The Storm's Own Son (Book 1) (18 page)

The enemies around him saw a pair of blue eyes gleaming under his shadowed hood, like those of a beast of prey in firelight. Then the swords flashed into motion.

Talaos whirled, severed the head of a stout man with a battle axe, then ducked low and brought his short blade through another's lung. The man collapsed to his knees, blood pouring from his mouth. Talaos leapt, landed a boot on his dying foe's back and launched himself forward through the air in a long soaring jump. He arced over two enemies approaching with maces, turned in midair to land behind, facing them, and cut both down with spinning blades.

Near Drosta's corpse, where
Talaos had just been standing, many fighters converged, came to sudden halts, and turned toward his new location in angry confusion. He laughed in their faces. They hesitated, and he came at them like a scythe. The closest foe went down like wheat before it. A younger man gave a pale panicked look, turned, and ran. Three older veterans, who'd arrived with round shields, closed ranks and locked them, weapons at the ready.

Talaos dodged a spear from the leftmost of the three,
and then spun forward with a kick to the shield that sent the man flying back ten feet. The man in the center stared in surprise as Talaos pivoted and whirled behind him. Now inside the man's guard, he sliced his waist open with the short blade. The third foe turned and faced Talaos with a grim look, shield up and sword ready. He stepped forward, feinted low past the man's guard and cut his left leg off clean at the knee. The man toppled, spraying blood, as Talaos swept his blade around to decapitate him.

Then, still moving, Talaos rose with blades at the ready.  Of the men close by, all now held back. Suddenly, one fell with an arrow through his temple. Another enemy broke and ran. Behind Talaos there was a fresh roar as his men closed the gap between him and them, killing as they went. Talaos made his wolfish grin once more, and advanced in measured steps toward the crowd of armed men facing him.

Two more turned and sprinted.  Several more began to step back. Another collapsed as an arrow went through his throat. Off to the left of Talaos, among the tents, came a gurgling scream, then another, closer.  The five warriors were closing fast. Some of Drosta's men looked nervously at the onrushing, bellowing giant among the five, and at the broken bodies flying from his war mattock.

Another of Drosta's men fell back with an arrow in his ribs. Talaos stalked forward, cool and at the ready. Three more men ran as others hesitated. Then the morale of the remaining enemies began
to break.  All around, they began to run, routing in panic. The five reached Talaos, and together they gave chase, slaying their fleeing foes as they ran.

Some of the men trying to escape chose the wrong way, and found knives in their backs. Others fell
pierced by arrows. The survivors raced out of camp in all directions, fleeing for their lives. The effort failed to save them, however, as Adriko and the rest of the irregulars now appeared through the mist, advancing in a vast, tightening ring.

Adriko nodded politely to the first of Drosta's fleeing men he encountered. The latter came to a skittering, and very surprised stop, waving his sword before him. Then, perhaps less politely, the
captain ran him through.

Adriko's men closed the noose as Talaos and his madmen chased the fleeing enemy. They ran and slew. A handful of Drosta's men slipped through in the mist and ran in full sprints down the slopes on all sides. From further out in the woods came the sounds of arrows, and the sprinting footsteps stopped.

A larger group of ten fled another way, raced through a gap in Adriko's squads of irregulars, and downhill in the direction of the road. The handful that remained ran this way and that in a panic, and were cut down without quarter.

Adriko nodded to Talaos, and the two of them wordlessly scanned the battlefield, taking stock of the situation. Firio and a few sanguine others made certain that no seemingly dead or wounded got back up to escape.

Shortly afterward, a scout came racing up the hill, reporting that the ten who'd escaped had been cut down with swift slaughter by the cavalry.  The scouts and irregulars gathered on the hill top. They'd lost not a single man. Adriko surveyed the blood-strewn, devastated camp, shaking his head.

"Well I suppose that didn't go too badly," he said.

~

"Talaos, that was the maddest
deed I've ever seen," muttered Larogwan.

He and the
rest of their little band stood round Talaos in the gore-spattered center of Drosta's camp.  Around them, Adriko and the rest were rounding up as many of Drosta's supplies as could be carried.

Talaos smirked in reply
. "First Kurvan called me a madman, then Drosta, and now you. I see a pattern, and you need a reminder that all of you obeyed and followed me."

"That just makes us all mad!" replied Larogwan.

"Ha! That we are. I like it." laughed Vulkas.

Talaos
thought about that, and what they'd done. Eight men had routed seventy. If that made them madmen, it was a name he'd be proud to use, a name they could share with pride. "Our group's been needing a better name than 'Decurion Talaos's Irregular Detachment', so let's go with Madmen," he said.

