Stavin formed up with Orkahn and the pair moved to take position on the number seven wagon. Stavin was yawning widely and received a sympathetic grin from Orkahn.
"Sleep if you can, Stavin. I've done this before and the easiest way is for me to lead your horse," Orkahn said, pulling out a rope. At Stavin's nod he looped it through Stavin's reins just after the bit. "If something happens, I'll wake you and slip the rope free," Orkahn continued. "Just try not to fall out of your saddle."
Stavin nodded. "That might be funny if I wasn't so tired," he mumbled, then slumped in his armor and closed his eyes. Sometime later, his horse gave the little half-buck and he snapped awake with his Dragon's Tongue in his hands.
"It's mid day, Stavin," Orkahn said as soon as Stavin looked at him.
"Already?"
"Already. You know, for such a little guy you have an amazingly loud snore. It certainly kept me awake," Orkahn said with a wide grin.
Stavin was fully awake by then and laughed. "After we eat I'll switch places with you, and you can chase the bears away for a while. Oh, my neck is stiff."
Orkahn slept quietly for the rest of the day until Stavin woke him by tapping his shoulder with a stick. Orkahn's sword passed through the air where a person would have been. He blinked rapidly and sheathed his sword, then grinned at Stavin. "Are we there yet?" he asked as he looked around.
"It's almost sundown," Stavin said as he coiled the rope.
Orkahn nodded and rinsed his mouth with water from his flask. "It looks like Trader Sahren is in no hurry to stop," he said, looking forward.
"We haven't passed a good place to stop in quite a while," Stavin answered. "Maybe that's all she's looking for."
Their answer came when Barvil rode down the line with bread and sausages for them. "Sahren doesn't want to stop yet. When she does, it will just be to rest the animals. There were signs of the not-too-old ambush on the other side a way back." Stavin and Orkahn exchanged glances and straightened in their saddles as Barvil continued down the line.
The caravan continued late into the night and stopped near mid night. Sahren walked down the line giving each wagon the same instructions. "Rest and feed the mules in harness. No fires and keep your voices down. I want to move again in three or four spans."
The warriors all dismounted and saw to their horses as well. Water came from the traders' barrels and each horse received a half-measure of grain. It wasn't enough to fill their bellies, but it was something. The people of the caravan received little more, just bread and sausage, with water from their flasks to wash it down.
Trader Sahren let them rest for five spans, but only because she dozed off herself. They had been traveling again for three spans before they heard shouting from ahead and Sahren stopped the caravan.
"This wasn't the right caravan, damn you all," a man's voice shouted. "I said wait!" There was the murmur of many men's voices in the distance, then the sound of horses on the road headed toward them.
Barvil spoke over his shoulder. "Pass the word quietly: Warriors to the front." There was the sound of voices traveling down the road, and horses traveling back. Once everyone was together, Barvil gave his orders.
"A caravan was hit just ahead of us, and the men who hit it are headed this way. Flying Geese, and stay on your horse as long as you can." Barvil then led them forward to the edge of a brightly lit clearing and stopped in the shadows.
It was a matter of moments before men started appearing on the other side of the clearing. There were twenty of them, and though they were not in uniform, it was obvious they were a military unit. No bandits rode in the disciplined column of twos that these men maintained.
Barvil let them get most of the way across the clearing before kicking his tired horse into a gallop and charging directly into the front of the column. Behind him, the warriors rode in a “V” pattern until the hands opened up as horses outpaced their counterparts and enfolded the enemy.
Stavin swung wide and headed for the third man from the rear. The bandits had reacted with superb discipline, staying in formation instead of scattering, and Stavin took advantage of it. Dropping his reins over his horse's neck, he took his Dragon's Tongue in both hands and struck, using the greater reach his weapon gave him to kill his opponents before they could even strike a blow. Karvik was using the same tactic on the other side of the column and the two friends passed one another as they circled around behind the bandits.
Stavin saw Tavan go down and rode to his aid. The bandit was bringing his sword around to deliver a killing blow when Stavin's thrown Dragon's Tongue drove into his chest.
He knelt slowly as Stavin dismounted, but another of the bandits blocked his path.
