"Pothax!" cried Princess Kerry on the way back to the palace, halting her stallion and turning in the saddle to face the cutthroat. She dropped the reins and crossed her arms across her breasts. "What's going to happen to Lord Ponde?" she demanded.

The cutthroat smiled weakly. "Larry will kill him of course. That is the way of the crime world. Don't be surprised if Ponde's already dead, his money pouch in Larry's pocket and his armour in a pawn shop," replied Pothax. "He may eventually reach King Sear, but Waytorn never said he'd be alive."

Kerry shuddered and picked up the reins. "My father will charge Larry with murder," she said absently.

"But he can't prove it and wouldn't do so anyway if he expects Waytorn to aid him against the Ice Folk. Have they set a time for a military meeting yet? I made a wager of when it would be."

Kerry shook her head and kicked the stallion lightly in the flanks. "I'm guessing it will be in two days from now or even longer." Pothax cursed. "What was the wager?" she asked, a bit intrigued.

"I bet the meeting would be today, Redhawk bet tomorrow. The wager was that the loser would have to do something embarrassing like wearing their clothes backwards to the military meeting or something like that. If the meeting is two days from now we both will have to do it!"

Kerry smiled and shook her head. "Where are we going anyway?"

"The palace," replied Pothax. "Wynic's called an impromptu meeting. Not a military meeting, but at least we're getting organized so we at least know what we're doing."

Victoria scanned the dining room and counted heads. Sir Dillard, Pothax, Wynic, Bren, King Willium, Gisoni, Gith, Nebonex, Darylinn, Mathex, Gisoni's lieutenant Pollex, Savin, Redhawk, Queen Helen, Blackaxe, Waytorn, Eluth, Carlo, Roreed, Brenda, an angry looking Derick, Sir Glac, General Chek, Lord Jacog and Queen Elexenia. The members of the Kinian Royal Family present were Princesses Kelly and Kerry, and Prince Boyce. Victoria drew her longsword and rapped the hilt on the table for order.

All heads turned Victoria's way and the room abruptly quieted. She blushed under so many stares and cleared her throat. "If I may call upon Prince Boyce to describe what he knows about the skirmishes with the Ice Folk we can begin."

Prince Boyce pushed his chair away from the table and stood. He was tall, lanky with sharp eyes and a disarming smile. "As some of you may know, I make frequent travels into the mountains and the Ice Lands. During my travels I have met many of the Folk and I must admit that I find it hard to believe that they'd attack a merchant caravan. They are a peaceful, sometimes timid folk, despite the fact that they are great warriors, all of them. The unversed person might think them barbarians and savages, but in truth they hold life, even the lives of animals, sacred above all else. That is why they have become so outraged by the poaching. I have spoken to several of the Folk concerning the skirmishes with the merchant caravans and the reply was either that they were trying to find out where the merchants bought the furs they were carrying or were forced to do so because of lack of food due to decreased animals to hunt. I find the latter disturbing because the Ice Folk have been allied for countless centuries and I have many friends among the Ice Folk."

"You'd be surprised what a person can do when they're starving," commented Pothax.

Victoria blinked. She looked at the cutthroat and saw he was serious. A new understanding formed in her mind. Life was more or less about survival. Whether you stole or even killed for food there was not such a huge difference between it and a hunter shooting a stag for his meal.

"True," replied Boyce. "Very true. I believe it is probably a combination of both. Whatever the case it is obvious that the poachers must be dealt with."

"From what I understand," said Lord Blackaxe. "The Kinian Army has already failed completely at the task. Didn't find a single poacher. The chances of all of our armies finding even a single poacher seems very slim."

"My sources have failed utterly," added Waytorn. "I banned poaching because it involved too much risk and not enough profit. I don't want to free a poacher from prison and only have to free him again next year. Plus poachers don't add much to the crime network and tend to take advantage of it."

There was an uneasy silence as many people pondered how complicated the crime network sounded. Pothax looked around at all the thoughtful expressions and spoke up. "So what do we do about it?" he asked.

Victoria looked around expectantly, but nobody said anything. She bit her lip and looked at Wynic for support. The assassin frowned and shrugged. He couldn't assassinate the enemy if he didn't know where they were.

