"I don't understand,” Cortain Tagoro said to Lord Marak, “Lord Marshal Grefon has never authorized night operations before. Why are they still trailing us?"
"Because he wants me very badly,” answered Lord Marak. “If I guess correctly, Lord Marshal Grefon's freedom may rest on my shoulders. I suspect that the Cortes following us have orders not to stop until I am caught. I did make him look rather incompetent in the Meeting Chamber this morning."
"If we were facing something closer to even odds,” commented Cortain Tagoro, “I would loop up behind them and attack them from the rear."
"What bothers me,” offered Lord Marak, “is that they have not pushed to the point of contact with us. It is almost as if Lord Marshal Grefon is using three Cortes for a tracking party. That is extremely large for trackers. I think they are meant to keep our attention while someone else closes in. I should have thought of this earlier, but their failure to stop at sunset triggered my alarm."
"Are you suggesting that there are other Cortes out here heading for us?” questioned Cortain Tagoro.
"Yes,” replied Lord Marak. “I wouldn't be surprised to find the entire Lituk Valley Army in this forest hunting for us. We are in trouble, Cortain. I want more forward scouts out immediately. Start laying traps behind us to slow the Situ down. If you can capture one of their scouts, find out what their orders are. Other than that, we need to keep this column moving."
"As you command, Lord Marak,” saluted Cortain Tagoro.
The Torak Corte moved on into the night. It was not long before one of the scouts reported another Situ Army heading for them from another direction. Cortain Tagoro altered his course and ordered an increase in the speed of the troops. The traps helped to slow the pursuing Cortes, but did not dissuade them from following. Around midnight, Cortain Tagoro called a halt to the procession.
"What it is, Cortain Tagoro?” asked Lord Marak.
"There is another Corte up ahead,” reported the Cortain. “This group is camped for the night."
"Lord Marshal Grefon had troops already stationed in the forest,” swore Lord Marak. “He planned on me trying to escape whether I won or not. How could I have been so blind? How much lead do we have on the Situ following us?"
"One hour for sure, two at the most,” answered Cortain Tagoro.
"Draw me a map,” ordered Lord Marak.
Cortain Tagoro called for a torch and started drawing a crude map in the dirt. When he completed the map, Lord Marak studied it for a while.
"We are going to attack the campsite, Cortain,” smiled Lord Marak as he took the stick and pointed to a spot on the map. “I want to proceed to about here. At this point the men will dismount and you will have some men take the horses off in this direction. They will make sure that the trail is evident. The rest of us will proceed on foot to the campsite. I want the horses to proceed in a loop wide enough to avoid their flanking scouts and return to the campsite. We will have that much time to kill the camping Situ."
"But the Cortes behind us will be very close by then,” protested Cortain Tagoro. “You risk having us surrounded by the Situ."
"I do,” agreed Lord Marak. “However, I believe that your training will prove to be sufficient to eliminate the campsite before the other Cortes arrive. After we deal with the campsite, Gunta and Halman will remain behind with me. You will lead the rest of the men in a straight line for the Sorgan border. The vision of a dead Situ Corte will slow down our pursuers more than the traps we have been setting. Halman, Gunta, and I will start attacking their scouts."
"I fail to see the wisdom in your plan, Lord Marak,” objected Cortain Tagoro. “Lord Marshal Grefon is sending his army into the woods at night to capture you, not my men. How does my Corte abandoning you aid our cause and not his?"
"For one,” smiled Lord Marak, “my trail will be harder to follow with only three of us. The sheer number of men accompanying me is making their job easier, yet we still need to get word to Lord Marshal Yenga that the Situ will be attacking. The Situ will stop chasing you and your men and embark on the more difficult task of tracking me."
"Why would they stop tracking me?” protested Cortain Tagoro. “They wouldn't even know ... you plan on making sure that they know you have stayed behind! That is suicide, My Lord. I can not allow you to do this."
