“I still don’t understand,” Carh growled, scratching his horns irritably. “Why are they not leaving? We won, we killed nine Black Hawks. They failed.”
“That’s the point,” Garnuk said. “Norgen failed. Nine Black Hawks dead and nothing to show for it. But Hunon and presumably some others are here as well, already in the city. A city which is nearly impossible to find unless you already know where it is. If they left and came back, they would have to find and gain entry to Banta Kodu again.”
“There is also the chance that if they left they would not come back,” Tarq added. “The Usurper does not take excuses from his subordinates. And he is running out of patience on this particular matter after ten years.”
“He has long since been out of patience,” Garnuk said dismissively. “Norgen is the fourteenth leader of the Black Hawks since I was banished. The previous thirteen were tortured and killed for failing to capture me.”
“You know this?”
“Norgen mentioned it once, several months ago,” Garnuk replied, glancing at Tarq. “This was before I came up with the idea to fight back against the Usurper, before I encountered the Usurper’s raiding party not far from Ishkabur.”
“It’s surprising that Norgen has lasted so long,” Tarq observed. “He has failed many times since then. Maybe the Usurper is running out of leaders and warriors.”
“So Hunon is here,” Carh concluded. “And has no intention of leaving Banta Kodu?”
“Not without what he came for,” Garnuk said grimly. “He will leave with my head or not at all. As far as he is concerned, I am just as trapped as he is. The city is sealed, every gate guarded. Some warriors loyal to him or the elders are likely interspersed with ours, waiting for me to try and leave.”
“Is Hunon smart enough to hide his own forces among ours and keep them from tipping their hand even as our warriors subdue his all over the city?”
Garnuk glanced at Carh, frowning. “Hunon is the most prepared and most careful strategist I have ever known. He covers every angle, not only for his primary plan but also for every backup plan and permutation of events he can imagine. There is little which surprises him and rarely is he caught off guard or in an untenable position.”
“He sounds like a good vertag to have as an ally,” Carh muttered. “It’s a pity he is on the other side of this terrible conflict.”
“Garnuk is as close to his match intellectually as you will find,” Tarq interrupted, bristling with indignation. “And a better fighter besides!”
“I meant no offense, Exile,” Carh said quickly. “I merely meant that this Hunon sounds most impressive.”
“He is,” Garnuk agreed. “He used to serve under me, when I was Ramshuk.”
“What changed?”
Garnuk shook his head with a wry smile. “That is a mystery that I have never been able to solve. What changed? I can only presume that it was my failure to wipe out the race of men – and my impending fall from power – which provoked Hunon to betray me to the new Ramshuk. Perhaps he wanted protection, or he just didn’t want to be hunted for the rest of his life.”
“Understandable,” Tarq muttered darkly. “Nobody wants to be hunted the rest of their life. But the rest of us did not betray you, general.”
“For which I am grateful,” Garnuk replied with a quick grin. “I have enough powerful enemies as it is.”
“Based on what you know of Hunon,” Koah said, crossing his arms over his chest, “Is there a way that we can beat him? Trick him, perhaps?”
“Not at the moment,” Garnuk replied gloomily. “We don’t know where in Banta Kodu he is. We don’t know which elders have sided with him, we don’t know how many warriors support them . . . we haven’t even managed to restore peace to the city yet!”
“The upper levels were cleared!” Koah protested. “I lost many good warriors driving those archers from their accursed perches.”
“I am not belittling your efforts,” Garnuk assured the irate captain. “Merely pointing out that we are in a difficult situation. For all we know, we are outnumbered.”
“And,” Tarq added suddenly, “We have been taken out of the war for the time being. With the gates sealed, Shadow Squadron cannot get in or out. Messages cannot be received, missions and raids cannot be carried out.”
Garnuk swore under his breath. “How long has this been coming?” he wondered. “How long were the elders plotting against you?” he asked Carh.
“They have never exactly been compliant,” Carh allowed. “But I suspect that their audience with you was the final straw. That meeting should never have taken place.”
“Yes, it was in your power to stop it,” Garnuk agreed. “But what’s done is done – there is no undoing the past. How many of the elders would you think were angry enough with us to turn against you?”
Carh glanced at Koah, seeking his opinion. “Four?” the chief asked uncertainly.
The former Sentinel nodded unhappily. “At least. I doubt that all six were involved. There is one elder that has been more . . . reasonable than the rest.”
“The one who seemed willing to help?” Garnuk asked sharply, looking at the Banuk Chief. “The one who gave me a warning at the end of our audience?”
“Yes,” Carh said. “He is the eldest of our race, and very wise. Teszalk the Ancient.”
“The eldest Banuk or – ?”
“The eldest of us all,” Carh said, silencing Tarq with a look. “He remembers the days before the last of the Orell were driven through our lands to the edge of the world. He watched from afar as they rode into the waves. He remembers times before that as well, before the Sthan Kingdom covered the world.”
“And yet he is not wise or respected enough that the other elders follow him,” Garnuk observed.