"I hate to be the one to say it," said Blackaxe, 'but it looks like we should start preparing for war. The latest report of a skirmish was the biggest yet and there's been reports that there hasn't been a caravan to reach Fort Phal for a week. If that keeps up for another two weeks they'll run out of food and supplies."

"I could take a cargo load of supplies there in Rat's Nest," said Carlo meekly.

"That's true," added Savin. "The ship could be there in a third of the time with fifty percent more supplies than a caravan. We'd have three times the supplies there in the same time it takes a caravan to get there."

"Mathex," said Willium. "How's that Icefleet coming along?"

"Five ships being built, two being modified. At the increased rate they're being built at they'll be done in less than two days. Savin and I are still working out designs with the shipmasters," answered the minotaur.

"We're going to need more than that. Would the shipmasters mind having about seven thousand extra workers?"

"You're going to use the armies?" asked Queen Helen in disbelief.

"Why not? We did it during Kobalix's Quest to build the giant-crossbow, why shouldn't we do it now? Besides they need something to do instead of just standing around doing nothing!"

Victoria started to protest that the military training was meant to invoke discipline in the ranks so when faced with danger their training would kick in and create a fearless fighting machine. She dropped it though before she could open her mouth, knowing they'd need the ships if it came to war. If not, they could sell the ships for a profit to the merchants and leave a small Icefleet.

When Queen Helen didn't reply, King Willium went on. "With an Icefleet built and ready, we'll be prepared for a war if King Sear decides to attack. Which seems unlikely since I've talked to him and he seems to agree with Prince Boyce."

The huge bronze doors to the room creaked open and King sear entered. He looked very sad. "I've just received word from a regiment sent to Castle Blueflame."

Victoria felt it coming. She knew roughly what the King would say next. A sense of dread spread up her spine and clutched her heart in it's icy grip.

"Castle Blueflame has been attacked by an Ice tribe and massacred. We're going to war."

"Victoria," called Dillard. He raced down the corridor in the palace where he was a guest to talk with the brigadier. "Where's Rades?"

"Isn't he with you?"

"We got separated in the mountains. I searched for him, but we couldn't find him. I assumed he had come here," Dillard explained, his voice showing his worry.

"Don't worry about him," said Wynic. "If anything happened he probably went the wrong way. He could have got lost and ended back in Arthian. He'll get here eventually."

Dillard nodded and walked down the hallway to his room beside Lord Blackaxe's. He didn't look that comforted by Wynic's words. His door slammed and the assassin stood alone in the hall with the beautiful archeress.

"What a day," murmured Victoria, melting into Wynic's arms and resting her head on his shoulder. "All that shopping, the fight and now this. I feel like I could sleep for a week!"

Wynic kissed her cheek and frowned. He looked down the hallway at Dillard's door. "If I didn't know better, I'd say Dillard found a lover. Probably a maid or something."

Lieutenant Adrienne was the last person Dillard would have expected to be waiting in his room. He liked her a fair bit and she was quite beautiful, if not irresistible. He simply hadn't thought he'd have any chance of courtship with her.

Unfortunately for Dillard, Adrienne went around courtship in the same fashion she'd attack an enemy or hunt a stag. Watch for weaknesses and learn as much as possible. She had learned a fair bit over the past week during their riding and talking together. Then, when the enemy wasn't expecting anything, she'd attack with full forces.

As Dillard stepped through the door he was met with a crushing kiss, and a beautiful and irresistible woman. His senses seemed to overflow as his lips met hers and the multiple fragrances of appleblossoms filled his nostrils. He dizzily slammed the door behind him and reluctantly pulled his lips from Adrienne's. "What are you doing?"

Adrienne's dark eyes flashed mysteriously. "Kissing silly. Don't you want to kiss me?" She pouted.

"Of course," blurted Dillard before he realized it. He'd fallen into a trap and lost a battle there. "But-"

"But nothing. If you want to kiss me, why don't you?" Adrienne's arms wrapped securely around Dillard's armoured waist.

"Cause it's not polite," stammered Dillard, trying to remove Adrienne's arms.

"So you think you have to ask permission. Don't you think that's already been decided?"

Dillard grudgingly accepted that, but still he held back. "Plus I'd have to ask permission from your father to formally court you."

