“Fighting is hard enough, marching a significant force over any notable distance is a true work of military prowess.” —“Army Formations and Movement”, by Qillian Harson, a required reading for all Imperial Knight Houses

  Tower Castle, Cryptonia, Ground Plane

  Jasper had quickly explained the urgency of the situation to his new acquaintances, who completely understood his position.

  “My Lord, there is plenty of time for you to return here and finish the business required,” said Michi with an unconcerned wave. “This sounds much more urgent.”

  “Certainly,” Calian agreed. “In the morning, we must make haste to the Tower.”

  “A goblin invasion in the Coalition’s territory is entirely plausible,” said Titus. They all looked at him with interest. Jasper nodded for the knight to continue. “I spoke to Lady Elle at length when we were still at the Tower. She said when she was making her way south and kept encountering goblins, it made her wonder how they had managed to reach that far north.” He indicated the letter Jasper had shown them. “It makes more sense now. Somehow, the goblins have snuck up from their land through or around the Coalition and breached our territory.”

  “That seems a likely scenario,” Jasper nodded. “We will have more information on our return. Lord Yastagarr’s messenger is waiting, and I imagine he can give some details about the situation. Titus, I want us ready to travel as fast as may be.”

  “Understood, my Lord. We can be ready before mid-morning tomorrow.”

  “Very good.” Jasper sighed and nodded at the small council around him. “Until then, let us rest. We will need it.” With that, they went to their separate rooms. Jasper slept restlessly that night, considering the many problems they might encounter in the time ahead.

  The next morning, Jasper’s companions quickly gathered their things for their return home. The soldiers readied the horses, and the dwarves gave them generous supplies for the journey for which the soldiers were very grateful. Jasper bid the Family Mothers farewell, and Michi informed him Hesia and Simka would travel to the castle as soon as they were able.

  The trip back to the Tower was shorter than the previous stops, since they needed only travel in a roughly straight line directly from Ka’Din. Titus suggested skirting around The Vill to save time instead of winding through it and the population, to which Jasper agreed. In only two days, they approached the Main Gate. Jasper could see an arm waving in greeting from one of the arrow loops, but could not make out the guard inside. The large doors swung inward for the riders, and they passed through without slowing down. Yuli met Jasper and Titus in the outer courtyard, taking their horse’s bridles, while the men dismounted. Jasper patted the satyr’s shoulder and smiled at him. Yuli returned it, brightening at Jasper’s encouraging presence.

  “I’ll have them rubbed down and put up, Lord,” he said.

  “Good lad,” said Jasper, ruffling the hair between Yuli’s little horns.

  “My Lord.” Fern had appeared at the inner gate. “Calian, Titus, I am happy to see you back safe so quickly.”

  “As are we,” Jasper nodded. “What’s this about an orc and goblin problem?”

  “They should not have been able to move so freely into either of our territories,” said Fern, looking quite cross. “The northern orcs should have stopped them, and my own people’s borders are no small hurdle either.”

  “This was what worried us as well,” Titus agreed. A male orc, clearly the one who had delivered Yastagarr’s message, emerged from the Keep.

  “Lord Jasper, this is Vohakim,” said Fern, gesturing gracefully to the large orc. “State Leader Yastagarr dispatched him with the message for your assistance.”

  “I am happy to meet you, though sad it is under these circumstances. Is there a title I should use?” Jasper asked. “I must apologize; I am still getting used to all of this.” Vohakim gave a shallow bow, not terribly stiff, but not at ease either.

  “My name suits, Master of the Tower.”

  “Oh please,” Jasper laughed. “‘Lord’ or ‘Jasper’ is quite fine. I have a difficult time putting up with this lot as it is.” He jerked his head at the group around them. Titus chuckled and even Fern’s lips twitched upwards.

  “Very well, Lord.”

  “Let us go inside out of the cold,” said Calian. “Even here the weather is turning. I am certain Mistress Harla can prepare some soup and bread.”

  “That sounds marvelous,” Jasper groaned in anticipation. They went through the inner gate and into the Keep, stomping off the frost and mud of the road before entering the main hall. Human and dwarven staff waited inside to take cloaks and gloves. Jasper thanked them and led the way up the staircase toward the map room. He sent a servant to find Elle in the reliquary and bring her to the meeting place. He thought it would be the best place to hold his… He paused. His what? War council? He shook his head. ‘This is happening way too fast,’ he thought tiredly.

