by Candy Rae
Far to the East, at Settlement, Kim Douglas, Commanding Officer or Ryzcka of the Eighth Ryzck was about to disobey a direct order.
She was the ranking Ryzcka here at Settlement. It was up to her. So she popped her head out of the command tent and caught the sentry’s eye.
“Get me the Garda commander and all the Ryzckas in the area.”
“Now ma’am?”
“Immediately.”
“It’s the middle of the night ma’am.”
“Get them anyway.”
* * * * *
As the Officers of the Garda and the Vada were entering Kim Douglas’s offices others were making their way south. Afanasei was making his way hotpaw to the stronghold, there to meet with Francis. With him ran Fernei, leader of the Avuzdel.
There they made the acquaintance of the ex-Lord of Duchesne and were favourably impressed.
Afanasei greeted the ex-convict with a grave courtesy the ex-southerner appreciated; there was no sign of either reserve or distrust in that first clear gaze as he stood waiting for Francis to undo the despatches from his harness.
Fernei too regarded the man with an un-winking stare.
“I am Fernei,” he introduced himself, “Susa of the Avuzdel.” For the benefit of Pierre and Michael Wallace, he added, “I run the Lind spy network.” Fernei’s command of Standard was quite amazing for one unpaired with a human.
Pierre looked startled for a moment then nodded, he had suspected the existence of such a group, how else would Louis and Ustinya have been able to reach him so easily?
“Alesei is one of yours?” he asked. “He is, I hear, recovering. I, we, owe him much.”
Fernei said to Francis, who was reading the despatches, “Susa, I have another entrenched in the kohorts of the Larg. He has managed, with great difficulty, to get word to me. He says he and his kohort wait to go on boat. A flat boat. For the second time.”
“Second time? What does that mean?” Francis was perplexed. He didn’t raise his head from the despatches.
“How long have we got?” added Wilhelm.
“Not long,” answered Francis, “I thought they would embark from Brentwood. If Jim is right and I’m sure he is, this is not the case. He’s got word from Argyll. We now know why there have been no raids recently. The pirates have taken over and fortified the larger of the two islands in the Middle Sea. Seems they’ve been transporting both infantry and Larg warriors north from the mainland for weeks. No wonder no one has seen any pirate galleys. They’ve been guarding the transports.”
He turned his gaze on Pierre.
“Looks like I was right, your messengers must have realised that there were no soldiers where they should have been. Your men will be galley slaves by now. Using this island as a forward base they can get to us, with favourable winds, two days sail or a day of hard rowing, perhaps less. That’s what our spy meant by second time. First time from the south to the island, second time from the island to here and those galleys of theirs are fast.”
“How did we find out?”
“Argyll fishing boat, the crew saw some flotsam and investigated. They barely got away to tell the tale.”
“How long?” repeated Wilhelm.
“Jim estimates the first wave will be here in three to four days.”
Pierre turned to Fernei, “can your spy give us any more information?”
“He will try but it is very dangerous to do. Our thoughts of sending can be picked up by those listening. This is a rare ability amongst the Larg, even amongst Lind not one in fifty can over such great distances, but it can be done.”
“Can you?”
“Contact him? Perhaps.”
Fernei did not say and Francis did not ask, but both knew that the spy might well send the warning anyway, no matter what the consequence. He would be signing his own death warrant if he did so and was overheard, but it was part of the Lind psyche to sacrifice themselves, if necessary, for the good of their pack-mates. Francis and the others had seen direct and close evidence of this during the Battle of the Alliance.
“The Argyll Lindar is on its way,” Francis informed the others, “as I will now so order the Ryzcks.” He did not know that Kim Douglas had already left Settlement and was running west as fast as she could.
“The Lindars from Lind?”
“They are coming,” said Afanasei, “but it will take many suns to get here, until then, we are on our own.”
Francis looked at him.
“You must stay here,” he said, “and rejoin your Lindar when it gets here.”
Afanasei agreed with reluctance.
“I need someone with authority here at the stronghold to take command of the unattached Lind. You will do this.”
“You?” Afanasei countered.
“In the morning I will take south as many vadeln-pairs as I can and go to the aid of the Fourth Ryzck.”
“You know where they will land?”
“There’s only one place they can, one anchorage with enough deep water and a viable landing site, the rest of the coast is a maze of rocks and crags. They will come to David’s Keep.”
He turned to Wilhelm.
“How many here that can ride with me?”
“Sixty-three,” was his instant response.
“Final year senior cadets?”
“Twenty-six.”
“Graduate them,” ordered Francis. “Ross and Lililya will command with Brian and Sofiya to assist. They will come south to David’s Keep with me and Asya.”
“Yes sir,” answered the unhappy Wilhelm. The present crop of final year cadets had only just begun their final year’s training. They were not ready and both he and Francis knew it.
“Holad?”
“They’ll be ready to move out at first light.”
“Good, we’ll need them all before this is over.”
“My regiment,” began Pierre, “count us in.”
They turned and looked at him and Michael.
“You must give us the chance, we are northerners now.”
