“She slipped passed Alastair and the guards?”
“Apparently they were dealing with a problem at the gate, and she took that precise opportunity to slip by. She didn’t even have a stable boy saddle her horse. She did it herself in order to not attract undue attention, and she rode out of here right under everyone’s nose.” He growled and kicked a stone across the bailey.
Alek touched his shoulder. “Calm yourself, Dain. She’s difficult, you know that.”
“I thought we had an agreement.”
“I suppose telling you my news will only aggravate your temper further, but you should know nonetheless.”
Dain frowned at him. “What?”
“I’ve been into Amaris. The city has been overtaken, nothing is left. Giants came through and took those too cowardly to fight, leaving the rest to burn along with Amaris’ walls. There were around five hundred survivors, mostly women and children, living down in the aqueducts. They were safe, but I didn’t know how long they would be so. It would only have been a matter of time before the armies came through again and finished off those opposed to them. I sent for wagons to be brought in from the garrison commander in Mercer. I had them bring decorated transports to make it look like a royal cortege. I had them take the survivors into Mercer and make sure they had place. The convoy included cattle and horses. I tried to talk the farmers out of it, but it’s their livelihood, Dain. It’s all some of them have left. I don’t know if it will work, but I knew I had to take a chance. I thought if Fallon’s goons saw a royal cortege, they would be more apt to skirt it. I doubt even Fallon’s bold enough to strike a royal entourage. I hope it was not in error.”
“It was a good plan, and obviously all you had. “ He gritted his teeth. “Fallon dares strike me right in my own backyard.”
“There’s more. The giants are headed south into the coastal region. Witnesses say they think they’ll barter passage, or take it, from the jetty through the Corlane Strait and into Boones Ferry.”
“I heard that too, but I heard it was Sailor’s Bluff. Why would they want to go into Boones Ferry? It’s small and mostly abandoned since the fishing traders have moved into Sailors Bluff.”
“Just the reason to go there, not too many eyes or people to fight against them. They plan on going into the Triple Cities and overtaking them, which will give them control of the border into Aaralyn.”
“Damn him to hell!”
“I think it’s too late for that. He’s already sold his soul. I’ve sent a young lad, one of the remaining survivors, to Pembroke with message regarding Boones Ferry. He’ll see Alban Thorne and then Alban will ride to Boones Ferry and set up a garrison there. We have to make sure the giants don’t make it past or the Triple Cities will fall.”
“Why would you send a boy?”
“He is the grandson of Nalo Ellbert.”
“The knight from the guard who retired shortly before my father died?’
“Yes. Maddon was an integral part in keeping all those people safe and also in keeping them alive all this time. He’s an extremely strong and brave youth. He’ll deserve a squires rank for his bravery.”
“I’ll make sure he gets it, if he makes it.”
“He will. He’s been taught well.”
“I have heard from Kevaan since you left. Both of you must have gotten the same information about Fallon’s movements. He is distributing troops into McLain and Charbonneau in order to keep any ships from docking and trying to ride into the capital and taking it. The closer Fallon gets to Kingswell, the harder it will be to keep the castle in one piece. His father’s health is failing. He becomes more feeble with each passing day. He can no longer make decisions for his province, but it hardly matters. Fallon has gotten what he wanted from Randor, safe passage for his mercenaries up the river. If Kevaan leaves, he feels Fallon will take that as a perfect opportunity to take down Lachlan Castle and put himself on the throne. As long as he has to deal with Kevaan, the throne is safe. He must stay put until we have more aid in place. Any word from the elves?”
“Not directly, but I would assume the warrior accompanying Sol was sent from the elders. Hopefully the council has agreed to aid us.”
“I don’t know how much longer we can wait to dispatch a representative to Isamar to talk to Chancellor Jaxon. We must make sure we have an alliance with the Isamarians. If we can get them to keep the borders clear, Aaralyn will have a better chance at holding off Fallon’s troops.”
“I’ll go.”