Novel 2. Royal Justice

— It looks like the usual merchant guards, — Armando said, as the party returned to the horses they had left in the shelter at his request. — And I think we're too late. The warehouse is empty. The outsider guards have gone with the cargo.

— Even so, we have a duty to check. — Master Carlon habitually scratched his beard. — And interrogate the guards if possible. They might tell us something useful.

— I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a trap inside the warehouse either, — the captain said, ears perked up with excitement. — The enemy already knows we're around and has a rough idea of who we are and what we're capable of.

— So I figured out a way to avoid storming the fence without risking the whole squad. — Armando smiled rather smugly, though he didn't feel very confident. — I bet the local mercenaries had not been told who they really worked for. Gotech, have you lost your staff yet?

— No, — the black-skinned giant grinned.

— All right. Get it. Donna Minerva, may I have a word? I'm going to need your input as well.

The preparations did not take long. Soon a rare sight awaited the guards at the merchant's warehouse. Standing on the wooden tower, the mercenaries saw two riders approaching them at a leisurely trot. The riders rode along the road, not lurking at all. And right above their heads, a dragon as black as night was circling in a battle harness. The Charcoal, guided by the skilful hand of its rider, was flying so low that the wind from its wings nearly tore off Armando's hat, and it was hard to breathe. But the effect was great, as the sentries tumbled down the tower, and not more than a minute later a row of iron-helmeted heads rose above the perambulation. The entire garrison of the warehouse gathered to admire the unexpected guests. Don de Gorazzo rode up to the locked gate, holding the rod of the royal bailiff in his high hand. He shouted:

— In the name of Her Majesty Queen Octavia! I, the royal bailiff, Don Armando de Gorazzo, demand that the gates be opened and the law assisted!

— And... w-who are you?! — one of the mercenaries stammered.

— I've already introduced myself, — the young official said in a disgruntled tone, patting his steel wand on his palm. In the meantime, the Charcoal began circling over the warehouse. Its right wing was now and then dangerously close to the watchtower. — Unlock it! In the name of the law!

— Ah... why have your nobles arrived? — The guard wouldn't give up. — It's just... we have orders not to let anyone in until special orders... no one at all.

— And if I decide to go in, are you going to stop me? — Armando looked up at the dragon. In addition, Gotech grinned his best ogre grin. Excited voices came from the side of the fence.

— Your nobility...

— A personal order from the queen, soldier, — the bailiff softened his tone a little. — The capital has learnt that your warehouse contains illegal goods related to the rebellion of the traitor barons. We will confiscate it or destroy it.

— There's nothing here, your nobility, — said the guard, stammering to himself. — What was there was taken away three days ago. But we don't know what was...

— Open the gate, you bastard! — De Gorazzo suddenly shouted, pointing his rod at the mercenary. He obeyed at last. Heads in helmets disappeared behind the fence, and the bolt rattled. The thick sashes slid open. Armando furtively swallowed as he hung his staff on his belt. The last part of his plan was also the riskiest. Outside, he and Gotech were covered by a nearby mage and an elf with a rifle. Inside the fence, the bailiffs could rely only on themselves and the dragon, who would be of little help if a melee broke out.

But it was all right. De Gorazzo's suspicions were fully justified, though he was not happy about it. The guards lined up along the fence obediently laid down their weapons and opened the warehouse doors. There was no crowd of heavily armed aliens waiting for the bailiffs inside. In fact, the warehouse was completely empty. After assuring himself that there was no danger, the young official dismissed Charcoal with a sign and set about interrogating the guards. He spent two hours shaking the soul out of the hired soldiers, who were hoarse. It was not the first time that the king's bailiff had interrogated six men in a row. At last, exhausted as much as the guards, the bailiff graciously allowed them to return to duty and left the warehouse through the same gate, accompanied by Gotech. On the way back, the don experienced a terrible itching between his shoulder blades. It seemed to Armando that at any moment a crossbow arrow or a shot from a wall gun — he had seen several of them in the guards' armoury — might fly into his back. Of course, nothing of the sort happened. Perhaps thanks to the black silhouette of the dragon, which had not flown far, and had been looming on the top of one of the hills, spreading its wings wide every now and then.

