Chapter-4-1
——— I ———
Even as the columns of the Mongauli army began to file, Guin, with the assistance of Loto of the Raku and Ilateli of the Guro, was busy leading the main force of the Sem far closer to the invaders than Amnelis and her captains would ever have guessed.
The Mongauli commanders were proceeding warily. With the early morning sneak attack fresh in their memories, they had assigned a generous number of scouts to sweep ahead of the advancing army, and the soldiers were alert and prepared for trouble as they began to march again. None among them dreamed that, even as their rear guard moved out of sight of the place where they had camped for the night, a force of five thousand Sem was gathering there.
As Count Marus had suspected, when the death squad of five hundred Sem attacked, the main force of five thousand wildlings was hiding nearby. For the Sem, who were born in Nospherus and lived there their entire lives, the bleak wastelands that humankind knew only as a barren hell were neither unexplored nor inhospitable. The rugged rocks and shifting sands were entirely familiar to them; they knew the dangers of the landscape and where they lay hidden. They knew in which valleys the yidoh sprang, and in what hollows quicksand and clusters of vampire moss lay. They were aware, too, of the valley of death. It was the one place in their desert home where no Sem would ever willingly set foot. They also knew of the oases, where they were hidden and the distances between them. All these things made up the first lesson each Sem child was taught in its earliest days.
The Sem also knew that, in this place of vast empty horizons where the eye could gaze across miles of unbroken barren sands, there were in fact hidden river gorges, and secret caves tunneled by the wind, and dunes that rose and fell and concealed narrow paths between them. They knew how to use the features of the land to hide themselves, and now they used this knowledge to sneak up as close as they could to the invading army of Mongaul.
“What Riyaad said was true! The oh-mu look to the right, and the left, and to the front, and up at the sky, but they believe that behind them there is nothing but their own footprints,” Siba, keen with pleasure, spoke from among the group of Sem who stood close by Guin in the concealing shadow of a low outcrop of desert stone.
“Yes, Siba.” Guin now wore a cloak with a long hood, made of cloth the color of sand, which he kept wrapped closely around himself to ensure that his golden head and mane were not by some chance spotted by the watchful eyes of the Mongauli. Gathered around him were the most important leaders of the force he had assembled: Loto, Ilateli, Tubai of the Tubai and Kalto of the Rasa, as well as the Crimson Mercenary Istavan of Valachia. The holy twins of Parros were there too, and so was inseparable little Suni.
“The death squad has returned, Riyaad,” announced the young Raku who had been acting as their lookout. He had just hurried down from a high point on the outcrop.
“Are they not being followed by the oh-mu?” Loto asked worriedly.
Guin shook his head. “All is well. The squads they sent to pursue our force did not follow them far. I would guess that their commanders feared that a larger force might be hiding nearby, and told them not to give chase in earnest. Their army only began to march after all their cavalry had returned.”
“It seems that is so, Riyaad.”
The Sem death squad that had attacked the Mongauli camp earlier that morning had been made up of an even number of Guro and Raku. In order to confuse any of the Mongauli who might attempt to follow them, they had followed a roundabout route in their flight, going well to the east before circling back around to rejoin the larger Sem army. They had been running at top speed the whole way, and they were out of breath as they arrived, desert-running Sem though they were.
“How many lost?” Guin inquired.
“One hundred thirty or forty, Riyaad.”
“Less than a third. Still, I had hoped that the toll would be lighter. I had told them to withdraw after meeting our two objectives, but they must have gotten lost in the joy of battle.”
“It was so.”
The one who had led the death squad was Sebu of the Raku. He looked embarrassed.
“Well, it is unfortunate, but no matter. Did you succeed?”
“We did both things just as you said,” Sebu told him, pulling out his spoils.
Guin looked them over carefully, and nodded.
“Good. Perfect. You got these, and you certainly achieved the other goal of confusing our enemies. By now, even as they hurry forward, the Mongauli are all wondering what the sneak attack was supposed to accomplish. After all, they are three times our number, and they know that if we do not proceed carefully we will be swallowed up in one gulp. And they know that we know this, too. So they wonder.”
“Do we attack and finish them off now, Riyaad?” Ilateli asked impatiently. “If we catch up to them from the rear and kill a third of them with poison arrows, they will only be twice our number! We can kill another third with our stone axes, and they will be the same in number!”
“Before that happened, we, too, would be much reduced in number, and our situation would be no better,” the leopard-man retorted, and gave a short laugh. Then he stood up with sudden catlike agility and continued, “No. We will not attack immediately, but we will not sit around all day, either. Our enemy certainly does not realize how close we are. They probably believe that a tribe living nearby happened upon them and foolishly attacked, then retreated in disarray. If so, we have a great advantage, an advantage that we must not squander.”
