Honoured Enemy

THIRTEEN. ACCORD

The woods were silent.

Asayaga, bow raised and partially drawn, waited. The stag was half-concealed behind a fallen log, only its antlers and the upper arc of its back visible. It had been there for some minutes, peeling bark from a low-hanging branch, head down.

Asayaga remained motionless, barely daring to breathe, a slight trickle of sweat creasing down his forehead.

The stag raised its head, seemed to look straight at him. Don't look in its eyes, Asayaga remembered, they can sense that. He let his gaze drift away. A moment later the stag stepped out from behind the overturned log. With a steady, fluid motion, as relaxed as if he were a branch stirring in the breeze, Asayaga drew back, sighted down the shaft and let his fingers slip off the string.

The arrow winged in, the stag leapt into the air and then collapsed.

Asayaga started forward.

'Don't move.'

Asayaga froze and looked over his shoulder. Dennis was leaning against the tree beside him, bow in one hand.

'Remember, I told you this before. The sound of your shooting, the impact of the arrow, the death struggle of the animal -' and as he spoke he nodded to the stag which was feebly thrashing on the ground, '- if anyone else is near, it will draw them. I told you, if you are in hostile woods, after you shoot you should draw back in to your cover and wait a moment.'

'But the animal?'

'If you didn't make a clean kill, that is your own damn fault. But you must wait. Look around you, listen carefully. Usually if someone who is unskilled hears the shot he'll immediately start towards you, expecting to catch you off-guard butchering your kill, and you get an arrow in the back.'

He smiled, a smile that held no warmth.

'I know, I've done it more than once.'

'To Tsurani?'

'Do you want to know?'

Asayaga did not reply, his gaze going past Dennis to the snow-covered glade and the stag struggling in its death agony. It was something he had never quite understood about himself. He had seen thousands of men die in nearly ten years of war and could look on it at times with a near-total detachment, but an animal suffering – be it a horse or needra injured in battle, or the stag now dying – moved him deeply. He tried to shut out the look in the animal's eyes.

So strange to be out here like this with Hartraft, he thought. They had taken to the habit of going for a walk together each morning.

For the first few days the walks had clearly been defined as a meeting to discuss what had to be done that day.

Dennis always went forth with his bow and more often than not returned with something for the pot, and finally Asayaga had borrowed a bow from Wolfgar.

Dennis had first met Asayaga's efforts with barely-concealed disdain, but after several days, he announced that if Asayaga was to hunt by his side he had to learn to do it right or leave the bow behind.

Now, at last, Asayaga had made his first kill and he felt a touch of bitterness. The Tsurani had accepted Dennis's lessons and admonishments in silence. He was willing to defer to Hartraft's superior skills, and besides, he was learning, how Hartraft worked in the woods: a valuable lesson worth the humiliations. At this moment, however, he half-expected a nod, an acknowledgment of a difficult shot through the woods on game they had stalked for nearly an hour.

The mere fact that he expected some sort of praise from Hartraft made him angry with himself. He now did as ordered, carefully scanning the woods, watching as the branches slowly swayed in the afternoon breeze, trying to catch a movement that was not in rhythm, listening for a sound that was out of the ordinary. He caught the distant sound of a horse, and looked back to Dennis, who had heard it as well and simply shook his head. Of course it was all an exercise, for they were still safe in the valley, but he played out the game.

'Nothing.'

'Are you certain?'

'Why? Is this still a drill or do you have someone hidden in the woods waiting to kill me?'

Dennis's features clouded. 'Some day soon it will again be real between us, but until then, you are safe in my company. But while marching with my command in the woods I expect you to be of some help, at least.'

'Who held the centre of the trail in our final retreat, Hartraft?'

'The next fight might be different – a running battle through the forest – and there it's archery and stealth that counts.'

Asayaga held up his hand motioning Dennis to silence. 'This argument is ridiculous,' he hissed. Drawing his blade, he turned and went to the stag, which was still kicking weakly, and knelt by its side.

He lowered his head, whispered a prayer and then drew the blade across the dying beast's throat. Its kicking weakened and then finally stopped.

'A dumb beast suffering needlessly tends to divert me,' Asayaga said coldly, looking up at Dennis.

Dennis knelt beside Asayaga without comment, and started to gut the animal.

'Why have you taught me this?' Asayaga asked.

'What?'

'How to hunt.'

'We need food, and also, when we face the Dark Brotherhood again, I need you to understand our tactics.'

'No. I see it as foolish of you.'

'Why?'

'I am your enemy, Hartraft. In the month that we've been here I've observed you. You have taught me skills I never knew before. It makes me even more dangerous to you now.'

Dennis leaned back, his hands covered in blood, and laughed.

'You, dangerous? I'll give you a half hour to go hide, then we can have our fight. You'll be dead before the hour is finished.'

'When we fight it will be in challenge, as you agreed, in the open, before our men.'

'Why? That gives you the advantage. Let's do it in the woods instead.'

'And give you the advantage?' Asayaga replied with a laugh. 'We agreed to an open challenge, blade on blade.'

'I don't quite remember it that way.'

'Are you calling me a liar?' Asayaga barked, and he stood up, reaching to his side, but his sword was back in the long house, with all the rest.

