Alutar: The Great Demon (16 page)

Colonel Cidel nodded and turned his mount away. Within a few minutes, one thousand men split off from the main column and headed north to go around the mountain. Colonel Atman signaled for two captains to approach, and the officers immediately obeyed.

“I want each of you men to lead your company up on the ridges overlooking the canyon,” ordered the colonel. “One of you take the left ridge and the other the right. I want you to sweep the entire ridge, but do not let yourselves be seen. I will not have tomorrow’s surprise spoiled by carelessness. If you run into any opposition at all, send a runner to me immediately and then handle it as best you can.”

“And if we find no opposition?” asked one of the captains.

“You will remain on the ridge,” answered the colonel. “Your men will have a cold camp tonight, and tomorrow you will provide flanking coverage for our march through the canyon. Regardless of what you find, you and your men will remain invisible. If the enemy sees one of your men and that spooks him, you will be sorry. I came here to make sure that every single rebel is dead when we leave this place. I will not have negligence spoil my plan.”

The two captains saluted and retreated to their companies. Moments later, one hundred men peeled off to the right and one hundred to the left. Colonel Atman issued orders to make camp and four thousand men fell out of formation and began the process of setting up the camp.

Far above the cave in a crevice on the side of the mountain, Mitar Vidson and two of his Rangers hid, watching the deployment of the 30
^th
Corps.

“That is a few more men than we expected,” commented Jami Witzak. “It looks like five regiments.”

“It is,” replied Colonel Vidson. “Max said that five thousand men were heading our way.”

“You didn’t share that with us,” frowned Jami.

“You were off getting the rear guard settled in,” shrugged Mitar. “It doesn’t really matter how many men they brought with them. What matters is how many they leave with. That regiment that just split off to the north could be a problem.”

“Do you want me to plan a reception for them?” asked Randi Witzak.

“No, Sergeant,” Mitar shook his head. “We are spread thin enough as it is. With four regiments in their main force, I doubt they will all have time to enter the canyon before we attack. Things might get rather sloppy down there.”

“We could have the men in the cave fade back,” suggested Randi as a fairy flew in and landed on Mitar’s shoulder. “It will allow more time for the end of their column to squeeze into the canyon.”

“It would,” frowned Mitar, “but at what cost? If we let the enemy into the cave, our force in there would be trapped. We could lose one hundred good men that way.”

“What if we left no men in the cave?” suggested Jami. “We could use those hundred men to reinforce the rear guard.”

“No,” Mitar shook his head. “We don’t want the enemy in the cave at all. If we allow them to enter the cave, we end up with the same problem that they are expecting to face. We would have to go in and try to get them out. I do not want that kind of fight.”

“Would they be eager to go into the cave if a dragon lived there?” asked Nugget.

The three Rangers stared at the tiny green man.

“What?” frowned Nugget. “I have seen dragons. I can project one easily.”

“That just might work,” Randi nodded. “Give the enemy plenty of time to get all of their forces into the canyon. We can even let a few of them enter the cave before discovering the dragon.”

“Plus the dragon will add to the chaos,” grinned Jami. “You will have soldiers pushing in both directions, some trying to get into the canyon and others trying to get out.”

“I’m convinced,” decided Mitar Vidson. “The men in the cave will join the rear guard. Jami, you see to that. What have you learned about the enemy’s plans, Nugget?”

“The 2
^nd
Regiment was sent to the other side of the mountain to look for other exits,” reported the fairy. “There will be no communications between the two groups until the battle is over. One hundred men have been sent up to each ridge. Their orders are to sweep the ridge and report even the smallest hint of opposition. Otherwise they are to have a cold camp and not be seen until the attack begins. The attack will begin at dawn.”

“Colonel Atman is a cautious man,” Mitar smiled, “but he does not realize that he is not up against Boric’s men. Carry the word to each of the ridges, Nugget. Tell our men to remain hidden until the enemy is asleep. Their attack must be silent.”

The little green man saluted smartly and shot into the air. Jami slipped deeper into the crevice and passed through an opening into the cave and descended to the ground level. Randi Witzak turned to stare at the leader of the Rangers.

“What is my assignment?” asked Randi.

