Chapter 9

The Barony of Rockyvale, Eastern Realms, Andor.

The subjugation of Rockyvale went quickly and without further bloodshed; well, except for the linens on Neelam's new bed. Adeline was a somewhat willing partner and Neelam enjoyed himself well into the night. He slipped out of bed the next morning causing Adeline to stir before rolling over in the bed. He was up and practicing with Gor when a knock on the door caused him to pause.

"Enter," he commanded.

The door opened and Adeline's mother, who was now Neelam's servant, wheeled in his breakfast on a serving cart. Two of the baronial guard followed her in and flanked the door on either side. Neelam noticed that she looked a little disheveled and there was a large red mark on her right cheek and what looked like the beginning of a shiner under the right eye.

"Your Grace, your breakfast," she announced, glancing over at the bed while pushing the cart to a nearby table.

She slowly and methodically set the small table under the watchful glare of the two guards, sneaking glances at the bed the whole time. After the table was set she removed the covers from the serving dishes and then stepped back taking one more glance at the bed and then looked to Neelam, lowering her head.

"That will be all," Neelam commanded, watching her reaction to her daughter's predicament.

Adeline's mother bowed and left the bedchambers, with the guard following behind her. Neelam sat at the small table and consumed his meal efficiently while pondering his schedule for the day.

"My Lord, we should go to Blackvale today," Gor announced while Neelam was eating.

"Today?" Neelam asked, setting his silverware down. "Why today?"

"We must continue to advance your position."

"My position?" Neelam asked. "I am a baron now."

"Yes, but you could be so much more," Gor countered, and continued to speak to Neelam about great and wondrous things he could do and become.

Gor continued to whisper of things grand and remarkable and Neelam began to believe that he could be the greatest lord that Andor had ever seen or heard of. He returned to his meal with a newfound sense of importance. When Neelam was done with his breakfast he walked over to the bed and smacked Adeline on her backside.

"Breakfast is ready; it is time to get up."

Adeline stirred and finally sat up, bringing the sheet up to cover her. Neelam looked at her and shook his head; after all, he had already seen everything the night before. He turned away to give her some semblance of privacy and began washing up after his earlier workout.

"What are your plans for the day?" she asked, reaching for a dressing gown.

"Do not worry about my plans," Neelam chided, drying his face. "You just worry about keeping me happy."

Adeline nodded while slipping on the dressing gown and standing up. She crossed to where breakfast had been laid out. She smiled at Neelam, sat down, and began serving herself.

"That is why I wished to know your plans," she replied with a pout.

"I may be gone for a day or two," Neelam announced, as he finished getting dressed. "You may move your things here while I am gone. Do not try to escape. You would not want any harm to come to your mother."

"I am to be the Lady of the Manor?" Adeline asked hopefully.

"No," Neelam chuckled, buckling on his sword belt. "You are to be my bed warmer. Now, hurry and finish, there are things that I need to see to."

Neelam walked over, opened the door, and called out to one of the baronial guardsmen, who was guarding his door. He explained Adeline's role and what he wanted accomplished before his return. He also told him to have the word passed that he was on his way to the throne room and wanted both the captain and the first-minister to meet him there. After receiving acknowledgement from the guard, he bid Adeline good day and left for the throne room.

When Neelam entered the throne room both men were waiting for him. He asked Dieter if there was a map of the area, and if so, to have it brought to them. After the map was brought and laid out, showing all of the lands east of the Thangdaemon Forest, Neelam asked the captain, Chadrick was his name, how many men were in the guard.

"Baronial guard or City guard, Your Grace?" Captain Chadrick asked.

"Both," Neelam replied. "Also how many militia can be fielded?"

The captain explained that there were 25 baronial knights, all mounted, 50 permanent city guardsmen, foot soldiers, and the ability to call up another 200-300 local militia from the surrounding villages.

"What could Blackvale muster against us?" Neelam asked.

"About three times that, Your Grace," Dieter interjected. "Also, the city is a fortified stronghold, and its troops are seasoned veterans."

"Captain, choose your ten best knights and have them mustered and ready to travel in an hour. We ride to Blackvale," Neelam commanded. "Dieter, you have an hour to familiarize me with the city of Blackvale and its ruling body."

