King's Dragon: Chronicles of the Dragon-Bound: Book 2 Page 16

  Dax sketched out his plan to the others. Mobility was the key. “We’ll get ahead of them and take a defensive position where it suits us.” He smiled. “They’ll have to come to us.”

  Markadamous looked thoughtful. “Where do you figure this will be?”

  “They know they’ve been discovered. If they are determined to keep going, they will pick up the pace of their march. With our best riders, I figure four days of hard riding will put us ahead of them. We would still be a good week’s ride north and east of the city.”

  Members of the group started to ask questions, but Dax held up a hand. He had more to say. “With what I’ve heard from our scouts, I’m pretty sure they haven’t seen our main body yet. Their line of march is southwest toward the capital.” He used his hands to illustrate the movements. “We’ll go due south far enough so they won’t see our dust, then parallel their line until we’re far enough ahead to cut west. We’ll be crossing mainly flat range land with some hills here and there. We’ll find a good spot and dig in front of them.” He smiled. “They’ll find us in a superior, fortified position. They won’t dare bypass us, because we would attack their rear.”

  Scarlet spoke up. “What happens then?”

  “They’ve shown their cards.” Dax shrugged. “If their commanding officer has any sense, they will head back the way they came tomorrow. The party that stays at this camp will be large enough to harry them and keep them honest if they try to make for the coast. They must have landed well east of the city and circled around north.” He shook his head. “I can’t figure why, but that’s the only how that makes sense.”

  His dragon anger flickering, Dax smiled grimly. “If they try to come through our main body, well, we’ll give them as much fight as they have the belly for.” The men smiled back, and a stir ran through the troops. The Ugori were fighters who had been training for a long time without the chance to bloody their swords. They were eager for a fight . . . and so was Dax.

  #

  The rest of the day was a blur of activity. Dax delegated as many of the details of organizing the parties as he could, but in the end it was his strategy to plan. He had to coordinate among all the groups to be sure they were all prepared for the same fight. By late afternoon they were ready. Dax led the main group out to intercept the Tharans. The rear guard remained in their fortified camp with an assignment to scout the area and be ready for the Tharans if they decided to return the way they had come.

  As they rode south, scouts brought reports back from the main body of Tharan troops. The Tharans knew they had been discovered, and they were moving faster. And they still marched toward Frohliem City and the heart of East Landly. Dax now knew they pursued a war party. The Ugori were ready for combat.

  They rode hard until after sunset, and they made a cold camp in the dark. Their first night supper was late, but the field kitchen had a ready meal. The cooks had prepared extra at the midday meal before they left. Tonight they ate leftovers. From now on, however, it would be dried rations along with hard riding. At first light they broke camp and rode until the sun was below the horizon again before stopping for the night. They did not fortify their camps, but they posted double guards. They had to travel fast to get ahead of the Tharans. The hill ponies were every bit as good as promised.

  Their second night out in pursuit of the Tharans, Dax called Skit with a whistle. The dragon-bound needed to know what was happening. Tharans kept popping up in suspicious places. If the previous signs had been the rustling of a snake in the underbrush, this incursion into East Landly was the buzz of a shaker-snake. Trouble was on the way.

  During the next day, the Tharans’ course started to bend toward the west. Since the Ugori would follow the Tharans, they would no longer be riding directly toward Frohliem City. That evening Dax sent a rider on to the city. The rider carried a written message to inform the city of the Tharan war party and what he and the Dark Horse Rangers were doing in response. Scarlet watched him write the note and asked, “Think that will do any good?”

  “I have my doubts.” Dax looked up and sighed. “But it’s the right thing to do.”

  “Sure, but your man is Ugori. Who’s he going to give the letter to?”

  Dax thought about the way he himself had been treated. “He’ll probably have to make an appointment,” he finally admitted.

  Scarlet scowled. “I wish I thought you were joking.”

