by Lazlo Ferran
“Come on Geb,” called Meth.
If he wanted to kill me, if he had any ambitious pretensions to power at all, now would be the time for Geb. I knew he was intelligent enough to see that. There was apparently nobody to protect me and the Guards might well be loyal to him. We exchange blows and parries and danced around in an increasingly dangerous dance, the sand flying in our faces, as our boots skidded. I was a little the worse for the drink and I could see that Geb was a little more moderate a man than I. His eyes studied my moves, closely and intensely. A fierce pride shone in his blue eyes.
I nicked his forearm, deliberately, drawing a thin skein of blood.
“Lord!”
“Come on Geb. You are not trying!”
“I cannot harm you, Sire!”
“Oh come on now. A small nick, won’t do me no harm.” I smiled as I noticed myself slip into the common slang of my forefathers. I lunged for him, touching his belt, and let the sword fly from my grasp. I let out an exclamation of horror.
Geb stood and sheathed his sword. He bowed. I waited until he looked up and met his eyes. I could see no realisation there that he had been tested.
“Geb. As I told you, we need more women. I want you to ride to Parat tonight. Go to the House of the Blue Lantern on Fourth Street and ask for Demetine. Tell her the King needs thirty-five of her best whores. Tell her we need them for three months. It is for the honour of the country but I will agree a fair price with her in gold when I come to Parat in a few days’ time. She knows me and she knows she will get a fair price. Take three hours to prepare now and then take your most trusted Lieutenant. Return here with the women by dawn, the day after tomorrow. Oh yes and please leave a note at the Palace for the Princess, telling her I will be three days late.”
“Yes, Sire.” He bowed and was gone. I turned to Meth.
“I haven’t been to the House of Blue Lantern since I was a boy and then, usually in disguise, but it always had the best whores.”
Meth laughed. “You are a cunning old fox. Now let us go and truly relax.” He slapped me on the back, as we walked back to the tents. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a movement in the darkness, one of the camp guards moving just beyond the lantern-light. Their site was particularly keen, spending as they did, much of their time in the clear desert nights, away from city and town lights. I smiled to myself.
In Meth’s luxurious tent, we played chess for a few hours. It was already after midnight and I was tired but we had much to talk about. At about two and a half hours after midnight, I finally retired.
The men, Meth’s and my own, spent most of the next day practicing sword-play and exchanging techniques, while Meth and I planned the campaign. I had told Meth where he needed to be at noon, forty days from thence. He looked up at the rising yellow orb of the sun, squinting, and then shielding his eyes with his hand, his leathery face crinkling in thought.
“This is the route we will take. We will go to Tiwa Oasis, arriving there, I would guess, at a leisurely pace, in ten days time. After a rest there for seven days, we will turn due north and look for a small oasis, the Hahshma, roughly half way between Tiwa and the mountains. It is marked on our deerskin maps but I do not know anyone who has seen it. It would be a legend among my people if it were important. As it is, it is of minor importance, as we never go this way. That is the problem.” He smiled. “I will need to think of a very good reason to be there, in case we are met by the enemy.”
I knew Tiwa, it was roughly north east of our present camp. I could not immediately think of a good reason for Meth but in any case it would be better if he thought of it. We sat in silence, my hand flipping a pebble, as he thought. Our hard shadows were close around out squatting bodies as the sun slowly rose higher. At last, he cleared his throat.
“Of course it would be easy to say we had heard of his army and were traveling to trade with him but this would make him too suspicious. No, I think we will say that we have stolen women from Parat City, from the House of the Blue Lantern and are running from your Guards. Do any of your men know what the reason is for your visit?”
“No. I have not told them yet. Nor will I, probably. However, Geb knows something and he, and perhaps others, will have overheard us speaking at the feast last night. It is not safe to assume they do not know what we are doing.”
“Hmmph. This is a danger. They may squeal if tortured and even if not!”
“Then we must tell them. They know the penalty for traitors.”
“Very well.” He did not look at all happy. “Of course, there is another benefit of this story, it will whet their appetite for the women. Hmmm.” He paused. “There is another matter, which will arise from all this, should we be successful.”
“Yes?”
“You have, no doubt considered that, since we are a southern tribe, from outside your country, showing our allegiance to you in this way will strengthen your standing in the eyes of your enemy. They will think twice before another invasion. But, it may weaken my standing with my southern clients, those who are not of a friendly disposition towards you….”
“Go on.” I knew Meth was a practical man and although he had a strong grasp of politics, they merely offered a means to an end for him. His tribe were often, wrongly perceived as nothing more than tradesmen or businessmen but in fact loyalty to their tribe came first. He was leading up to something.
“It would be good, in such a situation, to have somewhere safe to spend the winter months. Presently, we need to keep moving in case we anger the local populations but if we had a small parcel of land…” He looked at me for assignation. I smiled.
“Perhaps the area from the hills to our camp. From the river’s mouth, two miles west, to an area five miles east?”
I smiled. “It shall be so and a mile of the land within the hills, just so that you can grow orchards for your delicious grapes.”
“Ah!” He clapped his hands, half out of glee, I fancied.