"You have no choice, Cortain,” ordered Lord Marak. “The three of us have evaded the Situ before and we shall do so again. Lord Marshal Grefon may have ordered them to chase us through the night, but the Situ are not night fighters, we are. Now, we can continue this discussion and waste valuable time or we can put my plan into action. I appreciate your feelings, Tagoro, but I think this is the best plan we can come up with."
Very well, My Lord,” saluted Cortain Tagoro. “I will get the men prepared."
Lord Marak watched Cortain Tagoro storm off and brief his men on the plan. The men kept glancing over at Lord Marak as they listened to the plan and he knew that Cortain Tagoro had not hidden his feelings very well, but he also knew that his old friend would follow his orders. The Corte mounted and rode in silence to the spot Lord Marak had selected. A dozen men had to be assigned to take the horses and set a false trail while the rest marched towards the camped Situ Corte.
Lord Marak smiled in appreciation as he watched Tagoro's men professionally take up their positions in the woods surrounding the campsite. There would be no call for surrender this time. Lord Marak had no way to take captives in a forest surrounded by his enemy. At Tagoro's signal, the Torak archers let fly a murderous barrage. The campsite leaped to alertness as the first arrows struck home, but the defenders were dazed and confused. The Situ soldiers ran for swords when they should have reached for their bows. They allowed the illuminating campfire to remain lit, while the darkness enshrouded the Torak men. The bulk of the Situ soldiers succumbed to arrows and the Torak soldiers moved into the campsite to finish the attack.
One wounded Situ soldier tried vainly to reach his sword and Lord Marak halted the killing blow one of Tagoro's men was about to deliver. With hand signals, Lord Marak indicated that the man should be spared and everyone intentionally ignored the wounded Situ.
"Cortain Tagoro, shouted Lord Marak with a wink, “I am ordering your men to return to Fardale immediately. I will keep two of them to accompany me. Perhaps it is time for me to go back to Lituk Valley and put an end to Lord Ridak personally."
Cortain Tagoro grimaced and he responded. “As you wish, Lord Marak. There may be other Situ scum in the forest. I will try to draw them off as I return home."
Neither of them had lied, but the information they wanted to convey to the wounded soldier had been stated. The Torak men had to wait another five minutes before their horses arrived and Cortain Tagoro bid farewell to Lord Marak. Lord Marak and his two selected men made a point of heading eastward out of the campsite, while Cortain Tagoro led his men westward. Lord Marak estimated that the Situ Cortes would arrive in about a half-hour and hoped the wounded man survived to greet them. He had not enjoyed killing the men at the campsite, but it had been preferable to the slaughter of his own men. With a grimace of his own, Lord Marak led his two men into the darkness of the forest.
* * * *
Cortain Rybak sat in the communications room sharpening his sword. He itched to be out on the front lines getting ready for the Situ attack, but Lord Marshal Yenga had not declared him fit for service yet. While it was true that Rybak had trouble getting around, it still bothered him that others would be fighting a battle which he yearned to participate in. He was almost saddened to find out that Lord Marak had killed Koors. The pain Koors had inflicted on him deserved more of a payback than a simple death could deliver. The Chula healer had done things to him that he had never seen done before and it still amazed Gunta and Halman that he was even able to walk again. The scars still covered his body, but the pain of the burns and cuts was only a memory, although it was still a very vivid memory to Rybak. At least Rybak had the pleasure of knowing that he had told
Koors nothing despite the repeated torture sessions. He smiled inwardly at Lord Marshal Grefon's displeasure with the inability of Koors to gain any information.
"Cortain Rybak,” came the voice out of thin air, “the Situ are still gathering on the road, but they are not advancing. Can you contact Lectain Zorkil and find out if his scouts have returned with any information?"
"Certainly, Lord Marshal Yenga,” answered Cortain Rybak. “I will get right back to you."
The magic of the Air Tubes still amazed Cortain Rybak. Lord Marshal Yenga was off in the hills leading into Fardale and yet his voice sounded as if it came from the same room. Cortain Rybak nodded to the Air Mage and she adjusted the channel to Lectain Zorkil.
"Lectain Zorkil,” called Cortain Rybak, “the Lord Marshal wants to know if your scouts have returned any information."