Larogwan looked at Talaos with appreciative appraisal. "You know, for
a moment I swore that was Adriko talking. But, you're right, Madmen has a ring to it."

"
Yes, Madmen!" boomed Vulkas, raising his war mattock.

"Madmen!" shouted the others.

"Bloody fucking madmen..." added Kyrax.

"Then the Madmen we are,"
laughed Talaos.

"Berserk, they are called in the north
," mused Halmir, to no one in particular.

Overhead the sky was turning darker, and a few drops of light rain, little more than a heavier form of mist,
began to fall.

Adriko walked over to them, glancing at the glooming sky. He spoke casually.

"While I hate to intrude, it's time to go back and gather your gear. We're going to get started on the road before this weather gets started on us."

The others looked at their
captain. He looked back placidly.

There was a pause.

"And," Adriko added, with a smile and a twinkle in his brown eyes, "Madmen, that was the most astonishing thing I've seen in fifteen years as a soldier."

One by one the captain
gripped their hands and arms in solemn congratulations.

Then he looked up again at the sky, as
more of the faint rain fell.

"
All right men, let's put some distance between us and this graveyard."

~

With hoods and cloaks pulled close, they huddled around a fire piled with wood and stoked high to survive in the drizzling rain. All except Talaos, who stood by restless and brooding. Behind them were the hills, and around them a dense forest of tall trees. The rest of the little army was camped close by, and sentries patrolled at the perimeter.

Larogwan tilted his
hooded head curiously. "Still wish it was a thunderstorm, Talaos?"

"I always do."

There were a few low, ironic chuckles around the fire.

"You know," continued Larogwan, "You do have a bit of the storm in your spirit."

"Heh! By that crazy fighting style, at least," said Vulkas.

"
More like you were born in one!" blurted Firio.

Talaos
turned to Firio with a distant smile.

From under his rain-soaked hood,
Larogwan grinned up at Talaos, "That reminds me. You never did tell us where you were born."

Talaos paused, then answered, "From what I've been told, I was born on a ship in a storm at sea, and they found me on shore in the wreckage the next morning.
"

"Well, that fits then," said Larogwan lightly, as he turned back to the fire.

Firio, however, beamed. "So you were an orphan like me!"

"Yes."

"No, not like you, or any of us..." said Halmir, his voice low and thoughtful.

"Eh?" replied Kyrax
. "You cracking on us?"

"It is an old tale
from Schald, and I think more of the north... told in different ways depending on who is telling and where they are from, but most ways say that every now and then, one born outside in a storm will be the storm's kin, and will have a mighty life, but short."

At that, a sort of inner storm
flashed in Talaos's mind. He stood up and stalked over to the Northman.

"Tell me more
," he said.

"
There is not much more. I did once meet a man from Jotun, way up on the north edge of the world, and he said his folk had another view. He said there was only one line of men who were kin of the storm, passed from father to son, and they used to live in Jotun, a long time ago."

1
2. Thunderbolt

The next day dawned warmer, with a clear sky overhead. To the east, on the edge of the horizon, clouds still brooded. The little army broke camp under Adriko's watchful eye. Men worked quickly and with spirit. Throughout everything, talk of the victory of the day before, flowed back and forth, ever growing as bits of information were gathered from seven of the men who'd been there through it all. The eighth man, Talaos, wasn't sought out for news by the ordinary soldiers, and he volunteered none himself.

At one point when they were almost ready to march, Talaos stood off by the edge of camp, watching the eastern horizon
. Larogwan quietly took a place beside him.

"You know, the men are putting quite a tale together."

Talaos turned his way with an arched eyebrow, then back.

"Stories about how you walked, cool as the morning, by yourself into a camp of seventy men and killed
their commander right in front of 'em. Stories about how you jumped farther than anyone's seen a man jump, or how you kicked a man ten feet through the air. Stories of how before that, you spun our giant out of the ring like he was a discus.

"Or how you
sleep maybe two or three hours a night, how you never seem to get tired..."

Talaos stared at the distant clouds.

"I'd think it was a tall sort of tale... except I know it's true."

Larogwan clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"It's all right, you know. There are always those stories of people who have something, some kind of magic about them. When I was in the Southlands, I once saw a man who could handle fire and not get burned. I think our Firio has a bit of it too. I've never in all my years seen anyone move that fast... But still, you'd better get used to bit of fear, awe maybe, from the men.

The ol
d soldier turned to face Talaos.

