Mamelukes

by Jerry Pournelle

  “That way,” he said.

  “Best take this at a walk in this light,” Bisso said.

  They set out towards the gate, Enipses’ escorts ahead of them, Rick’s troops bringing up the rear. Warner was strangely silent. Rick frowned, but said nothing. He wondered if Warner had hemorrhoids. An old high school joke surfaced in his thoughts. We don’t have to worry about money. I have piles. True enough for me.

  Maybe for Warner, too. Warner wanted nothing more than to return to teaching. Well, that’s his problem. I’ve just got my wife back, and I’d like to be home too. We got the Gurkha menace licked. Now what the hell is going on in Nikeis? Get this settled with Ganton and head for the coast, preferably tomorrow. Another long ride.

  They rode out in near silence. Enipses periodically urged haste, but Rick ignored him and kept his horse at a slow walk. The others kept pace with him. When they were a few yards beyond the camp gate, the two young pages and the Black Rod Usher broke loose and rode away at the gallop.

  Warner rode up to join Rick.

  “No surprise now,” he said.

  “Not without we shoot them,” Passavopolous said. “And I don’t reckon anyone wants that.”

  “No.” Rick waved to Art Mason, lowered his arms to his waist, and raised his right arm. He turned back to the mounted party. “We may proceed, My Lord Justiciar.”

  Behind him an armed party of Gurkha riflemen was silently forming up in camp with Major Baker in their lead. If Enipses noticed he said nothing.

  They rode at a slow walk, in near silence, for half an hour until a light showed ahead. An armed party of about twenty approached.

  “Who is there?” Enipses’ warden rode at point and didn’t seem surprised to see others coming.

  “Who challenges the Wanax of Drantos?”

  Enipses rode forward. “The Lord Justiciar of Drantos brings the Warlord of Drantos into the presence of the Wanax, as instructed.”

  “Powder dry, lads,” Bisso said softly.

  “You know it,” Passavopolous answered.

  The group came forward. Mounted men at arms, mail armor, most armed with crossbows as well as sabers, Rick noted. Bodyguard weapons: fire once, and fight with sword and buckler. Effective enough for a short while, but not so useful against real mounted archers or heavy cavalry.

  He didn’t recognize any of them. An officer came forward.

  “Justiciar! Warlord of Drantos! Greetings in the name of the Wanax! I am Radnos son of Dnestros, third captain of the Royal Guard,” he said. “We are sent to conduct you to His Majesty. I have been instructed to be certain that you are the party he summoned. My pardon, Lord Justiciar, Warlord, but those were my orders.”

  “A reasonable precaution, Captain,” Rick said. But why a captain, even a noble one, and one I don’t know at that? There are plenty of nobles with the King. Men I’ve worked with and have some reason to trust. This is very odd. I need to think about this.

  “The Wanax urges haste, My Lords,” Radnos said.

  Rick clucked his mount to a slow walk.

  They had been moving through relatively open country, but ahead of them were low hills covered with scrub brush. In the dim light of the Demon Star it was impossible to see more than a few yards off the road.

  “Good ambush country ahead,” Passavopolous said.

  “Yeah. Begging the Colonel’s pardon, but I don’t much like this,” Bisso said. “Something funny is going on. I know the Guard captains. All of them. Or I sure thought I did.”

  “So do I,” Rick said in English. He raised his voice. “Captain, I appreciate your concerns, but there’s no need for you or any of your men to be behind me. Please stay ahead of my escorts. And where I can see you.”

  “My Lord.”

  “I’m certain you heard me. Kindly indulge my whims, Captain,” Rick said.

  The newcomers formed into a column of threes. They were clearly impatient to ride ahead, but Rick continued at a slow walk.

  “Keep a good eye out,” Bisso said softly in English as they moved cautiously down the road. “I don’t like any of this.” The other mercenaries muttered agreement.

  There was a chirp from Rick’s shoulder bag. He let the others get ahead of him as he took the radio out of the musette bag.

  “Galloway.”

  “Rand, Colonel.” Rand’s voice was muffled. “Halt your column. Pronto, Sir.”

  Rick blinked.

