“Sorry. I did not mean to snap. I... just feel bad about sleeping away good daylight.”
The anger faded from Ilimic’s eyes and her face softened. “Do not be so hard on yourself. You needed the rest. You have been through so much.” She went to him and hugged him tightly. His arms wrapped about her and they swayed gently in the afternoon sun.
After a long moment, he pulled away. “Thank you. You are so beautiful and kind, but now we must set that bruised rump of yours on a mount I am afraid.”
Caros judged the amount of daylight left by the distance the sun hung off the horizon. They could still make Orze by early afternoon the following day. He rode ahead of Ilimic and Neugen, setting the pace and the worry in his chest made him ride hard. He felt bad at pushing them so, but he could not shake the disquiet he felt. This feeling had only grown since he had seen the footprint at the ravine.
Cresting a rise, he surveyed the road ahead. He had expected to see a few more travellers since leaving the village yesterday afternoon. Behind him, Neugen and Ilimic trotted their mounts wearily, and he reined in the mare he had swapped to for the afternoon leg of the journey. It would not do to get too far ahead, so he eyed the way north and south. He did a double take, seeing a smudge of smoke in the south. Only it was not smoke, but dust, and growing steadily closer. Those were horsemen coming north. He watched the dust anxiously while waiting for Ilimic and Neugen to reach him.
“Looks like we have company.” He pointed back the way they had come. They both glanced back. From the crest of the rise they had a good view of the dust eddying into the air in the distance, but due to the hilly nature of the road they could not yet see the riders.
“Seems they are making good time. I would say they will be with us before nightfall.” Neugen mused.
“Well, no reason we need to wait for them. They are probably regular travellers like us.” Caros grunted.
“Maybe even the farmers returning.” Ilimic ventured hopefully.
Caros did not care for the possibility of company. The ominously empty road now seemed a much better option than one with approaching riders.
“Come on then.” He flashed a grin at Ilimic and dug his heels into his mount’s flanks.
“Hang on, I will ride at the front.” Neugen called. “I am tired of eating all your dust and besides, you go too far ahead.”
Caros reined in his horse, happy to ride beside Ilimic and make up for snapping at her.
The thump of an impact confused him for a heartbeat. He heard a strangled cry and saw Ilimic’s eyes widen in fear. She was staring past him. He spun around to see Neugen staring at a javelin thrumming in his shield.
Ilimic gave voice to a piercing wail that snapped through Caros like lightning. He spun around again and a spear struck his shield. The hillside above suddenly filled with hoarse cries and movement. Neugen was yelling frantically and Caros realised they had to flee.
He shouted to Ilimic whose wide eyes blinked in fear. “Ride Ilimic! Ride!” He brought his javelin down hard on her horse’s rump and sent it plunging ahead. A javelin passed beside his head and a packhorse screamed behind him. The beast had taken the point meant for him. Plunging through the brush towards him were the attackers. Their faces twisted in battle fury as they hurtled down the hill. Caros leapt his mount forward and picked a man with a conical iron helm, bristling black beard and brown leather armour. He launched his javelin, which sailed through the air and bit deep into the man’s throat. The impact lifted the warrior and threw him onto his back in the brush he had just trampled down. The attackers threw their own javelins. They were so close he saw just the briefest flicker of sun on their wicked barbs as they sailed toward him. He caught two almost simultaneously on his shield and the force rocked him onto his horse’s rump while a third flashed over his head. They did not want to hit the mount and were aiming at a higher mark. It would make no difference in a moment as they were just strides away from him.
He drew another javelin from the quiver on his back while checking his companions. Neugen was a short distance away and yelling at him. Ilimic had flown to safety down the road, clinging in terror to her mount as it raced away. The javelin balanced over his hand and he hurled it, barely bothering to aim since the attackers were so close. As it left his hand, he drew his falcata from his left hip and spun his horse to follow after Ilimic. His second javelin tore through the leather vest of another attacker who reeled away, teeth gritted in pain. His blade cleared the sheath and he immediately slashed down and felt it deflect off the shield of an attacker that had jumped in front of the mare.