Dennis shook his head. 'No, I am not calling you a liar, Asayaga.' He motioned for the Tsurani to sit back down. 'We have to settle how this will be fought.'

'Our pledge is binding, it is to be a duel in the open.'

'All right then,' Dennis replied wearily, 'let it be swords, in the open, witnessed by all our men.'

Asayaga, gave an angry grunt. He watched as Dennis effortlessly gutted the animal. 'You've lived all your life in the woods, haven't you?' he asked at last.

Dennis nodded, saying nothing.

Asayaga leaned back, looking past him. It had been clear for over a week and there was even a hint of warmth in the afternoon air, sunlight sparkling though the trees, catching the snow still clinging to the branches so that it seemed as if the trees were garlanded with baskets of diamonds. 'Where I lived the woods were dank jungle. I always hated them, they seemed so dangerous, foreboding. The sunlight never shone there, and deadly serpents and stalkers lurked within.'

'Stalkers lurk here too,' said Dennis.

'Such as you.'

'Yes.'

Asayaga nodded. 'Yes, but it's different. If there was no war, this would be a good place. Sheltered in winter, the fields look fertile, the game is rich. It could be a good life here.'

'If there was no war…' Dennis hesitated. 'Yes, it could be.'

'Was your home like this before the war?'

'Don't ask me about my home, Asayaga.'

'Sorry. I did not mean to bring the return of unpleasant memories.'

There was silence for several minutes as Dennis finished his job, putting the heart and liver back inside the hollowed-out carcass, then washed his blade and hands with snow. 'It was like this place,' he said softly, almost as if speaking to himself. 'Our valley had good land, by midsummer the grain stood waist-high and there was more than enough for all: even the poorest of my father's tenants ate well, had a dry roof over his head, and a warm fire in the winter.' He sat back, absently wiping his hands on his stained trousers. 'The great forest was thick with game. My father – and when he still was able, my grandfather as well – we would go hunting together and when we returned there would be a feast and all in the keep joined us. The feasting would last for days, especially the great Midwinter festival like the one we celebrated two weeks ago. My grandfather had an old retainer named Jocomo who would dress up as Father Winter and come riding into the courtyard with a bag of sweets for the children.' With a faint smile Dennis added, 'He always said that the wolves who pulled his sleigh were ill, which is why he had to borrow one of grandfather's horses and each year when I was a child I would believe him. Anyone who came to our door was given a place at our table and my grandfather would insist that before we of title ate, those who served or were visitors must eat first.'

'Your people loved him, then?'

'Who could not?' Dennis said wistfully. 'He always distrusted the high nobles in the great halls to the east, far away in Rillanon and Salador, where it was safe, saying that they had forgotten why we existed, that our duty was first and foremost to protect those in our charge, and not the other way around.'

Asayaga sat silent, saying nothing, and after a while Dennis went on.

'Yes, he was loved. I remember when I was a boy, maybe eight summers old. I told a stable boy to polish the silver trim on my saddle and came out to find him asleep, the silver still unpolished and in my childlike rage I struck him.' Dennis shook his head. 'My grandfather saw this.'

'And he beat you?'

'No,' and Dennis. 'He said nothing, but the following morning, hours before dawn, he dragged me out of my bed, pushed me down the stairs and threw me into the stable and told me to muck it out.'

'How I cried bitter tears, with him standing there glaring at me, not saying a word. After I mucked out the stables, I fed all the horses, then had to walk them, then oil the harnesses, before I could eat breakfast. Then I had to groom every horse, help the blacksmith with shodding, then help to bring in the hay; and thus I worked the whole day, and every day like that for a week. I ate in the stables and collapsed into exhausted sleep in the stables. The humiliation was the hardest part to bear, for all in the keep knew, and all treated me no longer as if I was the grandson of the Baron, but was just a common stable boy.' He smiled. 'The boy I struck secretly helped me in spite of my grandfather's orders for him to take the time off and go hunting and use my horse. Lars was his name and he became one of my closest friends after that.'

Dennis sighed and looked over at Asayaga. 'Lars was killed the night the keep fell, standing by my grandfather's side.'

He turned away from Asayaga, not wanting the Tsurani to see his emotion. 'There was a story how a new man-at-arms -' he whispered, his voice distant and haunting, '- just a boy, fell asleep on watch one night. He awoke to find my grandfather standing above him, in the driving snow, having taken his place in the sentry-box.'

'Did he hang him?' Asayaga asked. 'That is our punishment.'

'It is ours as well, but not that night. The terrified boy begged forgiveness and my grandfather raised him to his feet. "You not only failed me," my grandfather said, "you failed your family whom I nevertheless protected while you slept. You were all that stood between your mother and danger this night and you failed her far more than you failed me. Now go back to your mother and when you are finally man enough to take the responsibilities of a man you may return to the service of our people. I will serve out the remainder of your watch."'

Asayaga smiled.

'That boy, years later, was my trainer and the sergeant of this company."

'Jurgen?'

Dennis simply nodded and looked away. 'It was a good place, our valley. The border marches were quiet: sometimes a year or more would pass without a single clash with renegades. At times we would see an eledhel or even a dwarf come to our keep for a night's shelter and a place by the fire.' There was a long pause. Then: 'Old Wolfgar,' and Dennis smiled, chuckling softly, 'before he had his run-in with the king, was often at our table. He favoured my grandfather more than any other duke or baron though they would pay him more for a song in their honour than grandfather would. 'You see a bit of my grandfather in Wolfgar.'

