by Brian Thomas
Fearing they may be killed in a stampede Bulusi was relieved to see the remaining horses calm after they had milled for a while. Once the nomads had ridden off the horses left behind returned to grazing and Bulusi settled down in the grass while he waited for Zun and the others to arrive.
It wasn’t long before he was signalling his men again and joining Zun in the camp. On seeing the last of the Green Snake clan leave Mordaki and his three companions had charged their horses into the camp ahead of Zun’s men. They were going from yurt to yurt, turning out the women and freeing any of the men still alive. More than half of the men had been killed, the rest had been kept alive for amusement much as Mordaki had anticipated and were in poor shape. Most of the women had been poorly abused by the raiders and they had all lost someone close to them, though many others would have been summarily killed as the raiders left if not for Zun’s unexpected appearance.
Bulusi watched the tearful reunions from afar, wondering at their own intervention to help nomads and hoped Zun didn’t come to regret saving them in the future.
Zun’s force stayed in the nomad camp for the evening, taking the opportunity to tend their wounded and rest. Seeing the poor condition of the clan men Zun suggested they accompany them to New Town under their protection, to give the Green Snake raiders time to clear the area and allow some time for Mordaki’s people to recover. Bandu and Mordaki had quickly agreed, more than aware of their group’s vulnerability with so many of their men either dead or recovering from their wounds.
The Green Snake raiders had been driving a large horse herd of their own when they had come across the Running Dog camp. These now belonged to Zun, leaving him wondering what to do with them and how best to look after them. They would be invaluable to New Town but their care and how to make best use of them remained a mystery. Mordaki had laughed across the fire at him, saying that with enough grass and water they would look after themselves and even multiply over a season.
Zun decided to scout out a valley near New Town where he could seal off all the entrances and leave them largely to their own devices, while he kept a small band on hand to train with. He would have to set up a small outpost to guard the distant herd but had a place in mind where he could seal off all but a single entry point leading almost up to the stockade, making it easier to protect them without having to post a large permanent guard. He was well pleased with their new horse herd and was already busy planning how he might be able to use them for the benefit of their community.
The following day, determined to get a head start on anyone else in the camp, Shushan persuaded Mordaki to show her how to ride on a good tempered mare. Despite the inevitable discomfort of learning to ride Shushan was pleased at the quick progress she made on the journey home. By the time they arrived back at the stockade Shushan was confident enough to encourage her mount into a canter, with a reasonable expectation of directing it in approximately the right direction while staying on.
Mordaki rode effortlessly beside Zun as they watched Shushan’s progress, with Zun speculating how long before he might have mounted soldiers. The nomadic clans rode with a simple blanket over the back of their horses but at his academy Zun had seen drawings of horses wearing saddles, which aided a rider when fighting. With these things in mind Zun extracted all the information about horses he could think of from Mordaki as they travelled. Pleased to be able to help and demonstrate his knowledge Mordaki had volunteered much. Drawing closer Shushan just managed to keep her seat as the horse snatched its bridle forward, prompting Zun to ask. “How long would it take to train my men to ride and fight from the saddle?”
Mordaki shrugged, it was something the nomadic people did almost as soon as they could walk but thinking of Shushan’s progress he said brightly. “If they learn as quickly as the Ice Maiden, two to three months and they would be able to ride reasonably well. Another few months and they could shoot from the back of a horse but you will need shorter bows. Yours are too long for use on a horse.”
Zun had frowned at him, wondering who the Ice Maiden was when Shushan jogged up to them, bouncing precariously on the rough blanket covering her mount’s back. Wearing a broad smile at her achievement there was no masking the smugness she felt as she guided the beast towards Zun and Mordaki. Pulling on the reigns to halt beside Zun she was surprised and pleased when his face lit up and he smiled at her.
She was less pleased when his grin spread further and he began laughing, eventually looking away from her in the direction of their stockade. Unable to control his mirth as the Ice Maiden beamed down at him he had to look away. Her smile disappeared and she sat frowning down at him wondering at the joke as he eventually stopped laughing, small tears at the corners of his eyes. When he looked up at her again he chuckled, shaking his head as he broke away from them to give instructions to the men walking beside the horse herd, leaving her none the wiser.
Shushan watched Zun walk across to the men marching beside the herd, certain she had something to do with his amusement but not sure what. Still frowning Shushan asked Mordaki. “What’s so funny?”
Mordaki was as bemused as Shushan. “Perhaps Lord Zun is pleased at having won so many horses and that he could have a mounted army in such a short time.” though, his voice lacked conviction. Mordaki was still getting familiar with the language and thought he must have missed some subtlety, which had amused Lord Zun.
Chapter 30
Sheywen rode into the town at the head of his men. A force which had swollen to four hundred as he had added other free agents along the way. Two hundred were mounted while the rest marched or jogged alongside in formation to keep up. He looked over his shoulder as they entered the town. There was no uniformity in their House uniform across his band as with regular soldiers. There was instead a cacophony of kit they’d had when he found them. Not the highly trained soldiers he had been used to but they were all experienced fighters and he was satisfied they would be sufficient for his needs.
