Feist, Raymond E - Riftwar Cycle 12 - Rage of a Demon King by Feist Raymond E

Author:Feist, Raymond E [Feist, Raymond E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0380720884
Publisher: Eos
Published: 2010-05-23T12:28:27.661000+00:00

FIFTEEN - Onslaught

Erik frowned.

He put the papers on Lord William’s desk and said, ‘That is what I’m to do?’

William and Calis nodded. ‘We’ve had a change of plans since my father appeared,’ said William, looking very tired. ‘He went into council with the Prince, James, and myself, and all I can tell you is he convinced us that Calis is needed elsewhere.’

Erik had been operating on the assumption that he would be up in the mountains to the north and east of the city, awaiting the fall of Krondor to launch raids against the invaders as they moved eastward. Now he was being told the roles were being shuffled, like so many cards in a deck.

William said, ‘I am in charge of the defense of the city. That hasn’t changed. Vykor’s flotilla is hidden down in Shadon Bay and will sally against the raiders as they pass by, to be joined, we hope, by what is left of Nicholas’s fleet after it’s refitted at the Sunsets.

‘Greylock will act as my second with the units up in the mountains.’ He pointed at Erik. ‘That means you will have to fill in for Greylock, where we had planned to use him.’

‘The retreat,’ said Erik flatly.

‘Yes,’ said Calis. ‘By the time we lose this city, we’re going to have a frantic population attempting to flee and a routed army trying to go with them. We can’t allow that.’

‘How are you going to prevent it?’ asked Erik.

William sighed. ‘This is what comes of making assumptions. If we had included you in our command meetings you’d know this already.’ He handed a large sheaf of papers to Erik. ‘Read these; the plan is outlined in detail and I want you to have it down cold by tonight. You and I will have dinner and we can dispose of any questions of yours then.’

Erik turned to Calis. ‘When do you leave?’

‘As soon as my father returns from Stardock,’ answered William for Calis.

Erik assumed it was implicit no one knew when that was. ‘Very well, m’lord.’

Erik turned to leave the room, and as he reached the door, William said, ‘Oh, Erik, there’s one more thing.’

Erik turned and said, ‘What is that, sir?’

‘From this moment on, you’re a Knight-Captain in the Prince’s Army. I don’t have time to waste making you a lieutenant, so you’ll just have to skip a rank.’

Greylock smiled, trying hard not to laugh at Erik’s astonished expression. ‘Me, sir?’

‘What’s the matter, von Darkmoor!’ shouted Calis in a fair imitation of Bobby de Loungville. ‘Are you suddenly hard of hearing?’

Erik blushed. ‘Ah, that means I need a new Sergeant Major, doesn’t it?’

‘Yes. Any recommendations?’

Erik almost said Jadow, because he was the most senior sergeant in the command, but the fact was that Calis had been correct originally when he had given Erik the job. Jadow just didn’t have the command skills for the position; it required far more organizational ability than most of the sergeants possessed. After a while he said, ‘There are two or three men who would serve, but to be honest, the best of the lot is Duga, the mercenary Captain.

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