He paused and glanced at Arthrus. “How many suits of armor have you been able to contrive in the last few weeks?”
Arthrus shook his head regretfully. “No full suits, my lord. Donnick suggested that we start with breastplates first in order to give our men at least rudimentary protection. In your absence, I agreed with this. As soon as we have created breastplates for every man, we can then add helmets, upper arm protection, and shin guards. But there are only six of us at work on this project – the army cannot spare more. My shop isn’t big enough to accommodate more workers anyway.”
Aram raised his hand. “I understand the problems, Arthrus – how many?”
“Almost two hundred breastplates, of various sizes have been made ready.” He grimaced. “I’m sorry, my lord, that it has not moved faster.”
Aram raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Two hundred – but that is actually very good, I think. It should suffice for now. If we can make it to the winter without a major engagement requiring all our force, then we will address your issues of production, Arthrus.”
Findaen looked at Aram sharply. “Will we not use our entire force against the enemy at Stell, my lord?”
“No, Findaen.” Aram answered. “I do not intend to show our full strength in this first engagement. I want to send the pikemen against the lashers in a phalanx. The horses will scatter the gray men easily and then attack the lashers from the rear and the flank. Besides, I intend to catch them by surprise anyway and destroy them in detail. I don’t mean to let them concentrate their force.”
He turned back to Arthrus. “What about armor for the horses?”
“My son, Jamarth, has devised breastplates for them as well that overlap down across the chest like Thaniel’s armor and hook over the neck behind the head.” Arthrus answered. “Later we can attach other pieces to it. But for now there are only thirty-four constructed.”
Aram nodded. “Then we will only take thirty-four horses beside Thaniel.” He looked at Wamlak. “And I want most of them to be archers.”
Jared stepped forward. “My lord – horses will fight without armor.”
Aram frowned at him. “As will men, Jared, but not under my command. Our resources are too limited, and too precious to squander.”
“Would not it be better to have a larger force, even if it is not armored, my lord?” The horse persisted.
“Patience, Jared, let me explain.” Aram sat down and leaned forward with his hands on the table. “Thaniel and I will be fully armored, and we will bear the brunt of the fighting –”
The table erupted in protest at this. Findaen came to his feet. “Lord Aram, you must begin to share the burden of the fighting with us. You are a great warrior – we all have seen it – but you cannot defeat the enemy alone.”
Aram stood also, holding up his hands to gain quiet. “My friends, hear me out. As I told you, I mean to catch them by surprise, before they are organized. In fact, it is my hope that there will not be any kind of organized battle. Thaniel and I can easily manage a few scattered lashers. However, once word of what we do on the eastern shore spreads, there will be larger groups that will come from across the river. These units you will do battle with.”
“Never fear, my friends – I have no doubt but that all of you will get the opportunity to put steel to steel.” He paused and swept his gaze around the assembly. “My purposes are threefold – to free Stell, to render it defensible, and to give at least some of you experience in battle without excessive risk.” He glanced at Ka’en and then fixed his gaze on Findaen. “I can promise you, my friend, that my days of fighting solitary are over. It is my hope that someday we may approach the tower of the grim lord himself with a mighty, well-experienced army. But for now we must move cautiously.”
He sat down. “Arthrus states that we have armor for less than two hundred men, therefore we will take only enough men to match the available armor. There is armor for thirty-four horses and the men who will ride those mounts must be armored as well. That means that only about one hundred and sixty pikemen will go into this battle. Captains, choose your best-trained, most confident men for this campaign. The rest will stay to protect Derosa in our absence. Someday we will have more men and more armor, but for now the army and its particular units will be necessarily small. Nonetheless, all captains will go to this battle. Questions?”
Immediately, Shingka stepped forward. “What about the wolves, master? We want to fight, too.”
“Of course.” Aram nodded. “I mean to take as many of your people as we can spare from the reconnaissance of the western woods.”
Shingka hesitated, glancing at her father. “But we do not fight as an organized force as you call it, my lord. Once in battle, it is generally every wolf for himself, using instinct.”
“Or herself.” Aram smiled gently. “I know this, Shingka, for I have fought against your people before. But this manner of fighting blends well with my plans. Your orders are simple – attack the lashers from behind, when they are already engaged, and do what damage you can. If there are gray men on the field, you are at liberty to attack. I doubt that many of them will possess the courage to face your assault. But do nothing recklessly – I do not want excessive casualties among your people, either.”
Aram gazed into the ancient eyes of Durlrang for a moment and then turned back to the old wolf ’s daughter. “You will lead your people in battle, Shingka, with your father’s permission. I want him with me.”
Durlrang bowed his head. Shingka looked at her father and then at Aram, her blue eyes shining. “You honor me, master.”
After dealing with a few more questions from various members of the council, Aram turned to Arthrus. “As important as the battle will be the journey to and from the field, Arthrus. The men will need supplies, food and rudimentary shelters. For the pikemen, it will be a seven or eight day march to Stell. I want you to manage this part of our campaign – bring Dane and as many carts and drivers as you need. The horses can graze, but we will need food for about two hundred and fifty men, for three weeks. Will you do it?”
