
this session.  Since Kieren and the others had left Leander to begin their
mission, the aged enchanter had been busy soliciting pledges, planning
strategy, aligning troops, and procuring supplies for the upcoming battle.
All of this was done so he would be ready for this Second Council of War,
which would be conducted with representatives from all of the various
strongholds of Tarolian life.  This would be the meeting where they would
make their plans to defeat the army of the evil Madumda, thus blocking his
bid to become the ruler of this fair land.

It had been a busy time for him since the morning the little band set off
for Thorold.  After the party passed through the main gate of Leander,
Beraut had ascended the multitude of stairs leading up to the top of the
battlement, located high above the castle's barbican.  From this lofty
perch he used his eagle-like vision to follow the progress of the caravan
as it ferried the Silver River and then plodded westward toward the
southern reaches of the Amber Mountains.  He descended only briefly, long
enough to bid farewell to the dwarf contingent as they set out to join up
with the others.  When the dwarfs passed through the castle's gate, the
mage remounted the stairs leading to the pinnacle on which he stood earlier
and he used his extraordinary eyesight to follow the progress of both
groups as they made their way to their prearranged rendezvous location.
All day long he followed their headway, giving up only as evening began to
engulf the castle and all of the activity within it.

That evening he held his first meeting in the Hall of Private Audiences,
which was located on the ground floor of the same building in which he and
the others were being housed.  This meeting had been with the dwarf and
elfin leaders, as the wizard sought their offers of assistance to the war
effort.  Both of the races had been more than generous in donating troops,
support personnel, and supplies.  This pleased Beraut enormously.

The Dwarf King, Brolin, had promised to provide a whole legion of warriors,
some of the best in the kingdom.  The fighting men excelled in the art of
hand-to-hand combat and they were adept with battle-axes, maces, and short
swords.  They were also excellent marksmen with the crossbow.  These
soldiers were renowned for their ability as trackers and scouts, especially
in limited light.  Their night vision, made keener by the many years of
living underground, was second to none.  These hearty fellows were also
capable of long, sustained marches that made troop movements more
expeditious.  It was due to these assets that they were capable of covering
more ground than any of the other troops in the kingdom.  The wizard was
pleased with this pledge, but there was more.

In addition to their fine troops, the dwarfs also offered an assortment of
support personnel for the war effort.  They would provide engineers and
miners who could plan and build defensive positions that were nearly
impenetrable.  These abilities would come in handy if the Tarolian Army
needed to take refuge some place and reorganize.  In addition, these dwarf
professionals were also capable of planning strategies to breach the
defensive positions established by their enemies, positions designed to
keep them at bay.  These skills would be useful if Madumda tried to
withdraw to Treblanc, in an attempt to keep the allied army ineffective
while he came up with a new strategy.  The engineers could become a major
factor in this conflict.

The Dwarf King also offered the skills of his blacksmiths, who could
produce unequaled weapons and repair anything made from metal.  These
artisans could fix or produce anything desired, from the smallest bolt or
shoes for the horses to the large metal protective coverings used to cover
the siege engines or the ironworks used to produce the gears for the great
gates.

Finally, the dwarfs offered the services of their armorers, who were
proficient at making some of the finest and most durable protective devices
known to exist.  Although the dwarfish armor was a bit heavier and slightly
more cumbersome than the elfin variety, it was still highly sought after by
the other races and easier to procure than that made by their elf
counterparts.

Indeed, the dwarfs had donated much to this cause, but the elves were not
going to be outdone.  King Dylan, on behalf of the Wood Elves of Wildoness,
agreed to provide a small legion of his forces in defense of Tarolia, split
nearly equally between foot soldiers and mounted troops.  The foot soldiers
were expert with bow and arrow, as well as with the short sword, and they
relied heavily upon their lightning quickness when engaged in close combat.
The elfin cavalry, which had been used to patrol the expansive borders of
Wildoness, carried a light, sturdy pike and a short sword.  The cavalry
depended on the mobility and speed of their smaller mounts to outmaneuver
the larger, stronger troops that they often faced.

Elfin soldiers also made excellent scouts and guards, as they were blessed
with extraordinary senses of sight and smell.  These keen powers of vision
and detecting odors would often allow them to discover trespassers before
they could be seen or before the intruder was aware that the elves were in
the vicinity.  These assets, when combined with the elfin gift of being
able to conceal themselves and their movements, made them unequalled in
performing reconnaissance or protecting others.

