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.