The Hordes of Chanakra (Knights of Aerioch) (28 page)

Kreg sighed with relief. "Ooh.  That's much better."

"Here, Kreg." Shillond helped support Kreg into a sitting position, then to his feet. "I'm sure you'll need to...ah, get out for a few minutes."

Leaning heavily on Shillond's shoulder, Kreg let Shillond lead him out of the tent.  The cold of the air took a sharp nip at Kreg's throat as they passed out of the warmth of the brazier-heated tent.

Kaila followed at a discreet distance, but close enough to prevent any further attempts on Kreg's life.  Her hand rested lightly on sword hilt.

When Kreg had taken care of necessary details, Shillond led him back to the tent.  Kreg did not protest at Shillond's order to lie back down.  The short trip had exhausted him.

"What is the news?" Kreg finally asked. "How goes the war?"

Kaila looked at Shillond a moment before answering. "Keven is greatly worried.  Faron holds to the south and last report has a large army massing there.  Likewise does Duke Bryon report from the east.  We have no report from the north, but the Meronan forces cannot yet have reached their camps.  You know what we face here.  We are ringed about by foes." She hung her head. "Soon they will fall upon us and Aerioch will be no more.  An honorable death seems all that we can hope for."

Kreg looked away.  If even Kaila was discouraged, then the situation was grim indeed.

"Shillond?" Kreg looked back. "You said before that you asked Baaltor the wrong question.  Let's go back and ask some right ones."

"I wish it were that simple," Shillond said. "Kaila has traveled to his realm with me, as have you.  Now that Baaltor has your measure, he can send much greater forces.  I no longer have the strength to face him alone." Shillond poked into the charcoal brazier for a moment. "I have had to face him by stratagem for longer than the two of you have been alive.  Until I have some new artifice, to return to his realm would only mean death."

"Father?" Kaila suddenly brightened. "Take not Kreg or me.  Take us both.  With Kreg by my side, sword in hand, we may face aught the demon may send against us."

"No, Kaila," Shillond said. "I cannot both defend you against spellcraft and duel with the demon."

"Let Kreg attend to our defenses," Kaila said. "Kreg can shield us against any mystic threats and you will then be free to aid us against threats physical."

Shillond's mouth slowly dropped open. "I had never thought..."

"I've never seen you astonished before," Kreg said. "Kaila's outlined what I had in mind." He grinned. "She seems to have thought it through a lot more thoroughly than I had."

We don’t even know if we can journey to Baaltor’s realm with Kreg now, or if his ability to resist magic will break the journey disk spell or not,” Shillond said. “We will need to test that.  I must make preparations.  If Prince Keven grants leave, I will return to Norveth tomorrow to make them. Kreg, you and Kaila can follow as soon as you are well enough to ride."

Kreg nodded.

#

Keven did grant leave.  Shillond left the next day.  That day and the next two Kreg walked about the camp, leaning heavily on Kaila, in an effort to recover his strength.

"It likes me not," Keven said.  Kaila had helped Kreg to his tent. "The Schahi army has waited beyond the pass for some days now and they attack not.  What is their plan?"

The open flap of the tent faced down into the pass.  Kreg looked down at the army.  Keven had finished the fortifications, making them as secure as possible.

"They wait for something," Kaila said. "What, I know not."

Kreg stared off into the distance as if he could conjure a vision of the opposing army. "I don't know and I can't guess.  Whatever it is, when we find out, you can bet we won't like it."

Keven pointed out the army below. "Are you able to see how I have disposed the army?  Our lines wait below in two wings of dismounted knights.  Between them I have a wedge of archers, three thousand strong.  Atop the hills on either flank I have placed more archers where they may loose their shafts into an attacking force.

"The straw you see scattered before them has been soaked in oil.  I know not if we can withstand the assault of yon army, but it will be a great battle."

"Win or lose," Kreg said, "the idea is to hurt them more than they hurt us.  I'd give anything right now for a tribe of Mongol horse archers, or better yet, some riflemen.  We could peck away at them and they couldn't touch us."

He sighed. "Of course, the Schahi would learn how to deal with that too, probably by piling on more numbers.  The most we could do is buy us just a little more time."