Besides the military contributions, the elves also agreed to provide their
armorers, whose reputation was well known, and their fletchers, who could
design and construct perfectly balanced arrows and quarrels.  They also
offered the services of their woodsmen, whose knowledge of the various
trees and their uses were unsurpassed in the entire kingdom.  These
woodsmen also had a plethora of information concerning edible plants and
the selection and use of herbs for medicinal purposes.

The River Elves were represented by Rombaire, Balaster of Eurielle, and he
made a generous offer of a full regiment of marching troops.  These forces
were to be added to those of his cousins, the Wood Elves, and they would be
placed under the same chain of command for now.  They made an additional
contribution of the use of the ships and crews of their merchant fleet to
transport troops and cargo as needed.  The River Elves were noted sailors
and the advantage of moving certain items by water might add an element of
speed, as well as safety, to such deliveries.

With the first conclave behind him, Beraut held the second of his planning
sessions the following morning.  At this meeting he conferred with the
leaders of the northern city-states and it required a great deal of
statesmanship on his part, to keep peace between these factions.  Being as
independent as they were, there was a lot of infighting and bickering among
them as the archmage secured their pledges.  Once the wizard got them past
these petty feuds, they were generous enough in their offers of support.
The Nardinians promised a full company of foot and horse soldiers.  The
Mitikuans volunteered a small regiment of men-at-arms, while the Akiktites
offered another small regiment of combined ground and mounted troops.

The most serious problem that arose between these northern neighbors came
about when Beraut suggested that all of these warriors should be organized
as one fighting force, with a single chain of command.  This became a major
obstacle as each city-state argued that its warriors had skills and tactics
so different from the others that they could only operate under their own
officers.  Each one claimed that there was no way they could possibly fight
alongside these other forces with their differing weapons and methods.
They insisted that by placing them under a single leader, Beraut might
jeopardize the effectiveness of the northern troops and this could possibly
lead to their losing a battle that they could ill afford to lose.

The wizard was absolutely brilliant as he neutralized their opposition to
his plan, as he produced counterarguments to their objections by pointing
out the similarities in their war tactics.  First, he agreed that there
were certain differences in the arms that each faction carried and that
there were dissimilarities in their man-to-man battle strategies.  Then the
enchanter insisted that there were enough similarities that they could
unite in this effort.  He pointed out that each of their troops carried
some variety of sword, either a broad sword or falchion, and that they each
used some type of bow.  He added that each of them also carried some form
of long-handled weapon, be it a lance, poleax, or pike, and that they each
protected themselves with some sort of mail covering, such as banded,
plate, or scale mail.  Next, he argued that the maneuvers used by the
various infantry and horsemen bore enough of a relationship that a common
ground could be found to produce a single, eclectic stratagem.  After a
great deal of discussion, much of it heated and on the verge of breaking
out into small skirmishes right there in the hall, the leaders finally
agreed upon a synthesized battle tactic and a pyramidal type of
organizational structure.

This arrangement placed Nasrollah, the Mitikuan General, as the Supreme
Commander of this army, with the Nardinian General Hevel and the Akiktite
General Loki as his immediate subordinates and advisors. From that point
on, there was a crisscrossed chain of command linking the lesser officers
on down to the fighting troops.  When all was said and done, it was agreed
that this was a suitable compromise and a masterful stroke of diplomacy by
the aged seer.

That meeting had been so exhausting and demanding on Beraut that he nearly
had to cancel his noon meeting with the leaders of the lesser cities of
central Tarolia.  During this conference he met with the representatives of
the coastal cities of Tiago and Reza and the river cities of Udele and
Veleda.  These cities, although not as populated or powerful as Leander or
Cassander, were not as independent and fierce as the northern city-states.
They were, however, deemed a vital cog in the war machinery that was
presently being organized.  Each of these four cities was hard pressed to
raise anything more than a small company for the effort, but this they did
and they offered their total allegiance and support in standing against the
Dark Lord.  The troop make-up for each of these companies varied, but
overall they were approximately half ground troops and half cavalry.  As
Beraut mentally added these forces to the others he had previously
solicited from the other races, the mage was beginning to wonder if it
would be enough to stop the scourge that threatened them.

