Inside Job

Draped in a dark blue cloak, a tall man emerged from the wheat field. He leaned heavily on his thin wooden cane, partially to obscure his identity but also because his leg was still not fully healed.

'The long horseback ride must have aggravated his injury.' Despite the attempt at secrecy, there was no doubt in Silver's mind who this was.

This was the commander of the Birlian army. This was Borit.

The cloaked figure moved past the young knight and faced the general. "We need to talk."

"I gathered that much," Kaarel answered condescendingly, "Have you hit yet another snag?"

"Show some respect!" The hot-headed knight placed his hand on his sword.

"Calm down, Sir Nuall, there is no need to overreact." To the general he added, "Is there somewhere we could go?"

Kaarel grunted. "My wagon is the place for this sort of thing. We won't be bothered there."

"Then get on with it!" The knight blew out his cheeks impatiently. He looked around, searching for signs of trouble.

Borit pressed his eyes shut and gave an apologetic smile. "I shall go whenever you are ready, General. Nuall, head back to our camp and say I have stayed behind to discuss some of the finer points with the local folk. I don't want anyone to get suspicious about our extended absence."

"But sir!"

"It isn't that far. You can return here after you have relayed my message, but try to keep a low profile. No one is supposed to know we are here." Borit's conspiratorial tone finally convinced the eager knight to complete the orders. He bowed and went in search of his horse.

Satisfied, Kaarel motioned to his wagon. "This way."

"Very good." Borit pressed his cane into the dirt and ambled forward.

"Quite a lap dog you have there," Kaarel glanced in the direction Nuall had left. "Is he even house trained?"

"Forgive the boy's lack of manners," Borit answered smoothly, "he is a new acquisition of mine. He was socially exiled by the king and is looking for a place to vent his anger and plot his revenge."

"Ah, the life of the expendable…" the General ran his fingers through his curly brown hair. "How bright their flame burns before being snuffed out."

"Poetic… if it weren't so morbid…" Borit smiled wickedly.

"Alas there are no poets in Lakyle, only soldiers, and most of us are expendable." Kaarel's voice had lost its mirth. It was a warning to the commander not to make himself a part of that number.

Borit had no delusions. Willric would only stomach the commander's scheme as long as it was worth his while, and Borit planned to play the game and win.

Coming to the door of the tall covered wagon, Kaarel pulled a lever, triggering a mechanism to lower the wooden stairs.

"I see your accommodations are not lacking." Borit gave a wry smile. It was the only inhabitable wagon. The rest were low flatbeds covered with waterproof canvas. Obviously all the other men slept out in the open or inside the low tents.

The general laughed. "Surely you know that leadership brings certain perks. Only the finest for the lord of the vagrants!"

Kaarel stepped up to the door and lifted the latch. The door creaked halfway open before both men paused. Something had caught their attention.

They were so focused on a single spot where a stone had rolled to a stop that they missed two shadows slip through the crevice behind them.

"Your men are not spying, are they?" Borit gave his companion a sharp look.

"I was going to ask the same thing of you."

The two men stared a minute more before confirming they would not be ambushed. Then they hurried into the wagon and bolted the door behind them.

The wooden structure was more of a small house on wheels. It was tall enough for the men to stand inside and had more furniture than even some well established peasants. Borit knew better than to ask how much of it was stolen.

"Now, what brings the illustrious Commander to my doorstep?" Kaarel motioned for them to take a seat at the table barely big enough for two. Although the general used the wagon as his office as well, he made sure there was not enough space for many visitors. He didn't like being disturbed.

"You know the farmer on whose land you are squatting? You were supposed to try and live peaceably…" Borit's smile faded as he studied the general.

Kaarel shrugged. "In Lakyle, we don't negotiate. We just take."

"We aren't in Lakyle…" the sharp-nosed man reminded him.

Rather than pick a fight, the dark haired general sighed. "We did attempt to make peace. I offered him a sum that should have kept him quiet, but he insisted we move on. When his protests became too constant, I gave him some physical encouragement to leave us alone…"

Kaarel seemed pretty pleased with himself until he saw the other man's scowl.

Borit clenched his fist under the table at the general's lack of foresight. "Your persuasion persuaded the farmer to seek the help of the king. Now Rhodri knows that there is a large group here, and he launched an investigation. Nothing I could do would persuade him not to worry."

"I don't see how this is my problem. Just report back to the king that the problem is resolved, and we will proceed as planned. The rest of my troops should be here soon enough." Kaarel brushed aside the problem with the flick of his hand.

"It is not that simple. With the king's growing suspicion, he has ordered the closest fort to reinforce the capital of Burke. What was a city easy for plucking will soon become a fortress." Borit sighed.

"I assume you didn't yet carry out that order or we would not be having this conversation…" Kaarel grinned.

"On the contrary, I have notified the fort and rallied the troops to come to my aid. They are waiting nearby to attack and take all of you out." Borit's words were casually said but it was clear he meant every word.

Kaarel's eyes flashed with anger before his face became calm once more. "I appreciate your warning of my imminent demise. Shall I kill you now or on the battlefield?"

Borit chuckled darkly. "If it is all the same to you, I would prefer neither be the case. It is not our deaths that will be happening today, but those of my troops."

"I see," Kaarel stroked his chin.

"As I said, plans have changed. I will tell my troops to rest so we can attack at dawn. You will kill them all while they sleep." Borit's orders brooked no argument.

"Not that I am opposed to lessening the Birilian army, but I don't see what good a slaughter does. It will tip our hand of our intentions." Kaarel was not stupid; he could see Borit had more up his sleeve.

The commander spread out his hands. "No one will know of the slaughter. I shall show up with the men that I promised the king."

Borit waited as the general mulled over his words. "You mean you will use my men instead of the troops loyal to the king."

The sharp nosed man smiled, but it never reached his eyes. "We will attack and take over the palace…from the inside."