Artesans of Albia: 02 - King's Champion

by Cas Peace

  There were no dissenters. The pirates who had crossbows eagerly began to arm them. Robin loosed his crossbow from its straps on the saddle. It was a one-shot weapon, impossible to rearm in such close quarters, but one well-aimed bolt meant one less enemy to fight. The rest of the band drew their swords, holding the blades at their sides.

  “Form up into your watch teams,” called Sullyan. “Jay’el, please ride on my right.”

  The young pirate refused to meet her gaze, but he did sullenly kick his horse up beside her. Ki-en was just behind him, and he grinned nervously at Sullyan. She put Jay’el’s childish resentment out of her mind and accepted Robin’s and Ky-shan’s nods of readiness.

  “Ride on,” she called, nudging Drum with her heels.

  The pirates were plainly astounded when she didn’t fall back behind them, but rode at their head as before. Despite her instructions for silence, she heard one man hiss at another, “Do you think she knows what she’s doing? She’ll likely get herself killed ....”

  She ignored him, too intent on the outcome of the raid. They moved forward at a steady trot, following Kester’s lead. After a few minutes, she felt his unpracticed touch on her mind. He and the other scouts had the enemy in sight. Her heart began to pound, and she felt the familiar rush of trepidation and excitement fill her, as it did at the start of every fight.

  She gave a prearranged signal, sending Ky-shan’s group off to the left. They would circle round and cut off the enemy’s line of retreat. A few minutes later, she heard yells and the ringing of steel. Kester’s group had engaged Rykan’s men.

  “Charge!” she called, and the pirates surged forward, moving as fast as they could through the trees. Then she could see Kester dead ahead, he and his men battling a small group of enemy horsemen.

  The forest filled with shouts of warning and rage. The distinctive thunk as the pirates loosed their crossbows was alarmingly loud. As the enemy realized they were surrounded, they clustered together, but they were too slow. Horses screamed as the pirates plunged into their midst. Metal rang on metal, followed by the screams of men. Figures flashed in and out of Sullyan’s vision, and her entire attention narrowed to what was immediately before her. Drum bore her powerfully forward, and her sword flashed as one of Rykan’s men engaged her. She ran him through.

  She felt Drum kick out and heard the dull thud as his steel-shod hoof met flesh. There was no scream. Then he reared, and she cut downward as an unhorsed rider ran past, fleeing Jay’el’s curved blade. The man collapsed and Drum bore her onward, toward her next target.

  She cut down two more men before realizing her band was gaining control. “Ky-shan,” she yelled, “finish them!”

  Within twenty minutes, it was over. Sullyan dealt her final opponent a vicious cut to the head and looked round, seeing only familiar faces. “Pull back,” she called, and Ky-shan echoed her shout, gathering the pirates round him.

  They returned the way they had come and found a suitable site to rest. Sullyan walked among the euphoric men, congratulating them and checking for injuries. Incredibly, they hadn’t lost a single man in this skirmish, and their few wounds were minor. She had them retreat further into the forest, looking for a suitable campsite. Some of them muttered against this, wanting to strike the enemy again, but Sullyan insisted they rest. The short day was already beginning to fade, and the going would soon become impossible within the confines of the trees.

  She and Robin did their rounds as usual, astounding the men once more as they stopped to check the wounded. Sullyan even helped heal a few. The whispers that followed her round the camp that evening were even more appreciative than the night before.

  She came to Ky-shan last and spent some time with him, praising his men and discussing their next move. She also enquired how his own wound did and used her power to speed him back to full strength.

  He tried to protest. “You shouldn’t use your energies on us like this, Lady. You need your strength for yourself.”

  She looked him squarely in the eye. “Out here among the enemy, I am only as strong as the weakest of my command. Now, please deploy your watch teams as last night.”

  As she walked back to Marik and Robin, she could feel the stocky pirate’s eyes on her. She hoped he was considering her words and what he had seen that day.

  The next two days passed in similar fashion. Thanks mainly to Almid’s and Kester’s scouting skills, they located and destroyed many groups of stragglers who had become isolated from Rykan’s main forces. The Lord General’s strategy was working well, and Robin linked with General Ephan to report their success.

