'So we put men up there.'
'To put enough men up there, we do not leave enough on the wall to repulse an attack. No, you can stay if you want. In fact, I encourage you to do so.'
'But you are running?'
Dennis nodded and gestured to the north. 'They have three hundred or more, at least twenty mounted. North is the only way out of here now.'
'And then where?'
Dennis grinned. 'Wouldn't you like to know.'
Asayaga studied him intently.
'You don't know yourself,' he said softly, speaking so quietly that the Kingdom troops on the wall above could not hear.
Dennis said nothing for a moment. 'I scouted it years ago,' he hesitated, 'before you came. Not since.'
'The black scout?'
'The Natalese scout,' Dennis replied evenly, 'Gregory. Same with him. It's land that no one claimed. Border marches separating our realms from the Dark Brothers and their allies – what we call the Northlands.'
'Then follow the ridge of this mountain and go west for a day. After that, turn south back to our lines.'
Dennis shook his head.
'They'll pin us up here. The ridges are piled high with snow and ice after this storm. We'll get trapped up there, they'll circle us in, block our escape and then drag us out.'
'So why are you telling me this?'
'Because, Tsurani, its one of two choices. We settle accounts now, or you come with us. I don't think you're fool enough to stay behind so I don't even offer that to you as a third alternative.'
'You offer me a choice?' Asayaga barked. 'Perhaps it should be the other way around, dog.'
Dennis's features clouded for an instant, hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. 'Who is the invader here?' he asked, his voice filled with menace. 'You dare call me a dog, you murderer?'
Asayaga started to speak, but then held his words. What answer was there? For a brief instant he understood the Kingdom soldier's anger. He inclined his head slightly. 'I offer no apology,' Asayaga said, holding up his hand, palm out, 'but I do offer to talk.'
'Well,' Dennis replied haughtily, 'that's something, coming from a Tsurani.'
Asayaga was silent for a moment, as if weighing his options. Finally he said, 'I heard one of your men speak your name. I know who you are, leader of Hartraft's Mauraders.'
'Yes,' and there was a sharp note of pride in Dennis's voice. 'What's left of the garrison of Squire Hartraft's estates, in service to my lord, the Baron of Tyr-Sog. So why is that important?'
'I have lost more than one man to you. Finding them in the morning, throats cut, no sign of an honourable fight. Slipping in like purse-thieves in an alleyway, then melting back into the forest.'
'Bothers you, doesn't it?' Dennis said, a cold grin lighting his scarred face.
'It is not war, it is murder.'
'Don't speak to me of murder!' Dennis hissed, barely containing his anger. 'Were you at the Siege of Valinar?'
Asayaga, even though he was unfamiliar with all the inflections of their language, could not mistake the tension in Hartraft's voice.
He nodded. 'No, I was serving with Clan Kanazawai under Kasumi of the Shinzawai against your Prince Arutha at Crydee. A hard fight, the first one I was in. But I have heard of Valinar; that was also a hard fight.'
'That was my family's estate.' Dennis made a sweeping gesture that took in the men up on the wall and those inside the barracks. 'This raiding company was formed around the few men who got out of Valinar. Less than twenty of us and those who remained behind, you killed them all. I am the only one left.' He fixed Asayaga with a look that could only be called murderous. 'My father, my mother, my younger brother and two sisters, and the woman to whom I was bethrothed, all were in residence at my father's estate the night you Tsurani attacked.' His voice fell to a whisper. 'It was the night of my wedding day. It's been nine years, Tsurani, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. I held my wife in my arms when she died. I don't know if my brother and sisters are even alive.'
Asayaga tensed. The captured Kingdom soldiers had been taken to Kelewan and sold as slaves. They were labouring under the hot Tsurani sun if they still lived, in the fields or down reclaiming the land of the Great Swamp. The women… the old ones to the kitchens, the young ones, like Dennis's sisters… He thought it best not to mention that to Dennis. Then he remembered a story. 'You're the one who released the prisoner, aren't you?'
