One to his right.
One beyond his feet.
The closest a body length from his head...
Drawing on the Gift, Sallis rolled out of his blanket and pulled his sword free in the same movement. Unable to react, the three men stared as ti Ath increased his movement through time. His sword jarred as it caught in the skull of the man nearest to him and as he pulled it free, he pivoted to take the man to his right down.
Seeing his third opponent, he released the Gift.
"Run," he growled. "If you want to live."
The boy dropped his sword, turned and ran as fast as he could.
Sallis paused to take in the two corpses. Clean-shaven and well kept, they were not the usual cutthroats and bandits who too often infested the road. Even if they wore civilian clothing, these were soldiers. Changing his mind, he decided to pursue the boy.
If there were soldiers out here acting in this way, they were not men friendly to Marka.
Sallis ti Ath smiled grimly to himself as he pounded after the boy. He would have answers.
***
Chapter 9
Riding South
Now the boy moved with considerably more caution than before, Sallis ti Ath slowed his pace. He didn't want to catch him before getting his answers. A blackbeak's trill reached his ears and he halted. A diurnal bird, the blackbeak only squawked in protest at night. When another replied, Sallis smiled to himself. Sign and countersign for when the boy and the now-dead raiders returned. Which meant there were more. Senses alert, he crept forward.
Neither large nor insignificant, the camp had tents for ten men and he wondered how a force this size managed to wander the countryside with impunity. In theory, the City Guard patrolled this far. He watched the boy report to a man outside one of the tents. Too far away to eavesdrop and he daren't risk using the Gift.
Tents for ten men and he had killed two. Eight left.
The camp's layout told Sallis these men were soldiers and not ordinary brigands. But who would send soldiers to act as raiders in Markan territory? He moved closer. Though commissioned to apprehend Kelanus, Sallis realized sorting these raiders had equal importance for Marka. Certainly worth a gamble.
Another man joined the boy and they spoke in low voices. Clean-shaven, this man wore no uniform. Sallis ti Ath had not really expected one.
Whichever army they came from, he could not leave eight men loose to bring harm to the innocent people living in this area. That so few people lived out here meant those who did were more vulnerable.
A pity he was no archer. Concealed by darkness, he could wreak havoc from here. Too late to learn now, even if he had a bow. He knew one end of a sword from the other, so that and the Gift must be his weapons. Would these men settle down to sleep, or ride out, to try and capture or kill him? The boy would tell his officer about the pursuit.
Moments later the rest of the men tumbled from their tents and readied weapons. There were only two horses, which Sallis assumed belonged to the officer and his second.
"Form up, men!" called the man ti Ath assumed held the command.
Sallis ti Ath smiled to himself; unless he missed his guess, those accents came from Eldova. Even better, these men were going to hunt him. They would learn they were the prey.
Disciplined and organized, the small column of soldiers formed up. The commander led and the second brought up the rear, which meant a horse before and behind the rest, helping protect them. Sallis knew he must think on his feet and fast. Should he cut ahead of the men and wait for them in his camp, or stalk the column and take them out one at a time? How best to take them out?
The men moved in silence: further proof they were not ordinary brigands. It also made his self-imposed task harder.
He stared at the horse at the rear. A pity to destroy such a magnificent warhorse, but he had no choice. Taking care to make no noise, fully aware the animals were more likely to detect his presence than the men, he crept closer, keeping pace with the column and waiting for his moment to strike.
As the path turned to avoid a huge rock, Sallis waited until the second and his horse were alone. He moved, sped up time for himself, and laid a hand on the horse's flank. Using the talent that in others healed, he stilled the animal's heart before diving back out of sight and returning to normal time.
The horse collapsed soundlessly, expelling its last breath. The rider pitched forward with a cry that ended abruptly as the man's neck snapped. Sallis ti Ath could hardly believe his luck. Moments later, two of the foot soldiers reappeared.
The dead horse and rider caused consternation; in moments, the soldiers grouped around the two corpses. The commander eventually spoke.