“Hey, Rinda,” whispered Remus. He was watching Guin, who had moved a few paces off and was now calling certain leaders of the Sem by name to gather around him. “Rinda, what do you think’s going to happen?”
“How should I know?” Rinda snapped back.
Hearing her, Istavan came over to sit beside the two. “They’re planning something totally crazy, Princess.”
The mercenary squinted dubiously. Among those present, only he and the twins did not speak or understand the Sem language, so it often happened that, whether or not they got along, the three of them found themselves together.
“Totally crazy?” Rinda asked, led on by his words. Istavan often made her angry, but there was also something about the youth that made him almost impossible for her to ignore. The overly forward, self-proclaimed rapscallion of a mercenary possessed an infuriating sort of charisma.
“Yeah.”
“And what, pray, is this totally crazy plan?”
“Well, you remember how in the dawn when we were leaving the Raku village, the monkeys were shouting about killing the Karoi?”
“Yes—and I was afraid they would proceed to do just that.”
“And then Guin jumped up on that rock like Janos himself and gave his speech, and the monkeys, instead of saying ‘kii kii’ and waving their axes, finally calmed down a wee bit. By the end, they were yelling ‘Riyaad! Riyaad!’ I wondered what leopard-head had said to them to calm them down, so I asked him on our way from the Raku valley to this—what’s it called?—yes, ‘night-wailing-rock hill.’”
“And what had Guin told them?”
“Well, that’s just it.” Istavan drew out the moment, enjoying the chance to bait her impatience by pretending to withhold something important. “To hear Guin tell it, he didn’t say anything special to them. He just told them that we have a chance to win. And why? Because we have a secret weapon, a powerful ally that can turn the odds of ten-and-five thousand versus five thousand on its head. That was his answer. So I asked him what in the name of Jarn he had in mind. And then…”
“Yes?”
“That leopard-headed madman gave one of his howling laughs and answered, ‘Nospherus!’ I asked him what he meant by that, but he wouldn’t tell me. All he said was that he’d told the Sem that, before another day passes, the Karoi will join us anyways. Can you believe it?”
“The Karoi?” Rinda’s eyes became round. “I don’t understand. The Karoi cut off the Raku messengers’ heads, and said unkind things.”
“Hey, it wasn’t me that said the Karoi would join us. You’ll have to talk to Guin if you don’t believe me, and good luck trying to get him to explain anything.” Istavan’s dusky face made a frown. “I’m sure he’s got some plan. By Doal, I’m sure that, thanks to his plan, I’ll end up dumped on some dung heap this time.”
“Why do you say that?”
Istavan didn’t answer, but instead said something so lewd that not only Rinda’s but Remus' face turned bright red.
Just as Rinda was about to harangue the mercenary for not watching his tongue, Guin bellowed, “Istavan! Come here.”
Guin had gathered the Sem chieftains, and they were working out some complicated plan. It seemed that some part of their planning was already finished, and the leaders of the Tubai and the Rasa ran off to gather their tribesmen.
“Istavan!”
“All right, I’m coming! Hey, Guin, are you sure I have to… you know, what you said earlier?”
A disgruntled Istavan ambled reluctantly over to where Guin was standing. The leopard-man drew back his sand colored hood and laughed his short fierce laugh.
“I am sorry, there is no one else to do it. Neither I, nor the children, nor any of the Sem could fill that role.”
“Doalspit! Why do I always get the short straw?” Istavan grumbled, then muttered a string of lewd curses under his breath. Guin paid him no attention.
“If we have a chance to win, it is this: we must divide the Mongauli army. It is too large for us now, but if we can split them into groups of as few as possible, we can improve our odds. There maybe fifteen thousand of them, but divide them, and we will be facing three groups of five thousand, or seven groups of only twenty hundred each.”
“I know, I know. I understand your madman’s logic. I’ll do it, okay? Does that cheer you up?”
Guin nodded. Then, he began to give detailed instructions to the sulking mercenary. Their low voices were not audible to the twins, who were sitting a short distance away so as not to be in the way of the many chieftains.
The heir to the throne of Parros was gazing thoughtfully at the two warriors. “I wonder what Guin’s planning.”
“I don’t know,” Rinda replied dreamily. “But I think that, for now, we’ll be okay if we leave everything up to him. I sense it, and that’s all I know. Oh, Remus, what a man Guin is! I’ve never met anyone like him! It’s not just his appearance, of course. The more I get to know him, the less I believe someone like him really exists!” Rinda’s face was glowing. In her eyes was the gleam of pride and revelation of a fervent worshipper. Her brother peered at her, and agreed cautiously.
“What!” Istavan cried.
