Part 28

Shiss’kill’s words rang as prophecy, and that is precisely what they became. With the tribes of the Mantegio Plains united, we marched to the west, to the nation of Paldoro. Their armies met us at the border. They were led by a king resplendent in golden armor, a crown upon his head adorned with a truly garish number of jewels. He rode forward on his chariot, drawn by two white horses, a familiar face riding at his side.

Kaeliss nodded no greeting, her face stony. Of course, we weren’t supposed to know each other. This alliance was to be made here, now, not be part of a conspiracy months in the making. Kaeliss and Laena had left me half a year before, needing plenty of time to sway the king, or kill and replace him. I was most pleased to note that I couldn’t tell which had occurred, even when we stood face to face at last.

Or at least I was face to face with the horses.

“Great Lommeron, King of Paldoro, I greet you most humbly. Princess Kaeliss, you are truly the glorious vision they describe you as. My name is Katherine, of the Nine, and I come to beg of you an alliance.”

The king inclined his head. “Katherine, you are most welcome here.” he intoned formally, a familiar, mischievous grin taking form on his lips. “But while we must maintain this charade, you are welcome to call me Laena in private.”

Ah. Well it wasn’t the best possible outcome, but at least the armies needed were at my disposal. “Excellent. A pleasure to see you both again.” I replied with a gracious smile, dipping into a curtsy. Our voices were far too muted now for anyone to hear us from either force. It was best to maintain a facade with all, rather than just with those you are tricking, lest the mask slip at an inopportune moment. “I’m glad to see all went reasonably well. Are the armies of Paldoro prepared to march east?”

‘King Lommeron’ nodded tersely. “They have been told much of the rampaging tyranny of the eastern kingdoms of late. The tribes of the plains fear for their lives and their freedom. We march with our new friends to ensure the safety and freedom of every land.”

All as discussed.

“Excellent.” I replied, moving around to the side of the chariot, extending a hand up to him. He took it, palm down, and leaned over so his lips pressed against it. Now we just needed to begin the courtship in the field, and announce our marriage following the first victory. The first of many. We needed to be one people before the word of Chaos could spread easily. There would be resistance, and I could not spare myself from the frontlines to break the false preconceptions people had personally. They would have to be taken in by the words, by the Truth without my influence.

And for that, we needed to win their hearts, their minds, before trying to sway their souls.

It was why Shiss’kill was not by my side for the first time in many weeks. She waited back in my tent with Naryssa. The thought of the two of them sent shivers down my spine. My resistance to their charming offers had lasted about a week. They were far too enticing, and not a moment of regret had marred our many pleasurable encounters since.

I’m sure they and ‘King Lommeron’ wouldn’t mind sharing. I certainly didn’t.

And if word got around his kingdom that the king was sharing his bed with more than just the leader of their allies? Such a thing was commonplace in the west. In fact, people seemed to respect their rulers more when this was the case. It was a very strange place indeed.

“Well you have the sincere gratitude of all the plains tribes. Many rumors have been spreading from the east, from ‘unknown’ sources, of the tyrannical new laws being imposed there. Apparently there have been disappearances, assassinations, even some civil unrest. Martial law is the rule out there now. Quite terrible, all of it. And now it is said those dictators set their sights on our people! Something must be done.”

“And something will be. Together we can take the east and restore freedom to the oppressed.” ‘King Lommeron’ declared with an impressively straight face. Laena could be an actress, though of course, most of her life she’d survived because of this talent. It wasn’t surprising she’d honed it to perfection. “Come! We march east with our new friends.”

The army moved, following his chariot forward. They numbered in the tens of thousands, all of them real soldiers. Paldoro was an empire in all but name, and had become one through conquest. In truth, the late King had been a greater tyrant than any in the east. It was my intention to ensure his replacement was far superior.

My own scattered amalgamation of the tribes flowed together around the blocky, organized march of the military. My people were hunters, warriors, not soldiers. Still, they outnumbered the soldiers two to one, and either force would be mangled by a battle with the other. It was perfect. If either was too much stronger, the likelihood of infighting increased. With them evenly matched, neither wanted the bloodshed that would result from a confrontation. They would march and fight together, this force greater than the combined arms of the east.

And the east was far from unified, especially now.

Those instigators that had forced martial law on the people, that made kings into tyrants to try and restore order, they also removed those officials who were resisting the spread of Chaos. Veros and Jakera did their work well. Every nation of the east was fighting itself, turned entirely inward, isolated from neighbors that had never truly been their allies to start. When this force arrived they would be crushed one at a time, especially when the minor trouble makers turned into full blown revolutionaries.

The plains were mine. The west had been handed to me on a plate. The east would fall. And whatever progress Mordred made, which hopefully would end with him a martyr, the combined civilized people would be far too much for any number of northern barbarians. The continent would be united, and when Pael and Boestro eventually rejoined us, the scattered islands would be ours too. Perhaps then we would seek out other continents, for there were others. Shiss’kill had assured me of that, for she’d seen the souls of those who dwelled upon them. That would be no quick and easy conquest, but by then Chaos would have truly dug its roots into this place.

Where men and women would have difficulty going, demons could travel with ease.

There would be no stopping the spread of the Truth.