"
We're with you, though," he said. Larogwan paused, then smiled, "And besides, you do seem to be a reasonably handy fellow to have around in a fight, which is a good thing since we're at war..."

A mighty life, but short, thought Talaos. True or not,
he would do what must be done, and now he had allies who for a time at least, traveled the same way.

Allies? No. Friends.

He turned, gripped Larogwan's forearm in the old martial greeting used in Hunyos, and gave him a grim smile. Then, as they turned back to camp, his smile regained its wry edge.

"You were in the Southlands?" asked Talaos.

"I had a job down there. It didn't pay well enough, considering all the snakes..."

~

They formed up in good order, and set forth down the road.  The forest was soon left behind and they passed through the open woodland west of the plains.  In the clearer air, Talaos could see distant villages from time to time, and wondered how many of them were still intact. When they reached the crossroads, they turned south, back toward Avrosa.

The country to the right was under a clear sky. The sea awa
y left was crowned with distant dark clouds. The air was clear and almost still, with only the lightest of circling winds.

After a while, they could see a large supply caravan moving south ahead of them, with the
standards and banners of allied towns, and provisions on their way to the army at Avrosa. Time went on, and they ever so slowly gained on them.

Sometime later
, there was a trail of dust visible to the north, coming south and moving fast.  Adriko rode to the back of the column, grabbed a couple of cavalrymen, and rode further back as the rest of the line continued on. He got a better look, and then rode back at haste.

"Look lively men! That is a squadron of horse, riding hard our way. If they keep on, we'll see what news they have.  If they keep their distance, then we'll watch out for more of them."

Whispers and groans moved along the line, as soldiers readied for the chance of trouble.

Time passed, they kept marching, the dust grew closer, and no
other appeared on the horizon.  The tension began to relax again, instead replaced by something more like cautious interest. Finally, seventeen horsemen in varied garb and armor came galloping up.  One of them, with the wreath of Teroia painted on his red-brown shield, reined his horse in front of Adriko, and brought his arm across his chest in Salute.

"What news, Decurion?" asked
Adriko, returning it.

"The enemy has an army of twenty thousand
, moving south. It includes substantial forces from Idrona, Kyras, Imperi, and Etosca. In defense, Megasi, Teroia and the towns all about have sealed their gates, but reports are the force is headed toward Avrosa.  There is a force of about six hundred cavalry some days ahead of the rest, clearing the way, and not far behind us."

"Are you taking that news to our men in
Avrosa?"

"Yes sir."

"I'll send one of mine with you. Then you may ride on."

Adriko picked a fast rider from among the cavalry, and the man formed up with the messengers.
Without another word, the Teroian officer motioned his squadron forward, and they continued down the road in great haste.

As they left, Adriko watched them, riding quietly in thought.

For his part, Talaos considered what he'd heard. From his old readings of maps and travelogues, he knew Teroia, Idrona, and Kyras were the three largest of the fourteen major cities of Hunyos. Idrona and Teroia were coastal cities, naval powers, and historical enemies. He'd gathered from conversations with Adriko and others that each of those two cities was arguably the center of their alliance.

Teroia was the southernmost of the three, and the allied army at Avrosa was largely gathered from cities and towns near it. In turn, Avrosa itself was the only
major city in Idrona's alliance in the south, and Adriko had told him Sanctari was there to try to knock it out of the war. The even larger enemy army from central Hunyos was no doubt intended to stop that.

Kyras apparently fielded the largest army in Hunyos, but a substantial part of its forces, and those of its allies, were said to be
occupied farther north, facing a group of cities allied with Teroia and led locally by the city of Lazla. The borders between the cities on one side or the other were far from neat, but it could still be said that Teroia and its allies faced a problem of divided armies and divided fleets.

It also meant that barring a breakthrough at sea, there would be little or no direct help against the army now coming their way.

Then his thoughts were interrupted as Adriko moved suddenly into action.

"Lurios, Drevan, Talaos... let's have a talk
," said their captain, motioning them to join him at the side of the marching column.

Adriko
dismounted, walking his horse beside Talaos, then Lurios and Drevan did the same. He motioned them close.

"
Well, so much for our fine walk in the sunshine..." he said. He paused, then went on. "I needn't point out to you gentlemen that six hundred swift cavalry is five hundred more than we have. Of even greater significance is the fact that our two hundred slow infantry are two hundred more than they have. Mathematics do not favor us in regard to any plans to outrun that vanguard.

"There is also th
e supply caravan up ahead to consider, and the bellies it will fill, particularly if the army at Avrosa gets pinned between the city and the enemy..."

