Pavel stepped to a space that had been left open for him, and when indicated sat cross-legged with the others on the rough rugs. He grimaced, his nose wrinkling at the scent of old people, old rugs and smoking, burning rushes. He had lived in the open air for too many years to enjoy the confines and smells of cave life.
‘Patrol Leader Pavel,’ began Lord Hoolie, the council leader. She was a fine and handsome woman, between forty to forty five years old, and she, like him had once commanded a hunting patrol for many years. The myriad of scars that covered her body bore testament to her meetings with the Gargoys, her spear boasted ninety three notches.
She had been forced to retire from hunting after a particularly bad accident six years beforehand, which had crushed her right leg and now caused her to walk with a pronounced limp. Her injury still caused her a great deal of discomfort whenever she had occasion to climb onto the back of her elderly black stallion, ‘Cloud killer’ but she would never admit to it.
Whilst riding rear guard, she had been attacked by three Gargoys and the black Runner had stumbled on a loose rock whilst avoiding a set of raking claws aimed at his eyes. Lord Hoolie, or as she was known then, Patrol Leader Anastasia, had little opportunity to roll clear whilst warding off an attack from behind, her with her spear. Her leg was crushed against a rocky outcrop by the mount’s weight, breaking her limb in three places.
‘We have asked that you attend on us for a specific task,’ she signed.
Pavel was not surprised, there were few other reasons he would have been summoned to the inner council chamber for other than for a ‘specific task’.
‘We require you and your patrol to take a sweep of the northern borders, reports are coming back to us, through the Runners, that Chin are preparing for a raid into our lands, we need to know how many and where. If possible you are to do away with the threat, is that understood?’
Pavel responded with a single clicked ‘Affirmative’, his excitement pricking up at the directive; it was good, a time off from hunting, time to be warriors. It was fantastic, his patrol needed a break; they had been on hunting duty almost without stop for almost three years.
‘You will be joining with the ElPee’s, in overall command of the two patrols will be Patrol Leader Albie.’
Pavel’s face fell and returned to his previous unemotional mask. Albie was a bully who used his strength and size rather than any leadership qualities to command the grudging respect of his patrol. Needless to say they were above the Tirnano in ranking and as such Albie was ranked higher than Pavel.
‘You will be twoicee and your twoicee, Naum will take the Patrol Sergeant’s position.’
Pavel’s smile almost returned at that point, but he still rankled at having to ‘bend the knee’ to Albie, still he was twoicee and that stood for a lot. Nuam being Sergeant would be a great boost for his patrol. Pavel would have expected Albie’s right hand man Emiloo to be awarded the position; still it tipped the balance of power in his patrol’s favour.
Albie would be hard pressed to force through any stupid or rash commands. Although the patrols adhered to strict military procedures, many of the decisions would be discussed amongst the three leaders and majority rule would be enforced, although the decisions always came from the top three, Troop leader, twoicee and patrol sergeant.
‘The two present patrol sergeants will assume troop corporal status and all other members will be ranked as troopers, unless field promotion is necessary,’ she concluded forebodingly, that was first-rate, Bodan would be his troop corporal, he was a great patrol sergeant, Pavel often wondered how he ever did without him.
‘When do we leave?’ he signed
‘Troop Leader Albie is due back tomorrow,’ she signed, according Albie his new rank. ‘You have two days rest following his return, and then you ride out. Each patrol member will have a spare mount to ensure you can get to the border and back quickly if necessary, if you need to send back messages, then no less than a section is to travel openly. If you run into problems and cannot muster section strength, then any travelling must be at night. We must have information on any Chin movements, understood?’
Pavel answered immediately ‘Understood Lord Hoolie,’ he rose to his feet and clicked for permission to leave.
‘We shall meet again when Troop Leader Albie returns, to go through any questions you both may have.’
Pavel fisted his forehead in salute, and slipped through the skins into the relatively clean air of the main cave. The cave was immense. The floor space easily four hundred by three hundred paces, the smoke stained ceiling, with its little vent, many body heights high above his head.
Around the walls smoking torches provided ample light, and he could see the family areas against the wall furthest from where he stood.
He walked towards them; his own family hearth was close to the centre of the line of fireplaces. Each quarter fronted by a stone hearth, fed continuously with dried peat, cut from the earth at the head of the valley.
The hearthstones were black with soot and age. Meat roasting over the open fires added to the overpowering aroma of home. Their meals were supplemented by baking the onion like roots of the ubiquitous grasses which were used for pretty much everything else that could be thought of.
Dipped in animal fat and bound to make torches. Split and woven to create sleeping mats. The purple flowers dried to make a refreshing drink. The fleshy tops were also used as fodder for their domestic animals.
The beasts of the plains too fed and survived remarkably well on the grasses.
