The Return of the Exiles: The Rombuli Saga, #2

By Eddie Gubbins

The Empire is disintegrating. There has been no communication with Parison from Rombuli for over three years. People report seeing strange creatures flying over the land. Sending troops or some of the Covenent to investigate proves futile. As soon as they cross the border, nothing is heard from them. They disappear without trace.In the face of this threat, the plan is to hold onto Rombuli while a way is found of to ascertain what is happening. Edward Eastland is given the task of finding the Walloonian Army at a place called Bryants Ridge so that he can recruit some of the Covenent. With his friends Tag and Boris, he sets out leaving his new wife Kitty behind. They are cut off from Rombuli and have to find a different way back. Edward wonders whether his power and the expertise of Tag will keep them safe. Will he learn more about his power, magic as Tag calls it,m. Are the forces ranged against him equipped with greater powers. Will his friends follow him no matter what the dangers they encounter? As they set out they have to face the possibility that the Empire might not exist when or if they return to Rombuli.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eddie Gubbins
• Release date: Oct 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301767427

Eddie Gubbins

I left school at sixteen and became a cadet with he Shell Tanker Company. In all, I spent 12 years as a ships officer in the British Merchant navy. That is where my Tales from the Sea posted on www.theoldun.blogspot.com come from. Actually I used to put what happened while I was at sea in some sort of literary context while walking up and down the bridge of ships in the middle of the night. Though it can sound exciting travelling the world's oceans, at times it can be very boring spendin four hours staring at the sea. I never wrote these stories down at the time just composed them in my head. After leaving the sea, I graduated and became a university lecturer in Transport management. I had my first taste of writing seriously when I published a text book entitled Managing Trandport Operations. While lecturing years if my students appeared to get bored with my what I was teaching them, I kept them awake by relating my experiences while at sea! It was these students who encouraged me to write the stories down and post them on the web. over a number of years I wrote a novel entitled Running after Maria loosely based on aperiod in my life. In this novel I explored the effect of great loss and heartbreak and how the kindness of others can lead to redemption. As a first novel I could not find a publisher though I am thinking of publishing this as an ebook. Since retiring four years ago, I have signed up for Creative Writing classes at the local college. The Tutor ( Debbie Tyler-Bennett) is a poet and makes me write very bad poetry as well as short prose pieces. She has encouraged us to send our writing off to publishers. One of my short stories has been published as the runner up in a competion in an anthology " islands in mind". I have written or am in the prossess of writing a fantasy novel called The Return of the Exiles. I can remeber exactrly when the ideas for this started. It was 1972 and my wife had gone to look after her terminally ill mother. She left me with a copy of Lord of the RIngs and an Album Rambling Boy by Tom Paxton. I read Lord of the Rings in a very short time. It occurred to me that this was a genre in which certain ideas could be explored. Over the years i thought about this made notes and wrote isolated incidents in the story. Since starting Creative Writingclasses some of the other participants I have read some of these incidents to the class. they encouraged me to write the whole novel the result of which is Th...

Book preview

The Return of the Exiles

By

Eddie Gubbins

Book 2 of the Rombuli Saga

The Return of the Exiles

Eddie Gubbins

Copyright 2012 by Eddie Gubbins

Smashwords Edition

Rombuli Saga

Book 1 The Teacher of the Rombuli

Other books by the author:

Running After Maria

Brotherly Love

A Ceremony of Innocence

An Ordinary Life

Chapter 1

It was all over. Edward was returning to reality. The pleasure and warmth of the honeymoon would now give way to the pain of real life. Sheltered from the outside world in the protection of their holiday house for three weeks, Edward and his bride Kitty had loved and laughed and played with no thoughts other than each other. They had soared up into the heavens on the wings of their passion and sunk into the gentle arms of their soft downy peace. At times, they had lain on the bed just talking quietly. At other times, they walked through the parkland hand in hand. Like children let out of school early, they had chased each other through the woods and paddled in the lake at the back of the house. Soon now, other people and their problems would intrude into their togetherness. They would have to take up their responsibilities. They would have to change the way they would like to live to the altar of other peoples' needs.