  “Column,” he shouted. “Halt!”

  Rick and those with him stopped. Enipses and the others continued ahead for a moment, then Enipses ordered a halt and Rick thumbed the push to talk switch.

  “All right, I’ve done that. Now why? Over.”

  “Colonel, no more than two stadia ahead of you the road goes along the base of a ten-foot bluff,” Rand said. “Over.”

  Rick pushed the talk button.

  “I think I see that. Just barely, it’s all dark shadows, no details. Over.”

  “Yeah, I can just see you,” Rand said. “I can’t talk loud, hope you can hear me. Colonel, there’s about two hundred men in ambush on the high side above the road there, and there’s more, don’t know how many, taking positions on the low side. They’re prone with crossbows loaded and ready. They’re waiting for someone to come in range. Probably you.”

  “Four hundred men.”

  “Maybe that many, yes, Sir.”

  “Horses?”

  “Not with them. Maybe down the hill, but I haven’t seen any.”

  “Crossbows. Mail armor?”

  “Yes, Sir, near as I can see. I haven’t tried to get that close, Colonel.”

  “Any sign of the king? Or anyone we know?”

  “Can’t tell from this distance even with night glasses. They’re hiding out, but some of them are pretty close to the road.”

  “Right. Good work. Anything behind me?”

  “No enemies I saw. Major Baker is bringing up some of his Gurkhas,” Rand said. “They’re maybe ten minutes behind you. They’re scouting more careful than I was, I was trying to stay ahead of you. The Major’s channel is labeled ‘Baker.’ Over.”

  “Okay. Out for a moment, then. Stand by.”

  Captain Radnos trotted back to Rick. Enipses came back to join them. “It is never wise to keep a Wanax waiting,” Enipses said. “And the pages will surely have told him of our approach.”

  “They did indeed, My Lord Justiciar,” Radnos said. “Warlord, is there some concern?”

  “Not sure yet, Captain. I will need a few moments. Please bring your escorts back closer to us.”

  “My Lord?”

  “Indulge me, Captain.” Rick turned the frequency turret until the word baker appeared in the display window, then thumbed the button. “Baker?”

  Silence, then “Baker here, Colonel. I’m moving up to join you. I heard the report from Leftenant Rand.”

  “Lieutenant?”

  “Brevet. I sent Corporal Ranui and five of my troops with Sergeant Rand, and told the corporal to treat Rand like an officer for this mission,” Baker said. “Works better. I’m bringing up thirty of my lads. We’ll be in position in a few minutes.”

  Warner came up to join the other star men.

  “This is odd, Skipper,” he said.

  “You can say that again, Mr. Warner,” Bisso muttered.

  “Warlord, what is the delay?” Captain Radnos demanded. “His Majesty will be impatient.”

  “I regret that, but His Majesty will have to endure his impatience,” Rick said. “Please bring your men a bit closer. Thank you. Tell me, Captain Radnos, what do you know of an armed body of men concealed beside the road just ahead of us?”

  “My Lord?”

  Bisso looked to Rick, then made hand signals to the escort. Stand ready. Action expected. There was a loud metallic sound as Passavopolous charged the LMG. The mounted archers spread out slightly as the men muttered to each other. The foot archers dismounted and strung their bows.

  “What is this?” Enipses demande
d. “Armed men?”

  “Lying in wait ahead of us, My Lord Justiciar,” Rick said. “On that bluff ahead that overlooks the road. Others on the low side of the road. In ambush. You didn’t know?”

  “No, of course I did not know—how do you know this?” Enipses demanded.

  “I have star ways,” Rick said. And damned good men who can run ahead of a mounted party scouting as they go. “Captain Radnos, are those your men lying in wait ahead of us?”

  “No, Warlord!” Radnos looked around. Four rifles were not quite aimed at him. The horse archers finished stringing bows and made arrows ready.

  Haerther frowned and moved between Rick and Captain Radnos. He held his shield in a ready position, his hand on his sword.

  “Bisso,” Rick said.

  “Sir!”

  “Dismount the escort. Form a defensive perimeter. Defend in all directions but heaviest to forward,” Rick said in English. He pointed down the road. “About four hundred men with crossbows.”