After this caucus ended, the enchanter let his thoughts drift to Kieren and
his companions.  Beraut was immensely concerned about their safety and he
wondered what progress they had made in their journey toward Thorold.  Try
as he might, the magician couldn't get any clear perceptions of what might
be taking place with either the small entourage guarding Kieren or the
dwarf party that was heading to meet them.  The spell-caster couldn't even
get a feeling as to whether the two groups had joined forces by this time,
though he certainly hoped that they had.  This made him wonder if his
inability to sense the well-being of either group had foreboding
significance, but he found himself continually distracted and unable to
dwell on this for any length of time.  Beraut now noticed that the sun was
slowly beginning to touch the horizon and this made him remember that he
had another engagement planned shortly.  This made the mage drop his
thoughts of the others, but he made a mental note to try to discern their
condition later.

Hurriedly, the seer went to his quarters to ready himself for the last of
his meetings with these splintered Tarolian groups.  This dinner gathering
was probably the most important of the sessions because it involved the two
major cities, Leander and Cassander, as well as the representatives from
Tunstan.  This would be the last of the individual sessions the magician
would sponsor and it would be the final prelude before the joint Council of
War.  It was during this meeting that Nathar, Steward of Leander, pledged a
full regiment to the effort.  He also pledged all of the supplies and
whatever support-staff the city and the surrounding areas could provide.
In addition, he offered the services of numerous cooks, tailors, cobblers,
leathersmiths, blacksmiths, and healers, who would perform those necessary
duties to assist with this important campaign.

When Nathar had completed his offer, it was time for Swain, Magistrate of
Cassander, to enumerate his city's contributions to the cause.  Magistrate
Swain swore the loyalty of a small regiment of warriors in defense of the
country that he loved so dearly.  He also offered the services of various
support personnel and supplies, adding his belief that Cassander would
sacrifice much toward the defense of the kingdom.  Beraut was hurriedly
noting these pledges in his journal as the next leader rose to speak.

Phelan, Magistrate of Tunstan, was the last to make his offer of support to
this joint effort.  First, he volunteered a small company of mixed forces
to the battle.  Second, he made sure that he emphasized the fact that
Tunstan's proximity to Treblanc made it a prime source of information about
Madumda's forces and activities.  This, he concluded, would be the most
valuable contribution his community could provide to help defend Tarolia.
He paused for a minute to let the others assimilate the hidden meaning of
his offer, that although they didn't have much to give in the way of men
and supplies - the intelligence reports about the enemy should make up for
the lack of more tangible assets.  Now that the others had grasped his
innuendo, Swain puffed out his chest and he began to disseminate the data
in his possession.

In giving his rendition of the most recent intelligence reports, he was
able to calculate the numbers of warriors under the enemy's command, the
location of the main campsites, and the types and quantities of weapons
they would be using.  He was also able to give a brief account of the
weather conditions for the area around Treblanc and the upper plains area
where the battle would most likely take place.  Next, he gave detailed
accounts of how the various scouting parties and spies had carried out
their assignments.  Under numerous disguises and by various means, they had
slithered around the surrounding area, listening to all conversations and
observing everything that was taking place around them.  When Phelan had
finished his narration, he got down to the essentials and reported that
Madumda's army consisted of approximately a legion and a half of gnomes, a
legion and a half of men (mostly Merropites) and a regiment of mercenaries
whom Madumda had hired and were waiting at Treblanc.  By Beraut's quick
calculations, this meant that the total strength of the two armies were
approximately the same, although there was a possibility that the Tarolian
allies might have a slight advantage in numbers.  If they did, this was an
advantage that the mage wished dearly to cling to.

Focusing once more on Swain's presentation, the magician learned that there
had been a considerable amount of rain falling around the Devil's
Horseshoe, the mountains that surrounded Treblanc, and the upper Plains of
Asimae.  In some of the upper elevations, this precipitation was coming
down in the form of snow.  The magistrate then acknowledged that this
inclement weather did not seem to be nearing its end and he stated that he
was unsure as to how long the condition was going to last.  If the poor
weather continued, he concluded, it might take the effectiveness away from
the cavalry.  The soggy soil would surely slow the swift strike and retreat
tactics that they might otherwise be able to use and this would remove a
vital weapon from their military arsenal, and Madumda had far fewer cavalry
troops that would be affected.  Their only hope would be that the rainfall
would cease and the surrounding area might dry out before the battle.
Otherwise, the allies would have to try to lure Madumda's forces farther
away from his stronghold and move the battle to drier ground farther south.