The horses strained as they plodded on up the hill through the cold rain that had settled over the Rombuli countryside as a sign that autumn was approaching. The wheels of the coach the horses were pulling splashed through puddles and the slithered through mud, slipping sometimes as though reluctant to progress any further. The driver and his assistant sat huddled on their seat, coat collars pulled high around their chins staring gloomily at the summit of the hill the coach was negotiating. They had run this journey many times but now they wished they were in the dry stables in Nimmar at the journeys end. The escorting soldiers sat on their horses, shivering in the wet, gloomily contemplating the miles to their destination through the curtain of the rain. Some silently cursed the Sergeant who had given them this assignment to escort the Counsellor and his wife back to Nimmar from Shardlaw, while others stolidly did their duty.

Inside the carriage, Edward Eastland sat looking out of the window at the saturated countryside passing slowly, frowning at the thoughts of the way his life had changed. He was shivering in the chill and wishing he and Kitty were back home in their rooms in the Mansion on the Island of Peace at Nimmar. Home, he thought ironically. I am now calling the Mansion home, rather than the seat of the enemy I used to consider it. How times change. It did not seem all that long ago when I was fleeing from Nimmar to return to my real home in Alskar. Then it was fear that drove me on, fear of what I might find at the end of my journey. There was a certainty about who was the enemy then and all I had to do was to defy them. Now I am thinking of the Mansion, where those once I considered the enemy lived on the Island of Peace in Nimmar, as home. How times change.

He turned from his gloomy contemplation of the saturated fields and smiled at his companion, his wife of two weeks sitting by his side. Kitty was slumped in her seat, her body as close to Edward’s as was possible, bundled up in clothes, her fur hat pulled tight around her head and a scarf wrapped around her face so that only her eyes were visible. From the shadows covering her eyes, Edward could not work out whether she smiled back or not. Reassuringly, he squeezed her shoulders and returned to his gloomy contemplation of the slowly passing wet countryside.

It had been a strange time for Edward since Boric Borovic, the Imperial Master of the Governor's Bodyguard Troop, had stopped him on the road outside Pinaar a few weeks before. At the time, he had been accompanying his friends from Pinaar to the Gathering Fields for the annual assembly of the Free Rombuli people. As his friends looked on that day, he had been given an ultimatum by the soldier blocking his way along the road. Accompany Boric Borovic back to Nimmar voluntarily or face arrest and be dragged back to Nimmar as a prisoner. It had not been much of a choice for Edward. Surrounded by his friends, he had reasoned that many of them would have been hurt if he had resisted the soldiers. Reluctantly, he had agreed to go with Boric and leave his friends to go on to the Gathering without him. When he had arrived in Nimmar, he had met Kitty once more. She had vowed not to let him go again and moved him into to her room, much to the surprise of her family.

Later, at meetings of the Governor's Council, Edward had heard that the Empire was in trouble. The Covenenter, Latask, had told the Council that he did not know what was causing the problems or how it could be opposed. Then Edward, on Latask's request, had summoned Nelvask, the Teacher of the Rombuli, in a way he had thought was impossible. The day the request had been made to him, he had stood in his room with Kitty and opened his mind to Nelvask. What a shock it had been to Edward when Nelvask had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, right in the place where he was looking.

At a conference shortly after Nelvask had arrived, Edward had listened to suggestions from Nelvask and Latask about what was causing them to lose touch with the other Covenenters but nothing had been resolved. Instead, Nelvask had married Kitty and Edward and sent them away to stay at the Governor's Lodge near Shardlaw for a few weeks. For some reason, when they had entered the Lodge it had felt to Edward that he was returning home but he was certain he had never been there before. Now he and Kitty were returning to Nimmar and to the making of decisions about what action had to be taken to preserve the Empire.