— You're lucky, my friend, — said de Gorazzo to his comrade, when the bottom of the hill hid the bailiffs from the eyes of the warehouse guard. — All you do is growl and make faces... My throat is like a sharpening stone.

— It's a natural talent of mine, — Gotech grinned, handing his friend a flask of water. Armando had emptied his own long ago. — I was born the way the Creator willed...

The Imperials were waiting for the bailiffs at the agreed place. The elven woman, who was impatient, flicked her ears in a horse-like manner and asked from afar:

— Well? Well?!

— Gone, — Armando answered her. When he came closer, he dismounted, walked quickly to the lizard-guarded prisoner, and grasped the stranger by the pecs. He yanked man towards him, trying not to tear the collar of his shirt, which, along with his trousers and boots, had been lent to the alien by master Carlon. He hit Giovanni's forehead on his nose, not hard enough to break it.

— Ouch! — cried the prisoner.

— Mines, then, in the warehouse, you say? — hissed the young official, shaking the stranger. — No place chosen? Master, get your hoop over here, quick.

— What... what do you mean... — the stunned alien muttered.

— The warehouse was cleared in two moves. — Armando kept hissing in his face. — The first load left five days ago, the second three days ago. And you mean to tell me you didn't know when and where it was going? Master!

— Already got it. — The imperial mage pulled a familiar silver hoop from his saddlebag.

— No, wait! — the stranger shrieked. — I was in the castle at the time.....

— And reported to superiors that everything was ready and the weapons would soon be sent to the battlefield. Right?!

— It... so... almost... — Messire Giovanni collapsed. He looked away from Armando, but the prisoner's running gaze kept returning to the hoop in the black-bearded magician's hands.

— Where did the wagons go? Why are there two of them? — continued to press the bailiff.

— You guessed it... Black Brooks Valley. Two because... it's not just mines. Mines were in the first one, they should have been laid by now. The second one was rockets. Rockets. Simple, almost artisanal, made here from local materials. Only the warhead... the explosives are ours. When the vanguard is blown up by the mines, the rockets will fire on the main body of the royal army. There'll be a fuss so that after the Queen's death, the Duke of Veronne will take charge, rally the soldiers and beat the rebels after all. Some of the missiles will fall on them, too...

— If you know all this, can you show on a map the valleys where the mines will be laid, where they will be detonated, where the batteries of rockets will be placed? — Master Carlon came up and grasped the prisoner by the shoulder.

— Roughly... very roughly... I only saw the plans, didn't make them. I'm not a military man.

— Any way you can, you'll show us. Otherwise, why do we need you? — Armando kicked the prisoner in the stomach, throwing him to the ground.

— Well, it's time for us to part with Donna Minerva, — the elfess said thoughtfully, rubbing her chin with two fingers. — Let her leave at once to search for the royal army. Octavia must be notified now, it will be too late. We'll send the prisoner with her.

— No way. — The young official grinned as much as his giant friend, looking down at the stranger crouched in the grass. — I'm afraid Messire Giovanni might have friends at court. But he certainly doesn't have any here. I'm sure Her Majesty will take Minerva at her word now. The sire will come with us. To the rear of the baron's army. And if we suddenly need to clarify anything else, we'll do it right there on the spot. And the sire will wish he'd told us everything beforehand. Messire understands me, I hope?

Chapter 13

Donna Minerva and Charcoal set off at sunset. For the sake of stealth, the dragon knight planned to fly at night, navigating by the stars. The rest of the group travelled to their goal, the Black Brooks Valley, at first light. It was a desperate gallop as the royal bailiffs and imperial spies drove their horses, giving themselves and their mounts the minimum rest they needed. The camp was made in the dark, when it was simply dangerous to ride. Alas, the lack of replacement horses did not allow them to keep a really high pace. In addition, one of the pack horses of the imperial squad had to be given to the prisoner, distributing its load among the others. The line of steep hills marking the edge of the valley did not appear until the third day. The elven woman who was leading the troop stopped her white Snowflake and turned to her companions.

