“We’ll hold,” Hahn added with even more confidence than before.
Twenty minutes later the Travelers finally finished eating. Gwaynn, though sated some time earlier, continued to pick at the food until Captain Gaston strode in, his face eager despite the amount of war he’d experienced.
“Are you ready?” Bock asked as Gaston approached. The Captain nodded.
“We’re ready,”
“How many cavalry men in total?” Gwaynn asked, beginning to grow nervous about the plan. Splitting his forces was dangerous and they’d gotten away with it so many times in the past that he was beginning to feel they were due for a disaster.
“If I take Captain Kommidi and his men we will be about forty-five hundred strong,” Gaston answered immediately.
Gwaynn nodded. “You will be taking every man available…full strength. Keep na Gall and Sarbeth close…and wait for our call,” Gwaynn answered suddenly very serious, “and Captain, please avoid engaging the Knights alone if at all possible.”
“And if an opportunity presents itself to do the enemy real damage?” Gaston asked. Gwaynn shook his head, astounded by the change in the man before him. Less than a year ago, Captain Gaston, while not actually timid, struggled with a fair amount of self-doubt, now…well now, he was a tiger.
“You take it,” Bock answered, “but it better be one hell of an opportunity. Your horsemen are the very heart of the trap, don’t jeopardize that lightly.”
Gaston remained thoughtful for a time, then nodded. “When do we leave?”
“Within the hour,” Gwaynn replied, “ride due south for a mile or so before heading east; let’s keep the Knights in the dark.”
XVI
“The horses are gone!” Captain Tramm said early the next morning, nearly running up to Hothgaard in excitement.
“What?”
“The horses…the Massi horses are gone.”
Hothgaard stood quickly, his own excitement growing. “Are you sure?”
Tramm nodded, glancing about the camp which was already in the process of being dismantled. “Yes, our scouts just returned. The horses are definitely gone…all of them. The trail appears to be heading due south.”
“South…” Hothgaard said thoughtfully.
“You think they’re hiding their route?” Tramm asked.
“That’s exactly what I think.”
“But which way will they ultimately go? Possibly the Scar Gap,” Tramm suggested, “try to cut us off from the Palmerrio in Toranado and any possible reinforcements.”
Hothgaard shook his head. “No, they wouldn’t send their entire cavalry to guard the Gap, it would be pointless overkill. No, the cavalry will be heading east…”
“To help guard Lynndon and the pass to the Plateau…it could be,” Tramm stated.
Hothgaard shook his head again, wondering why his fellow Captain continued to think the Massi strategy was defensive, even passive.
“No…” he disagreed once more. “They’ll not be sent to guard the pass at Lynndon…with only the Knights occupying Massi lands there’s little need. No, the cavalry will be sent onto the plains, probably from Lynndon. Prince Gwaynn won’t sit idly by and wait for our attack. He’ll be aggressive.”
Tramm scratched his head and looked up into the cloudy sky. It was colder this morning and had the smell of snow in the air. Winter was now only a few weeks away. Their food was getting scarce and if the High King did not arrive with additional supplies there was a real danger of running out. There was only so much foraging they could do in an area before they would need to move on. The local farmers had long been depleted of any livestock and grain.
“So what would you suggest?”
“We’ll stick to our plans and move east,” Hothgaard answered looking up at the walls of Manse. “Send extra scouts out…immediately. I want to find their cavalry…also when we break camp, let’s leave a small group behind under Sergeant Vutek, include the Speaker Nadler. I have a feeling the Massi Prince might actually sally forth after us.”
“You think he’ll leave Manse and attack without the support of his cavalry?” Tramm asked, clearly shocked at the idea. Prince Gwaynn, though young, had shown no indications that he was a fool.
Hothgaard nodded. “Yes…and we must be careful not to be caught between the two forces…remember he has Travelers on his side.”
Tramm looked around suspiciously, even though he knew that Travelers could spy on anyone invisibly.
“And if they come from behind the walls of Manse?”
“Then we crush them quickly before they can coordinate any counter,” Hothgaard said hoping it would be so easy and he could get back to the King’s Island.
ǂ
Gwaynn was still getting dressed when Lonogan Bock burst in without knocking. Samantha, who was still lying naked in bed, scrambled to pull the covers over her body and up to her chin, her face going slightly pink. Bock did not apologize.
“They’re packing up!” He said and Gwaynn could hear the panic in his friend’s voice.
“The Knights?” Gwaynn asked, though he already knew the answer.
Bock nodded wringing his hands and pacing throughout the room. “I’ve already spoken to Monde and had her send a message to Jess…Gaston,” he corrected himself.
“A message about what?” Gwaynn asked. “Can you tell the Knight’s intentions?”
Bock looked sheepish for a moment. “No…but…”
“She’ll be fine,” Gwaynn said with more confidence than he felt, “and now that she knows the Knights are on the move she’ll keep a careful eye on them.”
Lonogan nodded, somehow feeling younger than the man before him though he was over a decade his senior. Gwaynn however, was far more experienced in dealing with a loved one heading for war.
“Prepare the army…but do it quietly,” Gwaynn ordered. “There’s no need to hurry, if the Knights break camp we can move out and bait the trap without the need for Monde and N’dori to weaken themselves. This could be a very lucky move for us.”
Bock said nothing, wondering just how many other commanders would count themselves lucky to be going up against the Temple Knights…he guessed not many. He left the bailey, walking fast; his mind moving even faster. He had a sudden desire to visit Zebo and talk to Jess again…better yet he wished he were a Speaker so he could talk to her with just his mind.
‘Yes, that would be something,’ he thought and wondered how hard it would be to learn. Obviously it was not impossible, after all Gwaynn was taught at a later age. True, the King was still young, but perhaps he could broach the idea with Jess…if he ever saw her again. Without realizing it he began wringing his hands again as he walked.