Shades of the past ms-6

by Brian S. Pratt

  Another unit is put in charge of collecting the wounded and taking them back to the city.

  From somewhere the cry goes up, “Black Hawk! Black Hawk!” The men begin joining in until the very air resonates with the cry. It finally begins to die away as the various units start returning to the city.

  Illan glances over to where Jiron and Delia stand near Orry. Saddened by the loss he dismounts and joins them. “Let’s take him back,” he says. “He died a hero’s death.”

  “He did, didn’t he?” Terrance asks as he turns his red rimmed eyes toward him.

  Illan comes over and rests his hand on his shoulder, “Yes son, he did.”

  Terrance, along with the others from The Ranch put Orry over a horse and begin the trip back.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Our scouts have reported no other hostile forces in the immediate area,” Lord Pytherian tells those assembled in the meeting room.

  James and Illan, as well as Brother Willim, are among those gathered to assess the ramifications of the events earlier in the day. They had an informal meeting with Lord Pytherian shortly before where they laid forth their plans to push deeper into the Empire. Thus far, the only one other than those directly associated with James’ group who knows is Lord Pytherian.

  “My Lord,” a grey haired officer says as he gets to his feet, “shouldn’t we press our advantage? With the help of Black Hawk and his mage ally, wouldn’t this be the best time to drive out the Empire?”

  James notices several heads nod in agreement. For over a year these men have accomplished little to remove the Empire from their lands. Rather, they’ve been pushed back as town after town falls to the enemy. Brothers, sisters, mothers, all have been taken as slaves into the Empire and they feel it’s high time for some good old fashioned retribution.

  Lord Pytherian turns his attention to the officer and replies, “Black Hawk and his force will be leaving us in the morning.”

  “What?” one young officer cries.

  “You can’t be serious!” shouts an older soldier, a member of one of the alliance’s factions from the north. A general murmur spreads throughout the conference room as they comment to those sitting next to them on what they just learned.

  Lord Pytherian lets it run its course for a few moments then raises his hand, at which the room becomes silent once more. “He and his force are leaving in the morning, that’s true. However, they will be forging on into the Empire. They plan to cause such mischief as to force the Empire to draw a portion of its army home to deal with them.” Glancing around the room, he sees many heads nod in understanding.

  “During which, we will be coordinating with our armies to the east and west,” he continues. “We still have two sizeable forces, one at the base of the Silver Mountains to the west, and another to the southeast. Our success here does not mean victory until we have dealt with those.”

  “Wouldn’t it be wiser to consolidate our forces and strike at the force at the base of the Silver Mountains in one fell swoop?” a cavalry officer asks from the back of the room.

  “To do that,” explains Lord Pytherian, “we would have to take all but a small force from Lythylla. We dare not risk leaving our capitol open to the enemy. If they were to get wind of it, they could come and raze Lythylla to the ground.”

  “So what are we to do?” comes from the side of the room.

  “We let Black Hawk do his thing,” he replies. “You’ve all heard of his exploits in the War of Barrowman’s Field. He will do that once again, though this time he doesn’t go alone. James the mage, as well as the brothers of Asran will accompany him.”

  “They’ll be slaughtered!” a younger officer hollers out from the side. At that, many of the old timers who had been around during the War of Barrowman’s Field give out with guffaws. “Hardly,” and “Not likely,” are the responses some of the other officers give to the young man. They remember what Black Hawk had accomplished before.

  “We let them soften up the enemy,” Lord Pytherian says when the assembled officers quiet down, “then we take the battle to them up here. No reinforcements will be on the way, they’ll be too busy hunting down Black Hawk. There’s no way they’ll allow him to once again roam free, burning and destroying their towns.”

  “They have a lot of confidence in our ability,” James comments to Illan who only nods in reply.

  For the next several hours, plans are made, changed, then revised again detailing various strategies to be implemented once the effect of Black Hawk’s push into the Empire is felt.

  While the meeting is still in full swing, Illan, James, and Brother Willim leave the meeting once it’s clear what is being planned will no longer include them. Brother Willim takes his leave and goes to see about the brother who Miko had healed. He tells them that he and the others will meet them in the morning before they set out.

  Back at the plaza, they find the new recruits badly shaken by the death of Orry. He was a favorite, always with a smile and never complained. As they approach the plaza, Devin comes forward. James can see his eyes are red from where he’s been crying over the death of his friend. “James!” he says. “They’re burying the dead in a large communal grave. They came by for Orry but we wouldn’t allow him to be dumped in with all the rest.” He glances up to him. “He deserves better than that.”

  “Wrap him in blankets,” Illan says. “We’ll take him with us in the morning and bury him away from town.”

  Relieved that Orry will get a decent burial, he says, “Thank you.” Turning away, he returns to the others and let’s them know what they plan to do.

  “Fortunes of war,” Illan says after they ride over to where the horses are picketed and dismount. “There’s no way the soldiers here will have time to bury each soldier who died in an individual grave.”

  “I understand,” James tells him. “It’s best to get them in the ground as fast as possible.”

  Ceadric appears out of one of the tents and makes his way over to them. “So what’s the plan?” he asks.