The County of Blackvale was a two day travel south-east of Rockyvale. It was the smaller of the two city-states east of the forest and was situated at the edge of the human lands. Smaller of the two in area size, but the city itself was three times the size of Rockyvale. Originally, the fortified city was the easternmost outpost of the lands ruled by the High Kings in Aithen. When the high kingdom fell at the end of the second age the city became a self-governed state, ruled by the Count Von Rula and his descendants.

The city itself was situated on stone foundations in the middle of farming lowlands, halfway between the forest and the sea, about three days journey either way. All of its protected lands were to the west and north since the city itself was located at the easternmost edge of habitable, farming lands.

The city was ringed by dual walls, the outer wall at twenty feet tall, and the inner at thirty. The walls were design thusly so that if the outer wall was ever captured the city's defenders could rain arrows down onto the outer wall. There was thirty feet of killing ground between the walls, with no part of the outer defenses coming in contact with the inner wall. The inner and outer gates were offset by 45 degrees and the tunneled access switched back and forth three times. There were murder holes throughout the tunneled access, as well as several drop walls to section off the tunnel.

The outer wall was built as a series of flanking turreted towers, each connected by a curtain wall. A large gatehouse at the front and six towers connected in a hexagonal design. The curtained walls were accessed by a series of stone stairs leading to battlements between each tower.

The inner wall was one long curtained structure with one main tunneled access connected to the outer wall's gatehouse. There were several hidden accesses through the inner wall to the outer courtyard known only to the Captain of the Guard and the Count.

The lands to the forest were fertile and supported an abundance of crops. The lands leading toward the sea were a series of swamps, tar pits, and oily lakes; it was also the home of several Orc tribes.

Since the fall of the high kingdom the Count became the de-facto ruler and the title had been passed down from father to son for fifteen generations. The current Count was the young bachelor, Burke von Rula, who had assumed the crown at the age of twenty, some five years ago.

Neelam dismissed the two men so that they might finish their preparations for the journey to Blackvale. He then ordered the throne room clear of guards and when the room was clear he drew Gor.

"I have questions concerning things that have happened to me."

"My Lord, ask and I will answer what I may."

"Several times when you performed great feats I felt a drain that left me weak for a moment or two, what was that?"

"The power to do the things that I can do, the things you ask of me, comes from you, My Lord. If the power I need is greater than you possess I must take some from your essence, your constitution, if you will. The fatigue you feel is the aftereffects of the drain."

"I do not understand," Neelam replied. "I provide your power?"

"You are my connection to the flow of power. Unfortunately, as you are human it is an imperfect connection. Sometimes the power I need is more than you are able to pass at a given instance. Think of it is a wellspring that I tap, if I take too much at once the well temporarily goes dry. When that happens I take from you and you feel the draining effects."

"Are the effects permanent?"

"They could be if what you ask is a great thing."

"I wish to know before that happens."

"It does not work that way, My Lord. You must be judicious in what you ask."

"Then how will I know?"

"It is certainly a conundrum, My Lord."

"That is your answer?"

"It is the only answer I have, My Lord."

"Then perhaps I should refrain from asking anything from you," Neelam replied hotly.

"That is your prerogative, My Lord but answer me this, have you felt any permanent fatigue from what you have asked of me?"

"No, but that may only mean that I have not asked for some great show of power."

"My Lord, should you not be preparing for your journey?" Gor stated, and would speak no more about the subject.

Finally in disgust Neelam sheathed the sword and left the room to make his preparations.

Neelam and his party left Rockyvale at mid-morning and would have to spend two nights on the road before reaching Blackvale. They intended to spend the first night in the inn of a village situated on the border of the two states. The weather was pleasant and they made good time, arriving at the small village on the border of the two city-states just before dinner. Neelam had Captain Chadrick secure lodging for the group while he entered the main hall in search of a table. Chadrick assigned two of the knights as Neelam's personal guards and they fell in step behind their liege. The inn had almost no guests, so Neelam had his choice of tables and selected one near the rear of the room, providing good sight lines for the front door and hallway toward the rooms, as well as the door to the kitchen. The enjoyed a hearty meal in the nearly deserted inn. The captain assigned watch rotations through the night and the rest of the party turned in, leaving instructions to be awakened at first light.

They were up at the assigned time, packed and breaking their fast when the cries of alarm, and the ringing of the village bell broke up their morning solitude. Neelam's two personal knights leaped to their feet, drew their swords, and scanned the area for threats as the rest of the knights stood. Neelam was on his feet and had Gor drawn as the captain led the rest of the knights toward the main doors.

