Page 80 of The Noldrin Witch

“That’s a conversation for another time, commander.”

But the commander, much like Kurt, was a man of quick understanding, though even quicker to retaliate. He grumbled as bitterness settled in his throat. “Of course.”

Kurt could feel the simmering anger of the commander at his side. Sebastian was awfully quiet, as was everyone else. Kurt, however, was still rejoicing after learning the truth about Elise and Sebastian. He blamed himself for projecting his old wound onto Elise. If only he could let go of that betrayal for good.

But, like many bitter things one is forced to endure in life, there is no substitute for time. He was growing tired of his old wound and was beginning to long for a fresh one, if it came to that.

The wait for the rest of the men proved brief as the other three leaders arrived moments later. It was to Kurt’s great relief that they had hastened their arrival, for he could see the commander looking at him out of the corner of his eye as though considering what punishment would best suit an ungrateful fool who did not know what he had been offered.

“General, Sergeant, Master Planner,” Sebastian greeted. “Please take a seat.”

Kurt looked at the three men. All of them fine gentlemen. Of unquestionable lineage. Each a different kind of evil.

General Gunter was convinced of one thing in life: his right to do as he pleased. Sergeant Pulver could almost pass for sensible, were it not for his appetite for war. Lastly, Count Hubner, the Master Planner, seemed to have been born centuries ago and had refused to make a single alteration to the ideology he held so close to his heart: the conviction that his lands needed no king, only feudal lords to oversee their own territories.

For all their differences, these remarkable men had one noble quality in common: their dislike of Commander Langohr. Officially, however, they had gathered out of pride in the lands and traditions of Bromheim.

This was the first time Sebastian had the support of so many lords in the kingdom, and his gratitude was clear as he spoke.

“Gentlemen, I’m glad, at last, that all of you came without delay,” the king said, standing straight and looking each man in the eye. “I have been informed we have lost Noldrin, and worse still, Philippe’s army has advanced beyond the bridge. I have already formulated a plan, but you are here to offer your own wisdom on the matter.”

“Leave them their lands. That’s why I never wanted this ordeal to begin in the first place,” General Gunter said, resting his boots on the table.

Sergeant Pulver took immediate offense at his countryman’s statement. With a sharp shove, he knocked the boots off the table.

“You want to retreat now? You coward.”

Sebastian let out a heavy sigh. “Gentlemen!”

The Master Planner remained silent, as did the Chancellor of the Guard and the Marshal who commanded the scouts.

Only Commander Langohr seemed content to wait for his turn to speak. Relying on the weight of his seniority and experience, and despite the men’s dislike of him, he finally laid out his proposal.

“We need a small force to infiltrate Noldrin. A force that can eliminate the leader there. War, my dear friends, is like chess. One must remove the piece that holds the most power.”

Sergeant Pulver, with his never-ending thirst for conflict, set aside his dislike of Langohr and raised a fist in approval. “Aye, open the gates from within!”

“There are no gates in Noldrin,” the Master Planner rasped.

“You idiot,” Count Hubner hissed. “He means that figuratively.”

It was one of those assemblies where one never knew whether the most popular idea had been chosen out of a scarcity of imagination or mere disinterest. But Langohr, always stubborn when it came to pushing his plans, had won everyone over in a single stroke.

Perhaps Kurt’s mind was too occupied with thoughts of Elise, but not even Sebastian objected to the plan.

“I had a similar plan,” was all the king said.

Whether Sebastian’s statement was true remained one of the world’s mysteries. He never bothered to explain how his plan differed, nor did he add another word about it.

“We all knew more men needed to go to Noldrin. The question is, who is going to lead that madness?” Sergeant Pulver grumbled.

A wicked smile appeared on Commander Langohr’s face. “I’d go myself, but at my age that would not be wise.”

Kurt’s eyes widened. Sebastian and he were the youngest men in the room.

The commander drew out his next words. “I think the Duke of Dornheim is the one most acquainted with the foreign kingdom. It seems he was rather fond of traveling there in years past, and now with his newfound interest in the Falaine folk...”

Everyone turned to look at Kurt.