‘We are a raiding company, and we operate behind the lines. We serve at the pleasure of the Duke of Yabon, and under the command of the Earl of LaMut and my lord the Baron of Tyr-Sog, but the manner in which we serve is our own. Once behind your lines, I am free to act as I see fit. The Marauders are the thorn in your side, Tsurani.’ He looked Asayaga directly in the eyes. ‘We are here because we were on our way back from raiding one of your rear positions. So know I am not boasting when I tell you this thing: this is my world, Tsurani, not yours. But I am not ungenerous, and will give you a tiny bit if you’d like; just enough of it for your grave.’
Asayaga took a deep breath. ‘We cannot settle this war here, at this moment, Hartraft,’ he said quickly, as if these words were hard to say. ‘Time is spinning out and you said they will soon attack.’
Dennis continued to smile without any hint of warmth. ‘Yes. Maybe we should just sit here and argue till they come and kill you for me.’
Asayaga hesitated, wondering for a second if this man’s hatred ran so deep that he would do such a thing. ‘You are saying then that you command and we are to follow?’ he asked finally.
‘Something like that, at least till we are free of the damned moredhel. I need your swords in order for my men to survive, but not as much as you need my knowledge for your men to survive. Dying at the hands of the moredhel serves neither of us or our people. Will you serve?’
‘Never. I command my men.’ He said the words slowly, forcefully. This Kingdom soldier’s ignorance of his foes was astonishing. Had he no sense of the proper order of things, of all that was implied by the acceptance of an order from a sworn enemy?
Dennis looked at him carefully and Asayaga could sense that Hartraft was studying him, trying to figure something out. Finally he grunted and nodded.
‘A truce then. Call it whatever the hell you want to call it. We move together until we are certain we are free of the Dark Brothers. Once that is accomplished we form ranks with our own comrades and then we fight.’
‘I march the same path as you only because I order my men to do so,’ Asayaga replied slowly. ‘But you and I shall have an understanding. If you only pass along … suggestions, to me, I will consider them and perhaps agree to your suggestions. But order one of my men and you will as likely provoke a fight.’
Dennis looked at him, as if deciding.
Rapidly, Asayaga continued, ‘In our world, enemy houses will serve together if ordered by their clans; but one of lower blood, of another house, is …’ He fought for a concept. ‘It is better if you just tell me what you wish. My men will likely not obey one of … inferior blood.’
‘I won’t start another argument with you about whose blood is better,’ Dennis replied coolly. ‘I’ve seen enough on both sides to know it’s the same colour.’ He nodded. ‘All right. Suggestions. But if I say move, or deploy to a flank you’d better hear … my suggestion and act on it with haste. If it comes to a fight with the Dark Brothers, Tsurani honour be damned. If you want your men to survive, listen to what I say.’
‘I will take no order from you. But I will consider suggestions.’
‘Tsurani, call it what you want,’ Dennis replied, a note of exasperation in his voice. ‘Call it suggestions, advice, your mother’s bedtime stories, I don’t care what, but I know these woods, and I know the Dark Brothers in a way you will never learn if you are lucky. I’m taking you along because I see no way out of it, but I’ll be damned if your blundering gets my men killed.’
‘Blundering? I don’t call the last nine years blundering. If we are blunderers why are we winning this war?’
Dennis wearily lowered his head and shook it. ‘Maybe we should just settle it now,’ he sighed. He stood up. ‘By the Gods, either that or just give me a simple yes that we march together, and fight as a unit if attacked. Later we can argue all we want and cut each other’s hearts out.’ He looked back up at Asayaga. ‘Or in your case, perhaps cut your throat so you’ll shut up.’
‘What was that?’ Asayaga snapped, not sure of what Hartraft had said because he had spoken the last words softly and quickly.
‘Nothing, Tsurani, nothing.’
‘It is not “Tsurani”. You say it as an oath. I am Force Commander Asayaga of the Kodeko, undercommander of the forces of the Warlord in the east, of the Clan Kanazawai, son of Lord Ginja of House Kodeko, brother to –’
‘All right. Asay, then.’
‘Asayaga.’
‘Fine, Asayaga.’ He cursed softly under his breath as he stood up. ‘Let’s go tell the men.’
Asayaga knew that all in the room had been watching as they had left. There would be some concern on the part of his own men that perhaps the Kingdom barbarian had attacked Asayaga in a treacherous act; he had no idea what might concern the Kingdom soldiers, but he knew that tensions would be mounting.
They entered the barracks and again were almost overwhelmed by the heat and stench compared to the icy clear air outside.
Asayaga looked around the room. ‘We march tonight,’ he announced. ‘The Dark Ones will attack before dawn. The Kingdom soldiers are … allied to us until we are clear of the other enemy. You are not to speak to them, even to notice them, and you are forbidden to fight with them until I order otherwise. Once we’ve escaped from the Dark Ones, then there will be enough time for honour to be served.’
He could see more than one of his men relaxing with the announcement. Tasemu was right: the men, physically, were at their limit. Fighting was the last thing they wanted at this moment. If there was to be a fight, they wanted to save their strength, and as many as their comrades as possible, for the encounter with the Dark Brothers.
Sugama looked up at him, and fortunately had the good sense to keep his mouth shut and offer no challenge to what was a direct order.
‘Captain.’
Asayaga looked over his shoulder, to see that it was the Natalese scout, who had spoken to Dennis. Neither he or Hartraft had seen the scout and his young companion return to the stockade, so intent had been their conversation.
‘They’re coming,’ Dennis said quietly and Gregory nodded agreement.
Gregory started to explain, but Asayaga held up his hand, letting him know that he already understood.
‘We have about an hour, maybe two,’ Gregory said. ‘They’re slow forming up, but their flankers are already starting to climb the rocks to get above us. Tinuva is keeping an eye on them. We’ve killed a couple of their pickets on the way back, so the moredhel will be cautious on the advance, fearing a trap. We’ve got a little time, but we better pack up and get out of here now if it’s going to do us any good.’
Dennis snapped a command to Alwin Barry, still standing behind Sugama, and instantly the room was bustling with activity as Kingdom troops started to don equipment. The order was passed outside, and within seconds more Kingdom troops streamed in, gathering around the fire to soak up a few minutes, warmth and wolf down the last of the stew.
Asayaga, shouting orders, began to gather his own men as well.
‘I understand there is an arrangement,’ Gregory asked, coming up to Asayaga’s side and speaking in Tsurani.
Asayaga simply nodded.
‘Smart move by both of you.’
‘It doesn’t mean the fight between us is over, Natalese.’
Gregory