"Looks like the horse suffered a seizure," he said. "Pincher was thrown forward and broke his neck. Leave him here; we'll collect him on the way back."
"Are we under attack, sir?" asked the boy, still worried after his last encounter with Sallis.
"No. Come on men; form up!"
Moments later, Sallis again stalked the men. Should he now take out the other horse? Or move his way up the column and wait to see how long before the soldiers worked out they were being killed off? Either way, he must move quickly, or they would reach his camp.
Another opportunity soon presented itself. The men marched in a different order after each time they grouped together. Whether by accident or design, Sallis did not know, and it did not matter. Before they had time to get used to the new file, Sallis struck again, using his dagger to take out the second-from-last man, while the last man walked backwards. The last man in the file died seconds later, Sallis setting his body gently to the ground. Five left.
A little time passed before the soldiers realized they had lost two more. Discipline eroded as cries and shouts pierced the air, but Sallis ensured he stayed well out of sight. The commander rode around his men in ever expanding circles, hoping to trap their attacker, but Sallis waited to spring forward and kill this horse in the same way as the last, only without manipulating time.
The officer was more fortunate than his second in his fall, but Sallis killed him before he had time to react.
Moments later, only two men and a boy remained. The survivors played straight into ti Ath's hands as discipline collapsed. They panicked and scattered. Sallis smiled: he killed the men within a minute and cornered the boy.
Without the benefit of experience to temper opinion, Sallis knew children would believe more fanatically than any zealot.
"You should have chosen a different profession," advised Sallis, showing his teeth.
The boy said nothing, but his gaze darted this way and that, seeking escape.
Sallis closed the gap and the boy had no time even to scream.
***
"Is that bloody sylph asleep?"
Kelanus winked at Balnus before returning his attention to Neptarik, whose eyes were shut, head leaning against Balnus's chest. The sylph wore a contented look and his earpoints twitched as the General spoke. He had been around soldiers long enough to recognize friendly banter, even if it came close to drawing blood.
"He's just resting," replied Balnus, a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Just resting?" Kelanus snorted. "Of us all, I think he had the most fun."
Neptarik opened one eye to regard his antagonist, but said nothing.
"He earned us a free night in comfort," countered Balnus.
"He prostituted himself," retorted Kelanus, putting a sneer in his voice.
"He certainly enjoyed himself," muttered Tahena. She raised her voice. "As I recall, you never objected to the terms."
"Which you were also quick to accept." Kelanus changed victim.
Tahena stared dangerously at Kelanus, and Neptarik, sensing a row brewing, screwed his eyes shut, but kept an earpoint free to eavesdrop.
"Is this a bruise on your ear?" demanded Balnus, glancing down at his sylph. He knew better than to touch it. Breeding sylphs were fussy about earpoint touching.
Neptarik g
ave a half-grunt, half-yawn and twitched the offending earpoint. "Iwnan liked to nibble," he replied. "Or Ewkinan." He closed both eyes again.
Kelanus, overhearing, snorted. "He should be married off," he said, finding the sylph a more willing victim than Tahena.
Neptarik pretended to be asleep, but spoiled it by humming the opening bar of 'A Good Night Had By All'.
"And he should be scouting," added the sylph's tormentor.
"Let him rest," laughed Balnus. "He was very busy last night. There were three of them."
Tahena giggled and changed the subject. "On a serious note," she began, "You should know ti Ath gained a little last night. I don't know by how much, but he is closer."
Kelanus's eyes widened slightly. "How long before he catches us?"
Tahena shrugged. "Two weeks."
"How far to Cadister?"
"Not how far. How long." Tahena's dark eyes were solemn. "Three weeks at our present pace. He'll catch us before we reach it."
Neptarik came wide-awake in an instant and he stared in consternation. "You need me to scout?" he asked.
Balnus placed a restraining hand on the sylph's collar. "Catch up on your rest," he murmured. "We'll see what Kelanus wants."
"What can we do?" Kelanus kept his voice quiet and calm. "I take it that if he catches us, you three will be safe; it's only me he's after?"
Tahena nodded. "You're the only one wanted in Marka."
