Part 32 (2/2)

Tal came back to consciousness as water was poured over his face. He blinked and found John Creed kneeling over him, a ladle of water in his hand. The sounds of battle were absent. There was shouting, and some other noise, but no clash of arms, screams, or swearing.

”What happened?” he asked, trying to sit up. His head swam from the exertion.

”Easy,” said Creed as an Orodon woman helped Tal to sit up. ”You got knocked out by the backswing of a sword. The bloke who brained you was rearing back to hit me. Caught you with the flat, else you'd be sitting up in Lims Kragma's hall.”

At mention of the ill-fated deity, the Orodon woman said a word of prayer to appease the dark G.o.ddess.

”How long was I out?”

”Only a few minutes,” said Creed, helping Tal to his feet. ”Steady.”

Tal nodded and put his hand to his forehead. He could feel the b.u.mp rising and the tenderness told him he was indeed lucky to be alive. ”I'd rather be lucky than good,” he said, thinking of Pasko for the first time in months. He glanced around, ”It's over?”

”This time they broke for real. Most of the ones here threw down their weapons and begged for quarter. The rest broke outside the gate and were shot down by archers. A few made it to the trees and got away.”

”Raven?”

”He's riding south, I suspect, as fast as his horse can carry him.”

Tal looked around and details began to resolve themselves. A dozen enemies were on their knees, their hands tied behind their backs. The raiders' dead were being carried to a place near the gate and stacked like cordwood.

Several women were in tears, having found their husbands dead, and more than one man wept for a dead wife.

Jasquenel approached reverently. ”You have saved my people, Talon of the Silver Hawk.”

He spoke the Orodon language, so that John Creed didn't understand it, but he could sense the grat.i.tude in the man's voice.

”I helped to avenge my people,” Tal answered in the Orosini language. Then in the Common Tongue he said, ”I need a horse.”

”It will be done,” said Jasquenel. He shouted to a boy to fetch Tal a mount.

”What are you doing?” asked Creed.

”Going after Raven,” said Tal.

”You've been addled by that blow to the head. It's night, he'll have half an hour's start on you by the time you get out of here, and he's probably got some men riding with him.”

Tal nodded. ”I know, but I can track him.”

”Track him? At night in these mountains?”

Jasquenel looked at Creed. ”If he says he can track him, he can.”

”Should I go with you?” John Creed asked.

”No. You'll only slow me down.” Tal placed his hand on Creed's shoulder. ”Thank you for everything, John. I would not have been able to help these people without your guidance.”

”You're welcome, Tal. You have the makings of a fair captain. If you decide you'd like to run a company again, let me know. I'll always be willing to serve with a man who's not afraid to be in the van.”

”My mercenary days are over. This was a one-time thing. In the baggage wagon you'll find a small bag of gold coins. Divide it among the men as you see fit and keep some for yourself. Play captain long enough to get the lads back to Latagore, OK?”

”I can do that.” Creed motioned to the dozen prisoners. ”What do we do with them?”

”What do you normally do when opposing mercenaries surrender?”

”If it's up to us, we cut them loose with a parole they won't fight against us, but usually it's up to our employers.”

Tal turned to Jasquenel. ”These are the men who slew my people. They would have burned your homes and murdered your women and children without mercy. You decide.”

Jasquenel didn't hesitate. He simply looked at the warriors who guarded the prisoners and said, ”Kill them.”

Before the prisoners could attempt to stand, each man had his head yanked back and his throat cut.

Jasquenel looked at Creed and Tal and declared, ”It is just. They get mercy as they gave it.”

Creed looked uncomfortable, but he nodded. ”Not a lot of sentiment for Raven's crew out there, but some of the boys won't like it. We'd best be for the south come first light.”

The horse arrived and Tal said, ”I need a full waterskin.”

A woman ran to her hut and returned a moment later with a full skin. She also held up a bundle. ”Food, for the chase.”

Tal nodded. He gathered up his weapons-his sword and bow-and retrieved a full quiver of arrows. He waved, then put his heels to his horse's flanks, and headed out of the gate and into the night.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Hunt.

Tal halted.

He had pushed his horse through the night and let the animal have a short break. Since leaving the village of Queala he had dismounted three times to ensure that he wasn't losing Raven's trail.

As he had suspected, Raven chose speed over stealth and kept to the main trail south, the most direct route to the city of Coastal Watch. Tal looked to the east, where the rapidly approaching sun had turned the sky steel-grey, and knew that dawn was less than minutes away. He guessed that Raven would make camp and set up a sentry and rest before moving on, probably at mid-day. At least that's what Tal would do if he thought no one was following him.

He decided to take a short rest himself; then he would start down the trail slowly, looking for sentries or ambushes. He found a small, gra.s.sy clearing, less than two hundred yards across and perhaps twice that long, unsaddled the horse and staked her out with enough room to graze. Then he used the saddle for a pillow and lay down under a tree.

He monitored the position of the sun, then closed his eyes and fell into an exhausted sleep.

Two hours later, as he had planned, he awoke. The sun beat down with unexpected intensity for this time of the year. Tal could feel the air suck the moisture out of his skin even before perspiration could form. It would be hot and dry for days, if these mountains were anything like his homeland.

He saddled his horse and set off down the trail. After a while, he found a small brook and let the horse drink at it while he refilled his waterskin. Then he continued on. Half an hour later, he smelled campfire smoke.

<script>