Markan Empire

  "The enemy is falling back!" he announced.

  "Then advance," commanded Janost. "Cautiously!"

  The man who called himself Hingast hid a smile. As the army advanced, so the command position advanced.

  "Be careful, Janost," he warned. "These are classic Kelanus tactics."

  Janost made a noncommittal sound.

  The man who called himself Hingast ignored the implicit insult. This part of the army was expendable, if it came to it. Mirrin on one side, and the Re Taurans on the other would see the end of the war, if need be.

  Dervra, who had been missing for a few hours, abruptly reappeared from one of the wagons. He bowed to the man who called himself Hingast.

  "You should be pleased to hear that the Re Taurans have sailed as promised, Majesty," he said. "May I have a word in private, Majesty?"

  "Of course." The man who called himself Hingast stepped into the command wagon. "What is it, Dervra?"

  Dervra smiled. "Your friends here have rockets, and they are about to use them."

  "I knew Kelanus was here!"

  "I recommend you move. You might be killed here."

  "You run if you want to," retorted Hingast. "If I am defeated here, I must lead the survivors home." He leaned forward. "I do hope Mirrin is more intelligent than Janost and Hanan."

  "Oh yes." Dervra gave a small laugh. "Much more intelligent."

  "Good. If I manage to lose these two, I'll promote him. I might promote him anyway."

  Dervra's smile was thin.

  Hingast nodded. "See you back in Eldova, if we fail to take Marka."

  Dervra's smile grew even weaker. I doubt if you'll see me in Eldova, he reflected. He said nothing.

  The man who called himself Hingast left the wagon.

  "That bloody sorcerer makes me nervous," Janost was saying.

  "Don't worry," said Hingast. "He's run off again." He looked around him and sniffed. "Prepare for a rocket attack."

  "Now?" Janost looked surprised. "Did Dervra warn you? Why doesn't he –"

  The man who called himself Hingast raised a hand. "Just do it. Now."

  ***

  Chapter 30

  Captives

  Rockets exploding among the Eldovans nearly destroyed their discipline. As the man who called himself Hingast knew, most contained small pieces of metal that scattered at high speed in the explosions.

  Only the handful of survivors from last year's siege had experienced this weapon. The sudden, loud bangs terrified men and scattered horses, but the real danger lay with the metal nails and balls stuffed inside each rocket. These scythed into man and horse, ripping flesh and maiming limbs.

  Those unfortunate, or perhaps lucky, enough to be close to the explosion were torn apart. Men further away suffered appalling injuries that would later kill them.

  Wood and metal splinters added to the dead and injured. Few men had ever experienced carnage on such a scale. Those who feared sorcery broke and ran.

  "Hold!" bawled Hingast.

  "Hold!" bawled Janost.

  Most obeyed. Company commanders and even senior officers milled about, if not from fear, then certainly in confusion.

  Men held hands to ears and fluid ran between their fingers. Those missing an arm or hand ran about, hunting the missing limb. Others tried to pull metal from their eyes without bringing the eyeball with it. Horses struggled to stand with shattered legs. Men and steeds screamed in agony, while others coughed away their lifeblood.

  And those were the obvious ones.

  So many lay still, never to move again. Grotesque foliage festooned trees and plants; nobody wanted to look too closely at that. Men clutched their middles, where splinters had opened them up like cheeses. Terror swam in their eyes as they tried desperately to hold their insides in.

  Despite confusion and terror, discipline held.

  Uninjured soldiers filled gaps and commanders slowly restored order. Men stared after those who had fled, expressions suggesting revenge against the cowards later.

  "Take the right flank," Hingast commanded Janost. "Hanan can take the left. Where is Hanan?"

  Janost nodded towards a bundle of bloodied rags. "Over there."

  The man who called himself Hingast firmed his mouth. "I'll take the left flank," he said. The command wagon lay in ruins. "We must withdraw and regroup," he said, voice low for Janost's ears alone.

  The marshal nodded agreement.

  Fresh screams layered atop the old as a horribly familiar whooshing filled the air.

  Hingast drew his sword. He hoped Mirrin was having better luck.

