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  I nodded. We'd lost about twenty of the slaves to the bandits. Once they had the opportunity to turn on them, many had not hesitated to do so, even if it meant their own life. All of these women had been captured by the bandits during raids in the last year and used rather harshly. So many of them had not hesitated at all when the opportunity for revenge had come their way.

  I had returned to my local form, and put on clean clothes from the pack on my horse, after taking a short bath in the pond, but most of the women were still rather wary of me, not that I blamed them.

  "When are you leaving, Bro?" Nikki asked.

  "I'll stay until you've sent the last of them off. Some of the bandits who got away might come back."

  Nikki nodded, "Thanks."

  "Sure thing, Sis," I said and finding a nice place to sit, I got out some food and watched the fire as I ate.

  "So, when was the last time you stopped by and saw Mom and Dad?" I asked returning to our original conversation.

  "Oh, I went home for Christmas, I even dragged Joseph along and told them he was my current boyfriend."

  I laughed and looked at her, "Really?"

  Nikki grinned, "Yup. Mom loves him; Dad isn't quite sure what to make of him."

  I shook my head, and wondered what our parents would say if we tried to tell them the truth? That I was a champion on a medieval world where the dominate race was based on evolved felines, that Nikki and I both worked for gods? That Nikki lived in a world where technology was impossible and kings and queens still ruled the earth?

  Assuming that we could even get them to believe us.

  We talked a bit more, and then split the watch between us. In the morning, after she'd taken care of everyone, I'd be heading off to Hiland and Rachel. Winters were slow times in Hiland due to all the snow, which was why I usually spent them here with Darlene, giving her the time and attention she deserved.

  Last summer in Hiland had been pretty easy for a change, Barassa was in the midst of an economic crisis after losing the war, so they weren't causing us any problems, and Rachel was still rebuilding the treasury after not only winning the war, but growing her kingdom once again.

  I looked around the valley, the place reminded me of someplace but I couldn't quite place it. Maybe it was those city-states to the south in the mountains that Rachel was thinking about adding to her kingdom.

  Whatever it was, if it was important either Fel or Rachel would remind me when I got home tomorrow. I'd traveled to so many places, both in this sphere, my home sphere, and a couple of dozen others in the last decade that it was hard sometimes remembering just where I'd been.

  Two

  Saladin - Hiland

  "Hi, Fel," I said as I stepped out of the portal I'd opened to gate back to the temple, letting it collapse behind me. The ability to be able to gate directly back from anywhere was a pretty handy one.

  "Hello, William," Fel's disembodied voice responded. While he could manifest his image in his main temple, he rarely did so when I was involved.

  "So, what's in the schedule for this year?" I asked walking to the back door. I knew Narasamman, the high priestess, would be annoyed that I went straight home to Rachel, without visiting with her first, but I missed my wife and I could visit with Narasamman later. As it was, I wasn't even planning on chatting with Fel until later, and he was the god to whom I was sworn.

  "Nothing terribly important, and not until more of the passes have cleared. So go have fun."

  "Thanks, Fel," I replied and left the temple and headed up to the small 'castle' that Rachel and I lived in. It only was called a castle really, because Rachel was the ruler of the Hiland Kingdom. It was really more of a glorified estate with some government buildings on it, and a low defensive wall.

  I caught up with Rachel in our quarters, she was seated with her scribe Telran going over records of some sort. As soon as she saw me she got up and came over and we hugged and kissed, just spending a few moments enjoying each other's company.

  "You're late," Rachel said to me when we stopped, looking up at me.

  "I had to help Nikki with a problem she was having," I said and sitting down in the chair she had just vacated, I pulled her down onto my lap.

  "Ah, so how is your sister doing?"

  "She's doing well and pretty happy with things. What's all this?" I asked nodding towards the paperwork on the table. Telran was watching us, looking a little bemused. I liked Telran, he wasn't afraid of me in the slightest.

