by Brian Thomas
It wasn’t long before Sheywen and Mading joined them, both large men their dark silhouettes blocked out the bright light as they stood in the doorway before entering. Sheywen signalled Mading to wait by the door opposite Shushan while he sat at the table with Zun uninvited.
Mading stopped dead in his tracks when he saw who sat at the table. His men had told him Zun was dead, killed by the mad priest and yet there he sat larger than life. Mading’s initial pleasure was quickly dampened as he realised Zun would believe they had all left him to face the possessed priest on his own. If they were still of House Yeu Zun could legitimately order them executed and it was their fault the lieutenant would have been dishonoured before House Yeu. Controlling any sign of his thoughts Mading stood against the wall by the door, marvelling at the lieutenant’s survival and reappearance here in the middle of nowhere. Though this soon changed to concern at how the lieutenant would regard him and the others, especially now they were with Sheywen and potentially enemies.
Mading became aware he was the subject of someone’s scrutiny and turned to look at the girl just a few feet away on the other side of the entrance. She had an untamed look about her and a sense of barely suppressed energy, which made her quite striking. She regarded him without any sign of fear, a sword handle showing just over each of her slight shoulders. Mading had kept his face expressionless but knew how he looked. It had not been a pretty sight before the lightning blast caught him. Since then the burns had healed into disfiguring scars leaving him with an almost permanent sneer as the scar pulled the left side of his face up. He was impressed that even when he looked directly at her the young woman showed no emotion and Mading guessed her confidence was partly based on her sword craft. He was big and looked fearsome. To display such confidence she must be either very good or at least a good actress. Her frank assessment was unwavering as they regarded each other and he found himself respecting her courage, touched she showed no sign of obvious revulsion at his scars. Mading had grown used to people’s reaction since the lightning blast. Now he only felt comfortable in the company of his own men who alone treated him no differently than before he had acquired his scars.
He was taken by surprise when she spoke, quietly and for his ears only. “You are the one the priest called the lightning down on. We thought you had been killed.”
Mading squinted at the woman more closely but had no recollection of seeing her before. He was certain he would have remembered. “You were there?” At her nod he grunted. “You thought I was dead, the men thought I was dead and I thought I was dead.” He remained deadpan as he added, “Imagine everyone’s relief when they discovered I am alive and well.”
Shushan gave a tight smile. “He will be pleased you live. He has spoken fondly of you and regretted your death.”
Mading studied her for guile but finding none was unable to entirely conceal his surprise. The lieutenant had said nothing of any fondness when they had been together and he wondered if it could be true. Uncomfortable with the subject and wondering that he nevertheless continued he replied quietly. “The men miss him. We all thought him taken by the possessed priest, his body consumed by the demons.”
Shushan glanced across at Zun as he talked with Sheywen. “He recovers slowly. Not from the priest’s demons but his own demons at failing his mission and seeing his men desert him. When his men ran he saw it as his own failing rather than theirs. He fears another failure and questions his fitness to lead. The wound left by his own men takes longer to heal than the wound given by the priest.”
Mading felt uncomfortable under this young woman’s steady gaze discussing such sensitive events and the deep emotions they evoked. She must know the lieutenant well to be so certain of him. Mading looked out at the smart unit waiting for the lieutenant in the street. He envied their unsullied record with Zun and that they belonged to a community, the lieutenant’s own House. He was unable to look at her as he discussed the shameful act of the men and himself by association. “The men feel bad at what they did. They came back but he had gone.” Mading looked across at the lieutenant engaged in his own quiet conversation with Sheywen. “Now it is too late.” Mading thought over the series of events from the men’s flight after the lieutenant’s battle with the mad priest and where they had now ended up. “We stumble through our lives taking the path ahead without knowing where it leads and once we start down it there is no going back.” Mading frowned at his own wistful tone, irritated at himself for dwelling on past deeds that could not be undone.
Shushan’s steady look didn’t falter and Mading again admired her self-confidence and presumably her own unsullied history with the lieutenant. She frowned in irritation at him saying curtly. “Then cut a new path to the route you would prefer to travel, rather than wallow in self pity.”
Mading regarded her curiously again, impressed at her directness and aware she made him feel inadequate. But Shushan lost interest in their conversation instead watching Zun and Sheywen.
Zun and Sheywen had regarded each other silently for a while, when Sheywen asked coldly. “Why are you here, in my town?”
Zun held Sheywen’s gaze wanting him to know it was not fear of Sheywen that prompted the response. “To let you know we have no interest in what happens here in the old town.”
Sheywen was still cool as he asked with one eyebrow raised, “And the men outside?”
Zun gave a slow smile, the menace in it deliberate. “They are to convince you that you have no interest in my town.”
After a brief moment Sheywen leaned back smiling and relaxed. “That suits me. There is nothing for us to gain in being at each other’s throats. Only the sheep would benefit if the wolves were to tear each other apart.”