  “Sir!” Bisso issued rapid orders. “Dismount and prepare to fight on foot! Horse holders take the mounts to our rear. Expected attack from ahead! Move!”

  Rick changed to the Drantos dialect of the Tran language.

  “Lord Enipses, I suggest you stay with us, but if you do, you will have no need for your escort. They may join Captain Radnos. There, on the road ahead of us. Captain, you will please have all your men dismount and stand in place. Right there, please, Captain, and at once.”

  “Warlord—”

  “Precisely. The Warlord of Drantos has given you a direct order, on what may be a battlefield, Captain. I expect to be obeyed.” Rick pointed to Passavopolous and the light machine gun. “And I have the means to enforce that order if it comes to that. Have your men dismount. Now.”

  “It is my duty to defend you,” Radnos said.

  “Thank you, Captain, but for the moment the best thing you can do for me is to dismount all your men and stay just there, in the middle of the road, just ahead of us. Bisso, if anyone tries to ride out of here, cut him down.”

  “Roger that, Skipper.”

  “That goes for Lord Enipses’ escorts,” Rick said. “My Lord Justiciar, we will see that you are safe. Your escorts will join Captain Radnos in forming a forward defensive position in case of need. For the moment it’s better that they stay where I can see them. In this light that means close by.”

  “Warlord Rick, what is this?” Enipses sputtered.

  “My Lord Justiciar, there was an ambush set up just ahead of us. Captain Radnos had to pass through it on his way here. Doubtless if he’d sensed any danger he would have warned us, but apparently he didn’t. You will forgive me if I rely on my own resources under the circumstances?”

  Rick signaled to one of the clansman horse archers.

  “Duncan!”

  “Yes, My Lord!”

  “See to Lord Enipses. Find him a safe place within our defenses. Choose a partner to hold your horses. Your task is to see to the Justiciar’s safety. Guard him well and closely.”

  “With my life, My Lord!” Duncan seized the reins and led Enipses back down the road before the Justiciar could protest.

  Passavopolous was conferring with Bisso. They moved to the small ditch to the side of the road. Ark set the gun mount at the lip of the ditch and locked the LMG to it.

  “Good field of fire here,” Ark said. He didn’t add that he also covered Radnos and his men ten paces away. “We got time to dig in, Colonel?”

  “Don’t know.”

  Bisso waved the other star men to either side of the machine gun.

  “Colonel, just back here behind Ark if you will, Sir.”

  “My Lords! What are you doing?” Radnos demanded.

  “Captain,” Rick said. “Let me be blunt. I want you and all of your men where I can see them.” He handed the reins of his mount to Haerther. “Get some help,” Rick said. “I want you to look after Lord Bisso’s mount. And Lord Ark’s mule.”

  “You be careful with Sugarplum,” Passavopolous said. “Big as I am there’s not many other critters I can ride. Colonel, you got any idea of what we’re facing?”

  “Maybe nothing,” Rick said in English. “But maybe three to four hundred, probably with crossbows. The troops with Radnos may or may not be in on this ambush,” Rick said. He changed to the local dialect. “Bisso, make sure the troops understand. No shooting unless you’re shot at, not without direct orders, except if Radnos or any of his troops try to get out of here, one warning shot, then cut them down.”

  “Sir.”

  Rick selected channel six and thumbed the talk button.

  “Rand here.”

  “Report.”

  “Nothing different. Bunch of men at arms, crossbows and swords, lying flat on the ground. They were watching the road, now they look upset. There’s somebody moving up and down the line like he’s giving instructions, but I can’t see who it is. Colonel, I don’t know how much longer I can hang out here before they see me, but I think long enough. Major Baker’s brought up the Gurkhas and he’s ready to deploy them. I think he’s got in mind surrounding them.”

  “Surrounding them?”

  “Sure seems like it to me, Colonel.”

  Rick thought about that.

  “Galloway out.” He changed channels again.

  “Baker here.”

  “Major, what are you doing?”

  “Deploying to neutralize the threat, Colonel.”

  “Do you intend to attack four hundred men with your detachment?”

  “Certainly. With your permission, of course.”

