“I’m sorry Penny, maybe you didn’t deserve that,” I admitted.
“Maybe? Mort, I have never... ever... looked on another man in that way. Do you really think I would... how could you think that? You are the stupidest man I have ever known!”
“That’s as may be, but it’s for the best,” I said changing tactics.
“What do you mean, for the best?” she stared at me in shock.
“We’re done Penny. I know you don’t like that but it’s best if you just let go of it. I’ve been thinking about this and I think I have a solution.” The words were difficult to say but I kept my face calm. If I showed any sign of emotion now it would ruin my chances of convincing her.
“Oh... a solution?” she asked mildly. “I would love to hear it.”
“You’re worried that if we get rid of the bond I’ll go mad right?” I continued. She nodded her head. “I don’t like our current situation but I can understand that concern. According to your vision I will die in a few months, but we do have some options. I don’t want you anymore Penny, hard as that is to admit. There’s no need for you to die with me...”
“I see,” she said.
“Wait let me finish. We can wait, till near the end. When you think the time is close we remove the bond then. At that point it won’t matter if I start hearing voices again. Whatever happens after I die is still uncertain. At the very least you would have a chance to start over, if you can escape the end of the battle.”
She watched me carefully, an expression of deep thought on her face. “I hadn’t thought about it like that before Mordecai. I guess you’re right... there’s no good reason why I should die with you, especially if you don’t love me anymore. All this time I just felt obligated, I was afraid to share my true feeling for Cyhan. It was just so shameful. But now I can start fresh, right?” Her voice was soft, with a hint of hope in it.
“That’s right Penny. You’re still my friend, no matter what else. If possible I’d like you to be happy,” I said carefully. I hadn’t expected her to react so rationally and I still half suspected she might be mocking me. Her acceptance hurt though, I had never thought she could let go so quickly.
“And you don’t mind?” she asked.
“Well I don’t want to die, but if there’s a chance for you to have a normal life I think you should take it.”
“And I can marry Cyhan?” her expression brightened.
“Well... yeah. If that’s what you want,” I almost choked on the words.
“Then it won’t matter if I marry him before you die either? I guess we could just go ahead and have it done later this week. So we don’t have to wait. You understand I’m sure.”
Confusion had me full in its grasp now, “What?”
“For the sex of course... I’d rather not have to wait. Really we wouldn’t need to get married either. It’s not as if I’m a virgin anymore, but Cyhan is very traditional. I’m sure he would insist on it. It’ll be a lot easier to deal with your loss if I’m already in the arms of my new lover. Don’t you think?”
I gaped at her, “What the hell is wrong with you Penny?”
“Nothing Mordecai! It’s quite simple. Since I’m obviously a great whore I should just face reality and do what I like, right? Maybe after I’m done with Cyhan I can have a run at Dorian and Marcus? I’m sure that would make me feel even better!” her eyes flashed angrily.
I turned my back on her and walked away, “I get it Penelope, no need to be an ass. I was just trying to offer a solution.”
She followed me and put her hand on my shoulder to turn me around, “No, I get it now Mort. Look at me...” She had my face between her hands. “No more stupid games, they hurt too much. I love you, and I always will. Don’t try to play martyr. You want me to live happily after you’re gone, but it doesn’t work that way. You’re not getting rid of me.”
I couldn’t take it anymore, my composure broke and I could feel my eyes watering. She was just so damn beautiful standing there, inches away. Even if she did have my face locked between her insanely strong arms. “Damn you,” I said sweetly, “I hate you sometimes.”
“I hate you too,” she answered and then she kissed me. Things got rather more interesting after that and we confessed our hate for one another several times more during the course of it.
A short time later we decided we needed to get back to the meeting. We were in various states of undress so we began putting ourselves back together when I heard a noise at the door. I had been so wrapped up in our ‘conversation’ I hadn’t been paying attention to my other senses and I realized that two men were standing outside my door, Dorian and Marc, naturally enough. Opening my mind a bit more I could tell they had their ears pressed against the wood.
Striding rapidly across the room I flung the door open. I was hoping they would fall on their asses but they caught their balance. “What the hell are you doing?” I demanded.
Dorian’s face was a picture of embarrassment but Marc was quicker on his feet, “Sorry Mort we were just talking and I had to confess something to Dorian here...,” he faced our large friend with an expression of mock seriousness, hands out to clasp his shoulders. “I hate you Dorian!”
Dorian finally caught on, “I hate you too Marcus!” He puckered up as if he were going to kiss.
“I hate you so much!” Marc exclaimed and kissed him soundly on the lips. That was a bit too much for Dorian and he jerked back.
“Ugh! You didn’t have to take it that far!” he declared, suddenly embarrassed. I could hear Penny giggling behind me and I couldn’t help but laugh myself.
“Where is everyone else? I’m surprised there aren’t more people out here enjoying the spectacle,” Penny said.
“Oh they were all here a little while ago!” Marcus said with enthusiasm. “But when you two starting up with all the hating in there Royce decided it was impolite of us to listen in.”
“So why are you two still here?” I asked.