"Your Grace, please wait here for the captain to return," the knight to Neelam's left remarked, while nervously watching the door.

Neelam's nod was the only reply as the three waited, hearing fighting and screaming from outside. It was only a few moments later that one of the knights returned to the inn and announced that an Orc raiding party was attacking the village.

"My Lord, we must wait!" Gor commanded.

"Why?" Neelam asked petulantly.

"My Lord, you are angry with me, do not be. I am bound by certain laws in what I may say or reveal. Not every question you ask can I answer."

Neelam nodded in thought, sheathed Gor, and sat back down as the messenger left presumably to report back to the captain.

"Your Grace?" the knight to Neelam's right asked, quizzically.

"Not my fight," Neelam shrugged, picking up his goblet of wine. "We wait."

The sounds of armed conflict continued for a few more moments and then suddenly stopped. It got deathly quiet outside and then the door to the inn burst inward in a shower of splintered wood. Three Orc raiders jumped through the opening and fanned out swinging their weapons back and forth. The two knights advanced while Neelam put down his goblet and stood.

"I guess it is now," he chuckled, standing and drawing Gor, who began to howl as the blade burst into silver flames, runes glowing black.

The Orc in the middle, who was the larger of the three, stopped and stared in a mixture of awe and perhaps even a little fear.

"It is true, then. The wizard said that I would find a human wielding a powerful sword," the Orc in the middle declared in broken Common and then barked a command in Orcish. "Kak deen fut!"

The Orcs to either side of the speaker lowered their weapons and relaxed their stance, appearing non-threatening. The larger Orc then lowered his war club as well. The three Orcs were large, taller and broader then even the most stout knight riding with Neelam. Their skin was a deep burnt umber as if they were born of the very earth. Their noses were flat and wide, ears tight against the side of their heads. Their armor was a mismatch of leather, chain, and even some plate, haphazardly but effectively pieced together. The stench rolling off of their bodies almost brought tears to Neelam's and his companions' eyes.

"Knights, hold!" Neelam commanded when he realized that they were no longer an immediate threat, but kept Gor up and at the ready.

The two knights stopped their advance but also kept their swords up and the two parties eyed each other hostilely before Neelam finally broke the impasse.

"Who are you and what are your intentions?" Neelam asked the Orc in the middle, the presumed leader.

"I am Maoauk," the Orc replied in a harsh broken accent, slapping his chest. "War Chief of the Death-claw tribe."

"And your intentions?"

"Aid the bearer of that sword," Maoauk replied, pointing at Gor

"Why this sword, it is nothing special?" Neelam asked, sheathing Gor. "And why does a war chief lead a raiding party?"

"Why does a lord, a bearer of a great sword lead ten knights of Rockyvale?" Maoauk replied in broken common.

"What do you want?" Neelam asked, again.

"To give aid to the bearer of that sword," Maoauk replied, again.

"I did not think Orcs gave aid to anyone," Neelam stated.

"Not usually," Maoauk replied. "There are exceptions for one who is powerful."

"I am not powerful," Neelam replied. "I am only a man."

Maoauk barked a command and the Orc to his right charged Neelam swinging his large war axe. Neelam quickly sidestepped the attack, drew Gor and slashed down diagonally, opening the Orc from his shoulder to his hip. The Orc dropped to the ground and skidded to the wall dead.

"Yes, just a man," Maoauk grumbled a chuckle. "Come, there is someone that would meet you."

Maoauk barked another command and turned and left the inn with the remaining Orc turning and following. Neelam wiped Gor clean and sheathed the sword. He nodded to himself and started for the door with the two knights quick stepping to take the lead. The knights stepped through the doorway and into the street, stopping dead in their tracks. Neelam stepped around them and took in the scene before him.

There were knights, Orcs, and what Neelam concluded were villagers, all frozen in the midst of fighting. The entire area was quiet, nothing moved, even Neelam noted, the two knights that were his guard. He saw the Orc with Maoauk frozen as well, while Maoauk himself was casually walking up the street of the village.

"Gor, what is wrong here?" Neelam asked, touching the sword's hilt.

"Wizardry, My Lord," the sword replied. "Possibly the cloaked one at the end of the street."

At the end of the street, on the outskirts of the village, was a small cloaked shaped, leaning over a gnarled wooden staff. Neelam watched Maoauk approach and speak to the shape before stepping to the side and turning back toward Neelam.

