Blade had just reached the bottom of the steps up to the street when the flames reached the barrels along the wall. A score of them burst in a single moment, and it was as if someone had set off a bomb. Blade was thrown flat on the stairs, and got to his feet just in time to leap clear of a wave of blazing oil. He ran up the stairs and out into the cool fresh night air, sucking it into his lungs in great gulps. Behind him the cellar steadily filled with blazing oil, until the sea of fire was lapping halfway up the stairs.
They'd never learn anything useful from what was left in the warehouse, Blade knew. How much had they snatched clear of the battle and the flames?
At least the Baran was alive, although no thanks to the man himself! Blade sheathed his sword and turned to begin counting his men.
Chapter 22
The warehouse burned all night, clearly visible from the walls of the Baran's palace. There was nothing to be done about it except keep the flames from spreading.
By dawn the fire was out and men black with soot were pouring buckets of water on the last smoldering ashes and blackened timbers. By dawn the Baran's men had also added up the score of their night's work, and Giraz was reading it off to the Baran and to Richard Blade.
«Of the Council of Twelve, eight are dead, four are our prisoners. Five other Thieves were also taken. We do not know precisely how many were present, since-«
The Baran nodded impatiently. «Yes, yes, Giraz. We know what happened to the bodies. Please-consider that none of us has had any sleep, and we have had a rather busy night in addition. Save the fine detail for your formal report, and for now be brief.»
«Very good, my lord. As I said, we took five lesser Thieves. Six Hashomi were known to be present, and I believe they all perished. As for the Fighters of Junah-«Giraz swallowed and seemed to be hesitating.
The Baran sighed. «Bad news will grow no better with waiting, Giraz.»
«Yes, my lord. We took two of the leaders among the Fighters. We have interrogated them, and one has begun to answer questions.» Blade couldn't help wondering what had been done, to break one of the dedicated Fighters of Junah so quickly. He decided he didn't really want to know.
«The man who spoke said five other leaders of the Fighters died in the fighting. One was the First Lord of the Warriors, their military commander. Another was their leading priest. The others-«
«I see,» said the Baran. «That is not good.»
Blade felt that remark needed explaining. «Why is that so, my lord? It seems to me that we have done extremely well. We have not only destroyed the leadership of the Thieves Guild, we have badly hurt the Fighters of Junah.»
«Yes,» said the Baran. «And by doing so, we may have made open war against them inevitable. Even now they may be planning to take to the streets, swords in their hands. How many people will die from this night's work, who might otherwise have lived?»
Blade took a deep breath. The Baran had given him the perfect opening, and now he intended to do everything he could with it. The job of saving Dahaura wasn't over yet!
«That depends on how we deal with the Fighters of Junah,» he said. «If we give them a chance, they may indeed decide to launch the war the Baran fears. But if we take the offensive, then-«
«How can we take the offensive?» interrupted the Baran. «We do not really have enough men to pry the Fighters of Junah out of every hole and corner in Dahaura and the other cities.»
«I was not thinking of calling out the army against the Fighters of Junah,» replied Blade. «At least not immediately. Against the Thieves, yes-they must be rooted out, at once. But not against the Fighters. I think the first move in our offensive against the Fighters of Junah should be a proclamation.»
«A proclamation?» said the Baran. He seemed to be interested but confused.
«Yes,» said Blade. «A proclamation that they are outlaws. Any found within-oh, let us say, all the large cities or towns and the lands around them-after five days will be killed on sight «
The Baran sighed. «Blade, you obviously have some plan for dealing with the Fighters. I will say to you what I said to Giraz-it has been a long night and we are all tired. Speak briefly.»
«I will do so, my lord. If Giraz will get me a map-«
Blade unrolled the map the eunuch gave him on the floor and the other two stood over him while he crouched and explained his plan.
The Fighters of Junah should be driven out of the large cities of the Baran's proclamation. Nobody should attempt to stop them-in fact, they should be encouraged to leave. After that they should be driven west, toward the edge of the desert.
«We can use rumors, small shows of force, anything necessary to do this,» said Blade. «But we may not have to do anything at all. They move west of their own free will, in the hope that the Hashomi will cross the desert in force and aid them against you.»
«And this hope will be in vain?» said Giraz. In spite of his fatigue, his red-rimmed eyes were fixed on Blade and the nostrils of his thin nose were quivering like those of a hound on the scent. Giraz loved a subtle-plot the way some men loved fine wine.
«Exactly,» said Blade. «We are strike at the allies of the Hashomi before the Master expected to have to move. There is a very good chance that the Master will not move at all.»
«Why should the Fighters not know this too?» said the Baran.
«I think the Fighters of Junah would not have gone as far as they have if they didn't expect the Hashomi to come to their aid any time they needed help.
«So we will have the Fighters of Junah assembled in the west, waiting for the Hashomi who will not come. Meanwhile, you assemble your army, and when the Fighters of Junah have waited long enough to grow weary, you strike. You can fight them in the open fields, not in the streets of all your cities. The only people in danger will be your soldiers.»
«Too much danger, perhaps,» said the Baran. «Will they be able to defeat the Fighters of Junah, massed for battle?»
«Yes,» said Giraz. «My lord, do not be misled by the name 'Fighters of Junah.' They have indeed trained some of their people to be strong in battle, but not all. If a hundred thousand Fighters of Junah were to gather in the west, ten or fifteen thousand of them might be good soldiers. The rest-«He shrugged. «Your army will scatter them like cats sweeping aside an army of mice.»
«If this is so-«said the Baran, stroking his mustache as he often did when he was wrestling with a difficult decision. «If this is so-«
«It is,» said Giraz. «And, my lord, with all due respect, Blade will tell us of his plan much more swiftly if you do not constantly interrupt him.»
The Baran stared at the eunuch for a moment, took a deep breath as if he wanted to explode with rage, then smiled and let the breath out in a long sigh. «Blade, you are setting an example for my councilors. You are making them all as sharp-tongued and plain-spoken as yourself. This may turn out to be your greatest service to Dahaura, whether I like it or not. Giraz is right. Continue.»
Blade sketched out the rest of his plan quickly. The Baran's army should march against the assembled Fighters of Junah and defeat them in a pitched battle in the open field. Then the Baran should issue another proclamation. All those Fighters of Junah who lay down their arms and surrender by a certain date will have a free pardon. All those who volunteer to march with the Baran against the Valley of the Hashomi will receive land and the right to practice their faith.
«I think you will get many volunteers,» said Blade. «The Fighters will suspect that the Hashomi betrayed them, and they should be wild for vengeance.