Dennis grinned, as evil an expression as Asayaga had seen on a mortal man. Early in the war a raid had taken a forward position, and every man there had been killed, save one. A young Tsurani soldier had been rendered unconscious and when he revived he found himself a prisoner. Rather than being enslaved as he had expected, he had been returned to his own lines, with a message: every man who had attacked Valinar would be hunted down and killed. It had been judged a hollow threat; but nine years later, only a handful of men who had been at Valinar were still alive to remember that fight.
'We are a raiding company, and we operate behind the lines. We serve at the pleasure of the Duke of Yabon, and under the command of the Earl of LaMut and my lord the Baron of Tyr-Sog, but the manner in which we serve is our own. Once behind your lines, I am free to act as I see fit. The Marauders are the thorn in your side, Tsurani.' He looked Asayaga directly in the eyes. 'We are here because we were on our way back from raiding one of your rear positions. So know I am not boasting when I tell you this thing: this is my world, Tsurani, not yours. But I am not ungenerous, and will give you a tiny bit if you'd like; just enough of it for your grave.'
Asayaga took a deep breath. 'We cannot settle this war here, at this moment, Hartraft,' he said quickly, as if these words were hard to say. 'Time is spinning out and you said they will soon attack.'
Dennis continued to smile without any hint of warmth. 'Yes. Maybe we should just sit here and argue till they come and kill you for me.'
Asayaga hesitated, wondering for a second if this man's hatred ran so deep that he would do such a thing. 'You are saying then that you command and we are to follow?' he asked finally.
'Something like that, at least till we are free of the damned moredhel. I need your swords in order for my men to survive, but not as much as you need my knowledge for your men to survive. Dying at the hands of the moredhel serves neither of us or our people. Will you serve?'
'Never. I command my men.' He said the words slowly, forcefully. This Kingdom soldier's ignorance of his foes was astonishing. Had he no sense of the proper order of things, of all that was implied by the acceptance of an order from a sworn enemy?
Dennis looked at him carefully and Asayaga could sense that Hartraft was studying him, trying to figure something out. Finally he grunted and nodded.
'A truce then. Call it whatever the hell you want to call it. We move together until we are certain we are free of the Dark Brothers. Once that is accomplished we form ranks with our own comrades and then we fight.'
'I march the same path as you only because I order my men to do so,' Asayaga replied slowly. 'But you and I shall have an understanding. If you only pass along… suggestions, to me, I will consider them and perhaps agree to your suggestions. But order one of my men and you will as likely provoke a fight.'
Dennis looked at him, as if deciding.
Rapidly, Asayaga continued, 'In our world, enemy houses will serve together if ordered by their clans; but one of lower blood, of another house, is…" He fought for a concept. 'It is better if you just tell me what you wish. My men will likely not obey one of… inferior blood.'
'I won't start another argument with you about whose blood is better,' Dennis replied coolly. 'I've seen enough on both sides to know it's the same colour.' He nodded. 'All right. Suggestions. But if I say move, or deploy to a flank you'd better hear… my suggestion and act on it with haste. If it comes to a fight with the Dark Brothers, Tsurani honour be damned. If you want your men to survive, listen to what I say.'
'I will take no order from you. But I will con
sider suggestions.'
'Tsurani, call it what you want,' Dennis replied, a note of exasperation in his voice. 'Call it suggestions, advice, your mother's bedtime stories, I don't care what, but I know these woods, and I know the Dark Brothers in a way you will never learn if you are lucky. I'm taking you along because I see no way out of it, but I'll be damned if your blundering gets my men killed.'
'Blundering? I don't call the last nine years blundering. If we are blunderers why are we winning this war?'
Dennis wearily lowered his head and shook it. 'Maybe we should just settle it now,' he sighed. He stood up. 'By the Gods, either that or just give me a simple yes that we march together, and fight as a unit if attacked. Later we can argue all we want and cut each other's hearts out.' He looked back up at Asayaga. 'Or in your case, perhaps cut your throat so you'll shut up.'
'What was that?' Asayaga snapped, not sure of what Hartraft had said because he had spoken the last words softly and quickly.
'Nothing, Tsurani, nothing.'