"Gor, could this wizard do me harm?" Neelam mentally asked.

"It is certainly possible, My Lord. He is undoubtedly a great wizard with this display of power."

"Can you protect me?"

"I thought you were going to refrain from asking anything of me, My Lord?"

"Gor?" Neelam asked forcibly.

"I can protect you, My Lord. It will undoubtedly cost you."

"Gor, protect me from the wizard," Neelam commanded.

"As you command, My Lord," the sword replied with just a hint of amusement in its voice.

Neelam approached the two figures, stopping about three paces in front of the wizard and the Orc war chief and then drew Gor from its scabbard. The sword burst into faint silver flames and its runes began to glow with a blackish light. Neelam felt a tingle go up and down his spine, while feeling his arm hairs tingle. He had a brief feeling of fatigue and then all of the feelings faded away.

"You wished to meet me?" Neelam asked, looking directly at the cloaked individual.

The wizard pulled back the hood of his cloak revealing the rounded head and face of an elderly goblin with greyish hair and piercing grey eyes.

"I am called Tsor Shadowheart," the wizard introduced himself. "I wish to offer my aid in your march to dominance."

"It seems many believe I need aid," Neelam countered. "What makes you think I need aid, or even what my long term goals are for that matter?"

"Your sword is a siren to others of like minded ideals and goals," Tsor replied. "It has called both Maoauk and me, it may call others."

"Gor?" Neelam asked.

"It is true, only in the sense that a flame draws the moth," the sword replied. "I did not actually call them to me but it seems my very being is a beacon to others."

"Is there something you are not telling me?"

"There are many things I have not told you, for one reason or another, My Lord."

"Hmm, what are your goals, Wizard Tsor?" Neelam asked. "Where do you see yourself in this alliance?"

"Every great lord needs a chamberlain," Tsor replied. "I do have personal goals but I believe that they will be met by aiding you."

"All right," Neelam nodded and then turned to Maoauk. "And you?"

"Kill! Rape! Pillage!"

"Well, that seems simple enough," Neelam replied and then turned back to Tsor. "Wizard, Release my men."

Tsor nodded and brought his staff up and then stamped it down. Neelam felt power flow around him and turned to watch his men begin to move.

"Captain, hold!" Neelam commanded, calling down the street. "Restrain your men!"

"Now what?" Neelam asked turning back toward the wizard and the Orc.

"Now, we aid you in your plans," Tsor replied, pulling the hood back up over his head.

"Release Maoauk's orcs once he gets into position to restrain them," Neelam commanded. "Once we are reorganized I plan to continue on and take Blackvale."

Tsor nodded and Maoauk and Neelam walked back up the street where the knights were eyeing the frozen Orcs with a mixture of hate and fear. Neelam called down to Tsor that Maoauk was ready and the wizard released the frozen Orcs. Maoauk barked several commands and the Orcs lowered their weapons and formed up around the war chief. Neelam instructed the captain and informed the other knights that the Otcs were their allies, albeit tenuous allies at best. Neelam order Maoauk to send out scouts and the captain to have his knights mount and then ordered everyone forward toward Blackvale. He was surprised when the wizard and the Orc chieftain mounted rather large wolves. Maoauk took position at the front of the column and the wizard fell into step beside Neelam's horse, whose eyes were bugged out and skittish around the wizard's mount.

Neelam noted that the Orcs ran without tiring and only slowed when the mounted knights walked their horses. Neelam realized that his mounted party was actually holding the running Orcs back, and marveled at their ability. He noticed that the Orce drank something from skins as they ran and commented on that fact to Tsor. The wizard explained that it was a Orcish draught that invigorated the raiders, providing additional strength and endurance. The elixir, he went on to explain, would allow an Orc to run or fight for days without normal sustenance. The drink was also fatal to humans, although it would provide a boost in endurance but at the cost of consuming the human at the end. It was also a highly toxic poison for Elves and the fey races.

Maoauk called a halt to the march as the shadows began to lengthen. The Orcs set up camp and Maoauk pointed to an area set aside for Neelam and the knights. Maoauk explained that his Orcs would provide sentries and that it would be better for all parties concerned if the humans did not venture out from camp. After he left the captain ordered guard duty within the confines of the area set aside for them. They passed the night uneventfully.