Neptarik relaxed a little and closed his eyes again, ready to catch up on some lost sleep, if Kelanus let him.
"As to what we can do, I have a trick or two hidden away." Tahena smiled. "We'll see in the next day or so how well ti Ath is doing."
"Are you sure he'll catch up with us?" pressed Kelanus.
"He's gained on us," said Tahena. "And he'll catch up eventually, no matter how far or hard we run."
"We should ride harder and for longer," suggested Balnus. "Stop less often and for shorter periods."
"I'll go along with that." Kelanus stared at the southern woman.
"It's worth a try." Tahena shrugged.
Kelanus turned his attention back to Neptarik. "Are you awake enough to scout for a bit? I'm used to knowing what's in front of us."
Neptarik glanced at his master, who nodded. He knew he wouldn't be allowed to sleep for long! The sylph slipped to the ground, pattered ahead and quickly disappeared from sight.
Tahena maneuvered her horse alongside Kelanus. "I believe that our General is taunting Neptarik," she remarked. "I'd no idea bullying is one of your faults. After all, the boy can hardly fight back."
Kelanus forced a smile. "Neptarik's more than used to banter," he replied. "You should hear him and his owner when they get going. He can hold his own."
Riding behind, Balnus laughed aloud. "I'm surprised he hasn't challenged us to cards, yet. It's only a matter of time before he thinks he could use more coin."
Tahena shook her head. "You've taught him bad habits. I've never heard of sylphs gambling before."
"That's because they've usually got no money," replied Balnus. "Plenty of sylphs gamble."
"Only in your army," retorted Tahena, disappointed that some sylphs had begun to pick up humans' bad habits.
Kelanus changed the subject. "If Neptarik can sleep on horseback, he can catch up on his sleep after the next stop. But we must know what lies ahead." He shut his eyes for a few moments and shook his head.
"Are you all right?" Concerned, Tahena had seen.
He shrugged. "Perhaps I'm tired. I didn't sleep very well last night."
"You can't blame that on Neptarik," grinned Tahena. "He was in another barn."
The men laughed at that.
"You're right about one thing though," continued the southerner. "He should be married off. It's unnatural for a sylph his age to be unmarried."
"Sallis ti Ath." Kelanus broached the topic bothering him most. "What can we do about him?"
Tahena's smile broadened. "Fresh horses," she suggested. "The ones we've got now are about done in."
Kelanus and Balnus exchanged a glance.
"Fresh horses it is," remarked Balnus. "If we have enough coin."
Tahena's slanted eyes glinted with amusement. "We have enough coin." She refused to elaborate.
***
Neptarik swayed in time with the horse's movement. Sylphs usually stayed well away from beasts as unpredictable as horses, but he had grown used to horseback. Even better, the animal had also got used to him, nuzzling his shoulder gently whenever he came close, instead of whickering and staring at him as if wishing him harm.
Most sylphs were seen as oversensitive when it came to large animals, but that held good for the scouts also. Most horses they saw were warhorses, trained to hurt. So just in case, he stayed well away from Kelanus's and Tahena's mounts.
He felt sorry that the horses would soon part company with their riders and wondered where Tahena kept her coin for buying more. If she had coin for that, perhaps she had enough to take a few wagers with him. He grimaced to himself and remembered that the prim Tahena frowned upon gambling.
He thought fondly of the three sylph breeders from last night and wished them well. That their owner wanted them to breed was not his concern, but he felt a pang of regret for the children he might never know. One might even be a son. The odds of impregnating all three on the same night were slim, and even slimmer of producing children other than infertiles. All three of his mates for the night were sad to see him go, running after the horses as far as the farmer's gate. Even then, they waved until the farm lay far behind.
He opened his eyes when they stopped again for another rest. He smiled across at Kelanus, who smiled back. No hint of banter between them now.
"I will forage, if you wish," suggested the sylph.
"I'll come with you," offered Tahena. "There are some wonderful edibles back there. Thornfruit leaves."
Neptarik's earpoints twitched. Thornfruit leaves were sweet to the tongue, a delicacy enjoyed by sylphs and humans alike.
