Sword of Kings
Chapter 33 – Armies On the Move

by Bill W

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Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. 
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.
Don’t read this story if:
**You’re not 18 or over,    
**If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live,
**Or if you don’t want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

The author retains copyright to this story.  Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author’s permission is a violation of that copyright.  Legal action will be taken against violators.

I wish to extend my thank you to Emoe57 for his editorial assistance with this chapter.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other ‘constructive’ comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.

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After waking up, Beraut went down for a quick breakfast and then excused himself, so he could begin his journey. Before he left, he took some time to explain his departure to the dwarfs. “Although we traveled here quite quickly,” the wizard announced, looking very serious, “the rest of your march will go more slowly. First of all, it's going to take a few hours to transport both armies across the river. Besides that, I fear the men will not be able to keep up with your energetic pace, so you will have to adjust your cadence accordingly. Seeing I have many tasks that need taking care of, I won't be traveling with you on this leg of the journey. I need to go on ahead.”

“But I thought you'd been staying with us the entire time,” Captain Baith responded, somewhat bewildered.

“That was my original intention,” the wizard explained, “but I need to use my time wisely. I can utilize the hours I save to accomplish other things. Don't worry, though. We will meet up again shortly.”

“Will traveling with us make that much of a difference?” King Brolin asked, in return.

“It is likely your journey will take you more than half a day longer on foot than it will take me on horseback,” Beraut explained. “During that time I'll be able to meet with the military leaders of the other races and, hopefully, they'll have messages for me from the troops I haven't heard from recently. Such information will assist me greatly and indicate whether I have to make changes to our plans.”

“It sounds like something a senior advisor should be privy to,” the King suggested. “Would it be too much of an imposition if I asked to accompany you?” the dwarf asked, looking hopefully toward the mage for a response.

“I'm not sure if Magistrate Odilon has another mount to spare,” Beraut replied. “He is giving me his own steed to use on this journey and I believe the others are already being used by his troops.”

“That's not a problem,” Brolin countered. “I'm not very good on horseback anyway, so would you mind if I just rode behind you?”

“That's not a very dignified way for you to travel,” Beraut shot back, eyeing the dwarf for his reaction.

“I've done worse,” the King answered, with a wink.

“Well, from what Odilon has told me,” the wizard replied, “his horse is a magnificent beast and could easily carry the extra load, if that is what you truly want to do.”

“It is,” the dwarf responded, sincerely.

“Then stay with me,” Beraut advised him. “I just have to bid adieu to Odilon, before we leave.”

“Thank you, my friend,” the King told him, sincerely, before turning back to Captain Baith. “Good speed and fair weather,” he told his military leader. “We shall meet up with you again later.”

King Brolin then tagged behind Beraut, as the wizard went to bid Magistrate Odilon farewell and thank him for his hospitality. Once their good-byes had been said, the enchanter headed for the stable to collect the steed the Veledan official had so generously provided for him. Beraut soon discovered the stable boy had the animal saddled and ready to be mounted, so he merely lifted his left foot, stuck it in the stirrup and swung himself onto the equine's back. Once he was situated, he reached down and helped pull the dwarf up behind him and then waited patiently for Brolin to get comfortable. Once the King gave an indication he was set, they sped off.

With an increased sense of urgency, Beraut guided the horse out of the stable and set off, at a gallop, toward the river. The pair reached the ferry long before either army even had a chance to form up and quickly boarded it. Slowly, they made their way to the far shore, and when the ride was over, the wizard thanked and tipped the boatmen for the swift crossing. He also forewarned them about their upcoming task of transporting the various armies across the same expanse, hoping this advance warning might speed the process up a bit. Once the ferrymen understood what was ahead of them, the mage and the dwarf set off at a full gallop.

The wizard traveled in a westerly direction, heading toward the rendezvous point they had previously agreed upon. The time flew by quickly, as the magician and king sped across the plains. It must have been strange sight to behold as they raced by, with the dwarf clinging to the wizard's back and the mage's hair and beard whipping over his shoulder, while the enchanter's robes flowed behind them both. Not many people were around to take notice during this time, but those who did see them didn't seem to even notice the King, as he was hidden within the enchanter's billowing apparel.

It was still a couple of hours before midday when Beraut first noticed movement in the distance, which he soon attributed to a great wave of warriors making its way north. Even from here, he could tell they were trampling a vast sea of vegetation under their boots as they moved forward, leaving a telltale trace of their passing. Focusing his attention on the front ranks, the mage quickly guided his mount on a course that would intercept them. As he sped across the endless ocean of grains and grasses, he had no trouble keeping track of his destination. It was easy to see the troops moving northward, because their heads and shoulders extended above the top of the vegetation they were wading through. As he drew near, the enchanter slowed his horse to a brisk canter. About the same time, he noticed a small group of cavalry advancing toward his position and he was sure they had been ordered out to confirm his identity. As the soldiers drew nearer, they recognized Beraut immediately and greeted him.