"Not if I've already gotten his permission to marry a knight. You are a knight, are you not?" Adrienne just won a second battle. She went in for the kill.

Dillard tried to pull away from her kiss, but found himself kissing her back. Adrienne had gained a breech in Dillard's defenses. She continued to widen the breech QXQZXQXQXQ adding infantry instead of just the artillery. her arms pulled Dillard closer, binding their two bodies together.

Dillard surrendered.

"Father."

Pothax looked down, picked Bren up and set him on his knee. "What is it, Bren?" he asked. He looked at the fire burning low in the fireplace. The room seemed strangely quiet, except for the noises coming across the hall from Dillard's suite.

"Why do those boys not like me?" Tears shone in Bren's eyes.

"Do you remember when you first met Nebonex? How scared you were because he was a minotaur?" asked Pothax after a thoughtful pause.

"Yes."

"Well, you see people are scared of people who are different. Nebonex surely is different, isn't he?"

"Ya!" grinned Bren.

"You didn't like him then either, did you?"

"No sirree!"

"Well Bren, you're different from those other boys. You're nice, smart, and better looking," Pothax smiled, ruffling the boy's shady-brown hair. "They're not used to that and don't understand it. So they're scared of you and therefore don't like you. They're probably jealous too! Okay?"

"Okay." Bren looked at the floor. "I'm sorry about causing the fight."

"No matter. What's done is done. Though I did enjoy punching that bastard!"

Bren smiled up at Pothax. "Tell me a story?"

The cutthroat told him the story of Foolish King Horace. When the story was done Bren said something Pothax could never have dreamt hearing. Something that to his enslaved upraising seemed damn near impossible. "You're the best dad in the whole world," the boy mumbled as he fell asleep in the cutthroat's arms.

Pothax started to cry.

General Chek sat down at the table across from General Sardias. He looked around the conference room briefly, taking note of field Marshal Sahos from Colnic, Field marshal Pegs from Arthian, the minotaur General Gisoni and King Searle. Sear was a General-King and therefore in charge of the military in addition to the parliament. Lord Blackaxe was late.

"We can start without Blackaxe," said Sear, standing up at the head of the table. "Once we have fifty Iceships built, I'd like to man, equip them and send them north to Fort Phal. I believe a convoy would be the best way to send them. After that we can send convoys of twenty to thirty ships at a time until the whole army is equipped with Iceships and up in Fort Phal." He paused thoughtfully. "Any objections?"

"No," said Pegs gruffly. "Your plan involves a strong striking force with a constant array of reinforcements. There is however the problem of the trenches that the tribes dug last time. Wouldn't a ship get stuck easily in a trench?"

"Probably," muttered Sahos. "But the ships will give us the advantage compared to the last war. We can cross the no-man's land unharmed by the enemy. That will be the difference!"

"Very well, Gentlemen," said King Sear. "Meeting adjourned. Somebody tell Blackaxe not to worry about being late if you see him." He rose from his seat and left the room followed by all the Marshals and Generals except Generals Chek and Sardias.

Sardias studied Chek for a moment and stood to leave. She abruptly turned to face the General. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking ye should keep yer nose to yerself before it gets punched!" spat the General. He picked up his velvet hat with the bright purple plume. Most people considered Chek to be eccentric when it came to his fancy clothes and outrageous outfits; they were probably right. He propped his hat on his head in a somewhat dashing angle and smiled up at Sardias.

Sardias slapped him and grabbed his ruffled collar. "It was a simple question Chek! What is it you don't like about Sear's plan?"

Chek rubbed his sore cheek for a moment and glared. "Very well," he mimicked King Sear. "I'll tell you if you keep it to yerself and quit crinkling the silk!"

Sardias released her hold.

"I find it interesting that Lord Blueflame is rumoured to have made some deals during Kobalix's Quest with Kobalix himself. The poachers plaguing the Ice Lands supposedly belonged to Kobalix. Did you know that the King Culprit is rebuilding a keep southeast of Castle Blueflame?"

"So?"

"I find it an interesting coincidence that Castle Blueflame was massacred. Don't you?"

"My, my, the gossip in this place!"

