Search for Audric (15 page)

He had seen a group of men standing on the road. There had been about a dozen riders, but they were dismounted for some reason. Monte wasted no time on a second look. He turned his horse and headed back towards his friends as he picked up his bow and nocked an arrow. Remembering the curves in the road that he had passed through only moments before, he fired the arrow high over the trees, and immediately nocked another. As he now raced towards the wagon, he fired the second arrow in case the first signal had been missed. It hadn't been missed.

"Lead Kerzi through the trees," Horst called softly to Gunnar. "I will try to do something to cover the tracks."

Gunnar did not reply, but he waved the wagon off the road as soon as he saw a pair of trees that would allow it. The Arin prince moved quickly to blaze a path through the trees with his own progress, and Kerzi followed the path set before him. Monte raced around the corner and saw his friends slipping into the woods. He saw Horst trying to cover the tracks and knew that it would not be good enough to fool a tracker. They could only hope that the men would be too occupied to notice that a wagon had come down the road recently.

Looking up to see the archer arrive, Horst shook his head and said, "It's not going to work. The wagon is too heavy to hide its passing. They may pass by our exit point, but they won't be oblivious to the tracks we have been making for days. Go join Gunnar and prepare to defend when they arrive."

"We may have some time," Monte informed the Odessian. "The riders were dismounted for some reason."

"Good," nodded Horst. "We can use all the time we can get. They will be onto our trail soon after they pass this place. Go forward. I will follow in a minute."

Monte obeyed and rode after the wagon, which he could barely see through the trees. He quickly caught up to the wagon and passed it by to join with Gunnar. He explained what little he knew about the strangers.

Gunnar nodded that he had heard, but he did not verbally respond. He continued concentrating on finding a way through the forest without causing the wagon to slow down or change direction. Monte rode past Gunnar and began to search for place to defend the wagon. As he rode, he noticed an almost sudden changing of the forest. The ground cover grew more verdant, and the trees grew larger. He stopped and stared ahead at the vines and moss that began to tangle the ever-larger trees. He knew what the difference in growth signified.

"Keep moving," Gunnar called softly as he got closer.

"We can't," objected Monte. "We are on the border of Lom, and they do not take kindly to people who enter unannounced. I didn't realize that this trail had led us so far south."

"Move aside," ordered Gunnar as he passed Monte. "Kerzi has enough obstacles to dodge."

"Didn't you hear me?" asked Monte as he turned and rode alongside Gunnar. "One does not enter Lom unannounced. Can you not see the differences in the forest appearance around you?"

"No," Gunnar lied. "I am stupid about such things. Either go forward or get out of the way. Those men will be upon us soon enough, and I don't want to meet them here. We need to find a place to make a stand."

"But they will kill us for entering Lom," Monte argued.

"And we will die if we do not find a place to defend ourselves," countered Gunnar. "I will take my chances with the good people of Lom. Guide Kerzi through the trees. I will search for a spot."

Without waiting for an answer, Gunnar urged his horse forward leaving the archer to blaze a path for the wagon. He had only ridden a few minutes when he noticed that the soil was getting soft and damp. He sighed in frustration as he altered course several times in a search for more solid ground. He looked over his shoulder and saw his friends getting closer. Finally he spied what appeared to be a very narrow footpath through what was obviously the beginning of a swamp. He made an instant decision to abandon the wagon.

"Get Kerzi onto your horse," Gunnar called to Monte. "The wagon stays here. Watch me, and follow me closely."

Turning his attention to the narrow path, Gunnar rode slowly across the muck that sat on both sides of him. After a few moments, the narrow path widened and then passed through a long row of brambles. Gunnar smiled as he recognized a perfect ambush site. He dismounted and tied his horse, and soon the others arrived in single file.

"We will stand here," declared Gunnar. "If they cross by the narrow dry path, we can take them singly; if they choose to charge as one, they will be slowed by the muck. It is the best that we are likely to find."

"We will find out soon enough," commented Horst. "They have already discovered our departure from the road. I suggest we nock our arrows and prepare for battle."

"The wagon will guide them to us," the merchant said. "We should have freed the horses. They are sure to torch the wagon if nothing else, and I hate to see animals suffer for no reason."

"They are not bandits," replied Gunnar. "There is not enough travel on the road we were on to interest any bandits. If they left the road to follow us, you can be sure that they are the ones looking for us. They will care nothing for your wagon or its contents."