Asayaga looked at him surprise.

'Beneath that obscene tongue there's his zest for life, his joy in watching a sunrise after a stormy night, his trading of a jest between friends, and his love of a good song: all things he shared with my family.' Dennis looked off as if Asayaga was not even there. 'The night my grandfather died, there was not a man among us who would not have died in his place. I wish I had…'

His voice trailed off for a moment.

'It was my wedding day, the assault coming just before dusk. Everyone from the village and the keep was in the great hall when one of the sentries came rushing in, screaming that an enemy host was attacking. Before we could even pick up our arms your men were already scaling the walls. Within minutes we lost the gate and the assault on the great hall began. We blocked the entryway, but you set the roof afire.'

Again there was a long silence.

'I should have died that night.'

'You didn't, though.'

Dennis looked over suspiciously at Asayaga.

'No insult, Hartraft. Fate decreed differently is all I mean.'

'My father and grandfather barricaded the main door, then both ordered Gwenynth and me to flee through the escape-way, saying that someone had to get help. I refused.' He stopped for a moment, looking up at the tree tops. 'Something struck me from behind. I always suspected it was Jurgen, although right up till his death he never admitted to the deed. I awoke outside the keep, with Jurgen and a few dozen of our men.'

'And Gwenynth?'

'She was kneeling over me, wiping my face when a bolt winged in from the dark.' He lowered his head. 'She died in my arms.'

'Hartraft, though my words might ring hollow, I am sorry. War should be an honourable affair between men who chose to fight.'

Dennis, head still lowered, snorted derisively. 'Tsurani, when was the last time you saw a city burn, or a village overrun by starving troops, or the body of a girl lying in the snow, the crossbow bolt in her back a blessed release from her agony?'

'I know,' Asayaga whispered. 'I know.'

'We knew that you, the Tsurani, were coming, but thought you were still days away. Gwenynth and I were pledged to marry and we changed the date to the night before my departure for the wars. My grandfather had patrols ranging forward to guard the passes into our valley and to give warning of any approach, but no warning ever came. How and why the patrol guarding the pass failed us I don't know.'

Asayaga stirred uncomfortably. 'I was not there, I have sworn that to you, Hartraft.'

Dennis nodded.

'And yet I heard something about it.'

'What?' Now his gaze was firmly locked on Asayaga.

'The attack-column found four of your men dead in the pass leading to your valley. I remember one of the Strike Leaders talking about it. He said one had a dagger in his back, the others no wounds, and he suspected poison.'

'I never heard this,' Dennis said coldly.

'I only tell you what I heard around a campfire long afterwards.'

Dennis sat wrapped in silence and Asayaga could see that this bit of news, which had waited for eight long years to be delivered, came as a profound shock.

'And this Strike Leader? Is he still alive?'

Asayaga shook his head. 'Dead. It's believed you killed him in one of your ambushes three years ago.'

'Good.' The single word was spoken with a cold icy satisfaction.

'It doesn't change what happened,' Asayaga said, and he struggled to control his own anger, for the commander of a hundred had been of his clan.

'To me it does.'

'And when you've killed the last Tsurani who was in that battle, then what? By the gods, they're likely all dead by now anyhow. Dead in battle, dead from the coughing sickness, frozen, drowned; or gone mad and wandered off into the forests. This war has claimed thousands of my people, Hartraft. When will you be satisfied that you are finished?'

'When we bury the last of you, or you finally flee.'

'We can't leave.'

'Why? The portal is open: just go.'

'Can you leave?'

'You're on our land, damn it!'

'Not because I want to be. Like you I have rulers above me. I'm here because my clan ordered it. Do you think I want to be here? You Kingdom soldiers do not even have the faintest glimmer of an idea about all that is behind this. You have no idea of the clans, of the rivalry, of what some call the Great Game, which is behind all of this madness. It goes far beyond you, me, our men, or even this war itself. Only an idealist would be stupid enough to believe that the purpose of this war is simply for us to conquer you. And I dare say that on your side there is more than one prince who would sell his own brother and the thousands who serve beneath him, if it could advance his own position in the game of kings.' Asayaga looked over at the stag, its eyes blank, the warmth already leaking from its body.

'We are all pawns, Hartraft, all of us.' And as he spoke, Asayaga felt shame for allowing his bitterness to show.

Dennis looked at him and then slowly nodded his head. 'But your family is safe while mine is dead, my land occupied, my keep in ruins: that is the difference between us, Tsurani.'

'And are you dead as well, Hartraft?'

Dennis stared at him. 'Don't try to get into my soul, Asayaga. You are not my friend, I do not seek your advice. The last one I would allow near me died last month, a Tsurani spear tearing out his heart.'

'I heard Jurgen was a fine warrior: I heard how he saved that young soldier, the one who helps the priest.'

'Not much of an exchange.'

'For the boy it was. He'll carry that for the rest of his life.'

'I hope so.'

'Three times I've had men step in front of me to take an arrow, or a blade that would have killed me. I carry their souls with me.'

Asayaga's voice was heavy. 'That is the nature of war, and the love men have for each other in war. In the retreat to this place I saw one of your men risk his life to save one of mine.'