When Sheywen had first been approached about coming to the town’s aid he already had plans to move into the same area. Jierui’s enquiry matched Sheywen’s own plans so closely he thought the Spirits must have intervened in his favour. On behalf of the town council Jierui had invited him to contract as the town’s militia, reporting directly to Jierui as head councillor. Their first task had been included in the invitation. Eject the gangs who were extorting the citizens and bleeding them dry. Sheywen had no problem with the task. The gang members could join his band and follow his orders or there was no place for them. Sheywen had now arrived to do the extorting and would be a lot more effective about it if the town could still afford to pay for mercenaries.
Glancing around him as they made their way to the town centre Sheywen thought the place a shabby and uninspiring backwater. It looked as though it had grown overnight and with little thought or planning along the way. Evidence of the influx of refugees was all around and as the citizens emerged from their houses, or stopped on the street to watch their progress, it was not difficult to spot the disreputable element he was expected to expel. He estimated there would be about ten thousand people in the town, far more than Jierui had indicated so it must be growing quickly and more than the surrounding cultivated land looked able to support.
Unexpectedly, Sheywen saw there was another settlement on a distant low hill behind the town. There was a well-used track leading to a reasonable wooden stockade that shielded the other settlement. Not as good as a stone dressed wall but, nevertheless, far superior to what this town had. He had simply marched in unchallenged. Sheywen was surprised the town had lasted as long as it had, avoiding attacks from nomads and bandits alike on what was the frontier, the no-man’s land between the empire and the barbarians. Well he was here now and it would match his purposes very well. When it no longer did so he would go, taking his men with him and leaving the good citizens to their own devises.
On reaching what he took to be the town centre a middle-aged man stepped out from the crowd to mee
t him, his small eyes glinting and full of his own self importance. Sheywen guessed this must be Master Jierui who had written and contacted the go-betweens securing his services. The man bowed to Sheywen, hesitant at first the bow could be taken as a polite greeting between equals or as from someone more senior to an artisan. Sheywen smiled slyly, deciding he would play the part as long as it suited him. Let this petty official dressed up as a master think he was in charge, while Sheywen saw to his own interests. The good citizens would be more easily manipulated while they thought he worked for them.
Jierui was looking at the host of men behind Sheywen and their horses. Though he wouldn’t wish his ignorance known he had never seen a horse before and was relieved when Sheywen halted his men in the street at a safe distance from him. “Welcome to our town Lord Sheywen. I am Master Jierui, come in and refresh yourself. Then we may discuss matters in the comfort and shade of my house.”
Sheywen made an elaborate bow from the back of his horse, playing to the curious crowd that thronged the streets. “Thank you Master Jierui, but you have already assigned my first task and before I could sit comfortably at your table I must put the process of completing it in hand.”
So saying Sheywen nodded to his sub-commanders who he had briefed before they entered the town. They were to conduct a sweep of the town gathering all those who looked like they weren’t part of the sheep he intended to fleece over the coming months. As they were evicted their premises were to be searched for anything of value, which was now his, and they were to be held outside the town boundary. Sheywen wanted to do this quickly so when they saw which way the wind was blowing and that a new power had arrived their accumulated loot wouldn’t disappear before he had a chance to secure it. Act while they were unprepared and it would be easier he had commanded. At Sheywen’s nod of command the sub-commanders burst into life, peeling off with their men to form a rough skirmish line and sweep the town from one side to the other, pre-assigned squads quickly moving from one building to the next.
Jierui looked surprised and then pleased. By the time Sheywen climbed down from his horse to join him Jierui was feeling confident he had implemented a perfect solution to the town’s woes, in the process elevating his own position and prestige as Sheywen and his men were clearly reporting to him. He couldn’t resist casting a jealous glance at the stockade on the hill, which seemed to smirk down at him. A constant reminder of his humiliation in front of Belaini.
Until her sister’s arrival at the town and that dreadful meeting over dinner he had known it was only a matter of time before Belaini became his. Now that she had left to join her sister she would soon be weeping over her poor decision and lost opportunity, watching Jierui rise but now beyond her reach.
Perhaps it had been fortunate she had left after all, he thought, saving him from settling for less than he deserved and below his rising status. Jierui waved Sheywen into his house, both men pleased with their new association.
It was early evening before Sheywen emerged from Jierui’s house to walk across the town to the staging area where his men guarded those gathered from their sweep. They were in two groups, one much smaller than the other. Sheywen made straight for Mading who seeing him approach left the guards to meet him. They walked together so Sheywen could look over the larger group. “Any problems?” he asked Mading.
Mading shrugged. “None we couldn’t handle. We were on them too quick for any organised resistance and the town’s folk were only too pleased to point them out. There are a few sore heads on their part, no injuries with our men.”
Sheywen nodded as he scanned the larger group. “Who amongst them looks likely to be the most trouble?”