“We felt certain it was you,” the leader of the group announced, “but we had to be sure. Let me send one of my men back to inform the others and then the rest of us will escort you there personally.”

“I am pleased to see your superiors are not lax in their duties,” Beraut responded, “and I shall be happy for your company. Maybe you can fill me in concerning a few things,” he suggested, as the small party made their way to join the main group. They chatted amicably and answered the enchanter's questions the whole way back, while keeping their horses at a steady pace.

The other horseman, who had returned ahead of the others, quickly confirmed to their senior staff about the wizard's arrival. Not wishing to wait for Beraut to come to them, those in charge quickly set off in his direction. The mage saw them approaching and made his way directly toward them, shouting his greetings as he drew near.

“Hail, my friends. I see that you, like the dwarfs, were unable to keep the old war horses in the barn,” the enchanter commented, before releasing a muffled chuckle. The others immediately, but shyly, glanced in the direction of the duo Beraut was referring to.

Hearing this comment, King Brolin peeked around Beraut's side, allowing the others to see he was there. His sudden appearance startled most of them, but it barely fazed King Dylan, of the wood elves, and Balaster Rombaire, of the river elves. They were too busy trying to formulate a retort of their own.

“And to whom are you referring as old war horses, you prehistoric fossil?” King Dylan shot back, which caused the mage to fake a look of hurt in return. “There was absolutely no way I would miss this. You should know me well enough by now to realize I was not about to play nursemaid to the children or sit and embroider with the women while all the able-bodied men were going off to fight.”

“Well, said,” King Brolin interjected, causing Beraut to turn slightly in his saddle, so he could give the dwarf a harsh glare. This caused the King to slink back out of sight, until he heard another voice speak up.

“As for me, you old goat,” added Rombaire, as he took up a defiant pose with his hands on his hips, although he still had a broad grin plastered across his face. “I agree with Dylan. If you haven't noticed, I am not dead yet and will not shirk my duties like some sleepy, old watchdog.”

“Well, if either of you do happen to doze off,” Beraut teased back, “please try not to do so during battle.” The enchanter snorted, after seeing his friends' reaction to his jest. However, they didn't have time to continue this banter, because there were many other things that needed to be addressed. “Getting back to business,” the enchanter continued, “what news do you bring me?”

“Nothing of great importance,” responded Rombaire. “Our scouts have reported the enemy has formed just south of the Devil's Horseshoe, and according to their calculations, our foe's strength is as it was reported at the Second Council of War.”

“Aye, Master Beraut,” chimed in General Daveel, “and no scouts have reported seeing Madumda anywhere in that camp. It is believed he is still holed up at Treblanc, but for what reasons we cannot conjecture. I believe it means they are not ready to wage battle just yet, though. I suspect they would not dare do such a thing without him, nor do I think he would allow them to attack us before he arrived. Something is bothering me, however. I'm finding it hard to imagine why he's not with his troops already. If I were him, I would be leading my army down to engage us in battle, before we had a chance to join forces and come to full strength.”

“Of course you would,” Beraut responded, “for you have a true military mind. Madumda, however, believes his forces to be vastly superior to ours, and his powers far greater than my own. He is letting his arrogance cloud his judgment.”

“Nonetheless,” began Andrieu, the military leader from Leander, “I will feel much better after we have joined up with the western army and get word that the eastern and northern armies are in position.”

“Quite true,” stated the mage. “Speaking of the eastern army, has there been any further word concerning their situation?”

“Absolutely none,” answered King Dylan. “There has been no communication from the men of the north since their representatives left Leander. If it's any consolation, there have been no signs the enemy has encountered them or learned of their existence either. Hopefully, this is only an indication that our communication network is not as reliable as we might have wished or that there has been some minor, unforeseen delay in their deployment.”

“Not too long of a delay, I pray, if that is the case,” acknowledged the enchanter. “I am concerned that Madumda hasn't shown yet and it makes me wondered what he's up to.” As he said this, Beraut was reflecting upon his inability to monitor Kieren's progress and he worried that the Dark Lord had learned about the teen's existence or discovered information about their plan.

“I am also concerned about the weather,” he told them. “If it continues to worsen, it could greatly hinder our travel and reduce our effectiveness in battle. Our armies have to rely more on speed and agility and both will be greatly hampered, if we have to worry about uncertain footing.”

“Should we consider this another ill omen,” General Daveel asked, pointing toward the dark clouds on the horizon. “Do you think Madumda has a hand in this change in the weather?”