A javelin flashed past him and he heard a snarl of pain from behind him. Neugen had struck. Caros cleared the attackers and passed Neugen who had drawn his own sword, all his javelins having been used. His friend spun his horse and urged it into a gallop beside him. Caros leaned low, his cheek beside the stretched neck of his mount. He twisted his left arm up around his back. A javelin in the kidney would be just the parting gift he would like to avoid. Down the road they bolted as fast as they could. They left behind the stricken packhorse, thrashing and blowing blood from her nostrils. The bandits disappeared in a wake of dust, only their shouted curses chasing after them.
The trio fled as fast as their mounts could gallop, pain and bruises forgotten. Beside them, their two remaining remounts kept pace. Caros smiled as he realised his own mare was right next to him. They crossed the ford of a river and splashed to a breathless halt. They had left the scene of the ambush far behind in their dash. The ford was only hock deep on the horses and the water flowed sedately. Panting breathlessly and horses lathered, they all looked like spectres, covered as they were in grey dust from head to hoof.
“We outdistanced them.” Neugen frowned, staring back over the water.
Ilimic sobbed in shock. Tears tracked through the dust, leaving her honey coloured skin pale in their wake. She slid off the mount and in a heartbeat, Caros was beside her on the ground where she huddled sobbing. He encompassed her in his arms, vision blurred by sweat and anger. How close he had come to losing her.
Neugen hobbled the horses and drew the last two javelins from a spare quiver. From where he sheltered Ilimic in his arms, he watched the man ride back across the ford. “Where are you going? Do not go after them.”
“I am not. I want to be sure they are not coming after us on horses.”
The thought froze Ilimic. He could feel her gasp and shudder in his arms.
“I am so sorry. I never imagined they were hiding there.” He stroked her hair, hating the dust for hiding its beauty. “You must be strong. We cannot stay here, but must ride on and reach the village.”
She sniffed and nodded, but remained huddled.
“I was a fool. We should have turned back when the farmers warned us.” He cursed himself. At this, Ilimic raised a tear-filled face to him. He saw a spark in her eye which grew to light her face.
“Do not blame yourself! You fought them off and saved us.”
She pulled herself to her feet and Caros rose beside her. “Mount your horse and take the spare mounts as well.”
“Where are you going?” She clutched his arm.
“To fetch Neugen back and then we are riding on. Go on, mount up. It will be safe ahead and we will catch up presently.” Caros saw Ilimic off, leading the two remaining packhorses. She kept glancing back uncertainly, no doubt afraid he might be going back to finish the fight. He might have as well, but he did not want to leave Ilimic now. Crossing the shallow ford, he joined Neugen just beyond the nearest rise where he sat studying the road. “See anything?”
The man hawked and spat. “Nothing, thank Endovex. That was a total cock-up back there!”
Caros winced. He had been on point and the bandits had attacked their party right where he had sat. He should have seen them. “It was.” He admitted. “They chose their place well and I was distracted by the riders approaching from the south. It is my fault.”
Neugen glanced at him, “Those ride
rs will ride right into the bandits the poor sods.”
Caros squinted and shook his head. “I think they may be together.”
Neugen was startled. “How so?”
“The farmers warned us that they encountered two groups. One on foot and one mounted. We have seen no other travellers, so where are the horsemen?”
Neugen frowned, hawked and spat again. “This is a pig’s mess. If you are right, we had best keep moving.” They turned their horses as one and headed north, quickly catching up with Ilimic who wore her anxiety plainly.
“Are they following, Caros?”
He shook his head firmly. There was no point in scaring her further with his worries. “Not that we could tell. All the same, I think it is best that we ride as far as we can through the night. The sooner we are in Orze the better.”