'That does not mean anything. The heat of battle, nothing more.'

'I wonder.'

'I dislike idealists as much as you do, Asayaga. Don't read more into it than that. I sit beside you now because I must.'

'I don't want to be your friend either, Hartraft. I don't befriend those without souls. We are men and as men we admit that vengeance has its place, but to live for that and nothing else? It's not much of a life, Hartraft, not one that I want any part of.'

He said the last words sharply, staring directly into Dennis's eyes and for once he sensed he had hit a mark with this man, for Dennis lowered his gaze. There was a moment of awkward silence between the two men, which was broken at last by the sound of approaching horses. Dennis tensed, hand instinctively reaching to his bow, but Asayaga had already caught a glimpse of the party riding towards them and he stood up.

Alyssa, long white cape flowing, reined in, a moment later followed by Roxanne with her father riding beside her.

Asayaga saw the flicker in Alyssa's eyes and in spite of his struggle for reserve he knew that his tension in her presence showed. The game between them had been going on for weeks, barely a word spoken, but always the veiled glances, the momentary smile, and then almost a studied indifference.

'Your first stag?' Roxanne asked as she dismounted and walked up to the animal to study it.

'How did you know it was me?'

'Both of you left with a dozen arrows in your quivers and, Tsurani, you now have eleven.'

Wolfgar laughed. 'Times I think she should have been born a man!'

She looked back at her father disdainfully.

'A good kill,' Roxanne observed, 'put him on my horse.'

Without comment, Dennis hoisted the animal and laid it across the haunches of the horse which pranced nervously at the scent of blood until Roxanne went back and with a firm hand on the bridle, stilled the animal.

'You should not be out riding,' Dennis said, looking over at Wolfgar.

The old man coughed, leaned over in his saddle and spat. 'The day is warm enough. I can't stay cooped up forever. Damn me, if the ride is the end of my life here, well I can only think of a couple of better ways to die, and the preferred method of my leaving is one I will not discuss in front of my daughters, so shut up and stop trying to nurse an old man.'

He leaned over and gently swatted Dennis across the back of the head.

Asayaga watched the exchange and saw the look in Dennis's eyes, a momentary warmth for an old lost friend, an absent reaching out to pat Wolfgar on the knee. He could also see Roxanne watching the two of them, but Dennis did not notice, his gaze had shifted instead to Alyssa.

Asayaga felt a surge of jealousy and it bothered him. Alyssa had, throughout their stay, remained aloof, bearing herself like a princess of the court, required to entertain guests, but obviously feeling that one worthy of her attention had yet to arrive. But at this moment, as she gazed upon him, he wondered. She wore the hint of a smile at Dennis's attention and then she edged her horse away. She turned as she did so, and looked down at Asayaga.

'A feast tonight, Asayaga, in honour of your first kill. That is an old tradition.'

He bowed formally. 'We cannot tonight, my lady. The fasting for the Day of Atonement begins at sundown and lasts till sundown tomorrow.'

'What is this?' Wolfgar asked.

'Our tradition on the feast day of the god Hilio, the Judge of Life. It is a day set aside for fasting, meditation, and the seeking of atonement for the wrongs committed over the last year.' He ventured a slight smile at Alyssa. 'I'm not entirely sure this is the right day, for I have lost some count of time since we encountered Dennis's forces, but I believe it to be close enough. On our world, it is celebrated with the first rising of the new moon after midwinter. I think the god will be tolerant.'

'Then when your fasting is done,' Alyssa offered.

'I thank you, my lady.'

'You may choose who shall sit by your side.'

He smiled. 'Then of course, my lady, I will ask that it be you.'

She laughed softly. 'I am honoured.'

She turned away, but as she did so, her eyes stayed on him and he felt his heart freeze. It was the subtle sign he had heard poets speak of, the gaze of a woman over her shoulder, the looking back with eyes half-lowered, the indicator that she was indeed interested in him.

In the nine long years he had been trapped on this world not once had he known such a moment. Like any of the men of his unit he had turned more than once to the camp followers, but that was a deed of the moment, something without meaning. This was different and he wondered if here was someone who could touch his heart after so many years of loneliness.

The moment vanished like smoke as she slowly trotted away, nonchalantly calling for her father to ride back to the stockade.

'I'll come back when I'm damn good and ready,' Wolfgar growled, but even as he spoke his gaze was on Asayaga.

Asayaga looked around, wondering if Dennis and Roxanne had sensed the moment as well and knew that they had. And then he wondered if Alyssa was simply playing a game of flirtation and that he was reading far too much into what had just happened. Yet he could sense coolness on the part of Dennis, and an almost amused disdain from Roxanne as she lightly sprang into the saddle and set off after her sister, leaving the three men alone.

Wolfgar watched as the two girls wove through the trees and down the slope, disappearing from view. Asayaga could sense the intense love the old man felt, for a bit of a wistful smile lit his features as if he were remembering something from long ago. He sighed and looked back to see that the two men were watching him and that he had been caught off guard.

'A favour to ask,' the old man sighed.

'Anything,' Dennis replied.

'Keep an eye on them.'

'Of course.'