"Be not discouraged," Keven said. "Shillond has told me that he seeks an answer.  An' we hold the kingdom long enou' it doubts me not that he will find the means to save us all."

"Bah!" Dahren trudged into the tent, overhearing Keven's remark. "It is not meet that men should rely upon sorcery. 'Tis better to die in valorous defeat than to live if life is tainted by the cowardly methods of wizards."

"Dahren, you speak foolishly," Kaila said. "Honor is found in protecting what we hold dear.  Would you throw away all that King Marek has achieved?"

"Hmph.  He makes peasants almost the equal of knights."

"And you would make knights no more than bandits." Kaila's voice chilled with more than the frosty air. "Hold your peace lest you be thought traitor."

"You dare!"

"Aye," Kaila's voice remained unchanged. "I dare."

"I am no traitor!" Dahren's face purpled with rage. "And were it not for the King's ban, I would prove so on your body!"

"Enough!" An impressive roar issued from Keven's slim frame. "My father has forbidden this duel so let that be the end of it.  I repeat his words, 'If ye must duel, do so after the war is won.'

"Kaila, Dahren merely speaks what many think.  These new ways are strange.  We face an implacable foe and in our frustration tempers run hot.

"Dahren, Kaila, too, seethes with frustration at our impasse.  No one doubts your loyalty.

"It is our command that ye forgive one another that we may end this strife that threatens us as surely as does yon army."

"Aye, Highness," Kaila bowed deeply, from the waist then turned to Dahren. "My hand, if you will have it."

Dahren hesitated a beat, then took the proffered arm.

Kreg noted the fire of hatred that still smoldered in Dahren's eyes.  Whether directed at Kaila, Kreg, or the Schahi, Kreg did not know.

“Now, Dahren,” Keven said, “what did you want?”

“I demand to have command of the knights in reserve.”

“In reserve?” Keven smiled. “Do you not rather wish to be at the front?”

“Bah,” Dahren said. “You hide behind walls.  It is the reserve that will sally forth and meet the enemy face to face as men should.”

“If I command it,” Keven said, “and only then.”

“You will command it,” Dahren said, his voice suddenly soft and gentle. “No man of honor could refuse to give battle to a foe.  You will command it and you will see again how men fight.  And then you will turn from these tricksters' ways and follow again the ways of honor.”

“Have a care, Dahren,” Keven said, his voice even softer. “Do you accuse me?”

Dahren stepped hastily back, raising his hands as if to ward off a blow. “I do not doubt your honor, Your Highness.  I rely upon it.”

#

"Come, Kreg," Kaila's voice roused him early the next morning. "Keven has sent word that we are to meet with him at first light."

Kreg scrubbed at is eyes with his fists. "I'm up."

Kaila chuckled and handed him a steaming cup.  Neither coffee nor tea, the hot drink nevertheless brought Kreg into wide wakefulness.

"Why's Keven want us?" Kreg asked after he had downed half the mug.

"The messenger did not say, but I think he wishes us to seek the cause of the Schahi withholding their attack."

Kreg nodded.  He pulled a heavy woolen tunic over his head and wool breeches over his legs.  Once dressed, he set a heavy cloak about his shoulders. "Okay, let's go."

The cold air outside the tent hit Kreg like a fist, dispelling any remaining traces of sleepiness.  His breath formed clouds in front of him as his feet crunched on the frozen ground.  The guard at his tent flap nodded as Kreg and Kaila passed.

"Can we check on Bertan?" Kreg asked. "Or do we have time?"

Kaila squinted at the eastern horizon, graying with pre-dawn light.  A hint of red glimmered in the low spots between peaks. "It is early yet, even by Keven's command.  I think he will not begrudge us a moment or two."

After the attack, Shillond had installed Bertan in a small tent of his own.  While not large enough to stand in, the tent was all the warmer for it.  Kreg required four charcoal braziers to keep his tent comfortable. Bertan needed only one.

Kreg peeked into the tent and saw that Bertan was still asleep.  As he was about to back away, Bertan's eyes opened. "Sir Kreg!" Bertan sat up.

Kreg smiled and crawled into the tent.  Kaila squeezed in behind him. "Are you well, Bertan?"

