The Last Stand (The Eleven Years War: Book One)
Chapter Thirty-Five

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

Olrick,Eza, Silas, and Kylar were, once again, in the lord’s alcove, discussing whatto do about the information they’d received about the second invasion force inthe east. Silas had just sent some Watchmen to investigate what was happeningon the coasts, where, according to the letters Elise had copied from Raul’sroom, other invasion forces were making their way inland. Things had becomeeven more critical that afternoon, with news from one of Olrick’s men that theGiskens had just laid siege to Valtruse, a small town a half-day’s ride fromSemata. Early reports said that the town’s garrison was holding up, but withthe unconventional way the Giskens fought, odds were, the city would fallwithin a few weeks or less. The Giskens had them in a strangle hold, and ifthey didn’t act fast, Caitha would fall by the end of the month; they neededmore information from Raul’s room, and fast, meaning that they’d have to putElise in more danger.

“Believeme, Olrick, I wish as much as you do that we didn’t have to do this,” Eza said.“But we need more information, and fast; if we can’t figure out a way to repelthem, we’ll be conquered within the month.”

“Sadto say, but the Kurzhian’s right,” Kylar said. “I thought that we were doing adamned good job of keeping that navy of theirs at bay, but after that lastlittle bit of intelligence, I’m starting to wonder if we can last the next fewweeks. We’re spread thin, so unless we can make more good out of our boys,we’re done for.”

Olrickfound himself biting his lip. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew theywere right. The Giskens were doing a horribly fantastic job of crippling theirintelligence gathering, the arm of the military Caitha not only was most famousfor, but depended on the most; the regular army and even the navy waspractically useless without the steady stream of intelligence the Watch and theRooks were able to provide. They desperately needed the information in Raul’sroom, and Elise was the only person that they not only knew they could trust,but wouldn’t attract much attention.

“Howare we going to keep Raul away from his room, then?” he asked. “We don’texactly have another peace negotiation for awhile, now, and I’m not going tosend her into a situation that I know doesn’t have a high chance of success.”

“Andwe wouldn’t ask you to,” Silas said. “Marion’s coronation is in a little lessthan a month; I’m sure we can get Polain to throw some grand ball that everyoneand their dog will be at. That should grant our girl enough time to get intohis room and out without him walking in on her.”

Olrickfolded his arms. “A ball wasn’t long enough last time.”

Kylarsighed and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “Olrick, Olrick, Olrick; whenare you going to learn that that pessimistic attitude of yours just isn’t goingto help us come up with a solution to our problems?”

“Andwhen are you going to learn that ale isn’t going to give you any brains?”Olrick said, looking away from him and plugging his nose. “Seriously, though,how often do you go to pubs?”

Kylarlaughed as he smacked Olrick on the back, hard. “Every damned day, but that’sbeside the point. We just need to send our little lady up there the second wesee our Gisken friend instead of waiting forever like we did last time.”

“Thatisn’t very reassuring,” Olrick said. He looked over at Eza and Silas. “Please,tell me you two can do better than that.”

“Well,what he said basically sums up the plan,” Silas said.

“Itoversimplifies it, is what it does,” Eza said. “We’ll be stalling him in theball with toasts, dancing, everything. Silas and Kylar have invited theirfemale friends to the occasion; we’ll make sure we have eyes and ears oneverything he does during the night.”

“Femalefriends?” Olrick asked. Silas smirked.

“Isuppose that a virtuous person like yourself wouldn’t know much about this,” hesaid. “Which is a crying shame; Tai Ming is quite the woman.”

Olrick’sface grew bright red in horror. “You’re going to pay prostitutes to show up ata ball?”

“Heavens,no,” Kylar said. “We’re paying escortsto show up; hell of a difference, kid.”

“Believeme, this wasn’t my idea,” Eza said. She glared at Silas and Kylar, both of whomstill had boyish grins on their faces. “Personally, I don’t see much of adifference between an escort and a prostitute; one’s just more expensive andcultured than the other.” She looked back at Olrick. “Either way, we’ll behaving them socialize with Raul and signaling to us what he’s planning ondoing. They should be able to stall him long enough to keep him from walking inon Elise.

“She’llstill have to be fast, though,” Silas said. “After the ball, we aren’t surewhen the next opportunity to get in his room will come, so we’ll need more thanone letter.”

“Morethan one?” Olrick asked, surprised. “I’m not sure that we can get that; it mighttake too long.”

“Itwon’t,” Silas said. “Believe me, our girls will be enough to distract ourGisken friend; I’d bet my life on it.”

“Butare we going to bet Elise’s life on it?”