  On the evening of their fourth day, they relaxed as usual after yet another successful attack. The troops they had ambushed that day proved to be the toughest yet, and Sullyan’s authority was tested to the utmost as she directed her men in the most effective maneuvers. Used now to seeing her fight alongside them and respecting her skills, the pirates instantly obeyed her orders in the heat of battle. There were few serious injuries to deal with that night.

  The only complaint she could make of her new command concerned the way they addressed her. She couldn’t convince any of them to call her Major. They all insisted on using Lady. It galled her, but she had to let it go. That night as she did her rounds, she was intrigued to hear some of the pirates referring to Robin as ‘Skip,’ so she asked Ky-shan about it as she spent her usual hour with him before retiring for the night.

  They drank fellan round his campfire. The pirate had laced his own beverage liberally with brine rum against the night’s chill, so he said. He grinned at Sullyan where she sat opposite him, wrapped in her cloak against the cold, leaping flames playing on the gold of her rank insignia.

  “The thing is, Lady, in our eyes ‘captain’ means the master of a sea-going vessel, and of course that doesn’t apply here. The closest term my lads could come up with was ‘skipper,’ which is an informal version of the same word. They mean no disrespect by it. In fact, it shows they’re comfortable with him, so don’t you worry about it. It’s just their way.”

  Sullyan had no intention of trying to change things; they were working out well as far as she was concerned. Robin was feeling more at ease with the men too, now that they had accepted him as one of their own. Fondly, she watched him moving among the pirates, exchanging pleasantries or insults depending on the individual. She went to her rest that night satisfied with their success.

  The next day, things went terribly wrong.

  * * * * *

  The night watches passed peacefully as usual. Sullyan had come to terms with Jay’el’s smoldering resentment and resolved to ignore it as long as he followed orders. Putting him in nominal charge of the dawn watch hadn’t mellowed him as she had hoped it might, and she didn’t know how else to win him over.

  After breaking camp, they scouted for more of Rykan’s men, soon discovering a large band of his troops moving their way. Once again, they managed to split the band and kill most of the men, but the band sustained many more injuries in this fray. It was something she had feared—their successes so far were making the pirates over-confident. It was mid-afternoon and they were far out on the right flank, so Sullyan ordered them to rest. She and Robin did what they could for the injured. The Captain had sent scouts to keep an eye on the enemy. An hour before dusk, one of them rode in at speed. He headed straight for Sullyan.

  “Lady!”

  She looked up, recognizing the man. “What is it, Xeer?”

  He grinned, his teeth flashing white in his dark-skinned face. “It’s Count Marik, Lady. He says, will you come?”

  Leaving the remainder of her men to their rest, Sullyan called Robin and Ky-shan to her, mounted Drum, and followed Xeer back the way he had come. They concealed the horses where he indicated and moved cautiously through the trees to where Marik and the other scouts lay. They were watching a clearing where a large number of Rykan’s men were settling in for the night. Sullyan crept close to the Count and touched his arm. He glanced
at her and she could just make out his eager expression in the deepening gloom. He gave a nod of his head, indicating the main body of troops, and Sullyan studied them. There were around a hundred men bunched together in the middle of the campsite, the rest of the force ranged in a ring around them. Most of those in the center sat hunched on the ground, morose and dispirited. Only a few were talking among themselves.

  There was no doubt that the men in the center were being watched, guarded even, by those on the outside. A predatory smile appeared on Sullyan’s lips.

  “Now here is an unexpected opportunity!”

  Marik grinned back, and they withdrew to a safe distance. When they had gone far enough not to be overheard, Sullyan turned to her Captain. “What do you think, Robin?”

  “We can’t miss a chance like this, Major. It’ll need a good plan, though.”

  Ky-shan frowned and Sullyan explained. “The men in the center of the camp are Count Marik’s retainers, members of his court who were conscripted into Rykan’s forces when the Duke took me captive.”

  The pirate’s face cleared and he chuckled. “Ah-ha! And you want to liberate them?”