"Yes, Sir Kreg," Bertan said. "Shillond said before he left that I should rest a few days yet, but..." He ended in a half-wistful sigh.

Kreg chuckled. "Anxious to be up and about, Bertan?"

Bertan shrugged.

Kreg laughed. "All right, Bertan.  If Kaila agrees, I'll okay you for light duty.  Nothing straining, but at least it will let you out of this tent."

"I see naught amiss," Kaila said.

"Then that's settled." Kreg nodded once. "You can start," he said to Bertan, "by getting dressed and joining us when we go to see Prince Keven."

"Yes, Sir Kreg."

Kreg gestured Kaila to precede him and crawled out of the tent. "We'll wait for you," he tossed back over his shoulder.

Outside, Kreg stood.  He grabbed the front of the legs of his breeches and shook them vigorously. "Man, crawling on this ground is likely to freeze your knees."

Kaila snorted, blowing a cloud of fog from her nose that made her seem like a fire-breathing dragon.

A moment later Bertan emerged from the tent, hugging himself tightly against the cold. "I'm ready," he said.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Halt!" One of the guards in front of Keven's tent said as Kreg, Kaila, and Bertan approached.

Six guards stood around the tent, two flanking the entrance flap and one more at each of the four corners.  The guards wore mail tunics coming to mid-thigh rather than the longer mail shirts worn in battle.  Conical helmets covered their heads and high leather boots protected their legs.

The guards standing next to the entrance flap stood with
shashyn
, the great sword of Aerioch held bare, the points held pommel up and forward and the points of the swords resting on a leather pad next to their feet.  The one on the right held his sword in his left hand, the one on the left, in his right.  The other guards wore their
shashyn
scabbarded at the waist.

"I am Kaila," she said, "Kreg and I have been commanded to appear before the Prince.  Kreg is accompanied by his squire, Bertan."

The guard nodded.  He turned to the tent flap and pulled it slightly to one side. "Majesty, Kaila and Kreg are here as you have ordered."

There was no response.  The guard looked at Kaila and grinned. "He was about late last night.  Perhaps he still lies slugabed.  If you will wait here, I will rouse him."

At Kaila's nod, the guard slipped into the tent.  A moment later he sprang out, almost bowling Kaila over.  His face ashen, he gulped breath then said. "He's gone.  The Prince is not within."

"Gone?" Kaila asked.

"Maybe he's just out early," Kreg suggested.

The guard shook his head. "Nay.  Had the Prince departed before my watch the previous guard would have said."

Kreg frowned. "I think we'd better look into this, Kaila."

At her nod, Kreg entered the tent.

The braziers had died--the ash in them cold--leaving the tent no warmer than the air outside.  On the left, Keven's sleeping pallet lay, neatly arranged.  Kreg stooped to feel the blankets, seeking any residual warmth.  They were as cold as the rest of the tent interior.

"I don't think his bed's been slept in," Kreg said.  He looked over the ground.  While hard-packed from much walking, it did not have any of the scrapes and general torn-up appearance that marked a fight. "Nor do I see any signs of a struggle."

"Rouse the camp," Kaila told the guard who had followed them into the tent. "It may be that Keven slipped out without the guard on his tent being aware.  Even now, he may be speaking with some other knight."

The guard nodded, still pale. “Let us pray it is so.”

An hour later, the truth became clear.  Keven was no longer within the camp.

"What do we do?" a knight implored Kaila.  A small knot of them had clustered around her.  Kreg stood beside, and slightly behind her.

"Send out scouts," Kaila said. "If in some manner the Prince has been taken, then his abductors may still be near.  Search diligently.  It may be that we may rescue him."

"But what of the army that comes?" another said. "We cannot face so large a force."

"We are overmatched," another said.

Kaila looked back at Kreg.  He nodded.

"How does your situation differ from what it was yesterday?" Kreg said. "This army is the same.  The army you face is the same.  Keven may be missing, but that does not change what we have to do here."

"I would expect such talk from a craven outlander." Dahren stood outside the group, his arms folded belligerently. "Who are you, Sir Kreg--" His tone made the title an insult. "--to give direction to the knights of Aerioch?"

Kreg bit back the retort on his lips.  A moment later, he said, "I may be 'outlander' as you term it, but I have fought for Aerioch enough to have earned my place, I think.  More than once my blood has been spilled in Aerioch's defense."

