Part 16 (2/2)

”I noted what those were when we entered your palace,” Tenedos said. 'Tell me, O Achim, are you so afraid of the Tovieti you must haveall your army protecting you?”

Tenedos's guess the day before had been correct: Soldiers packed the palace, and the gratings were lowered on all levels of the balconies above, and archers lined them.

Fergana's face engorged in anger, but I wasn't watching him that closely; I'd seen, with fascination, the effect the wordTovieti had on the handful of courtiers around him. It was as if a b.l.o.o.d.y corpse had been cast in front of them.

”You cannot speak to me in that manner!”

”Forgive me if I spoke in error. But this is a waste of both of our time,” Tenedos said, steel in his tones.

”I ask you for one thing. Nay, I do not ask it, I demand it, in the name of the Rule of Ten, and the vast armies they command, armies who seek but an excuse to pull free the long-time thorn that is the Border States. I demand you provide myself and those men and women under my charge safe pa.s.sage to your borders.”

Fergana breathed deeply, forcing control. He gained it.

”Of course you have that,” he said. ”You need not threaten me with your soldiers. Seer Tenedos, your presence in my kingdom has not been a happy one, in spite of a certain service you managed to perform for me.

”Now I bid you go, and take your fellowPh 'reng with you. You will not be troubled, you will not be bothered. But never return to my kingdom again, not you, not your soldiers, nor your people.

”I hereby proclaim the Kingdom of Kait to be closed to all Numantians from the time you cross the border into Urey until the end of time itself!”

Achim Fergana rose and stalked from the room.

That was when the nightmare began.

TWELVE.

Death in the IceWe'd expected mobs to jeer us out of Sayana. But-and this was most ominous-there were only a few scuttling figures on the streets when we marched out.

We left the Residency at dawn. It had taken us three days to prepare for departure, setting up the order of march, making sure the civilians had proper clothing and footgear, a.s.signing as many elderly or infirm to wagons as we could, preparing rations, and so forth.

We chanced going outside the Residency to buy extra food and horses, although we were hardly welcome in Sayana's marketplace. We bought with one hand holding gold and the other on the grip of our swords. We had just enough food, I hoped, counting the iron rations and dry reserves in the compound, for the journey back to Urey.

My final task was to call together the fifty remaining hill-men. I told them their duty was finished, and to line up for their final pay. I said that once they'd gotten their gold, Seer Tenedos would cast a spell so they could slip out the gate and disappear into the city without attracting notice. I thankedthem for thp.ir fairtifiilnp.SK. saiH I wac r..v>”J *~ -_..- *___^utnem, and wished things had gone differently.

About ten of them drew aside, Legate Yonge at their head.

I went to him, and he said quietly, ”We wish to serve on with you, Legate a Cimabue.”

I told him how honored I was but that, quite frankly, he was being foolish. ”There is a long journey between here and safety, and I know we face enemies at every turn.”

”Life itself is nothing more than that.” Yonge shrugged. ”I took an oath to serve youPh'reng, and do not wish to be released from it.”

”Yonge, think, man. Even if we make it to Urey, you'll be an exile. You'll never be able to return to Kait as long as Fergana lives.”

”Do you honestly believe,” the hillman said, ”that lizard s.h.i.+t who calls himself achim will let any of us escape his punishment for serving you? I know he'll haveasjasks cast seeking spells for anyone who swore fealty to the resident-general, and a slow death will follow their discovery.

”No. I would prefer to take my chances with the seer, as would my fellows.” He started to say more, but broke off.

”Go ahead,” I encouraged.

”Two other reasons. You treated us as equals when you came, as did all your Lancers, in spite of what I know they feel about Kaiti. This is the way of honor. I wish to learn more about it.

”Besides”-he grinned-”I have never seen Urey, and would like to learn what skills their women have when they come willingly to your bed.”

I could do nothing other than accept. For their safety on the march, I told them to dress themselves as Numantians, although I wished them to keep their native garb ready. There might be a need for a Kaiti spy on our journey.

We planned to cover the nearly miles in about ten days, weather permitting. The rains were coming to a halt, and while it was bitter cold, so far the winter storms had not begun.

The order of march was One and Two Columns, Seventeenth Lancers, at the front; then two platoons of the Khurram Light Infantry; then the civilians; a third platoon of the KLI; Four Column; our wagons, which I asked Captain Mellet to take charge of; the last of the infantry and Three Column, which I personally regarded as the best of my troop, at the rear, under the command of Troop Guide Bikaner. I half apologized for always giving him the hardest task. He half smiled and said,” 'S alright, sir. I'm gettin' so used to eatin' dust now I've grown t'like its taste.”

The city gate stood open, and the guards were withdrawn. Sitting on horseback, just on the other side, was Achin Baber Fergana, surrounded by some of his courtiers and cavalrymen.

Now we heard jeering, but it was muted. Even these lackeys were afraid of Tenedos's magic, which had killedJask Irshad and saved us from the demon.

Tenedos held up his hand, and we reined in. He stared long and hard at Fergana, his eyes harsh, as if he were cutting a steel engraving of the man. Fergana grew visibly nervous under the stare, then wheeled his horse and galloped around us, his men streaming after him, back into Sayana.

One of them turned as he rode through the gates, and shouted,”M'rtti Ph'reng!”

Tenedos turned to me. ”Ride on, Legate.”

I shouted commands, and the long train creaked forward.

Behind me, I heard Lance Karjan grunt, ”Good, that. Don't give th' b.a.s.t.a.r.d no satisfaction. ”Though it'd do me good t'see th' seer send a bolt a lightnin' up that s.h.i.+t-heel's a.r.s.e, 'twould.”

It was a charming thought, and I did wish Tenedos had cast some sort of spell, even though my rational mind knew the achim was well surrounded with protection from hiscoaitjasks.

It gave me something to think about as we crawled north toward Sulem Pa.s.s. If I'd had to watch my words before, when we'd first made the slow pa.s.sage, now I must be doubly careful. I must not try to hurry these civilians, for fear they'd panic, or else lose all belief in themselves and lie down to die.

Another thought occurred: I told Lance Karjan that he might have chosen to be my servant, but the best way he could serve was to stick close to Seer Tenedos. I could manage for myself, but the resident-generalmust survive. Karjan muttered darkly, but obeyed, and from that time on stayed as close to Tenedos as he'd permit.

This was fairly open country, so I was able to keep Two Column out as flankers. The few Kaiti we saw stayed distant from the road.

I'd expected hara.s.sing attacks the moment we went beyond the gate, but nothing happened. I knew better than to expect Fergana's safe-conduct to be better than before, and wondered when we'd be hit.

We camped the first night, having made almost twelve miles, which sounds like very little, but on a first day's march, with inexperienced people, it was quite respectable.

Seer Tenedos said he would put out magical wards, so no more than a third of my men were needed as guards. He sensed no spells being cast against us as yet.

The second day went even better, and I grew quite worried^-the longer the wait, the nastier the surprise.

Captain Mellet chided me for my gloom.

”Wecould,” he said, ”be the first Numantians to have good luck in Sulem Pa.s.s, now couldn't we?”

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