The day began as the one before, with the Orcs in front running in two columns, each Orc stepping into the footprint of the one immediately in front, in an ingenious attempt to hide their total numbers. They only slowed when the knights walked their horses. Neelam calculated that they would reach Blackvale before mid-afternoon, well before the original estimated evening arrival time.

Neelam spent the ride trying to press Gor for more information, specifically about the sword's obvious ability to bring like-minded individuals together. The sword was elusive and vague about the ability and what its ultimate goals were, only saying that its goals matched Neelam's. Neelam laughed, telling Gor that he himself had no idea what his goals were.

"My Lord, did you not wish to be a great hero?" Gor asked, its tone questioning but also remindful. "Did you not wish to be a great lord, ruler over a vast empire?"

Neelam responded that he did and Gor acknowledged that it wished to make Neelam's dreams a reality if Neelam would just let it. Neelam absently nodded his head in approval and felt the vibrations from the chuckle at his hip.

"Lord Neelam, how were you planning on taking the city?" Tsor asked.

"Similar to how I took Rockyvale," Neelam replied with a shrug. "Enter the city, kill the Count, and subjugate the rest."

"What was your plan for entering the city with ten knights, as well as the Captain of your Guard?"

"Just enter, explaining the knights as escort and requesting an audience with the Count," Neelam shrugged again. "Suggest a trade agreement or some other type of mutual trade."

"So, slay the Count and everyone else falls in line?" Tsor asked.

"It worked before," Neelam replied.

"And you do not think that word of what happened in Rockyvale has not reached Blackvale?" Tsor countered.

"I had not thought of that," Neelam replied. "Do you have a better plan?"

"Yes, and in the process it would aid Maoauk," Tsor responded. "The Orcs in this area are fractured into several clans, each with their own clan chief. Maoauk is but one of several, although probably the most powerful. If you bring the other clans in on an attack on Blackvale and their chiefs should happen to meet an untimely death than Maoauk could unite all the tribes in the area under his rule."

"That seems like a drawn out plan," Neelam countered. "We will be arriving in Blackvale shortly. What would you have me do? Wait until the other Orc parties arrive?"

"The increase in numbers will ensure a victory," Tsor replied. "It will also solidify Maoauk's standing amongst his people and give you more assets."

"How long?"

"A day, two at the most, if we send runners now. We can have them meet us just west of the city; there is a large grassy knoll that would work well."

"All right, we will wait until the reinforcements arrive," Neelam commanded, having decided to wait. "Maoauk!"

The Orc leader turned and paused allowing the human and goblin to catch up. Neelam explained the change in plan as well as Tsor's idea to increase Maoauk's standing within the Orc clans. Maoauk agreed and sent runners to the three larger clans and additional scouts to secure the meeting site. The rest of the party continued on.

The wagon road that they were on met up with the Old Kings' Highway, at which point they turned east toward Blackvale. The Orcs would not set foot on the road, saying it was bad magic, even the large wolf mount that Tsor road would not place a paw on the stone paved roadway. The Orcs ran on either side of the road while the knights trotted down the center.

Central Plains, Andor.

"Paladin, we must turn around," Nightbringer announced. "We must head east to the other side of Castle Daemongurd."

Ragnar pulled back on the reins of his horse and the animal stopped and looked back at its rider. Ragnar studied the lay of the land all around and finally looked down to the sword belted at his hip.

"Why?" Ragnar asked, shifting the reins into his right hand and dropping his left on top of Nightbringer's pommel. "Our adversary is in front of us, I can feel it."

"Nevertheless, we must turn east, Paladin," the sword replied. "We must go to the lands east of Castle Daemongurd."

"So you keep saying and yet not spoken of the why," Ragnar replied, aggravation evident even in his mental voice.

"The why is yet to be seen, Paladin," the sword replied hotly. "If you face my brother's wielder now, however, you will fail."

"What has changed, Nightbringer?" Ragnar asked as he turned the horse back toward the east and gently urged it forward.

"The odds of singular success have fallen, while the odds of success with numbers have increased," Nightbringer replied. "Another of our brethren is to the east and calls to me. If we answer the call our success increases ten fold."

"Who?" Ragnar asked as he urged his horse to a trot.

"You will know when we get there," Nightbringer replied and then grew silent.

"Nightbringer, take us to the gates of Castle Daemongurd," Ragnar commanded, pulling back on the reins and stopping his horse.

Central Plains, Andor.