Both Generals turned in surprise to see the King Culprit leaning against the doorframe. He took a sip from a goblet and pondered for a moment. "You have all the facts right, I'll grant you that. "I'm building my retirement home, all right, though I haven't decided what to do with it." He paused thoughtfully. "I too find it interesting that castle Blueflame was massacred. Almost like the ice Folk were doing me a favour. Kobalix's influence there was getting to be a little more than a pest."

"Kobalix is dead. Who's the current leader of Kobalix's men?" demanded Chek.

"Lad, if I knew that I would have killed the bastard and claimed complete domination of the crime world."

"It seems to me Lord Blueflame would be an obvious choice to be Kobalix's successor."

Waytorn mulled that thought over. "Not likely. Blueflame only recently joined Kobalix's forces because he was going broke and Kobalix needed a place to serve as a supply post where he could hoard small groups of men. it is more likely that someone with a great deal experience would become the new crime lord."

"I've heard that you banned poaching because it wasn't as profitable. Why is it Kobalix didn't ban it?" asked Sardias.

"I banned it because poachers were pains in the ass. As for Kobalix? Some say his real purpose in sending men to the Ice Lands was to find the Spear of Destiny. After all, that has to do with Kobalix's Quest to rule the world."

"Wait, wait! Kobalix sent men there before he died?" Sardias demanded.

"Of course. This poaching business has been going on for years now. When did you think it started? The same day Kobalix died?"

"Does that mean Kobalix's successor is looking for the Spear of Destiny?" asked Chek dubiously.

"Probably."

Though Carlo could handle Rat's Nest all by himself, he decided to interview a crew in case an emergency should arrive. He wanted to make sure he had the best warriors and sailors possible. Sitting down at the desk he motioned to Eluth to let the first person in.

Eluth nodded and opened the door. It was Pothax and he smiled at Eluth. "Come in, Pothax," said the knight, gesturing to a chair. He closed the door behind the cutthroat.

"State your experience," said Carlo, hiding a smile.

"Veteran warrior, cutthroat, spy and assassin. I was a member of the crew who went to Kobalix's Picnic."

"Military training?"

"None."

"We'll let you know, Pothax," said Savin, standing beside Carlo as advisor. The cutthroat nodded and left.

Princesses Kelly and Kerry entered together and stood before the desk. They were dressed in finely linked chain mail kilts, black breast, shoulder, arm and leg plates. Carlo found it hard to determine one twin from the other.

"Experience?" Savin asked, crossing his arms.

"Infantry captain, soldier, cat-sledder and biathalonist," Kelly replied. "Unfortunately Winterfest was canceled for this year."

"Archer, crossbowist and infantry soldier," said Kerry with a glance at her sister.

"Military training?"

"Royal Strategic School First Degree, three years at the Academy of Combat in Jaton, and two years in the Royal Kinian army," replied Kelly. "That's for both of us."

Dillard nodded. "Knight, squire, apprentice sailor and archer. Crew member of Kobalix's Picnic."

"Training?"

"Knight School, four years at the Academy of combat in Athex and an apprenticeship under Captain Rigg of the Sea Mary," Dillard answered. He got up to leave and turned to Carlo. "As much as I want to go, I won't go without the lady next in line. Her feelings are mutual."

Carlo nodded and motioned for Eluth to let the last one in. The knight opened the door and motioned Adrienne towards the chair. She stepped forward, kissed Dillard, who was on his way out, and sat down.

"Name?"

"Lieutenant Adrienne of Hartfell Keep."

"Experience?"

"Cat-sled lieutenant, soldier, infantry Lieutenant, crossbowist and biathalonist."

"Training?"

"Two years at the Academy of Combat in Jaton, three years in the Royal Kinian Army."

"Okay," said Carlo. "And your first duty as a crew member is to take this list and notify all on it to report here within the hour with all their necessary supplies. Congratulations." He handed her a slip of parchment.

"What? Why are we on the list?" demanded Wynic, jerking Pothax by the collar. "I never even got an interview!"

"Or wanted one for that matter," added Victoria, crossing her arms. She glared at the struggling cutthroat.

"I didn't do it!" Pothax cried. "Willium requested that Carlo put it there! He wants you two to go to that Fort Phal with a special assignment!"