After listening to the Magistrate of Tunstan share his reports, the wizard
concluded that the weather could, indeed, prove to be a hindrance and
affect the outcome of the battle.  Madumda's smaller cavalry contingent
meant that the weather would aid him as it hindered the allies.  Regardless
of possibly negative consequences this situation might bring about, the
conjurer was grateful for the information and the insights that came with
it.  Although the weather report was quite foreboding, the wizard was sure
that this information would give them the chance to adjust their
battle-plan or devise a back-up plan in time to defeat their opponent.  The
mage readily agreed that the intelligence reports he had just been given
were the most vital asset received at any of the meetings held thus far,
and it could prove to be a key factor if victory is to be achieved.
Beraut's spirits were lifted as the realization of this advantage became
more and more apparent to him.  If all of this information was accurate,
the enchanter realized that he most likely had more information about
Madumda's forces than his wayward brother had about the allied situation.
The magician prayed that there had been no errors in gathering,
calculating, or reporting either army's strengths, because this could be
disastrous to Beraut's next effort.

Now that these support meetings were over, Beraut had to turn his attention
to the various tactical sessions that would fill his next couple of days.
These meetings were planned with the collective military leadership for
this campaign and they would lay out the basic strategies that the allies
would follow once the battle started.  The two days of strategy sessions
passed quickly, but they did not produce a tactical plan that everyone
would agree upon.  The magician was forced to allow these meetings to spill
over into a third day and time was running short for them to reach a
consensus.  Beraut performed at his diplomatic best as he subtly guided
them toward a final solution, but he was beginning to lose his patience
with their petty squabbling.  Somehow retaining his composure, the old
arbitrator used every skill at his disposal to end this deadlock.  As
evening drew near on this final day, all the parties finally yielded to his
superior arguments and statesmanship, and an agreement was finalized.
These individual sessions were now concluded and Beraut had only one more
meeting to prepare for.

The wizard was nearly exhausted from this last effort, but he realized that
there were only a couple of hours left for him to ready himself for this
next gathering.  Quickly, he began to work on his summaries and he
organized his thoughts for this all-important presentation.  When he was
satisfied with his mental preparation, he bathed and changed for this
evening's activities.  If he hurried, he would still have time to arrange
the hall and greet his guests as they arrived.  He completed all of his
preparations at a speed belying his age and now he moved to the bed to don
his attire.  For this night, he had selected a flowing midnight blue robe
trimmed with snow-white rabbit's fur.  In this outfit, he radiated an aura
of immense power and authority and he had chosen it carefully to set the
mood for this gathering.  With his personal grooming completed, he dashed
down the corridors to the Great Hall, secretly hoping that all his
diligence would prove sufficient.

As he entered the room, he was pleased to note that it had been prepared as
he requested.  This night the tables were arranged in a square, the only
gap being a narrow aisle between the head table and the table on its right.
In the center, surrounded by the various tables at which would sit the
civil and military leaders of the land, was a large relief map - model of
Tarolia.  This cartographic presentation showed, in precise detail, all of
the geographic diversities of this wonderful kingdom.  As Beraut continued
his cursory examination of the contents of the chamber, the great room
began to fill.  One by one, the representatives of the divergent cities and
races entered the hall and were led to their seats.  They were filled with
anticipation about what would transpire this evening, yet they were ready
to enjoy the meal that would precede the meeting itself.

Beraut had seated himself at the center of the head table.  To his right
sat the dwarf delegates: King Brolin, Commander Elgin, and Baith, Captain
of the Royal Guard.  On his left were seated the elfin emissaries: King
Dylan, General Daveel, and Balaster Rombaire.  At the table to the right of
the head table sat the representatives of the cities of the central and
lower Plains of Ansimae.  Closest to the head table sat Nathar, Steward of
Leander, and to his left sat Andrieu, the head of his army.  Next to
Andrieu sat Swain, Magistrate of Cassander, and his military leader,
Tristan.  Next came the Udele delegation, its magistrate, Socorro, and his
military headman, Lesharo.  The last seats at the table were occupied by
Magistrate Odilon of Veleda and his commander, Massil.

The table directly opposite the head table was reserved for the leaders of
Tunstan, Reza, and Tiago.  Illan, Commander of the Tunstanese army, sat
nearest the Veledans and to his right sat his Magistrate, Phelan.  Next to
them sat Hugi, military leader of Reza, and Nemu, the Rezantian Magistrate.
Farther down the table sat Tiago's representatives, their military leader,
Captain Orsic, and Magistrate Nicanor.  At the final table, located to the
left of the head table, sat the leaders of the independent northern
city-states.  Myladen, Thane of Nardin, sat closest to the elves and to his
left sat General Hevel.  To Hevel's left sat Aylwin, Thane of Mitiku, and
then the Supreme Commander of the Northern Army, General Nasrollah.
Finally, there were seated Eryk, Thane of Akikta and General Loki, the
Akiktite commander.