“Not at all,” the wizard responded. “I believe this is just a natural occurrence, no matter how ill timed. I am confident it is not something produced by the Dark Lord. The storm's approach, however, should be enough to entice us into using greater haste.”

Beraut took this opportunity to move into position in the center of the front ranks, with King Brolin still behind him, as they joined the others. The military leaders shouted a series of commands, which caused the troops to fall into formation, prepared to march. As they set off across the plains, they took notice of the mighty storm that loomed ahead of them and extended off to the west. Despite the threat, they decided not to delay or change their course, choosing instead to continue on their current route, even if it did cut through the path of the squall. As they neared the outer edge of this front, the weather worsened. Large accumulations of water began to appear in their path and there was no way to avoid them. Having no other option, they plowed ahead; doing the best they could to reach the gathering point on schedule.

* * * *

Upon leaving breakfast with his guests, Magistrate Odilon went to find Massil, the Veledan commander, so he could see him and his troops off. “May your journey be pleasant and your path paved with much luck. I hope the next time we meet it is to celebrate our victory,” the Magistrate told them, before he wheeled about to return to his home, as he had other duties yet to perform. He had to plan and carry out the defense of his city, just in case the army lost the battle. That was because Veleda would probably be among the first cities to be attacked afterward, right behind Tunstan.

It took the Veledan army slightly longer than it took the dwarfs to get organized and reach the ferry that would carry them over the River Sterling and their diminutive counterparts had nearly completed this feat by the time they arrived. It was a time consuming process and the sun was slightly more than half way through its trip from the horizon to its zenith before the men completed the task and joined forces with the dwarf contingent. Even though they were ready first, Captain Baith urged the Veledan commander to align his troops at the front of the formation, because he knew it would be easier for his dwarf units to slow down and follow their lead, rather than to expect the Veledans to try to keep pace with his command's upbeat cadence. When all was in order, the small army began to move forward.

It was fairly obvious to everyone that it wasn't going to be a very nice day. A large number of clouds were slowly drifting into the area and the sunlight was almost totally obscured by the billowy covering. It was also considerably cooler than it would normally be for this time of year, which might indicate they were in for an early winter. The temperature, however, did turn out to be to their advantage, as it was more conducive to maintaining an invigorating marching pace. This would allow the human troops to proceed more quickly than they might otherwise have attempted, if the temperature were hotter.

The combined forces were moving along quite well, although the dwarfs still found the pace a little too leisurely for their taste. These hearty souls never wished to spend more time on a march than was absolutely necessary. They believed every moment saved was precious and they knew they were wasting a great deal of time by having to follow the men of Veleda. After much grumbling by the dwarf troops and the casting of disparaging looks in Captain Baith's direction, he finally got the message. In response, Baith decided to go to speak with the Veledan military leader.

“Commander Massil,” he said, looking at the Veledan leader, “could we please increase the pace? My men are very uncomfortable with this slow cadence and I urge you to order your troops to double their speed.” Massil eyed Baith with a cold stare, upset by the dwarf's gall.

“Being the senior officer,” the commander began, “it is up to me to do what I think is best. Although I understand that your forces might be unhappy, I advise you to remember your place and instruct your troops accordingly. This cadence is quite sufficient to get us where we need to be on time, so I see no reason to tire my command needlessly by marching faster than necessary. You may return to your place in formation.” Captain Baith was infuriated at being dismissed so easily, but he wasn't about to give up yet.

“Then I ask that you allow me to lead my troops independently,” Baith suggested, although his facial expression and tone made this sound more like a demand, rather than a request. Massil noticed this too and wasn't pleased by the implications.

“Permission denied,” he stated, emphatically, while contemplating how he was going to deal with this breech in military decorum.

Baith was visibly upset with how things were going and about to try another approach, when the elements made his efforts moot. During the time he had been stating his case, the sky had grown increasingly darker and started to unleash the first hint of rain. However, as the discussion continued, the weather began to worsen. At first it was barely noticeable, as the droplets gently landed all about, but now the heavens opened unmercifully, dousing the area in a barrage of icy rainwater.

Due to this sudden, and seemingly unending deluge, the ground was rapidly becoming soft and mushy, making the footing increasingly more difficult. The dwarf realized it was now going to take a great deal more effort for either army to navigate this muddy quagmire; so making better time was going to be out of the question. Reluctantly, Baith returned to his place in the ranks, shrugging his shoulders and looking toward the heavens when those under his command stared at him questioningly. He hoped they understood the situation was now out of his hands.

They marched on like this for another twenty minutes, but the intensity of the storm never abated. The rain not only chilled their bodies, but it dampened their morale as well. Seeing the growing futility in trying to proceed, the Veledan commander signaled everyone to come to a halt and seek whatever cover they could find. The common soldiers merely huddled together, holding their shields above their heads to deflect the rain. Eventually, they would overlap these protective devices with those nearest their position, establishing a sizable ‘roof' to make things more bearable.