"Wait!" yelled Victoria. She grabbed the cutthroat from her husband and jerked him over to face her. "What assignment?" she shouted.

"Willium's assigned us with trying to find and infiltrate the poachers ranks," gurgled the cutthroat. "Could you let my collar go? My next piece of news may make you accidentally kill me."

Victoria shrugged and release Pothax. "I'm going to kill Willium! Rip his fat head off and play catch with it!"

"He also assigned Larry to the task."

Victoria screamed bloody murder.

Snowdancer stared at the ship and glanced at her cousin Blackthunder. He too was just as amazed by the Iceship that was to the north of the forest. She looked around and saw the cougar lying lazily by the crackling campfire.

"We can't keep up with that," Blackthunder muttered in the Tongue. "It's too fast! We're too slow!"

"They're heading for the Fort," she replied. "We'll be safe until they reach there. It is not of our concern," she muttered and crawled back to the warmth of the fire.

"What is our concern?" Blackthunder demanded. He watched the ship disappear on the horizon.

"To watch the warrior."

"What happens if the warrior is on it and going to the Fort?"

"Then he is no longer our concern. If that happens we go to the lair. Don't worry. Tomorrow we go to the cave. They will know if the warrior is on it."

The ship was fast, Pothax granted Carlo that. But it was also freezing cold because of the wind-chill. He constantly kept below deck where he could be warmed by his lantern. Occasionally he'd glance out the port hole and watch the landscape fly by. The landscape was becoming less and less ragged and more flat. This meant they went faster. Which meant it got colder on board.

Kerry was good company to talk to. Pothax appreciated the attention, but it was no substitute for Bren's admiring gaze. He'd stayed in Jaton with Willium. Sir Glac and Nebonex had promised to watch over the bay. Already Pothax missed him.

"So what did you do?" asked Kerry intently. She sat on the floor, her head cupped in her hands. Her dark eyes flashed curiously.

"I killed him," Pothax shrugged. "What was I supposed to do? Stand by and let him beat the boy to death?" He looked down at her from his hammock thoughtfully.

"Of course not! So afterwards you adopted Bren as your own? The end?"

"Sort of. I took the boy to an abbey, not knowing who else to take the boy to. It was later on that the abbot convinced me to adopt the boy."

"You didn't want him?"

"Not necessarily. It's just I figured I'd be a lousy father and role-model. I'm probably right," Pothax said thoughtfully. He looked down at her.

"Oh, I don't think so. I'd say you've done a fine job raising him so far. He can definitely take care of himself. You shouldn't put yourself down like that!"

"You forget the role-model part. That incident with Lord Ponde doesn't score points with my estimation of a good father. A cutthroat isn't the best role-model for a boy."

"What's wrong with having a hero for a father?" asked Kerry deviously. "Bren is proud to call you father," she said, standing up so she was eye level with the cutthroat. "Despite a rough, seemingly heartless exterior, you're kind, loving and generous. I can understand why he's proud to call you father. After all," she said, moving closer. "I'd be proud to call you lover."

Pothax tried to back away and hit his head on the low ceiling. "You're kidding me right? I'm old enough to be your father!"

Kerry paused and smiled. "True," she said. "But you said you never count your winters simply because you don't care. Why have you changed your mind?"

"I-I just did!"

"Fine. You just did! Why?"

"Cause I-cause I decided to act my age! And because I, uh-"

Kerry interrupted him by pressing her lips firmly against his and cupping his chin in her hands. "Quit babbling and act your age! That's an order."

"But-"

"No buts!" she snapped. She smiled and kissed the cutthroat again.

"How in Hell am I supposed to walk around in this?" Rades demanded. He pointed angrily at his infirmary gown. "Without showing my butt off, of course?"

Andre, the man in the next bed snorted. "I don't think you're supposed to. Take a hint, Lieutenant! They don't want you wandering around and getting in the way!"

Rades was about to rebuke, but he was interrupted by a commotion out in the hallway. Rades ran to the door and looked out. He regretted running when a spasm of pain shot through his body, bringing him to his knees.

Five wounded men were being hauled through the quickly crowding halls. Three men were unconscious and one of those wasn't moving at all. A short man was babbling about the pain while the last was screaming in a shrieky wail. The bulky Captain, from Rades point of view, of the group was shouting orders and demanding that Colonel Pat send out a posse.