  #

  Later that evening, Dax saw Scarlet and Pulla sitting at her father’s campfire while they ate. The two talked with their heads together, except moments when one or the other of them would throw their head back and laugh. Dax envied their happiness. He looked around the rest of the camp. How many of these good people will die? he wondered.

  Markadamous saw him brooding and waved him over to join them. “Sit down and eat, for goodness’ sake. You’ve trained ’em well. Stop worrying about the camp.”

  “You’re right enough,” Dax agreed. “There’s plenty more to worry about than soldiers who know their jobs.”

  “Which is why, if you’ve noticed, I’ve not uttered a word of complaint that it’s on your shoulders and not mine.” Markadamous grinned at him, and Dax had to smile back. “No,” he continued once Dax had seated himself, “those Tharans be a relatively small group, and we should thump them easily.”

  “I’m not really worried about that, although we’ve not trained on how to handle horses around their pikes.”

  “Well, that’s simple enough.” Markadamous waved a hand in dismissal. “Even our young babes know you don’t let them come near you with those oversized fish jiggers of theirs.”

  “The Ugori don’t lack for common sense,” Dax replied with a smile. “No, what really bothers me is the question of what the Tharans are doing here in the first place. Raiders don’t usually come this far into hostile territory. There’s nothing around here but cattle, and they don’t have a large enough raiding party to do serious damage to East Landly’s ranches. The farms are just too big and spread over too large an area.”

  Markadamous offered Dax a bowl of stew. “Maybe they just want to knock on the king’s back door?” he offered lightly.

  A prickle went down Dax’s spine. Markadamous casual comment had crystalized a guess at what the Tharans’ larger plan might be. Dax took the stew and asked, “What if they are there to guard the back door?”

  Scarlet had evidently been listening, because he took up the thought. “That means you’re thinking there will be someone knocking on the front door?”

  Dax nodded. “I think I need to send another message to Frohliem City at first light. The king needs to consider the possibility.”

  The circle around the fire was quiet for a time. Pulla put her hand on Scarlet’s arm. Scarlet put his hand on her hand, but he looked at Dax. “So this messenger can take his place in line behind your other messenger?”

  With a sigh Dax said, “No, I’m going to send Gearmic with his whole squad. As I understand it, he has the least-bad reputation with the lancers. Maybe someone will listen to him.” No one said anything else. They were all as skeptical as he that any warning they sent would be heeded. Dax had to focus on the Tharan party they were pursuing, but in his mind, a larger picture was taking shape.

  #

  In four days they were well ahead of the Tharans, but they had not found a suitable strongpoint. Next morning their luck changed. Scouts came back with news they had found a low ridge ahead running off to the northwest almost perpendicular to the Tharans’ path. At its southeastern end, the ridge terminated in a low, rocky tor—a natural strongpoint. Unless the Tharans were willing to go north, the ridge would turn them south toward the end of the ridge and the tor. Farther south of the ridge, a small river flowed from west to east, tracing a lazy arc around the end of the position.

  By midafternoon they were at the tor. Everyone worked to fortify the position. Dax sent scouting parties up and down the river, looking for fords. He did not know how much information the T
harans had about this territory. He did not want to be surprised if they knew a river crossing that would let them avoid his defended position. Once the first earthworks were finished, he started rotating the work crews to give them rest.

  #

  The next afternoon Dax stood atop the tor, looking down at their rude fort with satisfaction. It was strong enough for the job. More good news arrived that evening when the river scouting parties returned. The river had a broad, shallow ford south of their position, but it was the only crossing point, upstream or down, for a large body of men. The Tharans would have to go through them to get to the ford.

  Ugori scouts had seen the Tharans camped just a few hours’ march to the north. The Tharan war party had their own scouts out as well. They knew they were being watched. However, there was no sign they knew the Ugori were dug in and waiting for them just ahead. This night Dax ordered everyone to light fires and cook a good meal. If a battle was coming tomorrow, he wanted them well fed. But he also wanted to advertise his presence to the Tharans. There was still a chance their leader might want to avoid combat. Dax smiled, and a flicker of dragon anger made his heart pulse a little faster. But if the Tharans wanted to fight, this would be a good spot.