Michael Wallace also looked resolute. He spoke up, “believe me, the men won’t take no for an answer.”
Asya approved, despite what she knew Francis was thinking.
“Good sentiment.” Simultaneously she sent a private thought to Francis.
: Man tells truth. Accept offer :
“Agreed,” said Wilhelm before Francis could utter a word, “though how you’re going to get to the coast in time is anybody’s guess. There’s not enough spare Lind around to carry you.”
“We march,” Pierre responded.
“The non-combatants?” prompted Laura. “The stronghold is too close to the river for comfort. If the galleys sail upriver and raid it?”
“Evacuate,” decided Francis. He raised his hand to forestall the Weaponsmaster’s voiced disagreement with the next order as he turned to Wilhelm, “you will lead them, no objections, I know you want to come south with us but it is important that the evacuation is commanded by someone the people can trust and I can rely on. You know where to take them.”
“Escort?” asked Wilhelm. He was all business, despite his disappointment.
“The remaining cadets will provide escort,” said Francis, “aided by Afanasei here and the unattached. Nell will be with you, the juniors know her. I wish Mickel and Sandoranindya weren’t on leave on the western coast.”
“The other adults, those unpaired?”
“They go with you, except for any who wish to march south with Pierre here, the younger cadets are not enough of a defence if the pirates come upriver and have Larg with them. Split them up fifty-fifty.”
They all looked at each other.
“See to it,” ordered Francis as he turned to Nell.
“You say the Fourth Ryzck has manned David’s Keep?”
“Yes Susa,” she answered. “Geraldine and Jsei have evacuated the fishing village and send word that they can hold it for a time but desperately need reinforcements.”
�
��Refresh my memory, how many other farms and villages in immediate danger if that is the landing site?”
“No more on the coast, but five farms due east and about the same west.”
“Send some older cadets out,” Francis ordered, “those not graduated, tell them to bring everyone they can find to the big woods where Wilhelm is taking the evacuees from here. Brian and Sofiya can lead them. They know the area. Louis and Ustinya will take their place with Ross and Lililya.”
“Yes Susa,” she shouted as she left them at the run, intent on helping the cadets get ready.
“Warn the other farms and villages,” Francis continued, this time to one of the Vadryzas back from leave, “they are in danger too. Tell them they must leave now, tonight; they cannot wait until morning. Send vadeln-pairs and any other available Lind to assist. I want everyone alindback and on their way inland before night falls.”
Pierre Duchesne turned to Michael, “talk to our people, reassure them. The regiment is to muster at first light.”
They were not to know until later just how wise Francis was to evacuate now.
The vanguard of the invasion force was already on its way.
Fernei’s spy Vsei did manage to get a message through to Aglaya at dawn. It was only the one image and was cut off fast, an image of a fleet at anchor beside some high cliffs. It could only be the island base.
She was quick to pass the image to Fernei who broadcast it to all that could receive it.
Francis and Asya were in the practice field when the image flashed into Asya’s mind. The vadeln-pairs were preparing to move out and the field was the only area big enough to hold them all, for the human fighters were there too, from both north and south. This emergency had welded them together as little else could.
The three hundred infantry were formed up at the gate, most dressed in the blue and white of Duchesne, others dressed in the maroon that was standard in the Vada. They were to march south after the hundred vadeln-pairs, including the recently graduated, who sat on their Lind with more than a little pride tinged with lot of apprehension.
All other inhabitants, young and old were to go northwest into the interior, away from the vulnerable river, protected by Wilhelm Dahlstrom and the more junior cadets with Afanasei leading those Lind with no human partners.
“Get them on the move now,” shouted Francis. He turned to Wilhelm, “take care of them.”
Laura and Faddei approached Francis; they were leaving with the children and Faddei and Asya’s ltsctas.
Francis had time for a quick kiss. Asya nestled her young lovingly before gazing intently at Faddei, their noses touched.
Traditionally a Lind mother did not leave her young to fight with the Lindars until the young were full-grown, but that was not the case with the Vada. As Francis was Susa, Asya was duty-bound to fight with him and although she was heartbroken at leaving her ltsctas; she knew she must.
Then they were off, running south as fast as they could, Duchesne’s infantry marching in their wake and within the hour there was also a dusty trail of refugees heading out of the stronghold ringed by cadets and led by the Weaponsmaster.
Disorientation, especially amongst Duchesne’s people was paramount. They were on the move again; the danger they had fled from had followed them tenfold.
With them rode young Jacques Duchesne and his new friend Jtanya. Strapped to Jtanya’s harness were his little brothers and as much as Jtanya could carry and run with easily. The instructions were, if the Larg reached them, those that could were to pelt for the woods as fast as they could. Those who could not run would try to hold their enemies off for as long as possible.
Every Lind had up to three human or Lind youngsters strapped to their back either in panniers or if they were older, strapped to the harness. Even the youngest of the cadets had a pillion passenger.
* * * * *
Aoalvaldr the Larg sat on the bridge of the lead galley and mentally urged the attack-force onwards. Behind him a great storm was brewing.