"Here they come," whispered Monte as the first of the riders appeared.

"Spread out," ordered Gunnar. "They do not know how many of us there are. Let's keep it that way. If they come single file, Monte and I will shoot them. If they charge then everyone should join in."

The merchant moved to the right of Monte, and Horst moved to Gunnar's left. They kept spreading out as the horsemen gathered near the wagon. One of the horsemen broke away from the others and rode towards the swamp. The rider halted as the horse's hooves begin to sink in the muck. Slowly, the rider backed up and began to parallel the soft ground, looking for tracks as he rode. When he came to the narrow, dry path, his eyes rose to look across the swamp. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the brambles.

The other riders soon joined the lone one, and they spoke softly. The words did not carry to Gunnar, but it was obvious that the riders were discussing the potential for an ambush. One of the riders dismounted and looked for a stone. When he found one, he tossed it into the middle of the damp ground. Gunnar was hoping that it would sink rapidly, limiting the attackers to the narrow path, but it did not. The swamp was not soft enough to swallow the stone completely, and Gunnar knew what was coming next.

The attackers spread out in a long line facing the row of brambles. They nocked arrows, and on a shouted command, they all fired a round at the bushes. Some of the arrows passed through the brambles. But none came close to Gunnar and his friends. The attackers' next move showed their understanding of the situation. Half of the riders drew their swords and charged across the muck, while the other half fired another salvo of arrows to keep the defenders down.

"Put the fear of death into their archers," Gunnar said softly to Monte. "Maybe that will keep them from targeting us. The rest of us will concentrate on those charging our position."

Monte looked at the row of arrows planted in the ground before him. He quickly counted the archers and added two more arrows before nocking one and letting it fly. Gunnar rose swiftly as Monte's first arrow was speeding towards the enemy. He sighted on one of the enemy, and let his arrow fly. He was peripherally aware of Horst and Kerzi also firing, but the sound of arrows striking the brambles in front of him became more important.

Gunnar ducked down and snared another arrow. He jumped to his right to change his position and then rose up and fired again. The enemy was getting closer, but he did not have time to worry about it. He ducked right after his shot and scooted far to the left, grabbing another arrow as he passed the row he had planted in the ground. Once again he rose to fire, but the number of targets was quickly decreasing. He acquired a target and fired just as an enemy arrow sped past his face. Gunnar ducked and inhaled deeply, but he dared not pause to reflect on the close call. He quickly grabbed another arrow and moved to the position he had started in, which was close to the entrance path. He heard an attacker making his way along the path and spun to confront the rider.

The rider charged through the brambles, his sword raised high to strike the first person he saw. Gunnar remained crouched next to the brambles and fired at the rider as he emerged from the narrow path. The arrow soared into the man's side, and his sword fell from his hands. As the horse continued onward, the man's body fell from his horse, and Gunnar moved to finish the man off. Regardless of the charge, they could not afford to have an enemy behind their backs.

"Two of them are fleeing," shouted Monte. "I cannot target them through the trees."

Horst rose and raced towards the break in the brambles, a loud whistle emanating from his lips, and his horse came running to meet him. The Odessian leaped onto the horse in one smooth movement as if it had been practiced a thousand times. The horse charged out of the brambles and along the narrow, dry path. Horst pulled a scimitar from its sheath as he raced past the wagon and darted through the trees. The Odessian horse sped through the forest without breaking stride as it weaved between the trees. Horst sighted one of the fleeing attackers before he even reached the road.

As Horst's mount galloped onto the road and turned to follow the attackers, one of them turned and saw the Odessian pursuing them. He urged his horse onward, but his mount was no match for the Odessian steed. The trailing attacker shouted a warning as Horst continued to gain ground, and the lead attacker turned and saw the threat coming from behind. He spurred his horse cruelly and crouched to outrace the Odessian.

Horst gained on the trailing attacker, and the man drew his sword as he felt a battle nearing. Horst smiled thinly as he hurled his scimitar. The sword's blade dug deeply into the attacker's flesh, and Horst thundered past, pulling his second scimitar from its sheath.

The lone remaining attacker realized that he could not outrun the Odessian. He pulled his sword and abruptly reined in his horse, turning as he slowed, but the maneuver was too little and too late. Horst sped by the man, his scimitar streaking out and cleaving through the man's chest. The attacker toppled from his horse and fell to the ground.