“We snuck back up here. It was too good to miss,” Marc laughed.
“It was his idea,” Dorian hastily added.
“You two are unbelievable. I hate you sometimes,” I smiled at them holding my arms out widely.
“We hate you too!” Marc exclaimed and we all wound up in an embrace. Somehow Penny wound up in the middle of it.
“Hey! No need to hug my posterior... Dorian!” she cried in mock outrage. He jumped back with a look of shocked innocence.
“I didn’t!” he protested.
“Actually that was me,” Marc admitted.
“I thought you were a priest or some such now?” she rounded on him. “Isn’t that sort of behavior frowned upon?”
I growled in agreement with her, not that I was really mad.
“I’m sure the goddess will forgive me. After all your derriere is the best proof yet found that the gods are kind and just,” he replied clasping his hands together as if in prayer.
“You’re impossible!” I said and we began making our way down the corridor toward the stairs. Despite the constant tension of the last month it felt good to be among my friends. I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last. The future looked grim.
“By the way Penny,” Marc started, “have you put on weight? I don’t remember you being quite so... ample.”
“Oooh!” she shrieked. That was followed by the sound of a large thump as Marc struck the wall. She had shoved him and it sounded as if he might get a bruise from that one.
Chapter 20
The resolution of my differences with Penelope had taken a bit longer than they had anticipated so we had lunch before returning to the table. Actually that’s inaccurate; we had lunch before clearing the table and returning to business, since we were using the same table for both. Everyone seemed much more relaxed now that we had settled things between us.
“Where were we?” I said, starting the discussion again.
“I think we were at the part where we were trying to decide how we wanted to lose,
” Marc joked. It wasn’t particularly funny since it was largely true, but it did set me to thinking.
“You’re right,” I agreed.
“So you’ve decided to see sense and join the king?” Cyhan asked.
“Nope, I just thought what Marc said was spot on. We’ve been going at this from the viewpoint of limiting our losses... planning our defeat. No war has ever been won that way,” I stated.
“You don’t honestly think there’s any hope of us winning do you?” he responded.
“I’m not sure, but I’m not giving up yet. We haven’t even finished listing our resources yet, which may be greater than we realize,” I returned.
“What else do we have?” Dorian asked.
“Money for one... we have a lot of money, and time to use it,” I said.
“Well that’s fine... if you’re planning to throw it at them,” Joe put in, “but all the money in the world won’t create an army out of thin air.”
“You’re right. There’s no way we can match their numbers, whatever they may be, but I have Rose Hightower back in the capital recruiting as many as she can find. It might be the case that she can find enough to keep us from being completely overrun,” I told them.
“Not many men are going to take your coin to join a lost cause,” Marc informed us, “especially when the king will also be opening his coffers to recruit for a far less suicidal battle.”
“I’m offering more than the king, remember? Land may draw men that money alone could not tempt.”
“That still doesn’t get around the fact that it won’t be enough men. Even the king won’t face them here. The terrain offers no advantage, leaving the battle largely a matter of who brings the largest army,” Cyhan said.
“We have something that they don’t,” Dorian responded calmly.
“What?” the older warrior asked him.
“Him,” my friend pointed at me across the table. “We have the only remaining wizard in the civilized world. We have magic... they don’t.”
“I appreciate your confidence in your friend,” Cyhan placated him, “but no amount of magic can stop an army of over ten thousand.”
“You weren’t there at Lancaster. I was. He killed over a hundred of them in one fell swoop,” Dorian replied, unshaken.
“And it nearly killed him,” Penny added. “Besides, I don’t think Vendraccus will be so kind as to gather his army all in one place where Mordecai could conveniently annihilate them all at once. At Lancaster he had the enemy confined in one room.”
“Hah!” Royce shouted. Everyone looked at him wondering at his odd exclamation. “Say that again girl.”
“It nearly killed him...,” Penny responded uncertainly.
“No, no, the last bit... about the room,” my father’s sharp blue eyes were piercing as he spoke. I knew the look. He usually got it when he had overcome a difficult problem crafting something in the smithy.
“At Lancaster he had the enemy confined in one room?” she repeated.
“Aye, that was it. You...” he pointed at Cyhan, “you said that the terrain here held no advantage, so the king wouldn’t fight here. That may not be true.”
“What are you talking about Royce?” Joe asked. A look of hope was forming on his face already. He had a lot respect for the smith’s ideas, especially after the fight with the shiggreth.
“The river... here see,” he moved a few cups aside and tried to trace out the terrain with his finger on the table top. “Bah, this won’t work! Someone fetch me some paper and a piece of charcoal.”
I got up to fetch it for him. Paper was in short supply so I doubted anyone else would know where to find a piece large enough. I happened to know where he kept his back at the smithy. He frequently liked to plan his work out with large sketches. Ten minutes later I was back and we laid a large sheet out on the table.
“Alright... look here,” Royce started drawing a rough map of the area surrounding Castle Cameron, including Lancaster and Arundel. To the north a long line of mountains formed a rough border between Lothion and Gododdin. South of that were my lands, with Lancaster to the east of us and Arundel to the west. A break at the western end of the mountain range was the common passage between Gododdin and Lothion. A road crossed there and went past the Barony of Arundel, leading onward to Cameron and then Lancaster before turning south to head into the interior of Lothion.
