of the soldiers. This will be their first battle. They need a leader to rally around, and I can’t be there.”
Jack cleared his throat gently. “Am I correct in assuming that you mean to go to the Pinnacles to find the Fairy Queen?”
Alexander nodded. “The Sovereign Stone has to be the first priority. Unless someone has another way, I have to go to the Valley of the Fairy Queen to get the Stone—and the sooner the better. As it stands, Phane could reach the Reishi Keep within a few days. If he can’t make the powersink work, he’ll start looking for an alternative. The day he finds one is the day we lose.”
“Perhaps I can be of assistance in this matter,” Jack said. “I can work up a story to circulate through the troops that will both alleviate their discontent over your absence and present the enemy with a false trail to chase.”
“What do you have in mind?” Alexander asked.
“In truth, I’m not quite sure of the specifics, but I’m very certain that the less Phane learns about your true plans the better. I can create a false story about a mission vital to the success of our cause that only you can accomplish. I’ll have to think on the details a bit though. I need something you’re going after that’s important enough for you to leave your army. I would welcome any suggestions.”
“The third Bloodvault is important,” Kelvin mused.
Lucky nodded. “Especially if we had reason to believe that it contained the secret of Wizard’s Dust.”
Jack smiled like the sunshine. “That will do nicely. The means of disseminating this story is vitally important. The public story must be that Lord Alexander has departed on a secret mission that may hold the key to victory. Only a select few know of his purpose and destination. At the same time, we carefully leak the false story and a destination that will lead our enemies far afield. My experience with large groups is that rumors spread faster than wildfire.”
“I like your idea, Jack, but I’m still left without a viable general,” Alexander said.
“I see wisdom in Abigail’s advice,” Jack said. “Time will present you with the right person for the job.”
“I hope you’re right; things could go very badly without the right leadership.”
After breakfast, Alexander and Isabel headed out to explore the Keep. Many wizards had requested Kelvin’s assistance with various items and rooms within the Hall of Magic so he didn’t join them. He was the foremost expert on the discipline of magical enchantment, and they had discovered rooms full of items that he was uniquely qualified to identify.
Anatoly caught up with Alexander and Isabel at the entrance to the Keep.
“Alexander, I hope you aren’t too angry with me for defying you, but you must understand that my first duty is to protect you. Besides, I’ve never led an army before, so you would do well to find another.”
Alexander appraised his old mentor for a moment. “I understand your position, but I still need a general. There’s no one I trust to get the job done more than you. Hopefully, another will present himself in time.”
“For today, may I join you?” Anatoly asked.
“Glad to have you along,” Alexander said. “We saw a platform yesterday that rises up above the rest of the Keep on the south side, and I want to take a look at it.”
The Keep was as empty as always until they reached the Hall of Magic, where they started seeing a few people here and there. Each wizard had a couple of Rangers to help with exploring and cataloging the contents of the Keep. Alexander led the way to the end of the long hall, and with a thought, he opened the door to the base of the central tower. He was becoming accustomed to the power of the Keep Master’s ring and was beginning to see the Keep itself like an extension of his own mind and body.
He led the way past the sentinel and up through the central tower until they reached the balcony level that led to the two sky bridges.
Jack cleared his throat gently. “Am I correct in assuming that you mean to go to the Pinnacles to find the Fairy Queen?”
Alexander nodded. “The Sovereign Stone has to be the first priority. Unless someone has another way, I have to go to the Valley of the Fairy Queen to get the Stone—and the sooner the better. As it stands, Phane could reach the Reishi Keep within a few days. If he can’t make the powersink work, he’ll start looking for an alternative. The day he finds one is the day we lose.”
“Perhaps I can be of assistance in this matter,” Jack said. “I can work up a story to circulate through the troops that will both alleviate their discontent over your absence and present the enemy with a false trail to chase.”
“What do you have in mind?” Alexander asked.
“In truth, I’m not quite sure of the specifics, but I’m very certain that the less Phane learns about your true plans the better. I can create a false story about a mission vital to the success of our cause that only you can accomplish. I’ll have to think on the details a bit though. I need something you’re going after that’s important enough for you to leave your army. I would welcome any suggestions.”
“The third Bloodvault is important,” Kelvin mused.
Lucky nodded. “Especially if we had reason to believe that it contained the secret of Wizard’s Dust.”
Jack smiled like the sunshine. “That will do nicely. The means of disseminating this story is vitally important. The public story must be that Lord Alexander has departed on a secret mission that may hold the key to victory. Only a select few know of his purpose and destination. At the same time, we carefully leak the false story and a destination that will lead our enemies far afield. My experience with large groups is that rumors spread faster than wildfire.”
“I like your idea, Jack, but I’m still left without a viable general,” Alexander said.
“I see wisdom in Abigail’s advice,” Jack said. “Time will present you with the right person for the job.”
“I hope you’re right; things could go very badly without the right leadership.”
After breakfast, Alexander and Isabel headed out to explore the Keep. Many wizards had requested Kelvin’s assistance with various items and rooms within the Hall of Magic so he didn’t join them. He was the foremost expert on the discipline of magical enchantment, and they had discovered rooms full of items that he was uniquely qualified to identify.
Anatoly caught up with Alexander and Isabel at the entrance to the Keep.
“Alexander, I hope you aren’t too angry with me for defying you, but you must understand that my first duty is to protect you. Besides, I’ve never led an army before, so you would do well to find another.”
Alexander appraised his old mentor for a moment. “I understand your position, but I still need a general. There’s no one I trust to get the job done more than you. Hopefully, another will present himself in time.”
“For today, may I join you?” Anatoly asked.
“Glad to have you along,” Alexander said. “We saw a platform yesterday that rises up above the rest of the Keep on the south side, and I want to take a look at it.”
The Keep was as empty as always until they reached the Hall of Magic, where they started seeing a few people here and there. Each wizard had a couple of Rangers to help with exploring and cataloging the contents of the Keep. Alexander led the way to the end of the long hall, and with a thought, he opened the door to the base of the central tower. He was becoming accustomed to the power of the Keep Master’s ring and was beginning to see the Keep itself like an extension of his own mind and body.
He led the way past the sentinel and up through the central tower until they reached the balcony level that led to the two sky bridges.
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