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top of
the stairs stepping out into the blinding light of a pristine blue
sky. Moxley was fast on his heels, followed as well by Baxter.
    “Sir shall I…” Baxter asked just behind
Moxley, barely outside.
    “Go.” Lesur barked. He pointed at Moxley,
“We need three ships readied. The fastest bylanders we have. And
we’ll need to send a proper ship out to that fleet.”
    “How many men?”
    “Skeleton crew and pick a fireteam you feel
comfortable with, you’re going to the Seven Spires as soon as we
figure out who they are. I need one of those ships sent east within
the hour, simple courier.” Moxley was startled as Lesur bellowed to
another commander, “I need a ship readied to head out to meet that
fleet, and I need it fully manned.”
    The commander hurried off as Moxley
continued to stand behind Lesur. “Sir, what exactly is your
intention?”
    “ We need to find out whose
fleet that is and what they want. We need to ready The Blockade
because it cannot be broken. And we need to notify the Spires as
quickly as possible.”
    “ I’m going to the
Spires?”
    “ After I come back from
that fleet. And even if I don’t.”
    “ But sir.”
    “ They’ll listen to you in
the Kyria; you’ve been groomed for the assemblage since you were a
boy.” Lesur began to button his coat as he looked out toward the
mysterious fleet shaking his head, “They’ve nothing but disdain for
me there, but you’ll fair better.”
    “ I don’t think it’s wise
for you to go, we have no idea of what that fleet is capable
of.”
    Lesur turned and slapped Moxley on the
shoulder, “Exactly. Finally a bit of drama.”
    “ I don’t think it’s
appropriate…”
    Baxter had appeared again seemingly out of
nowhere, holding the Admiral’s sabre and gloves. Lesur began to
further straighten himself, “You will take command should something
happen to me. If nothing happens, then I will send you to the
Spires to with all the information I’ve been able to glean.”
    “ Admiral Lesur, I have to
protest. I should be the one going to meet this Lappalan fleet.”
Moxley asserted.
    “ If it is from Lappala,
meeting with the second-in-command will yield us nothing. They will
feel slighted, and we will be in no better a position than we are
now. I must go.” He waved Baxter off; the valet disappeared down
the stairs to the Admiral’s cabin. “The Aral hasn’t set to sea in
centuries. This…happening,” he waved his hand, “has no precedent.
We need to approach this carefully and confidently and, my
apologies Kieran, you aren’t there yet.”
    Moxley smiled despite himself when Lesur
used his first name. He understood, pulled himself to attention,
saluted, and went to organize the ships and men needed. Lesur
walked to the edge of the ship, he put on hand on the railing and
let his other rest casually on the hilt of his sabre.
    He remembered back when he was a boy and his
nan use to tell him stories. Always of brazen adventurers who
through some witchery were granted their fondest wishes and deepest
desires. They got what they wanted when they had reached their
lowest point and when their dreams came true they invariably
twisted in such a way to be a nightmare. Those adventurers always
learned a valuable lesson. Yvor Lesur smiled as he imagined the
lesson he would finally learn.

 
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER Two
     
     
    17 th of Samhain
    North of
Midhalm

    Two riders on unsaddled steads burst from
the forest. They raced into a large, open glade pulling up around
the middle. One of the hooded riders spat as the other fought with
limited success to bring its horse around. Once the horses were
near to each other, the second rider pulled back his hood.
    “ What was all that about?”
Goshen shouted.
    “ Fuck, you ride like
shit.” Declan said casually as he slowly pulled his hood down. Not
looking at Goshen, he stared back into the woods from where they
had emerged.
    “ You didn’t say anything
about stealing horses.”