Brother William had just finished morning prayers when a glowing vision appeared before him. The vision appeared as a man dressed in robes, glowing brightly. It pointed a robed arm at William and then pointed west.

"Do not be afraid," the vision proclaimed. "You must go to Malkur and wait at the gates of the city. Go now and hurry!"

The vision faded away leaving William to ponder its meaning and more importantly why he was being sent to Malkur and not after the evil that slew his companions. Nevertheless, he quickly put away his things, mounted his horse, and galloped south and west toward the city-state of Malkur.

The gates of Castle Daemongurd, on the eastern edge of the Thangdaemon Forest, Andor.

Ragnar appeared on the road just in front of the arched bridge that led to the gates of Castle Daemongurd. He paused as if contemplating entering the castle before urging his horse forward along the Old King's Highway.

"Where to now, demon blade?" Ragnar mentally asked, hand dropping to Nightbringer's pommel.

"No need to name call, Paladin," the sword chuckled. "Continue east, following the road, you will know when you have arrived."

Ragnar nodded, mostly to himself, and urged the horse forward a little faster, shifting from a walk to a canter as he looked around at the familiar scenery. He exited the forest and continued on the paved road, soon passing a wagon road heading north. It was not much longer that he saw a contingent of people ahead of him and slowed his horse to a prance as he approached.

"Nightbringer?" Ragnar mentally asked.

"Yes, Paladin, these are the ones you are to meet," the sword replied. "The human bears a Runesword."

"Which one?"

"The Sword of Destruction."

"Ah, that explains a great deal," Ragnar replied, urging his horse closer.

Neelam was ready for the riding to end when a barked alert sounded from the rear guard. Maoauk barked orders and the column stopped and the Orcs ran to the rear in a protective stance. Neelam turned his horse and saw a rider coming up behind them. The rider was dressed in black plate armor riding a horse in similar armor, the horse prancing up the road, high-stepping back and forth.

The black rider stopped several lengths before the Orcs and barked out a command in orcish causing the raiders to lower their weapons. Maoauk barked words back to the rider as the goblin wizard turned to Neelam.

"An unexpected ally," Tsor explained. "An Anti-Paladin, and very powerful as well."

"Human, show me your sword," the black rider commanded.

Neelam shrugged and drew Gor turning the sword, exposing the blade. The black rider nodded and drew his own sword, mimicking Neelam's actions and exposing the blade of his sword. The swords were similar, each with identical runic symbols carved into the blades, from point to tang.

"I guess that makes me pestilence," the rider declared and sheathed his sword. "I am Ragnar, High Lord of Thangdaemon.

"Pestilence?" Neelam asked.

"Yes," Ragnar replied and then pointed at Maoauk. "War."

"Death," Ragnar declared, pointing at Tsor.

"Famine," Ragnar continued, pointing at Neelam.

"Which makes me Pestilence," Ragnar explained. "Four Riders of the Apocalypse."

"I understand what you are saying but I do not understand why the reference pertains to us," Neelam replied, sheathing Gor.

"My Lord, I am also named 'The Sword of the Apocalypse'," Gor announced to the assembled.

"Since you know the name and function of my sword, please enlighten us with yours," Neelam asked.

"Nightbringer, The Fist of Satan," Ragnar replied. "It was suggested that I meet up with you and join forces. What are your immediate goals?"

"Unify all the lands east of the forest under one rule," Neelam explained. "My rule. And yours?"

"My goals are not in conflict with that," Ragnar replied.

"But you do not intend to reveal them?" Neelam countered.

"Not at this time," Ragnar replied. "What lands are now yours?"

"If you are familiar with this area, I hold everything other than the County of Blackvale. We were headed there now."

"I am familiar, but the city was not originally called Blackvale," Ragnar informed them. "Originally it was called Calais and it was the easternmost outpost of a large kingdom, encompassing all of what is now know as the 'Five Realms'. If it is anything like it was it will not be easy to take."

"It is a fortified city," Tsor agreed. "We are marshaling all of the Orc tribes from the area and are gathering a great Orc army to attack the city."

"What if I could get you and a select few into the city?" Ragnar asked.

"How?" Neelam asked.

"Leave that to me," Ragnar replied. "We will need a distraction though."

"I will lead Orc forces in a siege, keeping the city defenders occupied," Maoauk declared.

"When can you be ready?" Ragnar asked.

