The Elder Lands

THE WORLD MARCHES

More than a fortnight after Sawyer began building the road, he barged into Lucan’s study in righteous anger. “They tore it up!” He shouted in Lucan’s surprised face.

He’d been sampling the book he’d bought from the shopkeep. He closed it slowly, keeping his eyes on the fuming Sawyer, then settled back into his chair. Before he could tell the engineer to elaborate, the young man opened the floodgates all on his own.

“The work we’ve done on the northern road is ruined,” Sawyer grated out. “The building materials we left there have been removed as well. We’re set back more than we’ve worked.”

Lucan found himself on his feet without feeling it. “Are you certain?”

“The materials are not there,” Sawyer fixed him with a flat stare. “And neither is what little of the road we’ve paved.”

Lucan stormed out of his study, ignoring the engineer shouting after him. He headed to his father’s study. The knight had been happy to hear that Lucan had found a way around Sir Ward’s tolls when he had told him, and Lucan imagined he would be as furious as him to hear this.

He arrived, knocking on his father’s door, whose firm voice allowed him in.

The knight was seated behind his desk and Thomas happened to be present too.

Lucan didn’t mince words. “He has torn up the road we’re building, Father, and all building materials left there were taken.”

His father’s eyes rested on him for a moment as he absorbed the words. Then he stood up, his eyes shifting to Thomas. “Have the stableman prepare our horses. All of us.” He marched out of the study, gesturing for Lucan to follow him. “Don your armor.”

The ride to Sir Ward’s territory was more ominous this time. All their men-at-arms were with them. Two of them had been on watch near the eastern forest, but they’d collected them on the way there.

Thomas accompanied them, but he was riding at the tail of their procession lest he be caught in the fighting should this affair come to conflict.

They crossed the bridge, and after a while were riding into Sir Ward’s territory. Eerie breezes tickled Lucan’s ears for the rest of the ride. That was, until they saw the riders on the horizon.

They were expected ahead of time. Again. Lucan found that unsettling.

Sir Ward approached them armed and armored with his men-at-arms. Ten to their seven. But that wasn’t all. Lucan saw two young men who bore a strong resemblance to the knight. He assumed they were his sons. There was also another man–or knight according to his appearance–in the livery of Duke Elmere, accompanied by his own two men-at-arms.

“Who’ve you gone to hide behind now, Ward,” Lucan’s father rang out as both parties came to a stop a distance from each other.

“I don’t need to hide behind anyone from you,” Sir Ward shouted, his horse sensing his agitation and stepping forward. His two sons urged their horses forward beside their father’s too.

“Peace,” the duke’s knight said, his strong voice overshadowing the agitation of his allies. “I believe you know whose colors I wear, Sir Zesh.”

“What interest does the duke have in our affairs?” Sir Golan said, his sharp eyes now fixed on the third knight.

“Nothing but seeking harmony among all the good warriors of the realm,” the knight said. “I am Sir Eli Vicks, my title bestowed upon me by his grace, Duke Elmere, and I’m here to see to that. Still, it is my privilege to meet a knight as renowned as yourself, Sir Zesh.”

Lucan’s father only acknowledged his words with a silent nod.

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“I understand that there has been a dispute over the toll Sir Ward is imposing?” Sir Vicks continued, gesturing at the road under them. Lucan noted that he was the youngest of the present knights, perhaps only a decade older than him, but he carried himself with confidence that matched his older peers.

“Unreasonable tolls,” his father amended. “They’re driving the merchants away. All those who’ve had to bear the excessive cost are crying foul.”

“Well,” Sir Vicks said. “You must admit, Sir Zesh, that by the authority granted to him by the king, Sir Ward has a right to impose tolls for passage through his territory.”

“Yes, he does,” his father said. “But he has no right to tear up a road that we are building and take what he does not own. It did not encroach upon his lands.”

“I’ve done no such thing,” Sir Ward said. “Accusing me of this fiction is low, Zesh.”

