Analog Science Fiction and Fact - July-Agust 2014

by Penny Publications

  "Turns?" said Teo.

  "Nah."

  The two plainsmen toed the mark. Kal rubbed his hands with dirt. Teo tore off some grass stems and dribbled them with his fingers, judging the windage. He glanced at the crops further off to see how the wind shook the tassels on the corn. "Got it?" he asked his companion.

  "Yah. Hey, Rabbit. What'd ya name your bow?"

  "Sureflight. Yours?"

  "Rabbit-skewer."

  Teodorq grunted. He notched an arrow and drew back to his ear. Kal matched him. "Ready...? Red, yellow, green, loose!"

  Both arrows whipped above the harvest stubble, past the grain-heavy north fields, and skewered the target as near to simultaneous as made no difference. One struck the silhouette near the heart; the other the center of the face.

  "Good shot," said Teo.

  "Not too bad," admitted Kal.

  The watchers murmured their surprise and admiration. Yar Yoodavig favored them with a look that Teo easily interpreted as show me that wasn't just luck. So both plainsmen drew a second arrow. This time, Kal hit the gut while Teo nailed the crotch.

  "Ouch," said Kal. "Now yer just showin' off."

  Afterward, several other legionnaires asked to draw the bows and three of them succeeded. The Wisdom descended from the reviewing stands and told the yar to form a squadron of horse bowmen within the legion and to have Teo and Kal teach the legion's boyer how to make the bows and arrows for them.

  The kospathin called up the organized wilisiya. This consisted of all the able-bodied men in the village as well as a number of the stronger spinsters, who trained with the crossbow and shield. The crossbow corps was under the supervision of the princess Anya herself.

  "Yuh know, babe," Teodorq told her one day while the wilisiya and the legion were both on the training field, "them crossbows don't have near the range and punch o' my plains bow." He pulled the instrument back to his ear, knowing that his muscles would bulge and stand out.

  "But if we must fight in the forest," the princess said, "distance matters little. The trees will block a far shot. And while only a few may master your bow, most of the men and half the women in our village can wind and loose a crossbow."

  Teodorq turned away to see Sammi and Kal watching him. Sammi made a thwp sound with his tongue to imitate an arrow released and Kal answered with a caw like a bird impaled by the shot. With their eyes they followed the imaginary plummet of the bird.

  "Never mind, Rabbit," said Kal. "Here comes graybeard wit' his feathers an' ink to study yer bow some more. Maybe yuh can charm him."

  A Reconnaissance in Force

  Over the next few weeks, as the Great Sun and the Red Sun grew farther apart in the heavens, settlers and outlanders began to arrive at Cliffside Keep from the Nobeshtinny Valley. They came in wagons piled high with their possessions. They came on pack mules carrying bundles. They came on foot bearing nothing. Some were clench-jawed in anger, some wet-eyed from sorrow, others blank-faced with bewilderment. All of them clamored for redress and vengeance from the very kospathin whose rule they had shunned.

  The kospathin dispatched runners to House Losse, which being farther northeast was in a more exposed position, and to House Lynex and the others who had come down from the Heights. Another was sent aloft to the Little Father of the North, asking for the aid of those allied houses that still held on in the thoogu. A brother and two cousins still clung to Tiger lands on the plateau; and two additional cousins held fodannies in former shortgrass lands to the west. They all promised to send several lances: contingents of eridzars and their supporting sergeants-at arms.

  The legionnaires rode out in squads of twelve into the Nobeshtinny Valley to find refugee homesteaders and escort them to safety on the western slope. Yar Yoodavig set up a table in the barracks with a model in wood and turf of the terrain, and the Wisdom pointed out those regions from which no refugees had come. "These places—this watershed, that knoll, the lake shores—are where the next greenie raid is likely."

  The yar translated. "Go look where they ain't been yet, 'cause that's where they'll hit next. Guess the greens found out there's something more powerful than the forest men, and are probing the valley in strength. Keep your eyes sharp and your wits sharper. Come back if you can, but the news you gather is more important than you are."