Horst slowed his Odessian mount and retraced his path. He halted his horse alongside the body of the first attacker and dismounted. Once he had verified that the man was dead, he cleaned his scimitar and sheathed it. He then searched the body for anything that would identify the man before dragging the body into the woods. Horst walked to the next body and also searched it. He retrieved his scimitar and cleaned it before returning it to its sheath. Again he searched the man and dragged the body to where it would not be easily discovered.

Horst leaped upon his mount and gathered the reins of the two stray horses. He led them back into the forest and tied them to the wagon. When he was done, he rode back across the marsh and dismounted behind the brambles.

"Neither of them will spread word of our location," Horst remarked without elaboration.

"Counting those two," frowned Gunnar, "that leaves another fifteen unaccounted for. We are not out of danger yet."

"I doubt that we will ever be out of danger," shrugged Horst. "The important thing is that we all survived this battle. We will take them one battle at a time. Did you check the other thirteen bodies?"

"I did," nodded Gunnar. "Monte cleared away their archers better than I could have hoped for. He is the reason that we are alive to talk about this now."

"You have my gratitude," Horst nodded at Monte. "I am glad that you decided to join us."

"We have company," Kerzi whispered, the strain evident in his voice.

Gunnar, Horst, and Monte spun to see a dozen men standing between the trees. Most of them carried spears, but one particularly tall one held a double-head axe. He stepped forward, and the four travelers looked up at him. The man stood a full head taller than any of the travelers, and he was broad as well as tall, but his girth was not the fullness of idle fat. The man was built like a strong oak, and he was not smiling.

Monte tried to surreptitiously retrieve an arrow from his quiver. Gunnar eased towards him and slapped his hand away from the quiver. The tall stranger's eyes narrowed, but he did not physically move to attack.

"You have entered Lom without being invited," the tall man declared. "This is forbidden. Drop your weapons."

"We did not mean to enter anywhere," complained Kerzi. "We were running for our lives. If you would look past the brambles, you big ox, you would see my wagon loaded with wood. I am but a simple merchant, and these are my warriors. Begone with you, and we shall leave your swamp."

The natives tensed, and the big man's eyes narrowed as he stared at the merchant. Gunnar saw several of the natives lower their spears as if getting ready to attack.

"Do as he says," instructed Gunnar as he placed his bow on the ground and stripped off his sheath. "This is their country, and we have trespassed upon their land. Put your weapons down."

Horst immediately complied, and Monte did so hesitantly, but Kerzi glared at the big man before tossing his bow to the ground.

"I will have your name," Gunnar said to the big man.

"I am called Talot," answered the Lomite.

Gunnar nodded and stared at the man. To call Talot a large man was a bit of an understatement. He was more like a giant if such things existed. Gunnar could not determine the man's age, but he did not appear as old as some of the others. He was distinctive because of his size, and he was the only one with a full beard, but that did not explain why he had been chosen as the spokesman.

"Who is Talot to question our entry into Lom," inquired Gunnar, "and what does he plan to do about it?"

"You have violated our borders, and you were not invited," Talot shrugged. "That is against our laws. No Lomite needs to be special to bring charges against trespassers."

"So you are not special?" Gunnar asked rhetorically. "Still, you have not answered my second question."

"The penalty for trespassing is death," declared the giant Lomite. "Everyone knows our laws."

"Actually," Gunnar shook his head, "everyone does not know your laws, nor are your borders marked so that one may know the area that is forbidden. You can see our wagon over the brambles. Do you doubt the explanation of our merchant master?"

"I do not know," admitted Talot. "I see the wagon, and your excuse has potential for truth, but I also see many bodies over the brambles. Would you deny that you are men of violence?"

"We would deny that," Gunnar replied. "We fight only to defend ourselves. Would Lomites behave differently if they were attacked? Do not your men now carry spears that are pointed at us, defenseless though we are?"

"But this is our home," countered Talot. "We have a right to defend it."

"And the wagon is our home," retorted Kerzi.

"You were not defending your wagon," Talot shook his head. "You abandoned that before you entered Lom."

"They are men of violence," interjected another Lomite. "They have entered Lom without invite. The penalty is death. Why do you bother to talk to them, Talot?"

Talot frowned heavily, and Gunnar knew that the big man intended to be fair in his judgment, but the other Lomites had no such disposition. They were sure to override Talot and murder the four foreigners, so Gunnar addressed the outspoken Lomite calling for their deaths.