Arthrus nodded. “I will, my lord.”
The table had fallen silent. Aram stood, satisfied. “Then make your preparations. We leave in a week.”
Aram spent the week with Ka’en, quietly and peacefully. He left the men to complete their various tasks; Donnick and Wamlak to choose the one hundred and sixty pikemen and thirty or so mounted archers that would go to Stell, while coordinating with Thaniel and Jared to make sure that the thirty horses that would bear them were matched with their riders. It fell to Findaen, Arthrus, and Dane to round up carts and gather supplies.
On the evening before the small army was to leave for Stell, Aram stood with Ka’en at the railing of the veranda on the eastern side of Lancer’s house, gazing out over the fields. As the light failed in the west, she spoke with sudden passion.
“I want to go home when we marry.”
He looked down at her in surprise. “Home?”
She nodded her head, her topaz eyes solemn. “To my home in Regamun Mediar – the one I chose that overlooks the valley.”
“You consider that to be your home?”
“That city is your home, Aram, therefore it is mine. I want our family to grow up in that valley.”
Aram turned and faced her. “Where did this – this desire come from?”
She turned away and stared into the gathering darkness. “I listened at the council, Aram, and I think I know your mind. If you succeed in retaking the capitol of Stell and pushing the frontier to Broad River, then you believe that we will have defensible borders along the west of our land, do you not?”
He nodded, somewhat distracted with admiring her exquisite profile. “Yes, I do.”
“Then will we not have a period of peace?”
Aram frowned at the insinuation. “Perhaps, Ka’en. But even if Manon lets it lie, I will not. If I can find more allies, then I intend to push even further west, eventually, all the way to the great
plains. If there is a period of peace, it will last a year, maybe two at most – and that depends upon what the grim lord does.”
“Will you move the capitol to Stell?”
“That depends upon the wishes of your father and the people of Wallensia.”
“But you will be prince. That decision will fall to you, not them.”
He shook his head. “Well, then, no.”
“Will Derosa be your capitol?”
He thought about it a moment. “I suppose the business of Wallensia will be conducted from here, yes.”
She looked steadily into his eyes. “But will it be your capitol, Aram?”
He shook his head slowly. “No. My ancestors lived in the valley of the kings. If I am to be lord of anything, then Regamun Mediar is my capitol.”
The corners of her lovely mouth curved upward in a knowing smile. “Then that is where we should live.”
“But the military will undoubtedly be based here on the southern plains.”
She cocked her head. “Aram, the men that follow you will learn to be competent soldiers if you will but allow it. You will not always need to shepherd them. If there is a time of peace, even for a few weeks or months – winter, for instance – then I want you home with me. And your city is our home.”
He returned her smile and kissed her. Leaning back, he laughed quietly. “You are a marvel, my love. Ten years ago, I could not have imagined that the circumstances of my life would ever be this good.”
“Good?” She arched her delicate brows. “Tomorrow you march off to war.”
“Yes, but you will be here when I get back.”
“And you will come back?”
“I have answered that question several times.” He protested.
“And I will continue to ask it.”
“Every time?”
Her eyes grew solemn. “Every time. Until the war is over.”
“I will always return to you, Ka’en. And when this war is over, I will never leave you again.”
He parted from her at dawn, asking her to remain in her father’s house, rather than accompanying him to the gate where there were last minute preparations to be made before the army could move. He wanted his parting from her to be quiet, uninterrupted by noise and clamor, so he held her close for a while on the veranda as the sky brightened in the east; then he kissed her and went down the steps and through the town and out onto the plains beyond the gate.
By an hour after sunrise, the wagons had started toward the southwest, the pikemen marching behind them in a column with the horses going in front and out on either flank. Aram packed his and Thaniel’s armor with the others. None of them would need to be armored for several days, and there was no need to march beneath the summer sun laden with an extra layer of steel.
They found the remains of the ancient road beyond the river that led toward Stell and afterward made good time. The weather stayed fair and warm, even hot. Alvern watched from the sky and the wolves patrolled the area around the sleeping men at night. Eight days later, toward evening, the wolves in the vanguard informed Aram that they arrived within sight of the long stockade that crossed the road at a right angle a few miles north of Stell. Aram halted the column while he and Thaniel, Durlrang, and Shingka went on ahead.
Sitting on the horse’s back, looking at the distant outline of ten-foot tall poles sunk into the earth, stretching across the prairie, Aram asked Alvern to describe the country for him, as he had done before.
“The river, as you well know, my lord, is to the west of you. There is an abundant stretch of open ground between the end of the stockade by the river and the first of the fields to the south. There is plenty of open ground the other way, to the east of the enemy’s fence. The gate is on the road.”
“How many enemies guard the gate, Lord Alvern?”
“Two lashers, my lord. Less than ten men.”
“Where do they sleep?”
“There is a hut nearby.”
“And beyond – to the south?”