“You will be staying right here with me,” answered Mitar Vidson, “but first you need to go down into the cave and gather up some supplies for us.”

“You are hungry?” frowned Randi.

“Yes,” chuckled Colonel Vidson, “but that is not what I meant. I want some rope up here so we can descend to the mouth of the cave without going inside. I also want an ample supply of fire glue.”

Randi’s eyes brightened and a smile spread across his face. “You are a devious man, Colonel, but might I suggest an alteration to your plan?”

“I am always open to your suggestions, Randi. What did you have in mind?”

“I suspect you plan to create a fire barrier at the mouth of the cave,” Randi responded. “Am I correct?”

“Close,” the colonel nodded. “I actually plan for the fire barricade to be a bit away from the mouth of the cave so that we can still rappel down from here, but you have the general idea.”

“And what if I was able to do the same thing at the other end of the canyon?” grinned Randi. “We would have fish in a bowl.”

Colonel Vidson grew silent as his eyes gazed down upon the canyon stretching away to the west. Eventually, he sighed and nodded.

“There is great risk in your plan, Randi,” the colonel stated. “You cannot seal the rear entrance until the attack begins, and once it does begin, many eyes will be looking up at the ridge. You will be an easy target for a decent archer as you try to hurl the jars into the canyon.” Randi opened his mouth to speak and Mitar held up his hand to silence the sergeant. “We also do not know if all of the column will make it into the trap before the attack begins. There might be a sizeable portion of the 30
^th
Corps outside the canyon, and they will not hesitate to climb the ridge to go after you.”

“The rear guard has just been doubled,” countered Randi. “If they use my attack as a signal for theirs, the men who didn’t enter the canyon will have their hands full. I doubt more than a half dozen soldiers will come after me, and I can handle them.”

“Not without risk,” frowned Mitar.

“Not without risk,” agreed Randi, “but I am willing to take that risk. Besides, if I do not seal the exit from the canyon, the rear guard may end up with more than they can handle. The Federation column might reverse itself mighty quick.”

Colonel Vidson nodded. “It will work better if the fire glue comes from both ridges at the same time. It will spook the defenders and divide their attention. Get Jami to take the other ridge, and tell Caan to lead the rear guard.”

* * * *

The Ranger woke and gazed up at the night sky, carefully estimating the hour. He gazed downward from the tree he had hidden in, but he could not see the forest floor. He stuck his finger into his pocket and woke up the fairy.

“Is it time already?” chirped Wisp.

Harod held his finger to his lips and nodded. “I need you to check below before I descend. Be silent.”

The little blue woman dived downward and appeared again a moment later. “The coast is clear,” she reported.

“We are a far way from the coast, little one,” chuckled Harod as he reached over and unstrapped himself from the tree. “Go and wake the others, but be conscious of noise. We are not alone on this ridge.”

The Ranger stowed the strap in his pack and then silently climbed down to the ground. He stood and stretched as black-clad forms began to gather around him. All over the area, Rangers slid out of their hiding places. Many had spent the day in the upper branches of large trees where the volume of leaves would hide them. Others emerged from pits in the ground that had been covered by hackleberry bushes or other dense foliage. It took almost an hour for the four hundred men to assemble. While Harod waited for his men, Wisp sped along the ridge to spy on the enemy’s camp.

“The enemy is a thousand paces to the east,” the fairy reported. “There are two sentries guarding the camp. One to the east and the other to the west. Shall I put them to sleep?”

“Yes,” answered Harod, “but not until we are all in position. I will let you know when.”

Harod turned to his men and spoke softly. He assigned different groups to different quadrants and then started an attack count. All of the Rangers began tapping their fingers against their arms or legs. With a wave of his hand, Harod sent the groups into the night. Giving the others a generous head start, Harod led his own group of one hundred men forward. They proceeded single file through the dark forest at a pace slow enough to ensure silence.