  The tavuta, or "party of twelve" that Teodorq rode with included all eight men who had so far mastered the compound bow, and that meant he and Kal rode together. The horse archers had adopted the plainsman's open vest of fringed elik hide, which they wore over their breast-and-back armor in place of the striped jerkins. There were a pair of swamp men brothers, Ghen-ri Vowduwadosh and Ghen-ri Khavenshdan, known as 'Dosh and 'Dan, a forest man named Jondal Twobulls, Bosh Atwood and Vilyi Bycreek from the shortgrass, and Filovolos Jo who had deserted House Bear to try his luck on the lowlands. 'Dosh and 'Dan had become quite good at the bow, and the others could hit their marks more often than not at a reasonable range.

  Sub-bannerman Setevian Wala, a swamper who, like the yar's parents, had wandered up from the south years before, led the tavuta west through Windy Gap in the far south. This track led into an ill-known sector of the Nobeshtinny. They made camp on the eastern slope just below the top line of the ridge. Chum Varòwanop, a "battle engine-maker" who accompanied them, called it the "military crest" in contrast to the "geographical crest." This position, Teodorq noted, provided the widest view of the valley below. The plainsman approved. These people understood the ridge-and-valley country the way his own folk understood the grassy sea.

  Wala studied the lay of the land using a look-glass and he and Chum filled in their maps a little. Chum carried a crossbow over his shoulder and short sword called a "galadiola" at his waist. On his pack mule hung cages of carrier pigeons and a pouch of prepared messages.

  Wala pointed out a swath of forest at the base of the ridge. "From here," he said, "those trees shield everything downstream along that creek. You could hide an entire company of lancers in its shadow and ambush any party coming down from Windy Gap here. It's a blank area on our map."

  "Demons hide in shadows," Sammi agreed.

  "Good," the squadron leader replied. "In the morning you and Thewèhdarosh go down and make it a little less blank." Sammi and Thewèhdarosh were called "point guards," and they scouted out ahead of the main body of the tavuta.

  When Sammi joined them at the campfire, Kal and Teo chuckled. "Better you peek behind them trees than me." He was roasting a sausage he had pressed from the meat hash the commissary had issued for the expedition. He pulled it from the fire and blew on it.

  "No worries," said the hillman. "Sammi tell you when safe come down." He looked around and fell into the sprock. "We far out from Keep now. Maybe go farther?"

  Teodorq said nothing, but looked at Kal, who shrugged. "Run to the greenies with what we know? They might pay us real good for intelligence."

  "Some got more to sell than others. But Sammi on walkabout to see World, not fight and die for stupid ironmen."

  "Don't look at me," said Teo. "I ride for the brand. The kospathin done paid me, and I taken his money. Took an oath, too."

  "Rabbit has a point," said Kal. "Pretty serious oath. Keeps me from killing Rabbit, here." He grinned at Teo. "So far. Though technically, the First's word don't run this side of the ridge." First was the sprock word that came closest to the role of the kospathin.

  "Honor," said Sammi. "Plainsmen and iron-men both stupid." He dumped the rest of his hash into the fire and brushed his hands. "Sammi not mind taking risk," he told his companions. "Sammi mind taking someone else's risk."

  "Don't be too sure you know the risks," Teo said. "These greenies don't sound too friendly and considering what they done to Weaver's Fast, I don't know if'n they care what you can tell 'em or not."

  In the morning the tavuta picked its way down from the gap. Sammi and the other point guard were waiting at the bottom. "You be right, bannerman," Thewèhdarosh said. "They was a large party a-camp
in' here, maybe two, three day past."

  "Sammi count forty men a-foot and three on horseback. They group in tens."

  "How do you know that?" asked Wala.

  "Build five fires. Four for footmen, one for horsemen. Horsemen probably officers. One commander, two subcommanders. Too good sit at fire with foot men."

  Thewèhdarosh inclined his head. "The savage got the rights of it."

  Wala scratched his cheek. "Can we follow them?"

  "Tracks be crossin' the watershed due west," said Thewèhdarosh, "toward yon Eastwood."

  "We cross that meadow," said Kal, "they can see us coming."

  "That can't be good," Teo agreed.

  "If they bother watching their backtrail," said Wala. "They march around like they're lords of creation."

  "Ain't they? If they fight with thunder and lightning, that'll do until the real lords show up."

  Wala thought for a moment. "Chum, send a bird. 'Recent green activity, base of Windy Gap. Probing east toward forest. Wala.' Prepare two further messages. 'Greens in forest east of Windy Gap' and 'No greens sighted.' Load the first for quick release. Keep the second in reserve. Thewèhdarosh, you and Sammi take the points."