Outside the coach, the horses with a snort topped the hill and started down the other side. The end of the journey was now in sight. The town of Nimmar was visible across the river, the lights of the houses starting to sparkle in the evening gloom. To Edward's left on this side of the river, the lights of the vast barracks were also clear. Further on through the gathering dusk and the drizzle, he could just make out the Island and their destination of the Mansion. It was too gloomy to make out the Temple. Home, thought Edward, though even now it was strange to call this place that he had considered enemy territory, home.

After crossing the bridge over the Kinder River that separated the Barracks from the town of Nimmar, the carriage followed the left fork of the road towards the town, the road to Alskar leading away up the hill to disappear into the trees. Rattling over the cobbles of the street through the town, the carriage passed the Meeting Hall, dark and quiet now, to one side of the town square. Reaching the Alskar River, they crossed the bridge to the Island, stopping briefly for the sentries at the gate to identify the occupants of the carriage. Then on up the hill to the Mansion.

As soon as the carriage came to a stop at the front entrance to the Mansion, Kitty stirred, gathered the folds of her cloak around her and descended the carriage steps. Looking neither to right nor left, she swept ahead of Edward into the building. She was half way up the stairs before Edward caught her and then they walked behind her maid, Zita who had been stationed at the bottom of the stairs to greet them, to their apartments.

I will never be warm again, Kitty moaned through chattering teeth, standing in front of the fire warming her hands. I need a hot bath.

The maid helped her off with her cloak. Your bath is ready for you in the other room. On instructions from the Governor's wife, I took the liberty of laying out your dress so that you will be ready to take dinner with the Governor, his wife and some of the other officials as soon as you are bathed and changed Madam. Come into the bedroom and I will help you out of these clothes. We will soon have you warm again.

Kitty smiled dreamily with a look as though the world was suddenly a nice place. She kissed Edward briefly before disappearing into the bedroom. Tulla, the servant who had served Edward since the first time he had come to the Mansion, appeared with a tray containing a steaming pitcher and some mugs.

Drink this and it will warm you after the journey, Tulla advised, taking Edward's cloak and handing him a hot drink. I know you won't be pleased but Imperial Master Borovic asked to be informed as soon you had arrived. When Iwas told the carriage was outside the Mansion, I sent word to tell him you were back. Your bath will be ready as soon as you wish though I think the Imperial Master wants a word before you get ready for dinner.

Edward had hardly had time to finish his drink, let alone think about what Boric might want to talk to him about so urgently, before there was a knock at the door. Leaving Edward to his drink, Tulla went to open the door and shortly showed Boric into the room.

Hello Edward. I trust you had a pleasant holiday, Boric greeted Edward cheerfully as he marched into the room like the soldier he was. Is my sister here with you or did you leave her behind at the Governor's lodge so that you can have some peace?

She came back with me. The holiday was very pleasant while it lasted, though the journey back was long and cold. I am still trying to get warm. Kitty went straight into her room for a hot bath to warm up, Edward replied waving to a chair that Boric then occupied. What brings you here so soon after I arrived back?

Can't a friend come and greet somebody after they have been away? Isn't a brother supposed to ask after the welfare of his sister? Boric continued to smile.

You could have waited until dinner, Edward remarked sourly. What is so important that it could not wait?

We are in a bad mood, aren't we? Has married life got you down so quickly? Boric laughed but waved his hand to stop Edward speaking. Seriously he continued, No you are right. The Governor asked me to see you as soon as you returned from Shardlaw. I am to brief you on the meeting you and I, and some others, will be having in the morning with the Governor. There will be people at the dinner tonight who will not be involved in the meeting tomorrow. The Governor obviously doesn't want to discuss the complications confronting the Empire in front of them. It appears that the position of the Empire has got worse even for the short time you have been away from Nimmar. Intelligence indicates that the forces controlling the rest of the Empire are about to invade Sardonia and Rombuli as soon as the winter is over. Well not intelligence exactly. We have lost contact with everyone living the other side of the Lake and the Linapun River. We do know that there is already fighting in Walloonia, with almost half that province occupied by the enemy. As far as we can tell, and without any direct information about what is happening behind enemy lines, it is at best a guess, is that the enemy is massing troops on the Sandorian border. What will be discussed at tomorrow's meeting is what we can do to hamper the invasion. The Governor wanted to give you an opportunity to think about it before the morning. With this information and some thought overnight, you can be part of the discussion and give him any advice you might think helpful.

