The Complete Legends of the Riftwar Trilogy: Honoured Enemy, Murder in Lamut, Jimmy the Hand. Raymond E. Feist

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СКАЧАТЬ way you will never learn if you are lucky. I’m taking you along because I see no way out of it, but I’ll be damned if your blundering gets my men killed.’

      ‘Blundering? I don’t call the last nine years blundering. If we are blunderers why are we winning this war?’

      Dennis wearily lowered his head and shook it. ‘Maybe we should just settle it now,’ he sighed. He stood up. ‘By the Gods, either that or just give me a simple yes that we march together, and fight as a unit if attacked. Later we can argue all we want and cut each other’s hearts out.’ He looked back up at Asayaga. ‘Or in your case, perhaps cut your throat so you’ll shut up.’

      ‘What was that?’ Asayaga snapped, not sure of what Hartraft had said because he had spoken the last words softly and quickly.

      ‘Nothing, Tsurani, nothing.’

      ‘It is not “Tsurani”. You say it as an oath. I am Force Commander Asayaga of the Kodeko, undercommander of the forces of the Warlord in the east, of the Clan Kanazawai, son of Lord Ginja of House Kodeko, brother to –’

      ‘All right. Asay, then.’

      ‘Asayaga.’

      ‘Fine, Asayaga.’ He cursed softly under his breath as he stood up. ‘Let’s go tell the men.’

      Asayaga knew that all in the room had been watching as they had left. There would be some concern on the part of his own men that perhaps the Kingdom barbarian had attacked Asayaga in a treacherous act; he had no idea what might concern the Kingdom soldiers, but he knew that tensions would be mounting.

      They entered the barracks and again were almost overwhelmed by the heat and stench compared to the icy clear air outside.

      Asayaga looked around the room. ‘We march tonight,’ he announced. ‘The Dark Ones will attack before dawn. The Kingdom soldiers are … allied to us until we are clear of the other enemy. You are not to speak to them, even to notice them, and you are forbidden to fight with them until I order otherwise. Once we’ve escaped from the Dark Ones, then there will be enough time for honour to be served.’

      He could see more than one of his men relaxing with the announcement. Tasemu was right: the men, physically, were at their limit. Fighting was the last thing they wanted at this moment. If there was to be a fight, they wanted to save their strength, and as many as their comrades as possible, for the encounter with the Dark Brothers.

      Sugama looked up at him, and fortunately had the good sense to keep his mouth shut and offer no challenge to what was a direct order.

      ‘Captain.’

      Asayaga looked over his shoulder, to see that it was the Natalese scout, who had spoken to Dennis. Neither he or Hartraft had seen the scout and his young companion return to the stockade, so intent had been their conversation.

      ‘They’re coming,’ Dennis said quietly and Gregory nodded agreement.

      Gregory started to explain, but Asayaga held up his hand, letting him know that he already understood.

      ‘We have about an hour, maybe two,’ Gregory said. ‘They’re slow forming up, but their flankers are already starting to climb the rocks to get above us. Tinuva is keeping an eye on them. We’ve killed a couple of their pickets on the way back, so the moredhel will be cautious on the advance, fearing a trap. We’ve got a little time, but we better pack up and get out of here now if it’s going to do us any good.’

      Dennis snapped a command to Alwin Barry, still standing behind Sugama, and instantly the room was bustling with activity as Kingdom troops started to don equipment. The order was passed outside, and within seconds more Kingdom troops streamed in, gathering around the fire to soak up a few minutes, warmth and wolf down the last of the stew.

      Asayaga, shouting orders, began to gather his own men as well.

      ‘I understand there is an arrangement,’ Gregory asked, coming up to Asayaga’s side and speaking in Tsurani.

      Asayaga simply nodded.

      ‘Smart move by both of you.’

      ‘It doesn’t mean the fight between us is over, Natalese.’

      Gregory grinned. ‘I never said it was. But I’m happy to see it postponed.’

      Asayaga went over to where his four wounded laid. Two of them were putting on their gear and standing up; but the third, Ulgani, was barely conscious. Several of his comrades had gathered around him, heads bowed, hands placed upon his chest, whispering the prayer for the dying.

      With all the bustle and turmoil in the room there seemed to be a ring of silence around this small group. Even the Kingdom soldiers, standing but a few feet away were silent. Ulgani’s Patrol Leader placed a hand over his comrade’s eyes, then drew his dagger.

      It was over in seconds and the three stepped back, one of them draping a blanket over their dead comrade.

      Asayaga looked down at Osami who had watched the ceremony, wide-eyed. He went to kneel by the boy’s side. ‘The march ahead, it is hard. Hard even on old veterans who are healthy. Remember, the chain is only as strong as the weakest link.’

      The boy looked up at him, nodded, and then looked back at Ulgani. Blood was soaking through the blanket.

      ‘I can run,’ Osami whispered. He started to reach for his trousers, but they had been cut away and laid by his side, shredded and blood-soaked.

      Panicked the boy looked around.

      Someone tossed the boy a pair of trousers, tanned leather, most likely from a dead moredhel. It was the Kingdom priest.

      ‘I’ll keep an eye on him,’ Brother Corwin said.

      ‘Stay out of this, dark robe.’

      ‘No. I put a lot of effort into that boy. He’ll keep up, same as that other boy,’ and the priest nodded to the Kingdom soldier with the broken leg. Grimacing, the boy was on his feet, supporting himself with a makeshift crutch.

      ‘If it comes to running they’re both dead.’

      Dennis had come up to join the debate and was looking over coldly at Corwin.

      Corwin grinned. ‘We’ll see when it comes time to run, won’t we? For now, let them be my concern.’

      ‘Be it on your head then, priest, but we slow for no one.’

      Corwin waved him aside and bent over to help the Tsurani get dressed. Osami rejected the offer, even though it was obvious that he was in agony getting the trousers on.

      ‘Everyone out!’ Dennis shouted. ‘Form up by unit!’

      Asayaga, not wanting to let even the implication form that he was following Dennis shouted out his orders for his men to be outside first and ready to march.

      There was a final frenzy of activity: men cutting off steaming slices from the haunch of stag still roasting in the fire, dipping earthen mugs into the bottom of the kettle for the last of the stew, snatching blankets from bunks to use as capes; while others filled skins with water, and tucked the skins under СКАЧАТЬ