We both laughed and after we finished, I spoke. “What happens if you miss the northern Oasis?”
“You mean the Hahshma? It is of little consequence. We will have enough water to reach the mountains, if need be. We have traveled much further in hard times.”
“I have thought of another problem. What if the women talk?”
“Hmm. Yes, that is a good one.”
I could see this was becoming like an elaborate game of chess for Meth.
“We will offer them a choice. If we win, they will each gain their freedom and two gold coins.”
“Expensive but effective. I agree.” Two gold coins was more than a year’s wages for most men.
The rest of the day, for us, was spent in leisure, watching the men or talking tactics. In the evening, again there was a feast with dancing and singing. I retired early. I was woken by Meth, just before dawn.
“Geb is here.”
I pulled on my under-breeches and pushed aside the tent-flap. Among clouds of dust, drifting over the tents, I saw the horses and a large group of women being led away. Geb had been standing with his back to me but swung round as I stepped out.
“Sire!”
He looked absolutely exhausted and there was a streak of blood on his cheek.
“Where is your Lieutenant? Didn’t you need other men.”
“Sire. We were ambushed. He and the other men, we brought five, stayed behind to let us escape. I know not, yet, whether they are alive.” He bowed his head.
I slapped him on the shoulder. “You did well, Geb. Do not look downcast. You are here and that was your mission. Where did it happen?”
“Just before the river. Do you remember when we paused the other day? You thought you felt something?”
“Ahh. Yes. Damn.” I started to stride up and down, cursing myself and my luck. There was shouting on the southern perimeter of the camp.
Meth, Geb and I walked towards the commotion. Two horses emerged from the gloom, one riderless. I didn’t recognise the man. He slumped over the neck of the h
orse and Meth’s men helped him down.
He had a bad wound on his chest and another on his upper right arm but I guessed he would live. He was laid on the ground and Meth sent his men to prepare water, dressings and a bed. Geb asked him what had happened.
“After you got away, they closed in on us, I don’t think... they were aware then, that the women had gone. When they found us, without the women, they were enraged and attacked without mercy. They were fierce. I have never fought men like that. They carried swords, curving, not like ours. When the dust settled, I was the last one left alive. There!” He pointed to the horse, he had led. “Look at its flank.”
I strode forward and saw the wavy line and a sword. I knew this brand. It was Lord Bulya’s.
“Lord Bulya.” I said quietly.
“That old rogue!” said Meth.
“At least they did not get the women!” the wounded guard said.
I patted him on the shoulder. He did not know what they were really after. It seemed that they had not got that, information. I could not be sure though. Perhaps not all his men had attacked. And who were these men?
“Meth. We need to leave immediately. We need to go there and make sure none of them got away.”
“I understand.”
“Break camp!” he shouted and immediately there was a flurry of activity. “The main caravan must move tonight but I, my Sons and a few of my best men will come with you.”
“Leave somebody strong in control of the main caravan!” I shouted as I ran for my horse.
We left the camp preparing itself to leave and we galloped south, towards the dim dark outline of the hills, in the night. By dawn, we were already close to the point of ambush. Suddenly, Geb was alongside me.
“I almost forgot, Sire. A present from Boris!” He held out something small, wrapped in blue cloth.
I held it and unwrapped it. It was a small, crudely carved knight, on horseback, about the size of my palm. I smiled at it in wonder. Such a Kingly gift from one so small, I thought. It heartened me. I held it up for Geb to see and then I called to Meth. “Look! A gift from a soldier in the making!” Meth smiled.
“You inspire great loyalty, Lord.”
Meth and I had told Geb to halt the column, about half a mile from the ambush site, partly in case there were others there and partly to aid searching for clues and tracks. Meth and his men, were experts at this.
“It is not far hence, Sire.” Geb suddenly said to me.
“Halt!” I cried.
“You and Geb wait here!” called Meth, as he, his sons and men, dismounted and tied their horses to bush branches. “We will call you. Keep an eye out for any trouble.”
They stepped, cautiously along the trail, spread out, two or three men in the scrub either side of the main track and a couple of men branching off to right and left. Meth and his sons took the trail itself.
“What is Bulya’s game, Sire?”
“Well. We must be cautious. First of all, it may not even be Bulya. Maybe some of his horses were stolen. Also, maybe they were some of his men, who have become renegades. My own heart tells me it is his doing though. Times are changing. Politics and business mean open war is less viable and many Kingdoms are ‘settling down.’ I too should like some peace. War is not good for business, you know. I think Bulya sees this invasion as his last chance to steal power from me. He may align himself with the enemy.”
“But that is terrible! What will we do?”
“Oh. It’s not that terrible! I have been looking for a chance to put him in his place for years, and this might be such a chance. He needs to be taught a lesson. He is far too arrogant.”
“But my teacher taught me that some men do not like to be taught lessons. It makes them bitter and vengeful.”
“Ha! Ha! Yes. That is also true. I am not sure which sort of man Bulya is. We will have to find out!”
Geb shrugged. I could see he was indeed a thoughtful man. A quick test of his trustworthiness was in order.
“Did you like the women?”
Geb smiled. “I did not try them, Sire.”
