I lifted the spear, stepped back, put the guard on, handed the weapon to Corporal Royal, headed for my place in ranks. I prayed a lot as I did. Nobody would look me in the eye. The guys were all scared shitless.
The Nightstalker took his time getting up. He was as pale as I've ever seen a guy get without doing a lot of bleeding, which he knew he could have done. He waved off any help. He recovered spear and guard and made a point of cleaning the weapon while forty-seven guys waited for something to happen.
He looked around, said, "You learn something every day. If you're smart. Let's have the next six men up here."
Everybody sighed. Me included. The shit storm was on hold for a while.
I noticed that hothead Ken looking at my cheek like he never noticed the mark there before. Maybe the cold made it show up more.
LXII
With a little sorcery and a little luck Bomanz learned that the men Exile had sent for the valuable corporal had just gone to Nightstalker headquarters and told them to produce him.
"Nothing like getting somebody else to do your work for you," Raven said.
"Sounds like a fine idea to me," Bomanz said. "Why don't we find a place and wait for them to bring him to us?"
As easily done as said. There was just one decent, straightforward route running from the Nightstalkers' headquarters to the heart of Oar.
"Finally coming," Bomanz said. "Silent. Lay down that haze now. Don't make it so thick they smell trouble."
Silent walked a ways away, just kind of stood there. People passing looked at him and stayed as far away as they could. Soon there was a stronger than normal smell of woodsmoke. The air grew hazy.
"This is them," Bomanz said of a tight little group approaching.
As the group came abreast the haze suddenly thickened. Bomanz struck at the escort of four men, flattened them, called his favorite buzzard in to dispose of their allegiance badges.
The four had been escorting a man and a woman. Silent looked at the female and started signing so fast only Raven could follow him. "Brigadier Wildbrand," he said. "We have to take her, too. You don't refuse a gift from the gods."
Despite their apparel they got into the Gartsen stable without attracting attention. Wizards were handy sometimes. Raven asked the man who met them, Gartsen, "Where is she?"
"Loft."
Raven stepped around a small menhir, climbed, made signs one-handed.
Neither the corporal nor Wildbrand had said a word yet. They had no real idea what their situation was. Till Darling came to look them over. Wildbrand recognized her. The Brigadier said, "Oh, shit. It's true."
Bomanz said, "Tell Darling we're ready to go get the rest of them."
Silent's hands were fluttering. He ignored the old wizard. He asked Darling, "Did you talk to the tree?"
She answered his signs, "Yes. He is troubled. He suggests we remove Case from that camp. Something happened there, involving Case, that he has heard of from his creatures. We will shackle these two and leave them with Gartsen."
Silent started arguing. She donned the clothing of one of Exile's guards. Sometimes she used her handicap for all it was worth. As when she did not want to argue.
Silent and Raven were livid. Neither one believed the tree had mentioned Case at all.
LXIII
Smeds kicked his copper's worth into the discussion. "I ain't hungry and I ain't sick and that's worth something even if I got to be sore and tired all the time." It had been a hard day.
Somebody said, "Yeah. Bet it's hell out there now."
Another said, "What I'm wondering, suppose we whip the Limper? Then back to the same old horseshit till they find their silver whatsit?"
The group grew quiet. That was the first anyone had mentioned the future. Nobody wanted to think about that.
Smeds glanced at Green. Crowded as the tent was, there was a clear space around Green. Nobody understood what had happened this afternoon but they did know there was going to be some shit come down about it. Nobody wanted to be too close to Green when it hit.
Somebody said, "The Limper comes and the shit gets to flying, they're going to be too damned busy to watch me. I see the chance, I'm gone. Even if I have to stick Caddy or somebody."
The sergeant ripped open the entry flap. "Fall out and fall in!"
What now? Smeds wondered. More drills? Hadn't they done enough for one day? Hell! He was too tired to get pissed off.
At least they hadn't been singled out. Every tent was spilling men. As soon as they formed up, the sergeant marched them over to stand with their backs to the stockade. Grays ran around with lamps and torches.
Smeds caught a glimpse of Fish in the back rank of the platoon two to his left. The old man had done something to darken his hair.
The sergeant called them to attention.
Three dark riders came from the direction of the gate. A man in black walked beside each. They advanced slowly, studying each platoon. A review. Exile's men down to give the raggedy-ass militia the once-over…
Smeds stomach sank. They acted more like they were looking for somebody.
But they passed Fish's platoon without pausing. Maybe it would be all right after all.
The black riders passed the next platoon and started across the face of Smeds's outfit…
The lead rider halted. One arm thrust out, pointing. Fingers danced. The footman beside the rider pushed in among the men.
Smeds nearly messed himself.
The dark soldier grabbed Green.
Smeds sighed. Green! Of course! The shit had to come down, didn't it?
He was so turned inward he missed the arm pointing again, did not notice the two footmen coming till they were almost to him.
His blood turned to ice.
They took hold and dragged him out of ranks.
The riders headed for the gate. Smeds trudged along behind Green, a horseman on his left and a foot soldier on his right. After the first overwhelming shock he began to take control. He'd gotten out of a couple tight places already. He just had to stay calm and alert and move fast when his moment came.
A minute after they were in among buildings, masked from watchers in the camp, Green burst out laughing. "You guys got more balls than brains!" He punched one of the riders in the thigh. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me. I figured you belonged in there. This was Darling's idea."
"Yeah?" Green laughed again. "I'll remember that when your turn in the barrel comes. Why'd you grab my buddy Ken?"
"She says he's one of the men who stole the spike."
Green looked at him. "No shit?"
Smeds clamped down hard. Panic would not get him out of this one.
LXIV
Fish understood what was happening the moment he glimpsed Exile's soldiers pulling Smeds out of formation. He didn't really think, he just reacted. Everybody was intent on what the blacks were doing.
He took a few steps back, turned, hoisted himself over the low stockade. A few of his neighbors in the platoon noticed but did not holler. Better, none got the bright idea of joining him.
He dropped to the ground, ran, softly cursing his body for having aged well past the point where this made any sense for him. He was all aches and stiffness from the day's drills and he doubted if he'd ever loosen up.
But by damn he wasn't going to give in, to those imperial vampires or to the weakness of his flesh.
He reached the uncleared ruins facing the stockade gate minutes before the riders came out. He crouched in darkness, waiting, and took stock.