DISCLAIMER: Tortall and its inhabitants belong to Tamora
Pierce, and used with her (indirect) permission.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well this section was written after reading
Squire, though it made me wonder about continuing this fic. I decided to go ahead and finish as planned,
but utilize some of the new characters from the book. :) There will be some similarities, and many
differences, so think of it as an Alternate-Universe kind of thing, if you
will.
Chapter 5: The Eve of the Battle
George Copper was as perplexed as they were over Joren’s
political tactics. “You mean t’ tell me
that he’s promotin’ peace in a battle simulation?” he asked incredulously.
Kel nodded. “It
doesn’t make any sense to me. What
could Joren gain by immobilizing us?”
Then it dawned on her, as well as George and the
others. She dropped her head in her
hands. “Gods curse it--he would’ve
won! He successfully wins the
simulation if no one takes the palace.
And if he knocks me out of the fight with his fancy speeches about
peace, he limits the chances of Cleon succeeding, whether Cleon listens to
Joren or not.”
She felt Sir Sacherell’s hand on her shoulder. “Don’t feel badly, Kel. We all made the same mistake. I didn’t realize the kid was that clever.”
The baron, however, found the whole thing humorous; he was
laughing so hard that tears were forming in his eyes. “Bless me, Crooked God, if that isn’t the sneakiest thing I’ve
ever heard!”
“Thank God we’ve decided to go against the agreed
alliances and all that,” Merric sighed, rolling his eyes.
“What?” George asked sharply, suddenly losing his jovial
expression.
“We’re bandits, thieves, hillmen, and renegades, sir. We don’t have to necessarily follow our
word,” Yancen answered.
The baron sighed, digging his knife into the top of the
fence-post. “You lads always get the
wrong impression of the Rogue,” he whispered, more to himself than to the
group. “Certainly renegades and bandits
wouldn’t have t’ honor their word--but many do. I’ll let you do what you want, but remember that once you betray
someone’s trust, you’re on your own.
They’re never goin’ t’ trust you again.” He lowered his voice and gestured for the group to come closer to
him. “I’ll let you in on a secret. Most o’ you can tell that I’m not noble-born
and bred. I was a commoner back in th’
days before his Majesty was th’ king, and I was in th’ court of th’ Rogue. I was th’ leader. But things started goin’ sour, and someone was tryin’ to use my
men against me and against th’ crown. I
was friends with th’ prince--soon to be king--and I had t’ weigh my life in th’
Rogue against my friendship with Jon.
Lookin’ back, I don’t regret what I did, but I don’t feel good about
turnin’ in a fellow thief, either. It
went against th’ Thieves’ Rules--especially for th’ King of the’ Thieves. After I did that, I knew that there was no
way I’d be able t’ show my face in th’ lowever city again. Th’ Gods spared me from th’ fate I deserved,
and I was pardoned ‘cause my actions saved th’ crown. Otherwise th’ thieves and pickpockets and everyone else who knew
what I’d done would’ve been free to kill me.
Th’ way of th’ thieves isn’t always based on lies and false
agreements. We live by our wits--which
is what you young ‘uns need to be doing right now.”
Kel swallowed thickly, feeling more than insecure about
her role as leader. Had she offended
the baron? “I’m sorry, Sir, but it was
the only way I could think of to keep the other two groups on their toes. I have made and agreement with our spy in
the palace to get us in the war. And
I’d like to eliminate Cleon’s group as early as possible. I want to win the palace--I want us to win
the simulation, even though the odds are against us. We have the smallest group, and we’re the worst close-range
fighters, but I think we can muster something if we tell lies to Cleon’s group,
and turn against them halfway through.”
George looked at her skeptically. “I never knew you t’ be ambitious, Keladry
of Mindelan. From everything I’d heard
around the palace, you always seemed t’ take it as it comes.”
Sacherell let out a hearty laugh. “Ah, George--if you’d seen her negotiate
with the spy from Joren’s group twenty minutes ago, you wouldn’t change your
mind a bit. This youngster is taking it
as it comes, I’d say.”
