Criten had stepped out with Gera to saddle our mounts again and lash Todon’s body across the saddle. Perhaps he saw what was happening and wished to leave us free to speak. If so, then that was kind of him and I thanked him in my heart. Meive grasped my hand in hers. Her mouth turned up to mine and I drank such sweetness that my head reeled.
“My Lady,” I said once I could speak. “I think it well we wed as soon as this small war of ours is done.” She laid her hand in mine, eyes smiling up at me.
“As you will, My Lord.”
“No, As you will. Meive. I love you. I think I have cared for you since I saw you come out of the dark to bring back life and honor to me. I knew I loved you when you railed at me over what was done to Elesha’s kin and I felt so much pain that you would fear I should be one of their kind. I would have spoken before but I feared lest I offend you. I love you, my sweet, most valiant Lady of the Bees.”
“Then best we win this war that we may grow old together,” Meive said softly. I kissed her again before stepping back.
“You are right. I will tell our people of this. Let them have a wedding to look forward to once Hogeth is beaten.” At that she only nodded before we went out to ride home and do whatever what needed be done.
Honeycoombe rode to war. This time let the Gods be on our side. Let us win, let us live, I prayed. We rode on the one mount, Meive before me, my arms about her. I could have ridden that way forever.
XVI
Meive
In truth, it felt to me also as though our ride did last beyond its true time, as I said to Lorcan when he told me his thoughts. But all things, even such togetherness, must end. We reached the keep to find all waiting. Elesha had seen to it that a cauldron of stew and kettle of hot water steamed on the hearth. We ate, drank, and thawed before Lorcan stood to speak. He wasted no time in flourishes. All must know where we stood and what was required of them. Once he had told them of Todon’s words, he spoke again.
“You have heard. You know who comes, and the danger. We have one decision to make first and above all. Do we flee? Do we give up our dale and all we have begun to build? Think well on this. We are twenty-four against thirty and they are all men. Perhaps half of them are trained fighters. They may not wish to be where they are but with Hogeth behind them they will fight, make no mistake about that. Nor can the one who leads them afford to leave any alive behind him here.”
He sat down and listened to the swell of talk. Slowly one voice predominated, as I had guessed it would, saying some of the things I had expected to hear. It is a fact that men often discount the intelligence and courage of women, and never more than in times of disorder or war when men often seem to assume that it is they alone who can, or will, fight.
“No, and no, and no! I have run before. These are no invaders with their machines to batter down keeps. They are bandits who seek to take again what is ours. We ran once. I do not flee again. If I lay my bones in this earth then that is as the Gods desire. But I remain.” Elesha did not shout, all but her first words were said in low clear tones but they were heard. In a knot behind her those who looked to her were nodding. Beside her, Vari spoke up.
“If my mother stays, I stay.”
Levas clasped her hand before he looked at us. “I and my men swore an oath to you and the lady, Lorcan. Our sword-service for a home. Shall we now give it up to the first filth who seek a fight?” From the benches about the table his men grunted agreement.
Lorcan bowed his head in acknowledgment. “You do not fight leaderless. My lady and I remain.”
“I and my sister and our shepherds stay.” That was Betha, our weaver. I saw that her sister, and the brother and sister who cared for the sheep, were all with that decision.
My gaze swept around the room. Even the children had grim serious looks. It was as I had told Lorcan. They, like the adults, had seen the face of war. They would stand.
I felt then a rush of pride that all but choked me. Never did a lady have more valiant people. I reached out to clasp Lorcan’s hand before them all. Still grasping it, he stood to speak.
“Hear me. We shall fight for our land, for our homes. Winter fights with us. We shall not face the enemy hand to hand. Instead we shall be cunning. Let them hunt us, wasting their energy on the empty air as we slip away. These are our hills and my lady knows something of them. I shall talk more on that later. But for now …” He held up my hand, linked with his, so all could see.
