Exile to the Stars (The Alarai Chronicles) (69 page)

“Such
a battle, Jeffrey! All day we fought and slew them until our arms were like
stone. This is a battle to tell my grandchildren of, and to recall around many
a winter’s fire.”

Jeff
sat down and accepted a mug of coffee. “Yes. It was a near thing.”

“Always
were our numbers too few,” Halric agreed with a quick jerk of his head, “yet
still we overmastered them. We were not long in the forest before we became
scattered, as did the Salchek. Many small battles were fiercely contested until
by eventime there were few of the enemy to be found. It is my belief that by
nightfall we were indeed Alemanni, for tribes became intermixed and fought
together as brothers and sisters.”

“We’re
you able to determine how many warriors the Salchek committed to battle?”

“I
would not venture to guess, Jeffrey. All was chaos.”

“It
was that. We’ll likely never know. What of our wounded and dead?”

“A
count is being taken,” Halric somberly replied. “I believe the final tally will
number three hundred dead and another eight hundred of wounded. Most of those
who fell were lost on the field by the gate, for there the Salchek could bring
their numbers to bear on us most cruelly. Withdraw we did, or all would have
been lost at the outset.”

In
spite of his sorrow at the deaths, Jeff was relieved. He had expected twice the
casualties reported. They still had an effective fighting force.

Later,
Halric and Jeff visited the infirmary to give what comfort they could.
Following that they made a round of the tribal enclaves to spread well-deserved
congratulations. The sun was gone before they found time to eat. Halric nearly
fell asleep at the table and staggered off to get some sleep. Jeff hung on in
order to contact Gaereth, and found him preparing for bed as well.

“That
was quite a show your boys and girls put on, Jeff. I was watching from the
south wall when the siege engines started lighting up. From what I could see,
the Salchek couldn’t figure out where the attack was coming from and didn’t
know which way to turn. They were totally unprepared when Rengeld’s cavalry hit
them.

I
have to tell you it was the most awful and moving thing I have seen for several
centuries. Our cavalry must have ridden down two or three hundred Salchek
before they even got into the fighting. I would be willing to bet the Salchek
lost six hundred effectives at a minimum.” Concern suddenly colored Gaereth
thoughts. “How did Halric’s force do? From what I heard, they took an awful
pasting in front of the north gate.”

Jeff
reviewed the battle and his assessment of the outcome. Gaereth gave the mental
equivalent of a whistle of admiration.

“That
had to really hurt the Salchek, and not only in men lost. What a morale buster,
and the second one at that! They’re never going to know what happened in the
forest and are likely to seriously overestimate the number of Alemanni
involved.”

“That’s
what we think up here.”

“You
feel like you are about to pass out, Jeff. Go get some sleep, and let’s chew
over our next moves for a day or so before talking again.”

Jeff
fell onto his cot, clothes and all. At some point during the night he was
vaguely aware of something tugging on his boots. He got up early in the
afternoon with such a ravenous appetite that he trotted to the mess hall. While
inhaling food Jeff tried to figure out who had undressed him, not to mention
why Balko had not awakened him.

Warming
his hands around a mug of coffee, it took some time to find the ambition to search
out Halric and Gurthwin. Feeling a level of fatigue that reminded him of his
northern journey, Jeff set off for the meeting hall. Helwin was waiting in
front of the building leaning against a hitching post. She looked so fit and
ready that Jeff felt envious. Nearby, Balko had found a spot of shade to his
liking and was comfortably sprawled out.

“Are
you well-rested, Captain?”

“Better
than I would have been. You undressed me, didn’t you.”

“It
is my duty to look after the welfare of my captain.” Helwin’s lips suggested a
smile. “Does a woman removing your clothing bother you?”

“No,
it does not,” Jeff replied, returning her smile. “One of the finer things of
life. My thanks for your assistance.”

They
walked around the compound looking for Halric.

“What
is the condition of our warriors?”

“The
wounded are resting, Captain, and I believe most will fully recover. Others
have taken the opportunity to speak freely with their kin.”

“I
can only imagine the war stories they’ve been spreading.”

“Yes
sir. On my way to our meeting this morning, warriors eager to join our unit
detained me at every turn. Some were familiar, many were not. Could we not
contrive to form another such unit or enlarge the first?”

“It’s
a good idea, and we might do so after replacing warriors lost to us in battle.”

Jeff
stopped so he could face Helwin. She had to look down to meet his eyes but no
longer thought of him as short or undernourished.

“Our
task is not going to be easy, Lieutenant. From what you said, interest runs
high. There are fifty tribes in this camp. What does that mean?”

“Yes
sir, I see the difficulty. We must select warriors from every tribe or risk
inciting jealousy.”

“God
forbid. We simply cannot favor one village over another. On the other hand, we
will not resort to appeasement.”

“We
must select only true warriors.”

“Or
pay the price in battle. It’s going to be a delicate task. That said, if many
good men and women come forward we will compose a second unit.” Jeff looked
pointedly at Helwin. “In light of our conversation, how would you go about
selecting warriors?”

They
had plenty of time to discuss her ideas, for Halric was nowhere to be found. It
turned out he had gone to a newly established outpost near Rugen. As the day
passed, Jeff became increasingly satisfied with Helwin’s appointment. She was
quick of mind and able to grasp, develop, and run with ideas totally new in her
experience.

Unusually
tall even for an Alemanni woman, maybe six feet seven, she had startlingly blue
eyes and appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old. Helwin’s figure
reminded Jeff of Magda’s, if fuller.

They
were about to go separate ways when Jeff’s curiosity got the better of him. “In
what fashion are you related to Magda?”