  Shortly, the tavuta set forth. Kal and Teo jostled for the honor of being first in line. Chum and his pigeons brought up the rear. By late afternoon they had crossed half the meadow. Kal halted and held up an arm, leaning off his horse and studying the meadow grass. He straightened and pointed southeast. "That way."

  Teo scratched his head. "Think they might circle and double back?"

  "If they know we're following. Two days head start, they may be long gone. Think they saw our fires last night?"

  "At four to one, I don't think they need to play games. Yuh know the biggest risk in looking for greenies?"

  "What?"

  "Finding 'em."

  Kal chewed that over. "What I'd do, was I them, and if'n I knowed I was followed, I'd go into the woods where them tracks lead, then edge up north-like under cover and hide me right inside the edge of the wood." He did not point overtly. "Them trees'd shade me and I'd be on the flank of anyone following the tracks. Then I come charging out soon as we was in range."

  Teo nodded. "Yah. But what's the range of thunder and lightning?"

  "Yuh hadda bring that up."

  Wala trotted to the fore and Thewèhdarosh and Sammi rode back from point. Teo and Kal told them what they had guessed.

  "Foot won't charge horse," the sub-bannerman decided. "We can skedaddle faster than they can chase. But if'n they got bowmen, they can feather us good if they lure us close enough. Awright. Thewèhdarosh, Sammi, ride to within a hundred double-paces of the trees, just out of crossbow range, watch for motion in the trees, but be ready to pull back in a hurry if you trigger an ambush. Teo, have your archers ready. You can porky-pine 'em at distance and cover our retreat."

  Sammi grunted. "Best place to be in ambush is somewhere else."

  Teo twisted in his saddle and called out, "Horse archers! First squad on me; second on Kal. String bows. Notch one. Prepare to roundelay at three-quarters range to the tree line, on my command."

  Kal grimaced. "Probably nothing, right?"

  Teo shrugged. "One way to know."

  The tavuta continued southeast at the trot, conscious of the dark forest on their left flank. Teo tried to estimate how far north the footmen would have doubled back. He had seen how thick the underbrush had been on Woody Ridge. Without game trails, it would be difficult to go too far. He told Kal, "I figure about where that stand of galeng is." Galeng trees had distinctive five-lobed leaves and in the spring produced a tasty syrup. Like Kal, he pointed without pointing.

  The Serp grunted. "I'd put 'em a little nearer to where the tracks enter the trees. We shoulda brought a squad of foresters with us."

  "Shoulda, but we didn't. Why not wish Thanar and Vrigshen were riding with us?"

  Kal shook his head. "We're too far from the Great Grass for our gods to help us here. Besides, I hear thunder and lighting are fighting for the other side. Hey, what's your pet up to?"

  Sammi was cantering back from the point, looking everywhere except at the forest. He seemed to be scratching his nose.

  "Hey, them's the all-prairie signs he's usin'. 'Ambush. Here.' Well, I guess that settles it. Right between where you an' me guessed."

  There was a sharp crack, as one sometimes heard with distant lightning and Sammi fell from his horse. An angry voice cried out from the woods and then the greenery erupted in a ragged volley of small thunderclaps. Teo felt the wisk of something passing close to his cheek. Jondal Two-bulls' head snapped 'round and he fell off his horse. Kal reined in on his mount, and the other legionnaires bunched up in confusion.

  But Teodorq sunna Nagarajan had heard that sound before. A few years ago, when Kal's brother had trapped Teo at the wreckage of Shuttle Starbright–17, Jamly-the-ghost had used a rotating stone-thrower. The metal barrels had spun about in a blur and the banging had merged into a buzz. The rattle of this volley was not exactly the same sound, but it was like the same sound. Many tubes throwing many stones at nearly the same time.

  Were these the starmen Jamly had sent him to find? Had they stumbled upon another wrecked shuttle?

  Then men advanced five paces from the margin of the woods in two perfectly spaced lines.

  They had green faces and hands and wore mottled forest-green jacks and pantaloons. No wonder Sammi had missed them at first. The colors blended with the forest and the mottling broke up their silhouette. A pair of black belts crossed their chests bearing a variety of pouches. A half-helm adorned their heads. Behind their necks spread a great green ruff that made their heads seem larger.