  "Budget issues, requests for gold, the usual," Rachel sighed.

  I nodded, "Well, I'll try not to interrupt you too much then," I purred and put my hands on her shoulders and slowly massaged them as she turned back to Telran and the documents, still seated in my lap.

  Yeah, it wasn't the most exciting way to spend time together, especially after being apart for the last four months, but anytime spent with the one you love is worth it. Plus I had an engineers understanding of public works she could call on, and I had dealt with most of the people making the requests, so I knew them at least as well as she did. She might be the Queen, and I just her consort, but I was also her husband, and the champion of the god Feliogustus, the one the vast majority of her subjects followed. So knowing what she was doing and wanted done was always helpful, especially if she needed me to twist an arm or two.

  "My advisory council is meeting tomorrow, I want you to be there," Rachel told me later, after Telran had left and we'd sat down to dinner with Laria and all of our children.

  I nodded, "What's the topic?"

  "Holse and Rigel have some things involving Barassa and the northern kingdoms they want to share with me and the other members."

  "Not another war I hope," I sighed.

  "No, or not for us at least, now, let's eat."

  I looked around the table as I sat down next to Rachel in the council chambers. After the war last year she'd been forced by necessity to reorganize her council, as it had grown rather large, and several of the people now on it were close to a week's ride away.

  So the full council only met twice a month, and representatives were allowed to be sent in your place.

  Rachel's advisory council however met twice a week, more if necessary. It only had six members on it; Diament's son Brandt, and Ramert were the only two from the nobility on the council, Ramert because of his loyalty and Brandt because his house was still the most powerful of the noble houses. Holse was on the council, as the leader of all of the kingdom's armed forces, Jezza as the one in charge of all of the public works and any other construction projects, and Rigel, our intelligence head and spymaster.

  Narasamman was also on the advisory council. There had been some discussion about that, mainly because I was there fairly often as well. But I couldn't speak for Feliogustus or Fordessa, or their followers, and Narasamman could.

  Rigel was going over the intelligence reports that he'd just received.

  "So, from what we've been able to learn, Langhir, Ronshir, Stadhir, Yamland, Metina, and Bronsard, have all combined their armies and are marching south as we speak. Based on the latest reports I received, I would estimate that they've either crossed, or will soon cross, the northern border of Barassa's kingdom."

  "What united them?" Rachel asked, "Do we know for sure?"

  Narasamman spoke up, "It's a holy war. The priests of Roden, Keiss, Tiremenentan, and Quzelatin have been pushing for war against Tantrus because of the temples he had established in their domains were found to have been engaging in assassinations."

  "But that was ten years ago now," Rachel said looking at Narasamman. "Surely they can't still be upset over that?"

  "Yes, but ten years ago Barassa was too strong to attack. After their failed attack on Marland two years ago, and last year's economic collapse, they're much weaker now," Rigel pointed out.

  "But still, how do you whip the people up for a religious war over something that old?" Rachel asked again.

  "The followers of Roden, Keiss, Tiremenentan, and Quzelati
n have been making inroads with the population of Barassa," Rigel said. "A lot of the populace has been becoming less enamored with Tantrus over the last few years, and well, with the economic collapse last year those other religions sent in their people with food and other relief to try and gain followers."

  "Which Tantrus's temple guards, with the help of Stivik's guards, then either slaughtered or sold off into slavery," Narasamman continued.

  "Exactly," Rigel said picking back up. "So the head priests leaned on the leaders, the leaders looked at Barassa, saw much easier pickings, and agreed."

  Rachel looked at Narasamman, "Where does Feliogustus and Fordessa stand on this?"

  Narasamman shrugged. "Officially both are doing nothing. Feliogustus has no followers in any of the Kingdoms involved, though my priests are instructing the Mowoks to steer clear of the invading armies and not get involved with any from Barassa unless they cross into their lands.