~
There were looks of recognition, and even a couple of delighted hoots and whistles from a group of young girls attending the school. All children attended school from the age of ten years. The children were taught by teams of teachers, all of them ex-hunters who were too young to be elders, or too incapacitated to be hunters. Their hard won skills passed on to the following generations.
It wasn’t often that a serving hunter, let alone a top patrol leader ventured into the school area, but Pavel wanted to see his young sister Shasa who at the age of fifteen was due to take her final test; ‘The Field Exercise.’ He felt saddened that he would not be waiting for her triumphant return. Shasa was more than capable of lasting the six nights. She had inherited her older brothers’ abilities, and from almost as soon as she could walk, had held a bow in her chubby little hands. Her skill with the weapon even at a young age was widely banded about. Most of the patrols had already earmarked her as a target rookie when she reached eighteen.
She sat with a group of similar aged youngsters listening to his old sergeant, Gavrail who three years earlier had lost an eye and part of his right shoulder following a Gargoy attack. Their backs were to him and as he approached. At least five of the group of twelve turned to see who was approaching, good ‘vibe touchers,’ he thought to himself. His approach had been silent for his soft hide boots made no sound, as he crossed the hard flat parade ground towards them.
Good ‘vibe touchers’ were worth a great deal on the open plains, his own patrol had two vibers, Bodan and Roza, Roza was the more astute of the pair being able to pick up the vibes of most living creatures at a distance in excess of a klick, a thousand paces. Bodan always seemed able to discern the Gargoys at that distance, but other creatures at a great deal less. His powerful ability to discern the Gargoys, almost unique.
Most Clansfolk had problems being aware of the vile creatures until they were almost upon them. It was more than enough reason for his continued position as rear guard, Bodan was invaluable in that role, and had been the reason for their outstanding successes in the ongoing conflict with the ugly, flying, bat like creatures.
Gavrail sprang to attention, and fisted his forehead to his old colleague, who immediately grasped the older man in a fond embrace, the two parted and Pavel proffered a return salute.
‘Need a chat with my sis, won’t take a mo.’
‘Sure Boss, we’re just done,’ the tough hunter was just as Pave
l remembered him, Gavrail had been a great sergeant in his time. He was Bodan’s predecessor, and like Bodan had a predilection for the ‘hairy’ post of tail guard.
‘Thanks mucker, how’s things with you?’
‘Mustn’t grumble,’ Gavril replied. Pavel smiled for he knew that whatever, Gavrail never would.
‘Catch up soon, gotta buzz for a while, catch you on the flip flop.’
Pavel would often visit his old friend whenever he was in the valley. Gavrail could never get enough of the latest gossip and stories, drinking them in with relish. That he missed the patrol life was obvious. By now he would surely be twoicee or even commanding his own patrol. Gavrail laid no blame on anyone but himself, he had failed just one time to see the pair of Gargoys swooping down on him.
His failure was evident in the scars he wore across his face and head, and the extensive damage to his shoulder. Pavel had killed the creature with a spear throw of easily seventy paces, but not before it had sunk its claws into Gavrail’s skull, one of them piercing his left eye, it had also taken a huge bite from his shoulder. The other flapped away, screaming in frustration.
The sergeant had been in that most venerable of moments when attacked; ‘taking a dump’ being the colloquial term.
The chunk of flesh that the evil, filthy creature had torn from his shoulder had left an injury that had taken a long time to heal and had ultimately left him unable to move his arm. His head was covered in scars from the creature’s claws. All in all, Gavrail was lucky to be alive, and for the first few weeks after the injury it was give or take if he ever would be anything other than a vegetable, but his strength of character won through. Gavrail was thirty years old when the injury occurred.
‘Gotta go away sis, won’t be able to catch your passing out.’
‘Where you off?’
‘Patrol up to border, be away for a couple of weeks’
Her face fell, ‘Jojo too?’
‘Yep, sorry babe!’
‘When you off?’
‘First light tomorrow’
They embraced, ‘Keep safe,’ she signed.
‘You too! And good luck on the trial!’
‘Piece a piss’ she clicked with a smile.
‘That’s the stuff,’ he stepped back and they saluted each other, fists to forehead.
He spun on his heel and walked briskly away, she watched him for a full minute as he strode purposefully, albeit a little stiffly, across the parade ground and disappeared behind a rocky outcrop at the far end. Pride filled her heart and a little tear her eye. Tough as she was, Shasa loved her brothers dearly, and like most clan folk was not afraid to show her emotions.
Both parents killed whilst she was young, her two older brothers with the help of numerous aunts and cousins had raised her. She was a late baby; her brothers had been seventeen and fifteen respectively when she was born.
The following morning, just after snow fall and as the first rays of the sun were chasing away the morning mist and shadows, the caves’ turned out to bid the troop of twenty four riders and their mounts farewell.
Shasa, along with the other the school children and their teachers were in the crowd, ready to holler, whistle and cheer the troop out of the valley. She was delighted when both her brothers rode out of the group lifted her by her armpits, planted a simultaneous kiss on her cheeks. The show of affection was greeted by a loud roar, and the deposited Shasa ran back to her class, her cheeks as red as the rising sun.
