22. Knight's gambit

Far overhead, along the coast, Angelica could see the Caspian raven lazily circling, watching as it soared on the thermals swirling off the land below. The occasional plume of dust from horses or heavy equipment and soft palls of smoke from cooking fires gave away the location of the army, even though the crests of rolling low hills were between them. The interest of the tireless watcher in the sky merely confirmed what Liva had already deduced, as had the occasional glint off outriders on the hills. It was a simple thing, to send out riders to watch the flanks of an advancing force, yet history was littered with the bones of those who had not done so. Whoever they were, they were competently led even if foolish enough to be here. Perhaps they are simply as desperate as us, looking for water and food.

The raven dipped its wings, dropping quickly on a long glide. Oh to be up there, with you! Such a glorious view, such a lovely day to fly!

Liva shivered, and pulled her cloak tighter about her. "There are times I love riding. And times I would rather have a good book laying on soft grass under an old tree on a sunny day. If that rain catches up with us, you'll not need to guess which."

"I enjoy reading." Angelica replied "But if I am honest, I'd rather ride in the rain than be stuck inside with yet another musty old story that dragged on and on."

"Did your Mother even permit you to ride in the rain?"

"Actually she insisted." Angelica replied. "She said if I was to learn to do something, learn it properly. She was right of course; I was never afraid of getting caught if the weather changed, nor did she worry on that either."

"I still don't like the look of those clouds" Liva replied in her calm, considered soldier's voice. "They could turn to snow, or heavy rain. That could make it impossible for the others to follow our tracks."

"We'll improvise." Angelica replied casually "this plan was always going to have parts to be made up as we go."

"I am quite sure that history, if it remembers us at all, will claim we had no plan."

"Well that would be entirely unfair!" Angelica laughed "the plan is to go there." she nodded her helmet in the vague direction of the mountains slowly rising ahead of them.

"You are placing a huge amount of trust in the Ambassador?" Liva pressed.

"I cannot see what other choice we have. We know we will be watched or quickly found. I mean look at this place" Angelica turned and cast her eyes from horizon to horizon. "Unless we wanted to crawl the whole way, or wait for rain, there is no chance to move anywhere without anyone up there with good eyesight seeing us. Better to ride into one trap than to wander aimlessly and risk falling into the other traps that are certainly laid out there by others."

"Darkness?" Liva pondered.

"No, beyond the obvious risk to our horses, I would rather see what is hunting us than not. The night belongs to the dead, especially in this place."

Liva shivered again, whether from the cold breeze that had come up or the conversation it mattered not. There was nothing more to say on the topic: if they were in the open by the time the suns fell below the horizon, they were in deep trouble.

And they both knew it.

@>-/----

The raven pulled its wings in tight and dropped hard from the sky, then flashed low and fast ahead of them. It called out a deep rawk raaawk raaawking as it flew along a spur that came off the ridge line, then flapped hard for the sky. Liva reigned Maii in, matched without hesitation by Angelica on Caterham.

The bird went high, then made another fast, low, run along the spur.

"We take the hint" Angelica said quietly.

"Why would it help us?" Liva whispered, her body language betraying how tense she suddenly was.

"Logic." Angelica replied with cool detachment. "If we fall here, the Caspians stand to gain nothing."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend?" Liva replied.

"No, the enemy of my enemy does not want to share."

"Or, they actually want to help us because they really do have good in their souls?"

Angelica smiled, suppressing laughter. "You're such an optimist" she replied with dry amusement.

"And proud of it" Liva retorted, daring to permit a sliver of laughter to escape as she turned her horse down into the valley to avoid cresting the spur ahead. "We'll cross to the next ridgeline there" Liva gestured with her spear "and then drop over to the other side."

"Sound plan." Angelica burned with curiosity to peek over the spur and see what they were avoiding, but they had a job to do. And a plan to stick to ... well, a sort-of plan anyway.

@>-/----

"Mind on the right!" Angelica said quickly, Liva sitting up in her saddle and Caterham's ears flicking about in interest.

"What is it?" Liva said her shield up and eyes scanning the shallow vale they were riding though.

"Look" Angelica stepped Caterham forward, and gently with the tip of her spear pushed back the edge of a ubiquitous scruffy tawny grass that grew in large clumps here. Beneath, struggling against the cold sky in the sandy poor soil, was a perfect red flower. Its long delicate petals had white at the tips, blending through pink to scarlet to deep red at the centre. Its leaves were nearly black, mottled with orange.

Caterham moved his nose towards it, only to have Angelica step him out of range. "No, not for you to eat" she said amiably, letting her arm straps take the weight of her shield as she patted his neck.

"I've never seen one other than in a picture" Liva said after a time. "Thank you, it would have been a shame to miss."

"Do you know what it is called?" Angelica asked.

"Sanguinius' Tears."

"Well at least we know we are in the right place, huh?" Angelica replied.

Liva inclined her head hiding a giggle. "So ... are we stopping to look for seeds?"