  "Fordessa, however, does have followers in all of the cities, except of course Barassa. Some of them have joined with the armies to provide entertainment and to write songs of any great deeds they may observe. However, none of her clergy have joined."

  Rachel nodded and thought a moment.

  "What do you estimate Barassa's army to be now, Rigel?"

  Rigel consulted his notes, "About fifty thousand, including the levies. They no longer have any mercenaries working for them, and after the war recriminations and then last year's near collapse of the government, I'm not sure how effective what they have left is. General Holse and I have spent a great deal of time discussing this matter."

  Holse nodded, "They had a lot of desertions in the upper ranks after the war. Whatever command structure they have left, has got to be lacking in experience."

  "And how big does the invading army look?" Rachel asking looking back and forth between Holse and Rigel.

  "It's eighty thousand, with two champions," I said speaking up for the first time.

  Rachel turned to me, "And you know this...?"

  I smiled at her, everyone else was looking at me now too, "Feliogustus told me this morning when I was down at the temple. I was going to bring it up, but Rigel beat me to the punch," I rubbed my leg up against Rachel's under the table and she just nodded.

  "Okay, you're forgiven," she said.

  "Do you know what the dispositions of those troops are, William?" Holse asked.

  "Well Langhir, Ronshir, Stadhir, and Metina each contributed ten thousand foot soldiers, mostly regular infantry, but they've all contributed some heavy units as well. Yamland and Bronsard contributed twenty thousand each, of which probably half are heavy infantry. Bronsard mainly because they're the ones who have been having to deal with Barassa's aggressions over the last two years.

  "As for champions, Roden's and Quzelatin's are with the army. Keiss and Tiremenentan do not have champions currently."

  Holse and Rigel both nodded, the later making a few notes.

  "So," Rachel said looking around the table, "What do we do?"

  "Do we need to do anything?" Ramert asked, looking around the table. "I say just let them go at each other."

  Brandt nodded, "As much as I'd like to see Barassa trampled under the feet of our troops for the death of my father, I agree that a wait and see approach would be best for us."

  "The church has no comment," Narasamman said.

  Jezza shook his head, "I am never a fan of war, Your Highness."

  "I see nothing to be gained for us at this point, Your Highness," Rigel said, "However I would like to send a few spies down there to keep an eye on things."

  Holse sighed, "We're going to have to send out the army, Your Highness."

  Rachel looked at him, "Why?"

  "Well first, with an army of that size running around, we just can't choose to ignore it. We'll have to reinforce Tradeson, just in case anyone gets 'lost.' We'll have to move significant portions of the army to both Rivervail and Marland as well. Those will be more to deal with the flood of refugees we'll undoubtedly see, but also, if Barassa does fall, where will its army and leadership flee to? Increasing our presence in Marland will help to convince them not to come this way."

  "You think they would?" Rachel asked, "After all, we beat them last time."

  "Desperate men take desperate measures, Your Majesty. There are several hundred thousand people living in the city of Barassa alone, if we see a flood of refugees, they could easily hide an army in it, and attack us when and where we least expect. So we need to deal with the inevitable results."

  Now it was Rachel's turn to sigh. "I really need to appoint a finance minister. Okay, figure out who has to go where, I'll summon Holden's ambassador to let him know what we're doing, I'm guessing king Charles will be willing to donate some troops and I'll send a messenger to Duke Eklin as well to let him know you'll be talking to him. I'll also let the representatives from Tradeson and Stongshold know tonight."

  She looked around the table again, "Anything else?"

  Jezza spoke up, "Your Majesty, if General Holse's suspicion on refugees is correct, we should probably figure out where we want to put them, and build some sort of shelters or something."

  Rigel nodded, "That's a good idea, Your Highness. That would let us check them out and determine who we want to keep, and who we want to move on."

  "Put it in eastern Marland," Brandt said, "I understand that we still have a lot of open property there since the war?"

