Arutha nodded, squeezed his sons shoulder a moment. Get some food and rest. This isnt half over, and while Patrick may be ready to storm the enemy, we need a great deal more information. He opened the door and returned inside to the Princes council. Dash said, Ill go with you to the kitchen.
Jimmy said, Fine.
The two brothers walked down the long hall.
Erik entered the kitchen. He waved across the large stone room to Milo. The innkeeper from his hometown of Ravensburg had been put to work in the castles kitchen, along with his wife, so they could be close to their daughter, Rosalyn, mother of the next Baron of Darkmoor. She and her husband Rudolph the baker lived in the castle where they took care of the baby baron.
Eriks own mother now lived in one of the buildings close by the castle the long history of animosity between her and the Dowager Baroness made it prudent to keep the two women separated. The Baroness had been humiliated publicly for years by Eriks mother Frieda over Erik being the illegitimate son of the late Baron Otto. Eriks stepfather, Nathan, was furiously working in the Baronys smithy, readying weapons and other iron goods for the coming spring campaign. It was a socially awkward situation at times, but Erik enjoyed having his family close by.
Erik sat. You all right? he asked Jimmy.
Just tired. Came close to not making it once, but its not much of a story. I had just lost my horse and had to hide from a patrol for a while, and damn near froze hiding under a log. The snow was falling so they didnt track me after I had crossed some rocks, but I could barely move when they finally left.
Frostbite? asked Erik.
Dont know, said Jimmy. I havent taken my boots off. My fingers are fine. He wiggled them.
We have a healing priest here. The Temple of Dala, at Rillanon, sent one to provide advice to the Prince.
Dash grinned. You mean the King bullied them into having one close by in case Patrick was wounded.
Something like that, admitted Erik as he returned the smile. Have him look at your feet. It wouldnt do to have you going toeless.
Jimmy chewed, then swallowed. Why am I suspicious youre motivated more by my fitness for duty, Captain, than out of any concern for my well-being?
Erik shrugged theatrically. Because you have a reasonable comprehension of how things work in court?
Jimmy suddenly looked very tired, as if letting down his mask. How soon? he asked.
Erik looked sympathetic. The end of this week. Three, four more days.
Jimmy nodded. He stood and said, Id better find that priest.
Down the hall from the Princes quarters, next to my own. His name is Herbert. Tell him who you are; you look like a rag-picker.
Dash watched his brother leave and said, As his feet thawed he could barely walk. I think that priest is going to earn his keep.
Erik took a cup of coffee from Milo, said thanks, then turned to Dash. He already has. Ive got a score of men fit for duty who would still be laid up if it wasnt for that priest. And Nakor.
Where is that scrawny lunatic? asked Dash. I havent seen him in a week.
Hes out in the city, gathering converts for his new faith.
How goes the summoning of the Blessed to spread the word of Good?
Erik laughed. Recruiting those willing to work on behalf of good in the midst of winter, after a war has reduced the population to near starvation, is nearly beyond even Nakors conniving ways.
Any takers?
A couple. One or two are earnest, the others looking for a meal.
Dash nodded. Is this next mission something I could do? Jimmy could use a rest.
We all could, said Erik. Then he shook his head. But youre not being spared, my friend, for were all going.
Where? asked Dash.
Krondor. Patrick cant sit here forever. And if what your brother has reported jibes with the other reports were getting, the longer we wait, the stronger Fadawahs forces are going to get in Krondor. We may have to hit them with everything we have sooner than wed like.
With Kesh threatening our southern border, Patricks been reluctant to return the Armies of the East. Well, the King has ordered some elements back. Seems some of the Kingdoms eastern neighbors are getting fractious now there isnt a large standing army or huge fleet there to keep them in line. So Patricks in a hurry to retake Krondor before King Borric orders more soldiers home to the East.
Dash said, So how many of us are going to Krondor?
The Eagles, said Erik, naming the special command of soldiers that had been gathered and trained by Dash and Jimmys grandfather Lord James, the late Duke of Krondor. Well have some auxiliaries, Dugas crew he named a large force of former mercenaries who had come over to the Kingdoms side during the invasion and well be working with Captain Subais Pathfinders.
Thats all? asked Dash.
Thats all to start, said Erik. Were not trying to conquer all of the Principality in the first week. He sipped at his coffee. We were going to find a likely place to hold so we can stage, then we ride in and secure Krondor.
Sounds easy, said Dash in a sarcastic tone. If there wasnt another army already there. He studied Eriks face. Theres something else going on. Why is Patrick in such a hurry to secure the city? I can think of a half-dozen better places from which to stage a retaking of the West if I didnt care about Krondor; we could cut it off and starve out whoevers there, staging from a camp to the east.
I know, said Erik, but part of it is pride. Its Patricks city, the capital of his realm. He was Prince of Krondor for only a short while before it was lost. And he followed a legend in that office.
Dash nodded. Growing up in Rillanon, Jimmy and I met Prince Arutha only a few times; when I was old enough to appreciate him, he was getting on in years. But what my father and others said about him made him impressive, even then. He looked at Erik a moment, then said, You think Patricks of the notion that Arutha would somehow have held the city?
Something like that, said Erik. The Prince doesnt confide in me. But theres more to it than just wounded pride. The other part of it is logistics. That harbor is going to be useless for years. If we had the manpower and equipment we had before the war in Krondor, all the workers, dredges, and a few cooperative magicians, even, it would still take a year to clear the harbor, maybe more. As it is now, I have no idea if Krondor will ever become the shipping center it once was.
But we have a new port south of there, in Shandon Bay, Port Vykor, and for it to be any use to us, we have to insure we have a clear trade route between there and the rest of the West, which means Krondor needs to be secured. We dont need it, but we certainly cant have Fadawahs generals using it as a base to attack us. He lowered his voice, as if not wishing for a perverse fate to overhear. If we get cut off from Port Vykor, we may never reunite the Eastern and Western Realms.
Dash nodded. That makes sense.
Erik put down his now empty mug and said, Thats about all that does.
Dash nodded in agreement as Erik stood. Looking up at the tall, powerfully built captain, he said, I havent seen my sometime employer about lately. How fares your friend Rupert?