39.
THE CRONINN CHILDREN
Tirnano Country
Northern Plains
The troop trotted from the valley onto the snow fields. As they hit the plains, they moved into battle A formation. The A was led by Tonne, with Bodan taking up his usual position twenty paces to the rear of the three commanders who rode between the two arms of the A. Even though no flight of Gargoys would dare to attack the troop if they rode in war formation, it was military protocol to always ride the high plains in full battle readiness. It was the norm; neither patrol commander would allow slacking. Military discipline and procedures were at all times in force, and were most important when on the plains, Madder John had taught their ancestors well, his ways keeping them alive many countless times over the years.
Roza and Bodan although ranking officers in their own patrol had been assigned section corporal status, leading each of Pavel’s two sections. Albie’s patrol twoicee Emiloo and his sergeant Yevgeniy were in turn, section corporals in the second patrol. Emiloo holding first option for the troop sergeant’s position were it to become vacant for any reason. As section corporals the four were responsible for discipline and good order, freeing the three leaders to look after and instigate the daily planning and overall command of the troop.
It took them four days to make their way to the far side of the mountain that had forever dominated their lives, and turn north towards the furthest border of their land. They pointed the A towards the blue, snow capped mountain range.
They were retracing the route their ancestors, the first clansmen, had taken in their flight from the hated enemy some two hundred years beforehand. A tall human called Madder John led the band west; hoping to meet up with their sister clan, but in desperation and absolute exhaustion, they had made their home in the valleys and caves which they discovered in the lee of the huge mountain peak.
Roza and Bodan swapped positions as the A formation began to leave the Cave Mountains behind. As they crossed the plains with the sun directly in front of them it would be Bodan’s special talent that would give them the earliest warning of any pending Gargoy attack.
‘One day we are gonna have to take the fight to them, find their stinkin’ nest and root the bastards out!’ Emilo signed over his shoulder to Jojo who was riding five paces to his right and behind him, in his favourite position at the end of the right arm of the A.
The troopers had sorted out positions for themselves whilst on the march, and had taken those positions which were closest to the ones they held in their own patrol formations and in which they felt most comfortable.
‘That would be a great idea ‘cept that we’d be climbing a sheer cliff of slippery black rock and they would be buzzin’ round our ears picking us off at their leisure,’ Jojo replied clicking, ‘and we’ve no idea where in those cliffs and crags they’d be, it would take us a lifetime of searching for starters.’
‘I know, but it galls me that they can just come and go as they like, whereas we’ve to stay on ‘constant hot watch.’
‘Yeah, true,’ responded Jojo, ‘maybe we better grow wings and learn to fly, hey Boss?’ he clicked to his brother who was riding to his left.
'Summat ahead,’ whistled Bodan.
Instant attention came over the entire patrol as the signed conversations which had been going on up and down the two arms of the A ended immediately and they all focused on the point rider.
Pavel nudged his Runner forward, his spare mount which had been following two paces behind him, joined Jojo’s spare. Nodding to Albie as he moved, he made his way swiftly to a position alongside the corporal’s left shoulder.
‘Report,’ he clicked.
‘Summat ahead Boss, not Gargoys and not beasts.’
Pavel motioned Roza forward from the rear guard position, ‘What you got?’
‘Ten, Boss, in those rocks,’ came her silent response.
‘Keep vibing both of you,’ he raised his left arm above his head his hand clasped in a fist, opened his hand twice, and pointed his index finger at the rocks.
His statement was understood by all ‘Ten, ahead, full alert.’
A flurry of movement rippled up and down the two arms of the A as weapons were readied and battle positions were taken up.
If there was trouble it would be the highly accurate, deadly little bows which would be used first. Spears and spikes were for closer combat conditions. At the first signs of preparation their mounts flared their nostrils in anticipation. Mikhai and Ames moved quickly up their
respective arms of the A, clicking to the spare mounts and then heading to the rear of the patrol where they fell in behind the two commanders. The spare mounts arranged themselves in a tight group, ready to spring forward if required.
Pavel had maintained his position at point, alongside Bodan. The troop moved forward at a walk, knowing that whatever was ahead would surely be aware of their presence. No attempt had been made to disguise their arrival, after all this was clan territory. It was the intruders who should take precautions.
They angled to the right in perfect formation, then switched to a trot, approaching the outcrop of stones which were twice as tall as a mounted trooper. The outcrops dotted the plains around them and were familiar features, usually offering a suitable location for an overnight camp. The outcrops would frequently have a stream of sweet fresh water somewhere amongst the black rocks, where they could fill their water sacks and stomachs. Although it was not warm enough to be uncomfortable, the days of hard, constant riding still required man and mount to eat and drink frequently.
The Tirnano - Book 1 'FINN' Page 24
