"Why not? I doubt they know we're here. I was able to confuse their bats and shadows."
I hoped.
Once I had everybody in place I got into my armor, got Ram fixed up, led him and Narayan to where we could see what lay beyond the crest.
I saw what I expected to see, a lot of dust headed my way. "They're coming. Narayan, go tell the men that in less than an hour they'll get their chance to drink Shadowlander blood. Tell them as soon as Blade's men slip through the aisles in the formation they're to plug those up."
The dust came closer fast. I watched Narayan off to spring the surprise. I watched the nervousness spread among the men. I was especially interested in the small troops of horsemen on the wings. If they followed Jah's old example I was in for another disaster.
Blade's men were almost upon me. I took my position, set witchfires burning on my armor. Ram came up beside me, impressive in the Widowmaker armor I'd had made for him. I put fires upon him but could do nothing about giving him the crows that always attached themselves to Croaker's shoulders when he turned into Widowmaker. I doubted the Shadowlanders would notice.
Blade's men poured over the crest. There was a lot of confusion till they realized we were on their side. Willow Swan galloped up, hair flying, laughing like the demented. "Right on time, sweetheart. Right on time."
"Go get your men under control. Cavalry to the wings. Move it!"
He went.
There were Shadowlanders among the men coming now. Chaos held court. They tried to stop but their comrades behind forced them forward. They tried hard to stay away from Ram and me.
Where was Blade? Where was his cavalry?
The Shadowlanders pelted my line in no order, like hail, then turned to flee. Once they had their backs to us the outcome was not in doubt. I signalled for the cavalry to advance. I made no effort to keep my men in formation. I let them chase the enemy.
When I crested the rise I saw Blade and his cavalry. He had had them flee to the flanks, distancing the footbound Shadowlanders, then had brought them back behind our enemies, scattered so they could cut down fugitives. My own cavalry had the Shadowlanders cut off on the flanks.
Only a few got away.
It was over before darkness fell.
Chapter Forty-Two
Swan could not get over it. "Our man Blade's done turned into a real live general. You had it figured all the way, didn't you?"
Blade nodded.
I believed him. He might actually make a commander-unless he'd had a once in a lifetime stroke of genius.
Swan chuckled. "Old Spinner ought to have the word by now. Bet he's foaming at the mouth."
"Very likely," I said. "And he might take steps. I want a strong guard posted. The night still belongs to the Shadowmasters."
"What can he do, hey?" Swan demanded.
"I don't know. I'd rather not find out the hard way."
Blade said, "Calm down, Swan. We didn't win the war."
You would have thought so from the celebrating. I told Blade, "Tell me more about this other Widowmaker and Lifetaker."
"You know as much as I do. Shadowspinner attacked and should have taken the city. But they rode out of the hills. Lifetaker kept him fighting for his life. Widowmaker rode around killing his men. They couldn't touch him. They rode away after our men drove the attackers out of the city. Mogaba tried a sortie. They didn't help. He took heavy casualties."
I checked a crow in a nearby bush, careful not to be obvious. "I see. We can't do anything about it. Let's ignore it and get on with plans for tomorrow."
"Is that wise, Mistress?" Narayan asked. "The night does belong to the Shadowmasters." Meaning there were shadows among us, listening, and bats whisking overhead.
"There are tools available." I could take care of the bats-and the crows-but I could not get rid of the shadows. To do anything more than confuse them was beyond my limited powers. "But does it matter? He knows we're here. He knows we'll come there. He just has to sit and wait. Or run away, if that suits him."
I had no hope Shadowspinner would elect that option. He retained the preponderance of force-if not in numbers, certainly in power. The stunt I had pulled was the limit. I would not send these men into a maelstrom of sorcery.
The victory would increase their confidence but could lead to trouble if I overvalued it. That was partly why Croaker lost his last battle. He got lucky several times and began to count on it. Luck has its way of running out.
"You have a point, Narayan. No need to ask for trouble. We'll talk about it tomorrow. Pass the word. We'll make an early start. Rest. We may have to do it again." The men had to be reminded: there were battles yet to come.
The others went, leaving Ram, Blade, and me. I looked at Blade. "Well done, Blade. Very well done."
He nodded. He knew that.
"How are your friends taking it?" Swan and Mather were off with their band of Radisha's Guards.
He shrugged. "Taking the long view."
"Uhm?"
"Taglios will be there after the Black Company goes. They've set down roots there."
"Understandable. Will they be trouble?"
Blade chuckled. "They don't even want to trouble Shadowspinner. If there was any way, they'd be running their tavern and staying out of everybody's way."
"But they take their pledge to the Radisha seriously?"
"As seriously as you take your contract."
"Then it behooves me to make sure there's no tension."
He grunted. "Shadows don't need ideas."
"True. Tomorrow, then."
He rose, went.
"Ram, let's take a ride."
Ram groaned. In about a hundred years, maybe, he would make a horseman.
We were both in armor still, uncomfortable as that was. I touched up the glamors. We rode among the men. Had to keep their minds fixed on me. I paused to thank men who had been pointed out as having done well. When the show was over I returned to my own place in the camp, indistinguishable from any other, and gave myself up to night's dreams.
I was sick again. Ram did his best to keep it from the men. I noticed Narayan whispering with Sindhu about it. I did not care at the moment. Sindhu glided away, presumably to tell Blade. Narayan came over. "Perhaps you ought to consult a physician."
"You have one handy?"
His grin was a shadow of itself. "No. There isn't one here."
Which meant some of the wounded would die needlessly, often as not victims of their own home remedies. Medical discipline had been something Croaker had started pounding into his men when they were learning to keep in step. And he'd been right.
I have dealt with a great many soldiers and armies. Infection and disease are deadlier enemies than foreign arms. Determined health discipline had been one of the strengths of the Company before Croaker's passing.
Pain. Damn me. It still hurt. I had never grieved over anybody before.
It was light enough to drive away bats and shadows. "Narayan. Are they fed?" Damn the sickness. "Let's get them moving."
"Where are we going?"
"Get Blade. I'll explain."
He got Blade. I explained. I rode out with the cavalry, leaving Blade to bring the rest. I headed east ten miles, turned into the hills. Crows followed. I was not concerned about crows. They were not reporting to the Shadowmasters.
Ten miles into the hills I halted. I could see part of the plain. "Dismount. Rest. Keep the noise down. Cold food. Ram, come with me." I moved forward. "Quiet. There may be pickets."
We did not encounter any before I could see the whole panorama.
There had been changes. When we had come before the hills had been green with farms and orchards. Now they were spotted brown, especially to the south. The canals were not delivering water as they should.
"Ram, get those two red rumel men, Abda and whatever his name is."