Boric, you know I am not a soldier. I cannot think how any advice of mine could be helpful to the Governor or anybody else when it comes to opposing an invasion, Edward replied shaking his head. You are the soldier and, along with Silker, can give a military opinion. Nelvask and Latask are the one's with power. They should be able to suggest ways of combating the enemies’ power. I am just a tradesman from a small place called Alskar. What could I possibly contribute to the discussion in such august company?

No, Edward, don't you go putting on that country bumpkin act to me. I know you too well for that to work. You are intelligent and far more worldly wise than you make out. Like the Governor, I expect you will be able to contribute to our discussions, Boric stood up ready to leave. I must go and get ready for dinner but you think it over.

All right, I will think about it. Edward growled.

Just be there in the morning, Boric said as he left.

The next morning, Edward got ready for the meeting of the Governor's Council on his own. When he had been awakened by Tulla, Kitty had refused to leave her bed. Just get Zita to bank up the fire, she had demanded as he left the bedroom. Over a quick breakfast Edward's thoughts had drifted over what had happened at the dinner the night before. Though on the surface things appeared normal, underneath there had been a tension not evident at any of these semi-formal occasions that Edward had attended before last night. This worried him and as he walked through the Mansion to the Council Chamber, the tension he had felt the night before returned.

The guards at the door to the Council Chamber saluted by banging their fists on their chests and stood aside to let him enter. Inside the Council Chamber at the large oak table, shining in the light from the windows, seven men sat. They all looked round as Edward came into the room.

Good morning Edward, Rulask, the Rombuli Governor, greeted him from his place at the head of the table. You sit next to Nelvask.

Once Edward was seated, Rulask turned to the others and said. We are all present now and we can begin. The clerk will take notes of the meeting as it progresses. Before we start the formal business, I will introduce everybody here. On my left are Latask, the Covenenter, Imperial Grandmaster Eion Silker, head of the Imperial Army in Sardonia and Rombuli, Chief Elfring, representing the Sardonians, and Calum Moorland, Mayor of Nimmar. On my right, Nelvask the Teacher of the Rombuli, Edward Eastland representing the Rombuli of Alskar Province and Imperial Master Boric Borovic, head of my personal troop. For those who were not here for our previous meetings, I will hand this meeting over to Latask who will explain what is happening and why each one of you in particular is here. After his explanation, we will then come to the main part of the meeting, which is to decide what can be done and what part we can all play in the future.

Latask stood, his posture rather stooped but his white robe gleamed in the light and his hood thrown back from his close cropped grey hair. He looked around the table before starting to speak, as though to gauge the thoughts of each of the men, his face grim. I will keep this short but it is necessary for the benefit of Mr. Moorland and Chief Elfring who are with us for the first time. The Imperial government in Sardonia and Rombuli has been aware for some time that all is not well in the rest of the Empire. You all have some vague notion of the powers of the Covenent, of how we can communicate with our minds over long distances. To put things bluntly, I have lost contact with the rest of the Empire. This has never happened before to my knowledge. The only contact I have had is with Nomal and Rembert, two Covenenters in Walloonia. The last report I had from them was that Walloonia is under attack. Indeed, the enemy had occupied half the country before the advent of winter and Nomal and Rembert have their hands full trying to organise the defence of Walloonia and cannot assist us. For the last couple of months, I have lost contact with these two Covenenters as well. The only reason I can think of is that they have been pushed back beyond the mountains and their thought transfer can no longer reach me. To try to find out what has happened in the rest of the Empire, Governor Rulask sent some soldiers and the other Covenenters across the River Linapun but we have not heard from them since. None has contacted us and none has returned. We are cut off and on our own as far as help from the rest of the Empire is concerned. In order to get some help I asked Edward Eastland to contact Nelvask as the so called Teacher of the Rombuli and he came to help. That is briefly my analysis of what has happened.