All of the groups were talking among themselves, eyeing the other
delegations and trading comments about the various representatives and
factions gathered for this monumental meeting.  Some of the emissaries were
leery of the other ambassadors with whom they have had previous dealings.
Many had suffered as the result of these prior transactions and they wished
not to repeat these errors.  Only a matter of such magnitude could draw
some of these different groups together and now they must lay aside their
petty jealousies and resentments for the good of the cause.  It was
imperative that all of these individual groups would have to unite as
allies against an even more sinister adversary.

Slowly the hall began to hush as the serving women and kitchen boys began
to serve the meal.  While the servants poured the wine, the boys began
ladling out the soup.  They were followed into the hall by an additional
set of servers who delivered the fruits and breads to each table.  When all
of these groups had finished, the chefs presented the two large boars and
the cow that had been slowly roasted over an open spit.  They were served
up and the guests began to consume the offered fare.  When the food had
been totally consumed by the guests, the feast was capped off with a
delicious array of sweets and pastries.  As the guests began their
desserts, Daimon was brought into the hall to entertain those gathered.  As
the young minstrel entered the room, he glanced from table to table,
looking for the two elves whom he had met and played for a few days
earlier.  This time he could not locate his young friends and he came to
the realization that this was strictly an adult gathering.  He thought back
to that first banquet and wondered why they had been present then, for it
was highly unusual to see youngsters at a formal dinner.  The musician
considered that he might have been incorrect when he guessed that the first
meeting had been for the purpose of forming a new guild.  It may have been
held for a totally different reason.  After some thought on the matter, and
after eyeing the other participants in the chamber, he reached another
conclusion.  He assumed that they must be the children or grandchildren of
one of the distinguished guests and that they were invited to share in some
family honor or to learn some nuance of their familial position.  Having
fulfilled this obligation, they were now either on their way home or
staying with friends.  For some unknown reason, they were not required to
attend this evening's gathering.  Nonetheless, Daimon missed their warm,
friendly smiles and their boundless enthusiasm for his music.

The young troubadour began his first melody, an enthusiastic little ditty
that immediately caught the attention of those in attendance.  Upon
completing his rendition, he received a hearty applause for his effort and
a few coins were tossed in his direction.  He bowed and thanked the crowd
warmly for their response and then he proceeded to play another selection.
Daimon continued his performance as the guests finished their meal and the
service staff began to clear the tables.  As the last of the dishes were
removed, a group of serving women circulated around the room, filling
goblets with wine.  Those in attendance took this opportunity to push their
benches back and settle in to enjoy the entertainment.

Beraut shoved his well-cushioned chair back from the table and lit up the
long stemmed pipe he had kept hidden under his cloak.  He puffed lazily on
the pipe and blew the smoke carelessly into the air.  As he did this, he
eyed the young man whom the young elves had claimed they had met on their
travels around the castle.  He studied Daimon intently, wondering if this
young man could possibly be one of the Dark Lord's spies, and concluded
that the likelihood of this being so was extremely remote.  For one thing,
the musician was too consumed with his performance to be a spy, as he
carefully plucked every note on his lute and delicately rendered every note
of his vocalization.  A spy would be playing very softly, without singing,
and he would possibly let his fingers occasionally hit the wrong note as he
strained to listen to the various conversations going on in the room.
Beraut studied him carefully, using his 'wizard sight' to see if he could
detect any evil, but their was no indication that this young man was
anything other than what he appeared to be, a fine, maturing virtuoso.

When Daimon finished his scheduled selections, he received a well-earned
ovation from the crowd and an ample supply of coins was flung in his
direction.  The musician scooped up his tips, placed them in a little pouch
he had tied to his waistcoat, packed up his lute, and he exited the Great
Hall.  Beraut, having waited until the entertainer had left the room, rose
from his seat and he paused for the throng to get comfortable and ready for
the meeting to begin.  Sensing when everyone was ready Beraut began his
address.

"My fellow Tarolians, we are met here this evening to plan for the battle
that we and our ancestors have anticipated since the time of the reign of
the mighty King Ethelbert.  This conflict has loomed inevitable since
Madumda first secured the immense power that he now wields, only waiting
for his time to come.  He has bided his years, making sure that his day
would arrive, by seeking out and destroying all known heirs of Ethelbert.
He hoped that this butchery would put an end to the prophecy of old and
secure his future as ruler of the kingdom.  With this bloody task
accomplished, he is now gathering an army within the folds of the Devil's
Horseshoe.  In the safety of Treblanc, the ancient home of the Council of
Wizards, he is making his plans to extend his power throughout the entire
kingdom of Tarolia.  We must now make our own plans to confront his unholy
forces and destroy them once and for all, finally eliminating the menace
that my misguided brother poses.