  Sullyan nodded.

  “Shall we sneak up on them at dawn, before they’re fully awake?”

  “Dawn?” she echoed, looking hungrily over her shoulder toward the enemy camp. “No, Ky-shan, I will not wait that long. We will attack them tonight.”

  He snorted. “Tonight? You can’t attack in darkness!”

  She gave him a challenging stare. “When will they least expect an attack? When will they be least capable of responding? When can we maximize our greatest weapon of surprise? No, my friend, it has to be tonight. There are too many of them to risk it in daylight.” She turned to Robin. “Do you think you could get in there?”

  “To warn them, you mean? Yes, I think so, if I can slip past the sentries.”

  “Leave that to me. No, Ty,” she added, forestalling Marik’s protest, “Rykan’s troops might recognize you, and they know you are not with your men. Do not forget the price the Duke has set on your head.”

  Marik clearly had forgotten it. Ky-shan, who hadn’t heard about it, regarded the Count with renewed interest.

  Sullyan laid a hand on Marik’s arm. “Robin will go in and alert your men. Who will be leading them?”

  Marik shrugged. “Nazir, if he’s still alive.”

  “Very well, gentlemen, let us return to the men. Once it is dark, we will approach Rykan’s camp and surround it. On my signal, we will rush them from all sides. With your men fighting from within, Ty, the resulting confusion should enable them to escape Rykan’s troops. You will regain your men, which should earn you the Hierarch’s favor.” She eyed him slyly. “It will also put you in a good light with the Princess.”

  Marik colored to the hairline.

  Once more, Sullyan and Robin edged closer to the camp. Robin pulled up the hood of his cloak and wrapped its folds tightly around him. Then he nodded at Sullyan.

  “Wait for my diversion, Robin, and then move as swiftly as you can. We will stay close by until we know you are safe.”

  She moved away from him, watching as he wormed his way toward the nearest guards. There were six of them, standing close beside their campfire. Sullyan touched his mind, warning him to be ready. Suddenly, a stray flutter of breeze blew sparks from the fire onto the thick wool of two of the sentries’ cloaks. In no time the men were ablaze, and their fellow sentries had to swiftly pull them down, rolling them on the ground to put out the fire.

  Go, Robin!

  Unseen, Robin flitted past the frantic guards and melted into the main body of troops. Once she was sure he was safe, Sullyan asked Xeer and the other scouts to keep an eye on Rykan’s men. Then she led Marik and Ky-shan back to camp. Swiftly, she split the band into groups with Ky-shan commanding one section, Marik another, Kester and Almid the third, and she the fourth. Like Ky-shan, the pirates were a little dubious about attacking at night, but they all liked Marik, considering him an outcast like themselves, and were keen to help him. They soon had their horses saddled and mounted, waiting on Sullyan’s command.

  As she led them forward at the head of her section, her sword in her left hand, she caught the sound of muttering. It was Jay’el, whispering to Ki-en and two other men behind him. She flashed him a look and he fell silent, his expression morose. Irritation rose and she forced it down. She needed her whole attention on this night’s work.

  It didn’t take them long to reach their positions. Sullyan had left Robin’s horse with the scouts’ mounts, and now she checked that he was free to move. The big chestnut was trained to come at Robin’s whistle and would fight to reach his master’s side at need. When all were ready, the men fanned out, following Sullyan’s directions. Despite her earlier confidence, she was uneasy about Robin and didn’t want to leave him vulnerable for a moment longer than necessary.

  She was vaguely aware of Jay’el, still murmuring rebelliously beside her. She didn’t know whether he was irritated by the delay or scornful of this risky night raid. Whichever it was, she would have to deal with his insubordination once this attack was over. She ignored him and reached for Robin’s mind. Sensing his eager response, she smiled.

  Mindful of Rykan somewhere in these woods, Sullyan felt deep within for the pattern of her psyche. Controlling her metaforce tightly, she isolated the element of Fire. Tendrils of power uncurled, snaking through the substrate, reaching out and blending with the many watch fires around the camp perimeter. A slight pulse of metaforce made them flare brightly. Her own men, ready for the move, were shielding their eyes, but the sentries were caught by surprise. As a man they turned to the flames in alarm, instantly compromising their night vision.