Some of the soldiers were also instructed to set up the portable shelters they had brought with them. These tents were to be used by those in charge and were nearly up when the heavens opened up even more, releasing a veritable cloudburst. The rain was falling so furiously that the ground couldn't possibly drink up the vast quantities of moisture that were collecting on its surface. It was becoming nearly impossible for anyone to find a dry area upon which they could wait out the storm, because the rainwater was seeping into every crevice and overtaking every previously semi-dry clump of soil. This, of course, was making everyone miserable and giving the troops the impression that even the elements were conspiring against them.

The officers used this time to discuss their options, while the foot soldiers merely tried to make themselves as comfortable as they could. The storm continued for another half hour after the officers' meeting broke up and it appeared as though the downpour would never cease, when suddenly it began to let up and the sun started to peek through the gaps forming between the clouds. This change in fortune did a great deal to lift the spirits of the warriors, as well as brighten the land. It also gave the soil a chance to absorb a little of the moisture, as the clouds continued to drift eastward, taking the remaining precipitation with them.

As the sky began to clear, the Veledan commander summoned Captain Baith to his tent, which caused the dwarf's body to stiffen. He was sure this meant he was about to be disciplined for his earlier outburst and he wasn't particularly looking forward to it. He was hoping nothing would come of their earlier encounter and possibly, if his luck were really good, the incident would be forgotten about altogether by the time the battle ended. However, he now realized this wasn't going to happen, so he stoically went off to pay the piper. As he entered the commander's tent, he stood at attention and waited for Massil to speak first. A few seconds later, the Veledan looked up and eyed the dwarf.

“Let me begin by saying I don't like you personally,” the commander began. “I think you're arrogant, impulsive and insubordinate. If you were one of my officers, I would reduce you in rank and put someone else in charge of your group. However, I've heard the dwarfs and Beraut think highly of you, so perchance my views of you are stilted because of cultural differences. For now, I shall put the earlier matter in abeyance, as long as you don't repeat your transgression. I feel my time is best spent dealing with more urgent matters.”

Captain Baith merely nodded, accepting the fact that he had been mildly dressed down, yet this was far from settled. “I think it best if we stay put and allow the ground to absorb some of the moisture, before we start off again,” Massil continued. However, Baith didn't agree. The ground wasn't going to absorb the moisture that quickly, seeing it was already fairly saturated before this last deluge, but he wasn't about to voice his objections and risk another run in with the Veledan commander.

“I've also decided to it would be best to utilize the time by having the men eat,” Massil continued. At least this made some sense to the dwarf. If they were going to sit around, they might as well use the time doing something useful.

“I'll spread the word then,” Captain Baith advised him, before going off to inform the troops. As he left the tent, the dwarf sighed, knowing the remainder of this trip was not going to be easy for him.

It wasn't long before the soldiers were downing what nourishment they could, while they waited for the conditions to improve. They figured it would be some time before the water in these massive puddles drained beneath the surface, but they knew it would take much longer than that for the mud to begin to dry up. However, they were professionals and would make the best of the situation, no matter what the conditions were when they resumed their march.

After nearly an hour delay, the sun had warmed the air slightly and the ground had an opportunity to absorb some of the rainwater, so Commander Massil decided it was the appropriate time to continue. Even though the footing was still questionable, they were all eager to be on their way again. Once more, the dwarfs were at the rear of the formation and their deployment was even more appropriate now. These hearty troopers were used to performing well, even in the worst of conditions, and that prowess was about to be put to the test. They would now be required to navigate across soil that had been heavily pocked with the footprints of those who had gone before them and still keep pace. The increased difficulty of their task more than made up for the lack of speed, so the dwarfs made no further complaints.

The small army continued to make its way across the soggy terrain throughout the remainder of the day, and they continued on even after it began to grow dark. They felt they had to push on, because they were already later than anticipated. About three hours after sunset, they finally spied the distance fires of the temporary encampment of the central army. Cautiously, they approached the outer perimeter of the bivouac area, attempting to verify this was indeed their compatriots and not some sort of trap.

“Halt, who goes there?” one of the sentries challenged.

“It is the western army, lead by Commander Massil of Veleda and Captain Baith of the dwarf kingdom,” the commander announced. Another soldier was immediately dispatched to verify his statement. Once they guards were satisfied they were who they claimed to be, the first sentry made another announcement.

“Beraut has ordered we advise all officers that they are to report to his tent as soon as they arrive. I'll have someone lead you there, while I have someone else show your troops where they can bed down.” After thanking the sentries for their assistance, Massil, Baith and a couple of other Veledan officers followed their guide to the wizard's tent, to see what he wanted.