Governor Rulask nodded as Latask resumed his seat and turned to Imperial Grandmaster Silker. What is your assessment of the situation from a military point of view?

Eion Silker scratched his iron grey hair with a large calloused hand and shrugged. He stood, his back straight, his knuckles on the table and said in a tone as though instructing his men before a battle. I am a soldier and I do not know much about the arcane goings on of the Covenent. All I know is that they have provided the Empire with stability and a great deal of intelligence during my time serving with the Imperial Army. From my reading of the military situation, it appears likely that Sardonia and Rombuli will be invaded come the spring and the melting of the snow. The enemy, whoever they are, will not move until the spring because fighting in winter is a logistical nightmare for any army. We may have longer if the Walloonians hold out. I would not bank on help from there if what Nomal has told us is anywhere near the truth. That is one of our big problems. We cannot gain any intelligence from the rest of the Empire. I will have to act on guesswork when we plan our response to any invasion. We do not know what we are up against, how big their invasion force will be or what power they will have at their disposal. The Imperial Army has never had to face this situation in my lifetime. Indeed, we have not had a civil war for many centuries. Do not look so startled, Mister Mayor. There might be some power on the other side we do not know anything about but the bulk of the army facing us will be highly trained Imperial Troops. That in my mind is called a civil war. Unless we come up with different tactics from those taught at the Imperial Army College, they will know what our response will be. The other factor we have to consider is the number of trained soldiers at our disposal. At the last count, there are four thousand trained Imperial soldiers in Sardonia and Rombuli. Even allowing for troops to keep the rest of the Empire under control, the enemy will be able to put at least one hundred thousand troops into the field against our army and that in Walloonia. With those odds there is only one winner. Gentlemen, the short answer to our dilemma is we need more trained soldiers.

Governor Rulask nodded again as Silker resumed his seat. " Thank you Imperial Grandmaster. We will leave the subject of our response for later. Nelvask, do you wish to say anything at this point?

Nelvask smoothed his neatly trimmed beard and looked around the table. He did not stand. I have been thinking a lot over the last few days about what we are up against. The facts as we know them are few but within those facts there must be some clues as to where or from whom this power emanates. In order to gain an understanding of the way my thoughts have gone, I am afraid we have to explore a little of our history. With Latask's permission, I will give my brief account of that history. If he has anything to add, he can speak when I have finished. At this stage you will have to accept what I say as the truth because this is not the time to enter into a debate about philosophical questions on the meaning and purpose of life. Some of you might be aware of the legend of the Sacred Mountain and the so called Circle of the Good, placed there by our Maker. I use the Rombuli expression for the Supreme Being even though the Covenent call this being God. The Circle was created to teach the message of peace and harmony to the peoples of this world. Suffice to say that on the Sacred Mountain there came to be three groups within the Circle. There was the Covenent led by Tulka, the True Believers led by Sidon and the rest who were the scholars loosely led by the High Priest. For a long time there was constant debate about the true purpose of the Circle, the argument largely between the Covenant and the True Believers. The Covenenters started to wear white robes, the True Believers blue. We will brush aside the reasons for this affectation. Latask can tell you more than me about this period. During a dispute, the origins of which I will not bore you with, I was banished from the Mountain. The Maker told me to seek out the Rombuli who needed my help. This I did and I found them fleeing across the land during the great climate chaos. I led them here to this land, which they settled. The Covenent left the Mountain shortly after me and travelled to Parison where a great nation was arising. Using their power, the Covenent helped the Parison people to build and establish the Empire. We all know the history of the Empire so there is no need for me to detail this part of the story of how they incorporated Sardonia and Rombuli into the Empire.

Nelvask paused and took a drink of water. What I have been thinking is what became of the other faction, the True Believers? What ever we are up against in the rest of the Empire must be something that has power. The only other thing that I can think of which has the power to impose their will across the land is the True Believers. To Latask and I, it is important to answer the question of how they have imposed that power but to the rest of you it is important that we work out what we are going to do to counter act that power. Latask?