  “Go!”

  Marik’s men, briefed and encouraged by Robin, immediately rose up to attack the sentries from behind. Simultaneously, all four of Sullyan’s units charged the camp, throwing the area into confusion. Despite their surprise and the ferocity of the attack, Rykan’s men gave no ground. The clashing of steel and the neighing of horses shattered the peace of the dark woods. Marik’s men, freed at last from the restraints of Rykan’s grip and finding their own lord in their midst, fought hard for liberty. Men fell on both sides.

  Sullyan yelled encouragement and plunged deep into the fray. Drum kicked and bit, trampling men under his hooves. Sullyan’s sword flashed, maiming and killing. The pirates fought hard around her, harrying Rykan’s men, leaving room for Marik’s to escape.

  Eventually the Count’s men won clear and ran for the trees. The pirates steered their horses close so the fleeing men could grab their stirrups. This way, each horse could carry three men. The remnants of Rykan’s band were in disarray and showed no signs of wanting to follow, so Sullyan ordered the few pirates still fighting to disengage. She sent Drum galloping round the fleeing group, checking on the men. She had seen a few of them fall, but most had survived. Two of those absent made her heart clench in fear.

  She urged Drum closer to Ky-shan. “Where is your son?”

  The pirate scowled and twisted in his saddle. “Jay’el!” His furious roar received no response.

  Sullyan counted heads. “Ki-en is not here either. Nor are Is-kel and Sh’iye.”

  Ky-shan swore and wrenched his mount to a skidding stop. One of his men came up to him, yelling, “I saw the young idiot go off with the other three. There was a small pocket of men still fighting. I think he wanted to finish them off.”

  Cursing, Sullyan spun Drum on his haunches, sending him plunging back the way they had come. Robin flanked her. Ky-shan roared at his men and dashed off in the same direction.

  Soon, the ringing of sword blades and the yelling of men guided them back to the clearing. In the dimness of the deserted watch fires, Sullyan spotted Jay’el, Ki-en, and the other two pirates surrounded by a group of Rykan’s men. All four were now on foot and fighting back to back. One of the older pirates was bleeding heavily. Without a thought, Sullyan sent Drum charging
into the massed warriors, barging through them and sending them running. Her sword flashed out with deadly accuracy. Robin followed her, Ky-shan and his men still some way behind.

  As she fought her way toward the four, the wounded pirate, Is-kel, went down. Sh’iye tried to defend him, but one of Rykan’s men thrust with his sword, opening a deep gash down the pirate’s thigh. Blood spurted and Sh’iye screamed. He wouldn’t last long with such a serious injury. Jay’el and his young friend were now in deadly peril. Sullyan yelled at Robin, and pushing herself to the limit, fought her way through to the two lads.

  As Drum surged up on Jay’el’s left, Sullyan kicked her right foot free of the stirrup. Fending off his attackers with deadly blows, she caught the frightened young seaman’s attention. “Jay’el! Hold the leather!”

  Jay’el looped his left arm around the stirrup leather and held on desperately as Sullyan urged the battling stallion out of the mêlée. Robin was already doing the same for Ki-en, who was bleeding and stumbling due to a badly wounded leg.

  Seeing them burdened, Rykan’s men closed in for the kill. Hampered by the weight of the boy on his right, Drum couldn’t lunge and slash effectively with his hooves. Sullyan’s sword arm was tiring as she beat off attackers from her left, Jay’el hacking desperately on her right.

  Then Ky-shan and his men crashed into the enemy flank and took a little pressure off. Sullyan heard yelling. Someone was rallying Rykan’s men, driving them on, and she and Jay’el found themselves facing an impenetrable wall of warriors. A crossbow thumped and Sullyan felt a wave of agony as a bolt sliced through the muscle of her right arm. She moaned in pain and dropped the reins, her right hand suddenly nerveless. Kicking Drum, she yelled at Jay’el.