Neugen agreed and Ilimic nodded her head heavily. They rode on all afternoon with Caros occasionally leaning over to stroke Ilimic’s shoulder or cheek. At every rise Neugen would hang back to check the road behind and all afternoon it remained clear of dust. Evening fell, and they stopped briefly to pull some fare from the packs and eat before riding on. A crescent moon rose and with it, a bright entourage of stars that filled the void above them. The pale glow lit the road with an ethereal light while the surrounding hills crouched silent and watchful. Finally, they could go no further. The moon had slipped across the night sky and was sinking in the west when Ilimic almost slipped from her mount in exhaustion.
Caros called to Neugen who was ranging ahead. Together, they hobbled the horses right there on the road and set down their coats to sleep upon. Ilimic protested that she could still ride, but in truth she was far beyond that point. Caros insisted she sleep and Neugen too. He would wake them before dawn and by noon they would finally be in Orze and safety.
“You need to sleep as well, Caros. Wake me soon and I will take the last watch.”
“I shall.” He had no intention of waking Neugen. He was tired yes, but he doubted he would sleep.
They came before dawn, despite Caros’ sharp lookout. He was pacing beside the horses, listening to the night sounds dwindling and the birds of the day beginning to stir. His mare whinnied and snorted. He took no notice for a moment and then froze when the implications dawned on him. He drew his falcata swiftly and backed towards his sleeping companions. Kneeling, he roused Neugen, shaking him roughly and placing his palm over the man’s mouth when he woke with a start. “There is someone out there.” He hissed.
Neugen’s eyes widened and he quickly rose and drew his own falcata, the blade shining in the feeble light of the last stars. “What do we do?”
“Run. Wake Ilimic, I will untether the horses. Get her onto a horse fast. Do not bother with the cloaks. We hit the mounts and run.”
Neugen nodded in understanding. They had left the packs and blanket saddles tied to the horses in case of just such a situation. Caros quickly untethered the horses, which were restlessly snorting and stamping. He signalled to Neugen who stood, pulling Ilimic up with him. Silently, they darted to their horses and mounted. Caros leaped onto his mare and slammed his helm onto his head. Digging his heels in, he gave a yell and led his two friends in a charge up the road. In the next moment, horses filled the night ahead of them, carrying silent riders wielding slashing blades.
Caros’ mare was struck by one of the charging horses so violently that she gave a scream and was sent crashing back onto her rump. Caros desperately clung on and urged her up. She complied and suddenly Neugen was yelling and iron struck iron. Ilimic screamed and Caros’ heart lurched into his throat. He roared and savagely kicked his mare into a charge. A darkened figure swept at him on thundering hooves and he swung his falcata. His blow never landed, instead the blade whistled harmlessly past the attacker. He saw a confusion of dark shapes ahead and Ilimic screamed again. He could not tell where she was in the chaos.
He charged straight into the mass of horses and struck left and right. He landed a glancing blow to a body and heard a curse. The mass of horses fragmented and he made out Ilimic’s body low on her horse with a rider bearing down on her. Caros charged them and saw to his horror the figure lift a sword and bring it down hard onto Ilimic’s back. A scream tore from her as the flat of the blade struck her across the shoulders and she slipped from her mount. Caros cried out in despair as he bore down on the rider. His jumped his mare over Ilimic who lay curled on the road, sobbing and crying. As his mare landed, he drove his falcata into the dark figure. He felt the blade tear through leather, muscle and bone before the mare’s momentum carried him away and tore the falcata from his grasp. A shadowy figure loomed beside him and dawn light reflected off a sword blade that slashed at his face. He had no time to react and it struck his unfastened helm, knocking it from his head. Bright colours filled his sight and a roar drowned his hearing. He shook his head to clear his vision, but all he saw next was the blade again before it bit into him.
The blow whipped his head backwards and a pain flared like nothing he had ever known. In agony, he flicked the reins and gave the mare her head. The last thing he remembered was the crushing weight of despair. He had failed his friends, failed Ilimic.
CHAPTER 10
CAROS FELT OVERWHELMING agony dragging him from out of the darkness. He groaned and tried to fend it off, but it was as though Orko, the mountain god himself, was pounding in his head. Blinding pain lanced through the peaceful dark in vivid white bolts that seared him. He tried to cry out and then he felt himself slipping and falling. In the next moment, he was rolling over rough stone and brush.