Latask looked at Governor Rulask and then spoke at Governor Rulask's nod in his direction. Leaving aside my views on why we voted to exclude you from the Mountain, your analysis appears sound. There is only one other source of power in the world and that is the True Believers faction. How they have managed to stop all communication though I have no idea. Indeed, at the moment I do not even know where to start thinking about that much power. All it gives us is something to ponder.

Governor Rulask frowned but then shrugged his shoulders. Your impenetrable theories might be true but we will have to trust you two on that. Now to plan how we are going to counter this threat. As a soldier, Imperial Grandmaster Silker, your opinion.

Silker grimaced and shrugged his broad shoulders. As I said just now, we do not have enough trained soldiers to do anything about a direct attack. With odds of twelve to one, we can do nothing to stop their advance. I took the liberty of looking at the way the Imperial Army conquered Rombuli and I can see no difference in the situation we face now. The invasion was on three fronts. The Imperial Army came in three waves, one across the lake, one across the ford and one across the bridge in the north in a pincer movement towards the Rock. The Sardonians and the Rombuli armies fell back and only committed themselves to a pitch battle on the plain before the Rock. As I see things we can only follow similar tactics though with so few soldiers, any pitched battle is doomed. If we have to make a stand, it will either have to be outside Nimmar in Derek's Gap or at the Alskar River by Alskar Town. All we can do is hope that Nelvask and Latask can hold them up with their power at these places. The other thing we can do is to leave some men behind to harass their backs and hit their supply lines in the same way as the Rombuli did under Derek Gorland’s leadership. It almost worked for them even though the Imperial Army vastly out numbered their troops and were highly trained. I must admit, it is not much of a strategy but it is the only one I can come up with at short notice. I know it is really a delaying tactic, hoping that something will come up. I can see little hope of it succeeding.

Silker lapsed into a troubled silence and slumped down in his chair.

Edward rather nervously intervened. Governor Rulask, can I speak?

Governor Rulask smiled. Edward, you are here as an equal member of my council. If you have a contribution to make, go ahead and speak.

Edward blushed slightly, conscious that all eyes were now concentrating on him and the rest of the Council were waiting for him to speak. Don't take what I am about to say as an implied criticism but I believe your thinking is rather narrow. I know there are only four thousand trained Imperial Army soldiers and that they face overwhelming odds but there are a great many Rombuli men and, for all I know Sardonians men, who would be willing to fight for their country. It is their country, after all, even though you might not think so because Sardonia and Rombuli have been controlled by the Imperial Army and Imperial Administrators for years. I think we are ignoring the people who care about what happens to their countries.

There was a stunned silence round the table. Breaking the silence, Nelvask laughed loudly. Well done, young Edward. You have now opened up the can of worms they were not willing to open.

What do you mean by that? Latask asked, frowning.

To my way of thinking, you have one of two options if you follow Edward's advice, Nelvask answered still smiling. On the one hand, you can try to compel the Rombuli to join your army and, in that way, resist the army coming from the rest of the Empire. You could do this by Imperial decree. On the other hand, you could set the Rombuli free from the restrictions on movement, citizenship and religion and see if they volunteer to help you.

It was Latask's turn to laugh. With a shake of his head, he said, So that is what you and Edward are conspiring to bring about. You want the thing he could not bring about by force, to be conceded just like that. I think this is a crazy idea and we should dismiss it now. There is no knowing where this will lead. We will be fighting the enemy from the rest of the Empire with one eye on our backs waiting for the knife between the shoulder blades.

Edward reacted angrily and spoke between clenched teeth. Latask, I may want my people free but this is not the time to argue about my motives. I have not spoken to Nelvask about this before. All I was trying to do was to help formulate some policy that would at least give us a chance of success. There are thousands of people out there who might be willing to help. These are good people with the same motives, needs and wants as your precious Imperial grand families. They might be willing to help for no other reason than this is their land. You might sneer at that because to you every act must have a sinister motive. Of course, it might be that you are so steeped in thinking everything is a conspiracy against the Empire, you cannot see genuine offers of help. That is your arrogance but it could be the thing that loses you the Empire and all you have worked for. If that is the case, you are more stupid than I first thought.

