by S. M. Stirling, Harry Turtledove, Jody Lynn Nye, John Ringo; Michael Z. Williamson
She was aware of it now. Lord Tae felt at them with his mind. He was powerful and dangerous. How she hated being at his mercy!
So did her kin. They muttered and yowled among themselves, speculating as to the news. Bau strode into their midst, attracting more gossip. He had buckled on his war harness and donned his bronze clawed gauntlets. The bronze gorget that protected his throat was buried deep in his black and white fur ruff. Instead of the flint-toothed spear he might carry into battle, he held the staff of leadership, a wrist-thick pole carved down its length as a braid. The teeth of enemies studded the turns and folds of wood. From the top dangled strands of hide on which were strung faceted crystals that twinkled and danced. It was used by the designated speaker of the moment because no Mrem could keep his or her eyes off the swaying strings.
Bau snarled and bashed the staff on the ground. Gradually, everyone turned to look and fell silent. Bau fixed his lamplike golden eyes on each of them in turn. When they met Cleotra’s, she shivered. He spoke.
“We are now entrusted by Rantan Taggah to open the way for the rest of the Mrem and find a path to safety. We are now the tip of the talon for the Clan of the Claw. Two weeks ago, we passed what has survived of brother Rau’s Three Fangs. They were supposed to lead next, but you saw in what poor condition they were after their battles.
“The Clan and our herds are hungry and tired. It is up to us to find a way west. We have found it, we hope, but as our scouts report, there’s a hopeless bottleneck. A fortress greater then any we have seen before. Greater than that of the Liskash Rau defeated. The alternative is not an attractive one, and a sand desert in which many would die.”
Some of the gathered Mrem stirred nervously. The hot sands were a friend to the Liskash and doubly dangerous. The leader raised his voice to regain their full attention.
“Where once we were just a small clan concerned for ourselves, now us, Rau, and all who must join together are of the Claw.” Bau paused and held up one hand claws extended. “Now our talons must be swift and deadly.”
He paused, letting his words have effect. Then, in a more even tone, continued.
“You are aware that four days ago, we sent Sherril Rangawo to negotiate safe passage for us through the lands down there.” He gestured down the slope toward the wide valley, then turned to point at Sherril, who preened at the attention. “But there he sits! You can see that he has returned safely. The Lord Tae Shanissi has agreed that we can proceed unmolested…” Bau’s voice was drowned out by a chorus of pleased yowls. “Bury it, you fools! You know it isn’t that simple! This is still a Liskash we’re dealing with. Nothing is straightforward. The weakling dinos always have a reason. They always want an advantage. This is it: in exchange for allowing the tribe to pass through the land, he demands a cultural exchange.”
“They can’t understand culture,” Drillmaster Scaro Ullenh said, with a scornful flip of his tail.
Bau nodded agreement. “Not ours; not yet. That is what he claims he wants. We are interesting to him.” He held up a hand to forestall the outbursts. “No, I don’t really believe him. I think it is just a means of gaining power over Mrem, though I do not yet know how he plans to achieve that. We will not know until it’s all over and we’ve shaken the dust of his realm off our feet. But we can’t stay here on the edge of his lands forever. There are too few of us to fight, though we’d take many times our number to Aedonniss with us. To go back and choose another route would cost us months more of travel. I do not lie to you; we have little food left for us or our beasts. We need to trade or buy, and no one else is near enough to sell us grain. We lose Mrem and herds on the road every month we must travel. Those who go to perform for Lord Tae will likely save many lives. I do not pretend that those who go will come back, alive or unaltered. The Liskash magic has robbed many Mrem of their names, minds and freedom. We could lose all those who go into the citadel. Therefore I ask for volunteers.”
Nearly all the warriors leaped to their feet, yowling their willingness. Bau couldn’t help but feel pleased. They knew it was suicide, but that never stopped a true Mrem. He had to weed out the foolhardy, the inexperienced, those who were too young or too old, and especially those who did not rise until they saw their fellows spring up.
