Bloodsworn

Chapter 2.40 Next Steps

40.

“Heavy casualties amongst the regulars. Princess Aloria’s royal guard fared better, but still took losses. Militia detachment had nearly a fifty percent casualty rate, but not as many fatalities. We were able to pull them out and retreat. Most will be able to return to service,” Sammus finished off reading the long list of damaged to Victoria.

The Queen sat ramrod straight, her face an icy mask as she listened to what had been a catastrophic loss of military might. Over half of the regulars, including a contingent of her Northern guard and officers, were dead. Aloria had been injured herself, forcing a rescue evac to the Sword of Empire and her healers there. Erak’s own injuries were nothing more than severe bruising of the body and ego.

“Remind me to find Rutledge and inquire about what the chieftain did,” Erak thought toward Pomp. The dragon had been quiet ever since his defeat at the hands of the goblin chief. Pomp had been reticent to say much about how he had been defeated, sulking instead for the last day.

“I commend you all for your bravery against what was a fierce foe. Their numbers have surprised us, but with Erak’s defeat of their chieftain, we believe that they shall disband and scatter,” Victoria had taken to using the royal We lately. She had managed to take over nearly every element of the current functioning government, the handful or Imperial Royals not having the backing needed to supersede her.

With a few more quiet platitudes, Victoria dismissed the majority of the court, only her closest retainers staying. Sammus patted Erak on the shoulder, the contact familiar and not unwelcome. Few risked coming near him after the scarring, leaving him to the outside like some feral beast.

The doors to the impromptu throne room closed shut and a pair of guards watched the outer doors to ensure no one came too close to overhear. Lady Torpin moved away from the back of the throne and to the front as Victoria slumped slightly. She sighed and rubbed at her face as she looked over the few retainers that had stayed in the room with her.

“Erak, how strong were their forces? Truly?”

“Tough. They had numbers and levels, which aren’t to be discounted. The lack of strategy was their downfall. I recommend arming another contingent and clearing the woods. If they regroup, they could become a powerful foe,” Erak said in a flurry of flashing fingers.

“If I had the guards to spare I would. Our numbers are growing but the progress is slow. Hunting the depths has helped improve levels, but not as much as we wished. A few scouting teams have found ways even deeper, but the monsters emerging from there have been incredibly powerful. Only the tight confines of the lower halls have kept us from being overwhelmed.”

“ A full mobilization?” Erak asked. The few people left in the room grew still as all eyes darted to the Queen. That was a power only the Emperor should have and if she tried to claim it, it would become a nightmare of politics but that wasn’t his concern. They needed an army.

“I can’t. Not yet. We need to find the Emperor or confirm his death. But more than that, we need allies. Erak, I need you to lean upon the favor that Princess Illyria owes you. If not her, then the boon that Sword does.”

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Erak felt a dread start to fill his stomach. He had an idea about what she was going to ask and it was enough that he wanted to instantly deny it. His place was by her side, not galavanting around.

“Lady Torpin and a few others have identified a series of potential allies to call upon. My father is the first on the list, but the distance is too far, even for Sword, to call upon them quickly. They will be the last on our list. The first is actually Prince Sammus’s family.”

“Another Queen?” Erak asked. He didn’t know the royal politics well, but inviting another queen into this mess didn’t seem like the best of choices.

“She is a kind and intelligent woman who avoids the spotlight as much as possible. In truth, I want you to treat with her father.”

“I am to take Sammus with me?”

“Of course. I will be naming Sammus my ambassador and you as his escort. You are to be in charge of the success of this Erak. We need allies,” Victoria leaned in as she said the words, emphasizing the statement. There were new stress lines around the corner of her eyes as she looked at him.

“Your newfound militia will be your primary troop, but I can find a small team of Northern guards if you wish?” Victoria asked. Erak shook his head instantly. He couldn’t stand the thought of her losing even more protectors now that he was being ordered to leave.

“The militia will be fine. There is plenty of training I can do with them that will let us become competent.” Erak thought of the wildly milling mass of humanity who had joined and doubted that his words would come true. He’d have to get more weapons and armor for them, secure food, and find a training platform. A thousand separate thoughts filled his mind as he already started on organizing what he needed for a successful campaign.

“A few days from now, Erak. Can you do that?” Torpin’s voice cut through the haze as Erak snapped back into the moment. The rest of the court was looking at him with expectant expressions.

“Of course. I will leave from here and talk to Illyria and Sword. Sammus will be willing to go as well and I’ll take Julius with me. Anyone else who needs to go?” Erak signed quickly.

“I am not the Emperor. I have no need of political commissars to watch over my subordinates. I know you do not wish to depart from my side, Erak, but I thank you for being willing to do this for us.” Victoria said with a smile as she rose up from her temporary throne to walk over to him. She patted his shoulder in an identical move to Sammus and walked out of the throne room, accompanied by a handful of her guards.

“She was worried you’d deny her this,” Torpin said as the sounds of the shutting door echoed across the hall.

“When have I ever denied her?” Erak asked.

“There is always the first time. She leans more and more on you as her followers dwindle. And with her reliance, she loses your presence by her side. A general and ambassador, not a bodyguard.” Torpin said as she grabbed a series of maps and beckoned him over.

Erak peered over her shoulder and looked at them and the several circled areas. There was an itinerary created with timeline and dates, important people, who to see, projected numbers of troops who would be needed.

“If they are as hard hit as we were, I can not see any of them yielding troops easily to our cause,” Erak said. The rampant destruction of the capital was still ln his mind. The neverending fires that had turned the once great city to nothing more than a crematorium.

“Erak, you will arriving above their cities in the Sword of Empire. It’s a symbol, yes, but it’s also a threat. Sammus is the glove, you are the gauntlet. We need these troops as fast as possible. So, let’s start going over this,” Torpin said and Erak settled down as she began to go over their plans for the future.