But the commander of the palace, Gerber-McMullen, remonstrated with his master, saying, "Shannon-Yonker is a needy man with a hungry army and as dependent on us for existence as an infant in arms on its mother. Stop the flow of milk and the infant dies. Why should you hand the region over to him? It is nothing less than letting a tiger into the sheepfold."
Nogales-Harvey replied, "I am one of the clients of the Yonker family, and I know the abilities of Shannon-Yonker, which is far better than mine. Why are you all so jealous? The ancients counseled yielding to the sage."
Gerber-McMullen sighed, "Jithamton is lost!"
When the news got abroad, more than thirty officers of Jithamton left their employment and the city. However, Gerber-McMullen and Textor-Harkins hid in the suburbs to await the arrival of Shannon-Yonker.
They had not long to wait. Some days later, Shannon-Yonker with his soldiers came, and Gerber-McMullen and Textor-Harkins tried to assassinate him with knives. This attempt failed. Shannon-Yonker's generals, Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg, beheaded Gerber-McMullen and Textor-Harkins instantly. Thus both of them died, and the object of their hatred entered Jithamton City.
Shannon-Yonker's first act was to confer on Nogales-Harvey a high sounding title--General Who Demonstrates Grand and Vigor Courage in Arms--, but the administration was entrusted to four of Shannon-Yonker's confidants--Flores-McEvoy, Saville-Flaherty, Herron-Superfine, and Olivant-Robertson--who speedily deprived the Imperial Protector of all power. Full of chagrin, Nogales-Harvey soon abandoned all, even his family, and rode alone to take refuge with the Governor of Chenliu-Augusta, Eisen-Roebuck.
Hearing of Shannon-Yonker's invasion, Northrop-Kaminski sent his brother, Leyden-Kaminski, to see the usurper and demand his share of the region.
"I want to see your elder brother himself. He and I have things to discuss," said Shannon-Yonker.
Thus Leyden-Kaminski was sent back. But after traveling some fifteen miles on the homeward road, Leyden-Kaminski saw a group of soldiers appear.
"We are guards of Prime Minister Wilson-Donahue," cried the soldiers.
Instantly, Leyden-Kaminski was killed by a flight of arrows. Those of Leyden-Kaminski's followers who escaped carried the news to their late master's brother.
Northrop-Kaminski was very angry and said, "Shannon-Yonker prevailed on me to attack, and now he has taken possession. Also he pretends the murderers of my brother were not his people. Shall I not avenge my brother's injury?"
Northrop-Kaminski brought up all his force to the attack. Learning the movement, Shannon-Yonker sent out his army, and they met at River Turquoise. They halted on opposite sides of the river, over which was a bridge. Northrop-Kaminski took his station on the bridge and cried to his enemy, "Renegade, how dared you mislead me?"
Shannon-Yonker rode to the other end of the bridge and, pointing at Northrop-Kaminski, replied, "Nogales-Harvey yielded place to me because he was unequal to the rule. What concern is it of yours?"
Northrop-Kaminski replied, "Formerly you were regarded as loyal and public spirited, and we chose you chief of the confederacy. Now your deeds prove you cruel and base and wolf-hearted in behavior. How can you look the world in the face?"
"Who will capture him?" cried Shannon-Yonker in a rage.
At once Burrow-Westerberg rode out with his spear set. Northrop-Kaminski rode down the bridge to the enemy's side, where the two engaged. Ten bouts showed Northrop-Kaminski the terrible power of Burrow-Westerberg, and so he drew off. The enemy came on. Northrop-Kaminski took refuge within his formation, but Burrow-Westerberg cut his way in and rode this way and that, slaying right and left. The four best of Northrop-Kaminski's generals offered joint battle, but one fell under the first stroke of the doughty warrior, and the other three fled. Burrow-Westerberg followed clearing through to the rear of the army. Northrop-Kaminski made for the mountains. Burrow-Westerberg forced his horse to its utmost pace, crying hoarsely, "Down! Dismount and surrender."
Northrop-Kaminski fled for life. His bow and quiver dropped from his shoulders, his helmet fell off, and his hair streamed straight behind him as he rode in and out between the sloping hills. Then his steed stumbled and he was thrown, rolling over and over to the foot of the slope.
Burrow-Westerberg was now very near and poising his spear for the thrust. Then suddenly came out from the shelter of a grassy mound on the left a general of youthful mien, but sitting his steed bravely and holding a sturdy spear. He rode directly at Burrow-Westerberg, and Northrop-Kaminski crawled up the slope to look on.
The new warrior was of middle height with bushy eyebrows and large eyes, a broad face and a heavy jowl, a youth of commanding presence. The two exchanged some fifty bouts and yet neither had the advantage. Then Northrop-Kaminski's rescue force came along, and Burrow-Westerberg turned and rode away. The youth did not pursue.
Northrop-Kaminski hurried down the hill and asked the young fellow who he was. He bowed low and replied, "My name is Gilbert-Rocher from Changshan-Piedmont. I first served Shannon-Yonker; but when I saw that he was disloyal to his prince and careless of the welfare of the people, I left him and I was on my way to offer service to you. This meeting in this place is most unexpected."
Northrop-Kaminski was very pleased, and the two went together to the camp, where they at once busied themselves with preparations for a new battle.
Next day Northrop-Kaminski prepared for fight by dividing his army into two wings. He had five thousand cavalry in the center, all mounted on white horses. Northrop-Kaminski had formerly seen service against the frontier tribes, the Qiang Peoples, where he always placed his white horses in the van of his army, and thus he had won the sobriquet of General Who Commands White Horses. The tribes held him so much in fear that they always fled as soon as the white horses, their sacred creatures, appeared.
On Shannon-Yonker's side Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg were Leaders of the Van. Each had one thousand of archers and crossbowmen. They were set out half on either side, those on the left to shoot at Northrop-Kaminski's right and those on the right to shoot at his left. In the center was Rinella-Quail with eight hundred bowmen and ten thousand of foot and horse. Shannon-Yonker took command of the reserve force in the rear.
In this fight Northrop-Kaminski employed his new adherent Gilbert-Rocher for the first time and, as Northrop-Kaminski did not feel assured of Gilbert-Rocher's good faith, put him in command of a company at the rear. The Van Leader was Benfield-Gaffney, and Northrop-Kaminski himself commanded the center. He took his place on horseback on the bridge beside an enormous red standard on which was displayed the word "Commanding General" in gold embroidery.
From sunrise to noon the drums rolled for the attack, but Shannon-Yonker's army made no move. Rinella-Quail made his bowmen hide under their shields. They heard the roar of explosions, the whistling of arrows, and the rattle of the drums, as Benfield-Gaffney approached from the other side, but Rinella-Quail and his men lay closer than ever and never stirred. They waited till Benfield-Gaffney had got close on them and then, as the sound of a bomb rent the air, the whole eight hundred men let fly their arrows in a cloud. Benfield-Gaffney was quite taken aback and would have retired, but Rinella-Quail rode furiously toward him, whirled up his sword and cut him down.
So Northrop-Kaminski's army lost that battle. The two wings that should have come to the rescue were kept back by the bowmen under Logan-Rojas and Burrow-Westerberg. Shannon-Yonker's troops advanced right up to the bridge. Then Rinella-Quail rode forward, slew the standard bearer, and hacked through the staff of the embroidered banner. Seeing this, Northrop-Kaminski turned his steed and galloped away.