a brave lad for helping.’
The Tsurani Patrol Leader approached, bowed to the priest and said something.
Corwin looked over at Gregory.
‘He said that the wounded man, Osami, now owes you a debt which the clan must honour. If we fight and they don’t kill you, they must make you a slave. So if we fight, they’ll let you leave before they kill all of us, so they won’t have to capture or kill you.’ Gregory explained.
Corwin said nothing for a moment and then began to chuckle softly. ‘Hell, tell him I think you’re all crazy,’ Corwin replied. ‘When you’re done killing each other I’ll take all your coins, and whatever the Tsurani use, and consider it a donation to the church.’
Gregory translated and now the Tsurani laughed. The tension in the room eased for a moment.
Gregory knelt next to Corwin. ‘You a chirugeon?’ He pointed to the small kit Corwin had used and was now cleaning ready to put away.
The priest shrugged. ‘As a boy I apprenticed to one for a while.’
‘What happened?’ asked the Ranger. ‘Get the calling?’
Putting away his medical tools, the priest said, ‘No, that came later. I was a mercenary for a while.’
Remembering how frightened the priest had been when they had first met, Gregory could barely hide his surprise. ‘A mercenary?’
Corwin nodded. ‘Not all mercenaries are swordsmen, Ranger. I have no skill with blade or bow. I earned my living with a company of engineers building siege machines. Give me two men with axes and in less than a day I can turn a tree into a ram that would knock down that stone wall out there in under ten minutes. Throw in a pair of hammers and one bow saw, and I can do it in six hours.’ He paused as if remembering. ‘Saw most of my fighting from a distance, though I’ve had a few close calls under a wall or two, trying to collapse a foundation.’ He smiled at Gregory’s blank expression. ‘I used to be a fair sapper, too.’ He sighed and lost his smile. ‘And I had more than my share of practice keeping other men alive, I can tell you.’ He stood, and Gregory did as well. ‘Then I got the calling and entered the temple.’
Gregory nodded. ‘I thought you priests used your magic to heal.’
Corwin shrugged. ‘Like anything else, healing magic takes talent. Some brothers could heal every man here in a couple of days. A rare few can lay on hands and make a wound vanish or a bone heal in an hour. I have no such gift. I have to rely on my tools and prayer. The bit of “magic” I used to calm the boy is simply a healer’s trick; anyone can learn it.’
Gregory didn’t comment.
Sighing with fatigue, Corwin said, ‘Besides, I never said I was a particularly good priest, did I?’
‘Guard change, five minutes!’
Both Gregory and Corwin looked to see Dennis standing in the doorway, Asayaga by his side, shouting the same order in Tsurani. A chorus of curses and groans greeted the order.
Richard pushed through the press of men, reaching the place where he had hung up his outer coat, jerkin, boots and socks. They had yet to dry, and slipping on the damp woollen socks and sodden boots he grimaced. A Tsurani was sitting beside him, mumbling under his breath as he wrapped on his footcloths and then laced up the heavy sandals. Their eyes caught for a second and this time Richard did not lower his gaze.
Again the impenetrable stare. The one-eyed man came past the two, barked something at the Tsurani and continued on. There was a look in the man’s eyes and Richard for the first time felt that he could understand something about these alien invaders, for he recognized the mixture of respect and hatred all soldiers hold for good sergeants. He almost smiled at the reaction. Again their eyes held and there seemed to be a brief instant in which the Tsurani was ready to smile as well.
And then both of them realized just who the other person was.
They turned away, stood up, belted on their swords, and formed up with their squads.
‘Everyone listen.’
It was Dennis.
‘It’s quiet out there except for the damnable weather – it’s slackening a bit, but it’s still no spring evening. Squads one and two, on the wall, keep a sharp watch, and keep your fool heads down. They can see you more easily silhouetted up there than you can see them; and, remember, the moredhel have better eyes in the night than we do.
‘Third squad, under Gregory, will secure the flank of the hill to our left. Gregory will detail several of you off to probe forward. Tinuva tracked the Dark Brothers. They’ve holed up in an abandoned mine a mile downslope but have patrols out.
‘Two hours then we shift watches again. Those of you detailed to the flank and forward patrol will get an extra hour of rest when you come back in. The Tsurani have the same routine and will cover the right flank.’
‘When do we fight them?’ Darvan asked from the back of the room. Several men growled in agreement, while others mumbled for him to shut the hell up.
‘When I tell you and not before, you damned fool,’ Dennis snapped. ‘Now get the hell outside!’
Richard fell in with his unit and followed the men out into the night. The storm still raged and he gasped as the cold wind hit. Filing past, rushing to get inside, were the miserable men who had been detailed to the first watch.
‘Third squad.’
Gregory stepped in front of the group and motioned for them to follow. A narrow trail fifty yards further up the pass had been found, switchbacking its way up the icy slope. The men struggled to keep a footing, hanging on as gusts of wind roared through the pass, ready to snatch them off the icy precipice. The night was pitch-black, the men cursing, even the older veterans complaining that it was madness to be out on watch on a night like this.
The group pressed on. Struggling to the top of the pass they met Tinuva and several men. Gregory and the elf conferred briefly, then the first watch headed back down to the shelter below. Gregory motioned for the men to gather round.
‘We seem to be lucky for once,’ Gregory announced. ‘The storm’s driven them all back to the old mine but that’s no reason to let our guard down. It might even be a trick. Space out, a man to every thirty paces, and don’t get lost. Keep a sharp watch. I’m going forward and please don’t kill me when I come back in.’
The men chuckled grimly.
‘Move!’
The squad started into the woods, moving just below the top of the crest. Richard made to follow, but Gregory motioned him back.
‘You’re going forward with me.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes, you. Something wrong with your hearing, boy?’
Richard swallowed hard, saying nothing.
Without another word Gregory started down the slope, drifting from tree to tree, Richard struggling to keep pace. Looking to his right he caught a glimpse of the pass below, the glow of firelight shimmering from the top of the
