door, Sugama falling in by his side.
‘You know what will be said back home of this arrangement,’ Sugama whispered.
‘Why, what would you say of it?’ Asayaga fixed him with his gaze. Sugama backed down.
‘They are enemies, but we have a truce; that is sufficient for now,’ Asayaga explained patiently. ‘We are, as the Natalese Ranger puts it, only postponing our fight.’
The bitter wind cut off his words as he stepped out into the open ground in front of the barracks. His men were rapidly falling in. The last of those coming in from guarding the flank stumbled into line, grateful when a comrade offered them a warm piece of meat, or a dry blanket to throw over their shoulders.
He almost felt as if it was a race to see who could form up first, thus demonstrating their discipline. The last of the Kingdom troops came out of the barracks as Tasemu walked down the line and barked a command, the men snapping to attention.
Asayaga looked over at Hartraft’s men who were standing in lines, half a dozen feet away. They did not come to attention as their captain passed. He paused with several of the men, checking their packs, slapping one of them on the shoulder, trading a comment with another that triggered a gruff laugh. Several of the men looked over at Asayaga and he wondered if they had made a joke about him.
‘Order of march,’ Gregory announced, stepping between the two groups.
‘The trail is wide enough for the next few leagues that we move in twin lines. I’ll bring up the rear, laying traps to slow them. I’d like several of the Tsurani to help.’ He looked over at Asayaga and saw Dennis had crossed to stand next to him. Asayaga’s eyebrow lifted in an unspoken question. ‘I estimate an hour, two at most before they try to storm this place. By that time we’ve got to be three miles or more away, then we’re off the trail and into the woods. You have more men, and they’re fresher if we need to run like hell to catch up. If that is acceptable to you, Force Commander,’ Gregory added, grinning.
Asayaga was surprised by the Natalese. He had given an order but offered it as a suggestion. His diplomacy was good. Asayaga nodded and repeated the suggestion of the scout, making it an order, and detailing off four of his best runners to bring up the rear.
Dennis looked over at Asayaga. ‘Keep your men separate from mine. No weapons drawn except bows. If we hit an ambush you break to the left of the trail, I’ll take the right. Make sure your men keep up.’
‘Make sure yours keep up,’ Asayaga snapped.
‘We’ll see.’
‘All right, you bastards, let’s get out of here!’
For a second Asayaga flared, ready to explode at the insult to his lineage, then realized that Hartraft was addressing his own men.
Strange, these Kingdom men, he thought. The informality, the casualness of how they speak to each other, even the way they march.
Asayaga started to move towards the head of the column. There was an explosion of curses behind him. Turning, he saw one of the Kingdom soldiers stepping out of the ranks, shouting, charging into his line of men, shoving a Patrol Leader, Fukizama, to the ground.
Asayaga could barely understand the words the Kingdom soldier was shouting, but it sounded like ‘… you thieving bastard!’
Fukizama rolled and came up, dagger drawn. He slashed out, slicing the man across the thigh. The Kingdom soldier, swearing, leapt back, drawing his sword.
Blades snapped out from scabbards on both sides and the two lines began to move towards each other, ready to fight.
Asayaga ran down the line, shouting, Dennis by his side, knocking swords up.
Fukizama had now tossed his dagger aside, and had his sword drawn.
‘My name!’ Fukizama screamed. ‘My honour has been insulted!’
He started forward but Asayaga pushed him back.
‘He struck me. Are we cowards, Force Commander? Are we dogs to be whipped without reply? I claim the right of honour.’
Asayaga froze. He saw Tasemu standing behind Fukizama. The sergeant was silent. He could hear the whispers of his men.
He turned and looked over at Hartraft who was standing in front of his men, blocking the enraged Kingdom soldier who was shouting obscenities at Fukizama.
‘Your man there,’ Dennis announced, pointing towards Fukizama. ‘He stole Wilhelm’s money-purse in the barracks. Wilhelm just now saw him slipping it into his pouch.’
Asayaga looked over at Fukizama and said nothing. It would be like him to do such a thing, most of his comrades did not trust him in any game of chance. He was crafty, and was part of the group gathered around Sugama.
He could see though that there was no chance of settling this, since Fukizama had already claimed his right to honour.
‘It is a duel then,’ Asayaga said, his voice cold. ‘Your man struck mine first.’ He then said the same in Tsurani.
‘Damn all to hell,’ Dennis snapped. ‘The Dark Brothers are breathing down our necks.’
Asayaga turned to face Dennis. ‘It is a duel,’ he said, ‘or we fight, here and now. Which shall it be, Captain?’
Gregory was between the two. His anger barely reined in, Dennis looked at Asayaga, then finally nodded his head in disgust. ‘You god-cursed Tsurani. You and your damnable honour.’
Even as he spoke he stepped back.
Asayaga nodded to Fukizama. As he did so his own men stepped back, forming half a circle.
The two had their blades out, the Kingdom soldier a heavy bastard-sword, Fukizama a lighter one-handed weapon. Fukizama assumed the ritual stance, blade drawn back behind his left shoulder, both hands on the hilt.
The Kingdom soldier held his sword with two hands, then charged in, bringing the blade down in a flashing arc. It was over in seconds. Fukizama jumped deftly to one side, holding his footing on the icy ground. Before the Kingdom soldier could recover Fukizama was in on him and with a single blow brought his sword down in a slashing blow, nearly severing the man’s head from his shoulders.
The soldier collapsed, dark blood spraying out. A cheer went up from the Tsurani.
Asayaga looked over at the other Kingdom soldiers. Blades were still out, angry mutters echoing. It had been closer to murder than a real fight. Asayaga looked back at his own men and it was all so clear. Fukizama had picked his opponent well, gauged him, looking for someone young, tired and obviously inexperienced and had then provoked him.
Fukizama turned to face the Kingdom troops, a taunt forming. The Kingdom troops were ready to charge.
‘Fukizama!’
The triumphant soldier turned.
‘Drop your weapon!’ Asayaga shouted.
Tsurani-bred discipline caused instant obedience before the man realized something dire was about to happen to him. ‘Force