'No, I don't think you fully understand. We both know what will happen here soon. Your foes will not leave you here in peace. I would suspect that even now they have watchers on the northern passes.' As he spoke he pointed to where, through the trees, the distant peaks that rimmed in the valley were clearly visible. The tallest of the pinnacles trailed a wispy streamer of clouds. 'If they don't today, they will have them there by the time you're ready to leave.'

'I have my patrols out,' Dennis replied. 'The approaches you told me to picket are watched.'

'Even your patrols will not see everything,' Wolfgar replied.

'It could be weeks yet, perhaps not until spring,' Asayaga ventured.

'Let's hope so,' Wolfgar replied. 'I'd like things here to last a bit longer. I've had nearly twenty good years in this valley. A strange place for me, who was once the toast of the royal court, to spin out his days.' He laughed and shook his head. 'The first few years hiding here, I thought I'd go mad with it. A bunch of drunken louts to sing my ballads to. Oh, they thought me amusing enough – if they hadn't, someone would have slipped a dagger between my ribs, in-laws are like that. But the years spun out, my two little ones grew, became young ladies and now…"

His voice trailed off and he lowered his head. Asayaga was startled to see tears in the old man's eyes.

'You don't realize just how quickly the years pass until it happens to you. Someone of your years still thinks there's all the time in the world. Then one day you awake and you see the first wisps of grey in your beard, but you still feel strong enough, you can still tumble a wench and make her laugh come morning, you still think you have the entire world.'

'Then, one day, the girls you once so eagerly pursued, why, they are off chasing boys who seem like children to you, for in fact they are children compared to you!'

'You still have the fire in you,' Asayaga offered, smiling.

Wolfgar held out a trembling hand. 'I can barely hold my feasting cup without it slopping over me: it's been years since I could curl these fingers around a lute, let alone around the plump backside of any of the serving-girls. So don't lie to me, lad, though I bless you for trying.'

Wolfgar's gaze lingered on the mountain tops.

'They'll come over that pass. It's hard to defend, too broad at the top. When they hit, take the pass to the west; I doubt if they know of it. Roxanne can guide you. Take everyone with you.'

'You'll guide us,' Dennis offered, a note of concern in his voice.

Wolfgar shook his head. 'My last wife is buried here. My happiest memories are of this place. No, I think I'll stay.'

'No.' Dennis snapped the one word out, his voice filled with bitterness.

Wolfgar leaned back over, his trembling hand resting on Dennis's shoulder. Asayaga could see the sudden anguish in Dennis and understood. Here was a man who had no one, who thought himself completely alone, and then by the pure randomness of fate had rediscovered a long-lost friend from his childhood. It would be even harder to lose him again.

'You know it must be,' Wolfgar offered. 'I would only slow you down and the first night in the cold would most likely kill me anyhow. I'd prefer to die in my own feasting hall, my written ballads spread on the table before me, a good cup of mead in my hand.'

Dennis, sensing Asayaga's gaze, turned away, head lowered. 'Yes,' he whispered. 'You're right, damn it. I'm sorry we ever found this place.'

'I'm not. The war is spreading this way. Things in the north are stirring. It would have only been a matter of time before they came here. I think it a blessing. I know my girls will be safe, the other women and children as well. That was what I have been worried about ever since the men of this place disappeared.' Wolfgar patted him on the shoulder. 'That's why I ask you to protect my girls. I know what happens with girls who march with soldiers. I want better for them than that.'

He looked over at Asayaga.

'No offence meant.'

'And none taken. You speak as any father would and I swear my oath to you that I shall protect their honour with my sword and life.' As he spoke, Asayaga drew his hunting dagger and turned it so that the hilt was pointed towards the old man, thus showing his pledge-bond. Wolfgar smiled and bowed formally from the saddle, revealing for a moment the training and breeding of old when he had performed in the courts of kings.

'I know what the two of you intend to do once you're free of pursuit: to take up your old war again. If the two of you are fate-doomed to do that, I ask that you pledge before each other now that whoever survives will see my girls to safety, to somewhere beyond the wars.'

Dennis's eyes which had softened for a moment, now glazed over again into hardness.

'I pledge it,' Dennis said without enthusiasm and Asayaga did likewise.

Wolfgar noisily cleared his throat and wiped his eyes. 'Foolish tears of an old man,' he said huskily.

He reined his mount around and motioned for the two to fall in by his side. Together they started down the slope to the stockade walking in silence.

The afternoon was getting late, the sun starting to slip behind the western mountains, the long shadows of the peaks spreading out across the valley. Off to his left Asayaga could see another hunting party coming in, several Kingdom archers followed by half a dozen Tsurani, a couple of his men armed with bows as well.

The gates of the stockade were open and the bath-house constructed by Asayaga's men within days after their arrival was a hive of activity, smoke billowing from the chimney, a swarm of naked men spilling out of the doorway, laughing, jumping into the slushy snow; Gregory, who looked almost bearlike in their midst, bellowing from the shock. The Kingdom men were all from the north and the ritual of a snow roll after a midwinter's bath had caught on with the Tsurani. The Kingdom men seemed to be on the verge of addiction to the Tsurani tubs. Unlike Kingdom bathing, where you'd sit in a tub while someone else poured water over your head – often cold – the Tsurani had built large round wooden tubs, large enough to hold half a dozen people each. The water was warmed ingeniously, by heating up large rocks and lowering them into the water in a metal cage, over and over, until the water seemed to be on the verge of scalding.