“My Lady has agreed to wed me in Spring once the enemy are routed. Lord Salas comes then with his people to take holding in Merrowdale. Together we shall celebrate joyous events. The end of Winter, the coming of friends, the departure of enemies, and greatest of all, love.” I was blushing as he sat again, amid cheers from our people. We fell then to planning with care.
It would be a game of tag and run. Levas set out early next day with Dogas, and young Gera to act as their messenger. For Gera they took the mules, Rez and Reza, these mounts being more wise and surefooted in such weather. It took them time to find our enemies since, as we later found, Hogeth was well astray and had sought us further west But Gera came riding in grinning, four days later, to report.
“Levas says they’re fools and Hogeth the biggest fool of the lot. Like you thought, Lady, they ain’t ready for Winter as we has it here. They may’a started with thirty men, now they ain’t got but twenty-seven. And one a’ them’s hurt. He can’t hardly walk and has to ride even when the others get off to walk the beasts.”
“What does Levas plan?”
“What you said for him to do, Lady. He reckons it won’t be so hard. They ain’t none’a them real fighters, he says. Not even the lord.” After that it was clear he spoke for himself. “My Lady, you ain’t seen nothing like it. That lord’s got a tent. Big fancy one an’ a brazier to keep him warm. It takes one whole horse to carry them.”
I listened, encouraging the boy to talk. Lorcan had spoken to me more than once of his kinsman. Now I began to gain the measure of his enemy: a man who had made a parade of riding out to battle—where the battle was close and against not too great odds; a man who might fight viciously but only to the last of his men, not to his own death. A lord who deemed it his right by noble blood not to risk discomfort if by the effort of others it could be avoided.
“Lorcan, he brings tent and brazier for his comfort. How would it be if both were lost, if he must live as his men do, without shelter and warmth at night?” Our gaze met and I saw my lord was struggling to hold in mirth.
“He would not be pleased. But Meive—he would not turn back for that.”
“No,” I said, thinking as I spoke. “But he would be very angry. The more so if he thought it was the fault of his people. He would take that out upon them then. If we could drive a wedge between them …”
“Aye.” I could tell Lorcan had taken the idea and was planning. “Gera, take Criten and ride for where you left Levas.” He turned to an eager Criten. “Tell Levas that, if possible, he is to rid my kinsman of those impediments to swift progress, the tent and brazier. Let it be done in such a way that it appears to have been carelessness by one of their men. Tell Levas Meive and I ride to join him shortly.” Criten half-bowed, then swept Gera off to talk. I heard hoofbeats early next morn and knew they rode to join Levas.
Over honeyed porridge, Lorcan and I made plans. Nothing set, better to know what twists and turns we could make as events altered. But we knew some things we could do, some we wished for. As yet, Hogeth was well astray from Honeycoombe. If Cup and Flame willed it, we could keep him far from our land while whittling down the number of those who followed him. We could lay ambushes, trips and traps, always things that appeared natural features of the hills.
“It was how we fought often against the invaders,” Lorcan said thoughtfully. “Alizon had the machines and the fighters but the land was ours. We knew its heart and its ways. Often there were fewer of us against a greater number so we had to sell our lives dearly. Better to slay two and live to st
rike again, than to slay three or four and die.” His fingers closed over mine in a grip that almost crushed them.
“Beloved. Swear you will take no chances you must not. I would not wish to walk alone even if the battle is ours.” I reassured him with a kiss, since we were alone. His lips clung to mine even as his hands held me tightly.
“I swear: let you swear also,” I whispered. His oath was muffled by our joined lips again. At last we broke apart. “When do we ride?” I asked quietly. “I have a pack to make up.”
“In two days, if Gera has not returned. At once if he does.” He forestalled my question. “I know the area where Hogeth is. They have found their way further East and South now. I think before Belo vanished he must have told Hogeth of the places where Devol’s bandits ranged. Their camps where shelter might be found. I know from talk in those camps, while I was held for ransom, that Devol’s men had more than once fled this way. They would ravage dales, then flee once any great resistance was made or the dalesfolk showed signs of hunting them out. They shifted about the land, having many camps, I watched well, learning those camps they used while I was in their hands and also the trails which led to their hiding places.”