Elisewalked down the servant’s passage, the sounds of the coronation ball gettingquieter and quieter by the second. The ball that night, thrown in Marion’shonor, was even bigger than the one that had been thrown when she’d firstgotten there. The dresses were more beautiful, the suits more expensive, thefood more exquisite; even Marion, who normally showed up to balls looking morelike a warrior than a princess, was dressed like a lady. She had a long,flowing, red dress with delicate, gold embroidery along the hems and thebodice, a ruby necklace, and a gold band with more rubies on it to accent herpale hair, which cascaded down her back in waves. She hadn’t acted very happyabout the dress, but Polain had, at least, allowed her to wear her sword on herhip, something he normally wouldn’t allow. Everything was done to perfection,the smallest details carefully refined; all the servants were running around,attending to everyone’s smallest needs so much, none of them noticed when sheslipped out from the party to go to Raul’s room once she saw him there.

Eventhough these visits had become routine for her, Elise was feeling nervous aboutthat particular visit. She knew that he would be quite occupied with Lira andTai Ming, the two escorts Silas and Kylar had paid to come to the ball, but shecouldn’t shake the feeling that this would be the last time she did this. Whetherit would be because it wouldn’t be necessary after this time or because someonewas going to catch her, though she wasn’t sure. She found herself praying tothe gods that, if her feelings were correct, it would be because the war wouldbe over by the time they needed her to do this, again.

Afteraround ten minutes of walking through the narrow passages, Elise eventuallymade it to Raul’s room. She quietly opened the door-

Andfound herself facing five armed Gisken soldiers.

Fora second, Elise found herself confused, wondering if she’d managed to stumbleinto one of the rooms that Raul’s soldiers were staying in. The second shethought it, though, she knew that was wrong: the soldiers were quartered on theopposite side of the castle, a floor above the servants.

Elise’sblood ran cold. They were there for her.

“Well,fancy seeing you, here.” The soldier the voice belonged to was around herheight, with brown hair cropped close to his head, brown eyes, and tanned skin.He wore a black coat that went down to his knees with a gray armband on bothforearms, brown trousers tucked into knee-high riding boots and a belt with twometal batons on it. She probably wouldn’t have recognized him, if it hadn’tbeen for that demonic look on his face.

Fearrooted her to the spot as Bram walked toward her. Gods, why was this happeningto her?

Finally,she managed to hold her hands out in front of her, palms facing Bram, andallowed flames to burst from them. Many of the soldiers grabbed the hilts oftheir swords, but none of them drew; it seemed that they were waiting for herto make the first move.

“Stay away from me!”Elise’s voice didn’t waver too much, thank the gods.

Ofcourse, it didn’t do much to help her, either. For a few seconds, Bram simplystared at the flames in her hands, looking at them with a look of curiosity,then laughed. The mere sound of it was enough to send a chill down Elise’sspine.

“Why,I never knew you were a pyromancer, Elise,” he said as he pulled the batonsfrom his belt. Almost immediately, sparks began to fly along the batons, likelittle bolts of lightning. “I’ve been learning all sorts of things about you asof late; who would’ve guessed that the little girl who had to have her littlebrother come to her rescue would end up snooping around for the country thathad gotten him killed-”

Elisepushed the fire in her hands towards him.

Bramducked, covering his head and his face with his coat as she ran past him andinto the open room. By that time, the other soldiers in the room had drawntheir swords and their points aimed at her, ready to kill.

Bythat point, though, Elise didn’t seemed to care about their swords; her mindwas much to occupied with trying to get away from them. She began to launch a barrageof fire, frantically trying to get the Giskens away from her. Almost all ofthem backed away from her, thanks to the fire, but Bram didn’t; he didn’t evenseem phased by it as he ducked out of the fire’s way. In fact, he almost seemedto be enjoying himself, as if it weresome sort of game.

“Inever thought you’d put up this much of a fight,” he said, a big smile on hisface. “It’s a shame that Raul wants this to be over as quick as possible; I’dmuch rather play a little while longer.”

Withthat, he held one of the batons out to her and launched a bolt of lightningfrom it.

Elisedidn’t have time to react. The bolt struck her in the stomach and launched heracross the room like a rag doll. She hit the wall behind her, hard, and slid tothe floor, unable to move. The world around her was spinning as one of thesoldiers sheathed his sword, grabbed her by the forearms, and pulled her up toher feet; she couldn’t even stand up on her own, now.

“Whatshould we do with the spy, sir?” the Gisken asked as the other soldierssheathed their own swords. Bram began to look around the room, then pointed tothe door that led to Raul’s closet.

“Puther in there,” he said. “I’ll go tell General Raul.” With that, Bram walkedout, and the soldiers dragged her to the closet to await her fate.