Dennis had almost ordered the project halted when a few of the rocks had exploded upon heating, but Asayaga had insisted it was a common problem on his homeworld and that no one would be in danger once the rock had survived the first heating.

Dennis felt no pleasure at the sight of the cavorting men. The Tsurani had no shame, he had come to learn, and bathed openly in front of others, men or women, and his Marauders were becoming equally uninhibited. He did not consider this a good thing.

Other men piled into the bath-house, hanging up their tunics on pegs hammered into the outside wall, then sitting on the steps to pull off their foot-wrappings or boots before venturing in.

'I still say it's dangerous,' Wolfgar grumbled. 'All that hot water opens up the skin so evil vapours can get in and make you sick.'

'How many of your men have boils?' Asayaga asked, looking over at Dennis.

'I don't know. A dozen or so.'

'Diseases of the skin, you Kingdom soldiers are riddled with it. You're the filthiest people I've ever laid eyes on. How often do you bathe? Once a year whether you need it or not?'

'Like Wolfgar said, it's unhealthy. It's fine for women but they're different.'

Asayaga laughed and shook his head. 'Try it with me.'

'What?'

'The bath. Yes, you, Hartraft: or are you afraid?'

Wolfgar threw back his head and laughed. 'He's got you.'

'We don't have much time before evening parade, so will you?'

'Getting the dirt off you might make Alyssa notice you,' Wolfgar interjected with a grin, 'or even Roxanne.'

As if the mention of their names was a summons, the two daughters, along with several of the women of the stockade, came out of the gate wrapped in heavy towels, laughing and pointing at the men cavorting in the slush. The sight of them caused the Kingdom soldiers to scramble, running up to grab their tunics and pull them on, a sight which made Asayaga burst into laughter since the short jackets barely covered their backsides. Gregory, grinning, took his time, waving casually to the girls. The Tsurani nodded politely, but made no attempt to hide their nakedness.

Wolfgar urged his mount forward and rode up to his daughters, but it was obvious within seconds that whatever his objections the women were going into the sauna.

'If it wasn't his daughters going in there,' Asayaga ventured, 'I dare say that old man would go in as well, and it wouldn't be so he could get clean.'

Dennis actually smiled.

'Well, Hartraft,' Asayaga asked, 'are you going in?'

'What? Now?' He looked over at Alyssa who was sitting on the steps, pulling off her boots.

'Yes, now. Back home men and women bathe together all the time.'

'I don't know. These are respectable girls, they're my friend's daughters.'

'The others aren't?' Asayaga laughed at Dennis's discomfort. 'The women here have been doing this since we built the bath. They understand the customs.'

'Still.'

The serving-girls led the group in, Roxanne and Alyssa following, and as the door closed again Alyssa gave him that backward glance. 'Well, if you aren't, I am,' Asayaga announced, and heading over to the rough-hewn platform in front of the sauna he casually started to disrobe.

Dennis slowly walked over.

'If I hear of anything going on in there -' Wolfgar announced.

'It won't be your daughters,' Asayaga replied. 'I made my pledge. But as for the others, old man, think of all that you are missing.'

Wolfgar grinned slyly. 'Oh, you don't know if I've missed it or not!' Laughing, he reined his horse around and rode back into the stockade.

Stripping naked, Asayaga hung up his tunic, trousers and foot-wrappings and leaned his bow and quiver against the log wall. Even as he did so he had a sudden sharp memory of home, of the bath-house in his village, a beautiful place for the baths were the centre of any town and as such a place of pride for the villagers. It was built of the best stone, fine grained marble offset with lovely blue tiles, with hot and cold baths, hot-air rooms and steam, then afterwards you could lounge on the deck overlooking the sea and sip warm tea. His father's estate had large bathing tubs, of course, but as a boy Asayaga had preferred bathing in the village. Men and women might bathe without modesty, but a adolescent boy was an adolescent boy, he remembered with mild amusement. He had met his first lover at the bath, a girl who regarded him boldly, even though he was the son of a noble.

He looked around, aware again of just how alien this world was: the forest, snow-capped mountains; the marble and tiles replaced by logs with the bark still on them, the cracks between them chinked with dried mud and straw.

And yet, if given a choice at this moment, he wondered if he could return. In spite of all that he knew would transpire in the days ahead, at this moment he felt completely free. The Great Game, at least for now, was far away. Granted there was still his lieutenant Sugama to contend with, but ever since their arrival in Wolfgar's valley, Sugama had been relatively quiet, his embarrassment on the first night's feast having silenced him. There was no commander above him, no one from another clan maneuvering to get him killed or humiliated. He was free.

He looked over at Dennis who was slowly, and none too eagerly, removing his jacket to reveal a sweat-stained undershirt that was ragged and grey with filth. Yes, Hartraft was the enemy, and in the ways of war and killing with stealth he was indeed frightful and unrelenting. But he was also straightforward and without guile in his dealings. He would find the Great Game inconceivable. There was no hidden meaning within meanings, no subtlety within him; if he planned to kill someone he said so, then did it. He did it remorselessly, and without feeling, but he did it while looking his opponent in the eye.