I smiled, and if it was more of a wolf’s snarl then was I not a hunter also? “I, too, know that area. While I dwelled in the shrine I still rode out often enough in good weather with my warriors once the ground was free of snow. I can follow or lead as you will, my love.” I saw his brow furrow in thought.
“It might be well if we split apart at times. You lead one group and I the other. That way we can cover where they travel even if we know not their road.” I rejoiced that he would leave me so free.
“That is sound sense,” was all I said.
“Aye. Now, let us talk to Elesha and see what she has planned in case we must defend the keep. What will you do after that?”
“I plan to ride the land. I must be sure all beasts are cared for and our people snug.”
“Go well, then.” I went with him to bespeak Elesha, who had all safe in hand. After that I saddled one of the ponies. I planned to ride, but not where I had claimed. I set off towards the cots then circled to the inner vale. Once there I did not pause but pushed on as quickly as my mount might carry me. I rode to the arch, dismounted, and led the pony through before swinging into his saddle again. When I reached the crevice at the far side of the hidden place I bowed as a guest who approaches another’s gate. I was answered, and for a long time I talked with she who abided there.
I gave her freely of my knowing and she spoke to me of events long past. I learned, and that was well. In the end she gave me a gift, and I rode back leaving behind one whose wisdom was greater than mine. Through sorrow, too, she had come to acceptance. Soon she would seek a longerlasting peace, one of her own choosing. That was for her to decide. For myself, I rode home and said nothing to Lorcan. I, too, had decisions to make and would make them.
Near dusk I sought out my hives where they stood, safe within the bee-barn which had always housed them during the snowmonths. I sank my mind into the sweet dark and drowsed, dreaming of flowers and Springs to come. The queens half-woke to welcome me but they slept again quickly. After some time I left, calmer and more ready to face what must be. I would that I could have ridden out with my warriors. But in Winter bees do not fly. Even my warriors could not bear the chill of deep full Winter.
Over the next day, as we combed the hills, we sought for Levas and those with him. Two days later it was he who found us. We were camped when he came riding towards us, whistling very softly. I heard the sound on the wind before I caught Lorcan by his arm.
“I hear a tune whistled. Listen!”
“Levas.” Lorcan slithered out of our brush camp to wave cautiously. Within moments Levas was with us again. “What news of Hogeth and his men?” I must admit I was as eager to hear.
Levas smiled slowly. “Ah, well now. Seems they’ve had a misfortune.” I could almost see events as he explained. “They kept a guard—if you could call it that—not that anyone in their right mind would. Man was half asleep and deaf to boot. I sent Dogas in to check the girths on that pack-horse carrying the brazier and tent. They were too solid to play games with, it would have been noticed, so he fixed the strap which held the load. He played it so’s if the beast lurched hard or bucked the load should be thrown off.” His grin broadened.
“And if any checked the strap later on, it would appear the loader had been a bit careless. After that we stalked them. They headed down the trail and part-way along there’s a steep bit. Trail drops away there,’s a long way to the bottom. There’s no track down and I think none of them will be too eager to try.” His grin widened. “I put the lad on the hillside with his catapult.”
“The boy’s safe?” I queried sharply.
“Aye. He has the mules with him. No hunter’s likely to catch him on a rough hillside with one of that pair. Boy’s all right, though he was like to fall off the hill laughing. I’d given him stickers for his catapult.” I smiled at that. Stickers come from a vine which grows in many areas of the southern hills. They’re a seed pod, about the size of the end of my thumb with needle-sharp short straight thorns. These alternate about the seedcase with others which are small barbed hooks. They cling to whatever moves so the seeds may spread wide. They can be a trial at any time, at this time they could be rather more.
