Angus Wells - The Kingdoms 02 by The Usurper (v1.1)

squadrons of his swiftest horsemen standing ready. In case.”
                “So long as they do not show
themselves,” said Brannoc.
                “They will be ready,” Jarl
promised. “And I shall be at their head.”
                “You will assure them safe conduct,”
Brannoc continued, addressing Kedryn. “For themselves and their Gehrim .”
                “Their bodyguards?” Hattim snorted.
“They dare ask that bodyguards accompany them?”
                “It is their custom,” said Brannoc.
“Twelve warriors from each tribe. Sixty men are small threat to the armies of
the Kingdoms.” “It is a matter of protocol,” Hattim argued. “They are the
defeated ones, yet they dictate terms.”
                “I am not sure there is a protocol to cover this,” Darr
murmured gently, “and as Brannoc points out—there is scant threat to us.”
Hattim’s face blackened at this further reverse, but once again Kedryn
preempted his objections by suggesting a vote. All save Hattim voiced their
acceptance, and the Lord of Ust-Galich was once more forced to acquiesce.
                “After I have given them my word,”
Kedryn asked, “what then?”
                “With safe conduct guaranteed you
need only arrange a time,” said Brannoc. “Perhaps the following day?”
                “The armies are ready?” Darr asked,
and when he had that confirmed said, “Then—if Kedryn is agreeable—let us set
the time for noon .”
                It was agreed and they set to
discussing the exact form of the parley. It was decided that pavilions should
be raised below the fort, through which the barbarian chieftains would proceed,
emerging from the southern gates, the first woodlanders to set foot in the
Three Kingdoms. Escorted by a guard of honor, they would meet Darr and the
lords of Tamur, Kesh and Ust-Galich in full sight of the massed warriors. In
return for their promises of peace they would be allowed to retrieve their
fallen and return to the Beltrevan. Then Brannoc, much to Kedryn’s amusement
for he suspected an ulterior motive, suggested that the time was ripe for
opening stronger trade links with the forest folk.
                “There is much they cannot obtain in
the forests,” the wolf’s- head pointed out, his voice earnest, “and the goods
of the Kingdoms are highly prized. What small degree of trade has taken place
has been—let us say, unofficial. Scarcely sufficient to satisfy the demand.”
                Kedryn heard Rycol’s splutter,
midway between merriment and vexation, and wished that he could see the
chatelain’s visage as Brannoc outlined a plan that made excellent sense—and
would undoubtedly provide the outlaw with a far greater profit than his
previous clandestine activities as a smuggler.
                “Let them but acquire a taste for
the goods of the Kingdoms and they will likely be loath to forgo such
luxuries,” he continued, ignoring Rycol’s grunt, “and consequently less likely
to sever the links by act of war. ”
                “You would have some experience of
such transactions,” Rycol remarked drily.
                “I have some small personal
interest,” Brannoc responded in an innocent voice, “but my purpose now is to
cement the peace.”
                “There is another advantage beyond
the commercial,” Darr interjected. “Should we regularize trade, we should
afford ourselves excellent opportunity to maintain a degree of surveillance
within the Beltrevan. Perhaps we should suggest seasonal fairs.”
                “My Lord,” Brannoc announced
admiringly, “you have the foresight of a freebooter.”
                Darr laughed and said, “How say you,
my Lords?”
                “Who would organize such junkets?”
asked Rycol. “And where? For all