Old King Severmist of the Orgas stood on a rock outcropping on the sea side of the pass through the Golden Mountains down into the rich plains of Thorodia and shook his fists in frustration and despair. For the third time in as many days the frontal assault on the High Castle of King Kleemus had failed.
"How much longer will you hold against my might?" the old king roared. "Two long years. See this beard? It nigh reaches the ground and is as gray as the skies over your winter land."
"Perhaps it is time to suggest just going around the castle and down into the valley, sire," one of the king's advisers said timidly, cowering at the king's side. Unfortunately, he had come too close, though, and, with one swipe of his mail-encased hand, the king slapped him across the path, from whence he did not rise.
The king knew they could not continue this siege for two more years. His own health would not permit it. He would not live to enter Thorodia then, and all would be lost without him at the helm.
"The high castle remains the key," he growled. "It is the strongest point in Thorodia. If we take the castle, all of the rest in the valley will open their doors to us. If not, it is a fight on every doorstep and a lance at our backs, between us and the sea. We must have the castle. Must I do the thinking for us all? Is there no one here with the wit to follow on from me?"
"Father," a small voice spoke up from the shadows, "Might I—?"
"Why be you here?" the king cried out, almost in anguish. "You belong in the train with the women and the other women in men's clothes. How dare you attend and speak out. Better yet, get you to the High Castle. From what is reported to me, those within are sodomites all."
"We have Raum in the castle. Perhaps we—"
"Be damned and be gone with you, pup. It is because of you that Raum is there. I'll have no more words from you, boy."
And then all was silent as the shadows of night descended on the pass from the sea through the Golden Mountains and down into Thorodia, and the lights in the High Castle yet burned, telling of comfort and safety.
* * * *
The Grand Marshal of Thorodia, the man closest to King Kleemus and his principal military adviser, the man who had devised and carried out the successful defense of Thorodia against the invading barbarian from the sea in close consort with his king for the past two years, was galloping through the forest at the valley base of the High Castle with his small band of hunters, bringing home venison. The Grand Marshal distained the forces of the Orgas and went out on these forays on purpose to show those under siege in the High Castle how safe they were in his hands. Few raiding parties ventured beyond the castle and down into the valley, and the Grand Marshal's spies knew when they were afoot.
But on the road to the castle, the Grand Marshal pulled his horse up and his lip curled up. Here was something he had not been apprised of. Heads would roll for overlooking this.
Off on the side of the trail he spied a gypsy wagon, turned on its side, its contents strewn out around it and obviously the subject of pillage.
The Grand Marshal trotted over to the wagon, its scarlet and yellow wheels still spinning, and reached down and jerked an arrow out of the undercarriage and lifted it up for all to see.
"Double-edged point," said one minion.
"Red feather," said another.
"An arrow of the Orga," chimed in a third.
The Grand Marshal nodded his head in grim agreement. The Orga were becoming bolder. They were foraying too far into the valley. And his spies had missed this intrusion.
All of the riders were startled by the sound of a groan—coming from under the upturned wagon. Quick as a dart, two of the minions dismounted and, with all of their strength, lifted the wagon, and a third pulled out the body of a young man.