'It is not "Tsurani". You say it as an oath. I am Force Commander Asayaga of the Kodeko, undercommander of the forces of the Warlord in the east, of the Clan Kanazawai, son of Lord Ginja of House Kodeko, brother to-'
'All right. Asay, then.'
'Asayaga.'
'Fine, Asayaga.' He cursed softly under his breath as he stood up. 'Let's go tell the men.'
Asayaga knew that all in the room had been watching as they had left. There would be some concern on the part of his own men that perhaps the Kingdom barbarian had attacked Asayaga in a treacherous act; he had no idea what might concern the Kingdom soldiers, but he knew that tensions would be mounting.
They entered the barracks and again were almost overwhelmed by the heat and stench compared to the icy clear air outside.
Asayaga looked around the room. 'We march tonight,' he announced. 'The Dark Ones will attack before dawn. The Kingdom soldiers are… allied to us until we are clear of the other enemy. You are not to speak to them, even to notice them, and you are forbidden to fight with them until I order otherwise. Once we've escaped from the Dark Ones, then there will be enough time for honour to be served.'
He could see more than one of his men relaxing with the announcement. Tasemu was right: the men, physically, were at their limit. Fighting was the last thing they wanted at this moment. If there was to be a fight, they wanted to save their strength, and as many as their comrades as possible, for the encounter with the Dark Brothers.
Sugama looked up at him, and fortunately had the good sense to keep his mouth shut and offer no challenge to what was a direct order.
'Captain.'
Asayaga looked over his shoulder, to see that it was the Natalese scout, who had spoken to Dennis. Neither he or Hartraft had seen the scout and his young companion return to the stockade, so intent had been their conversation.
'They're coming,' Dennis said quietly and Gregory nodded agreement.
Gregory started to explain, but Asayaga held up his hand, letting him know that he already understood.
'We have about an hour, maybe two,' Gregory said. 'They're slow forming up, but their flankers are already starting to climb the rocks to get above us. Tinuva is keeping an eye on them. We've killed a couple of their pickets on the way back, so the moredhel will be cautious on the advance, fearing a trap. We've got a little time, but we better pack up and get out of here now if it's going to do us any good.'
Dennis snapped a command to Alwin Barry, still standing behind Sugama, and instantly the room was bustling with activity as Kingdom troops started to don equipment. The order was passed outside, and within seconds more Kingdom troops streamed in, gathering around the fire to soak up a few minutes' warmth and wolf down the last of the stew.
Asayaga, shouting orders, began to gather his own men as well.
'I understand there is an arrangement,' Gregory asked, coming up to Asayaga's side and speaking in Tsurani.
Asayaga simply nodded.
'Smart move by both of you.'
'It doesn't mean the fight between us is over, Natalese.'
Gregory grinned. 'I never said it was. But I'm happy to see it postponed.'
Asayaga went over to where his four wounded lay. Two of them were putting on their gear and standing up; but the third, Ulgani, was barely conscious. Several of his comrades had gathered around him, heads bowed, hands placed upon his chest, whispering the prayer for the dying.
With all the bustle and turmoil in the room there seemed to be a ring of silence around this small group. Even the Kingdom soldiers, standing but a few feet away were silent. Ulgani's Patrol Leader placed a hand over his comrade's eyes, then drew his dagger.
It was over in seconds and the three stepped back, one of them draping a blanket over their dead comrade.
Asayaga looked down at Osami who had watched the ceremony, wide-eyed. He went to kneel by the boy's side. 'The march ahead, it is hard. Hard even on old veterans who are healthy. Remember, the chain is only as strong as the weakest link.'
The boy looked up at him, nodded, and then looked back at Ulgani. Blood was soaking through the blanket.
'I can run,' Osami whispered. He started to reach for his trousers, but they had been cut away and laid by his side, shredded and blood-soaked.
Panicked the boy looked around.
Someone tossed the boy a pair of trousers, tanned leather, most likely from a dead moredhel. It was the Kingdom priest.
'I'll keep an eye on him,' Brother Corwin said.
'Stay out of this, dark robe.'