"Nothing certain,” the Lectain replied. “The Situ Armies continue to gather. I have had to limit the area of my scouts because the Situ have roving patrols all along the border. Has Lord Marak returned yet?"
"We have had no word since Cortain Tagoro returned,” answered Cortain Rybak. “If we do hear from him I will let everyone know."
"Good,” stated Lectain Zorkil. “Let Lord Marshal Yenga know that the gathering of the Situ is spreading out over here. It is almost as if they are building a human wall out there."
"I will inform him,” Cortain Rybak said.
He relayed the information to Lord Marshal Yenga who was not enthusiastic about the news from Lectain Zorkil. In fact, Lord Marshal Yenga was becoming concerned with the unusual tactics of the Situ Army. Once again, the Lord Marshal walked up to the observation point and peered down at the Situ gathering on the road.
"What do you make of this, Cortain Tagoro?” asked the Lord Marshal. “It is unlike anything I have ever seen. Why are they so spread out and why aren't they attacking?"
"I was told that I might find you two up here,” came the voice from behind them. “What is the situation?"
Lord Marshal Yenga and Cortain Tagoro whirled at the sound of Lord Marak's voice. “Where in Khadora have you been?” greeted the Lord Marshal. “You have the entire Army concerned about your whereabouts."
"The Situ trackers were persistent,” shrugged Lord Marak. “They had to be taught a lesson in humility. Why are the Situ gathering and not attacking?"
"Cortain Tagoro,” ordered Lord Marshal Yenga, “inform Cortain Rybak that our Lord has returned. Make sure that the word is spread to every unit."
Cortain Tagoro smiled broadly as he saluted and headed back to where the Air Mage kept the communications link to the mansion.
"I don't know what they are up to,” admitted Lord Marshal Yenga. “They are not only gathering on the road, either. I have Lectain Zorkil south of here and he reports a similar gathering by him. They seem to approach to within bowshot and then retreat a little ways before gathering. It is as if they are probing the line looking for a weak spot. I have never seen anything like it."
"I have,” frowned Lord Marak. “I did not realize that Lord Marshal Grefon even paid attention to our war games. I used this very method against some of the other Situ teams last year. The idea is to keep the defenders on edge and unaware of where you will strike. You spread your forces out across the entire line and the defender has to do likewise, but you have the advantage of knowing where you will attempt to break through. That is what all of the probing is about. He is trying to decide on his entry point."
"Is there anything we can do to affect his choice?” queried the Lord Marshal.
Lord Marak appeared to be lost in thought as he gazed down at the amassing Situ Army. Lord Marshal Yenga noticed several bloodied cuts in the Lord's uniform and was about to ask about them when Lord Marak suddenly whirled towards him.
"We need to bring up the reserves from Woodville,” Lord Marak said excitedly. “The Situ are not going to turn and attack us from the rear like I did in the games last year. They are going to run straight for Fardale. Lord Ridak will try to use the civilians as shields while he holds our own estate against us."
"What makes you believe that?” asked Lord Marshal Yenga.
"Cortain Koors commented on my strategy when I used it,” answered Lord Marak. “He commented that while I had been lucky to break through, I should have gone after the prize instead of fighting the defenders. Koors learned his fighting strategy from Grefon. He will go for our civilians."
"That is sound enough logic for me,” allowed Lord Marshal Yenga, “but bringing up the reserves will not solve the problem of defending against his strategy."
"It will,” assured Lord Marak. “Do not bring them all the way to the front. Keep them a short distance back and out of sight, then break your line in the center and start peeling it back to create a funnel. Lord Ridak will find his weak spot in our line soon enough. When he does he will be making a dash towards Fardale. That is when we bring in the sides of the funnel and surround him."
"I believe you are right,” grinned Lord Marshal Yenga. “I will arrange our reception shortly. Have you had those wounds looked at yet?"
"They are minor wounds,” answered Lord Marak. “Halman was not so lucky. Gunta has taken him to the mansion for healing. Get our trap set up quickly. I do not wish a falling sun to give the Situ an excuse to delay another day."