  “Not overreaching?”

  “I wouldn’t think so. We have complete surprise. My men have good night vision. Our first volleys will take out a hundred or so. I wouldn’t expect the others to put up much of a fight after that. I mean, they haven’t before.”

  Rick thought about that for a moment.

  “You think these are Drantos troops, then?”

  “No data, Colonel, but who else would they be?”

  “Part of the Fiver army.”

  “And how would they know to be here, Colonel?”

  “Good question. So you think you can take them.”

  “I’m quite certain of it.”

  “Carry on, but do not begin action unless you’re attacked. I don’t know what we’re facing. There’s some indication that those men are Drantos nobility, and if they are, every one we kill could be a new blood feud! That’s a general instruction, Major, keep the slaughter to a minimum. We not only have to win a battle, we have to live with the consequences. Over.”

  “Understood, Colonel. I’ll get the proper instructions to my troops. One thing, we believe we’ve spotted their leader.”

  “I would very much appreciate it if you could take that man alive,” Rick said.

  “Understood.”

  “Okay, then. Out.” Rick switched the set off and looked around.

  Who the hell are we facing? Could the Wanax be down there? We’re nominally in Fiver territory, but I don’t know of any Fiver troops in here, and how would they know to lay an ambush for me anyway? Baker’s probably right that these are Drantos troops, and we’ve got to cross a good stretch of Drantos to get to the coast. And God help us if it comes to civil war! Tylara’s got enough to worry about with the Fiver army in Chelm, she sure doesn’t need Drantos troops ravaging Chelm.

  Calm, he thought. We don’t know what we’re facing or why. Enipses seems genuinely surprised. Can’t tell about Radnos. He could be a good actor. But why? There’s no reason Ganton would want us dead. None I can think of. One thing’s sure, this took time to organize, must have started just after Enipses set off to see me. Someone knew we’d come this way, and when. Who besides Wanax Ganton?

  “Colonel, I’m sure glad we didn’t ride into a trap,” Bisso said. “But how the hell did you know about it?”

  “I sent Rand out ahead of us,” Rick said.

  “So that’s why we moved so slow
,” Passavopolous said. “Well, it’s a lucky thing you sent him out.”

  Not precisely luck, Rick thought. Or was it? He looked around at his small command. The escort had seemed large enough when they left camp, but now it seemed tiny.

  Rick’s troops were deployed in a circle, most of them in an arc centered on Ark and the LMG, others farther back down the road with the horses. Some of the horses were lying on the ground. Others resisted. Two centaurs were screaming defiance at their handlers. Rick’s rear guard was a scene of confusion, but everything else seemed orderly.

  Out in front of him it was a different story. Enipses’ original escort and the detachment under Radnos were dismounted, but they milled about, some taking a defensive posture, others arguing. All of the horses were standing, but they’d been bunched into groups of five with a horse holder to each group. There was loud cursing.

  “Mr. Warner, come with me, please,” Rick said. He went back to the center of his perimeter. The Justiciar was seated inside a circle of shields held by clansmen. “Lord Enipses,” he said softly.

  Enipses stood.

  “Warlord, I protest—”

  “Another time, My Lord Justiciar,” Rick said. “We have no time now. I have a question for you.”

  Enipses frowned, then nodded.

  “There is always time for the proper courtesies, My Lord. Having said that, I will overlook formalities at this time. Yes, My Lord?”

  “There are four hundred men, with crossbows, lying in wait less than two stadia up this road,” Rick said. “They’re concealed and ready. Do you have any reason why I shouldn’t kill the lot of them?”

  “But who are they?”

  “That, My Lord Justiciar, is precisely what I’m trying to find out.”

  “Surely you do not suspect that I—or that His Majesty—that these are our soldiers?”

  “My Lord Justiciar, I suspect nothing. I merely want to be certain that these are enemies, and no one you know about, before I kill them all.”

  “Warlord, I know nothing of them. Nothing!”

  “Thank you. Now how well do you know Captain Radnos?”

  “Warlord, I know him not at all.”

  “He’s not part of the Royal Guard?”

  “Of course not.”

  “He said he was.”