They did not love the Baran or the Children of Junah even now. But they hated the Master of the Hashomi savagely and completely. Certainly they would march against him with the Baran, who treated them like men and not like puppets.
So much for the Fighters of Junah. After centuries of opposition to the Baranate, Blade's strategy had swept away their menace in a few weeks.
The Hashomi were going to be a more difficult proposition. As Blade said, «As far as I know there is only one route into the Valley that an army can use. The Hashomi can defend it until they are all dead, and perhaps ten thousand of your men as well. There is no certain way to avoid that, but I have a plan that gives us some hope. I am assuming that the valley people are not too happy with the rule of the Hashomi, and that the Hashomi themselves may be somewhat shaken by the collapse of the Master's strategy. If this is correct, then we may look to find allies in the valley.»
Blade explained briefly, with the help of a map he'd sketched of the Valley of the Hashomi. The Baran followed him appreciatively.
«I will need only three or four hundred men, but they'll have to be picked fighters, the best soldiers and the best of the Eyes. In fact, I think that the whole army going to the valley ought to be picked men. Many of your soldiers are brave, but the Hashomi could still slaughter them like wolves killing sheep.»
«I'd thought as much,» said the Baran. «I've already given the orders to limit our invading army to twenty thousand men, plus five thousand of the Fighters of Junah. I'll also put Giraz under your orders as second-in-command. From your plan, it sounds as if you might not live through it even if everything goes well.»
«I may not,» said Blade. «In fact, I'm not sure that any of my people will be coming back from this one. But it's going to be worth it. It will save your soldiers' lives, and it may help the people of the valley. Once the Hashomi are dead, we have no quarrel with those they have ruled so harshly for so long.»
«Want to leave as many of your future subjects alive as you can, eh, Blade?» said the Baran.
«Why not?» said Blade. «I don't want to rule a desert, either for myself or for you.»
Blade was busy during the next few days, picking the men of his force and conferring with Giraz. He also found time to marry Esseta.
It seemed a good idea. Even if he got back alive from the invasion of the Valley of the Hashomi, he would sooner or later be returning to Home Dimension. Then what would happen to Esseta? She had the Baran's favor and her own money, but the favor might be withdrawn at any time and her money would not last forever. She could rely on Kubin Ben Sarif for as much help as he could give, but Kubin was well past fifty. He would not always be around to help her.
On the other hand, as the widow of one of the Baran's most distinguished officers, she would be in a much better situation. She would have legal and social rights that no one could question. She would also inherit Blade's property, and that was a real fortune. The Baran had been giving him estates and villas with a lavish hand. As Blade's widow, Esseta would be one of the richest women in Dahaura.
In spite of all these obvious arguments in favor of the idea, Blade had quite a job persuading Esseta. Her first reaction was, «Blade, you've lost your mind! Did you get hit on the head in that warehouse fight?» She went on from there, less outspoken, but no less stubborn, for several days.
«Blade,» she said at last. «Do you realize who-or what-you're marrying? Do you realize that I cannot be the kind of wife you deserve, the kind of wife to stand beside you in the high circles of the Baran's court? You will be moving in those circles, although you don't seem to realize it.»
«If I return from the Valley of the Hashomi,» put in Blade.
She shook her head angrily, but at the same time there were tears in her eyes. «Blade, I am what I am, and I cannot be otherwise. What I am is-«
«The woman I am going to marry,» he said calmly.
Esseta looked as if she wanted to tear out either Blade's hair or her own in sheer frustration. While she struggled with her feelings, Blade went on. «Apart from everything else, I am not so sure that you cannot change. I have seen far stranger and less likely things happen to both men and women during my travels. I will not accept that argument as a reason for not marrying me. I will listen to only one reason-that you do not care for me, Richard Blade; the man, and want me out of your sight.»
At that point Esseta burst into tears and collapsed on Blade's shoulder. He held her gently, while she murmured over and over again, «I cannot tell that lie. I cannot tell that lie.»
«Very good,» said Blade at last. «Then don't. We should go to the Baran and ask his permission. As a Demad of his household, I'll need it.»
The Baran not only gave his permission, he offered to sponsor the bride in place of the father she'd never known. The other sponsor was Kubin Ben Sarif, and the principal witness was Giraz. Esseta looked her age on the day of the wedding, no one would have mistaken her for a young girl. But she was as nervous and blushing as any seventeen year-old virgin bride.
It was almost a pity, Blade thought, that there would be no long marriage for them. A man could do worse than marry an honest whore like Esseta, in this Dimension or any other. She did not have «a heart of gold,» but she had a cool head and a clear eye, which were far more important.
Kubin Ben Sarif was shaking his head sadly as Blade led Esseta away from the altar of Junah. «Now I've seen everything,» he said. «My golden girl, a bride to this mighty man from nowhere.» He slapped Blade on the shoulder. «I'm glad for you both. She'll need someone to take care of her, now that I'm getting old.»
Esseta's eyebrows rose in her old impish manner. «Old? Kubin, there are a dozen women I could name who would swear that you lied. There is-«
Kubin laughed and held up a hand to stop her. «Enough, enough. Junah be with you, Blade, and bring you back from the valley. You've been the best of my servants. Now I'd like to have you as a good friend.»
I also wish that could be, thought Blade. But it cannot. Silently he shook Kubin's hand, and led Esseta out of the temple.
The next day the Baran's army marched west, toward the desert, the mountains, and the Valley of the Hashomi.
Chapter 23
Once again the horizon Blade saw was dominated by the White Mountain with the plume of snow trailing from its summit. Behind him lay a journey across the desert and the mountains, almost retracing the journey he'd made to Dahaura.
This time he hadn't covered the route as a bound slave. He'd crossed the desert as part of the Baran's army of twenty-five thousand men. He'd made his way through the mountains at the head of four hundred of the best fighters in Dahaura. Now he looked down on the Valley of the Hashomi from a new position, half a mile above the hospital where he'd first awakened.
The hospital on its ledge and the valley spreading out below looked the same as the last time he'd seen them. More important, they showed no signs the Hashomi were alert and on their guard against the enemies approaching through the mountains.
It would make no difference in the end whether they were alert or not. They would die, and their valley would be swept from end to end. It would make a great difference to the Baran's soldiers and the women and farmers of the valley. If Blade had surprise on his side, not nearly so many of them would die in the next few days.