The Keshian herald said, ‘Highness, my lords, I have the honor to present his most esteemed lord, General Beshan Solan.’
‘General,’ said Prince Patrick. ‘May we inquire as to your presence in our Kingdom? Are you perhaps lost?’
‘Highness,’ said the General. ‘Let us be brief. It is wet, and I would like to return to my camp. We have closely watched this invasion, as you have provided us with remarkably candid intelligence regarding the enemy, their disposition, and intent.
‘We did, however, incur losses as they attempted to expand into territory occupied by our forces,’ the leather-faced old soldier said. ‘So my master, His Most Imperial Majesty, has decided that the former boundaries between Great Kesh and your Kingdom are no longer agreeable to us.’
Patrick looked ready to explode. ‘You dare ride into my own Principality and inform me the Empire is trying to annex territories beyond those agreed to?’
‘In a word: yes.’
‘Well, General, look around. It may come to your attention that the bulk of the Armies of the East are currently here in Darkmoor. Come spring I can order them southward just as easily as westward. I am certain I can convince my father that we can wait a year to reclaim the Western Realm while we sort out some Keshian adventurers.’
The General seemed unimpressed. ‘Highness, with all due respect, your Western Armies are scattered and decimated, your Eastern Armies can not stay here long, else you’ll face difficulties on your eastern borders. You have no significant navy left of which to speak. In short, while you could most certainly create some difficulties for Great Kesh for a short while, in the long run, to what advantage?’ He took out a rolled-up parchment, and said, ‘Here are the terms of a treaty my Imperial Master sends to your father.’
Patrick nodded and a soldier took the scroll from the Keshian General. Patrick nodded to Arutha, who took it, opened it and read it. ‘Damn!’ he said after a moment.
‘My lord?’ said Patrick.
‘They want it all. We keep everything from where we sit to the East. Kesh claims all lands between the Great Star Lake and the Teeth of the World West of the Calastius Mountains.’
‘Kesh’s historical boundaries, as you know,’ said the General, ‘before the unfortunate war with the rebellious Confederacy to the south forced us to abandon our hereditary lands.’
‘Hereditary lands!’ said Patrick. ‘Not in the worst fever dream of your most deluded monarch. General.’
Arutha said, ‘What of Queg and the Free Cities of Natal?’
The General said, ‘Kesh will deal with her recalcitrant children in time.’
Patrick said, ‘If you will be so kind as to wait, my lord, I will pen a reply to your Imperial Master. And you can tell Digaai for me that the formal declaration of war from my father will arrive shortly.’
Nakor said, ‘Highness?’
‘What!’ snapped Patrick, obviously close to a rage.
‘I think I can help.’
Pug said, ‘What do you have in mind?’
‘Watch!’ Nakor took out the Tsurani transport sphere and vanished.
‘What is that odd little man up to?’ asked the Prince.
Pug said, ‘I don’t know, but he usually manages to come up with unexpected results. I think we can afford to wait a little while.’
Patrick said, ‘Very well.’
A few minutes later, Nakor was back. ‘Look to the south,’ he said.
The entire company of officers from both sides did as Nakor bade, and to the south a vast column of ruby light pierced the sky.
‘What is that?’ asked the Keshian General.
‘That is Stardock,’ said Pug.
‘Stardock!’ said the General. ‘That’s impossible! Stardock is hundreds of miles from here.’
‘Nevertheless,’ said Pug, ‘that light is coming from Stardock.’
Nakor said, ‘It’s a demonstration of power. It’s to let you know there are seven hundred very angry magicians down there who don’t like the way you honor treaties.’
‘Seven hundred?’ said Pug. ‘I thought there were four hundred.’
Nakor grinned. ‘We invited some of your old Tsurani friends to come visit.’
Pug rolled his eyes and said, ‘Three hundred black robes?’
‘Well, maybe a few less.’
The General said, ‘Seven hundred magicians?’
‘Angry magicians,’ said Erik.
‘And one very angry Prince, with the Armies of the East camped ten miles from here!’ added Patrick. ‘Come spring, you can expect a two-front war, General. And from the look of that little demonstration, you don’t even want to consider what that means for the Empire.’
The Keshian General looked around and at last said, ‘What do you propose. Highness?’
Patrick said, ‘We’ll make it simple. You return to the old border, and come spring my father’s diplomats and your Emperor’s can start renegotiating the boundary between our two realms all over again.’