Lucan couldn’t hold his silence and spoke. “No one has the men and the reach to do such a thing except for you.”

Sir Ward glanced at him sharply. “Teach your whelp to be quiet while his elders speak, Zesh.”

“Mind your tongue when you speak of my son,” his father said, his gaze piercing the knight.

“Good Sirs, please” Sir Vicks interjected, turning his head between them. “Sir Zesh, as I understand it, this road was being built in the hills west of here. That is royal territory. You have no right to build on it, and so no claim for compensation or justice should what you build there be lost.”

Lucan raised a brow and interrupted them again. “And how do you know where the road is?” Sir Vicks turned to stare at him incredulously. “He–” Lucan pointed with his head at Sir Ward”–told you, yes? You knew we would be here because of the destroyed road, because he told you of it.” Then Lucan turned fully towards Sir Ward. “How did Sir Ward know we would come because of the road if he did not indeed destroy it?”

Sir Vicks cleared his throat and eyed Lucan carefully. “Perhaps Sir Ward spoke sense when he advised those too young to stay quiet.”

“Perhaps the king should know that Duke Elmere is meddling with his knights,” Lucan said, then turned to Sir Ward again. “Knights whose allegiance should belong to him alone.”

Sir Ward seemed flustered for a moment before he flushed with fury and was about to growl something.

Sir Vicks beat him to the retort, however. “Everyone here owes allegiance to the king. My presence is not one for meddling, but one for avoiding grievances that might bring injury to either side. The duke cares for the wellbeing of all the king’s men.” He gestured at Lucan’s father too.

“Then perhaps the duke should not take sides,” his father said.

“We–” Sir Vicks paused as one of his men whispered something to him. Then he turned towards the horizon, and Lucan saw there that a rider was galloping recklessly towards them. He was as lightly clad as his horse without arms or armor and he rode like the wind.

Sir Vicks trotted forward to meet him and the man brought his steed to a halt. “A missive, Sir, for a matter most pressing.” He handed a sealed letter to the knight.

Sir Vicks opened it calmly, but as he began to read, the signs of agitation increased on his face. By the end of it, his lips were pressed, and he seemed anxious about something other than their quarrel.

“Sir Vicks?” Sir Ward inquired.

The duke’s knight turned towards them and spoke solemnly. “I’m summoned back to Arpague. I propose that you both return to your estates as well. Soon, you ought to be receiving word of this.”

“What is it?” Lucan’s father asked.

“The king’s ritualists, with the affirmation of rangers, have determined that the Walis’s recession is not caused by drought. The Wildermen are somehow holding back the river. His Majesty has named Crown Prince Dane Baroun as Marshal of the Realm. And his highness has called for all vassals to raise their levies and rally to their closest camping grounds,” Sir Vicks grew silent for a moment, as though giving them room to breathe, then he finally said it. “We are going to war.”

There was silence as everyone took in what the knight had said. Lucan heard one of their men-at-arms swallowing loudly, likely Ryder.

Even Sir Ward seemed subdued at the news.

“But to raise the levy to march south at a time like this,” his father said solemnly. “What about the Vincemare?”

“Ah, you must not have heard yet,” Sir Vicks said. “They’ve entangled themselves in yet another war with the Liberferians. Hamodeus will be happy to use the Principality to deplete the fishfuckers in another war. We need not worry about them for a while yet.”

“I see,” Lucan’s father said.

“I suppose this affair may be resolved later,” Sir Vicks added. “There are more pressing matters to concern ourselves with now.”

Lucan had no intention of waiting until later. If Sir Ward was intent on hindering their attempts at circumventing him, then he would tell Sawyer to begin building the road again, this time while they were on campaign. The knight could come back to an already usable road. He was welcome to attempt to destroy it while they were on watch then.

Everyone acquiesced to Sir Vicks’s advice, and they soon scattered, each party riding back to their estate with due haste.

And so, two winters after his Blessing, Lucan would march to war.

END OF BOOK 1