  “Nothing’s changed,” replies James.

  “We leave in the morning and play merry hell with the Empire,” adds Illan.

  Grinning, he says, “I like that plan.”

  “See that everyone has a good night’s sleep,” Illan tells him. “We leave at first light.”

  “Yes, sir,” he replies.

  Turning to James, Illan says, “You better get some rest too. You look tired.”

  “I am tired,” he replies. “But I need to see about the others first.”

  “As you will,” says Illan as he gives out with a yawn. “I’m for bed however.”

  “Good night,” James says as he makes his way over to where Jiron and Delia are sharing a fire.

  When he approaches, Jiron hands him a plate of food. “Thought you might be hungry.”

  Taking the offered food, he says, “Thank you, I am.” Sitting next to them, he begins eating the beef stew and Delia hands him a quarter loaf of bread to go with it. Nodding to the slingers preparing Orry’s body for tomorrow, he asks, “How are they doing?”

  “As well as can be expected,” Delia replies. “I think before yesterday they thought this would be a grand adventure right out of a bard’s tale. Then when the reality of it hit them, especially the death of Orry…” She trails off as her eyes move to settle on the tent where they are preparing Orry’s body for travel.

  “They realized this is no game and war is an ugly, horrible experience,” Jiron finishes for her.

  “I’m sure they’ll be okay,” adds Delia, “it’s just rough on them right now.”

  James sits there in silence for awhile as he finishes his stew. “We’re still leaving in the morning,” he tells them.

  “Then you better get some sleep,” Jiron states.

  “I will when I’m done with this,” he replies, indicating the last couple bites of food left on his plate. As he chews the last bite, he glances around the camp and finds everyone winding down, many a
lready asleep in their bedrolls. Devin and the others exit a tent carrying a shrouded body and lay it in the bed of a wagon. When Devin glances his way, James nods.

  Standing up, he says, “I better get to sleep too.” To Jiron he adds, “Make sure everyone is up before dawn.”

  “Sure,” he replies with a catch in his voice.

  James turns to find him grinning at him. Remembering the last time he awakened him, he adds, “No water this time.”

  “If you say so,” he says, his grin growing slightly wider.

  Shaking his head, James makes his way over to his tent and enters. Things inside aren’t in their usual place, testament to the worry and sadness on Devin’s mind. He didn’t come and tidy up as he usually did. Checking his bedroll on the cot, he finds it still damp so he throws it to the side as he thinks unkind things of Jiron.

  Lying on just the cot, he uses a pack for a pillow and lets exhaustion claim him.

  Early the next morning, the camp is quickly disassembled and packed on the pack horses. The items James brought from The Ranch were reduced by half during the raid on the catapults and the subsequent battles that followed. Still should have enough for all he plans, he hopes.

  Brother Willim shows up with the rest of the Hand shortly before they are ready to leave. The brother who was injured during the battle now looks much improved, a night of sleep, not to mention the healing from Miko, has done wonders. Miko is still absent, no one has seen him since the battle. Word has it that he’s still seeing to the injured, James sent Errin to find him and to have him return before they set out.

  The Black Hawk standard bearer takes the lead as they move through the city streets. Near the front of the column rolls the wagon carrying Orry’s body, his friends riding along beside. Behind them comes Jiron and his group, then Ceadric with the Black Hawk Raiders.

  “I thought we lost many of your men during the battle?” asks James.

  Illan glances behind them at the throng of men at the rear and replies, “We did. These are others who have decided to join us.” He glances to James with a grin, “Seems they want to ride for glory.”

  “Glory!” scoffs James. “There’s nothing glorified about what we’re doing. They just want revenge.”

  “Maybe,” agrees Illan. “But for whatever reason, we can use them.”

  James nods his head and continues riding through town.

  The streets are lined with many soldiers and civilians who are there to see them off. Every once in a while, a cheer would erupt when they turn a corner and appear to those who are waiting for them.

  At the gates they find Errin with a tired looking Miko. Eyes all but closed with heavy bags under them, he sits on his horse as if he’s about to fall off. When he takes notice approaching, he perks up and rides forward with Errin beside him.

  “Found him still among the wounded,” she says. “Had to practically drag him away.”

  “Save many did you?” James asks his friend.

  From behind them, Lord Pytherian replies, “Many? I would have to say there are a hundred or more who owe either their lives to him or the use of a limb.” He glances to those following behind with the Raiders and adds, “I see many of the ones he saved are among your men.”

  “We didn’t ask them to come,” James says apologetically.

  “It’s alright,” he says quietly. “You can use the help and another hundred or so here won’t really make that much of a difference.”

  “Any reports of the enemy?” Illan asks.

  “Not so far Black Hawk,” he replies. “From what our scouts are reporting, the forces to the east and west of us are maintaining their positions. They may not yet know of what transpired here.”

  “That won’t last for long,” Jiron says as he comes to join them.

  “Just remember you promised to build the temple,” reminds James.

  “We will, I assure you,” Lord Pytherian states. “Good luck to you.”

  “Thank you,” replies James. “You too.”

  Getting their horses moving, they ride toward the open gate. When they pass through, the men on the walls give them a cheer.