'No. I put a lot of effort into that boy. He'll keep up, same as that other boy,' and the priest nodded to the Kingdom soldier with the broken leg. Grimacing, the boy was on his feet, supporting himself with a makeshift crutch.
'If it comes to running they're both dead.'
Dennis had come up to join the debate and was looking over coldly at Corwin.
Corwin grinned. 'We'll see when it comes time to run, won't we? For now, let them be my concern.'
'Be it on your head then, priest, but we slow for no one.'
Corwin waved him aside and bent over to help the Tsurani get dressed. Osami rejected the offer, even though it was obvious that he was in agony getting the trousers on.
'Everyone out!' Dennis shouted. 'Form up by unit!'
Asayaga, not wanting to let even the implication form that he was following Dennis shouted out his orders for his men to be outside first and ready to march.
There was a final frenzy of activity: men cutting off steaming slices from the haunch of stag still roasting in the fire, dipping earthen mugs into the bottom of the kettle for the last of the stew, snatching blankets from bunks to use as capes; while others filled skins with water, and tucked the skins under their tunics so they wouldn't freeze.
Asayaga headed for the door, Sugama falling in by his side.
'You know what will be said back home of this arrangement,' Sugama whispered.
'Why, what would you say of it?' Asayaga fixed him with his gaze.
Sugama backed down.
'They are enemies, but we have a truce; that is sufficient for now,' Asayaga explained patiently. 'We are, as the Natalese Ranger puts it, only postponing our fight.'
The bitter wind cut off his words as he stepped out into the open ground in front of the barracks. His men were rapidly falling in. The last of those coming in from guarding the flank stumbled into line, grateful when a comrade offered them a warm piece of meat, or a dry blanket to throw over their shoulders.
He almost felt as if it was a race to see who could form up first, thus demonstrating their discipline. The last of the Kingdom troops came out of the barracks as Tasemu walked down the line and barked a command, the men snapping to attention.
Asayaga looked over at Hartraft's men who were standing in lines, half a dozen feet away. They did not come to attention as their captain passed. He paused with several of the men, checking their packs, slapping one of them on the shoulder, trading a c
omment with another that triggered a gruff laugh. Several of the men looked over at Asayaga and he wondered if they had made a joke about him.
'Order of march,' Gregory announced, stepping between the two groups.
'The trail is wide enough for the next few leagues that we move in twin lines. I'll bring up the rear, laying traps to slow them. I'd like several of the Tsurani to help.' He looked over at Asayaga and saw Dennis had crossed to stand next to him. Asayaga's eyebrow lifted in an unspoken question. 'I estimate an hour, two at most before they try to storm this place. By that time we've got to be three miles or more away, then we're off the trail and into the woods. You have more men, and they're fresher if we need to run like hell to catch up. If that is acceptable to you, Force Commander,' Gregory added, grinning.
Asayaga was surprised by the Natalese. He had given an order but offered it as a suggestion. His diplomacy was good. Asayaga nodded and repeated the suggestion of the scout, making it an order, and detailing off four of his best runners to bring up the rear.
Dennis looked over at Asayaga. 'Keep your men separate from mine. No weapons drawn except bows. If we hit an ambush you break to the left of the trail, I'll take the right. Make sure your men keep up.'
'Make sure yours keep up,' Asayaga snapped.
'We'll see.'
'All right, you bastards, let's get out of here!'
For a second Asayaga flared, ready to explode at the insult to his lineage, then realized that Hartraft was addressing his own men.
Strange, these Kingdom men, he thought. The informality, the casualness of how they speak to each other, even the way they march.
Asayaga started to move towards the head of the column. There was an explosion of curses behind him. Turning, he saw one of the Kingdom soldiers stepping out of the ranks, shouting, charging into his line of men, shoving a Patrol Leader, Fukizama, to the ground.
Asayaga could barely understand the words the Kingdom soldier was shouting, but it sounded like '… you thieving bastard!'
Fukizama rolled and came up, dagger drawn. He slashed out, slicing the man across the thigh. The Kingdom soldier, swearing, leapt back, drawing his sword.
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