  ***

  Kelanus watched the apparent chaos below through his spyglass. He grunted in admiration, marveling at the organization of whoever was in charge down there.

  The Eldovans had already regrouped. Shaken and doubtless terrified, discipline had held them together. So unlike the rout of the previous year, when that discipline had broken and Eldova's proud army fled city and field.

  Somebody down there had learned.

  Beside him, Bascon stirred.

  The sound of battle did not quite reach up here, so the scout could still hear the whistling. Soon, not even his sylph scout would be able to hear whistles, which meant hsving to send messengers.

  Time to concentrate on the matter at hand.

  "Rockets are ready for launch," said Hanmer, at his side.

  Bascon's silver eyes flickered between yeoman and his commander.

  "Give the Eldovans time to finish regrouping and think they are through the worst," replied Kelanus. "They might break this time."

  Kelanus knew the soldiers would eventually grow used to rockets and learn to resist the fear they brought. But for the moment... It must be unpleasant down there; carrion crows already circled above, waiting for the live humans to go away so they could begin their feeding frenzy.

  If Kelanus did not frighten them all away in the next few minutes.

  "They might not break," said Hanmer. "They might stand and fight."

  Kelanus was unconvinced. "Hingast knows when he has been defeated."

  "Sounds like you know him personal, sir." Hanmer grinned at the foolishness of the notion.

  Bascon gave the yeoman a wide-eyed look.

  Kelanus smiled back. "Perhaps," he murmured. He turned to Bascon. "Once those rockets have released, whistle this to Kestan: advance and press advantage. Engage enemy with dispatch."

  "Se bata." Bascon repeated the message and waited.

  Kelanus nodded to Hanmer. "The Eldovans are ready for their medicine now."

  Hanmer nodded and melted into the rear.

  Kelanus looked around at his officers. "Stand ready," he ordered.

  Below, the Eldovans had regrouped. Commanders' heads turned to look uphill as more rockets launched and brought their unique brand of death to the enemy.

  Even before they landed, Bascon whistled his message. With the scout busy, Kelanus drew his sword and held it above his head. He paused for a moment, then swung the sword forward.

  His men moved forward silently, cavalry remaining behind the infantry. Below, Kestan's small army ran forward, yelling to take all the attention.

  Kelanus and his men increased their pace. Time to end this.

  ***

  "We are surrounded."

  Mirrin nodded. His soldiers surrounded the army's supply; all non-military people and their wagons were inside the perimeter.

  He would still love to know from where this army had appeared. He did not dispute that they were Markans, but his intelligence suggested most Markans were further north, dealing with Hingast.

  He wished Nicolfer was here right now.

  "Any idea of numbers?" he asked.

  "Anything between seven and ten thousand," replied Taved, Mirrin's yeoman. "Plus whatever is left of those shadowing us."

  Mirrin grimaced. "Can't be too many of them," he said. "How they managed to defeat Jediyah is beyond me." Unless the mysterious group Nicolfer had warned him about had jo
ined the battle.

  Taved said nothing.

  "Right." Mirrin's eyes hardened. "Form line of battle."

  Taved touched fist to heart in salute.

  Surrounded by Mirrin's army, Sandev stepped forward, giving herself a little distance between the wagons and the sylphs. She would not take any direct part in the battle, but she could help the Markans by using the Gift.

  Gajaran took half a step forwards too and stared with concerned eyes. Sandev shook her head and motioned the sylph to stay back. She would not like this.

  The Markans began it. Showers of arrows fell among the Eldovan ranks, and the screaming began. Retaliation was immediate, though the Eldovans fired blindly.

  Sandev realized sylphs must be spotting for the Markans, giving range and direction to the archers. The Markan commander might not be breaking precepts concerning sylphs and warfare, but he skirted perilously close to the line.

  She opened herself to the Gift, became its conduit. The last thing she wanted was a slaughter, just confusion.

  She picked the places she needed and released.

  Bangs sounded above the Eldovans' heads. Men screamed and searched for the source of the sounds. Some had heard of rockets and feared that they now faced this terrible weapon.

  Sandev increased intensity and volume. Those at the wagons screamed and dived for cover, the sylphs trying to scrape holes in the ground to escape. The feelings were worse among the soldiers.