  A horseman waved a sword and shouted a command, and the first line of men knelt on one knee. They braced long tubes against their shoulders, pointed at the legionnaires. The second line stood behind them and rammed sticks down their tubes, pulling various items from the pouches on their belts.

  This, thought Teo, was the point when the forest villagers had fled.

  But it was not the point at which Teodorq sunna Nagarajan would flee. There was no such point. "Horse archers!" he called out. "Roundelay! Someone grab Jondal's bow and quiver!"

  A pigeon lofted and flew off toward Windy Gap watchtower. Wala and Thewèhdarosh, having no bows stood their ground with drawn swords. Chum wound his crossbow and loaded a bolt.

  The kneeling line unloosed their stone-throwers in volley and something banged hard against Teo's breast-and-back armor. Kal grunted and grabbed his thigh. No one else was hit. That's when Teo knew. The legion's line was at a diagonal to the greenie line and he and Kal and Jondal had been closest to the greens. The others were already out of range!

  The second line advanced through the first and knelt while the first stood up and stuffed another stone down their tubes. A second volley found no targets and Teo grinned. The thunder sticks could hit targets out to sixty double paces and the plains bow was good to over three hundred. Teodorq sunna Nagarajan the Ironhand held his bow aloft and cried, "We got the range on 'em, boys! We got the range!"

  Teo's troop began to lope in the long oval of a roundelay, not encircling the enemy but tangent to his line. The greenies on horseback—there was one commanding each line—hesitated. It was possible they had never seen an opponent stand fast before.

  As each bowman in the roundelay reached his closest approach to the greenies, he loosed his arrow and then, as he rode to the back of the circle, notched another one. When Teo came to the fore he saw five greenies already down and aimed his own shot at the horseman on the far left of the line. It was a long shot, but the shaft took him square in the chest and he toppled. When Teo came around the circle a second time, he saw that Kal had taken out the other officer and the greenie lines were in confusion. A good third of them were down and Teo saw two with crossbow bolts in them.

  An old soldier bellowed commands and the greenie lines reformed in strict order, turned about-face and quic
kstepped into the darks of the forest. With a start, Teo saw three black stripes on the older man's sleeve. He admired the coolness that allowed the greenies to turn their backs on the deadly rain of arrows.

  The commotion in the woods settled into stillness. Either the greenies had gone, or they had fallen back into the forest, where Teo's bowmen would have no advantage in range.

  Wala rode up to them. "No pursuit. We're pulling out. Get word back to the Keep!" Chum was scribbling quickly on a message ribbon, stuffing it into a bird's pouch.

  Teodorq looked to where Sammi had fallen. "The legion don't leave no one behind," he said. "'Dosh, make pick-up on Jondal. I'll get Sammi. The rest of you cover us." As he rode off he passed Kal. "Bad?"

  The Serp was binding a poultice to his leg wound. "Stings a little. I had worse when the iron-heads captured me last year."

  "We'll dig it out later," Teo comforted him. "Find out what they hit yuh with."

  Sammi was not where he had fallen. Teo wondered if the greenies had carried him away, or if he had seized the opportunity to desert. He slowed his mount to a single-foot. The greenies were not in the woods. They had skedaddled.

  When Teo reined up and gave the all-clear sign, Sammi rose from the grass of the meadow. He had a quillon dagger in one hand and a greenie officer in the other.

  "Wait for Sammi," he said. "Got present for Wisdom."

  Back in the barracks once more, Kal asked Sammi how he had pulled the stunt off and the hillman grinned.

  "Ambush gets ambush. Hill custom," he said. "Felt bumblebee zip past. Remembered Kal's brother, what his name?"

  "Pawal," supplied Teodorq.

  "Yeah. Remembered Pawal got tore up pretty bad by same bees. So Sammi imitate snake in grass. Crawl around behind greenies. By the way..." He pulled an arrow out of his pouch. "You lose one of these? Almost stick Sammi."

  "Your brother," Teodorq told Kal, "fought most valiantly against the Commonwealth hiteq and died a hero's death." That was a flat-out lie. Pawal had tried to ambush Teodorq and Sammi at the Shuttle and had died before he had even known he was in a fight, so swiftly did Jamly's weapon cut him down.