“If we can stop him on the Plains, then we can save innocent people from the horrors Merglan would bring to the rest of Westland,” Natalia said in a show of support.
“If Merglan learned of our plan, couldn’t he just burn Aquina to the ground?” Roarhorn asked.
“Not if Maija and I can stop him. We are stronger now that we have his magic reserves. With the others who now know how to use the crystals’ powers, we might be able to hold him off,” Anders said.
“But the dragons, even if you can stop him. There will be so many, they'll burn the city to the ground for sure,” Roarhorn said.
“This is the best plan we have at present,” Anders said.
“What if some turn against us during the fighting?” Red asked, looking at Nadir.
“When the fighting starts, we will forget all other loyalties other than who is at our side,” Britt said and Red scoffed.
“Some of us are not so forgiving,” Tony said, glaring in Max’s direction.
“The Rollo Islanders will do as we’re asked. We won’t cower in the face of danger and will gladly take the responsibility of securing the city for the army,” Britt said.
Red looked as if he might strike Britt right then, but restrained himself and said, “The warriors are the best among us and most suited for the job.”
Before anyone else could argue that their soldiers were better fighters, Anders said, “Then we will march at dawn and the Rollo warriors will sail to the river. Maija and I will stay with the army, but we can fly out to make sure the Rollo ships are greeted peacefully.”
“If the city isn’t overrun already,” Tony said.
“If it is, my people will gladly lead the charge to take it back,” Puco said.
“The dwarfs have no home to return to and I was told we’ll do what the dragonrider asks us to do. We’ll fight with Lumbapi again and anyone else who will see this evil eliminated from the earth,” Roarhorn said.
“Westland’s army was already planning to go. We’re grateful for the help,” Rune said, nodding to each of the others in turn. All nodded in agreement, save for Tony.
“The elves look forward to fighting alongside such esteemed kings,” Nadir said and looked to Anders.
For a moment Anders thought he might give him away, but the elf didn’t. “Good,” Anders said, looking around the room. From the look of the faces filled with pride that stared back, he felt as if he were truly leading them. Anders nodded and left the room. When he opened the door to the evening air, he saw Kirsten and Thomas standing at the window. Bo was still looking through it, but quickly stopped when he saw the others beginning to leave the room.
“Everyone is all in?” Kirsten asked.
Anders shrugged, “For now.”
“So,” Kirsten said, rubbing her hands together and grinning in anticipation, “How about them crystals?”
Chapter 86
Up River
Max leaned against the trunk of an oak tree, watching the beach where the Rollo warriors were boarding their ships. He caught sight of Britt, highlighted in the early morning light as she stood out in front of the ships. She leaned on an axe and watched over them like a shepherd with a flock. The ships’ afts bobbed in the rising tide as crewmen fixed oars in preparation to leave. Looking over his shoulder to make sure nobody from the camp on the Plains had followed him, Max took a deep breath and thought again about what he would say to Britt. He knew she would tell him the same thing she had said last night: serve where you’re needed the most. Having been selected and now trained as a crystal bearer, Max and the others he trained with would be needed at the front lines. Britt’s words told him to stay with the Army, but her silent tears begged him to come with her.
I won’t leave you, you know, he thought to himself while watching Britt. She pointed at a crewman on an adjacent ship and shouted a string of orders in their native Rolloan language. Max knew the dynamic of leadership among their clans had been mixed since they discovered Red was purposely ignoring the war being fought in Kartania. Many Rollo Island warriors had abandoned their Chief, leaving him on the island with those who chose to remain loyal. With more than half of their Navy answering Anders’ plea to fight in Southland, Red didn't have much choice when these sailors returned home and rallied the rest of the warriors to fight in Westland. Max suspected Red’s ego as the island nation’s leader drove him to follow his warriors, though he claimed it was his idea all along. Max could see in Red’s eyes that he feared what would happen to the Rollo Islands after seeing what Merglan had done to the elven capital.
The opportunity Max was waiting for presented itself when Britt left her post to further instruct the crewman she’d been shouting at. Max came out of his hiding place among the trees and jogged across the beach toward the rest of Britt’s crew. From the short time he’d spent sailing with them, Max knew the other crewmen well enough to know that they would help hide him onboard. It wasn’t enough for the crew to want him, however, so he was going to have to hide among them until they were unable to turn back. Britt always stood at the ship’s stern, so as long as he kept his hood on and head down, Sanka and the others would continue rowing in silence until they were well on their way.
