The Stone of Knowing by Allan N. Packer

Author:Allan N. Packer [Packer, Allan N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780648305163
Publisher: Luminant Publications

“What are we doing to break this siege, My Lord?”

“Why are we just sitting here while the Rogandans pillage our land?”

“When will the king return from Castel with his army to relieve us?”

The duke endured the carping of the nobles with increasing annoyance. Finally he held up his hand. The clamor continued unabated.

“Silence!” he bellowed, a look of fury on his face. “I shall dismiss you from this chamber and this Council if you continue to behave in this way.”

Some of the nobles appeared affronted, but the noise subsided.

After a few moments of silence, the Earl of Pisander spoke up. “I think my fellow nobles are simply wondering if our excellent commander has prepared a plan for dealing with the Rogandans.”

“The city walls are solid, and we have enough men to defend them, My Lord,” Will replied calmly. “My plan is to ensure that the Rogandans stay out, while we remain safe inside.”

“A safe plan indeed, Commander. No one could accuse you of being unduly adventurous.” A couple of the nobles snickered. “Do you have no thought of taking the fight to the Rogandans?”

“Our estimate is that the Rogandans have twenty thousand men in their army. We have almost twenty five hundred—barely enough to protect the city. I would be a poor commander indeed if I committed our soldiers to battle against such odds without a very compelling reason, My Lord.”

“Are you afraid to fight unless the odds are in your favor, Commander?” Pisander asked quietly.

Will, who had thus far never managed to engage in any fight where the odds were in his favor, did not bother to reply.

“If you think he’s afraid, why don’t you issue him a formal challenge, Pisander?” Count Ranauld broke in, his voice icy calm.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Ranauld. You know that a nobleman cannot duel with a commoner.”

“That problem is not insurmountable. I am his Second In Command. Issue the challenge to me. I would be delighted to defend his honor.”

Pisander went pale. “Come, My Lord. You entirely mistake me. I meant no slight on our gallant commander. Everyone knows he has no cowardly bone in his body. I was merely hoping to learn if he might have some plan of action.”

“As a matter of fact I do.” All eyes turned immediately to Will. He looked to the duke for permission to speak. The duke frowned, but inclined his head.

“We need to find out what Drettroth, who leads the Rogandans, is planning to do. His army is very large, much larger than he needs for a siege. And he was never planning a siege, anyway—he expected to take Arnost by surprise. I suspect that Arnost was only ever intended to be a stepping stone, and that he has other plans for this army.”

“How do you propose to uncover Drettroth’s plans,” retorted Pisander, “given that our best agents have uncovered nothing? Are you planning to write to him and ask for the details?”

Will ignored Pisander’s sarcasm. “I’m proposing to visit the Rogandan camp myself and learn what I can.

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