“He hit that pony square on the flank just as it was by the drop. Pony started bucking, man ahead grabbed the halter an’ lost his balance. Boy stung the pony with another sticker. The pony went mad and the strap came loose. There went the load, tumbling off over the drop with the lord screaming for someone to stop it None of his lot were that stupid and that didn’t please him. Once he found who’d loaded the horse he belted him a good one. Aye, there’s one man who won’t put hisself out to stop his lord from a misstep in the future. That Hogeth slept mighty cold this past night and the only time I’ve heard such language was from an old soldier I served with as a lad.”
Both Lorcan and I were holding our sides. I sobered first. “Where are they camped?”
“About two miles from here. I guessed you’d have made camp this direction. They were camping early when I left them. Hogeth’s trying to make up for his lost gear with a good fire and hot food an’ drink. Criten is on watch. Gera will ride this way after me if they move on early. Dogas is scouting ahead on their path. There may be another place where we can lay ambush.”
“What had you in mind?” Lorcan asked. “When I soldiered it wasn’t a bad idea to pick off stragglers.”
“Aye. That was in my mind as well. Dogas is a good woodsman. If Hogeth’s camp is quiet tomorrow night Dogas will see if he can sneak among the horses.’Tis an easy thing then to lame a couple. Nothing permanent, just something to make them slower. If the riders fall behind we can see to it that they have accidents.”
I remembered something. “What about the man who grabbed the pack-pony? Were he or the pony hurt?”
“Ah, well.” I fixed him with a stare which said I wanted to know. Levas shrugged. “Can’t have jugged hare without killing the hare, Lady. Pony was safe: the man as tried to catch it fell. Reckon he slept colder last night than even the lord.” I was sorry for the man, some poor farmer who’d followed at his lord’s command. When I said so, Levas shook his head.
“No, Lady. He was one of the fighters. We’re better off without those. The more we can pick off, the better. Be sorry for him if you will, but not too sorry. He’d do that an’ a lot worse did he lay hands on you.”
Lorcan was counting. “So he started with thirty, or was that counting himself?”
“With him, Lord.”
“Right. Then he lost three men floundering about these hills, another man over that cliff. There’s now twenty-six of them. Is that it?”
“So far, Lord. And one lamed, one sulking. But they’re doing something else daft.” His explanation made me gape. I might never have ridden to war but even I knew better than
what he described. One should never keep all the eggs in one basket. Not that I complained. Their folly could be our aid. We plotted quietly around the tiny fire. Then we slept, taking turns to stand watch. Nothing stirred throughout the night so we rose early and rode the trail quietly in search of our comrades.
Criten found us as Levas had done. We had talked of trails and meeting places, signs we could leave for each other. Once in the hills we had all done so. Criten came drifting up, Gera with him. He bowed, the quick half-nod of a soldier acknowledging his commanders.
“Two of their horses are lame. I sent Dogas to follow and listen when they halt. I know where they are. I’ll circle, then pick up Dogas again if you wish?”
“Let be.” I said. “He knows what he’s to do. Why not seek out these stragglers?” I could see they agreed with that. Criten knew where Hogeth and his men rode and I knew the hills. I was able to bring us down from a higher trail to ride in cover behind them. Levas studied the tracks.
“They’re slowing. I’d reckon them near a quartercandlemark behind their friends. In an hour they’ll be twice that. By then none will hear if there is a little noise so long as it’s not too great.” His lips curled in a look of satisfaction. “Dogas well chose the mounts he lamed. Both belong to fighters.” I led us after that, for we were no great distance from the shrine. I took them by shortcuts to a place between the stragglers and those ahead of them.
We took the stragglers in silence, one with an arrow through the throat from Lorcan’s bow, the other with a stone from a sling I wielded. Gera had laid by under orders not to stir. Dogas had waited ahead, in case either soldier had lived and fled, so that he could lie for him in ambush. Once we had made our kills we gathered up the bodies, their mounts, and any gear dropped from the saddles as their beasts plunged in fear.