Latask looked as though he was going to explode. Nelvask held his breath and prepared to come to the aid of Edward.

Governor Rulask was on his feet banging the table hard with his fist and stopped Edward saying any more. This must stop right now! If we are to combat the enemy, we have to have at least a semblance of unity. I know trying to be civil to some of the people round this table might be difficult for some of you. I know Latask and Nelvask have a history of opposition to each other and of disagreement. They have put their suspicion and mutual dislike behind them and try to think about what is best in our situation. I think this proposition from Edward Eastland is worth pursuing. Silker, what do you say?

Imperial Grandmaster Silker sat looking out of the window, his hands tracing patterns on the table. As he waited for the Imperial Grand Master to speak, Edward noticed that the fingers of his right hand would not straighten, as though they were fixed permanently bent round the hilt of a sword. Silence descended on the room as everybody waited for the soldier to speak but Silker continued to look out of the window. His expression hinted at somebody who had something bad to say but did not know how to put his thoughts into words. At last he looked at Governor Rulask and shrugged.

Obviously it would give me more men to deploy to the battle field but, as a soldier, I wonder what good it would do having these untrained men facing trained soldiers. There is also the logistics of getting the men here for what little training we could give them in the time available. This has to be planned. Finally, there is the question of how we can coerce them into setting out on what is really a suicide mission. Silker lapsed into silence.

Chief Elfwing suddenly spoke, his voice modulated like the wind racing across his grasslands. Governor Rulask, can I speak now?

Governor Rulask nodded in his direction.

The Sardonians may not have been trained to act as an army. Since the coming of the Empire, they have never been allowed to do so by your people, Chief Elfwing started, his long black hair drawn back from his face in a pony tail making him look stern. His eyes were like pools of black water as he gazed around the table. The Sardonians are, however, some of the best horsemen in the Empire. A great many of my countrymen spend a large part of their lives in the saddle looking after your herds of horses. We have to act in unison when rounding up the horses and breaking them for work. Because of the need for protection most of us are reasonably familiar with weapons. What we need is organisation in the basics of acting as an army. Your soldiers can give us that training if you have a will to do so. With my limited knowledge of military matters, there is the basis of a light cavalry troop among the Sardonians.

Governor Rulask held up his hand before anybody else had a chance to speak. Let me review what has been said at the meeting so far. Imperial Grandmaster Silker has pointed out that we have only a few soldiers with which to defend Sardonia and Rombuli. He told us that, from a soldier's point of view, the position is hopeless. All we can hope for is to delay the inevitable defeat until something turns up. This is not a very attractive proposition. A heroic last stand is not what I had in mind but we have to face the facts. Nelvask and Latask have given us some clues as to the possible power behind the invasion. They hinted that they would be able to counter any magic that is brought to bear against us in the field. Edward and Chief Elfwing have suggested that there are more men if we can bring ourselves to look beyond the immediate trained army. How can we pull all of this together?

Latask stood and surveyed the men around the table. If we have to make a stand, it will have to be somewhere where Nelvask's and my power can enhance the other. Looking at the map... Can we get a map of Rombuli and Sardonia brought here?

Governor Rulask turned to the clerk. Will you arrange for a map to be brought here while we break for a drink, please?

When they resumed after some light refreshments, there was a large map on the wall behind Rulask's seat. Silker took up position in front of the map using a large pointer. Going back over what I outlined of the invasion of Rombuli by the Empire, I can now illustrate what happened. The invasion was on three fronts, here at Lake Sardonia, here at Maldale Ford and here at the Canyon Bridge or the Bridge of Sighs as the Sardonians call it. The Sardonians and Rombuli defended these positions until it was certain that they could not hold their lines. They then fell back in these directions.