Kel self-consciously adjusted her tunic. She wanted to be like the other boys. No one should be hearing about her either
way, outside the practice courts. It
was bad enough that she was singled out for being a girl--but did all the
nobles have to know things about her personality and performance? Neal would probably chastise me right
now, telling me that I should be glad that I’m good enough to gain a
reputation. But reputations aren’t the
real thing—people are going to judge me based on what they hear rather than
what I show them. With a sigh, Kel
gazed dryly at the former King of Thieves.
“Baron Cooper, I just want to prove to Lord Wyldon that we can manage
ourselves in an offensive battle. Most
of the groups I’ve worked with have been defensive. I want to prove that I can lead a charge, and that these squires
can manage themselves well in combat.
But before I can do that, we need to come up with a way to get ourselves
entangled with Cleon’s men.”
“Have you met your spy from the group?”
Kel nodded.
“They’re planning to eliminate us at the end, if not before. I think they want to join forces in order to
defeat Joren, then turn against us after we conquer the palace--or at least
something along those lines.”
“Let’s beat ‘em at their own game,” George said with a
twisted grin. “Remember that we have
th’ advantage of knowing who their counselor is. I’ve always wondered if I could best my wife at anything! I know what tricks she’s going to want to
play.”
Prince Roald grinned at the baron. “She’s going to use mages to their full
ability--and she’ll be heavy on the swords.”
Kel nodded.
“Cleon’s group has the most mages—Neal, Esmond, and Kieren ha
Minch. But Neal isn’t good for much
other than healing. Even his
light-power is weak in comparison to Esmond or Roald.”
Roald nodded. “He
can cast basic light spells and he can manage some defensive circles, but he’s
not strong with traditional warcraft magic.
Esmond, on the other hand, can manage blinding light. But I know some protection spells to fight
against it.” He flushed
sheepishly. “We haven’t been taught it
yet, so I doubt he’ll be prepared to work around it. As for Sir Kieren, well, I’ve only seen him use his magic for
lighting fires and casting illusions.”
Sir Geoffrey chuckled.
“Yes--he was my squire several years ago. He mainly uses his magic to cast illusions as he fights. Try to knock him out f the battle before it
reaches short-range combat.”
“What about physical strength?” the baron asked. “Unless I’m misjudgin’ my wife, I’d say
she’ll be heavy-handed with swords and staffs.
How are they in those areas?”
“There are excellent swordsmen among them. Cleon and Neal are the best among the
squires--and Cleon always utilizes close-range combat in his plans because he’s
a strong wrestler and staff-fighter, too.
But as a group, we’re stronger on the staff.” Kel was proud of her group’s composition concerning staffs and
long-range arms. They were the best
with the lance, and had a variety of skills with the various pole arms Lord
Wyldon had allowed in the simulation.
“And how are on long-range techniques?” Conal asked.
Yancen shrugged.
“Equally matched on archers, but Kel and Faleron and I are the best
tilters Wyldon’s ever trained—I heard him say as much to the king.”
George grinned crookedly.
“And don’t forget ol’ Sacherell here.
He was th’ best in his day.
Drove m’ lady crazy, if I remember correctly.”
Sacherell nodded curtly in thanks.
“As for archers,” Kel began thoughtfully,” I wouldn’t be
so quick to say we’re evenly matched.
Sir Paxton and Sir Kieren are the best--and Neal is the best of all the
squires, next to Joren.”
“But what of special arrows?” Conal asked, smiling
wickedly. It was well known throughout
Tortall that Conal of Mindelan was the best with specialized arrows. “Surprise works wonders in any attack—but
even more so if you scare their mounts with whistling arrows.”
“That’s a bit cruel for a mock-battle,” George replied,
frowning. “But we should consider their
mounts.” He turned to Kel with a
sigh. “You’re in charge, Squire
Kel. What do you suggest we do by way
of a battle plan?”
Continued in Chapter 6