Beraut stopped, turned around, and faced the head table, so he could
retrieve his goblet.  He took a few swallows of his wine, wetting his
throat and relieving that parched sensation that was beginning to make
speaking difficult, before he placed his cup back on the table.  Now he
turned back toward the map and continued his address.

 "As you are probably already aware, I have held numerous meetings with
various combinations of representatives over the past few days.  During
these meetings I have secured commitments from the assorted delegations and
we've formulated strategies for this battle.  The plan of attack we will
use will be an eclectic tactic, into which we have tried to blend all of
the strengths of the various groups.  We have listened to the comments of
the military leaders, gleaned the best from all of their suggestions, and
we've incorporated this into a single strategic plan.  I will now attempt
to demonstrate the logistics of the various forces and give you a brief
description of the battle plan that will be employed."

The wizard stood and glided gracefully from his seat at the head table,
going past the dwarf congregation and through the aisle between the head
table and the table to its right.  Having moved through this opening, the
wizard strode over to the large relief map of the kingdom and he stood with
his back to the chair in which he had been seated only moments before.  He
bent down and withdrew an oaken box, about half the size of a small
treasure chest, from below the table that supported the map.  Holding the
box in his hands, he reached in and extracted something that he managed to
keep out of the view of those around him.

"I will now attempt to depict this plan for you by using a series of models
that have been specially made for this presentation.  Each figure will
represent the different tactical components that will participate in the
battle.  These deployments will begin with the organization of each unit
after this meeting and I will continue to show their movements up to the
time we do battle with the enemy forces.  We will start here, with the
forces of Leander."  At this pronouncement, Beraut held up a single golden
figure that he had kept hidden in his palm.  It was shaped like a human
infantryman and it was meant to signify the Royal Guard of Leander.
Delicately he placed this figure on the map, in the spot where Leander was
built.

"The size of this figure indicates that this is one regiment.  This group
will be joined by a company of River Elves, lead by Balaster Rombaire."
Again he reached into his box, this time withdrawing a smaller statue of an
elfin archer, pale blue in color.  After showing the figure to those
present, he placed it beside the other figure at Leander.

"The smaller size of this statuette signifies one company of warriors.
While these troops are forming at Leander, the forces from Tiago and Reza
will sail their troops over the Great Western Sea and up the Silver River,
to join with the group from Udele."  The wizard now removed a small red
soldier to represent Taigo, a small royal blue warrior for Reza, and a
small dark brown figure for Udele.  He placed these three figures on the
map where the River Sterling and the Silver River merged and where Udele
stood.

"As these troops are moving into position, the Wood Elves will march north,
from Aurelia to Cassander, there to ferry across the Shadow River and
organize with Commander Tristan's forces."  While he had been talking, the
conjurer had removed a large, green elfin warrior statue, even bigger than
the one for Leander, and placed it with a medium-sized silver human warrior
figure across the Shadow River from Cassander.

"The large figure signifies a legion of Wood Elves, while Cassander's model
indicates a regiment."  The magician now took all of the figures that he
had already placed on the map and he moved them to an area on the lower
Plains of Asimae, about halfway between Udele and Cassander.

"All of the forces that I have just assembled here will comprise the
Central Army and they will be under my command.  From there, we will march
north to do battle with the enemy."  He paused briefly to let everyone
absorb the information up to this point.  "While the Central Army is
forming, Captain Baith will lead a regiment of dwarf warriors to Veleda,
there to join up with the Veledan soldiers under the command of Commander
Massil."  Beraut now removed a medium-size purple dwarf sculpture and he
placed it with a small green human figurine at a point across the River
Sterling from Veleda.

"That group will make up the Western Army, which will be under Commander
Massil's control.  Commander Elgin will guide the remainder of the dwarf
fighting-men along the Citadel Mountain range.  This group will meet up
with the soldiers from Tunstan, under Commander Illan, and they will form
the Northern Army."  Reaching into his box, the enchanter pulled out two
middle-sized red dwarf figures and a small orange human sculpture.  He
placed them at Tunstan, slightly south of the western edge of the Devil's
Horseshoe.