Helwin
wrinkled up her brow as she figured it out. “We are not of the same village…
Yes. Magda is my father’s mother’s sister’s husband’s niece’s daughter.”

“Well,
that certainly clarifies matters!”

Jeff
noticed a crisp chilliness to the air as he washed up next morning. Fall was
just around the corner. He counted weeks and concluded that it must be the
equivalent of early September. And that means, he thought with surprise, that
I’ve been on Aketti for a year and a half. Can that be right? Jeff knew it was
and felt considerably sobered by the realization. He smoothed his hair in
preparation for a working breakfast in the meeting hall. Along the way, Helwin
joined him. Halric was relaxing with a mug of herbal tea by the fireplace and
waved them over.

“The
Salchek are not eager to be taken by surprise again, Jeffrey. They are delving
deep to throw up mounds of dirt and rock. And the soldiers! I judge they have
doubled them around the north gate!” Halric rumbled with pleasure as he
remembered the battle. “I am now fully convinced the Salchek will not attempt
to seek us out in the forest.”

The
kettle of gruel simmering in the fireplace drew Jeff like a magnet. He filled a
wooden bowl for Helwin and dished another for himself.

“How
far are their fortifications from the nearest point we might approach without
detection?”

Frowning
in thought, Halric replied with a figure that Jeff interpreted as around two
hundred yards.

“That
is a distance our best archers might reach with the new bows, do you not
agree?”

Halric’s
grin would have done credit to a wolf. “Yes, Jeffrey, I believe our archers
could do this!”

“We
must never allow them rest, Halric. The Salchek must always go to sleep fearing
they will never awaken, fearing that a horde of Alemanni will descend like the
wrath of ancient gods. I want them to tremble in their burrows waiting for an
attack that never comes where they prepare for it to fall. Instruct the archers
to mark off the distance their arrows must fly. When we are sure the distance
is not too great, we will plan. This is how we will overcome the Salchek. Do you
perceive the method I am suggesting?” Halric looked doubtful.

“We
must torment them. March and countermarch, stinging from all directions, but
never, never accepting a challenge where they might crush us. You must not
forget what happened in front of Rugen’s north gate.”

“I
shall not. The battle was nearly lost at the outset.”

“They
will never have such opportunity again. To accomplish our goal of tormenting
the Salchek, we will form our warriors into more effective units.”

“There
is much talk about your cavalry troop.”

“So
I understand from Helwin. I believe there is much talk because we were
successful.”

Jeff
thought about sending Helwin off to work on troop selection but decided she
needed to gain knowledge of military organization as much as Halric. Jeff
laboriously and minutely described what he could remember of brigade
organization from his studies.

“…So,
then, yours will be Headquarters Company, and the rest of the warriors will be
divided into regiments under their own captains and lieutenants. If possible,
include members of two or three tribes in each regiment to insure that they
continue to work together.”

“Perhaps
from unrelated tribes?”

“As
far as possible, although we must avoid mixing tribes that have not overcome
their hostility to one another.”

“I
will consult with tribal leaders.”

“That’s
the way to do it. The Tribal Congress is a perfect setting.” Jeff paused to
consider. “I would like you to gather the archers from every tribe to form what
is termed an auxiliary unit. Depending on how many are assembled in this unit,
you may choose to further divide them.”

“And
assign the archery units to work with various regiments depending on mission.”

“Exactly,
Helwin.”

When
they called it quits, Helwin and Halric had a solid grip on brigade organization.
It was another crisp, clear day, and Jeff felt the need to soak up some sun and
shift mental gears.

“Will
you walk with me while I debate an inner conflict, Helwin? It represents an
issue of consummate importance that must be quickly resolved.”

“It
is a pleasant day, Captain. I would be honored.”

Jeff
set off across the compound at a leisurely pace, Balko trotting along well out
in front on four feet instead of three. Head down, hands clasped behind his
back, Jeff wandered along deep in thought. Helwin decided it was going to be a
long walk. Some time later, Jeff was startled from his thoughts when Balko
crashed out of the woods chasing a rabbit.

“Where
are we? Where’s the camp?”

The
look on Jeff’s face was such that Helwin couldn’t help smiling. “We have been
walking north on the road, Captain, and are perhaps two miles from camp.”

“Damn.
I really drifted off.” Jeff noticed the smile on Helwin’s face and grinned
back. “Thank you for keeping track of me. At times like this I might indeed
fall over my own feet.” Taking Helwin’s arm, he wheeled them around. “It’s just
as well we’re away from camp. What I have to say is for your ears only. We’re
going to have to leave.”

“Leave
our camp and Rugen?”

“Yes.”

They
strolled along arm-in-arm, Jeff falling silent again. Breathing deeply of the
tangy air, Helwin admired leaves that were showing the first signs of autumn
and was content to enjoy the day.

Jeff
halted abruptly and turned Helwin to face him. “Lord Gaereth has informed me
that the Salchek are also entrenching to the south of the city. What bothers me
deeply is that they are advancing salients in a most leisurely fashion. With
winter nearly upon them and short of food, why would they do this? Even while
speaking, I recall that a number of Salchek rode south after we attacked them
on the plains. The Salchek may be arrogant, Helwin, but they most certainly are
not stupid.”

“The
Salchek expect supplies from the south.”

“Yes.
Both heart and mind tell me a caravan is on its way to Rugen.” Jeff stepped out
again.

Thinking
about another winter journey brought back memories, and not the good ones. He
had nearly been destroyed, physically and spiritually. Would have been
destroyed except for Magda. Those memories in combination with the bone-deep
fatigue he had been fighting for several weeks lighted a sense of dread that
was hard to keep at bay. After going over it two or three times trying to find
a way out, he still didn’t see any alternative.