"Friend of Evandia, are you?" the man snarled. "You'll have a hard time explaining this attack to his Majesty."
"No harder than you'll have explaining why you're out of uniform, Sergeant," Stavin snapped back, finally recognizing the man.
The sergeant brought his sword up, but Stavin darted closer rather than backing away. He took a glancing blow to the shoulder as he passed, but his big water-steel blade plunged into the sergeant's armpit. A roar of pain and rage followed him as he ducked under the sergeant's swing and struck again, leaving a long, thin dagger in the joint between the sergeant's breast and back plates. His third attack started with a kick that broke the sergeant's knee and ended with the water-steel knife in the thief's throat.
Stavin scrambled to retrieve his Dragon's Tongue only to find that all of the bandits were down. Unfortunately, so were Tavan and Vardik. Barvil's voice cut through the roar of blood pounding in Stavin's ears.
"Finish them, search them, then get the bodies off the road. Don't try to catch their horses. They all have Evandian Army brands." He stopped speaking when he reached Vardik. Vardik's staring eyes and the sword through his breast plate told everyone all they needed to know. "Marvat, Farval, get Vardik back to the wagons," Barvil commanded, then he walked over to Tavan. "How badly are you hurt?" he asked.
Tavan looked up and shook his head. "I don't know, Sir," he replied in a slurred voice. "I can stand, but I just fall down again and everything is kind of fuzzy."
Barvil smiled. "Stavin, catch your horse and Tavan's, then take him back to the wagons. He has a concussion, so you should know what to do."
"Yes, Sir," Stavin replied, then went to carry out his orders. He brought the horses to Tavan's side, then helped the bigger man to his feet. "Come on, Tavan, just hold onto me and I'll get you onto your horse. Once we get to the wagons, we'll find a place for you to lie down."
"I got another one, Stave," Tavan said as he struggled to get into the saddle. "Then that big one clubbed me to my knees and everything went black. Oh, I don't feel so-" Tavan leaned forward with Stavin and his horse as a brace and emptied his stomach. Fortunately, Stavin was expecting it and was standing well to the side. Stavin helped get Tavan into the saddle, then mounted his own horse for the short ride. They were met by Sahren.
"I saw your friend Vardik go by, Stavin. I'm sorry. How badly is Tavan hurt?" she asked, looking up at the young man.
"Concussion. I'd like to leave him with Angeleese and get back to the site of the battle."
Sahren nodded and led Stavin to the wagon where Angeleese and her husband, Damlan, were waiting. "Angie, he has a concussion. See to him while Stavin goes back."
"Yes, Aunty Sahren," Damlan replied and helped Tavan into the wagon straight from the saddle. Stavin tied Tavan's horse to the back of Angeleese's wagon, then rode forward again.
Karvik met him as he dismounted next to the sergeant's body. "Four this time. You?" Stavin held his hand up with all five fingers splayed. "That's Warleader Fifth, Stave."
"I know, Kar, but I don't really care right now. These were Evandian Army troops. We're not supposed to be fighting the Evandian Army."
Karvik looked at him curiously. "How sure are you that they were really troops?"
Stavin kicked the body at his feet. "This one was Sergeant of the Gua
rd at Fort Zel'Erins when we tried to talk to the commander," he said, then knelt to start stripping the body.
"Hurry up, Stavin," Barvil said as he walked up. "Kar, give him a hand. What's the count?"
"Tavan said he got one. I got five," Stavin replied without looking up.
"Four for me, Dad. Sword for the last one," Karvik said, grinning up at his father.
"This was that sergeant, Sir," Stavin said as he straightened up.
"I see that," Barvil replied as he looked down at the dead man. "Drag him into the bushes and see to the rest. I want to go check that other caravan."
Stavin and Karvik exchanged startled glances and hurriedly stripped and disposed of the rest of their kills. They used their horses to drag the bodies to the thick bushes on the side of the road, then bundled their war booty behind their saddles. Stavin looked at the mass of metal behind his saddle and shook his head. "We're going to need a wagon again."
Karvik laughed and said, "You can afford it."