"As soon as we reach the marshaling area and the last of the Orcs have arrived," Neelam explained.

"Lead on," Ragnar stated, swinging his hand forward.

The column started forward, Orcs flanking the highway, knights led by Neelam in the middle, Tsor just behind the knights, and Ragnar bringing up the rear.

"Nightbringer, does the keep in Calais still have a summoning room?" Ragnar asked, dropping his hand to the sword's hilt.

"Yes, Paladin, and the link is still there, unused, but still there."

"What plane, and how powerful?"

"The Third Plane, a medium dukedom," the sword replied.

"Could it still be used?"

"Yes, I have the power to shift us to the room from the plane."

"I thought as much," Ragnar replied, removed his hand, and spurred his horse forward.

"Once we reach the staging area I can shift the wizard, you and your knights into the keep," Ragnar announced to Neelam.

"Lord Ragnar, that will work perfectly," Neelam replied. "But as I am coming to learn, everything comes with a cost; what is yours?"

"There will come a time where I will require your assistance," Ragnar replied. "And the assistance of that fine blade buckled to your hip."

They continued on in silence until they reached the rendezvous area, where they could already see groups of Orcs standing around eyeing other groups of Orcs. Maoauk strolled into the center of the groups and began to bark in orcish.

"He is telling them that they have an opportunity to be part of something grand and will be able to bring war to the other races if they follow him," Ragnar explained to Neelam.

Neelam and Ragnar watched as Maoauk bashed in a few heads while Tsor barked in orcish convincing others. It did not take long to unify the Orc tribes under the leadership of the Death-Claw tribe and Maoauk. Once the reorganization was complete Maoauk commanded some 500 Orc warriors and ten goblin wizards who would answer to Lord Tsor.

Ragnar called the other three over and explained that he had a way into the castle but could only take himself and two others. Maoauk would take the Orcs and lay siege to the city but just to occupy the defenders while Ragnar, Tsor, and Neelam enter by Ragnar's means. The only question was what to do with the knights. Neelam suggested that the captain and the ten knights would ride down the highway with several orcs on their heels and make for the city gates and gain entrance by the simple ruse of being pursued by the Orcs. Once inside the captain would request an audience with the Count which would then pinpoint his location for Neelam. Then it was just a matter of taking the keep from the inside and the city would be theirs.

Neelam ordered the knights forward at a slow gait while Maoauk arranged the Orcs in an arc a hundred paces behind. Ragnar had Neelam and Tsor stand close and watched the progress of the knights. When the knights had distanced themselves sufficiently in front of the Orcs he raised his arm signally the knights to a gallop and the Orcs to a trot and then had Nightbringer shift them to the dukedom on the Third Plane of Hell.

The taking of Blackvale proved to be a tougher nut to crack but in the end the plan was executed flawlessly. The Rockyvale knights and the attacking Orcs provided the perfect distraction for the city's defenders, allowing Neelam's group to gain access to the keep unmolested. True to the prediction, the knights were brought before the Count and in-turn guided Neelam to his location. After the Count was dealt with, Neelam proclaimed himself ruler and backed it up with Gor, Ragnar brandishing Nightbringer, and Tsor's magic. Now he had to legitimize his claim.

Neelam called for all the noblemen, clergymen, and the other city leaders to be assembled in the great room of the keep. Ragnar produced an iron crown and Neelam knelt before the assembly as Ragnar placed the crown on Neelam's head and stepped back. Neelam stood as the assembly knelt before him. He then had the various heads called forward, kneel, and swear fealty to him. He did the same with all the guardsmen, knights, and other city protectors.

Neelam named Captain Chadrick Captain-Governor of Rockyvale and dispatched him and the knights back to the city with signed patents proclaiming the captain's title. Chadrick asked about the young girl and Neelam told him he could have her, causing Chadrick to smile. He bid his lord and ruler good day and departed with his knights. Neelam then proclaimed Tsor Lord Chamberlain of the Realm. Tsor explained that the lands east of the forest were technically part of the Eastern Realm whose capital was in Aithen. Neelam shrugged and then proclaimed all the lands east of the forest the Far-East Realm and Tsor its Lord Chamberlain. Neelam then proclaimed Ragnar High Paladin and Protector of the Realm, and finally he proclaimed Maoauk Lord General of all the armies of the realm.

Neelam had united the two city-states and all the lands east of the forest under one rule. Now it was time to make preparations for war.