“Age is perceived differently by different people,” Koah replied. “Some see great age and equate it to great wisdom. Others see an ancient one and decide they must be half senile. Neither is totally correct. Some ancients are wise, some senile. The only thing their age means is that they have seen and experienced much.”
Garnuk nodded. “And age is not a requirement for wisdom, as you have just demonstrated.”
Koah chuckled to himself. “I am not wise, general. Only smart enough to realize that in some cases our perceptions are skewed.”
“Which is why you are a captain,” Garnuk added. “You think objectively. You use reason where others act on instinct or feelings.”
“But reason does not always win the day,” Carh put in. “There are unaccounted for variables, unexpected twists and turns in the course of events.”
Garnuk nodded slowly. “And such twists may be the key to defeating Hunon.”
The others looked up at him, surprised.
“Hunon is a logical thinker,” Garnuk explained. “He uses what he knows of people and situations to predict what will happen. If we are to defeat him, we must be unpredictable without being reckless or foolish.”
“And yet we cannot fall into any sort of pattern of unpredictability,” Carh mused, “Or he will begin to predict our unpredictableness.”
“I’m tempted to ask you to repeat that,” Tarq said with a low laugh.
The Banuk chief shrugged. “I’m not sure I could. The point remains, we must do something. The longer this stalemate continues, the more out of hand the larger war gets. The vertaga need you, Garnuk, yet we are trapped.”
“Not for long,” Garnuk murmured, already plotting how he would turn the tables. “Carh, where in the city do the elders live?”
“Not in the city,” Carh said, shaking his head. “Above it.”
“On the upper levels?”
“On the mountainside,” Koah explained. “The six elders have homes carved into the mountain. They started as caves but have been expanded and altered over time until they have become comfortable and efficient dwellings.”
“How high up the mountain?” Garnuk asked.
“Well above the stronghold,” Carh said.
“There are long trails that wind back and forth in a series of switchbacks. They are the only way to reach the caves.”
“And Teszalk should be in his cave?”
“Unless he was taken by the other elders and is being held prisoner,” Koah said with a shrug.
“And the other elders? I doubt they will be in their caves,” Tarq put in.
“No, they are likely holed up with Hunon,” Garnuk agreed, frowning. “Carh, tomorrow I want you to climb up to Teszalk’s cave as though you intend to seek his council. Take Lun, Tarq, and Koah with you.”
“What about you?” Tarq asked sharply.
Garnuk smiled grimly. “I will move out into the city with the rest of Shadow Squadron. I expect that when Hunon sees all of our leaders climbing the mountain to visit the lone loyal elder, he will attempt some mischief or other.”
“Of what sort?” Tarq asked.
“That I don’t know.”
“How about where?” Koah pressed.
Garnuk shook his head. “No idea.”
The other three exchanged a glance. “How many soldiers?” Carh asked tentatively.
“Impossible to guess,” Garnuk replied. “But I am not planning on wandering the city and hoping I just happen to run across his operatives. I will conceal myself on the upper level, with a band of fighters and a good view of the whole city.”
“Well, you should be able to see the attack then at least,” Carh observed. “But you still will not be able to respond before the enemy melts away.”
“I’m not going to respond,” Garnuk replied, shaking his horned head. “I will see where they attack, and then make an educated guess at where the real problem is about to start. I will send warriors there to surprise Hunon’s forces.”
“And if that doesn’t work?”
“I keep trying, until I figure out what his strategy is,” Garnuk said with a shrug.
“Doesn’t sound promising,” the Banuk chief muttered. “But it’s better than doing nothing.”
“Far better,” Tarq agreed. “But why send Lun with us general?”
“Because he is roughly my size,” Garnuk replied with a laugh. “From afar, he looks enough like me to fool most anyone who might be watching.”
“From afar, yes, but what if there are spies on the mountain itself?” Koah asked.
“They will have to pass you to get to the city and Hunon,” Garnuk pointed out. “Kill them, or capture them. It doesn’t really matter which.”
“If we are agreed,” Carh interrupted, “Then we may as well get moving. Garnuk, you know where the back door to the stronghold is?”
“Yes.”
“Then take your warriors and get ready to move into position. We will leave by the same way, a few minutes ahead of you.”
Garnuk nodded and left the room, retreating to Shadow Squadron’s headquarters to organize his warriors and prepare for battle. While he was in his room eating a quick breakfast, the Exile’s eyes fell upon the gauntlets he had forged to kill the Sthan king. Smiling to himself, he scooped them up and donned them, swiping at the air a few times. He mounted his shield higher on his left arm, rolling his shoulder experimentally. It was a little awkward, and the shield did not protect as much of him as he was used to, but the arrangement was workable. Next, Garnuk tried drawing his sword with his gauntleted right hand.
The grip on the gauntlet got in the way, depriving him of the ability to hold his sword with any security at all. Scowling, Garnuk cast about for a solution to the problem. His eyes lit on a length of rope hanging out of his pack from when he had rummaged through it. The Exile wound the rope around and around his arm, binding the gauntlet to him securely. When he had finished, he could release the grip of the gauntlet and it still stayed in place. He tried to draw his sword again, and this time was successful.