  At supper that evening, Dax expected to see the usual restless chatter and nervous energy among soldiers before a battle. Instead, the camp was as quiet as usual. He asked Markadamous about the restrained atmosphere in the camp. The big man shrugged. “Oh, they be excited in their own way, but most of the lads and lasses have seen a fair bit of fightin’. You know, a scrap here, there between clans. You’re not a real clan if ye don’t have at least one good blood feud.”

  “But no raiding in other kingdoms?”

  Markadamous smiled. “Well, now if you be talking about our youngsters’ high-spirited carrying-on . . .” The Ugori considered raiding into one of the Landlys almost a rite of passage.

  Dax smiled. “No matter how well trained they are, I like to go into battle with soldiers who have actually swung a sword in combat.”

  “Ain’t that the right of it.” Markadamous nodded. “No, they’re more like hill ponies brought in from pasture to haul the harvest. They know pretty much what’s comin’, and they just want t’get to it, and t’get done.”

  #

  At daybreak Dax sent a company across the ford to prevent any Tharans who got into the water from getting out on the other side. The Tharans’ dust cloud rose early in the morning sky. They had not seen any Tharan scouts during the night, but their position had certainly been reconnoitered.

  The main body of Tharans arrived before midday. Three mounted men rode in front of the ranks of marching men. The three horsemen trotted ahead toward the ridge and the Ugori fortification. Dax held his dragon anger tightly in check as he rode out to meet them with Scarlet and Markadamous at his side.

  The Tharan riders reined in ten yards short of where they waited. The leader raised his hand in greeting. “My name is Baldaras,” he called, “and I represent the free trading companies of Pompani. We seek safe passage to Frohliem City to complete our trading mission. I am carrying safe passage from the Falducci trading group of East Landly.”

  Dax turned to his companions and quietly said, “He lies.”

  Markadamous shrugged. “It’s a good thing the dragon-bound can be sure. Us not being a welcome part of East Landly society sort of puts us out of the know.”

  “Have either of you ever heard of the Falducci?” Dax asked. “There was something true in that part.”

  Scarlet spoke up. “I think I remember hearing the Falducci name while we were working with Carmodi, but I have no idea if they are a trading group or a traitorous group.”

  “My thought too,” Dax murmured. “Let’s string this out a bit and see where it leads.”

  Dax nudged his mount two steps forward. Now he addressed the Tharan leader. “Why did your men attack my party last week?”

  “Was that your party?” the man replied. “We were warned to be careful of bandits in this area, mostly thieving Ugori tribesmen.”

  Markadamous made a low growling grumble of noise deep in his throat, but the Tharan leader pretended not to notice. Dax kept his eyes on the Tharan. “At first sight, your men rode down on us with drawn weapons. Until that happened, we had not challenged or even drawn our weapons.”

  “Now, now, Captain. May I call you Captain, by the way?” When Dax did not reply, the Tharan leader gave a little cough and went on. “I most certainly apologize for my men’s vigilance, but your fighters came upon us most suddenly. What were they to do? Will your king be ready to pay reparations for the nine good men I lost to your raid?”

  Dax frowned. “Is your party prepared to compensate the king of East Landly for this intrusion into his kingdom?”

  The exchange of accusations and mild threats continued for several more minutes. Dax kept his building frustration in check. Suddenly he heard a clamor of noise from within the fortification. Dax glanced back. A shout rose above the tumult, “’Ware the riders on the west wall!” He looked back toward the Tharans. All three had turned and were galloping back to their lines, bent over their mounts and whipping them on.

  Dax smiled grimly. “Well, that conversation was boring anyway.” He nodded to his companions. “Shall we go see what is happening?”