“Here’s where they’ll be coming from, and they’ll have to follow the road past Arundel,” he drew a line to represent the road. It went south from the mountains toward Arundel before turning to run eastward past Cameron and Arundel. “You’ll notice that the road is paralleled by the Glenmae River for most of its length.” He added another line a bit north of the road. “The river runs just a half mile north of the road for most of the valley before it leads back up into the mountains north of Lancaster.” The valley itself was very gentle, a sloping grassy plain that stretched for miles between the road and the mountains. A large part of the farming for the three fiefdoms was done there. It was bordered to the north by the mountains and rose again on the southern side where the road ran. Near the road the forest started, stretching for many miles to the south.
“So they follow the road, making short side stops to wipe out Arundel, then us, and finally Lancaster as they go. After that they follow it south into Lothion proper, unless they want to try to drag their entire army through the forest and then into the foothills of central Lothion. I’d say that was unlikely.” He looked up from his rough map, catching us with his sharp eyes, “You follow so far?”
I nodded but Cyhan stopped him, “You’ve laid out a map for disaster. There are no choke points, no bridges, and no narrow passes, just an open gently sloping valley with a road and a river. I don’t see how any of that is going to help us.”
“Well there is one bridge,” Dorian put in, “the small one where the road crosses the river before heading into Gododdin.”
“Not that it helps,” Cyhan remarked. “The river is shallow enough to walk across in most places. You could burn the bridge and it would hardly slow them. Even the road is almost a joke, most of that valley is so smooth and even you could march across it almost as easily as take the road.”
“Let me finish,” Royce groused. “The valley slopes gently downward to the river, from the mountains to the north and from the forest and the road to the south. Its source lies in the mountains on the eastern end, north of Lancaster. There’s a much smaller valley there, where the mountains come together around the river before it enters the main valley. There are rocky hills that come within a few hundred yards of each other on either side of the river there, roughly dividing that smaller valley from this one.”
Joe interrupted, “Not to be rude Royce, but I don’t see any reason why they would head up there? Assuming you’re suggesting we somehow try to defend ourselves in Shepherd’s Rest.” That was the name of the smaller valley; Royce had avoided using it for the sake of those who didn’t know the area.
“No Joe, you’re missing my point,” he pointed at the narrow entrance into Shepherd’s Rest that the river passed through, “Here... Damn it.” He grinned at us.
“Excuse me?” said Penny.
“Dam it!” repeated my father chuckling. He sometimes had an odd sense of humor and he was enjoying his joke.
“Oh! That’s genius Roy!” shouted Joe. “We dam it!” He looked around to see who else had caught on.
“You think we should dam the river there?” I said; putting an end to the confusion everyone was in.
“Yep, we dam it there, and turn Shepherd’s Rest into a reservoir. Then when those bastards march into the valley we unstop it and watch ‘em drown.” He put his thumbs in his belt and leaned back, obviously pleased with himself.
Cyhan still had concerns, “Not to get ahead of ourselves, there are still several large problems with your plan. One, the road is too far from the low part of the valley. You’re not going to have enough water to wash them away if they’re
on it. Two, if you try to get them crossing the bridge; you won’t be able to time it properly. Your dam is over ten miles from where the bridge is. You’d have no way of knowing when they were crossing, much less figuring out how long the water will take to reach that point. Third, it takes time to fill up a reservoir that large and the Glenmae isn’t a very big river. Even if you could snap your fingers and have it dammed today it would still take over a year to fill. Fourth, you can’t build a dam instantly, by the time you build it they’ll be knocking on your doorstep.”
“I’ve already got that covered,” said Royce. “We don’t try to get them on the bridge. It’s too far like you said already, plus that many men will be strung out for miles on either side. We wait till they’re on the road, close to here,” he pointed at the map marking the point at which the road came close to Washbrook. “We set something up to force ‘em to leave the road, make ‘em march through the valley there close to the river. That way when we set it loose we catch ‘em with their pants down.”
“There might be a way to do that,” Cyhan mused, “but what about the building time... and the water?”
“We start building right away, and we build from the bottom up. We lay the foundation and the first ten feet or so and then we block the river. We keep building upward from there, trying to stay ahead of the water’s rise. You said yourself the river isn’t that big, it won’t fill too quickly for us.” Royce stroked his beard as he thought about it.
Cyhan gave up, “I don’t know anything about building dams. It might be possible but I think it will be much harder than you think.”
Marcus stepped in, “It will be damn near impossible. You’ll need massive stones for the foundation, and those take time to quarry and move. After that if you build too fast and sloppy the water will wash out your upper courses before the mortar can fully set. Assuming you have that much stone ready to lay the upper courses anyway. The base will have to be at least twenty feet thick if not more... I dunno maybe Mort can work that part out. It’ll take a lot of math to calculate the water pressure at the base as the dam gets higher. I’m no engineer.”