— Here we'll have to split up again, — she said. — If our dear visitor from the other world has not lied once again, the main missile battery is deployed deep in the rear of the baron's army, and the minefield control post is on the left flank and far ahead. My company will take the battery, the control post I'm entrusting to the gentlemen bailiffs. Lady Maria will assist them. She's the only one who can read the alien language, and we'll probably have to deal with their technology on the ground. Therefore, noble dons, you will take a prisoner with you. Capturing the post is half the battle, you must try to disable the mines themselves, so that no one can use them anymore.

— It will be hard for the three of us to storm the target and keep an eye on... this one at the same time, — Gotech muttered, nodding at Giovanni. Giovanni was the worst of the lot, which was not surprising, for the stranger had seldom been on horseback. To be fair, the others looked a little better. — We could use a tracker like you or the corporal.

— Assaulting a battery behind enemy lines is no easier, — objected the sharp-eared girl. — Forgive me, dons, but in such a situation I would prefer to have at my disposal the men I am used to working with — every last one of them. But I have a modest gift for you.

The captain pulled two short arrows with bronze tips from a leather pouch on her belt — one had scarlet plumage, the other white.

— Enchanted crossbow arrows, — she explained, handing them to Armando. — The first for fire, the second for air. Use them as you see fit, but don't try to shoot directly at the outsiders.

— And remember that the spell is set to touch the bowstring to the shaft, — master Carlon added. The stout Southerner's beard had turned grey from the dust of the road, making him look more like a venerable old wizard. — If you put an arrow like that in your crossbow, you'll have to shoot it. Do not try to remove it from the stock.

— Thank you, — Armando sighed, stashing the precious charges in his quiver. He had never used enchanted arrows before. — I'll try to remember.

— It would be worth waiting until nighttime to get Jana involved, but I'm not sure we have that option, — the elf continued. — Both groups should get into position around the same time and act according to circumstances. The success of one of the groups will cause confusion in the enemy camp and will facilitate the actions of the second group. After completing the tasks, meet at that abandoned farm to the west. If the enemy is there, meet at the alternate position to the north. If someone can't get there in time, the final rendezvous point is under the walls of the nearest town.

Lady Maria hugged the bearded mage quickly, nodded to Sergeant Dallan, and shook the clawed hand of the lizard corporal. The lizard hissed in response, opened its mouth, and licked the girl-guardian's cheek with its long tongue. A moment later the two newly formed squads separated, each going their separate ways. The bailiffs headed straight for the valley; the Imperials would have to make a detour to approach the rebel camp from behind.

For most of the journey Armando's companions were silent. The Lady Maria had nothing to say to the Daertzes, and the bailiffs themselves were unwilling to discuss anything serious in her presence. The prisoner was withdrawn, staring at the mane of his skinny horse, which was being led by Gotech. De Gorazzo, in truth, might well have learnt from him. Recent events had seized the young official like a hurricane, and carried him along the waves of destiny without respite. In fact, it was good — otherwise the bailiff would have been shaken long ago. The relatively calm last part of the journey gave him a chance to reflect on his actions and his situation. However, the don resolutely ignored that chance. Instead of reflecting, he was amused by the thought of how opposite his companions were to each other — the black-skinned, bald giant and the thin, albino-looking girl.

As they approached the edge of the valley, they heard more and more suspicious sounds. Horns sang behind the hilly ridge, and there was a rumbling sound. It sounded faintly like the noises of an encamped army. The bailiffs and the guardsman spurred their horses and galloped off. They dismounted in the shadow of one of the hills and hastily climbed the steep hill. Messire Giovanni's hands were tied in front, so that Gotech almost dragged him by the collar. They did not hurry in vain — from the top of a rather steep and high hill they could see a breathtaking picture. The Black Brooks Valley was full of troops... at both ends. In the western part of the valley, baronial squads stood in irregular squares, while in the eastern part of the valley, rows of mounted lancers under the royal banners stretched out in a solid front. Queen Octavia's personal banner was flying, as it should, over the centre of the formation.

— The royal army is already here! — exclaimed the amazed Armando. — But they were only expected in two or three days....

— Look closely — there are only cavalry here, — Gotech pointed out. — Her Majesty had left the infantry, artillery and wagons behind for the sake of speed.