“Not one? Did you not want to?”
“I am married, Sire.”
“Children?”
“Two, a boy and a girl.”
“Ahh.”
The Sun had climbed higher and the day was going to be hot. We were standing in the shade of some firs and Geb scuffed his feet and looked down. He knew I was no longer married and perhaps he had a warrior’s embarrassment at his state of wedlock. I could almost hear the burning question he wanted to ask me but wouldn’t, as it would be impertinent. So I said what he wanted to know.
“I love children and I miss my first wife, terribly.”
He suddenly looked intently into my eyes and then up at the sun. He shielded his hand. “Crows”
“Where?”
“North east of here, maybe two miles.”
“Meth will have seen them. But you have good eyes. I did not.” I could just hear, in the far distance, the sound of children calling and the sounds of horses, cows and sheep. We were not far from a village. The wind was from the south so I looked south but could see no signs. I knew my hearing was better than most. “Here they come.”
Geb look slightly startled, as he swung his gaze to the track, between the trees. Meth appeared, with Ashan, Dimez and Ochnud. Meth, in his purple robes and golden knotted sash, pointed with his sword to the north east.
“Two escaped. One from the fight but he was badly wounded. Another, who was watching, had a horse and I think he got away. It will be hard ride to capture him.”
“Let’s find the wounded man first. Perhaps he is still alive.”
Meth shook his head but called his men. We set off, up the slope towards the north east, leading the horses, with one of Meth’s best trackers a little ahead of us. After a long climb of an hour, through trees, we moved over the crest of the hill and into scrub, where the going became easier. Geb shielded his eyes and looked into the valley, where a pool of stagnant water lay.
“There!” He pointed to a dark patch next to a tree. There were crows in the tree. We walked cautiously towards the shape, several of Meth’s men flanking us and passing wide of the tree. There was no stir from the shape.
We could see the man was unconscious or dead. As we reached him, I called “Ho, there!”
He did not move. Ashan walked forwards, standing beside him for a moment, before gently moving the man’s leg, with his boot. He bent down and listened for a sign of life.
“He is dead!” We all approached. There was copious dried blood on the ground around him and on his tunic on his arm and his chest. He looked solemn in death.
Ashan searched his pockets but there was nothing of interest. Just a tobacco pouch, a pipe, a few small coins and a chess piece. He was just a foot soldier with a few poor possessions.
“We must move more quickly now.” One of Meth’s men had been charged with following the horse tracks and he stood some one hundred paces off to our left, watching us.
“If he thinks we might follow him, there is only one way we will catch him.” said Meth. “A few of us must take all the horses, with light loads, and change horses frequently.”
I nodded.
“Ashan and Dimez, myself, Geb and yourself, along with Machredir, my best tracker. There are fourteen of us so that is two horses each and two spares.”
“Ochnud. I place you in charge of the men here. Soon after we have left, send two of your men after us, they will recover the horses, we leave behind. We will return here when we have him, or,” he said, “if we have lost him. Now, let us lighten the loads as much as possible. Keep your helmets and your swords. Leave behind shields, daggers, armour or any other items, except water.”
We left at a fast gallop, stopping occasionally, to search for tracks. For the most part we were traveling through scrub so the tracks were easy to spot, even at full gallop. Evidently, the man had favoured speed over caution, perhaps thinking pursuit was le
ss likely.
As the Sun dipped below the hills, we left the first horses covered in foamy sweat and with shivering flanks. We guessed our prey’d had perhaps ten hours head start on us and now perhaps five. He did not have spare horses and would stop occasionally and not push his horse so hard.
As it became dark we had a decision to make, whether to go on by night, or stop. Some were for going on and some against. Geb was worried we would miss the trail.
“But if we lose it, we simply go back.” said Machredir.
“We must go on. There is nothing to lose. Even if we only gain half of a mile, this may be crucial.” said Meth.
“I agree.” I said.
We went on, slowly, on foot, to reduce noise, in case we should come across him, asleep in his blankets. By dawn, weary and hungry, will were still following his trail. We were now on the very edge of the desert, dunes in this part thrown up by the wind passing between two high hills behind us. This was good luck. On the sand, he was easier to follow. We mounted up and trotted on. Shortly after dawn, we came across the remains of a fire.
“He had stopped her for a meal.” said Machredir.
“How long ago did he leave?” asked Meth.
Machredir, turned over the embers and looked at the charred twigs still remaining. He found a tiny piece of meat and smelled it. He let his breath out in a big sigh.
“Hard to say. There are not many flies this early in the day. But I would guess not more than five hours.”
“Good!” said Meth. “Mount up!” he called.
“Wait!” called Machredir. He stooped down over the horse shoe marks left by our prey’s horse. He crawled forwards following them, sometimes putting his face right on the marks.
“His horse is slightly lame!” he called out, jubilant.
“Perhaps that is why he stopped.” said Geb. “To give his horse time to recover.”
It was another piece of good luck.
Machredir mounted up and we rode on, the sun burning into the back of our necks. The sand reflected the heat and it hurt our eyes. On the distant horizon, when we reached the top of dunes, all we could see was a heat haze.