Surprised, the two twins turned to look at him, and even Suni, who had been gazing up with reverence at Rinda’s face, stared at the mercenary.
“Quiet, Istavan,” Guin growled.
Istavan was outraged by something that the leopard-man had just said. “How can you say it just like that, like we were talking about someone else?” he demanded. “You’re asking me? What do you think I am? Okay, I understand, I’ll do it. I’ll bleeding do it. Fine. By the pimples on Jarn’s bristly hide, I’ve come this far, I’ll do anything, you damn leopard-head.”
All at once the mercenary tore off his armor and threw it down on the ground, leaving himself mostly naked. Remus' eyes went round. Rinda’s face blushed pure red, and she turned away.
Indifferent to his royal audience, Istavan pulled off his black shirt, socks and breeches. Then, wearing only his dark suntan, the muscular mercenary stuck out his hand with some-thing like abandon. “Okay, give it to me. Give it to me quick before I catch a cold.”
The sun was already quite high in the deep violet sky of the no-man’s-land. Below it, stretching out like a fair spring mist above a river valley, was a low white cloud. It was a cloud of risen dust, and it heralded the advance of the Mongauli army.
Only three twists after beginning their march, the Mongauli army had slowed abruptly at a warning signal from its outriders.
“Report! Report!”
The ranks of the Gohran soldiers hurriedly parted on either side to admit the returning scouts.
“Report! Report!”
The scouts sped into the group of white knights at the very center of the formation, and orders immediately went out to the front and rear of the army. With the precision borne of long training, the entire force halted.
“All troops, as you are.”
Captains’ voices shouted back and forth, adjusting the formation.
“Scouts, approach.” Amnelis, gazing out sternly from the saddle of her great white charger, removed her helm as she waited for her outriders to proceed.
“I have a report, my lady.” A knight who had been scouting to the northeast bowed nervously before the general.
“Do not waste time on formalities. Speak!”
“A large army of the Sem is approaching from our left rear flank.”
“What?” Amnelis’ lips tightened. “And their number?”
“Unknown, my lady, but I believe it is quite a large army. The dust rises up in a towering wall.”
Without thinking, the knights who had heard this turned to gaze in the direction of which he spoke. Worry crept into their hearts. Across a large stretch of desert there they could see the pale gray dust rising in a haze.
“Distance?”
“Around three tads, I believe.”
Amnelis’ expression was stern. “You have done well, soldier, now return to the main force,” she nodded to the scout. Then she glanced quickly over her shoulder.
“Feldrik!”
“Yes, my lady!”
“Orders!”
“Yes, my lady!”
“Gather all the officers, lieutenants and up.”
“Yes, my lady!”
Feldrik, who was in charge of the messengers of the white, sped to his gathered knights.
“Orders! Orders!”
Again the whole Mongauli army waited in tense anticipation.
“The Sem are attacking!”
“It’s an attack!”
The cries passed from mouth to mouth, spreading like wildfire through the ranks.
“Gajus,” Amnelis spoke in a low voice to the caster.
“Yes?”
‘What do you think? Is this the main Sem army, for which the sneak attack was a diversion?”
“You ask my opinion?”
’‘They tested us with a small force, then maneuvered to outflank us, and are now attacking from behind, correct?”
“Yes, that is what I believe.”
“So this time it will not be a mere squabble.”
“I believe not, my lady.”
“Gajus.”
“Yes?”
“There is one thing that bothers me still. They must have learned how many we are during their sneak attack this morning. Could the Nospherus Sem be so innumerable that they outnumber us?”
“I am unsure.”
“Very well, then divine whether we will win or lose with your board and sphere. And once the battle is joined, I want you to make sure that our guide to the Valley of Death is not lost. You must protect Cal Moru and our compass.”
“As you wish,” replied the dark runecaster.
Without looking at him again, Amnelis gave her horse a quick flick of her whip and wheeled to ride before the officers who had hastily assembled at her orders. Vlon and Lindrot, who bore her flag high, followed behind her.
“Report!”
A second band of scouts had returned. Amnelis delayed issuing her orders.
“I have seen the Sem! The wildling army is ten thousand strong! They are about two and a half tads behind our formation and are approaching at full speed.”
“Well done,” Amnelis said.
Irrim, captain of the black, muttered, “The Sem are swift-footed little creatures. I can see why they are called the snakes of the desert.”
Tangard responded in a whisper, “Their legs are fast—as fast as horses—and they can run for great stretches of time.”
“Silence!” Amnelis admonished, raising her right hand. “We have heard the report of our enemies’ strength! Are you listening? The Sem forces are estimated at around ten thousand. We will meet them and crush them here and now. Our vanguard—”
The young Astrias and Irrim stepped forward, hoping to be chosen for the most dangerous position. Amnelis looked at both men briefly.