Kelanus glanced at Balnus and both men nodded approval. Moments later, the sylph and the southern woman were gone.
Neptarik picked at the thornfruit leaves, glancing occasionally at his companion. If she wanted to speak with him, he preferred her to speak first. Tahena worked quickly and he almost suggested they had collected enough, when she finally turned to him.
"I'm surprised you're allowed to banter with humans," she said. "I thought that Kelanus was being cruel, or perhaps jealous."
Neptarik twitched his earpoints. "It depends on the human, donanya," he replied. "The General and my master are friends. We joke together sometimes."
"So that friendship is extended to you." Tahena nodded.
Neptarik gave her a neutral look.
"Do they banter often with you?"
"Enya often, Kelanus-ya rarely."
Tahena smiled. "I'm sure you come off best on those occasions."
Neptarik began to suspect that the southern woman enjoyed his company. If she had made the excuse of foraging with him just for this... He wondered – and worried – why she showed so much interest in him. Sylphs must sometimes tolerate an owner's amorous advances, but this very rarely happened.
Even then only by mutual agreement between owner and owned.
He suspected Tahena had no inclinations like that towards sylphs. But all humans could be strange.
"You look worried about something."
He blinked. Thinking of something as a reply, he gestured with a hand. "I wonder what will happen when Sallis ti Ath catches us." At least with that he was being honest. Mostly.
Tahena tilted her head to one side before straightening it again almost immediately. It looked like a half-shrug. "Leave him to me," she replied, eventually. "Whatever happens, there's no need for you to fear."
"I am not afraid." Neptarik kept his voice level and firm.
Tahena looked into his silvery gray eyes. "I do believe that you are not," she said. How could Neptar
ik be so unlike any other sylph she had ever met? She sighed. "You should be. Are all the sylphs in the Vintner Army as fearless as you?"
The sylph grinned at the compliment and his earpoints twitched in conceit. "Most of them," he replied. "And the rest more so."
***
"What are those two talking about?"
Balnus tried to be surreptitious as he watched Tahena and Neptarik. Kelanus laughed.
"It's not funny. Don't tell me she fancies him."
"Wouldn't surprise me," replied Kelanus. "He's a handsome sylph. And he seems to be luckier than most with the female of his own species. There's nothing to get a girl going like competition."
"Aye," agreed Balnus, carefully, "but not usually between sylphs and humans."
"Happens all the time. Surprised you don't know. Some people have several pretty sylphs to keep them occupied. Though they usually keep 'em perfumed to overcome the sinabra."
Balnus fixed his former commander with a dark blue stare. "He's my sylph," he muttered, protectively. "Dalliances with female sylphs is one thing, but she won't have him. If he wants a wife, he need only say."
"I think Tahena's using him to learn more about us." Kelanus raised an eyebrow. "Remember that first night we were out? She spoke to each of us in turn, trying to learn more about us. She probably learned far more from him than she ever will from us."
Balnus nodded slowly. "Time to change the subject; they're headed back."
The two soldiers thanked the sylph and Tahena for the edibles, mixing them with some dried meat taken from one of the saddlebags.
As the meal came to an end, and the sun continued its slow descent towards the horizon, Balnus and Kelanus left the campfire, checking on the horses and the camp's perimeter. Neptarik and Tahena were left alone. The sylph surprised the woman by speaking without first being spoken to.
"You do not call the Father by His name," he said. "Most other humans do."
Tahena blinked. "I know."
"It is too familiar to call a god by name," continued the sylph.
Tahena considered the comment for a moment. "The Father doesn't mind too much. Ilven believe it is blasphemous to name Him, but only if they do it. They're much less bothered if a human does. Those with the Gift feel a closer affinity to Him than those without."
"He is not the humans' god?" Neptarik was wide-eyed. "Not our god?"
"He allowed humans – and sylphs – to stay on the Ilvenworld, provided we left His daughters in peace."
"The ilven," breathed Neptarik. His eyes went even wider. "Have you ever seen one?"