The Serpentwar Saga: The Complete 4-Book Collection. Raymond E. Feist

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СКАЧАТЬ grunted the Saaur officer. ‘Our riders have chased the little hairy humans back into the mountains to the north of here. The ride will be so quiet you may sleep in the saddle.’ He moved onto the bridge and his huge horse’s weight made it creak alarmingly, but it held even if it did bow under the load. He led his animal into camp without noticing. Erik gave a silent prayer of thanks that it held. And he was pleased he wasn’t going to be around to see if the bridge held after repeated Saaur use.

      De Loungville shouted, ‘Break camp! I want every man mounted and ready to ride in ten minutes!’

      Erik hurried, for like every man there, he knew the longer they were around the Saaur, the better the chance someone would let something slip that would start a fight. He hurried to his tent, with Roo beside him, and found Biggo and Luis already setting about breaking things down. ‘Roo,’ said Erik, ‘grab my kit. I’m going to keep an eye on Nahoot’s men.’

      Roo spared Erik any barb about ducking work, and merely said, ‘I’ll take care of it.’

      Erik moved to where the twenty men from Nahoot’s company waited and saw they were muttering among themselves. Not giving them any chance to decide they might be better off turning Calis in to the Saaur, he shouted, ‘Get over to those horses and start bringing them up! I want the first six for the officers. Then start bringing them up to the first tent, then the second, and the third, until every other man has a mount. Then get your own gear together and get mounted. Understood!’ His tone, as loud and ferocious as he could make it, imparted the proper message: the last wasn’t a question, it was a command.

      The twenty men moved quickly, several saying, ‘Yes, Corporal,’ as they half walked, half ran to the remounts.

      De Loungville showed up less than a minute later and said, ‘Where are the newcomers?’

      Erik pointed. ‘I’ve got them bringing up the horses for the others, and I’ll keep an eye on them.’

      De Loungville nodded. ‘Good.’ He turned without another word and rejoined Calis and Greylock.

      The Saaur commander was busy pulling a roll off the back of one of the baggage horses, and Erik turned to watch Nahoot’s band. The twenty newcomers were hurrying with the mounts, doing their best to remain orderly, while around them the compound was abuzz with activity. Erik hurried to where his three tentmates were breaking down their equipment, and Roo threw him his bundle. ‘Did yours first,’ he said.

      Erik smiled and said, ‘Thanks,’ as he grabbed his saddle and then ran back to where the newcomers were leading horses. He selected one and quickly tacked it up, then stowed his roll behind the saddle and mounted.

      He rode briskly at a trot down the line, as the compound seemed to melt away. Tents were folded, somehow forced into the small packs that carried them, and stacked up to be tied on the back of a baggage animal. The palisades had already been cleared of stakes, which were now being stored away on a baggage horse. Men were in their saddles and getting in line before the last of the horses were brought up by Nahoot’s men. The only things they were leaving behind for the Saaur were the moat, the bridge and gate, and some cookfires.

      Erik watched as the Saaur camp went up. Ten large circular tents, fashioned from what looked like cane or wooden poles bent over into a semicircle, and covered with hide, were erected. They were so small that he wondered how the Saaur managed to get inside. He elected not to ask to see, and turned his attention to the last men.

      The newcomers were ragged in getting themselves organized, but at last they were ready to ride. Erik moved aside as Calis gave the order to leave, and watched as the men rode past him. He also watched the Saaur commander keeping his eye on the departing humans.

      There was something in those red and white eyes that seemed suspicious – at least, Erik thought that the case, but then suddenly the commander waved good-bye. Erik found his own hand raised in a parting gesture before he thought better of it. He turned his mount and took his place as last in line.

      As he passed over the bridge they were leaving behind for the Saaur, he thought, ‘How odd. Like old friends bidding each other good journey.’

      They passed down from the foothills overlooking the Plain of Djams, entering grasslands patrolled by Saaur companies. Whatever else might have occupied the invaders, a company of mercenaries wearing emerald armbands riding calmly toward the heart of the army wasn’t a cause for concern.

      Several times they passed camps or signs of camps. Calis judged the Saaur and their allies were still sweeping the area regularly, perhaps to keep the Gilani at bay, or perhaps to guard against others seeking to hinder the southern conquest.

      They rode for a week without incident until they came to their first major staging point, a motte-and-bailey construction large enough to house several hundred men and horses. A lookout in the tower high atop the motte called down and there was a squad of Saaur waiting for them at a checkpoint a hundred yards before the gate.

      Without preamble, the lead Saaur shouted, ‘Orders?’

      ‘We’re to rejoin the host,’ said Calis evenly.

      ‘What company?’

      Nahoot’s Grand Company,’ answered de Loungville.

      The lead Saaur fixed de Loungville with a steady gaze and said, ‘You look different.’

      Keeping his voice rough, de Loungville said, ‘You spend your evenings sitting up in those bloody damn hills chilling your backside for a while and see how different you look.’

      The Saaur tensed, as if this wasn’t the answer he expected, but Dawar, one of the men from Nahoot’s company, said, ‘Let us get by, Murtag. We don’t have time for your games.’

      The Saaur turned and said, ‘You I know, Dawar. I should cleave you both for your bad manners.’

      Dawar said, ‘Then who would you have left to cheat at knucklebones?’

      There was a long silence, then suddenly the Saaur named Murtag let out a bray that sounded like a leather thong being drawn through a drumhead. He said, ‘Pass, whoreson, but you must camp outside the moat. We are crowded inside. When you come to game tonight, bring plenty of gold.’

      After they had ridden away from the checkpoint, Erik urged his horse up to Dawar’s side and said, ‘What was that noise?’

      The mercenary shook his head and said, ‘That’s their idea of laughter, if you can believe it. Murtag’s a bully of sorts, but it’s all bluster. Oh, he could cut you in two if he had a mind, but he’d rather have you trembling and pissing your pants, or insulting him back. It’s the indifferent ones that get on his nerves. I’ve gambled with him enough to know. After he’s had some drink, he’s pretty good company, for a lizard. Knows some funny stories.’

      Erik smiled. ‘You’ve earned a bonus.’

      A calculating look crossed Dawar’s face. ‘You and me should talk later, Corporal.’

      ‘After the horses are bedded,’ answered Erik.

      Erik made his way quickly to where de Loungville and Calis rode, leaning over in his saddle so he could speak quietly to de Loungville. ‘I told Dawar he earned a bonus.’

      De Loungville said, ‘Then you can pay it.’

      Calis СКАЧАТЬ