XII

They had finished cooking and cleaning. Now they stood in a circle preparing their next move. Yoreno regarded Dantera as she paced back in forth. They were still in the hills above the village where they had found the goblin caves. The few goblins that were left were either burrowing deeper into the caves, or fleeing through the mountains.

These marauding monsters were just one problem, one deadly nuisance among a kingdom plagued by them. He understood Dantera’s impatience.

“…those mercenaries are in control of the tronghold,” Sir Wynet was saying. “We haven’t been able to attack it. Their fortifications are too strong for a direct assault. And…” He trailed off.

“And what?” Sorika asked.

Sir Wynet cleared his throat as if he was embarrassed to say. “These mercenaries have been roaming through the kingdom almost without challenge. They have several small camps positioned strategically to prevent any attackers from hitting their stronghold.”

Yoreno nodded. “Once you attack the stronghold, they send reinforcements to flank your approach.”

“Exactly!” he said with a nod. “This position of strength that they took has been a major part of the upheaval in this kingdom. They continue to launch raids and to cause trouble from this central point.”

“Why not attack it in force?” Dantera asked. “Combine your army into one group.”

“We would,” Sir Wynet said. “But that would require us to abandon all of the other problems at once. The kingdom would be thrown into chaos.”

“And a siege could take months,” Mai said. “You don’t know how long it would take to break in and defeat them.”

“That is correct.”

“We need to attack that stronghold,” Yoreno said. “This will end a lot of your problems. I suspect, the end of this stronghold may very well cause the Nai Sha’el to launch their real attack.”

Wynet nodded. “There is a chance of that, yes.”

“Then we destroy the smaller camps first,” Sir Jerrin said. “It is simple.”

“Yes,” Sir Wynet said. “Except for the missing people from Kornet.”

“What do you mean?” Yoreno asked.

“There’s talk of a spider nest in the hills above the town.”

“Why do they not take care of it?” Dantera asked as she turned to them.

Wynet glanced back at her. “They’re busy with the river pirates that keep sailing up and attacking the small outposts and villages. Kornet has its hands full.”

“So we kill the spiders first, then take care of the bandits.”

Yoreno nodded. “How strong is the bandit outpost?”

He shrugged. “The forward outpost… Ten strong, possibly. And we call them bandits, but they’re mercenary adventurers.”

“All right,” Dantera said. “Yoreno and I will take care of the spiders. Sorika and Mai, you go with Sir Wynet and his group to scout out these despicable adventurers.”

Sorika nodded.

“I am certain we can take them,” Mai said. To Sir Wynet she asked, “Do they seem particularly powerful?”

“I would be concerned if it were only myself and Blue Dragon soldiers, but with Andaloo and you two—I think we can best them without casualties.”

“See,” Dantera said with a grin. “Easy.”

“Let’s not underestimate them,” Yoreno said. “Perhaps we should stick together?”

“No,” Dantera said firmly. “We can be careful, Yoreno, but then we will be hear solving the problems of the Kingdom of the Blue Dragon for the next six months.”

“Is that right, Dame, Brennovo?” Yoreno asked, using her formal term of address by design.

She looked at him. He didn’t want to remind her of their difference in social stature, but Dantera was starting to take the lead, when this was Yoreno’s command. It wasn’t that he thought she couldn’t handle things.

But Yoreno wanted to be cautious.

They were a long way from home, and he had been sensing a desperate recklessness about her ever since they met those Black Guards. Lord Shane seemed particularly taken with the idea of finding Rynoria first and depriving Dantera of the possibility of getting her title back.

If the Black Guards and the Brennovo family line hated each other that much, then surely Lord Shane would be greatly delighted to know what a blow he had inflicted on the Brennovos, should he find the assassin first.

But there was only one Brennovo now—and that was Dantera.

Yoreno would help her best Lord Shane, but not at the expense of anyone’s lives being sacrificed due to sloppyness. Surely she understood that?

“Yoreno?” Dantera asked. “Yoreno, are you even listening?”

“Sorry,” he said. “Did I miss something?”

“Yes,” Sorika said.

As Dantera put her fists on her hips, she spoke. “As I said, Yoreno. If we do not act quickly, we will not cause enough of a stir. One small party of lords and knights taking care of the kingdom’s problems is hardly an effort.”

“And two parties are?”

She shook her head. “But it is better, no?”

“I think she has a point, Brendara,” Sir Wynet said.

“So we take care of the spiders, and Sorika and Mai accompany you to the first mercenary outpost?” He was simply repeating the plan Dantera came up with. He didn’t like it.

“Yes,” Sir Wynet said. “I have to say, I’m eager to put these problems to rest.”

“Very well,” Yoreno said. “But Sor…”

She looked at him.

“If attacking them poses a larger danger than you believe is necessary, you call a halt and wait until we arrive.”

She nodded. “I will.”

“Hey,” Mai said indignantly. “Why does she get to call it?”

“Rogue?” Sorika said, her lips quirking up into a smile.

“Oh,” Mai said sheepishly. “That’s right.”

And besides, when it came down to it, Yoreno trusted Sorika to do what was necessary even if that meant slowing their plans. She was a capable and responsible adventurer.

That was not to say that Mai was not those things, but Sorika was naturally more proactive as a leader when the necessity arose.

“We need a guide,” Yoreno said. “We don’t know where Kornet is.”

“It’s close,” Syr Wynet said. “Sir Jerrin knows where it is. Perhaps he should accompany you.”

Yoreno nodded. “Very well.”

Sir Jerrin moved to join them. He seemed like a capable young knight, much like Dellwyn, but without the adventurer’s experience. “I would be happy to take you, my mord.”

Yoreno nodded. “All right. Sir Wynet, we will meet you back here by the morning.”

With nods of agreement and wishes of good luck on both sides, the two parties separated.