  Rachel nodded, "Good point. We can settle them there, and if they want to go back after this is over, they'll be close to home. Anything else?"

  Everyone shook their heads.

  "Good," Rachel said and stood up, holding out her hand to me. I stood up and took it.

  "Dismissed," She told them. "I'll want to see numbers on what this is going to cost me come the full meeting on Thursday."

  Rachel and I left then as the others gathered their things and stood up to leave.

  "So, what do you think, Hon?" Rachel asked me after we left the room.

  I shrugged, "I honestly don't know. Fel thinks that the army is just going to go down there and lay siege to the city and try and starve them out."

  "Barassa is on the river and has a port," Rachel said shaking her head, "I don't see that working very well."

  "Well, after what happened last year, Barassa's coffers aren't very full. They're not going to have a lot of money to buy food or other goods. Besides, this isn't a war against Barassa; it's a war against Tantrus."

  "Like that matters," Rachel sighed.

  "You never know," I said giving my head a shake, "Stivik could wise up and toss them out and let the other religions in. That would end it right there."

  Rachel gave me a sidelong glance as we walked along, "Really, Will?"

  I laughed, "No, of course not. Stivik's an idiot; he should have moved his economy off of the slave trade when it started to crash. No one would even think of attacking him, if he wasn't so weak now."

  "Tomorrow I want you to ride down to Eklin let him know what's going on, then ride east until you're across from Barassa and keep an eye on things for me."

  I sighed, "So I'm the messenger you're sending to him?"

  Rachel nodded, "You've got a good knowledge of the area, you know Roden's champion, and everyone respects you." Rachel stopped and rose up on her toes to give me a kiss. "You are my husband after all," she purred.

  "You do know that Roden's champion is a crazy woman who scares me half the time, right?"

  "Yes, but you trust her," Rachel said.

  I looked at her, rather surprised. "What makes you say that?"

  "I've heard you talk about her, and I've heard Jane talk about her. You admire her and you trust her and you're afraid she's smarter than you."

  I blinked, and I was sure I heard Fel laughing at me.

  "So, anything else I need to know, before I leave, dear?" I asked her.

  Rachel didn't say anything until we were in our quarters and she started to remove her off
icial raiments.

  "I don't know, Love. I just have this feeling that something unexpected is going to happen. King Stivik and the Priests of Tantrus have to be on edge right now, after everything that's happened. Holse is right, desperate men do desperate things. Stivik has to be desperate. Tantrus is probably getting desperate as well.

  "Once they have the city under siege, they'll probably pacify the rest of the country, so what will Stivik and Tantrus be left with? A walled city that can't feed itself?"

  Rachel shook her head, "They're not stupid, if they have any tricks left, it's in their best interest to pull them out and use them immediately. And that's what worries me."

  I nodded and gave her a hug, then kissed her.

  "Don't worry, Love. I'll take care of it."

  Three

  Saladin - Marland

  I left early the next morning with Laria in tow. I was a bit worried about taking her along as her child, or to be more honest our child, wasn't quite a year old yet. But Rachel had been rather firm on Laria going with me, and Rachel was rather fond of Keith having confided in me that it was nice having a baby around without having to go through all the problems of having one yourself.

  Laria wasn't exactly thrilled with the decision, but she knew her child would be well cared for, so she didn't complain.

  I resolved to make it up to her as much as possible, and when we arrived in Marland city five days later, Laria was back to her usual cheerful self.

  "Will!" Duke Eklin said coming up to Laria and I as we left our mounts at the castle stable. I guess someone had sent a runner to tell him I was here, and rather than wait for us, he'd come down himself.

  "To what do I owe the honor?" He asked.

  "There's an army marching on Barassa, if you haven't heard anything about it yet, you probably will soon. Queen Rachel is sending Holse down here to make sure no one gets any ideas."

  Duke Eklin nodded, "We've been hearing rumors from some of the merchants coming in to our port. I passed them on of course, but I had no idea.