As Dennis pulled off his shirt Asayaga was surprised by the scars that laced Hartraft's slender frame. A pink knot just below his left collarbone, from either an arrow or a rapier wound looked barely healed. As he pulled off his trousers Asayaga could see where his left calf had been sliced nearly in half, most likely a blow from someone down on the ground, and there was another wound on the thigh, a bolt apparently having gone clear through his leg.

'You've been cut up as well,' Dennis said, as if reading Asayaga's thoughts, and pointed to the white knot of a scar on the Tsurani's chest.

Asayaga nodded. 'An arrow at the Battle of Walinor. Went clean through me,' and he half-turned to show the exit wound.

'Better when they do, digging an arrow out of the chest, it usually kills a man. You're lucky to have survived it.'

'We have some good healers, better than the priest even.'

'Corwin? He's all right, or at least I think he is.'

Asayaga sensed something. 'You think he is?'

'Nothing, at least not for now.'

Asayaga nodded. From inside the bath-house laughter echoed.

'Ready for this, Hartraft?'

Dennis seemed unsure of himself and Asayaga felt a momentary pleasure in that. It was good to see the legendary Hartraft off balance, even if it was over nothing more than walking naked into a steamy room with women present.

'Don't worry,' he offered finally. 'The custom when women are present is for everyone to keep a small towel on for modesty. You'll find them inside the door. So let's go.'

Leading the way, Asayaga stepped inside and then broke into a grin. His men had constructed this bath-house, and had introduced the locals to the custom… but they had obviously not instructed anyone on the finer points of etiquette.

This should be interesting, he thought with a grin as he found a bench close to the steaming rocks then settled back to watch Hartraft's reaction. It was obvious, the moment the Kingdom soldier came through the door and reached for the small towel that wasn't there that Dennis would have been far more comfortable in the middle of a battle.

Sitting back, all Asayaga could do was to shake his head in amusement. He motioned to a corner where towels and clothes had been piled, and Hartraft hurriedly grabbed one and covered himself. Dennis's discomfort had allowed the Tsurani Force Commander a momentary distraction. Now as he settled down to bathe himself, Asayaga had to fight to maintain his composure. Alyssa sat back in the nearest tub, her arms resting on the sides of the wooden tub, regarding Asayaga with a clear gaze and a slight smile on her lips.

Struggling to remember his pledge, he used a bucket and tepid water to soap up and clean himself off.

To Dennis, Asayaga said, 'It is easier when someone else scrubs your back. I will show you.' He made Dennis turn around, and he rubbed at the man's back, appalled at the dirt that was washed away. When he was done, he handed Dennis a clean cloth. Dennis returned the courtesy, though Asayaga thought Dennis's prior experience in giving a bath must have been to his favourite hound or a horse. Still, Tsurani impassivity prevented complaint.

When they were both clean, Asayaga said, 'It is best to enter the water quickly. It will seem hotter than it is, because we have been cold so long.'

With that, he dropped his towel, and boldly climbed into the tub to settle in with a deep sigh of contentment opposite Alyssa. He had seen naked women many times before, and the lure of a woman had not struck him with such force since he had been a very young man.

Her breasts were neither small nor large, but rather they seemed in balance for her size, and he had a great deal of trouble not staring at them.

He was saved from disgracing himself when Dennis entered the water. Then, with a yelp like a scalded dog, he leapt out of the tub. 'Are you mad? That water's near to boiling!'

Roxanne looked at Dennis with open amusement. 'Yes, hero. We are all being finely boiled.'

Alyssa laughed. 'You're too hard on the man, sister.'

'Oh, I like a hard man, well enough, but I don't think our captain is quite what I had in mind.' She stared openly at Dennis's crotch while her sister covered her mouth and tried to hide her laughter.

Dennis's pride was injured. He realized that if these two girls and the other women of the compound could endure the heat, so could he. He ignored Roxanne's barb and moved to the edge of the tub.

With jaws clenched he stepped back into the tub and for a moment it seemed he would leap out again. Beads of perspiration appeared on his brow, then ran down his face as he sat back next to the Tsurani.

He felt tense at first, but as the minutes passed he seemed to gradually relax, stretching his legs out, and letting the heat sink into his bones. The two sisters had their heads together, whispering, and Asayaga seemed to be looking everywhere in the room except at Alyssa. Dennis let his mind wander and after a moment found himself startled by the rattle of metal. He looked around in surprise to find one of Asayaga's men loading red-hot stones into a basket.

He watched as the soldier pulled out a basket on a chain, then lowered the fresh one in, the red rocks filling the room with yet more steam.

'This strikes me as a bit strange,' Dennis finally said, 'but it's not… unpleasant.'

Asayaga laughed. 'You barbarians.'

'Us barbarians?' There was a defensive note in his voice.

'Please, Hartraft. We have a custom in steam-houses.'

'Like the towels for modesty?' Dennis whispered pointedly.

Asayaga could see just the slightest flicker of a grin. 'Well, I think my men forgot about that. But as I was saying, the custom is that all arguments must be left at the door of the baths. Even the bitterest of foes will swim in the same pool and breathe the same steam and be allowed to do so in peace.'

Dennis leaned back and closed his eyes, breathing deeply.

'A good custom,' he whispered at last and Asayaga smiled.

'Tell me, Hartraft,' said Roxanne. 'Have you anyone waiting for you back at your camp?'

Dennis's eyes narrowed and he said bitterly, 'No.'