* * * *
Klora ducked behind a large tree to avoid being seen by the Situ soldier. There should not have been a Situ soldier anywhere near the mages’ practice field. After all, the field was home to the mages because it was out of the way and not on a direct route to anywhere. Klora leaned around the tree and watched the Situ soldier. He appeared to be looking for something or someone. His head constantly turned and his eyes darted back and forth. As if forgetting something, the Situ soldier suddenly turned and went back the way he had come. Klora waited until he was out of sight before she turned and ran back into the practice field which she had left for personal reasons. Quickly, she waved all of the mages together and explained what she had seen.
"He is probably a scout,” offered Wogra, a Water Mage.
"Then more will be coming,” declared Iscala, an Air Mage.
"Iscala,” ordered Klora, “inform the control center immediately. Lord Marshal Yenga will send some troops here to take care of them."
"I have been monitoring what is going on,” frowned Iscala, “and I don't think they will be able to. Lord Marak has returned and they are preparing for a big battle. They have even called up the reserve forces out of Woodville."
"Even if they could spare the men,” stated Glenda, “it would likely take too long for them to get here in time to protect us. We have been training to be battle mages. It is time for one more practice session, but this time our targets will be live."
Klora stood and looked at the other mages present. There was fear in their faces, but there was also determination and eagerness. Most of the mages were former slaves and each of them had vowed never to permit themselves to be enslaved again. There was little doubt what the Situ Clan would do with them if Fardale was defeated. They had all made a solemn pledge to follow Lord Marak, not only because of their Vows of Service, but because he had freed them and was worthy of their pledge.
"Very well,” Klora declared, “the first battle of the Mage Corps is about to begin. Each of you knows your specialties and I will not presume to know how to organize a battle. Everyone will stay out of sight as long as possible before attacking. One thing we must make sure of, no Situ soldier will remain alive to talk about our use of magic in battle. Lord Marak made it clear that he wants to hide our new found abilities. Iscala, you should lead a group into the forest and be prepared to kill any soldiers trying to retreat. Make sure that your group remains hidden until the last soldier has passed you. Everyone else find places around the edges of the practice field. Nobody should enter the field once the battle begins. It will be a killing zone."
The mages scattered and hid in the woods. Some scrambled under piles of
leaves and some behind bushes or boulders while others created small fog patches lying on the ground. The Mage Corps did not have long to wait. The scout returned at the head of a large column of men. The Situ soldiers entered the field and nothing happened as they spread out and looked around. The lead part of the column was almost ready to exit the field and continue on their journey when a Cortain stopped and pulled out a map.
Troops were still straggling into the field when Klora started the attack by using heat to melt the officer's armor. The Cortain's screams signaled the other mages to start their own attack. Some soldiers began exploding from their own internal pressures. Others clawed at their armor in a vain attempt to remove the liquefying metal. Every rock and boulder within the field exploded into thousands of flying rock slivers which found their way into the bodies of the Situ soldiers. Large logs flew onto the field smashing soldiers from their horses. Large trees from the edges of the fields rolled across the ground knocking down everyone and everything in their path. Fire broke out among the heap of bodies and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.
The battle lasted only a few moments. The practice field was so large that the test of one's ability to cast spells at a distance was determined by whether or not the mage could affect something at the other end of the field. Now that field was an inferno of Situ bodies and burning horses. Not one arrow had been fired nor had a single sword been drawn, but five hundred dead Situ soldiers and five hundred horses lay polluting the air. The only sound was the crackling of the flames and a last screaming cry from a few of the Situ attackers.
* * * *
Lord Marshal Grefon charged through the gap in the Torak defenses with the rest of his soldiers. Even Lord Ridak urged his horse to go faster as they began the race to the mansion at Fardale. A wicked, spiteful smile adorned the Situ Lord's face as he thought about his final victory over Lord Marak. The Situ soldiers flew past the Situ Lord as they eagerly sought the enemy.
Young Lord of Khadora [Forgotten Legacy Book 1] Page 33