Although Dahren seemed about to say something more, many of the knights were nodding.

"But," a knight said, "who is to lead us?"

Kaila sighed. "I am ranking noble, I think.  Thus does the duty fall on me."

"Ha!" Dahren said. "If we were not lost before, surely we are now."

"That is not justice," another of the knights said. "She led us to victory against the Schahi before."

Dahren humphed and stalked off.

"Lead us," one of the knights said to Kaila.

When Kaila at a loss, Kreg whispered in her ear. "If the Schahi were waiting for anything before their attack, this would be it."

She nodded. "Man the heights, and the fortifications.  Kreg has said, and I concur, that the Schahi are likely to attack soon.  If not today, then within the near future."

The knights, relieved to have tasks to do, trotted off.

"First, the King," Kaila said to Kreg when the others had left. "Now the prince.  What will befall next, I wonder?"

"I don't know," Kreg admitted, "but I can guarantee we won't like it."

#

No attack came that day.  Nor did the scouts have anything to report regarding the missing Keven.  The scouts did spot the Schahi army on the move, coming closer.  Such a large army moved slowly and they would probably reach them within the next three days.

Kaila met with Kreg in his tent.  Bertan served them a late supper and, at Kreg’s invitation, joined them.

"It is true," she said. "Against such a host we cannot hope for victory.  The most we can expect is to blunt their advance and that not much."

Kreg nodded. "No more than we expected."

“But, Sir Kreg,” Bertan said. “I have seen you win against vast armies both at Griselde and Callens.  Can you not do it again?”

“The Schahi armies there were nothing like this, Bertan,” Kreg said. “A good position, or superior mobility, or better arms and armor, can let a smaller force defeat a larger one, but there comes a time when a force is large enough that you can’t kill them fast enough to keep the rest from dragging you down.”

Kaila scratched at the side of her chin. "Methinks still that Shillond will be the key to victory.  The plan to wrest the secret from Baaltor is of greatest importance.  If it succeeds, then victory may still be ours.  If it fails, then we shall fail ourselves."

Kreg nodded again and sat quietly, waiting for Kaila to continue.

"It likes me not to turn from a fight," she said, coming to the point at last, "but I think we must.  You are well enough to ride now although neither fast nor long.  Still, if we start sooner, we arrive sooner.  We must join Shillond.  Only with him lies any hope of victory."

"Who will you leave in command of the army?" Kreg asked.

"If Kaila leaves," Bertan said, "Dahren will be ranking noble."

Kaila nodded.

"I don't like that at all," Kreg said.

"No more do I," Kaila said. "He is like to stand on his rights.  I like him not, but he has not given cause whereby he may be denied."

"You're right about standing on his rights," Kreg said. "And he'll probably call us cowards in the process."

Kaila barked laughter at that. "Well, let us find him and see."

#

"Hah!" Dahren said a few minutes later in front of his pavilion.  Clouds threatened to drop their load of snow onto them.  With those clouds hiding the moons and the stars, the only light came from campfires and torches. "I did not expect you to admit your cowardice so openly.  Aye.  Flee.  Turn and run from the battle and I will lead the army on to glory."

"That's not the plan," Kreg said quietly. "You are to blunt the advance, do some damage.  Retreat in good order and save the army."

"Of course, you would speak so," Dahren said. "All you know is to flee and hide.  Go.  Crawl back to Norveth.  We need not your kind of lessoning here."

Kreg’s fists clenched almost of their own accord.  A moment later he sighed and looked away.  Kreg could ignore his insults but Dahren, with his dreams of glory, would cost them many good men.  Nevertheless, Kaila's arguments held.  They could not stay here.  Shillond's plan had to take priority.  Her arguments also held with regard to Dahren.  They could not deny him command regardless of the lives leaving him in charge would cost.

"You speak foolishly, Dahren," Kaila said. "Kreg has taught us wisdom.  King Marek saw the virtue of Kreg's arts at once."

"And what gained he?" Dahren asked. "If he still lives, King Marek is captured, held none know where.  Despite his promises, the wizard has failed to find him.  Now Keven is gone too.  Dead or captured?  Who knows?  Are we all to fall because of this foolishness?"

