And the reason Laronnar tolerated Dralan was because of the promise he had made. Dralan had promised him that, this time, a quick, successful campaign in Lenat would merit a mention of his prowess to the Blue Dragonlady. This would, Laronnar was sure, bring him the career opportunities he desired.
For that chance, if for no other reason, he must hold his tongue, must disguise his hatred and jealousy. With effort that must have showed on his sharply angled face, Laronnar forced his anger down, pulled it back into a constricted knot in his belly.
Feigning disinterest, Laronnar picked up the mug of ale and upended it. The bitter liquid, thick as oil, seared his throat. Haylis tapped him lightly on the arm, urging him to sit.
Dralan’s voice boomed out again, calling for drinks, and became fainter, a mere annoying buzz, as he was drawn to the bar by the throng of sniveling, obsequious sycophants. Several voices clamored to buy him a drink if he would only continue his “fascinating tales.”
“Of deeds that are not his own,” Laronnar muttered, but the anger stayed in check, simmering. He shrugged and sat. Planting one booted foot firmly on the wooden plank floor, he shoved his chair onto its back legs and hooked the other foot around the rungs. The chair thunked against the wall, but amidst the noise and revelry of the crowded tavern, the sound went unnoticed.
Breathing an audible sigh of relief, Haylis, too, sat and rocked his chair back.
Laronnar glared at his commander, who stood with his arm around the red-haired barmaid. “One day that draconian lizard who serves Dralan will find our illustrious commander with a dagger in his throat.”
“Shh!” Haylis leaned across the table, glancing about to be sure no one had heard. “You should be more careful.”
Laronnar glowered in the direction of the bar. Kaelay was waving the patrons away to make space for the commander. Soldiers and townees alike obeyed her without hesitation, stepping back.
The woman smiled at the commander as she handed him a flagon. Dralan turned his back on the crowd around him, admirers and aides forgotten. With greedy hands, he tucked her against his side and bent to whisper in her ear.
Laronnar snorted with disgust. “I wonder whose ideas he’s claiming now.”
“Was that really your idea, tricking the elves out of Silvanesti by leaving an ogre picnic party in the field?” Haylis said, trying to divert his friend’s thoughts.
Laronnar forced his gaze away from the gorgeous woman who appeared to be devouring every false word. He took several healthy gulps of ale before slamming the flagon down on the table so hard that the little ale that was left sloshed over the rim, spattering the grimy tabletop.
“It was!” he declared. “As was the plan we used to take this stinking port.”
“Coming in over the water, that was your idea?”
“Yes. And it was working, too. Not that it will matter if we sit here drinking and whoring until those damnable knights regroup.” Laronnar glared around the bar, said loudly. “It was my plan. Have any of you heard otherwise?”
The port of Lenat was located on a jutting peninsula bordered by the Khurman Sea on the northeast and Bay of Balifor on the southwest. Although smaller than Port Balifor, which was across the Bay, Lenat would make an excellent staging ground for the army of the Dark Queen. Silvanesti, the elven stronghold, was less than one hundred and fifty miles to the south; only two hundred miles southwest was Sanction. Seizing this port had indeed been a splendid idea.
Laronnar’s idea.
“No,” Haylis said, a touch too quickly. He slapped his friend on the shoulder. “We’ll be back in the field before you know it. The knights won’t have the wits to regroup. Not after the scare we gave them.”
Haylis’s attempt at placating Laronnar only deepened his suspicions, but the warmth of the ale was beginning to take effect. His voice was nonchalant, a bit slurred as he spoke. “A thunderstorm is no excuse to break from the battle.”
The wind sounded as if it might tear down the wall against which he leaned. He could hear the rain striking the plank walkway outside the tavern.