Arms-Commander

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The false bandits had left tracks easy enough to follow as they had headed eastward, in the general direction of Gallos and the next valley, where the roads split into those to Lornth, Gallos, and northern Lornth or Suthya. The hoofprints had all been similar, with an imprint of “G” within a square, indicating that the mounts had been shod by the same smith or farrier, most likely in the service of the Prefect of Gallos.

Even though the brigand armsmen had close to half a day’s head start, as second squad continued through the afternoon at a moderate walk, Saryn could sense that the Westwind contingent was gaining ground. In late afternoon, when the white sun had dropped below the tops of the western peaks, and the road was covered in shadow, the squad neared another stream.

“Ser!” called Chyanci, one of the outriders, who had reined up at the edge of the water on the south side of the road. “Over here!”

With Adiara still seated before her, Saryn eased the big chestnut gelding toward the outrider and the stream.

Not only were there hoofprints trampled into the mud, but Chyanci leaned down and pulled a grayish cloth or rag with blood on it out of one of the scrub oaks growing on the uphill bank of the stream. “Looks like one of them was wounded, maybe pretty badly. Some of the blood hasn’t hardened.”

“They can’t be all that far ahead,” offered Murkassa. “How close do you think we are?”

“I’m no tracker,” Saryn admitted, “but the imprints in the mud are still crisp. That discarded wound dressing hasn’t hardened. I can’t sense anyone that close to us. They’re more than a kay away, but I’d guess less than ten kays. They’re probably going to stop near where the three roads branch in different directions.”

“What do you have in mind, ser?”

“We’ve pushed the mounts some,” replied Saryn. “I’d rather not press that hard. They’re not going back to Gallos, and we’ll take them on our terms.”

Murkassa nodded.

“I’ll go ahead with the outriders to make sure that they’re still headed east. I don’t want us surprised, either.” Saryn eased the gelding closer to Murkassa, then said to Adiara, “You’ll have to stay with the other guards.”

“I can do that, Angel.”

“Good.” Saryn lifted the girl and passed her across to the squad leader. She was still surprised at how light the girl was for her age, which had to be around eight or nine. “Find a good bivouac site somewhere along the stream here.”

“We’ll take care of it, ser.”

Saryn turned the gelding. “Chyanci, Abylea!”

“Yes, ser.” The two outriders rode to join Saryn.

“We’re going to scout out the road to the east.” The commander turned her mount and headed through the dip in the road where a spring rivulet ran to join the larger stream. Then she urged the mount into a fast walk along the flatter section of road on the other side. The two outriders followed her.

For the next kay, Saryn sensed only small creatures, except for a mother bear hidden away with cubs and a red deer doe. After that, as the road began to rise once more, and the snowdrifts under the tall pines got deeper, she sensed less large life. The hoofprints continued up the gradual incline, but she could see that the slow pace of the riders was slackening even more.

Still, after almost three kays, she felt that she and the other two were only slightly closer to the Gallosians. The light was fading, and she knew the road would climb for another kay before leveling out, then descending into the valley to the northeast. While she had nightsight, the others didn’t. But she felt better knowing that the Gallosians weren’t that close…and that their mounts were tired. She’d also have wagered that the guard mounts were in better shape. She had no doubts that her guards were.

“Hold up. We’ll head back now.”

“Do you think they’ll make the valley tonight?” asked Abylea.

“If they do, they’ll have tired mounts. They probably plan to stay there and rest for a day. That’s unless they come across more helpless travelers.” Saryn turned the gelding.

“Will we attack tomorrow?”

“That depends on what the day brings. We’ll attack when we can be certain of the outcome.” Saryn’s voice hardened with the last words. She didn’t want a single Gallosian returning to Fenard and Arthanos.

In the twilight, the two outriders exchanged glances.

“Let’s go.” Saryn urged the gelding forward, back down the road toward second squad. At least the grade was gradual enough that it wouldn’t be that hard on the horses.

Even so, by the time Saryn returned to the bivouac area, twilight had given way to night across the Westhorns, and a small cookfire was burning. Saryn noted that Murkassa had found dry deadwood so that there was little smoke. Now wrapped in a blanket, Adiara hunched close to the fire.

Saryn rode over to the first tie-line where the mounts were tethered and two guards stood watch. She dismounted, unsaddled, and rubbed down the gelding before walking slowly toward the small fire.

“Any signs of them, ser?” asked Murkassa, standing as the commander approached.

“Not within about four kays.”

“There’s no easy approach to us. I’ve posted sentries where we’ll get plenty of warning.”

“We may need warning, but not from them.” Saryn took a long swallow from her water bottle. “They’re trying to make the crossing valley. They’ll wait there for a day or two. I don’t think they even know we’re following them.”

“No. Women don’t track down armsmen. You’d think they’d know better after ten years,” said Murkassa.

“Why would they? We’ve protected travelers and routed anyone who came at us, but we haven’t actually tracked and attacked anyone.”

“Wouldn’t they think we might when they started to send squads to terrify travelers?”

“No,” Saryn replied. “Women in Gallos wouldn’t even consider that. They have the idea that we’re like the females of most species-females will protect their own and their cubs, but they won’t go that far from their territory to chase a marauder.” She smiled. “We’re about to change their ideas.”

At that moment, Adiara turned and looked up from the fire, her eyes wide.

Saryn could sense the mixture of feelings within the girl-sadness, anger at the death of her mother, exhaustion, but most of all, something like awe, as if she had seen a glimpse of something she had never seen before.