Moments later the caravan passed through the site of the battle, and Stavin and Karvik took their places. It took just half a span to reach the other caravan. Twenty cargo wagons sat in a circle, and bodies littered the ground around them.
Barvil left Marvat's hand guarding their caravan while he led Farval's hand to investigate. What he found confirmed his suspicions.
The warriors guarding this caravan had died with honor, killing seventeen of the attackers before the eight of them were overwhelmed. Twenty-three more bodies were close together and showed signs of having been killed from behind with little or no resistance. The teamsters had died with their hands tied behind their backs. The brutality of executing helpless men hardened all of the warriors to any sympathy they might have had toward the renegade troops.
Sahren and her traders met Barvil as he came back to their caravan. "We're stopping here, Barvil. We'll bury the bodies and throw the trash in the bushes, then we'll take these wagons with us. With no survivors, we can claim rightful salvage, especially since you killed the other bandits."
Barvil nodded. "We could use the rest. We have to bury Vardik as well." The grave was dug and Vardik was laid in it before Barvil spoke again.
"It is sometimes the fate of our warriors to die in the service of our people. Did Vardik take any of them with him?"
"No, Sir," Marvat replied. "He fell as soon as we hit them. Rolas killed that man, Sir."
"How many did you kill, Rolas?" Barvil asked as he turned to look at the young man.
"Two, Sir. That one with a sword thrust through the back of his neck, and the other with a thrust through the heart," he replied, then stepped back.
"Very well. That gives you eight. Vardik had seven kills in his three expeditions to the low lands. Join Karvik filling in the grave while the rest of us gather stones." Barvil turned away and the rest of the warriors followed him in search of stones to cover Vardik's body. It didn't take long in this region and they all worked together to finish the burial.
"Vardik Kel'Markat will be remembered among our honored dead," Barvil said as the last trace of the grave was brushed away. "Marvat, you claim two for a total of eleven and your second red stripe. Farval also claims two for a total of nine. Sharvit claims one for a total of ten. Orkahn claims two for a total of eight. Stavin claims five for a total of forty-three and the title of Warleader Fifth. You may paint the center of your star white now, Stavin. Karvik claims four, bringing your total up to thirty-one. You have some catching up to do, son. Tavan claims one and I claim two. Aldric?" Barvil asked, looking at the glowering youth.
"I got knocked off my horse by the horse of one of the men Stave killed, and by the time I could see straight again it was all over," Aldric replied in a sullen tone.
"Sorry, Ric," Stavin said as he patted Aldric's shoulder.
Aldric gave him a wry grin. "I'm not following you anymore, Stave. You're too fast. I think I'll follow Sharvit instead. I can keep up with him."
The sun rose before the traders were ready to move, and Sahren ordered everyone to bed. Barvil did the same except for two-man teams, who were ordered to switch every four spans. At mid day Sahren woke up everyone and called her people together, trader and warrior alike.
"We have to move before those bodies start to stink. Barvil, I'm short three people to drive the wagons. May I borrow some of your warriors?"
Barvil bowed and said, "Kar, Stavin, Aldric, you just became teamsters. And if you're inclined to turn sulky about it, Stavin, remember that we will get equal shares from the salvage sale of these wagons."
"I wouldn't dream of sulking, Sir," Stavin replied with a grin.
Trader Sahren nodded her approval. "Stavin, I want you in the number two slot. When we reach the next town, you'll be required to swear that there were no survivors. Don't volunteer any information. If you are asked, tell them how many bandits we found at the caravan. Do not mention the other group."
"Yes, Ma'am," Stavin replied, then tied his horse to the back of a wagon and climbed up to the seat. When Sahren's wagon moved up the road, he maneuvered his wagon in behind her and settled himself as comfortably as he could.
Stavin caught himself dozing several times and started trying to amuse himself in order to stay awake. He used his Dragon's Tongue to carve the glyphs of his name in the footboard of the wagon. He checked his cargo and found that it was sacks of barley. He took the silver armguard off his left biceps and admired the hollowed star, and secretly planned how he was going to tell Shari that he had earned Warleader Fifth. He only needed eight more kills for Warleader Fourth and his second star, and this was starting out as an active season.
