Sergeant Crees confirmed with a nod.
“Who is in command here?” Draylon searched the trees for more uniforms.
“Commander Vihaan.”
Vihaan himself? Their assignment must be of the utmost importance.
Sergeant Crees saluted with an arm across her chest. “How may I serve, Commander?”
Draylon dismounted, motioning Rufe to do the same. “Take me to Commander Vihaan.”
“As you wish.” Sergeant Crees whistled twice. Whistles from two locations answered her. She led Draylon and Rufe into the forest along a narrow trail. The sun hit zenith and began its descent before Draylon caught traces of woodsmoke and muted conversations while dodging low branches and leading Gryphon.
Sergeant Crees stopped to whistle twice, resuming at an answering whistle.
The path opened onto a clearing filled with tents, cooking fires, and soldiers. Many stared as Draylon and Rufe strode by. Some saluted, so they must have knowledge of Draylon’s rank, even out of uniform, as he and Rufe both were, though their armor was obviously high quality. Some had served the empire's combined forces when Draylon acted as high commander.
Sergeant Crees stopped before a tent far larger than the others and poked her head in. “Commander Vihaan, Commander Draylon Aravaid and one of his captains to see you.”
So, the sergeant recognized Rufe too. Draylon fought shoulder to shoulder with Glendoran soldiers on occasion, but most instances occurred before this woman reached an age to join the forces.
The commander strode out, a tall, imposing mountain of a man with graying brown hair, an impressively full mustache and beard, and shoulders wide enough to push the edges of the tent opening. He spotted Draylon and grinned, speaking heavily accented Cormiran, a required language for anyone seeking promotion to a rank above sergeant. “Commander. You’ve come to coordinate with us? Do we finally have orders?”
“Coordinate?” Orders?
Vihaan’s grin fell. “Come into my tent. We need to talk.” He motioned to Sergeant Crees. “Take care of their horses.”
Draylon relinquished Gryphon’s reins and followed Vihaan into the tent, grateful to be out of the saddle, if only temporarily. Discomfort meant nothing next to Yarif’s safety. Rufe followed.
Maps lay spread out on a table with several officers gathered around. “Leave us,” Vihann told them. The moment they left, Vihaan collapsed into a chair, indicating two more nearby. Draylon and Rufe sat.
“You had no idea we were here, did you?” Vihaan began.
“No, we didn’t. But as of two days ago, I’m no longer commander.” However, Draylon definitelyhadbeen commander whenever someone ordered troops to the Delletina border.
Vihaan gave a half smile. “Oh, yes. You’re a king now, aren’t you? We received a runner a week ago. I believe Captain Illa took your place.” He spat out the name. “I can think of a dozen officers who’d do a better job.” He nodded toward Rufe. "You’d be at the top of my list, Captain.”
Rufe inclined his head, a faint hint of pink tinging his cheeks.
Vihaan focused his deep blue gaze on Draylon. “One month past, we were sent here to watch the Delletina border. Something about a threat to the imperial family.”
One month past and Draylon would have been fully occupied with the siege of Renvalle. “I was not informed.” Which he considered an insult, as he’d been commander of the Cormiran troops at the time and should have been informed.
Vihaan tapped fingers against his leg. “We’re waiting for word to proceed.”
“Proceed to what?”
Vihaan lifted a bushy brow. “Why, invasion, of course. I was told we’d soon have proof of Delletina’s plans to declare war.”
Invade? They’d been here a month. Planning this campaign must’ve taken weeks. Cormira had only gotten word a little over two months ago about King Lleval’s treachery. Hadn’t they? As commander, Draylon should know every detail.
Yet he hadn’t been apprised. Only one person had the authority to make that happen.
The Glendor forces also received a runner a week ago. It was a hard three-day ride to Renvalle, and Draylon himself hadn’t known a week ago that he’d be named king. “Are you sure that’s when the runner came?”
“Quite sure.” Vihaan choked out a laugh. “When you’re counting the days until you can return home, time doesn’t escape your notice.” His eyes twinkled with humor.
Someone knew what would happen before Draylon. This invasion had to be weeks in the planning if not months. No doubt Glendor wasn’t the only kingdom under Father’s control to send soldiers.
