‘Why even bother with the abductions?’ asked James.
‘My point exactly,’ said Calis. ‘They do not think as we do. I doubt we will ever understand them.’ He pointed to the map on the opposite wall, showing the Kingdom from Land’s End to the eastern border outside the city of Ran. ‘Salador and Krondor both present problems, and the route from Salador to Sethanon is easier, but getting to Salador presents many additional problems.
‘It’s a longer journey, which means an additional risk of unexpected damage to stores or to ships by storm. And it’s a route far more likely to bring the Empire’s attention to bear upon the fleet.’
He stood and walked over to the map. He motioned and a servant removed it, replacing it with one in smaller scale, showing the entire world as they knew it. Waving at the bottom half of the map, where Novindus was shown, Calis said, ‘Currents here force anyone coming this way to move in a straight line from the eastern shore of Novindus to a point just southeast of the tip of the Triagia, then they have to move almost due north to strike the southern coast of Kesh. That right-angle route adds a month of travel time. We found that out when we used that Brijaner longship to get to Novindus last time. But crossing the Endless Sea to reach the Bitter Sea from the City of the Serpent River is a direct line by comparison.’ He pointed to the long, curving coast of Kesh on the eastern side of the continent and said, ‘South of the Kingdom Sea the Brijaners and other Keshian raiders trade regularly. Additionally, here,’ - he pointed to the area of the ocean just northeast of the range of mountains called the Girdle of Kesh - ‘is the heaviest concentration of the Empire’s Eastern Fleet. They are not going to sit idly by and watch six hundred hostile ships float past, even if they know the Kingdom is their ultimate target.’ He shook his head. ‘Plus the invasion fleet would have to sail past Roldem and the other Eastern kingdoms who might harry them in their passing.
‘No, they will come this way. The mercenaries we’ve captured all tell of similar assignments: to capture and hold vital points along the mountains, so they can allow additional forces to pass over the ridge unopposed.’
William turned to Admiral Nicholas. ‘Nicky, we’ve talked about the risk of the Straits of Darkness passage . . .’
Nicholas said, ‘It’s not that risky if you know what you’re doing, even in late fall. Amos Trask and my father once sailed it in the dead of winter.’ He considered. ‘But for this fleet to clear the straits and reach Krondor, they would be best to come through no earlier than late spring or early summer. Midsummer is perfect. The weather’s the best, the tides the most forgiving . . .’ He paused and looked into space.
‘What?’ said Prince Patrick after a minute.
‘I still urge you to let me sail against them before they enter the Bitter Sea.’
Patrick sighed and looked at James. The Duke of Krondor said, ‘Nicky, we’ve been over this territory before.’
‘I know,’ said Nicholas. ‘And I know it’s risky, but think of the benefits!’ He rose, came to stand next to Calis, and motioned to the servant. ‘Give me the larger map.’
At once the scribe stood, removed the map of the world from the wall and rapidly hung another of the same size, but of much larger scale, showing the Western Kingdom and major portions of Kesh and the north, from the Far Coast to Malac’s Cross. Pointing to the Straits of Darkness Nicholas said, ‘They’re bringing six hundred or more ships. They can’t have six hundred captains and crews worth spit.’ He slapped his hand against the wall for emphasis. ‘If we bring the fleet down out of the Sunset Islands or closer in, say, Tulan’ - his finger stabbed at the southernmost city on the Far Coast - ‘we can catch them as they begin to come through the straits. I can put thirty warships of size at their rear and another two or three dozen fast cutters. We sail in, slash them from behind, and sink as many of the wallowing barges they’re carrying their troops in as possible, then when their escort ships turn to fight, we sail off. I don’t care how good their escort ships or captains are, we know the winds and current better than they. We can get away!’ He was the most animated Erik had ever seen him as he said, ‘If we’re fortunate we’ll catch them with their escorts coming through the straits before the troop ships, unable to turn and come back because of their own ships! We could sink a third, perhaps a half of their fleet!’
‘Or if they split their escorts and put half of them at the rear, you could lose every ship we have in the West without doing any real damage,’ said Patrick. He shook his head. ‘Nicky, if we had the Western Imperial Fleet with us, or if Quegan war galleys would sail from the eastern side of the straits, maybe I could see risking this.’ The Prince sighed. ‘We are the smallest sea power in the West.’