  As they cross the bridge, they take note of the men still working to remove the dead from the field. The soldiers of the Empire are being heaped together in one big pile while the men of Madoc are laid out more carefully. Far away from the banks of the river, two work forces are digging out large holes for the bodies, one for the Empire and horses, and the other for the men from Madoc and the alliance. Already a stone plaque has been commissioned to memorialize the men who are to be laid to rest there.

  Taking the road south, Illan sends out riders to scout ahead and to their flanks for any enemy presence. After Lythylla disappears behind them, they locate a copse of trees near the road and take a momentary break while Orry is laid to rest.

  Unwilling to allow others to dig his grave, Devin, Nerrin and the others who were closest to him take shovels and find a spot beneath a large tree. James and Illan stand nearby until they have it deep enough, then watch as his body is transferred from the wagon and laid within the earth.

  Once they cover him with dirt and place rocks atop the mound to prevent animals from digging him up, Brother Willim comes forth and says a few words. While he speaks of life and how death is but another path, each reflects upon how Orry enriched their lives and how he will be missed.

  Those standing nearby remain quiet in respect for the dead until Brother Willim winds to a close. Then with a last goodbye, they remount and resume their journey. One of the newest additions to Black Hawk’s Raiders is given the duty of taking the wagon back to Lythylla.

  From the head of the line, Illan glances back at the rest of the recruits and comments quietly to James, “Wonder if any of us are going to survive this?”

  “I don’t know,” he replies. He misses Orry as does the others, though he never really had a chance to get to know him well. Few of the recruits have had much personal dealings with him other than Devin. Glancing back at Corbin’s son, he feels saddened for his loss and can see his emotions are barely kept in check.

  He spies Scar and Potbelly riding not too far behind him. “Scar!” he hollers. When he has his attention, he asks, “Didn’t you and Potbelly once face a band of thieves all by yourselves?”

  “As a matter of fact,” Scar says, “we did. It was several years ago during…” As Scar continues on with his narration, Illan glances to James and asks, “Have you heard this one before?”

  Giving him a grin, he shakes his head and says, “No. But knowing those two, I figured they would have a tale of some sort to go along with it. Besides, this will give everyone something to think about other than Orry.”

  Nodding, Illan says, “Good thinking.”

  “No, no you got it wrong,” Potbelly interjects. “We weren’t hired by the Baron of Falsberg, it was the Duchess of Twyst.”

  “That’s right, now that you remind me,” Scar says. “We were on our way through…” For the next hour or so, they regal everyone with their tale of daring do and for a brief time, the death of their friend is forgotten.

  Not to be outdone, Uther and Jorry begin a tale once they’re through of how they single handedly slew some giant that had taken an entire village captive. After listening to the narrative for several minutes, James turns to Illan and asks, “Are there giants here?”

  “Not that I’ve heard,” he says. Despite the improbability of their story, it is rather entertaining.

  They continue following the road for the rest of the day. The scouts would return periodically to give a report then would switch to a fresh mount and ride off again. During one such time when a scout returns, the scout tells of a caravan approaching from the south. “Looks to be supplies for the army that was at Lythylla,” the scout says. “It is but an hour away.”

  “How many soldiers accompany it?” Illan asks.

  “Three score,” the scout replies.

  “Keep an eye on it,” Illan says. The scout s
alutes before changing to a fresh horse and gallops back down the road.

  “Ceadric!” he hollers.

  “Yes, sir,” Ceadric replies as he brings his horse closer.

  “We have an approaching caravan,” he tells him. “Three score guards. Take your riders and capture it.”

  “Yes, sir!” he says.

  Before he rides away, James says, “Don’t kill the drivers.”

  “What about the soldiers?” he asks.

  “Do what you have to,” he states.

  Turning to his Raiders, he says, “We got a caravan to liberate!”

  A cheer erupts as he and his men break into a gallop and race down the road.

  “So it begins,” James says under his breath as he watches Ceadric and his Raiders disappear down the road.

  “Indeed,” comments Illan from beside him.

  It isn’t long before they arrive at the captured caravan. Off to one side, a pile of dead Empire soldiers riddled with arrows stands testament to the battle which raged here. Many of Hedry’s archers still have arrows to string as they keep the drivers from attempting to escape. Several wagons are without drivers and the bloodstains on the benches show they didn’t give up easily.

  The wagons are filled with food, weapons and supplies needed by an army on the move. A string of horses were also captured, spare mounts for their cavalry.

  Ceadric meets them as they arrive and says, “All secured. No losses.”

  “Good,” states Illan. “Have some of the men escort the caravan back to Lythylla.”

  “Yes, sir,” he says and then begins assigning those new to their force to escort the caravan. Some grumbling arises from those who believe they’ll miss out on the glory of accompanying Black Hawk, but do as they are told.

  As the wagons begin rolling back to Lythylla, their force once again resumes their advance on the Empire.

  Over the course of the next several days, that scene is repeated three more times as they capture caravans and send them back to Lythylla. After the first day, James was sufficiently recovered from his fight with the creatures that he could again use his mirror to locate enemy patrols. If they weren’t very large, Ceadric and his riders were dispatched to take them out.