He opened his eyes, but could see little and that with his left eye only. With trembling fingers, he reached for the throbbing wound that seemed to bear a life of its own. Gingerly, he touched his scalp and found sticky lumps of blood and dirt. A long gash reached from his right brow to behind his ear. He knew the injury was bad and the cause of the ringing bells inside his skull. He tried to rise, but slumped over when a wave of dizziness and pain washed over him.
Panting and afraid, he lay still until taking a breath; he lifted his head slowly and squinted at a nearby shape. It was his mare, grazing the sparse foliage nearby. Surprised, he wondered how far he had ridden. He reached for his falcata and found the sheath empty. Now, he shuddered with despair, trying not to imagine Ilimic’s fate. He had been able to avenge his family, but now he was done. He had been a fool. He should have stayed with Gualam, taken up his offer and joined his riders. He would never have met Ilimic and she would be safe in Baria. He had caused her death and probably Neugen’s as well. Balling his fists, he tried again to stand and got as far as his knees before his stomach betrayed him and he retched. The very motion made the pain in his head burst awake with renewed fury and darkness claimed him.
When next he came to, he sensed a presence nearby. He opened his eyes cautiously, afraid to waken the beast that brought such pain to his head. He struggled to focus until he closed the right eye. This improved his sight and he immediately made out Neugen sitting hunched under the same tree in whose shade he now lay. He appeared to be asleep, but something was odd. It was the shape of his friend’s body that was somehow strange.
Caros tried to speak, but only managed a rasping sound through lips like clay. He hawked, trying to clear his burning throat. Neugen stirred and raised his head. His face was gaunt, eyes sunken and the skin around them was a mottled blue. Sweat hung from the end of his nose and dripped from his brow. Neugen slowly reached for a waterskin and lifted it to Caros’ lips with his right arm. It was awkward, but Caros managed to swallow after a good portion spilled down his chest. He did not mind; he needed the liquid and it helped quench the burn in his throat.
“Ilimic? Where is she?” He croaked, looking around in vain for Ilimic.
Neugen let the waterskin fall and slumped back. “No my friend. I saw her struck off her horse. I...” He faltered, a pained sob bubbled from his throat.
Caros felt tears tracking down his cheeks and he groaned as the
realisation struck him. They had killed or captured her.
Neugen’s strangled voice came again. “At daybreak I saw blood and tracks. I guessed it was you.”
Caros cringed at whispering sound in Neugen’s throat. “You are injured? Badly?”
“Chest.” Neugen pulled his cloak back, revealing the snapped spear shaft that pierced his upper chest.
Caros shut his eyes tightly and whispered a prayer to Endovex, god of healing. Neugen said nothing more and Caros opened his left eye. His friend was dying, that much was clear. That he had survived the injury this long was a wonder. Was this the end then? Here under a dying cedar on a hill in the wilderness. A fool and a tracker. The thought brought a bitter smile to his bloodied face.
He might be a fool, but at least he did not have a javelin jammed into his chest. He could still get to Orze. They would have been there by midday today if not for the attack. He just needed to make it to any outlying farm.
Caros breathed deeply and steeled himself to overcome the pain and get to his feet. It took him three attempts while Neugen told him not to be a fool. Stubbornly, he levered himself to his hands and knees, Neugen’s face just a hand’s breadth away from his own.
“I am a fool. I admit it. Too stupid to lie down and die. We must alert the village and Alugra. I have to find Ilimic.”
Neugen stared in pain and exhaustion at Caros, his breath coming in short bursts. “Go my friend. Go find your woman and make the bastards pay.”
“Saur’s dogs, Neugen. I am not going to Orze without you. I will not be able to lift you, so get up and get on the bloody horse.”
A spark glinted in Neugen’s eyes. “I am all but dead! It is Ilimic you can still save.”
Warhorn Page 15