Mading nodded discreetly towards one of the men who faced them from within the cordon as they approached, a fat man with small vicious eyes which followed them speculatively as they approached. “This one I would say. Like a fox, would kill a whole chicken coop for the pleasure of it but would run if facing a real threat. If he got you, it would be with a knife in the back or because he’d sent someone else to do his dirty work. He was in control of the biggest gang.” spitting for emphasis Mading added, “Wouldn’t trust him if my life depended on it. There are a few others like him but I’d say he is the worst of them.”
Sheywen strolled in front of the largest group of gathered men ordering the guards to stand back. These were the men Mading had selected as possible new recruits to Sheywen’s own command. Men who looked like they were reasonably healthy, of the right age and might be trained to fight. The smaller group included those rejected by Mading for whatever reason. They were to be expelled from the town out of hand. Sheywen looked the larger group over as they all stood to face him, regarding him with a combination of resentment and curiosity.
Sheywen began walking casually in front of them, matching glances with as many as he could while he addressed them. “For a while you were the top dogs. You ruled the roost and none in the town dared to stand against you. But that is all you were, dogs. Whereas I am a wolf!”
His tone was measured, the sentences short and to the point. There was no mistaking the force of his personality or sincerity as he spoke to them. “You had your time and it is over. I rule the roost now and you have only two choices. The first is to join my band and follow my orders. The second is to go the way of these men over here. They are not man enough for what I need and have no choice. Do not think you can decide to join me and then do as you did before. If you join my band you will commit to follow my orders and you will do so or die.”
Sheywen looked across at the men who had not been expecting the invitation and wore expressions varying from suspicion to interest. “Who amongst you were leaders and commanded other men here? Come, step forward!”
A few men stepped forward, some more reluctantly than others. Soon he had about ten men standing in front of the four hundred or so in the group. The fat man pointed out earlier by Mading was not amongst them. He looked on curiously, watching to see what would happen next. Sheywen continued strolling in front of the men as he spoke to them. “I will select new sub-commanders from amongst you. To command you must be a natural leader. Someone who rises above the others. To remain a commander you will fight well and show your courage to your men by leading in the fighting. Some of you men have shown these qualities already by leading here and you may continue to command in the future. We will see. But above all, you will be loyal to me. You will follow my commands. You will not lie to me. You will not seek to deceive me.”
At this point Sheywen was level with the fat man pointed out by Mading earlier but who had remained in the ranks rather than stepping forward as instructed. Sheywen stopped to face him, resting his right hand on the sword hilt at his waist. Those standing beside the fat man suddenly stepped back to leave him isolated. The man’s eyes narrowed even further as he now faced Sheywen alone. “You did not step forward, yet you commanded the largest group. Why did you not do as I instructed?” The question was loud enough for all to hear.
The man gave a sly smile and indicated the leaders who had stepped forward. “You did not say what you were going to do with these men. For all I know you might want to kill them, lest they pose a threat to you.” The man shrugged depreciatingly. “I only wished to see what happened next.”
“This man has a point.” Sheywen nodded and continued to speak loudly enough for all to hear. Then moving so quickly it was totally unexpected Sheywen used his left hand to sweep a knife blade across the man’s throat. Seeing the blade flash as it caught the light on its way the man’s eyes widened and he began raising his hands to deflect the blow, but it was too late. He staggered back blood spurting from his severed jugular, before crashing to his knees and then falling on his face in the dust.
Sheywen continued in the same even tone as he had before, beginning to stroll in front of the group again who were regarding him cautiously. Any sign of resentment or threat now gone in case it attract his unwelcome attention. “It was a good point, but he made three mi
stakes.” Blood dripped from the knife in Sheywen’s hand as he used it to emphasise the points while he continued to stroll in front of the silent men, those who had stepped forward earlier now looking especially anxious. “His first mistake was not to obey my command. My command to step forward and declare he was one of your previous leaders when I gave it. His second mistake was to think he was smarter than I am. He was not. And his third mistake, and this is the one which offends me most. His third mistake was to think he would join me only to work against me. Planning to kill me and take over command of my men, becoming their new leader in my place.”
Sheywen had continued strolling in front of the cowed men as he spoke but then stopped. He looked at them, catching many directly in the eye. “Any man may challenge me for command of my band. Do so and there will be a fair combat between me and my challenger. One winner and one dead loser. The contest fair and open for all to see. Do any here wish to challenge me for leadership of my band?”
Most of the men in the group took an involuntary step back. Sheywen was a big man and obviously had skill with weapons. A few gave sideways looks at the fat man lying still in the dust. His fresh blood was starting to attract flies. None stepped forward. Sheywen waited longer than was necessary to emphasise the point.
“Good. And now you must choose. Come with me or go the way of these others over here. If you would go, then do so and stand with them. Stay and you will be issued with a sword and a knife and from that point on you will be mine.” Sheywen signalled to the men waiting to one side holding the weapons previously confiscated from the gathered men. With a gesture he signalled for those who wished to join him to form queues and select a weapon from those available.
One or two men cautiously started in the direction of the other group, which had been sitting and watching nervously. Sheywen smiled encouragement, waving them on and watched as the weapons were issued to his new recruits. “Make your choice. I wish only committed followers.” Eventually all those who had decided to stay with him were armed and those deciding to leave had joined the other group.