The Silver Isles Kingdom

Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Two ships left Lo Bon shortly after the adjournment of the meeting. They left for both Loth and Sholm to begin spreading the word. The stay at these islands wasn't long, the Admiral Governor left his ship on a long boat so he could prepare the people there and have his crew spread the word on to Uthlia and the other islands on the East side of the kingdom. The ship for Loth stayed less than a half hour, the Governor had suspected to get word soon that the battle would start and had a group of soldiers wait for the message to arrive. It was then off to the Isles of the Four Sisters.

Two ships left Uthlia to spread word to both Hagrath and Jothlin, and another two left from the Four Sisters to the Unnamed Isles. Soon the whole kingdom was given the word that it was time to get ready for the final battle. An attack on Main Island to reclaim the kingdom permanently, and to be rid of the evil that attempted to enslave them all. Many who had no previous training volunteered to fight and to increase the already small army of the Silver Isles. Several of the prisoners, members of Veshua's army, swore their loyalty to the kingdom and to the princess. Most were those forced into joining the army to begin with, the others had their eyes opened to the error of their ways and joined in as well. If given the task to number the army, it would have been found to be four thousand strong, more than enough to retake Main Island.

Within twenty four hours, the armies began to ready themselves and to train those who knew nothing of battle. (Many were better at archery, therefore they were placed and ranked accordingly.) The isles were alive with excitement and joy. The mage and the princess had succeeded in reclaiming the islands that were captured by Veshua. The final battle was all that the people would talk about. The small fields that were worked to harvest the silver flower were now in full operation to supply the potions needed for the armies. They had slowed production to prevent the potion from being taken and sold by the enemy.

As the armies trained and prepared, Alexis and Jacque were at the heart of every needed preparation on Lo Bon and any tactic or battle move that was planned was also sent to the other islands that they may all work in unison to bring down the man who claimed their beloved kingdom. The plan was simple, surround Main Island with the ships, go to shore, fight, bring down Veshua and restore the kingdom to the princess. For three days the people of the island's prepared their attack. Though it was taking longer than what was originally planned, the attack was to commence early the fourth morning, unless something should prevent the battle for that morning.

Veshua paced nervously in the throne room. For the past two and half days, he had seen the ships go from island to island. He hadn't ordered such a move nor did any of his men know the purpose of these movements. Veshua waited anxiously for word from his scout that he had sent the previous day to find out why the ships were moving so often back and forth without his orders to do so. Soon the scout, along with, to his surprise, the scout that went missing on Hagrath, returned to him with the information he had requested. He stood patiently to hear what was going on.

"Well?" he asked.

"Lord Veshua, it has come to our knowledge that the princess and her mage escort have finally succeeded in retaining all of the other islands from your control," replied the first scout.

"It has also come to our attention that your armies may be out numbered. By how many we do not know, what we do know is that you don't stand a chance at winning this upcoming battle," continued the second.

"What? I have my two best scouts inform me of foolishness? It's impossible! I nearly fell for the previous report that there was a mage helping the princess retain the islands. But it is impossible. All records I have read say that they all have died!" Veshua said in a heated rage.

"My lord, we speak the truth. The man whom you gave Lo Bon is dead. He too was a mage, rarely can another man kill a mage. It is true that this new mage was nearly killed on the second of the Unnamed Islands, but he returned somehow, fully healed. This mage is the more powerful one who escorted the princess and defeated the other mage. Now they retaliate with the armies of the isles, many of whom are your men turning against you," said the second scout.

Veshua's face boiled red with anger. He could not believe that he was about to lose the kingdom he had worked so hard to obtain. It had taken nearly eight years to get to where he was, and was not about to let it slip away from his grasp. "How is it that mages live? They were all killed years ago! Why does yet one live?"

"He had been living on the isles his whole life my lord," replied the first scout, "his father raised him alone and later the boy lived and grew. Eventually he had learned the powers he needed to know and is now an adequate fighter. Rumor said he is as good with sword and bow as he is with magic."

"This cannot be! Why was I not... never mind. What can I do that will allow me to survive this attack? I assume it is coming?"

"Today is the third day, we are in the afternoon. It will be tomorrow morning when they shall arrive. There is no escape. And with all due respect, sir, we leave you with these parting words. We have served you as long as we could, we are not suicidal so we will not help in the coming battle."

The scouts left their former master. They knew all too well what he would do, if he had the brains or the will to do so he would run away. Veshua remained steaming and frothing in anger. There would be no time to run, nowhere to run. He was finished indeed. There was no escape now. Not even the escape tunnel could... The escape tunnels! Of course! When they attack I'll hide myself in one of them. Surely one will lead to the docks. While they are all busy here, I shall make my escape! None of them shall know that I have gone, I'll be half way to the main continents by the time they realize I'm gone.

It wasn't Veshua's best plan but it was all he had. Runaway and rebuild a new army to retake the isles. The preparations would take time, but the people here clearly only wanted to reclaim their isles. If they but remain on the isles he would be able to succeed in reclaiming the kingdom again. If they tried to enter his continents he would be ready with his own armies to defeat them. No other land had the will to fight against him and would defend him at all costs. None of the former rulers would return, he would be able to claim the world after his victory on crushing the armies of the Silver Isles.