“I would die for the sake of the clan!” declared one warrior, shaking a fist above his head.
You’re not going, Bau thought to himself.
Then one he knew and trusted heaved himself to his feet, a stocky, grizzled male with scars on his arms and chest. Emoro Awr led a squad of picked warriors. Every one of them feared his wrath, yet strove for his approval. He prided himself on bringing all those under his command back, alive or dead. Bau nodded. Here was the first of a strong band.
“Emoro, will you lead a force to accompany our people into the city?” he asked.
“To Aedonniss’ gate, if need be,” Emoro said. “And back again.”
He wasn’t bragging, only stating what he believed to be true. Bau was pleased. He crossed to Emoro and put the staff into his hand. The strands of crystals danced and twinkled. All the Mrem’s eyes followed.
“Choose your fighters.”
Emoro looked around. It was a tribute to the old male that no one looked away, or sat down, to avoid being chosen. In fact, most of the young ones seemed eager. Bau watched with interest as Emoro made his decisions. He forewent most of his usual band, tapping instead fighters who were more than cadets but had seen only a few battles.
Bau frowned. “Will you choose none of your own warriors, brother?”
Emoro flicked his tail. “I don’t want to leave the clan with inadequate defenses.”
“You won’t,” Bau said, slightly amused. “We’ll make do.”
“All right, then.” Emoro pointed to Scaro, who had been one of the first to rise. “You’ll be my lieutenant, Drillmaster Ullenh.”
Scaro threw his chest out. “Of course, my Clawmaster! I am proud to serve.”
Emoro returned the staff to Bau, who immediately passed it to Cassa Fisook.
“The choice of a Dancer must fall to you.”
The elder female sighed. Her bright green eyes looked sad. “I would go myself. There is much more I would teach my students before I am confident that knowledge is safely stowed in their memories, but I am growing old. There may come a time when infirmity might cause me to hold you back. Better I give myself to this task. If I were not to come back, others could carry on. When the Clan of the Claw is reunited, that lore that I had not passed on to my Dancers can be restored to our collective memory.”
“There is another way,” Bau reminded her. In his heart he feared the loss of any of the priestesses. They protected the clan in ways that he and his warriors could not, and they were the guardians of their history and customs. Nearly three-quarters of the fighters could fall before it would mean the same as being deprived of one of the remaining Dancers. “We can go far to the south and skirt Tae’s land. It will add greatly to the length of our journey, though.”
“All the more reason for me to undertake it,” Cassa said. “Petru, you will come with me, won’t you?”
The valet cast himself upon the ground on his back before her, throwing up a cloud of scented glitter. “Anywhere and anywhen, my mistress.”
“No,” Cleotra said, alarmed. She rose. “I will go, Cassa Fisook. You can spare me. You have others who know as much as I.”
She said it, though she didn’t really mean her humble words. Cassa smiled at her kindly.
“No, my dear. I cannot ‘spare’ you, but I will be grateful if you will make this journey. You will be better than I.”
“Never that, Cassa!”
“Don’t underestimate yourself, my dear. I expect you to succeed me one day.” She turned to the talonmaster. “Bau, this is our Dancer.”
The talonmaster bowed deeply to Cleotra Mreem, flicking his tail in wide arcs. “Your Sinuousness.”
She accepted his obeisance.
“The rest of us w
ill work for your safety while you are in enemy ground,” Cassa Fisook said. “But you should not go by yourself. You, too, should take,” she smiled, “a lieutenant.”
“Me!” Ysella Ehe sprang up at the military term. She glanced at Scaro and ducked her head immediately. The warriors all chuckled except Scaro. If her unrequited passion had gone unnoticed before, it was not now. He looked perturbed and slightly horrified.
Cleotra moaned to herself. That girl would be nothing but trouble, mooning after the randy warrior in the midst of danger.
“No, child,” she said. “Stay with the others. It will be safer.”
“I am not scared of lizards,” Ysella said scornfully. Why did no one take her seriously?