Zun raised his eyebrows in innocence. “This wolf has no intention of being torn apart, especially by a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Sheywen scowled at Zun. Then he chuckled with a knowing look at Zun. “We are not so different Lord Zun, and that is something I can understand. Then so be it. You stay on your patch and I will stay on mine.” Losing the smile and conveying genuine menace he added, “But give me cause and I will tear your heart out.”
Sheywen left the tavern, picking up Mading on the way. As they walked past Zun’s soldiers still in formation Sheywen paused to watch Zun lead them out of town, sucking his teeth slightly in appreciation of the unit. Looking across at Mading, his voice heavy with suspicion he demanded, “What were you talking about with the girl?”
Mading was surprised, thinking his conversation with her unnoticed. Not attempting to hide his surprise he raised both eyebrows before replying in the same dead pan tone he had used with the young woman earlier. “She thought I was handsome and wanted to bear my children. I told her she was too thin. To come ask me again when she had more meat on her and enough experience to make it worth the effort.”
Sheywen regarded him suspiciously for long seconds before breaking into a slow smile, chuckling as he continued down the road to their billet. Sheywen quickly reverted to the poor mood he’d had earlier. “The horses I have been expecting are late and I can’t wait any longer. I am taking my mounted men out and you will have to mind things here while I am gone.”
Mading grunted. “Where are you going?” Sheywen’s “command” comprised a number of largely autonomous groups with their commanders all reporting to Sheywen. There wasn’t much to mind here in the town outside their own force. They had a lot of armed and poorly disciplined men and nothing to keep them occupied. There was bound to be trouble if Sheywen were to leave for too long.
Sheywen frowned back. “You’ll find out when we get the extra horses and you get to come too. For now watch for an evil looking nomad dog called Mishka. He has an old scar from his left eyebrow down to his upper lip.” Sheywen drew a finger across his face as he spoke. “He should be bringing me the extra mounts. Don’t let him go too far, I will be back within four weeks and will see him then.”
Mading grunted noncommittally, not bothering to
ask how he was expected to keep a bunch of nomads around if they wanted to wander off. He could hardly run them down while they were mounted.
A few hours later Mading was at the tavern door watching Sheywen lead his mounted contingent off, supposedly on a reconnaissance tour to assess external threat to the town. He wasn’t the only one, members of the town and some of the other commanders were also watching as Sheywen led his men away. Zhi stood beside Mading in the doorway. “Where’s he going Sergeant, anywhere interesting? It’s starting to get dull around here.”
Mading spat into the road to emphasise his disgust. “To make trouble for someone I guess. Don’t think you will be missing out though. We will have plenty of our own trouble here in no time at all with all this armed trash we work with. Keep the men together and sober. When the trouble comes I don’t want it to be because of us. Keep an eye open for nomads, let me know if any are seen or come into town.”
Zhi looked at Mading with raised eyebrows. “Why would a nomad be coming here? I thought we hated each other, killing each other on sight?”
Mading answered with false generosity. “Well don’t kill this one, he’s meant to be bringing our horses.”
Chapter 32
Zun stood with Shushan while they watched the men train with the horses. They did well, keeping their saddles and formation as he called out the different manoeuvres they had been practicing. It was time they went out and tried to attract trade to the town and he had an idea how they might do it now he had a mounted force he could have confidence in.
The thought, as had many things since, reminded him of his meeting with Sheywen and his reaction on seeing Mading waiting beside Shushan at the doorway. On the face of it Zun had not reacted at all, giving no outward indication he had noticed anyone there at all let alone his dead sergeant, someone he had come to respect. But as he joined his unit waiting patiently for him in the road his face had been pale at the shock of meeting someone he had thought killed by a bolt of lightning and a stark reminder of his previous failings.
Mading certainly looked as though he had been blasted, the scars doing a good job of disguising his otherwise familiar features. But the raw reminder of the lost duel with the possessed priest and the memory of his men running overrode any pleasure he felt at seeing Mading still lived. Zun struggled to think beyond his own failure to control his men, their discipline and loyalty forgotten in the fear of the moment as they thought the priest called down lightning upon them. Whatever their fears they should have kept their discipline and loyalty to House and unit. The fact they hadn’t was further evidence of Zun’s own failure at House Yeu.
Zun had noticed Shushan talking to Mading without realising who it had been until he passed him on the way out. As they had marched back to New Town he had been expecting Shushan to comment, his jaw set hard and ready to quash any references to his men and that fateful night. But she had remained silent on the journey back, not even enquiring about the conversation with Sheywen.
Shushan switched her attention from the horsemen going through their manoeuvres to Zun. “They thought you were dead and couldn’t find your body when they returned for you.”
Having expected Shushan to comment for so long without her doing so he was unprepared when she finally did so now and in such a disarming manner, dovetailing with his own thoughts so easily. Zun was angry but more because he had convinced himself he should be, rather than because he still was. Where he felt there should be anger it was more like a terrible disappointment. A sense of loss for something he struggled to clearly identify in his own mind. Zun deliberately ignored her comment so long anticipated and was ready to still another when instead Shushan again surprised him by changing the subject. “The men are ready. So what will you do with them now you have horsemen?”