Roxanne studied his face and appeared on the verge of saying something. Her mouth turned up at the corner in a slight smirk he had seen before in advance of a caustic remark, but as it appeared she was about to speak, she sat back, remaining silent. She continued to stare at him for another minute, then softly she said, 'I'm sorry for your loss.'

Dennis didn't know what to say. He stared back at her, their eyes locking for a moment. Something about this woman irritates me, he thought, and in an attempt to put aside that irritation, he sank back against the side of the tub and closed his eyes.

Against every expectation, Dennis discovered after a few minutes of sitting there with his eyes closed that he was enjoying the hot soak. Relaxing further, he realized with a start some time later he had dozed off.

The girls had departed and Asayaga said, 'Are you rested?'

Dennis wiped his hand over his face and said, 'As it stands, yes.' He seemed surprised.

'See, there are things you can learn from us, Hartraft.'

Dennis stood up and grabbed a towel. After the hot water, the room felt chilled. 'You do this a lot?'

'Every chance I get,' said Asayaga, as he also dried himself off. The last two Tsurani soldiers were leaving and as Dennis followed, he said, 'I think I might like to try this again.'

Outside, they dressed quickly, for if the hot bath-house had felt chilled, the freezing snow was brutal to Dennis. As he donned his tunic he said, 'What's that smell?'

Asayaga laughed. 'That's the stink you carried around with you. Now that you're clean, you notice it.'

Dennis stopped putting on his tunic. 'I have another in my field kit,' he said. Refusing to acknowledge his discomfort at being bare-chested, he said, 'I guess I should have these washed.'

Asayaga nodded. 'You'll find your men take ill less often if they keep clean. I do not know why this is so, but it is.'

As he moved away from the bath-house, Dennis saw four Tsurani erecting poles in the compound, each forming the corner of a square. Others were bringing wood and piling it in the centre of the square. He glanced at Asayaga.

'The rite of Atonement is tonight.'

As if that explained it, thought Dennis, now anxious to put on his clean tunic. He hurried to the building where he housed with Sergeant Barry and a half dozen other men, and found his kit bag.

He pulled a tunic out and noticed with disappointment that it was barely cleaner than the one he wore, but he put it on anyway, and decided he would ask one of the women to wash his remaining clothing in the morning.

He thought back with some bitterness to his childhood, for clean clothing had always been provided. And despite what Asayaga said, his family bathed every week during the winter, more often in the hot months. To himself he admitted that years in the field had made him a coarse and dirty man.

Outside, he heard the sound of chanting and realized it must be the Tsurani. He decided to go and sort out his clothing now, rather than watch this rite.

Tinuva watched with interest as the Tsurani first built a small fire and then lined up for their ceremony. Asayaga, followed by Sugama and the other Tsurani were formed up in a line, weapons conspicuously absent. They watched the sun lower in the west, and chanted softly. When at last the sun was behind the western mountains, Asayaga moved forward to the first pole, which Tinuva noted was the easternmost, bowed his head, and said something softly. He moved to the northern pole and repeated the gestures.

The western and southern poles followed; then he paused before the fire. He held out his hand and let a piece of material fall into the flames. He bowed once more then came to stand next to Tinuva.

Without taking his eyes off the ceremony, Tinuva asked, 'What is it you ask your god?'

Asayaga said, 'We ask Hilio, who judges men in life, to forgive us our shortcomings. Each man will repeat the request, at each of the poles, representing the four directions, for no man knows where Hilio may be. It is hoped that when we are free of this mortal life, Hilio will intercede with Sibi, She who is Death, to look upon us with mercy. We also ask Hilio to give us the strength to forgive those who have wronged us in the past year, to let others make atonement to us.'

Tinuva said nothing for a while, then: 'A friend once said no mortal being is without flaw.'

Asayaga said, 'This is true. And there is wisdom in knowing this. It will be a quiet night, for meditation and fasting. No man may touch food or wine until the sun sets tomorrow night.'

Tinuva said, 'A feast?'

Asayaga nodded. 'Always.'

'Then come hunting with me after your Day of Atonement, Asayaga.'

'I went hunting with Hartraft today.'

'So I have been told.' With a slight smile, Tinuva said, 'I shall be a far more patient teacher, and I will show you things even Dennis doesn't know.'

Asayaga allowed himself a rare smile. 'It would be good to know some things Dennis doesn't know.'

The elf returned the smile, briefly then leaned back against the support post and watched the rest of the ceremony.

A few minutes later Alwin Barry called for parade, and the Kingdom soldiers fell into formation. There was little military ceremony associated with the Marauders, but while in camp, Dennis insisted on morning muster and evening parade in order to keep some pretence of military discipline among the men.

Asayaga had answered by having his men join the parade every night and held a separate muster every morning. As the ceremony ended, the last of his men hurried to their positions under the watchful eye of Strike Leader Tasemu.

Barry glanced at his opposite number, and the two men began inspecting their respective commands. Asayaga said to Tinuva, 'Where is Hartraft? He has never missed a parade.'

He got his answer when Dennis came striding out of his quarters, his arms heavy with clothing, marching purposefully towards the washing hut. Both the Tsurani and Tinuva stood in stunned silence, then as the Captain of the Marauders vanished from sight, both broke out in open laughter.