Brave Men Die: Part 2 Read Online Free Page B

border but I don’t ever want to see your faces in Sarkridge or Nethvan again. Go.’
    The four men saluted, brought their fists to the sides of their heads, pivoted on their heels and left the room. Upon their departure the generals relaxed slightly, now the Prince was not going to try to kill them with his bare hands.
    ‘Where is my brother at the moment?’
    Braithe coughed under his breath. ‘He and Curdish have the ten thousand Murukan Horse patrolling up and down the west coast. There have been an increased number of raids and your brother wanted to deal with them.’
    ‘I assume it was at father’s request?’ Reza asked, running his hand over his short cropped blond hair.
    ‘Something like that.’
    ‘He has been informed I take it? The new King needs to know he is the new King before anything happens to him.’
    ‘A messenger has been sent conveying your father’s death as well as your wife's and daughters’. The Kingdom mourns,’ Rodderick informed.
    ‘That is not enough. The Murukan Kingdom needs to act. What are our plans generals?’ Reza questioned.
    The three older men looked at each other. Dejeski, with his arms still folded across his chest, nodded at the other two to speak. Braithe coughed into his fist to clear his throat.
    ‘Black smoke appeared over the Callisto Mountains just over a week ago, at all three outposts in the passes. Black Claw signalled first and within hours the other two had started up. We have received word via messenger bird from Buckthorne and Gravid’s Drift that they are responding to the distress beacons.’
    ‘So it could be an all out attack?’ queried Reza.
    ‘We feel that it could be,’ Rodderick answered.
    ‘You too?’ Reza asked of Dejeski.
    He nodded.
    ‘So the Kyzantines are invading. I didn’t think we would ever let things get this bad. Have Buckthorne and Gravid’s Drift reported back in yet?’
    ‘No, they haven’t, but if it is something they can deal with themselves we won’t hear about it until it’s done and finished. But if it is bigger …’ Braithe trailed off.
    ‘It could mean we won’t hear about it until one, if not more, of the passes have fallen and the Kyzantines have a foothold into the Kingdom,’ Rodderick interjected.
    ‘Fucking bastards,’ Reza muttered under his breath. ‘Do we know why? Is there anything that would let us know whether this was an invasion or just a border conflict?’
    ‘I haven’t heard any intelligence yet that goes either way. The Musea Pass reported large enemy numbers and something about Prince Derrick being murdered. I have not had that confirmed as yet. We won’t know whether it is a full blown invasion or just a strike at the closest possible target until either the baron or the earl confirm something,’ answered Braithe.
    ‘So we know nothing. Well, we can’t just stand here hoping that this will go away. I want measurements put in place so we don’t have a battlefield on the doorstep of the capital. Father would never have let that happen and neither will I. What are your plans generals?’
    ‘We will each take three battalions out for training exercises and manoeuvrers in different directions,’ Rodderick informed him. ‘Dejeski will take the First, Fifth and Seventh battalions directly to Carham where he can set up a temporary headquarters to give us a good push straight to Gravid’s Drift if things get tough. Braithe will take the Second, Fourth and Sixth to the east to the Dyrest River and can redirect north to Carham if war has been joined.’
    Rodderick paused and drew breath. ‘I will go north immediately with the Third, Eighth and Twelfth in case the Kyzantines break through at Black Claw or further west through the Gorgon Pass. I can respond quicker being positioned there and can gather greater numbers at Buckthorne if the baron hasn’t already committed them.’
    ‘That sounds feasible. The Murukan Horse can be recalled from the coast leaving the outposts already in