He traced the retreat paths on the map. They pursued hit and run tactics, making stands at every place that it was possible to defend, holding up the Imperial Army advance for a while before retreating. The whole object was to draw the Imperial Army towards the Rock and there make a stand and fight the pitched battle to defend Sardonia. They were defeated here more by Latask and his Covenenters than any fighting by the Army. Derek Gorland led the Rombuli contingent away from the battle through the Gorland Pass above what is now the Governor's Lodge north of Shardlaw. The Rombuli made a stand here with a small contingent of troops but the bulk retreated on to what became known as Derek's Gap, here north east of Nimmar. There they made a stand. What is significant to us though, is as they retreated, small groups of their troops went into the hills and acted as a harrying force behind the advancing Imperial Army. They picked these troops from those familiar with the areas where they were deployed. These groups managed to slow the advancing army down by attacking the supply lines and reserves, making the Army have to deploy a significant number of men to search out these bands. In the end, the Rombuli abandoned Nimmar and retreated to Alskar. They could have held out at Alskar for some time if they had chosen to do so but Derek Gorland their leader convinced them that enough was enough. He then surrendered to the Imperial Army. We will have to pursue a similar tactical plan if we are to have any hope. Defences can be built at Alskar. The question is will this place be where Nelvask and Latask can concentrate their power? I am a soldier and I do not understand how they will help.

Latask went to stand by the map. We have no idea what power, or magic if that is what you want to call it, the other side will use, though if the invasion is driven by the True Believer faction, we can guess. You will have to trust Nelvask and me on that issue. Yes, Alskar is a position where we can deploy our magic to the best effect. You see here where there is only one way across the River Alskar and that is at the town. At the most the gap is only ten miles wide and we should be able to defend that with our power.

We will have to leave the military planning to you Imperial Grandmaster, Governor Rulask stated. I will have to organise the civilian population. What are the next steps?

You will have to order the round up of a significant number of young men to form the bulk of our army, Silker said. Once the order has been promulgated, we will have to get the men here for training as soon as possible so that they have a modicum of discipline by the spring and the time of the invasion.

I think it is time, Governor, to consider my proposition, Nelvask remarked grinning at Governor Rulask. Do we coerce these people into becoming soldiers, as Silker suggests, or do we set them free and give them something personal to defend? I have always felt people will be more likely to fight for what they regard as theirs rather than for some alien power using whips to force them to fight. It is only a suggestion, Latask but one we have to face.

Governor Rulask looked towards Mayor Moorland. What do you say to that, Mr. Mayor?

If what you say is true, these people are all that is left of the Empire, the mayor stated pompously, thrusting his ample chest out with pride. To grant them full Imperial rights can only help the situation.

Governor Rulask smiled. All right, I will issue an Imperial decree granting all Rombuli and Sardonians full rights under the Empire. The bonded system will be abolished, there will be freedom of religion and freedom of movement. Rombuli will be able to own property without swearing allegiance to the Empire. I will work out the details.

Do we need to collect all the young men and bring them here for training at first? Edward asked tentatively. Would it be possible to send out some of the army to train the men in their own villages and towns until they are certain the Empire is helping them defend their own land. Then, as they get more confident that the Empire is not the enemy, we can bring them here. That way we would not have the logistical problem of feeding them over most of the winter. One other thing before I give way to others. We have to make the best of what our men are able to do. As I understand things, the Sardonians are good at horse riding and management. Remember, from your history, one thing the Rombuli were expert at was making and using the long bow. I know in Alskar province there are a number of long bows hidden away that have been used by the Rombuli illegally over the years. Whether the Imperial administrators have turned a blind eye to this I do not know but we have to use this skill.

Silker nodded. We will try your suggestion Edward. Boric, you have an idea of who are the best trainers or can find that out. I suggest you make that your task. Identify the trainers and then spread them around the country. You can then plan on how we are to bring all these groups together in time for the spring. Is that all right with you Governor?

That is a good suggestion, Governor Rulask agreed. I will release you from your duties as head of my personal troops, Boric Borovic so that you can organise the training of the Rombuli.

Thank you so much, Boric replied with hardly a hint of sarcasm. Governor Rulask smiled sweetly at the leader of his bodyguard.

" Before we break up and