“Irrim!”
“Yes, my lady!”
“Send your bowmen up front, and set them in crescent formation.”
“Yes, my lady!”
The vice-lord of Talos Keep spurred his horse’s flanks and headed off. Astrias followed him with his eyes, his envy manifest.
“Tangard!”
“Yes, my lady!”
“Your footmen will support Irrim as necessary. Otherwise ensure that all our central positions and baggage train are defended…
“Marus, you will take the rear!”
“Yes, my lady!”
“Leegan take the left, Astrias the right!”
“Yes, General!”
“Each knightly corps shall position bowmen at the front. Behind them, line up your shield wall and your footmen. The cavalry shall be staged hindmost, poised for a counterattack. When you charge with your horses, keep their heads down so the Sem arrows don’t get into their eyes.”
“Yes, my lady!”
“Stay alert!”
Each of the captains galloped away, followed by their lieutenants. Soon all were busy with the complex task of ordering their troops into position.
Once more the brilliant four-colored flower bloomed in the desert. This time, however, it was a misshapen, irregular bloom, with two red petals stuck out like horns on either side, while the center grew thicker and the top took the shape of a bristling crescent.
The squads of bowmen moved to the front of the ranks. Each of these soldiers dropped to one knee and readied his weapon so that at the order they could send a volley of shot flying. Behind each formation of bowmen, a row of wooden shields was set to ward off the Sem’s poison arrows. The spears of the footmen formed a forest behind them. At the rear of the ranks, mounted troops rubbed their horses’ necks and held their reins tightly to keep them under control.
A third group of scouts came racing in through the crescent formation of Irrim’s bowmen and between lifted shields, galloping toward the general. “Their vanguard is closing in!” they shouted.
In the right wing, Pollak, the second-in-command, sat easy on his horse, his scabbard loosened so that he could draw at any moment. “Captain,” he called to Astrias.
“What?”
“Getting put on the right wing—boring, eh?”
“The Lady General knows best,” Astrias shrugged. “Don’t worry, there are lots coming this time. I’m sure we will have plenty of sport all along the lines.”
“I’m not worried,” Pollak laughed, an eager light in his eyes.
Astrias turned to assure himself that his troops were not lacking in morale, and indeed no face he saw was pale from the winds of cowardice. Then, with hands encased in chainmail gauntlets, he drew the cord around his leather neckpiece, fastening his helmet securely on his head. The red plume fixed at the top of his helm shimmered and flowed like fire when he moved his head. With a snap he lowered his faceplate.
“Very well, let them come!” he muttered fiercely, and his body shook in anticipation of the coming fight.
The Mongauli troops knew how to take orders and had moved swiftly into position. Now, each warrior at his post, the great invasion force braced for the Sem onslaught. Like a thunder cloud of ill omen bearing a terrible rain, the yellow-gray billow of dust thrown up from the dry soil of Nospherus was approaching at what seemed to be ever-increasing speed.
“They come!” Astrias heard somebody, perhaps Pollak, shout.
“Ah, there’s a whole lot of ’em,” another knight grunted.
Grimly the Mongauli waited. Now all the crossbows were cranked and loaded with shot, and all of them aimed at the rapidly slithering thundercloud. Each knight laid his right hand on the grip of his long sword, and each left hand grasped the reins of a stamping horse.
The flag-bearers around Amnelis formed a core of pure white defended by thick bastions of black, blue, and red. Motionless, the lady-general gazed upon the battlefield.
Suddenly she raised her hand, and, as though she had unexpectedly found it hard to breathe, she lifted open her faceplate. Her gaze was intense and her fair visage was drawn tight as she looked toward the approaching cloud.
Amnelis was only just eighteen and a woman among hard-bitten warrior men. Yet, having fought in her first battle at age fifteen, she had taken up a sword many times since, leading in the field as a commander and waging wars as a general. Now she was the supreme General of the Right, a formidable fighter and a veteran of many campaigns.
The yellow-and-ash dust cloud grew bigger and bigger in the eyes of all the Mongauli. Still staring at it, Amnelis hesitated, then took off her helmet entirely and let her golden hair flow down over her shoulders.
“It is dangerous to expose your face, my lady,” Feldrik cautioned her immediately.
She silenced him with her left hand, and made as though to listen to something. Low, and with surprise in her voice, she said, “It is quiet, is it not?”
At that very moment there came the whiz of a lone arrow flying through the air. As though it were a signal, it was followed a moment later by a fearsome cacophony.
“Aiiie!”
“Ayyyy ayyy ayy!”
“Iieeee ieee iee!”
Sem war cries sounded in the ears of the Mongauli host.
“The enemy!”
“They attack!”
From all four sides there came the roar of war, and the battle was joined in earnest.