"The Eastern Army will be formed by the collective forces of the northern
city-states under the leadership of General Nasrollah, their Supreme
Commander.  They will form on the northwestern edge of the Faerie forest,
skirting eastward and then southward around it.  They will travel through
Hell's Gate to form at the southern tip of Shadow Lake, the source of the
Shadow River."  From his chest the enchanter now withdrew three mid-sized
statuettes, a crimson human figure for Mitiku, a turquoise human model for
Akikta, and a beige human figurine for Nardin.  He placed them all at the
southern edge of Shadow Lake and then he looked the map over.  The mage
paused, stroked his silvery beard, and he contemplated on where he had left
off during his briefing, while his eyes searched the interior of the chest.
Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he began his briefing anew.

Finally, the other company of River Elves will be loaded aboard several
elfin merchant ships and hidden below decks.  These ships will set sail for
Leander and then they will continue up the Shadow River to Cassander.  Here
the ships will unload supplies, as they regularly do, but the journey will
not be over.  They will remain in dock until the evening darkness conceals
them, and then they will slip away, hopefully unnoticed, to resume their
travels.  They will sail north, up the Shadow River to where it joins with
the Shady River.  There they will lie hidden where the river bends into the
Mystic Forest.  They will remain sheltered there, awaiting the arrival of
the Eastern Army.  When this group is sighted, the ships will move
northward to transport everyone across the ample headwaters of the Shadow
River.  At this point, the elfin warriors, who were sent to help guard the
vessels, will become attached to the Eastern Army and serve with them until
all the forces join together later."  The spell-caster now placed the final
figure on the map, a royal blue elfin archer, with the figures of the
Eastern Army.  He took a deep breath and looked around the room, wondering
if the leaders were already figuring out his battle plan.  He took another
deep breath and continued his narration.

"Now that we have all the troops properly placed, I will try to explain,
step by step, how the attack will proceed.  The first move will be for the
Central Army to march north and join the Western Army on the central Plains
of Asimae.  From here, they will assemble with the infantry in front,
archers in the center, and the cavalry at the rear.  Being so arranged,
they will march to engage the enemy troops somewhere on the upper plains.
This would mean that we should have two legions to stand against our foes,
whose strength is estimated to be three legions.

"At this point we will be praying for some divine providence.  We are
hoping that the supreme beings will be looking with favor upon our cause
and allow Madumda and his war leaders to conclude that they have the
advantage in numbers.  If they accept this as fact, this might cause them
to make some tactical errors of over-confidence that would allow us to set
them up for a few surprises."

During the time he had been giving this explanation, the wizard had moved
all of the figures representing the Central and Western armies and placed
them on the upper Plains of Asimae, just west of the Mystic Forest.  At the
same time, he also took several black figurines from his box to signify the
Merropite, gnome, and mercenary forces under Madumda's control and he
placed them just south of the Devil's Horseshoe.

"When we are just outside of archers' range of the enemy, the infantry will
form the front battle line.  They will stand shield to shield, moving
slowly forward until the next phase can be put into action.  From behind
the foot soldiers' barrier, the archers will launch their projectiles into
the enemy's ranks.  This barrage will continue until each archer has spent
twenty arrows into the opposition.  At this point, the infantry and archers
shall stand aside and allow the mounted troops to make their first forceful
assault.  After the cavalry has softened up our foes further, the
horse-soldiers will make a quick retreat and re-form behind the ground
troops again.  The archers will continue to fill the air with arrows,
shooting well in front of the advancing foot troops.  The infantry will
march forward, their pikes and lances thrust before them, to dispense with
the wounded from the cavalry assault before they engage the remaining foes.

"When the ground troops are fully deployed, the mounted troops shall split
into two groups and attack the enemy's flanks.  By this time we shall have
the Dark Lord totally preoccupied with the battle and we shall spring our
first surprise.  At this moment, the Northern Army, which has remained
hidden near Tunstan, shall move up and make a charge at the enemy's rear
and western flanks.  This should cause the Dark Lord's generals to split
their attention to several fronts and should bring our troop strength
closer to even with their numbers.

"By this time, Madumda's military leaders should have made their
adjustments and then we shall unleash our next unexpected assault.  At this
instance, the Eastern Army will move from the cover of its hiding place in
the Mystic Forest, and they shall attack the eastern flank of our
adversaries.  This will give us a distinct advantage in numbers and, the
gods willing, this should swing the tide of battle in our favor.  If
everything goes as planned, we hope to be able to crush the threat at this
time."