Max hurried through the sand. He kept Britt in his line of sight, hoping she wouldn’t turn around until he was onboard. Reaching the crew, Sanka was ready to sneak him on. As a true member of Britt’s crew, Sanka was permitted by Anders and others to send at least one crystal bearer on the boats. Just as they had planned the night before, those in on the secret reacted to his appearance. As Max quickly climbed into the ship, one of Britt’s new crewmen jumped down. While she was helping with the ship next to them, he slipped into their crew unnoticed.
Max pulled his cloak hood over his head and moved across the deck, finding Sanka and joining him at his rowing bench. Glancing over the side, he saw Britt leaving from the neighboring ship’s crewman. He sat down, blocking himself from view with the bulk of the ship’s bow. Max sat wondering if the Captain to their right was as particular as Britt. If he was, the extra crewman could give him away before they left.
Just keep your head down and follow orders, Max told himself. Once we’re out beyond the break I can show myself. She’ll be mad, but I know deep down she’ll be glad to have me by her side. I just hope Anders isn’t too mad when Bo tells him where I am.
Max helped Sanka stuff the oar through the hatch in the ship’s side and slide it into the oarlock. Britt ran up to the edge of the boat, grabbed the side and hauled herself into the ship. When Max saw her come aboard, he hunched over the oar, pretending to adjust something as she walked toward the aft. As usual, Britt started checking to see that the oars on either side of the ship were locked and ready to row. Leaning forward, Max heard the click of Britt’s boots as she approached. He wiggled the bench a little to authenticate his reason for bending over. Britt’s black boots came into view and Max felt her hand pat him on the back as she continued past zigzagging across the deck toward the rear. Straightening, Max continued to stare forward, hearing Britt’s footfalls continue behind him.
Max shifted to the right on his bench, making sure his face couldn’t be seen. He looked down the beach at the entire Rollo fleet. There were more ships on the beach outside Brookside than there had been when he first met Britt just a few days’ walk to the south. His eyes found the crewman who’d left Britt’s ship to join the one next to them. Noting that the other ship had several empty seats, he assumed they were glad to have an extra hand for rowing. Max saw the sailor look over at Britt and then at him. The two shared a momentary glance, nodding to one another as Britt began issuing her commands.
Her voice cracked like a whip over the sound of the wind whipping up along the beach, “Listen up! Those of you who were with my crew before know I’ve been away for a while, but that doesn't mean I’ve changed. Get those oars in the water! This Navy won’t lead itself, especially with our current Chief. Come on now, push off and row!”
Four crewmen at the bow pushed the ship off the beach and into the rising tide. Max and Sanka worked together to row on Britt’s count and in cadence with the others. With each stroke, they pulled hard to push the boat farther from shore. Max hadn’t had time to think about what he would do if his plan worked. He had only thought of how to carry it out. He held onto the hope that after he revealed himself, she would eventually forgive him. As they rowed through the breaking surf and out into open water, Max’s nerves started to buzz. He didn’t know if he should just pop up and turn around to say, ‘surprise’ or wait awhile to get her attention.
“Drop the sail and bring in the oars,” she ordered once they’d distanced themselves from the breaking surf. The two benches of warriors seated in front of Max cleared to open the main sail. One of them tossed Max a rope and he pulled it tight, holding the tension against the wind as Sanka secured it to the side. After the sail was set, Max helped bundle the oars and carry them below deck into the shallow hull of the ship. In the dark underside of the ship, he saw the outlines of the cannons; a vivid memory of when he and Anders had first left Grandwood flooded his thoughts.
“So far, so good,” Sanka said, patting him on the shoulder.
Max nodded.
“If you want to wait awhile, you could stay down here,” Sanka suggested.
“No, I should get the ugly part out of the way.”
“You’re braver than most, going against Britt’s orders,” Sanka said. “Good luck.”
“I hope I won’t need it,” Max replied. He took one more deep breath as he prepared to come above board and face Britt.
With his heart pounding and a nervous quiver in his arms and legs, Max walked up the stairs toward the deck. By now, the steering would have been turned over to a crewmember and Britt would be more attentive to the crew onboard. She typically remained at the stern, making sure everything went smoothly, especially with so many new people on her crew. If Max was correct, she’d see his face when he reached the top of the stairs.