The Colonel ignored the Captain and paced back and forth, occasionally bumping into the agitated Captain. She clenched and unclenched her gloved fist as if considering punching the Captain. "You said there was only the captive, didn't you? That means there's no one to follow! Go back to the barracks and bother someone else!"

"One man injured five soldiers," breathed Rades in disbelief. "Counting the captain of that group, that's six to one odds! Impossible!"

Apparently Colonel Patrice overheard, because she turned to face the Stornium. She sighed heavily. "Not a man, a minotaur, and a huge one at that! There were twelve soldiers in that scouting party so that's twelve to one."

"But why are they here, and not out in the snow? Surely the minotaur didn't attack the gate!"

"Strangely enough, the minotaur ambushed the party only fifty yards from the gate. Not surprising during a blizzard. Captain Henri was very lucky to get the monster over the head with a Katunka."

"What happened to the other six soldiers, and what's a Katunka?"

"All dead," sighed Pat. Rades realized that she wasn't used to losing troops. He regretted thinking that when he was reminded of castle Deltex, now in ruins. "A Katunka," the Colonel continued, "is a minotaur weapon. A sort of combination between trident and mace. A very versatile weapon even if there are some flaws in the basic design."

"Was it designed by the same minotaur who designed the Goban?" asked Rades, referring to the harpoon-longsword that he knew of. "Designed by Brigadier Mathex? The same one who designed the giant-crossbows?"

Pat nodded slowly, a bit unsure of the minotaur's name. She shook her head in frustration. "I have much better things to do now than to discuss weaponry with you, Stornium. I'll deal with you later. Right now I have to attend to the captive." She smiled. "By the way, nice butt!"

Rades watched her march away and turned back to Andre. He winced from the pain and stood wondering. "Where would the minotaur come from unless he belongs to the poaching hoards here in the Ice Lands?"

Andre shrugged. "The poachers are an obvious conclusion, but why attack a scouting patrol? Surely the monster could tell the difference between a herd of caribou and a troop of horses!"

"Apparently you northerners have different views on a minotaur's civilization and intelligence," noted Rades.

"You mean domestication!" laughed Andre.

Rades flushed. The minotaurs have the same view of humans having been domesticated apes from Tigalo, much like our belief that minotaurs evolved from cattle. I find it interesting that some people still believe those old fool's tales," he commented.

The remark struck home. Andre flushed angrily and tried to respond. Then he realized that opening his mouth would declare him a fool. He kept quiet.

"Now that's interesting," said Colonel Pat, setting the interrogator's report down on her oak desk. She glanced at her Lieutenant-Colonel. "Fetch Lieutenant Rades," she ordered the man. She sat back in the velvet chair and drummed her fingers on the table.

The man returned with Rades leaning heavily on the soldier's arm. The Stornium had regained a great deal of his colour, having lost that icy-blue tinge to his skin he looked a fair bit handsome. He sat down in the velvet chair across the desk from Patrice with a grimace of pain.

"The captive," said the Colonel slowly, "was a bodyguard of Kobalix's apparently. His most trusted as the captive claims," she explained. "Like most of the survivors of Kobalix's armies, he was out on Lake Vormia when the citadel exploded. Does this correspond with your knowledge of Kobalix's Picnic?"

Rades remembered joking about bringing sausages to roast in the citadel's embers and nearly laughed. "Yes, it does," he responded. "The ships out on the lake were to prevent a naval assault from Athex. Almost half of his forces were massed there preparing for an attack on Athex's waterfront."

"We managed to find that the minotaur was indeed a poacher, but we couldn't get him to reveal the location of the poacher's camp or camps. Normal procedures for poaching is hanging and with the additional charges of ambush, assault and murder, I'm inclined to agree. We won't gain any more information from him. We offered to set him free if he led us to the camp, but he refused. Besides, several of the guards have been attacked by him since we imprisoned him. I'm not going to risk more men. "He'll be hanged tomorrow morning."

She seemed to be looking for a justification to kill the minotaur and Rades had to agree. Such a powerful fighter was too dangerous to properly restrain. he didn't doubt that he was to attend the occasion since it seemed to help Pat's conscience.