Beraut glanced around the room to catch the expressions on the faces of
those assembled, trying to determine their feelings about the battle plan.
From what he could tell, everyone in the room seemed satisfied with this
strategy and they were now waiting to be told when the troop movements and
fighting would actually begin.  The magician decided to give them a few
minutes more to discuss things further between themselves, before he
continued with his report.  After several minutes had elapsed and the
murmuring began to subside, the wizard continued to speak again.

"We have, of course, a couple of backup plans prepared in case we should
need them.  We have a defensive plan, where we would dig in and barricade
ourselves against assault if Madumda's army should prove overpowering.  We
also have a siege plan in place, just in case the Dark Lord's forces fall
back and try to hole up at Treblanc.  Though the last scenario is highly
unlikely, it is wise to have this option, nonetheless.

"I would like each of you to leave here tomorrow and begin the appropriate
preparations.  Those living the farthest from Leander will leave first, and
then progressing on to the next groups that live the farthest from here,
until everyone has departed.  Each of you must be in place and ready to
begin the attack in ten days.  If we wait any longer than this, we may lose
the advantage, no matter how small that advantage may be.  We shall now end
this meeting, so you may return to your rooms, pack your belongings, and
get some rest before you begin your journeys."

Those in the room began to rise and make their way toward the exits.  Some
of the representatives stopped to talk with the delegates representing the
other forces with whom their troops were about to merge.  Other delegates
left without uttering a word and they went straight to their quarters.  The
Dwarf King turned to Beraut before departing, wishing to finalize his
arrangements.

"My dear Beraut, I will prepare my companions to leave at first light.  We
shall wait for you in front of the Great Hall.  I am truly looking forward
to your joining us on this excursion."

"Your Majesty, I sincerely appreciate your letting me join your party on
this leg of the journey.  I shall be there early, prepared to travel.  I am
looking forward to reaching your homeland and learning about how Kieren and
the others have fared on the first stage of their adventure."

King Brolin nodded in agreement and then he turned from Beraut and made his
way out of the hall.  As the dwarf leader departed, King Dylan moved over
to talk to his old friend.  "Have you learned anything about Kieren or the
others?"

"No, Your Highness.  I have not had any contact with them since they left.
As you know, I watched them as long as I could on the day of their
departure and I saw nothing to indicate any problems with our plan.  Since
that time, however, I have had some trepidation concerning their safety.
It is nothing that I can put my finger on or put into words, but I do worry
all the same."

"Do you think that Madumda knows of the prince's existence?"

"No, I do not believe that to be so or I would have felt Madumda use his
magic as he tried to pinpoint the boy's location."

"Well, do you think some harm has befallen Kieren?"

"He is still alive, if that is what you are asking, for I have not felt his
loss.  If there has been some danger or someone has perished, which is
possible, it has not befallen the lad.  I did sense some use of some minor
magic earlier in the day, but I could not discern its nature or its source.
I am not worried, however, as it was not a magic of any potency or of a
strength sufficient to alert the Dark Lord of his existence.  Madumda would
probably assign this occurrence to an unskilled magic user or, at worst, to
me.  I hope that I can learn something more later, even if I have to try to
initiate a contact."

"Do you think that wise?  I mean, aren't you afraid of Madumda sensing the
magic and eavesdropping in on your communication?"

"No, I don't believe that my evil brother would be attracted by such a
minimal use of magic.  Unless he was in the same vicinity as Kieren or if
he were making scans of that area, he would most likely not even raise an
eyebrow to such a low-level use of magical skills."

"You will keep me advised of any developments, won't you?" King Dylan
wanted to know.  "You realize that I feel personally responsible for the
safety of those three young men?"

"Yes, I do know that and I will keep you up-to-date on everything that I
learn.  It is time now that we, too, should go to our beds to sleep.  Come
on, my old friend, and I'll walk with you to our quarters."

With this, the two walked side by side out of the hall, down the corridors,
and up the stairs that led to their rooms.  They bid each other good night
as they retired for the evening, but Beraut had no intentions of sleeping.
He hoped, however, that Kieren might try to make contact with him by using
the Golden Medallion.  The wizard had been having some uneasy feelings
about the safety of the prince's small party, even though he tried to
minimize this point as he spoke with King Dyaln.  Some of the visions he
had seen, though not crystal clear, were enough to make his skin crawl and
his hair stand on end.  Beraut would give his young ward another hour
before he tried to initiate another scan of the area where he calculated
they should be by this time.

                *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at
http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.
E-mails may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.