Thus armed, Garnuk gathered his warriors and made for the lower level escape tunnel that would let them out into the city undetected. Carh was already there with Tarq, Koah, and Lun, waiting for Garnuk to arrive. They all regarded Garnuk’s claws with considerable interest.
“You used those to kill the king?” Carh asked, indicating one of the gauntlets with a flick of his finger.
Garnuk nodded. “They served me well. They’re excellent at close quarters.”
“Good for fighting in the city then,” Tarq observed. “Good luck to you general.”
“And may the spirits watch over you,” Garnuk replied. “If Teszalk is there, will you bring him back to the stronghold?”
Carh shrugged. “That will be up to Teszalk. I will not force the ancient one to do anything.”
“A wise course,” Garnuk murmured. “But remember, if the enemy get their hands on him, we could have bigger problems than those we already face.”
Carh frowned, thinking, while Koah and Tarq hauled open the small stone door that led out into the city. “I will consider this on the way,” he replied grudgingly.
“All clear, chief,” Koah reported.
Carh nodded, then hurried through the opening, followed closely by the three warriors designated to accompany him. When they had gone, Garnuk sealed the portal once more, waiting a few minutes to give them a head start.
Hidden in the stronghold once more, Garnuk went over his plan one last time. It was simple, really. But so much would rely on his ability to guess at Hunon’s strategy that the odds of success were slim. What if Garnuk made a critical error, or underestimated his opponent? What if Hunon didn’t take the bait and they waited hours for nothing at all?
Doubts and questions besieged the Exile’s mind constantly, until he decided that surely five or ten minutes had passed and it was time for them to move out into the city. He signaled to Danur, who would remain behind and hold the stronghold, and the warrior heaved open the small door. Garnuk slipped through the opening, took a cautious look around, then gestured impatiently for the others to join him.
Twenty vertaga filtered through the door, their arms and armor muffled with rags to minimize noise. Garnuk surveyed them critically, making sure everyone was accounted for and ready for battle. Then, he loped off into the city, making for the nearest point where they could climb to the upper levels.
Garnuk led his warriors unerringly to a pillar near the center of the city and began climbing the spiral staircase that wrapped around the outside of it. Four of his warriors followed him up, the rest concealed themselves at ground level, waiting for further orders. They would be the warriors who fanned out into the city to deal with Hunon’s squadron.
The stairs appeared rickety and unstable from a distance, but were actually quite solid underfoot. Nevertheless, Garnuk moved cautiously throughout the ordeal, testing each step before putting his full weight on it. Those behind him put up with delay, patiently waiting for their leader to make his way up the stairs.
Finally, Garnuk reached the top and stepped onto the platform surrounding the pillar, breathing a tremendous sigh of relief. The other four warriors walked around the platform a few times, admiring the view and getting their bearings. When his breathing and pulse had slowed to normal rates once more, Garnuk moved to the edge of the platform and leaned on the rail, gazing out over the still streets and quiet buildings of Banta Kodu.
“Your move, Hunon,” he muttered to himself.
Chapter 28:
Mind Warriors
For several minutes, nothing happened.
Garnuk scanned the city constantly from his position, knowing the four warriors who had joined him on the platform were doing the same, each facing a different direction, each responsible for a different part of the city. But for now, all remained peaceful. No fires broke out. No military buildings were attacked, and no patrols were ambushed.
The Exile did locate Carh’s group during this time, and watched as they toiled up the mountainside, weaving back and forth across the slopes. The trail did not look particularly difficult or challenging from this vantage point, but it was long. For every meter they traveled uphill, they traveled
at least eight meters to the left or right. At least, the Exile thought idly, there was little cover on the trail, so the odds of an ambush along the way were next to nothing.
The morning wore on, with nothing but the warriors climbing the mountain to occupy Garnuk’s thoughts. Hunon was taking his time noticing this opportunity. Meanwhile, Carh, Lun, Tarq, and Koah continued their slow but steady progress. About an hour after Garnuk had gained the platform, they passed the first of the elder’s caves. Garnuk watched as Tarq and Koah vanished into it, wondering if they would find anything. His unspoken question was answered when they emerged again a moment later, empty-handed, and continued their uphill trek.
The longer he went without action, the more frustrated Garnuk became. It would not be much longer before Carh and his companions made it to Teszalk the Ancient’s cave. Maybe that was what Hunon was waiting for. The time when Carh and the others were farthest from the city and, therefore, totally unable to respond to problems. If nothing happened at that point, then Garnuk would truly begin to worry.
Time continued to pass. Carh’s group made painfully slow progress, stopping often to rest on their climb. Over the course of the morning and the early afternoon, they reached the caves of the next four elders. All were apparently found empty, for each time the small band moved on with hardly any delay.
At long last, the four warriors came to the last cave. From Garnuk’s perspective, they were mere dots on the mountainside, moving and changing in shape as they gathered before the cave of the ancient one. The cave opening was little more than a larger dark spot in the side of the mountain, too far away to see clearly or make out any detail. Garnuk’s pulse quickened and he shivered with anticipation. If Hunon was going to attack, now was the time for him to do so.
The Ramshuk (Heirs of Legacy Book 3) Page 28