  Once in the map room, he used the controls to bring the view over the western border. The perspective focused on where the Coalition came into contact with the Tower’s land to the east and the goblins’ land to the south. Jasper looked up at his assembled companions. All but the guards that had traveled with him were present. He nodded at Fern.

  “Fern, if you would, please tell us everything Sue relayed to you. I do not want to miss anything.”

  “Actually, my Lord, I may have some intelligence to add before she brings new information to light.” Jasper waved for him to continue and ceded the floor to Calian.

  “Sue was on a patrol through The Vill in the time before we departed on the Ride. She reported to me of encountering a woman who piqued her interest. She was able to glean some information from her surface thoughts, enough to confirm Sue’s suspicions. She was evidently an asset of the Thieves’ Guild and was operating there as a mercantile merchant. The shapeshifter convinced Marcella that Sue was a superior of hers, and with a little coaxing, she was willing to spill her secrets.” Calian reached out to the map table controls and made some adjustments, zooming in on the western edge of the Coalition. “At our last communique, I had dispatched Sue to Fal-Ig-Han to uncover the plot and or plotters stirring up trouble.”

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  “Well, she has found at least part of the puzzle,” said Fern. She held up a letter bearing the unique signature the shapeshifter used when signing her documents. “The Guild has been working with an orcish noble we have yet to unmask in order to create an avenue for goblins and southern orcs to move unhindered through Coalition land.”

  “Our cousins take great pleasure in disrupting our lives, no matter how far we go, or how sturdy our defenses,” Vohakim grumbled.

  “Could it be a State Leader?” Titus asked, leaning forward and bracing his hands on the edge of the table.

  “That would be my suspicion,” Calian nodded. “It must be someone powerful enough to clear an area of guards and patrols, or the enemy movement would be detected.”

  “Remind me again,” said Jasper, holding up a hand. “The Coalition is made up of several different city states, ruled by lords who represent their territories and act as a governing body of the whole, right?”

  “A Parliament is convened if there is an issue large enough to be addressed by all the states,” Vohakim explained. “Something such as this has certainly called for such a gathering.”

  “Yes,” Fern agreed, holding up another letter. “Lord Yastagarr has formally sent a request that Lord Jasper act as mediator.”

  “As is his right,” said Calian. “According to the pact Fal-Ig-Han made with the Tower many years ago; this was one of the reasons the Coalition has been able to exist for so long.”

  “Are they that full of strife?” Jasper looked at Vohakim, confused. “I was under the impression that the northern orcs were a civilized and peaceful people.”

  “Well,” Titus made a face. “Some are more so than others.”

  “Wonderful.” Jasper rolled his eyes and rubbed his face with both hands. “Respectfully, Vohakim, do your kinsmen hate their cousins and goblin neighbors enough to at least work together in order to deal with this situation?”

  “Hmm. Maybe.” Vohakim crossed his arms. He looked uneasy speaking about it. “Different clans, families, and even states have quarrels with one another.”

  “Then there’s the Blood Feud to consider,” said Titus. Vohakim did not comment but continued looking uncomfortable, so Jasper spoke up.

  “Does anyone want to fill me in?”

  “Orc society can be very fragile, despite their physical resilience,” explained Calian. “Status and bloodlines mean a great deal to them. Purity of blood is especially important to some of the older families.”

  “Great,” Jasper sighed. “Another thing to make this mess more complicated.”

  “I agree,” nodded Calian. “The Coalitions’ internal politics can be a tangled mess to outsiders. Even I struggle to follow it all on occasion.”

  “Can we expect the other leaders to respect Yastagarr’s request for me to mediate?”

  “They will, unless they want the entire Coalition to fall apart,” said Calian, “but we must handle it delicately, like a balancing act between each group.”

  “I believe the biggest issue will be determining who is helping the intruders pass through and where exactly that is,” said Elle, speaking up for the first time. She leaned forward and pointed to numerous places on the map where troops could move easily along the western half of the Coalition. “It could be any one of these places. And from what you have said, my Lord, you do not have the forces to patrol such an area, or to combat any significant army.”