Shouts from ahead had him hastily putting his star where it belonged as he tried to see what was happening. Then he noticed that he was catching Sahren's wagon and he sawed on the reins to stop his wagon before they collided. Fortunately, the mules were used to traveling in a line and stopped on their own a length behind Sahren's wagon.
Barvil rode down the line leading a man wearing the uniform of an Evandian Army captain and stopped next to Stavin's wagon. "Friend Stavin, this is Captain Zel'Hartal," Barvil began, then turned to the captain and said, "Captain, this is Friend of Evandia Stavin Kel'Aniston."
"I am pleased to meet you Captain Zel'Hartal," Stavin said, standing to bow politely.
"I am honored, Friend Stavin. However, I would like to--Thank you," the captain said as Stavin handed over his writ. After a moment, the captain handed it back. "Friend Stavin, I have been told that you came upon these wagons after they had been attacked by bandits."
"That is correct, Sir," Stavin replied.
"And there were no survivors from the bandits or the traders?" the captain asked as a puzzled frown creased his forehead.
"That is correct, Sir. The warriors guarding this caravan did a good job, but were overrun anyway." Stavin shook his head as he stared into the captain's eyes.
"How do you explain that, Friend Stavin?" the captain asked, leaning forward slightly. "If the warriors killed all of the bandits, who killed the rest of the traders?"
"It is possible that the arrival of our caravan frightened away the surviving bandits, or, since no purses were found on any of the traders, even the Master, it may be that the surviving bandits took the coin and left the grain."
"That very well may be the case, Friend Stavin." The captain gave Stavin a minimal bow and turned to go, but Stavin called him back.
"Your pardon, Captain, but how far is it to the next town?"
The captain turned to look at him and said, "Four spans at the wagon's pace. Fort Kel'Cardak stands close beside Kel'Cardak's Crossing. If this is the right caravan, you are bringing us our supplies." The captain smiled and left Barvil and Stavin behind as he rode away.
Barvil made one final comment before he rode forward to join Sahren. Looking at Stavin and shaking his head slowly, he said, "You have definitely been spending too much time with Kethlan. I almost believed you."
A major was waiting outsid
e Fort Kel'Cardak's gates as the caravan passed by and waved for Sahren to stop. "Trader, was this caravan from the Fel'Kartan Cartel?" he asked as he walked up the side of Sahren's wagon.
Sahren shook her head. "No, Sir," she replied, "the master trader wore the crest of the Zel'Hardan Trading House."
"Damn," the major swore. "What are your plans? Our supplies are overdue and we're running out of just about everything."
Sahren climbed down to face the major. "We claim rightful salvage on these wagons and their contents. As such, they are for sale to the highest bidder in an open auction, unless you'd care to make me an offer that would make it worthwhile to anger the rest of the merchants."
The major shook his head angrily. "I can't do that, and I'm sure you're fully aware of it. Take your salvage to auction, then. If the general agrees, I'll be there."
Trader Sahren bowed as the major turned and walked quickly back into the fort. Sahren climbed back up to her seat and continued up the road to the city caravansary. She directed the salvaged wagons to form a square five wagons wide by four deep, then had all of the animals unhitched and taken to paddocks.
Stavin, Karvik, and Aldric tended to their teams before taking their horses over to join the rest of the warriors. Barvil nodded to them as they walked up. "Kar, Stavin, on watch with Orkahn and Sharvit. Aldric, see to their horses."
All three young men snapped to attention and said, "Yes, Sir." Stavin and Karvik handed their reins to Aldric and joined their watch-mates.
The area that they were guarding had been more than doubled by the addition of the salvaged wagons, and was consequently more tiring. It was harder to keep another guard in sight as well, and there were several times when Stavin lost sight of Orkahn in front of him and Sharvit behind. He always paused until Sharvit came into view, then hurried his steps to regain his spacing.
Morning brought dozens of people to inspect the wagons and inventory the cargo. That inventory proved beyond a doubt that this was not the missing Army supply caravan, much to the disgruntlement of the major. By mid day the auctioneer had his list and the bidding began.
Traders and Traitors (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 2) Page 10