“And what is the source of your courage?” Bau asked, gently. He had a daughter her age.
“The Dancers can stand against all,” Ysella insisted. “When we Dance, the power of Aedonniss flows through us.”
“I think not,” Cleotra said. “Remain here, my dear. You are the next generation. Give yourself time to grow up.”
“Cleotra Mreem!” The girl’s golden eyes widened with dismay.
“Take her,” Cassa said, unexpectedly. “You may need her energy.”
Cleotra frowned. To concentrate upon their rituals, she needed to focus. If she was worried about one wayward youth, that distraction could break the vital link between her and the others. Ysella picked up on her concern.
“I will serve you,” Ysella promised. “I will be the best apprentice you could have. I will be obedient. No one will work harder than I.”
Cleotra did not want to, but she relented. “All right. I will hold you to your word.”
“I won’t fail you!”
“Mistress, I must go, too,” Petru said, rubbing his cheek against Cassa’s ankle.
“You, my friend?” Cassa asked, looking down on him fondly. Petru blinked at her.
“Of course. Who will care for the lady Cleotra and Ysella in that barbaric city? Who will see that their coats are brushed smooth and that every bracelet is polished to the sun’s own gleam? Who will see that they have food that is fit to eat? Aedonniss alone knows what filth they consume behind those walls!”
Sherril perked up. A valet in his train? He had felt like such a supplicant in Lord Tae’s court before, with all those lizards running to and fro to serve the noble’s every whim. To show that he was a Mrem of substance, worthy of having a servant of his own, would elevate his status. Besides, should they survive to return, there would surely be an opportunity to take a measure of revenge upon the obnoxious creature.
“I would be grateful if you would allow him to accompany me, Your Sinuousness,” Sherril said.
“Granted, then,” Cassa said. “Prepare, then. We will Dance you a farewell.”
* * *
Even Sherril could feel the power rush through him as they left the encampment early the next morning. The Dancers surrounded them, throwing their arms toward them as if casting garlands around their necks, then bowed, arched and twirled again and again. The twenty picked Mrem warriors marching in two files on either side of him looked proud and a little sheepish. They were prepared to die for the clan if they must. Sherril, for his part, had no such intention. If he could impress that skinny, furless creature in the citadel with their magic and wisdom, he would be a hero.
Emoro Awr, with Scaro at his side and Bau hanging over them like a stormcloud, had debriefed him thoroughly as to the architecture and garrisoning of the citadel. He had been made to describe every doorway and window he had seen, the thickness of the walls and the height of every ceiling. How many Liskash were there in the courtyard, and how many within the keep itself? How many captive Mrem? When did the sentries pass? What form of locks on the doors? How many wells and fountains? Had he spotted dungeons or cells of any kind? What about armories?
Sherril was proud that he had forgotten none of these details. Plus, he had offered information for which they had not asked. Lord Tae had a practice of overruling his captains on a whim. All of his people were afraid of him; Sherril could tell by their posture and the way each measured its words when it spoke to him. He had two tasters to sample his food. He kept pets. Six small flying lizards fluttered around his throne, eating tidbits and leaving messes on every surface. They bit visitors, soldiers, servants and whoever else was unlucky enough to get close to their sharp little beaks. Emoro and Scaro exchanged glances. If they needed a distraction, Lord Tae’s flutteries might prove useful.
“And their food didn’t kill you,” Emoro noted. “Good. Better to find out on you rather than someone who’s really valuable, like a Dancer.”
Sherril took that in the spirit that he hoped it was intended, for the greater good of the clan. The playful glint in Scaro’s eye left him uncertain.
He felt like an old hand, leading the others down the sloping track with the rising sun at their backs and morning dew clinging to their leg fur. Some of the scouts who had actually discovered the scarcely used road accompanied them part of the way, then turned back as the party reached the well-traveled, packed-gravel road that led to the city.