  The wolfish gleam was back in Markadamous’s eyes. “I would be most happy to. For a time there, I thought ye were going to try to talk the poor bastard to death.”

  #

  Back inside their fortification, most of the Ugori carried on with business as usual. Dax headed toward the flurry of activity along the west wall. “Mr. Hald, your report?” he said to the Ugori officer in charge.

  “A band of about thirty riders took a poke at us,” Hald reported. “They charged the wall, but after we knocked the first six off their horses, they broke off.” He pointed to a group of riders trotting slowly along, parallel to the walls and just beyond bowshot.

  “Any casualties?”

  “One man took a spear in the leg. The rest are only scratches.”

  Dax glanced out at the riders again. “Good job to you and your men. Stay steady here. The main body should attack soon. They may try to probe our walls if we get distracted.”

  Hald nodded. “We can do steady.” He smiled, and Dax smiled back.

  The Tharans’ main attack came shortly. They swarmed toward the entrance gap in the north wall. Dax watched impassively. Unless something calamitous happened, there were not enough Tharans to threaten their fortification. The Ugori blocking the entrance and those lined up behind the wall took the first blow of the charge without breaking. The clash of swords and spears on shields punctuated the general crowd roar of shouting and swearing. A Tharan made it over the top of the wall and through the line, but a soldier in the second line stopped him with a sword blow to the Tharan’s shield. With his shield up to guard the sword, the Tharan was disemboweled by the knife in the Ugori’s other hand.

  Eight more Tharans managed to get past the first ranks of the defenders, but they came singly and were dispatched effectively before they could disrupt the Ugori defense. The momentum of the Tharan thrust slowed. Dax ordered a sortie from the group held in reserve on the east side. They clambered over the wall, formed up, and hacked their way into the Tharans’ flank.

  That was enough to put the Tharans to flight. Before they could scatter, Dax ordered his riders out to round them up. A group of mounted Tharans rode off to the northeast. The detachment of Ugori assigned to them followed in pursuit. The Ugori should ride the Tharans into the ground by evening and return with whatever prisoners they took tomorrow. The battle was over.

  #

  “I’ve been in worse bar fights.” Scarlet stood looking disgustedly at the Tharan prisoners lined up single file outside the rude stockade.

  Dax did not say anything. He watched as the Ugori went down the line, reliving the Tharan soldiers of their weapons and armor. The Tharan leader had already surrend
ered his sword. No, the Tharans had not been serious about the engagement. The attack against their west wall was a feint, and once the Tharans had tested their fortifications, judged the Ugori numbers, and probed their will, they seemed content to concede defeat. His dragon anger lingered, frustrated by the lack of Tharan blood. Dax fingered his sword.

  “So what do we do with them now?” Scarlet asked.

  Slaughter them all! his dragon rage cried silently inside his mind. Dax smiled calmly. “Now that we’ve captured them, we should march them back to Frohliem City and turn them over to the lancers.”

  “‘Should’? Not will?” Scarlet arched his eyebrows.

  Dax frowned. “I don’t like how they attacked and just surrendered.” He scratched at the matted hair at the back of his neck. He had removed his helmet when the fighting ended, but he had worn it most of the morning. Now his scalp itched. “If we march them down to Frohliem City, it will take us at least three weeks to get there.”

  “You’re too optimistic. If they want to slow us down, it could take twice as long.”

  “True.” Dax nodded. “I want us back at the city as soon as possible.”

  “You’re still thinking someone is going to come knocking on the king’s front door.”

  Dax nodded again. “And I’m thinking my warning will not be heard.”

  “So?”

  Dax answered Scarlet’s one-word question with his plan. “We ride for Frohliem City like the Dark One is on our heels.” He gestured to where the now-unarmed Tharans sat talking and ignoring the Ugori guarding them. “I don’t want to try to hold these Tharans here. Unarmed or not, they could still make trouble in the kingdom’s backyard.”