Chapter Seven - Treachery?

The rain had finally let up. The army was on the move. Binks and Potter saluted the Duke, and then rode to the head of their respective battalions. A few crisp orders later, and they were off. Potter took his battalion north west. They were going to lay siege to the city of Eirtue. The Eleven Knights were gathered in Aiulindale, and the king had called the army, so there would be relatively few defences around Eirtue. With only a light drizzle to get in their way, the battalion of Hayden Potter would be able to crush the city with relative ease.

Binks Vizzini led his men north and east towards Ge’irdae. They were going to go close to the edge of the mountains, instead of Minelido. Duke DiCaprio would take some of the battalion later on to Minelido, where they would attack the city, and take it over. Until that happened however, it would not be safe for them to get within sighting distance of the city. Small though it was, it was not time for it to be attacked. They needed to follow their plan very carefully, to ensure that all went according to the plan.

It was a long march to Eirtue. Or for those officers lucky enough to have horses, a long ride. Either way, it was tiring, and when they stopped for the night, they were exhausted from the long day’s journey. The captain underneath Hayden Potter came to Potter’s tent that evening. He stopped outside, until he was acknowledged. Then, ducking his head through the door, he stepped inside and walked over to where Potter was sitting.

“M’lord,” he said as he bowed before the seated lord. “It should take us approximately two more days to get to Eirtue.”
“That is understood, Captain,” Potter responded. He was in an incredibly good mood tonight. He briefly wondered if the wine he had been drinking was any different, but, on account of his mood he did not care. “Two days will not be a problem. We will still get there in time for Duke DiCaprio’s plan to work. All will turn out well.”
“Yes, m’lord,” the captain replied. “Are there any specific orders for tonight?”
“We ride at daybreak. Have the soldiers prepare to break camp before then, I intend to set out as soon as the sun rises over the Sea of Nautalae. I will give more specific orders tomorrow night. Then you will know more of our plan of attack. Until then, consider yourself dismissed, Captain.”
“Yes, m’lord.”
“Oh, and Captain?”
“Yes, m’lord?”
“If all goes well, then you may find yourself knighted after the Duke is crowned king of Elenaesia.”
“Yes, m’lord,” the captain said with another bow. Then, with a small smile on his face, he left the tent. Outside his smile grew wider, only to be replaced by a grim scowl as he walked up to a corporal and told him to give the battalion the order of General Potter.

Binks Vizzini watched as the newly made general, Hayden Potter, bravely and valiantly led his men out towards the ancient city of Eirdue. After waiting for a few moments, his gaze following the battalion of men as the moved towards Eirdue as a small wave, crashing on the shore, he turned towards the tent where the Duke of the Seventeens was seated. The door of the tent flapped in the gentle breeze, and Vizzini walked towards it with as much courage as he could muster. He knew he was going to need it. Pausing for breath outside the door, he gathered more courage to himself, knowing that the Duke had already noticed his presence. Delaying any longer would only heighten any and all suspicions Duke DiCaprio might already have. Entering the tent, as one plunging into the freezing water of a lake in winter, he walked in and bowed low before the Duke.

“M’lord Duke,” he began, but the Duke cut him off sharply.
“It is to be ‘Your Majesty’, do you understand?”
“Yes, m’l . . . yes your majesty,” Vizzini quickly corrected himself.
“You have something you wish to say, Binks?”
“Indeed, your majesty. I have reason to believe,” he paused, and then jumped headlong in. He had come this far already, he might as well finish the job. “I have reason to believe that Hayden Potter is planning treachery against your lordship.”
“And where might you get such reason?” the Duke asked dangerously, a sharp edge coming into his voice. Vizzini knew that his life was now balanced precariously on the edge of a knife. His answer could mean life or death for him now.
“General Potter told me that he did not want you on the throne, and that he wanted someone he could control.”
“Did he ask you to help him in his plan?”
“Yes, your majesty. But I said I would not, and I could not. I told him he spoke treason, but he did not listen to me.”
“Indeed. Very well. I thank you for telling this to me. Now, go at once. Ge’irdae will not wait forever, and the longer you dawdle here, the more time they have to reinforce the guard around the walls. You must pass Minelido with as little notice as possible. That is of utmost importance to the success of this battle plan. Dismissed.”
“Yes, your majesty.”

Vizzini bowed low again before the Duke, and then slowly, and carefully, for it was no easy feat, backed out of the tent. Once outside in the cold chilly air, with a raw wind blowing on his face, he deftly mounted his horse, and with a wave of his arm, ordered his men to follow. They marched or rode to Ge’irdae. They would attack when they arrived. By the time they began their attack, Hayden Potter would have taken over Eirdue. That would only leave Aiulindale, and Minelido. But while they were still marching to Ge’irdae, the Duke planned to take out Minelido. Once that was done, they would control the three major cities aside from Aiulindale outside of the Seventeens. Elenaesia would be their’s, forever.