SWNOVELS Chapter 21
Dominic leaned over the war table and stared down at the map before him, showing the locations of individuals both friendly and foe. He had been questioning the orders given to him since they arrived and had thus justified leaving nearly one third of his troops behind by ordering them to secure safe passage for anyone caught in the struggle. He turned his head to the right and looked at the opened letter he had received from Kristiana. In it, she had provided a detailed report of what was occurring within the capitol. After a few moments, someone approached from behind. Dominic turned his head slightly to see who was approaching.
“Vosch, Onyx, what do you have to report?” Anton and Onyx, in his boy form, looked to one another before Anton spoke.
“My contact has informed me that the enemy does resemble the beastmen, but that he does not believe them to be so. In fact, it appears as though the Forsaken have bonded with a separate force all together.”
“Did your contact mention which force?” Anton shook his head.
“He could not be certain, however, he mentioned that he has not seen activity such as this since the fall of Highmooria.” Dominic thought to himself for a moment.
“Vosch, I need you to return to the capitol and put your ’unorthodox‘ skills to use.”
“You do know that I am a wanted man, do you not?”
“I know of those you have allied yourself with. I do not feel that you are a threat at the moment.”
“What makes you think that I am not a threat?”
“You and those you represent would have nothing to gain from the fall of Valascaana. Mayhap the rise of a new ruling party, but ultimately, for your plans to succeed, you will need the knights of Valascaana at your side.”
“Or for the return of the Last Paladin of Highmoore. That is a piece that we gravely desire, to see land on our board.”
“All the same, your next course of action should be to return and make certain that these omens are merely coincidence and not signs of something far worse at play. I will join you as soon as I am able. Send word if circumstances become dire.” Anton nodded his head.
“This I can manage. What of our mutual friend?”
“Please keep her informed.” Anton and Onyx both turned and left Dominic to his strategizing. As he continued to stare at the map in front of him, he thought to himself.
“Something terribly wrong is going on here.” He continued to dwell on the various signs he, himself, had noticed. The first oddity of note, had been the deployment of nearly the entire army. Dominic had wondered why so many were sent, when Roak, being only so large, could not contain such a large host.
“Perhaps sending Vosch alone, will not prove sufficient.” He thought to himself as he continued to stare at the deployment map. He moved a few pieces about, redistributing his forces, so as to maximize the ground they covered. It was then, that Dominic truly realized something, which troubled him greater.
“Why have we left the southern edge of the continent, entirely undefended?”