Word of the Morit invasion, which permeated every village in the south, had not spread to the north.  Separated by Darkness and a winter more complete than any that could be recalled, the Castans heading south braving the cold and malaise knew nothing of any Morit attack.  They were fixed on the fine drink and whores at the Inn of the Bleeding Sore and of the wonders of the Grand Festival.  But mostly, they dreamed of the glory of the fierce game of Icekregg that they would play to conquer the Blaads once again.  Had they been informed, they would have sent every man, woman and child - for every Castan family was weaned on tales of the Morit persecution of their forbears.  And so it was Zef Zavras who first told them the news of the occupation, and of the defiance planned during the Festival of Lights.  He had done the same to the Blaad revelers that passed him by two days earlier.. They had first heard of the Morit attack as an unsubstantiated rumor told them by a Corfuni merchant ship captain, who they were just as likely to believe was on the run from the crown for illegal trading.  The strength of the winter had simply shut down news gathering thereafter.  The revelers heard the tale in more detail while on the march when a traveling tinker described what had happened.  He also told them that "Ravenhurst's army" had revelers waiting until Kelrun's Hill day to enter the city.  Both Castan and Blaad sent a few unfortunates back to tell their Dukes of the verified news.  "Unfortunate" only in that they themselves would not reach DOM in time to register for Icekregg.  And it was very doubtful that the Castan army would reach DOM before the planned defiance was executed, even if the weather allowed them free passage.

The Blaad entourage arrived at Norgate Bar two days before Keldrun's Hill Day.  The Morits, barred the gate to them until Keldrun's Hill Day.  The prospect of spending two nights outside the city walls within reach of drink and whorehouses did not wear well.  But Zavras had asked them to comply with Morit regulations up until the Lights were lit.  It would not do to have fighters decimated before the plan was executed.  With the exception of the Icekregg team, these revelers were not particularly armored for war.  The huge Blaadi Icekregg captain, Borton Kholna acted as the groups leader and helped to arrange their bivouac.  His great desire to trounce his Blaadi Icekregg rival, Captain Grata Halvos was now replaced with hatred for the Morits.  (Or at least partially replaced).
***
"Major Adalgar" said General Gunter Neimann returning a salute and greeting the inferior officer as he entered the solar.  "How is it working out?"  In this case "it" was the plan hatched by Adalgar and reluctantly agreed to by the General, to have the Black Font patrol the underground.  The Font was the less than savory strongarm of the DOM Guilds.  The Morits had taken Seth and his cousin Tamrick Fortan, the Guildmaster and head of the Font respectively and wined and dined them under luxurious house arrest in Keldrun Castle, promising them Lordships among other things.  It should be mentioned at this point that the surname of Fortan (as with other provincial family names) were liberally used in the Kingdom, but did not necessarily mean that there was royal blood involved.  "Tamrick of Fortan" meant only that his ancestors came from that province (or not).  And the Fortan Guilds and the Black Font had very little actual connection with the actual province of Fortan other than having migrated to the city centuries ago from that province, and retaining some pride of association in that heritage.  "How is it working out sir?" said, Adalgar repeating the General's question.  A drop of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Next: Walthari prepares the faithful

Prince Karsh Petros began to feel his exhaustion.  Perhaps it was that he was now finally sitting in a chair instead of urging his mount across the snow covered terrain that had resisted his progress for four days.  The winter respite had taken a brief hiatus on the final day and he and his small entourage of four men and horses had arrived cold and decked in white.  But his vast yawn was more likely inspired by the litany of concerns voiced by Duke Liam Fortan concerning the realm, Fortan's future, heath problems and the lamentable state of his army.  "Am I boring you, my prince?"  "Not at all" said Karsh shaking himself out of his lethargy.  "I understand clearly that you feel that your family is not adequately represented at Castle Keldrun."  "Sire," the Duke continued, "your family has ruled for a generation.  Not undeservedly, but we believe that greater unity could be achieved by leveling the vote on the grand council away from heredity."  "The crown is not hereditary" retorted Karsh, who was now quite awake.  Apparently the Duke's extended diatribe actually and finally had a point, if an untimely one.  "The crown is voted on by the Grand Council as you know.  It has not been hereditary since King Orsan."  "Technically true" continued the Duke "but in fact, King Lythe used his influence over the Guilds and the Dorcers to usher in his son King Julius, who did the same with your father and your father is doing the same for you.  It is not a level pitch for all who fought the Fanes alongside King Lythe.  I have a hard time convincing my dukedom that the kingdom acts selflessly."  Karsh blinked and was temporarily speechless.  This Duke might actually hold back his forces if his answer was not favorable.  He might not directly say that perhaps, but any urgency would be lacking.  "Lord Duke" said Karsh, measuring his words "I am not the King.  Were I King, I would hope that I would consider well the advice of my counsel.  I can offer no more than that." His voice rising now despite his best attempt to reign it in.  "But Lord Duke, we are at war with what must be regarded as a mutual enemy.  While we sit here and speak, citizens of the enitire Dominion, incuding Fortan are under attack in the greatest city of our Dominion.  Portha has stolen away our fleet and has declared their independence.  I think that now is perhaps not the time to quarrel over line of succession - if we do not act there will only be a Moritanian line of succession.  If you are not in with us, then please say so now because we only have a small window open.  Are you in or are you out?"  Karsh was standing at this point, his earnest appeal propelling him out of his seat.  It was impossible for any of the five advisors in the room to discount the earnest courage and patriotism that the young prince exhibited.  The Duke felt it too.  He looked around the room and then said, as if he had never considered otherwise, "we are in."

****

Zef Zavras was traveling north.  Both Castan and Blaad revelers planning to attend the festival would be traveling south through Stammery.  The Castans could have made shorter work of their journey by traveling to Giorda then taking ships to DOM.  The reason they did not had nothing to do with the Morits (for ships full of Castans would have met with opposition).  They always went by land to harass the Blaads as they passed through the lands of their traditional competitor.  The other, undeclared reason was their secret (and unfounded) fear of having their minds melted together by the Raylans as they stomped through the sacred groves.  And so, Zavras expected and hoped to catch at  the neck of Stammery, a flood of both Blaad and Castan on their way to the festival.

Next: The Uninformed Informed