  The level of discipline these men showed impressed Sandev. They were deafened, so could not hear orders, and terrified, yet the line held.

  Sandev closed her eyes and projected an image of thousands of soldiers advancing towards the Eldovans. Still, the line held.

  She opened her eyes and saw real soldiers advancing, backed by more arrows. Still deafened, the Eldovans made their first mistake. They assumed these men were also apparitions.

  It saved lives among the Markans and cost them among the Eldovans, not precisely Sandev's intention. Encouraged by their officers, Mirrin's men recovered and fought, but they were pushed further back.

  More arrows rained down and even clattered on the wagons. The non-combatants scurried inside for greater safety.

  "Sandev-ya!" Gajaran beckoned from under a wagon's steps.

  "I'm fine," replied Sandev. "You stay where you are."

  Gajaran nodded, but watched to ensure Sandev still stood. Ojasan crouched beside her.

  Black-cloaked men broke through the Eldovan line, followed by scores of Markans. More and more poured through.

  They hacked at the archers, they pulled Mirrin's bannerman to the ground and stomped the black and gold war flag into the mud before taking it as a prize.

  Sandev stared only at the black-clad men. Shadow Riders? Here?

  "Quarter!"

  The cry was taken up as weapons were thrown to the ground.

  "Quarter! Quarter!"

  Sandev smiled to herself.

  "Is it over?"

  Sandev started, she had not seen Gajaran leave safety. "I told you to stay under cover," she said.

  Gajaran shrugged. "Maybe I am safer here than there."

  Sandev smiled. "Safer than you can ever realize."

  "Is that man their leader?" asked Ojasan, pointing to one of the Shadow Riders. "Has he got a sylph to serve him?"

  Sandev smiled. "You might get the chance to ask later," she replied.

  Where had the Shadow Riders come from? She saw Captain Indelgar and hurried across to join him.

  He blinked at her in surprise. "Last place we expected to find you," he grunted.

  "Good thing I was here to distract them," she retorted. "You'd still be fighting, else." Her voice trailed off as a bannerman followed more soldiers into the Eldovan camp.

  He carried the Vintner Standard, but that was not what surprised her. The bannerman respectfully inclined his head to her.

  "Sandev-ya," said Belaika.

  The sylphs beside her stared at him.

  One of the Shadow Riders crossed to join him. "A sylph bannerman," he said. "One who had the courage to hold the banner in the middle of a battle."

  Thanks to the paint covering Belaika's skin, Sandev could not tell if he blushed at the praise or not. He looked aside and abruptly hurried away.

  Sandev saw where the sylph was off to and followed.

  Commandant Treylfor stood before Mirrin, and two men held the Eldovan.

  "Give me one reason why I should not kill you all," Treylfor was saying. He held his sword ready, but not yet threatening anybody with it. Another soldier held a distressed Shashi apart from her owner.

  Belaika planted the Vintner Standard into the ground and placed himself between Mirrin and Treylfor, arms outstretched.

  "Move out of the way, Belaika."

  "No," replied the sylph.

  Treylfor blinked. For that matter, so did everybody else in earshot.

  "This is a good man," continued Belaika. "This man ensured I got fair treatment when I was their prisonor. He could have left me to suffer."

  Everybody stared at the sylph. Even Gajaran looked at him with something other than distaste.

  "They came to invade our homeland, Belaika. Why should we waste scarce food on them? They destroyed how many crops? They did what to people who opposed them?"

  "This is a good man," repeated Belaika.

  Treylfor glared at Mirrin. "You have found a strange ally," he said.

  Mirrin gave Belaika a considering look. "So it seems."

  Treylfor nodded to his men. "Very well, release them."

  A relieved Shashi threw herself into Mirrin's arms. She looked over her shoulder at Belaika and bent her head.

  "Sandev." Treylfor smiled. "Were you also treated well by this man?"

  Sandev managed a smile. "I stand with Belaika," she replied. "Read into that what you will. There is no need for a massacre."

  Treylfor nodded. "Fared said his prisoners have given no trouble. He thinks we can trust them to go home."

  A small frown creased Sandev's forehead. "Who?"