It would not affect the fleet of galleys entering the river estuary in which he rode upriver to the stronghold.
Although the sailors kept a sharp lookout, they did not see the Lind scouts watching from the riverbanks who were quick to report their sighting.
* * * * *
Geraldine kicked at the shale-slate built wall round the perimeter of David’s Keep. It looked and felt sturdy enough. It was four foot in height and she wished it was higher but they were running out of time.
The hill on which the keep was built was the only high ground in the area apart from Mackie’s ridge about a mile to the north. The hill was oval in shape with two sharper ends at west and east. The top was virtually flat. Inside the perimeter was a half-built building, which Geraldine intended to use as the casualty station. It also sheltered the women and children from the village. The roof was made of cannibalised tents.
On arrival Geraldine had paced round the perimeter, too large for her thirty-five vadeln-pairs and assorted fisher and farming folk to defend for long successfully, but they would stand a better chance here than if caught in the open.
Luckily the sloping sides of the hill were a defender’s ideal. They were covered in jaggy shale. The Larg would find the climb difficult to the eleventh degree. Once the stuff was disturbed and started to move, little could stop it.
Also, Geraldine had ordered every able-bodied person to embed upright shards of shale-slate around the summit immediately outside the walls. It was razor sharp and, unlike human soldiers, the Larg did not wear boots. She hoped it would stall them and if not, consoled herself with the fact that at least it would make life uncomfortable.
The most vulnerable area was the gate. A shingle path led up the hill to it and here the shale-slate had been cleared away to form part of the walls. She would use the wagons to fortify the gate area she decided. They were, as she watched, making their ponderous way uphill, carrying food, water and some few personal possessions and the smallest children who thought this a big game and were chattering together like magpies.
If Geraldine had had more vadeln-pairs she would have used them to take these children at least out of immediate harms way, but she needed every person who could wield a weapon here.
Geraldine sighed and went back to work, adding yet another large shard to the top of the walls.
She raised her head as a peal of thunder shook the air.
Oh hell, that’s all we need, rain!
* * * * *
Back at domta Winston, Kolyei, like the other Lind, knew the enemy fleet had been located seconds after the warning came to the stronghold.
He erupted out of his and Tara’s daga as fast as his paws could carry him and made straight for her. She was drawing their daily supply of water from the sluice-well at the end of the copse.
: Tara. Word has come. The Vada rides to war :
The bucket clattered to the ground.
So it has come again, she thought, more war and death. Why can’t they leave us alone?
: When do we leave? : she asked wrapping her arms round his neck : Jim will need every fighting pair he can get his hands on. I will fight. I must fight :
: We fight together :
: I’d better get my armour : She began to trot towards their daga, water-bucket forgotten.
Jim, Larya and another fifty assorted vadeln-pairs, the Holad led by Winston Randall, the Tenth Ryzck and the four home Lindars left within the bell.
* * * * *
The galleys rowed into the stronghold harbour. There were no boats gently rocking at the silent pier. The jetties were devoid of people.
“Strange,” observed Captain Alvarez as he noted the stillness.
He looked at Aoalvaldr. The Larg had accompanied him on to the bridge, a reluctant Andrew Snodgrass in tow.
“Deserted,” was the Captain’s next comment, “I fear our birds have flown.”
“Aoalvaldr tells me that he will catch them,” said Andrew. “He knows they cann
ot have gone far.”
“We must have been sighted yesterday,” said Carlos Alvarez, wishing he hadn’t ignored a lookout’s comment that he had seen movement among the giant rushes that banked the river.
“Aoalvaldr insists that you put him and his soldiers ashore. He wishes to go hunt them.”
“Hunt them down or hunt them?” grunted Carlos Alvarez, “remind him that I want the people brought back alive and unhurt.” Carlos had his own suspicions about his guest’s plans for the inhabitants of the stronghold. What little he had managed to find out about Aoalvaldr had made him realise that the male espoused a vengeful hatred against the Vada and the people associated with them.
Andrew looked at Carlos but did not dare say anything or think it. Aoalvaldr was keeping a tight hold of his mind and would sense if he said anything untoward. He looked pleadingly at the Captain, his eyes begging him not to ask. Aoalvaldr could understand some Standard speech. Carlos knew this and contented himself with saying, “remind him of the bargain. The people are mine.”
The galley rowed to the jetty, this ship and the other four taking part in this expedition were manned by free men, not slaves, men who preferred the life of piratical slavers to eking out an existence back south. This meant that Captain Alvarez trusted his men, who, like the Viking raiders of tenth and eleventh century Earth, rowed their vessels and fought, unlike the other slave-rowed galleys that roamed the seas. This fleet of galleys were also faster and of shallower draught, which was the reason they had been chosen to carry Aoalvaldr and his small kohort of three hundred upriver to the stronghold.
True, Captain Alvarez would have to share the profits with his men, but he had always believed this was a small price to pay for loyal followers.
Aoalvaldr waited as the men shipped their oars and the ship was made fast then jumped ashore, followed by ten Larg.
They hunted throughout the nearby buildings as the pirates and the remainder of the Larg disembarked.