"Are you charging me with entering Lom without an invite?" he glared at the smaller Lomite.

"Of course," sneered the man.

"Then I demand an appeal to the Council of Lom," Gunnar declared forcefully.

"Are you denying the charges?" snapped the smaller native.

"I demand an appeal to the Council of Lom," Gunnar repeated. "It is not your place to question my right to such an appeal. I demand one."

The smaller Lomite lowered his spear threateningly, but Gunnar held his ground.

"The foreigner is correct," intervened Talot. "For one who claims not to know our laws, he appears to be rather conversant with them."

"I never claimed not to know your laws," corrected Gunnar. "I stated that not everyone knows them."

"I stand corrected," Talot nodded in admittance of his error. "You and the others will be escorted to the Council of Lom. Your weapons will stay here."

"I am the only one requesting an appeal," Gunnar shook his head. "I am requesting to be escorted by Talot and the one who accuses me. The others may stay and ensure that my friends do not flee, but they may not be harmed until the Council has ruled. Is my understanding of your law correct?"

"The accuser, as you call him," nodded Talot, "is named Mishrak. You are correct in your knowledge of our laws, but it only wastes time to take you before the Council one at a time. I ask that you waive your right, and allow us to escort all of you at the same time."

"Why?" questioned Gunnar.

"I think you are sacrificing yourself to enable the others to flee," answered Talot. "That is not acceptable."

"You have my word," Gunnar said, as he looked Talot in the eye. "That is not my purpose. I ask the three of you to wait for my return," he continued as he turned to his friends. "Do not try to escape, and do not attempt to abuse whatever freedoms our hosts extend to you."

Gunnar's fingers flew in the sign language of the horse people as he spoke. Horst nodded solemnly, and the others verbally agreed. Talot and Mishrak looked skeptical, but they had little choice according to the law of Lom.

"Very well," agreed Talot. "You shall be escorted to the Council of Lom while the others are guarded. I am sure you know the consequences of deceit and treachery."

"I do," nodded Gunnar.

Several of the Lomites moved in and collected the weapons of the foreigners. They moved the weapons out of sight and formed a ring around the unwelcome visitors. When Talot was certain that the prisoners would not escape, he turned and led the small party deeper into the swamp. After a while the swamp began to dry somewhat, and the foliage grew in height and girth. It became more like a jungle than a swamp, and Talot put his fingers to his mouth and whistled a shrill whistle. He repeated the procedure several times, but the pattern of the whistles varied. Gunnar supposed it was some type of coded speech or signal.

"What does that mean?" he asked as the two Lomites hurried him along.

"It is a long distance to the Council of Lom," explained Talot. "I have requested that they meet us closer so that this business can be resolved sooner. Our people have long borders to protect, and we cannot spend so much time on each intruder."

"And the Council of Lom will actually come to us?" Gunnar's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Perhaps," shrugged Talot. "Maybe only a representative will come, but he will rule as if the whole Council had ruled. It is permissible under our law."

"That is not what I expected," Gunnar frowned anxiously.

"So the foreigner does not know all the laws of Lom?" scowled Mishrak. "Did you think perhaps that you could grab a member of the Council and use him to plead for your life? Lom does not work like the other kingdoms. Each and every one of us is prepared to die for Lom. Taking a captive will do you no good."

"My intent has never been one of disrespect towards Lom," retorted Gunnar. "I have great respect for your nation and your people. Why must you always think that others have evil intent? Does evil live within your own heart so deeply that you cannot imagine others without it?"

Mishrak stopped and lowered his spear towards Gunnar. His face contorted with rage, and Talot immediately stepped between the two men.

"You will not disgrace Lom with such behavior," Talot threatened his countryman. "If you cannot behave long enough to see this foreigner to the Council, I will dismiss you and take him myself."

"There would be no disgrace," snapped Mishrak. "The foreigner will soon die, and no one will learn how I acted, because he will not be alive to tell anyone."

"Are you going to kill me as well?" growled Talot. "Because if you are not, your disgrace would be noted and reported. If that is your intent, I urge you to thrust your spear now. I will accept it into my body before I strangle the life out of yours."

Mishrak raised his spear and stepped back from the giant. He tried to glare at the foreigner, but Talot remained between the two men. Finally, Mishrak turned and stormed onward towards the meeting.