Almost an hour later, Harod halted, held his hand up and rotated it in a circle. The Rangers in the column behind Harod split to the left and the right of their commander in an alternating manner, creating an arc equidistant from the enemy’s campsite. As the numbers in Harod’s head began to approach zero, he waved a finger in the air in front of his fairy. Wisp needed no further command. She leaped off of Harod’s shoulder and sped into the dark. Harod watched as the western sentry collapsed. The eastern sentry followed a moment later. Almost immediately, four hundred black shadows moved stealthily into the camp. Armed with reeds and myric quills, the Rangers brought death to the entire Federation company. It was over in mere moments, and Harod focused on assigning his men to positions along the entire ridge.

* * * *

Dawn was still an hour away, but the four thousand men of the 30
^th
Corps attack force had already broken camp and stood assembled, ready to march into the canyon. Colonel Atman sat astride his horse and signaled for the commander of the 3
^rd
Regiment to join him. Colonel Darhak complied immediately.

“Any word from the men on the ridges?” asked Colonel Darhak as he arrived alongside Colonel Atman.

“Not a word,” answered Colonel Atman. “These rebels truly are careless. We could have left half of these men home.”

“That makes no sense,” frowned Colonel Darhak. “They managed to wipe out three hundred men guarding the convoy without a problem.”

“Did they?” questioned Colonel Atman. “I am beginning to have my doubts about that.”

“You think that there was no ambush?” asked Colonel Darhak. “Where then are the wagons?”

“Oh, I think there was an ambush,” replied Colonel Atman, “but I think the fools guarding the convoy fled when the fighting began. These rebels are not trained soldiers, Darhak. They are proving that right this minute. There is no way they could have succeeded in taking that convoy.”

Colonel Darhak shrugged, unsure of Atman’s reasoning, but afraid to argue with the leader of the attack force. “What is our plan of attack?” he asked instead.

“My regiment is mounted,” stated Colonel Atman. “It is ill suited to lead this attack in a narrow canyon. I want you and the 3
^rd
Regiment to lead the column through the canyon. The 4
^th
and 5
^th
Regiments will follow. The 1
^st
Regiment will come last. They may have to ride through the canyon single file if it is as narrow as reported. You are to start the march in three files. Continue in that manner if it is possible. If not, you may narrow it to two files, but I do not want this entire army marching single file through the canyon. It would take us all day.”

Colonel Darhak nodded his understanding. “You will miss all the fun, Atman.”

“I think not,” replied Colonel Atman. “The canyon is supposed to widen before the cave. Assemble the men there, but do not attack unless you have to. I suspect the rebels will cower in their cave. That means we will have to flush them out, so I will have plenty of time to join you before our main attack. Get the column moving.”

Colonel Darhak returned to his regiment and ordered them to begin the march. He let three companies enter the canyon before inserting himself into the flow of the 3
^rd
Regiment. He glanced anxiously up at the ridges, but it was not light enough to see anything yet. After a while he lowered his eyes, not wanting his men to see him staring up at the ridges. Enough of them were already doing so.

Dawn arrived an hour later, and Colonel Darhak’s anxiety decreased. He occasionally glanced up at the ridges, but he began to feel that perhaps Atman was correct. The rebels were not trained soldiers after all. As that thought passed through his mind, he turned a bend in the canyon and saw the mouth of the cave. There was indeed a widening of the canyon before the mouth of the cave, and his men had already begun to spread out. Colonel Darhak glanced up at the mouth of the cave and the path leading up to it. The path was well worn, but there was not a rebel in sight. The colonel signaled to his company commanders, and they hurried to his side.

“Spread the men out in a defensive position,” he ordered quietly. “Keep them quiet until ordered to attack. Make sure each company commander entering this area receives the same instructions.”

The captains saluted and withdrew. Colonel Darhak dismounted and stared up at the cave. There was a lingering taint of wood smoke in the air, but not enough to account for campfires for a thousand men. There were no sounds coming out of the cave, and no one was visible. He began to wonder if the rebels had abandoned their cave and moved elsewhere. He signaled for a captain to approach, and the junior officer hurried over to the colonel.

“I want a squad to approach the mouth of the cave,” ordered Colonel Darhak. “I do not wish to engage the enemy or even have them notice that we are here. Your task is to merely peek into the cave and estimate the number of men who might be inside. I do not mean for you to count them. Just come back and tell me if there is a hundred, a thousand, or a dozen. Nothing more.”