Svalbard

Chapter 14 War Council 1080VP

Day by day, the banners began to rise above the rooftops and turrets of the great houses and palaces of the mighty. It was mid-summer and the time approached for the annual gathering of nobles at the King’s Council. Preparations had been ongoing now for weeks in the city of Nanter for this conclave of the wise and great.

Inn-keepers made sure that their cellars were stocked with the finest wines from Arna and far away Dalaria, ales from Burgeon and wheat beer from Outer-Janter. Tailors brought in silks from the east and fine linens from the south, for the high lords who would want to look their best when attending the court and the expensive brothels on the east side of the city. Even the brothel keepers went to the trouble of buying in new girls to please their patrons.

Although lofty and weighty matters would be discussed and decided, it was festival time in Nanter and there was no better city anywhere to throw a party. Far removed from the delights of his principle seat, Ranald received select members of his nobility in the privacy of Halshire castle. Here was where the real business of the Council would be done.

Dukes and Earls would all kneel before the King and be told what they would say and do on the coming days. Ranald left nothing to chance, only once had he relied on his luck and that was when he took the throne forging his own destiny. Now sitting in his private chambers, the King awaited his final visitor before the coming council.

He was weary of the incessant talking and bargaining that he had done over the previous number of days, but he looked forward to meeting his next visitor. His brother Caradoc, the Duke of Golar had been absent from court for the last three months and his counsel and level headedness were sorely missed. Yes, it would be good to speak to Caradoc again, thought Ranald.

Turning to Ragnar who sat slightly behind him, he was about to ask him about his Kalnordian kinsmen, when Caradoc entered the room trailed by his two sons.

‘You look tired,’ Caradoc said by way of greeting.

‘The trials of being a king,’ Ranald replied with a smile.

‘I see that my nephews have returned for some more of Master Ragnar’s lessons,’ he said beckoning the boys forward. With sullen looks they greeted Ranald with barely understandable grunts.

‘Marcus, Flavius go with Master Ragnar and mayhap he shall beat some manners in to you,’ Caradoc snapped.

With a feral grin the weapons-master grabbed the two boys by the shoulders and steered them from the room. Ranald raised a quizzical eyebrow at his brother.

‘Caric,’ Caradoc said with a shrug.

‘Ahh,’ Ranald sighed.

‘You know how they worshipped the lad, following him everywhere like sick puppies,’ Caradoc said.

‘It was for the best, trust me,’ Ranald said without elaborating. He would not even tell his own brother for the less people who knew the truth the better.

Caradoc did not press the issue, although he was fond of Caric, the boy no doubt deserved the punishment he had received.
Taking a seat Caradoc fixed his intense eyes on his brother noting the tired, drawn look to Ranald’s face.

‘I came across Almaric del Vilaters just moments before I arrived here,’ he said opening the conversation after a slight pause.

‘And how is the good Duke of Keld?’ Ranald asked, bringing a smile to his brother’s face.

‘Out of sorts as you well know. I take it that you did not give the command of the forthcoming campaign in the City-States to him,’ Caradoc said.

‘Good gods no! I informed my lord of Keld that I would require him to provide five hundred knights and six thousand men-at-arms fully equipped and provisioned to be put at my son’s disposal in the City-States,’ Ranald said.

‘So Thrand is to lead,’ Caradoc remarked.

‘Surely you did not want the command for yourself, brother. You were never the warrior,’ Ranald said perturbed.

‘No but I would have thought a more experienced general would be required. Someone along the lines of Rolf del Chirtar or Conrad Beufort?’ Caradoc queried.

‘ Rolf will be needed elsewhere and I need to keep Beufort close, where I can watch him and giving the man an army would be putting to much temptation in his way,’ Ranald replied.

Watching over the Beufort clan was turning out to be a very expensive job for Ranald as they kept discovering his spies. The amount of gold the king spent on hiring new spies and informants was extortionate, but he dared not leave this proud and powerful family alone. They harboured grievances from the days of the Usurper and had a number of litigations in the Royal Courts, endeavouring to recover the lands they had lost in those fractious days. Most notably the duchy of Golar, the seat of his royal brother.

‘And what is my contribution to this war going to be?’ asked Caradoc.

‘For the City-States nothing but to quell the rebellion in Heskaria I want you to supply ten thousand pikemen,’ Ranald said.

Caradoc expression was split between surprise and annoyance.
‘They’ve rebelled again. What is this, the fifth time in ten years,’ he cursed.

‘Five times too many, for now I will crush them completely. I have ordered Rolf del Chirtar to raise the northern levies and await the arrival of Dolfin with the ten thousand men you are giving him and all the knights of Burgeon that Conrad Beufort has kindly donated,’ Ranald said, his voice flat with anger.

‘The Conerax have also been ordered north and I will transport the third Conerax regiment from Nanter by sea to secure Catar. When marshalled Dolfin should have fifty thousand foot and twelve thousand horse at his disposal. His orders will be to show no quarter, all Heskarian chieftains and headmen are to be executed, their lands confiscated for the Crown, their way of life outlawed. I will build roads and towns, plant their land and settle Hes-Jarans in the townships. Their nomadic way of life has ended for no Heskarian will be permitted to own a horse let alone a donkey!’ Ranald declared.

Caradoc looked impressed.
‘Just what I said you should do the last time they revolted. Showing clemency to barbarians is worthless. They have no concept of it and see it as weakness. No this way is for the good of the realm in terms of future peace and taxes,’ Caradoc said, his mind already planning the colonization of the north.

For when the war was over, that would be the time when his skills were required. Governing was what Caradoc excelled at and he had used his acute organizational talents to turn his lands of Golar into the most profitable in the kingdom, providing Ranald with a huge sum in revenues every year. A thought struck the Duke.

‘Your sons, all three will be involved in battle. Do you not think that is a slight bit dangerous?’ he asked.

Ranald’s face remained impassive as he considered his brother’s words. Yes, he had weighed the risks up the carefully. Thrand was the right choice for the City-States, he had already proven his worth there and the Staters would be wary of the victor of Dogemaar.

The Heskarian command had been more problematic. Dolfin as of yet was an unknown quantity, but Ranald felt he owed his son something over the debacle with Caric and his betrothed. This would go some way in salving Dolfin’s pride and earning him respect and honour in the eyes of his peers. Of course he would have the experienced hands of Rolf del Chirtar and Edland Beufort guiding him on the campaign.

As for Caric, well Ranald had committed the boy to the Conerax and he had an idea that he would somehow thrive in their company. He hoped!

‘I have a grandson now,’ Ranald replied coldly.

And that was his brother, thought Caradoc, always leaving himself with another option.

Falcon

When I read this, the first word that came to mind is 'thoughtful'. This is very smart and the thoughts of the Caradoc and Ranald have depth. I like this story and since I had to read it a bit fast, noticed no mistakes.
But this is surely a very good story in the making. Please Continue

DavidGil

I agree with Falcon, keep it up. I didn't find much wrong with the piece itself except for some minor grammar and spelling mistakes/typos.

Have you tried sending the first book off, in the series? Best of luck with it if you're in the process of doing so or getting it ready.

Svalbard

I am in the process of editing at the moment. I have the first book written. This is part of it, some 150,000 words in total. But I am adding to that as I edit. Though buisness writing a novel.

Thanks for the feedback, gentlemen. I post excerpts on this site to get a feel from readers who are in essence strangers. It adds to their objectivity.