“Take me to Lord Uriah,” Sungara said. “I bring him message.”
“Tell it to me first,” Herrek said.
“Message is bad. Lord Uriah must hear.” When Herrek said nothing more, Sungara said, “Sit then. You must sit before I give message.”
The chariots were brought near and everyone sat, even the dogs, which obeyed Joash’s command. Sungara told them about the surprise attack upon Hori Cove. He left nothing out.
Joash shivered in horror. How many Elonites would he never see again? With his broken leg, had Nestor escaped? Joash’s throat burned and his eyes stung. A hollow feeling filled him, and along with the feeling came a terrible fear of the giants, sabertooths, and Tarag. They were being hunted. The terrible ordeal was anything but over. Joash looked at the warriors. Their faces were masks. They sat rigidly.
“Giant armor is enchanted,” Sungara somberly added. “I saw Elonite swords shatter on mail. I saw own arrow bounce harmlessly off, even though I shot at close range.”
Joash glanced at Sungara’s heavy black bow. In the past, he’d heard charioteers swear fearful oaths against Huri bows. They were fearsome weapons. Because the Huri were experts at ambushes, able to hide in mere clumps of grass, they often fired their heavy bows from close range. An arrow from such a bow could pierce a shield or chainmail. Joash found it incredible that the Huri hadn’t been able to pierce giant armor. Maybe Sungara had been farther away than he’d realized.
Othniel was nodding. “I’ve heard tales of giant armor and weapons. They say in the Far North, in a smithy hidden from the sun’s light, lies the Forge of Bolverk. He knows secrets hidden from our smiths, or even those of Caphtor. In this hidden smithy Bolverk forges the grim weapons and armor of giants. Even his father, Jotnar, is said to be amazed at Bolverk’s skills.”
“Their iron is enchanted,” Sungara said again. “Their shamans are mighty.”
“Maybe,” Herrek said stiffly. “What does Captain Maharbal plan?”
“You must flee to beach. All speed must be used. Make your horses sweat, kill them if need be, but flee. Captain Maharbal is certain giants and sabertooths will come for you next.”
Joash, who had heard all his life how superstitious the Huri were, was impressed with Sungara’s factual telling of the horrible tale.
“They are terrible foes. Not even your lances will slay them. You must flee with Sungara.”
“So you’ve faced Elonites before,” Othniel said grimly, perhaps turning to something familiar rather than dwelling upon the Nephilim horror. “Where have you faced us, Huri?”
“Are you mad?” asked Gens. “Didn’t you listen? The giants have destroyed our camp. Now they hunt us.”
“I heard,” Othniel said, his stare a hard one. “And we’ll destroy them.”
Sungara swore a Huri oath. “You must flee, chariot-man.”
“Am I a Huri?” Othniel laughed, bitterly. “No, I am of Teman Clan. I will hunt giants for what they’ve done.”
Joash couldn’t believe what he heard, but then Othniel hadn’t seen Mimir or Tarag. Joash was ready to accept Sungara’s advice.
“Giants have magic,” Sungara warned. “Beasts follow them. Chariot-man a fool if he thinks he can fight giants.”
Othniel turned red and made ready to retort.
“Bite your tongue, Warrior,” Herrek said sternly.
Othniel gave Herrek a quizzical glance.
Herrek ignored it. He said to Sungara, “You will ride in my chariot. I’ll take you to Lord Uriah. You will tell him whatever extra message the Mother Protectress sent along.”
Sungara’s blunt expression didn’t shift, but Joash noticed a slight twitching of the Huri’s thick fingers. So, there was more that Sungara hadn’t said. Yes, of course. The plan of action, the choice of beaches.
As squat Sungara climbed aboard the chariot and Gens rattled away, Joash wondered what it must have been like for the Huri. He’d been slipped from a small boat and onto the steppes, onto foreign shores with grim legends. Sungara had seen what the sabertooths could do, and the giants, too. He had witnessed horrible butchery at the camp. Yet, all alone he’d come in order to give Elonites a message. Sungara must be brave, and sure of his woodcraft. Joash’s estimation of him rose.
Those thoughts fled at the thought of giants and sabertooths hunting them. Joash called the dogs more sharply than he’d wanted. Two of them put their tails between their legs and cowered, as if they’d been caught doing something bad. It had been his tone, of course. He petted those two and spoke to the others, reassuring them, calming them. He knew dogs picked up the emotions of their masters. He noticed that Othniel’s horses had also become nervous.
A half-hour later the rest of the charioteers arrived. Sungara’s tale had spread. At Lord Uriah’s command they moved at double time toward the selected beach.
Later, Adah cried out and pointed toward the east. The westering sun, with its slashing rays, glinted off something metallic. Lord Uriah called a halt. Eagle-eyed Shemul was called. The handsome driver shaded his eyes before he hissed between his teeth.
“It’s armor.”
“Sungara?” Lord Uriah asked.
The squat Huri, who had padded behind Lord Uriah’s chariot, fingered his beads as he studied the eastern horizon. He nodded. “I think driver right. Armor flashes.” He grinned at Othniel, who like Herrek stood near Lord Uriah. “I recognize armor-flashes from when I raid onto the Plains of Elon.”
Othniel didn’t have time to scowl. He, like almost everyone else, strained to pierce the riddle of the bright flashes.
“They’re still far away,” Herrek said.
Lord Uriah tapped his teeth together. At last he uncorked his ale-skin and took a swig. Around him was the chariot squadron. They’d been moving in close formation, the pace a hard one on the runners and grooms, but quite bearable for the charioteers.
“Tide is right for loading,” Sungara said.
“Yes, so you said before,” Lord Uriah said.
“How near is the beach?” Adah asked Sungara.
“Near,” the Huri said.
“The giants are too far away,” Adah said. “They’re afoot, we have chariots. It might be a tight race, but we’ve the advantage of speed.”
Lord Uriah took another swig of ale.
“Even given that a giant can move at twice the speed of a man,” Adah said, “they won’t make it to the beach until well after high tide.”
Joash stood near Herrek’s chariot and saw Gens shake his head.
Lord Uriah must have seen it, too, for he asked, “What ails you, Driver?”
“Lord,” said Gens, “those flashes have the feel of doom.”
Sungara grunted in what sounded like agreement.
Othniel snorted.
“Maybe we should send scouts,” Herrek said, “and determine the number of our foes.” He made a mailed fist. “The giants butchered Elonites. We must teach them the cost of that.”
Lord Uriah stroked his white beard. “Ours is not a combat expedition.”
Herrek squinted, as he stared east. He spat at the ground. “We cannot let the giants think we’re cowards.”
Charioteers muttered angrily in agreement.
Lord Uriah laughed. “Rather, we cannot let the giants slay us, or stop us from leaving the steppes and reporting upon what we’ve seen.”
Adah agreed.
“What if only a handful of giants approach?” Herrek asked.
“I’m certain it is only a handful,” Lord Uriah said. “But these are giants, Champion, and this is their land.”
“If we deploy our chariots on carefully chosen ground, then we can slay this handful of giants.”