  “That is correct,” Jasper lamented. “Another issue I had hoped to solve before encountering something like this.” He looked at Calian. “Would you summon Armsmaster Benn, please? I want to know the status of our recruits.” The steward bowed and disappeared to find Benn.

  “What is your plan, Lord?” Titus cocked his head. “You’ve got that look again.”

  “There’s a look?” Jasper chuckled. “Yes, I have something of a plan, but I’m concerned how it may be received, and if our militia is prepared for it. Hopefully, Master Benn has good news.” In a few minutes, the old instructor tapped his way into the room, followed by Calian.

  “Glad to see you back, Lord.” Benn nodded respectfully to Jasper and glanced at his fellow across the table. Jasper thought he saw the typically relaxed warrior’s eyes tighten. The twitch in Benn’s muscled jaw was unmistakable. There was some sort of problem there, either between the two, or it was due to the social climate Calian had only just spoken of. Jasper made a mental note to ask Benn about it when there was not such a crowd. “Ser.” Benn nodded stiffly to the guest and promptly focused back on Jasper. “We have some trouble with my southern cousins, I understand?”

  “That we do. I need a no-nonsense assessment from you, and I know you’ll give it.” The old warrior smiled.

  “Ask and I will answer.”

  “How capable are the recruits you have been training? Could I field them against goblins and your less civil relatives with good odds?”

  “Hmm.” Benn leaned against his walking staff, resting his chin on his wrists. “Some of them would manage fine, I believe. Better if they worked side-by-side with the veterans. Others are too green.” He shook his head and the small animal bones in his warrior’s braid clinked together. “Like forging a blade, you will not know for sure until you put them through the fire. Some will always surprise you. One who you thought would be steady and strong may quail in the face of the enemy, and another you thought to be faint of heart might step up to lead a line if his superior falls.” He shrugged his thick shoulders and eyed Jasper knowingly. “The fire tests the sword and the blacksmith together.”

  “Well said,” Titus nodded. “How many do you think would be fit to fight?” Benn thought for a moment, weighing the question in his mind.

  “Perhaps two thirds of them. But they are still mostly untested. We have swords and spears enough, but armor is another thing.” Benn sighed. “Master Markiel needs materials to work, and steel is expensive.”

  “Maybe we can persuade the Coalition to chip in for our assistance?” Jasper suggested. “Some armor for our troops to fight their enemies and ours?”

  “They may be amicable to a trade, particularly since Lord Yastagarr requested you specifically,” said Calian. “It would not be inappropriate to request compensation such as that—particularly if you march them all the way there.”

  “That is a good point. Master Benn, if you will consult with Calian and let him know exactly how many coats of mail, helmets, whatever we need to appropriately arm and armor our troops. Any repairs or modifications that need to be made, see them to Master Markiel. I want those you deem ready to be outfitted for a lengthy march with what we have as soon as possible.” Benn nodded in assent.

  “It will be done, Lord.”

  “Calian, when you are finished with that, I know we will need a great deal of supplies and probably several carts to carry it all. Please compile a list and see it assembled.”

  “Of course, Lord,” said the steward, already making notes. He and Benn departed to complete their tasks.

  “I assume there is a way for us to contact Sue once we draw near to the Coalition?” Jasper asked Fern. “I would like her to see what information can be gathered before our arrival. I want her to find out who’s assisting the savages and why. I trust her discretion and abilities to do what is needed, but I don’t want any unnecessary killing.”

  “I will have Pecunia deliver a letter as soon as possible,” said Fern. “I have no doubt she will find Sue, my Lord. She has a gift.”

  “That she does. Vohakim, can you provide us any special insight into the Coalition’s political system? I need every bit of information I can get.” The young orc mulled it over for a minute.

  “As you said, it is a simple democracy. But with tensions so high at the moment, the Blood Feud is just as likely to spark new vendettas and rekindle old ones than our true enemy.”

  “Well, hopefully our arrival will refocus things a bit.” Jasper smiled appreciatively. “Thank you, Vohakim. I assume they have been taking good care of you?”

  “That they have, Lord. Your cook has quite the talent for orcish dishes—a rare treat when I am away from home.”

  “I will be sure to mention your praise to Harla when I next see her.” The young man looked at the map before him and blew out a long sigh. Titus had zoomed out to investigate routes West from the Tower. “It’s going to be quite the trip.”