“The first village – the only village – is less than a half-day’s journey to the south of the stockade. This village lies at a lesser distance from the town than it does from the stockade. To the west of this village, between it and the river, are fields. To the east there is wild ground beyond the fields. Some of this ground is forested, and the forest extends southward along the fields east of the village. You stayed in this wood on your journey, my lord. Between the village and the town, beside the road, there are only more fields.”
“Does the wood extend very far southward, toward Stell?”
“Yes, my lord, about half of the distance, maybe less.”
“How many lashers and gray men at the village?”
“Two lashers – no gray men.”
“Thank you, my friend. Where will you spend this night?”
“In the trees by the river. I will be above you at dawn.”
Aram settled his army along the banks of a small clear stream that meandered from the southeast and flowed under a short, wide bridge in the road. He forbade fires, as he had for two nights now. He found Thaniel’s armor, and his own.
He’d brought his steel armor from Regamun Mediar; in it, he became the “Black Rider” – hopefully a figure of inspiration for his men when battle was joined. But it was with chagrin that he realized that the hood, which muted the song of the blade for him when it was deployed, had been left behind with the rest of the armor from the mountain. He would no doubt miss it on the morrow. Mentally castigating himself for this error, he sent for Findaen, Donnick, Lestar, Mallet, Jonwood, and Wamlak, and the three horses, Colrad, Braska, and Markris as he dressed himself and the horse into the steel.
“Findaen, you and Donnick and Lestar will stay with the army tonight. You three,” he said, indicating Mallet, Jonwood, and Wamlak, “will dress into your breastplates, collect your weapons, armor your horses with their breastplates, and join me on that hill to the south at sunset.”
“Where are you going, my lord?” Findaen asked.
Before answering, Aram glanced down at Durlrang. “Send for Shingka.”
“Yes, master.”
As he secured the last of the stays on Thaniel’s armor Aram addressed Findaen’s question. “There are a couple of lashers and a few gray men guarding a gate on the road a mile or so south. We need to kill them quietly tonight in order to maintain the element of surprise for tomorrow.” He moved his hand, indicating Mallet, Jonwood, Wamlak, and himself. “We will accomplish the deed tonight about midnight. The rest of you will prepare to be on the move southward an hour before dawn to free the village.”
Findaen glanced at Donnick. “What is the plan of attack, my lord?”
Aram finished the disposition of the horse’s armor and turned to face the two men. “That is why I wanted to see you and Donnick. After we eliminate those that guard the gate, Mallet will return here, to march south with you in the morning. When he returns, send the rest of the horsemen along the road to me tonight, and be ready to march your pikemen as soon as there is enough light, before dawn. Jonwood, Wamlak, the horsemen, and I will go south in a wide loop across the prairie tonight and into the woods that lie to the east of a village – the only village between us and Stell. There are two lashers there.
“At dawn, we will strike quickly, with any luck killing both beasts before an alarm can be raised. By that time, you and the rest of the men should be almost to us.” He looked at Donnick. “Findaen will then go with me and the rest of the horsemen. Listen carefully, my friend. You and your captains must get south of the village quickly and form up across the road in a solid line of three ranks – as we have trained. Then you will march slowly and deliberately toward Stell. I have no doubt that you will be seen and attacked.
“You have one hundred and sixty men, Captain. Deploy one hundred and twenty on the line, keeping a reserve of forty to the rear, on the road, so that they can be moved to any point in the line where they may be needed, once contact with t
he enemy has been made. They may be deployed as one company, if so needed, or in companies of ten or twenty to various spots on the line to plug gaps or add strength to an advance as you see fit – alright?”
“Yes, my lord, I understand perfectly.” Donnick’s features remained impassive, but his words came out in an uncharacteristic rush. “I will place Mallet at the center with Alred left and Aberlon right, and Lestar with his company as reserve.”
Aram nodded his approval. “Good. Hold your men in line – prepare to receive the attack of the enemy but do not launch an attack of your own. Let them come. Before the lashers and gray men that muster out of the town are able to close on your ranks, I and the horsemen will attack their right flank from the woods. At the same time, the wolves will attack their left from the river.
“You and your line, Captain, are our anchor of order on the field. There will be confusion, especially when the wolves engage – but that is the way of battle. Thaniel and I, with Findaen and his troop, will do our best to see that you do not have to deal with many lashers. Gray men are dangerous, but no match for the strength and intelligence of free men. They do not concern me.
“The lashers will be most dangerous. Wamlak and his mounted archers will do as much damage to the beasts as possible, and Thaniel and I will go in among them but there may be too many for us to manage. It is possible that you will have to face some of them on the field. Keep the men in close ranks with their pikes to the enemy. It is my hope that the enemy has no archers of his own, but if so, we will attempt to address them at the first, before they can do you much harm. I want no casualties, but I know there will be some – let’s keep them to a minimum. Do you understand?”
Donnick nodded shortly. “I do, my lord.” Aram could see in his eyes that the somber man grasped exactly what was required of him and his infantry.
Shingka came loping up. Aram went to one knee and looked in her eyes. “I want your people to come with me tonight. We are going to kill those that guard the gate. You will help us approach the hut where they sleep and then watch the road to the south. I want none to get past.”
Kelven's Riddle Book Two Page 47