Zun was angry because twice she had read him so easily, this time avoiding his intended rebuke and he answered sharply without thinking. “We will seek traders, encouraging them to come to New Town but you will stay here.” It was a petulant comment and he instantly regretted saying it, though his pride prevented him from retracting it. Shushan looked at him sideways, unable to hide her disappointment but saying nothing. Now Zun was angry at himself. Spirits! What was it about this woman; she expected too much of him. He relented slightly. “Now we have the horses I fear for them and need someone I can trust to watch the rest of the herd while I am away. We were lucky to get them and will not find replacements so easily.”
Shushan gave him a small smile which conveyed her pleasure at the compliment, while also showing her disappointment at not being able to travel with him, somehow conveying understanding of his turmoil. Smiling back at her Zun was shocked to realise how much he would miss her company while he was away.
There was a clatter of hooves as Mordaki galloped over to them, all broad smiles and smugness at the performance of his trainees. Zun cleared his throat self consciously and adopted a frown. “You and Bandu have done well Mordaki and it is time to take the men out into the field. But I already fear for the horses I will leave behind while I am away. Tell me, if your people were to raid our settlement for the horses how would they do it, how would they steal them from us?”
Mordaki glanced over his shoulder at the valley entrance. “There is one entrance in Lord Zun, the others are all securely blocked off. Bandu and I have checked this. So there can be only one way to steal the horses and in doing so it would arouse the town. They could not be taken by stealth so we would stampede them during darkness, driving them to the entrance so they hit it together as a herd. We would ride to either side directing the herd past the settlement and into the open grassland. We would lose some but gain many. It would all be very quick and you would not be able to turn a stampeding herd.”
Zun frowned at the open valley mouth as he thought the scenario through in his mind, picturing the image described by Mordaki over the terrain he knew well. “Then how can we prevent such an event?”
Mordaki shrugged. “A stampeding horse herd is a frightening thing. It is like a maddened beast, it will only stop for something that blocks its path completely or frightens them more than what caused them to run in the first place. Little else will stop it before it tires and is ready to do so.”
Zun nodded and Mordaki trotted back to the men. Zun signalled Shushan to follow him to the narrowest point of the valley entrance. Standing with hands on hips he examined the terrain as he thought. “If we could slow any stampede as it nears the entrance it would make it easier to turn them. We need to build some obstacles, to force those entering and leaving the valley to meander as they get to this point, which would slow them. We also need to narrow the entrance, which would make it easier to defend or block at short notice.”
Shushan nodded frowning in thought. “But how to turn them. The books at the academy you referred to said horses would not knowingly charge against a tightly formed unit of men armed with long spears, perhaps spearmen would halt them; if they could be assembled in time.”
Zun nodded. “For such a barrier to be effective the horses would have to know the men were there, if fires could be lit behind the formation, large ones which would flare up, they would see the spears blocking their path and also want to avoid the flames. Once the stampede was broken raiders would not find it easy to drive them on again.”
Shushan raised an eyebrow at Zun. “Gather men in the dark, assemble them at this point, allocate the spears, set fires and to do all of this before a stampede of maddened horses arrives. I doubt we would have time for all of this following an alert in the middle of the night.”
Zun nodded his agreement. “You are right, we need another stockade fence which crosses the valley closing it off completely with only a gate but I need to take the men out now and it will have to wait until we return. In the meantime do what you can and we shall hope no attempt is made until we have built a proper barrier.”
The following day Zun left the settlement with five hundred mounted men, each equipped with a sword and som
e light armour, just under half of them carrying light bows salvaged from the Green Snake warriors they had ambushed. As Shushan watched them go she was not alone in feeling a sense of vulnerability at Zun and the best of their fighting force leaving them. Shushan also felt the weight of responsibility for the protection of New Town and the remaining horses. As second sword she was naturally referred to in military matters.
Shushan wasted no time in setting about the measures Zun and she had discussed. However, when she discussed them with Bandu he shook his head in concern at their proposals. “Nothing will stop a herd stampeding in fear at night. Your men would make easy targets and you would lose your men as well as your horses.”
Despite Shushan’s arguments he could not be shaken until she suggested an alternative idea, which she sketched out in the dust. “If we were to construct barriers that forced the herd first to turn on itself away from the exit. This barrier would force them to run back up the valley. They would have to make a sharp turn back on themselves to get through the exit and leave the valley. The exit would not be a natural way for them to run once they had been turned, whereas back into the valley would. This way our barrier of men would only be deflecting rather than trying to stop the horses.”
Bandu puzzled at the diagram for a few minutes, picturing the scene in his mind before slowly nodding his grudging acceptance that it might work. Bulusi joined their discussion. “You will need all the warning you can if you are going to get the men in place in time to be effective but I agree the fires are a poor idea. Lit from behind in the dark your men will be easy targets for the enemy driving the horses against you.”