Part 15 (1/2)

”Well, first of all, I have questions about the accu- racy of the Queen's figures, but that aside, I suspect that the rest have either gone to ground in an effort to con- fuse us, or are on their way south to join the main rebel band.”

”Could they have done that without your friend be- ing aware of it?”

”It's possible, though I should not like to think so.

It is also possible that they were sent south some months ago to train with the other forces.”

”I thought your informants were reliable,” Darius said irritably.

”Well, they're not professionals, if that's what you mean,” Otorin returned urbanely. ”The government of Arundel has no reason to plant spies in the household of a Paladinian n.o.bleman. The people I recruited are motivated by grievance and greed-a fairly reliable combination in my experience. Let us not forget, though, that Duke Paramin has been laying his plans for a very long time and that he is a very rich man.

There is no law that says that a man's declared retainers have to be kept on his own estates.”

”What I have to know to be able to formulate a strat- egy,” Darius said with studied resonableness, ”is if I must detach forces to protect against an attack from the south, or if I have to defend my back from Aber- corn.”

”If I were a wagering man, I would bet on the south.”

”So would I, but I can't just lift the siege and march away.”

”No, but you can appear to do it.” Otorin drew up a chair and looked at the maps. ”Bring down three hun-

80 dred men from the garrison at Gapguard,” he advised.

”Keep them hidden in the woods north of Upper Walt- ham, a.s.semble your men with panoply and march them away. If you're lucky, Bardolph will be tempted out and then your new rear guard can fall on him.”

Darius nodded. ”I'll send a cloudsteed to Gapguard with the orders. I think you should stay here and take charge of this end of the operation. That'll allow you to keep your lines of communication to Oxeter open.

I'll leave you two squadrons ofcloudsteeds.”

”I rather doubt that Queen Arabella would approve of that,” Otorin said.

Darius produced a rather wolfish grin. ”I have no intention of telling her. Have you? Besides, for all your theoretical knowledge, you've never actually had a field command, have you?”

”You are an exploitive, old b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you know that?”

”Yes, I do,” Darius said comfortably.

”I wish to go on record as officially protesting this high-handed action on the part of the General of the Paladinian Forces,” Otorin said formally, and then smiled.

”Your protest is noted and overruled,” Darius re- plied.

”In that case, I have no recourse but to accept. Now, I think you should leave the sappers here and you'll need a token force in front of both gates or he'll become suspicious.”

”Stop trying to teach your grandmother how to can- dle eggs,” Darius replied with high good humor. ”The orders have already been given.”

”You were that sure of me, were you?”

”Yes, 1 was,” Darius replied smugly.

”I'm losing my touch,” Otorin said in a mock grum- ble. ”Have you picked a spot for the battle?”

Darius stabbed a finger at the main map. ”They 81.

probably crossed the Salvant at Astly Bridge. From the description of their arrival at Aldersgrove, they must have spread out to forage. Not too much coordination between the commanders, I suspect, and scant discipline among the men.''