They were not traveling lightly. Four young bullocks whose loss the tribe could not really afford hauled two-wheeled carts behind them laden with bags and bundles. Sherril deplored the quantity of luggage, but he had been overruled at every protest. Weaponry and armor for the warriors, that he approved and understood. Anything that the Dancers required for their comfort and the performance of their art, he neither caviled nor begrudged. Food, wine and clean water, naturally, in case nothing came their way along the road. Gifts for the Lord Tae, to show their appreciation for his forbearance. But two carts brimmed with parcels containing the personal belongings of that cursed valet, Petru! It was an outrage. Pots of scent, boxes of glitter, bags and bags of jewelry and other adornments, none of which was necessary to their journey. Grooming tools the likes of which he had never seen, as well as many other things he had glimpsed but did not recognize. Sherril had complained of the additional responsibility of looking after the possessions of a mere servant. The Dancers championed the big nuisance, of course, but to his surprise, so did Emoro. Sherril was surprised. He never thought of a soldier like Emoro even noticing an ephemeral like Petru. Sherril took the information in to muse upon later. He had learned a lot since they had left their homeland, and had been able to use much of it to his benefit from time to time.
Numerous carts with big, heavy, flat wooden wheels creaked along, drawn by thin-pelted cattle or huge lizards with round feet like tree trunks. The drivers, lower-caste Liskash, small of stature, eyed the warriors suspiciously. Sherril scorned them. Liskash were physical cowards. They were even less inclined to physical interaction than he was. They covered their hairless skins in woven cloth that had been dyed in terrible colors and worn in combinations that hurt him to look at. He hated to give Petru any credit, but his garments and adornments pleased the eye at least.
The Mrem felt uneasy in the midst of so many of the enemy. Sherril believed in the power of the gods. Aedonniss and Assirra would help them withstand an attack. Though these merchants all had guards walking with them and a few carried vicious little green-skinned lizards on their carts to prevent pilferers, they were more interested in making it to Ckotliss’s marketplace by the start of business rather than tangling with party of heavily armed Mrem surrounding a stunning, proud, lithe, black-furred Dancer jingling with bracelets and anklets on her dainty limbs. The child, Ysella, trotted along behind, looking like an afterthought.
The smell overpowered Sherril’s delicate nose. He had had the forethought to bring with him a cloth soaked in crushed lily petals. He raised it to his face to mask the odor of the Liskash, their beasts and the endless piles of dung that the creatures deposited.
As Sherril thought it, a green-and-blue-skinned beast over five Mrem-lengths long with baskets of nuts draped across its spiny back lifted its heavy, conical tail and let a heap drop directly in front of them. The Mrem
had to hop to avoid stepping in the steaming mass. The drover, sitting on a saddle just at the base of the huge creature’s neck, opened its flat mouth and emitted a staccato hiss. Other Liskash nearby joined in the merriment.
“I’m not sure, but that strikes me as a deliberate insult,” Scaro said, wrapping his long fingers around the shaft of his spear. The merchant stuck his ugly chinless face in the air. Scaro growled under his breath and sidled forward. Sherril put a hand in the center of the guard’s chest.
“The difference in our species means that what strikes one of us as funny will be lost to the other,” he said in a low voice, keeping a wary eye on the Liskash merchant. “That which is cruel or kind is open to a certain amount of interpretation. But, yes, that was an insult, and no, it would be a very bad idea to respond.”
“He should know better than to interfere with us,” Scaro growled.
“I don’t take threats from slaves!” the Liskash hissed.
“Who are you calling slaves?” Scaro demanded.
The Liskash looked superior. “Those mangy bags of fur who don’t know their place.”
“My place is at your throat, tearing it out of your body!”
“Scaro!” Emoro snarled. The lieutenant stood for a moment, staring at the Liskash. “Did you get your pads dirty?”
“No, sir!”
“Do you care if you get your pads dirty?”
“Well…no, sir!”
“Then let the lizards have their joke! We’ll laugh all the more heartily when we reach the other side of the cursed water. Do you hear me?”