  "Fared Amel Granton," said a voice behind her. "Captain of the Shadow Riders."

  Sandev spun around on her heel. "I thought the Shadow Riders had disappeared for good."

  "Well, their descendants have returned. You are addressed as Sandev. Happenstance or are you the Sandev?"

  "I'll let you make up your own mind about that," she replied.

  Fared smiled. "I'm sure I shall." He nodded towards Belaika. "We were told to seek a banner sylph. And it seems we found our way home. Most of us, anyway."

  Sandev glanced across to Belaika. Shashi was hugging him, probably in thanks for saving her owner. For his part, the scout tried to fend her off, for some reason careful about her touching his ribs.

  Fared shifted his helmet from one hand to the other.

  "I can hold that," said Ojasan, materializing beside him. "Unless you already have a sylph?"

  Fared looked down at the smaller sylph. "Thank you." He handed the helmet across.

  Sandev hid a small smile. The man had no idea what he was letting himself in for. She returned to Commandant Treylfor.

  "I do not think there are any armies to the south or west of us to worry about," she said.

  "There aren't," replied Treylfor. "The sylphs have reported nothing there though they have reported trouble further north."

  "Are you going north?" pressed Sandev.

  "Once I've dealt with the prisoner issue."

  Sandev put a hand on his arm. "No massacres. We are not short of food."

  Treylfor looked at her. "We shall see," he answered. "Depends on what they have to say for themselves."

  ***

  There weren't many at the council held in Treylfor's tent. Commandant Treylfor and Captain Indelgar sat on one side of the tent for Marka. Belaika and Ean were messengers. They had asked for instructions from Kelanus, whistling the request and passing on the good news of a victory. They eventually received an "act on own initiati
ve before coming north" reply.

  Captain Fared of the Shadow Riders took a neutral seat between Markans and Eldovans, despite the side he had fought on. As he pointed out, he had come here searching for the banner sylph, not to take sides in a war. He produced the surprise of the meeting: Samrita.

  Samrita knew Sandev, who also took a neutral seat, and the two conferred in quiet whispers. From what was overheard, they said little about the subject in hand.

  General Mirrin and Captain Jediyah represented Eldova. Perhaps they wondered if they would survive the day.

  Shashi, Gajaran and Ojasan supplied alovak for all and acted as messengers for the Eldovans. Gajaran watched the two scouts opposite warily.

  As the victorious commander, Treylfor chaired the meeting. He knew he held every advantage and that the rules of war allowed him to pretty much act as he pleased. However, he knew something of how Marcus treated prisoners.

  "General Mirrin," Treylfor said, after completing introductions, "your men have three options. Escort to Marka for internment, or to a point from where they can return to Eldova, or enlisting in the Markan army. I cannot guarantee that they will never be used against their compatriots, only that they will not be used in any offensive operations against Eldova or any of her prefectures."

  Mirrin made to speak, but Treylfor stalled him by holding up a hand.

  Treylfor continued. "I march north from here, to help Kelanus. There is a risk the fighting will not be done when I reach him. If your men are not prepared to fight their countrymen, I would rather they exercised one of the other options."

  Mirrin paused and nodded. "Will they be allowed their weapons?"

  Treylfor shook his head. "Out of the question."

  Mirrin nodded as if he expected no less.

  "I cannot risk them reforming to attack us again," said Treylfor.

  "And my officers?"

  "You will detail four junior officers to accompany your men home," Treylfor told him. "The rest remain prisoners until you are either ransomed, or this war is ended."

  "If my men choose to go home, how do I know they will not be massacred the moment they are out of sight?"

  Treylfor smiled. "A risk you must take. You will have to trust my word of honor."

  Mirrin glanced at Sandev.

  "They will not be harmed, General Mirrin," said Sandev. "Provided they do not attack their escort, of course."

  "Very well, I will put your proposition to my men. Your terms are acceptable."

  Treylfor sat back and smiled. "I am glad, general."

  ***

  Kelanus and his men ploughed into the right flank of Hingast's army. With Kestan pushing his advantage from the front, Kelanus's arrival came at the worst possible moment for the man who called himself Hingast.