Lurios and Drevan took on grim expressions.  Talaos felt a thrill run through him.

"You can see where this is going," continued Adriko. "You might also recall that stretch where the hills come down to the coast.  The point where the road crosses them might make a defensible enough spot to hold the line."

Lurios spoke, his voice as polished as his appearance
. "I believe the spearmen could hold for quite some time, if we were properly formed on high ground and had support at the flanks."

Adriko looked thoughtful
. "The irregulars, being irregular, will take the hills on either side of the road.  Those men in the supply caravan up ahead can be put to work, and will probably have tools. If we're really lucky, they'll have shovels intended for siege use at Avrosa. A trench in front of us would cut down the power of cavalry charges."

Drevan, short, strong, and energetic, asked, "What do you want our cavalry to do?"

"Ride hard ahead out of sight until you get to the opposite slope of the pass. Then, stay in reserve, until the right time presents itself," replied Adriko. "With a defensible position, six hundred against three isn't so bad. I think we could hold. Of course if they decide to sit tight instead, somewhere nearby but out of reach, we end up involuntarily waiting for the main force. And twenty thousand against us doesn't look so good."

He then turned to Talaos
. "Thoughts on you and the Madmen?"

"We could
go around behind them," answered Talaos, ideas turning in his mind.

"
And give them a gentle nudge?" smiled Adriko. "I think as well, that if they do decide to sit tight, they'd be setting up a camp, and you have a little bit of history in that regard."

Talaos arched an eyebrow, and made a faint smirk.

He then considered that the sooner they started, the better their chances of getting around without being noticed, and the more possibilities might present themselves.

That, he thought, and the thrill of it called to him.

"I'd hate to keep them waiting," replied Talaos.

Adriko, stopped, surveying him with mild surprise and considerable approval.
"Right. Off you go then..."

~

The Madmen made their way across the gentle, rolling, light woodland west of the road.  Small copses of trees alternated with stretches of open meadow or pasture. Further inland, and further from the depredations of armies, were distant flocks of goats or sheep, and thin trails of smoke from unseen village chimneys. On their right, toward the coast, was the wide expanse of packed dirt that constituted the coastal road, beyond it the plains and shore. The afternoon sun was lowering in the blue western sky, while far to the east, clouds lingered over the sea.

Among the eight men, one seemed distinctly unimpressed with the vistas around them.

"Hey sharp-eye, any sign of the bastards?" Kyrax asked Imvan.

"No," replied Imvan,
walking with Talaos at the front of their little column.

"Taking 'em long enough. Those donkeys they're riding?" continued the other.

"Give them a little patience, Kyrax," interjected Larogwan, as he trudged next to the other across a gully. "They are on duty, you know, raiding and killing such of ours as they find."

"
You're starting to sound like Adriko too..." joked Vulkas, stepping across the gully in one great stride.

"What's wrong with Adriko?" added Firio, confu
sed, as he lightly darted across.

Halmir
, next to Firio, tilted his head with a quizzical, serious expression at that, then leapt across the gully. As the group strode across the open ground beyond, he seemed lost in brooding thought, but at last answered, "What is wrong, yet a source of strength, is that Adriko has the heart of a warrior, but the mind of a trickster, and these two are in conflict within him."

"What the hell..." replied Kyrax.

Epos, in his helm and walking steadily behind the others, said nothing.

They went on for a while in the golden afternoon
sunlight. The wind blew gently, as if war was a faraway thing. The conversation died down, replaced by watchful silence. Then, Imvan pointed, and Talaos gave the signal to stop.

"There it is," said Imvan.

Talaos looked where the Hillman had pointed, and there was a distant column of dust, vast amounts of it, coming south along the road. The would-be predators, he thought. He'd see what could be done about that.

"Eyes open, men!  Let's get under better cover," he said.

They took up a position well back from the road, behind a little hillock crowned with tall bushes. After a short while, the enemy came into sight. Peering through the twiggy trunks, they observed the advancing column.

"
There's our prey," he said, grinning his feral grin.

"
Yes, all, ah... I'd guess more like eight hundred of them, at least..." whispered Larogwan.

Talaos silenced him with a raised hand,
but then with a smile and in a low voice, added, "Reality exceeds our expectations."

At the front was a body of scouts, unarmored men on fast horses.  Some of them were fanned out across the countryside near by the road. Then there was a gap of a half mile or so. After that followed a vanguard of light horsemen much like those in Adriko's force. Behind that were a small body of heavy cavalry with
plate armor even on their thighs and upper arms.