Kreg saw Kaila bite her lower lip, drawing blood in her effort to restrain her temper. "Dahren," she said, her voice as cold as the air around them, "the King himself has forbidden us to duel, else..."

"Ah!" Dahren shouted again. "A convenient excuse to hide behind."

Kaila's face went blank.  Her right hand opened and closed repeatedly as her eyes narrowed, locking with Dahren's.

"Kaila," Kreg said. "Remember who you're talking to.  Dahren is a fool; his words meaningless drivel.  Let him rant on.  No one who knows you can possibly believe his lies."

Dahren jerked his attention from Kaila to Kreg. "Dare not to insult me, whelp!  No King's ban prevents me from slaying you!"

Kreg sighed. "Don't bother with threats, Dahren.  I've beaten you once already."

"I am a peer of the realm." Dahren's shouts increased in volume. "You will address me as 'My Lord'."

"I will," Kreg said, "when you earn it."

Dahren's face went scarlet.  Ignoring the sword at his waist, he reached out with a hand to grab Kreg by the collar.

Kreg grabbed the extended arm and stepped back, pulling and turning with Dahren's movement.  An instant later Dahren lay face down on the ground, Kreg's right knee pressing down on his left shoulder.  Kreg had Dahren's arm twisted up and back in a way that Kreg knew from experience was excruciating.

As Dahren struggled to free himself, Kreg increased the pressure fractionally, forcing an involuntary cry from Dahren.

"Just hold still, Dahren," Kreg said. "It wouldn't take much more force dislocate this elbow."

As Dahren continued to struggle, Kreg increased the pressure still more.

"You're tough, Dahren," Kreg said. "I know how much this hurts.  But if you do not yield, I will press on and break the arm.  Neither of us wants that.  How can you prove your courage in battle if you’re laid up with a broken arm?"

"Release me!" Dahren shouted, the pain in his voice only poorly concealed.

"Do you yield?"

A long silence.  Kreg added just a bit more pressure.  Finally Dahren said, "I yield."

Kreg released the arm and stood back.  His right hand never strayed far from his sword hilt.

Dahren stood in silence a long moment then said, "If I am to command this force, I will have things to do." He spun and left.

Kaila slid the sword that Kreg had not noticed she had drawn back into its sheath. "I had forgotten your skill without arms."

Kreg shrugged.

The crisis over, Bertan broke his silence. "I've never seen anyone fight like that, Sir Kreg.  Will you teach me?"

Kreg reached down to grasp his shoulder. "Let's get the two of us healed fully first.  All right?"

Bertan nodded eagerly.

"If teaching you will be doing," Kaila said. "May I count myself your student as well?"

"You?" Kreg looked at her in surprise.

"Aye," she said. "I own no peer with sword, but I have come to see that there are times when a sword avails not."

Kreg grinned at her. "Sure.  Why not?  The more the merrier."

As they turned away, Kreg looked back. “I think I may have made a mistake,” he said. “Dahren is going to cost us, cost us dear.”

#

The army receded behind them as Kreg, Kaila, and Bertan descended from the mountain pass.  Besides themselves and their saddle horses, they had one packhorse.  For riding, Kaila had picked smaller horses, about 15 hands high at the shoulder with stocky bodies and short legs.  The gait did not jar like some of the horses Kreg had ridden, but was smooth and gentle.

A light dusting of snow covered the ground, making footing treacherous on the rocky ground.  Kreg let the horse pick his own way, trusting to it to choose the safest route.  Despite their slow pace, the army camp was soon lost in the mountains behind them.

Kreg glanced over at Kaila.  She did not look pleased.  Despite all they knew, all their arguments, she still did not want to turn her back on an army facing combat.  Kreg more than half agreed with her.  Somehow, it felt wrong to be leaving.

Behind them, Bertan sat his horse erect, almost squirming in his saddle and his lips twisting with the effort not to grin.

"You look chipper," Kreg said to Bertan. "What happened?  You win a bet from the pages?"

Bertan shook his head as the grin broke free of his control.  He nodded down the hill in the direction they were traveling. "In about a day or two we'll be going through my father’s province.  Depending on the road, we may even pass close to my family's estates."