The officers gathered the column and they made camp on the outskirts of a forest, where they hoped the rocky hills nearby and thick treetops would help prevent another attack.
The enchanters didn’t have the skills of builders, but were able to construct some rune-covered fortifications and alert systems — tall towers encircling the camp, giving the soldiers a much-needed feeling of protection.
The huge command tent was raised in the centre of the camp, a circle of bladesingers providing one level of protection, a series of activated sentry devices providing another.
Miro was posted with the circle of bladesinger guards, some kind of reward for the exertions of the day, he supposed.
The loud voices of the commanders were audible to all. Prince Leopold’s cultured accent was a crisp contrast to Marshal Sloan’s rasping soldier’s voice and Blademaster Rogan’s baritone.
"We have to face the possibility that the Ring Forts have been overrun," said Marshal Sloan.
"That’s impossible!" said Prince Leopold.
"Then how do you explain what happened today?" said Sloan.
"I don’t know!"
"Then guess," said Blademaster Rogan.
There was no response.
"The fact is, we need more information,” Sloan said. “I’ve dispatched runners to Mornhaven and Sark, hopefully that will give us some answers, but until then, we need a plan of action."
"What do you recommend?"
"This is a good position; we should dig in here. At the least, it will give us a chance to redefine our tactics and gather information. We can’t let another disaster like today happen again. We were completely unprepared."
"That’s because we’re supposed to be under the protection of the Ring Forts!" Leopold said.
"I know that!" said Sloan. "But it shouldn’t have happened. If we’d been marching in proper order we would have saved lives."
Rogan Jarvish spoke, "We all failed here. We know now we can’t make assumptions. From now on we must treat the situation as if we’re in enemy territory, rather than friendly lands. And we must face the fact that the Ring Forts may no longer be under our control."
"I can’t believe they’ve been overrun," Leopold said.
"There’s always betrayal," said Rogan. "It’s happened before."
"Let’s not jump to conclusions," said Marshal Sloan. "At this stage we simply don’t know."
~
WHEN the news arrived, it was completely unexpected. The Ring Forts had not been overrun.
It was much, much worse.
"I still don’t understand," said Ronell, frowning into the glow of a nightlamp.
They had all heard the same rumours, and finally one of the bladesingers had explained it clearly to the recruits. Miro didn’t know whether Ronell was being stubborn or really couldn’t understand. He sat down next to Ronell, Bartolo on the other side.
"The Ring Forts line the eastern Halrana border with Torakon," said Bartolo.
"I know that." Ronell scowled.
"…and the builders of Torakon are old allies of the imperial house. For example in the Rebellion, the builders gave the Emperor passage through their lands."
"Which is what happened here?"
Bartolo spoke forcefully, "No. This war is different, the builders and the imperial legion are acting as one. They’ve effectively become one house, and the Torak High Lord has given the Emperor their Lexicon."
"Yes, and no one knows why. I know all that."
Bartolo continued, "Everyone expected the Black Army to attack the Ring Forts, the same way the Emperor did during the Rebellion. But the Halrana also share a northern border with Loua Louna, the land of the artificers."
Miro thought again of the artificers — crafty merchants and masters of lore, eternally neutral, hungry for gilden, and never directly taking part in war. He still couldn’t believe it himself.
In a completely unexpected move, the Emperor had driven an army of the imperial legion deep into Louan territory and straight into the capital of Mara Maya. They’d stayed there only long enough to re-supply before driving further.
The legion had then taken the towns of Carnathion and Norcia. They never stood a chance.
And now the Black Army was encamped outside Ralanast, capital of Halaran.
It came as a complete shock. Raj Loua Louna, who were neutral in every conflict and existed only for wealth, had been overrun. No one attacked the artificers, for without the tools of war no war could be won.
The commanders of the Alturan army could see only three options: either the Emperor was so confident of victory he was willing to marginalise every neutral house, or he was executing some brilliant tactic that could not yet be understood, or he was mad. For the Ring Forts still lay unconquered, the armies of Altura and Halaran undefeated.
Then came the worst news of all. It appeared Loua Louna had taken on the white and black standard; the Louans had joined forces with the Emperor.
Indecisive, uncertain, the army of Altura lay encamped, waiting for some sign of what to do next.