Free The Grand Crusade by Michael A. Stackpole

more of them have traveled the country in the wake of Adrogans’ army. What I have learned is disturbing. It would appear that, over the last quarter century, Chytrine has been using Okrannel as a breadbasket. There have been good harvests and the bulk of the foodstuffs have been heading into Aurolan to allow her to build up her army. It is also supposed that much of it has gone to Vorquellyn and has enabled her to create these new creatures, thekryalniri. They are supplanting the vylaens and are quite formidable.”
    “So I have heard.”
    “In my councils we have supposed she may well have more creatures, more horrible creatures, just waiting to be unleashed. And she is likely to have the same in such numbers that she can push back into Okrannel at will.”
    Scrainwood swirled the wine in his goblet. “If that is true, we are all doomed.”
    “Not if we play things as carefully as you have in the past.” She sat forward again. “Sebcia and Muroso have fallen, or will, shortly. The latter has cost her much in resources, primarily because of the intervention of a dragon. Saporicia, we can suppose, will further bleed her of troops and supplies, but we both know the Saporicians have never truly had the belly for fighting.”
    The king nodded. “They sent no troops to help liberate Okrannel.” Tatyana’s eyes blazed. “Exactly.” Scrainwood snorted. “Neither did Oriosa.”
    The Okrans noble half bowed her head, but her smile did not diminish in the least. “But you sent the Norrington, Highness. He was worth more than all the regiments you could have mustered.”
    “Neatly said, Duchess.” Scrainwood sipped more wine, then moved closer to the fire. He’d not felt cold until she entered the room. “So, your supposition is that Chytrine’s army will pour through Saporicia, too?”
    “Yes, and that will bring her to Alcida. Augustus is the key here, and you are his friend. He knows and trusts my niece, Alexia, and will let her lead the armies that he will gather.” She set her goblet down on the spindly table at her left hand. “Among those assembled here, only Augustus and Queen Carus are capable of bringing together the nations that will be needed to destroy Chytrine. Moreover, Saporicia is a trap. With Oriosa and Bokagul to the east and Loquellyn to the northwest, Chytrine’s troops will be limited in their ability to move. Her supply lines will be stretched. Her troops will be vulnerable.”
    He nodded. “She will be bled and keep funneling troops into Saporicia, which means she will not be bringing them to bear on Okrannel. You have a chance to fortify your nation against her return.”
    “You anticipate me.”
    “But what of the Adrogans question, Duchess?”
    Tatyana’s head came up, and she appeared puzzled, which was the first time Scrainwood had seen that expression on her face. “He has taken Okrannel. He liberated it. He shall be rewarded and glorified.”
    “Ah, but adding Okrannel to a Jeranese empire would bring him more glory, would it not?” The king smiled as her face darkened. “Have you not heard the rumor that Adrogans now possesses the secret of the dragonel? With it he can carve an empire. Valicia and Gurol will have to defend against that possibility, meaning Alcida and our alliance can abandon all hope of aid from the west.”
    He watched her struggle to regain her composure. So focused had she been on the freeing of her nation that she never paused to imagine that the liberator might not want to give it up. “If such rumors prove true, it would be most dire indeed. It could well and truly mean the end of the alliance. It would be the end of everything.”
    “Only if Adrogans were to turn the weapons against us and not Chytrine.”
    Tatyana snorted. “You have met him. He is vain and has a sense of himself that would elevate him above all others. Can you imagine he will not use those weapons against us?”
    The king returned to the sideboard and refilled his goblet. “I can imagine many things, Duchess. I imagine you came