In The Beginning, Gail Daley [red white royal blue .TXT] 📗

a couple of your messenger birds up to the Avalanche Pass outpost, so we will have warning if the Shahen attempts to enter Ironlyn by that route."

Lewys looked startled. "I thought that was why you stationed MacQuain and Maegan up there. Don't you think they can handle the job?"

Andre shrugged. "Yes, their abilities are well suited to defend the area in the winter, but I would like them to have a way to communicate with us if they need to."

"The birds won't work in the winter," Owen objected. "They won't be able to fly in the cold."

Andre frowned. "We need a speedy way to pass messages."

Owen grinned. "I think this might be just what you're looking for." He took a small carved and painted bird out of his pocket and set it on Lewys's desk.

"What is that?" Andre asked.

"Nicos calls it an avatar," Owen said.

He held out his hands and gradually, a large messenger bird took shape on the desk. "How are you?" Owen asked it.

"I am fine," the bird croaked.

"It is amazing," Logan said.

"And it will do whatever a messenger bird does?" Andre asked.

"I haven't tested them out of range of the Wards," Owen replied. "But yes, Nicos thinks it can be used in the same manner." He grinned a little self-consciously. "You and Rebecca aren't the only ones who've been taking lessons with Nicos."

"Both of you amaze me," Lewys said. He looked over at the younger men. "Owen, this is remarkable. Andre, I confess I'm out of my depth in this. I am a spymaster, not a battle strategist. I am so glad your unicorn brought you into our camp."

Andre grinned at him. "Me too. I'd never have met Rebecca otherwise." He sobered, and added "I don't do all this alone, Lewys. I've had help from Logan, Owen, and Jors and his fighters setting up our defenses."

"The old ones who created Ironlyn have been invaluable with strategies as well," Owen reminded his grandfather.

A month later, word came in the Shahen was getting close. Shahen Rupert's entourage was magnificent. Twelve outriders carrying his golden standard rode ahead of an escort of the Shahen's Guard, splendid in their red uniforms and mounted on their matching black unicorns. The Shahen himself, riding just behind his royal guards was dressed in rich clothing, and riding a beautiful white unicorn stallion. He was accompanied by the Magi Proctor, who looked almost as splendid. Behind them rode three of the Proctors. Following them, came the nobles of the kingdom those who had come to support their ruler and those the Shahen didn't trust out from under his eye. In their wake came huge lumbering traveling wagons, decorated in gilt and painted in the royal colors for the royal party and the nobles. The ordinary fighting men brought up the rear. The Shahen disdained the use of Merc troops, so these fighters were all members of his permanent army.

Andre and Jors saw them from the top of Ironlyn's front cliffs while they were still many miles distant.

"Four to Five hundred fighters, I'd say," Jors remarked, with a wry look at his friend. "I sure hope your faith in these Wards is justified. Otherwise, we don't have a chance."

"Come down to the War Room," Andre said, turning to descend the stairs.

When he brought Jors into the room, he introduced him to Nicos. "This is Captain Jors who will be handling our inner defenses, Nicos," he said. "He is a little concerned about the size of the army we are facing."

In the center of the room, a large, round table rose. On its top, Nicos put up a topographical, three-dimensional display of Ironlyn and the surrounding countryside.

"Where is this army?" it asked.

Jors jumped and looked wildly around for the source of the voice.

"Relax, Nicos is a machine," Andre informed him. "You can't see him." He went to the table and pointed to an area north of the plains. "I would guess, they are about forty miles in this direction."

There was a discrete humm, and the Shahen's entourage appeared in miniature in the display. "Ah, the sensors have picked them up," Nicos said. "Please identify the Shahen and the Magi, Drake Andre."

"The one on the white unicorn is Shahen Rupert. I would guess the man beside him is the Proctor as are those three following him. The others must be the nobles he brought with him."

"The men in the rear are regular fighters?"

"That's right. If they can get them inside Ironlyn, we will be badly outnumbered. I suspect The Magi will try to use the power of the Ley Lines when they attack."

Nicos, made the Humm, sound again. "It is possible, but my programming says the Ley Lines have been tuned to respond to those tied to Ironlyn."

"Logan was able to use them," Andre reminded him.

"Yes, but Logan Silvermane has taken service with Ironlyn, has he not?"

"Yes, he has. Does it make a difference?"

Nicos hummed again. "It does. Because the Weatherman has taken service with Ironlyn, he has full use of the Leys. My records do say there is an old spell in place partially blocking outsiders from using the Leys. Outsiders may use them, but they won't be able to utilize their full power. However, the spell is old; the Draconi will need to renew it."

"Rebecca and I will take care of that in our afternoon session," Andre assured him. He turned to Jors. "Do you think we have a better chance now?"

Jors took a deep breath. "Yes. I'll pass it on to the men; it will help morale when they see the size of the army the Shahen brought." He touched the protection amulet he, like all his men, now wore around his neck. "These will help as well. I wish we had something like this amulet when we faced those outlaw Magi up in Coppervilla a few years ago."

"It would have helped," Andre replied.

The family inside Ironlyn watched from the War Room as the Shahen and his followers rode up to the deserted Trade Station.