"On the way back." Angelica conceded, her broad unladylike grin betraying how greatly she enjoyed the prospect of having one of the rarest plants in Elyria in her private gardens. Of course, I will need to rebuild home and make a garden first, if we even have soil left to grow anything in. The thought stole up upon her, draining the enjoyment of the moment away. She looked instead around them, scanning for enemies, and they continued on.

@>-/----

"Where are they?" Angelica circled to her right, looking back down the long valley. "We should be able to see them by now." She made no effort to hide the concern in her voice. "Should we go back to check the first valley we were in?"

"No" Liva replied firmly, every bit the commander she was. "The more we move around over these ridge-lines, the more certainly we will be spotted. With the sky as it is we would be black silhouettes against bright clouds. The enemy would need to be blind to not see us. This is the place Lady Victoria described; we need to trust the others."

It certainly was the spot, even down to the stone plinth which once supported what long ago might have been a beautiful statue, now a rubble of marble. One carefully carved hoof and slender leg was still in place; the rest scattered about the shallow bowl that from the stones might have been a beautiful amphitheater. Crisp, cool water bubbled up in a fountain to one side, and the horses had judged it delicious enough to drink their fill then go back for more.

"Shhh!" Liva whispered urgently, her shield rising smoothly and her hand shifting on her spear to the ready. Angelica froze, her ears straining, eyes on Liva awaiting her orders.

Pushing her spear away from her down-slope, Liva began to walk Maii quietly. Angelica fell in to her left, Caterham's ears flicking in response to her obvious tenseness.

The sounds of boots on sand and stone, people running hard, on the far side of the ridgeline. The whistle of an arrow, followed by another, the tink of metal on stone. The arrows had missed, but the heavy panting of Menn running hard was growing.

THUNK. Angelica recognised the sound - arrow into heavy shield. Her mouth was dry, the smoothness of the inside of her leather gloves and scent of her chainmail suddenly filling her senses.

A soldier in chain with a distinctive helm came over the crest, bow in his right hand, shield over his back. His left arm was a mess of ripped cloth, broken chain and blood, but he used it anyway to help propel himself over the crest. His eyes flew wide at the riders lurking along the slope, then he grinned as recognition dawned.

Liva gestured, and Antaryon gathered himself and ran down the slope. Liva reached behind herself and with a flick dropped her bow and quiver onto the ground, Angelica copying her moments later.

Roelof came over the crest next, his face red with the effort. He had lost his helm, but none of his skill. An arrow sailed past him, and even as his prayer of thanks to the Qin left his lips, he spun in one practiced motion, balanced to still, drew and let fly. The scream from down the slope spoke to his aim, as Roelof ducked and ran hard after Antaryon. It took him only moments to work out Liva's plan, and he curved, running hard for the arrows now waiting for him on the ground.

Liva signalled to Antaryon, who lifted his left arm to signal back, the pain etched on his face. Six.

Angelica hated the wait; she could feel her blood rising. Calm. I must keep control. It seemed like forever when Alzuule came over the crest, bloodwashed shield in his left hand and longsword in his right.

Not three paces behind him was a stranger in polished chain, with a muddy tabard bearing a burning sun on royal blue. Alzuule smiled at what he saw waiting over the crest. Rather than run he spun, bringing up his shield, and charged. The stranger moved to bring up his own shield in defence, but was far, far too slow as Alzuule's shield slammed into his chest, and slid up under his helmet snapping it backwards with an ominous crunch. Like the statue years before him, the stranger slumped down onto the ridge with the sound of falling metal on stone. His companions were clearly no stranger to battle though, for no sooner had the two clashed than an arrow flew at Alzuule. Its deadly accuracy could not account for his quick reaction to go low behind his shield, THUNKing into the heavy metal with others of its kind. Alzuule began to retreat slowly, shield up, knowing if he turned his back he would die all the faster now.

Caterham and Maii were standing silently, quivering gently in anticipation. All those years of training, for this moment.

Liva glanced at Angelica, checking over her kit, and Angelica returned the service. With a nod, they began to creep forward.

Roelof had thrown his own shield and quiver on the ground, and grabbed Angelica's being closest. He ran hard in a circle back towards the ridge, heading right so he could fire easily if he saw an enemy crest the ridge.

Antaryon had turned, and casting away his shield had drawn his sword as he crept up low to join Alzuule.

Angelica nearly missed it: the flick of Alzuule's sword hilt. But she could not miss Liva's shift as Maii changed from a creep into a run. As they came up to the crest she could see a helmet of strange design with a plume. You.

As they charged over the crest she could see the look of horror on the face of the four infantry carefully advancing up the slope with shields and swords ready for the three exhausted soldiers they were running down. Angelica did not hesitate, setting her light spear and letting Caterham do the rest.

The big warhorse surged forward, and she felt the shock jerk her arm back hard as she guided the tip of her spear over the noble's shield. It caught for a moment on his chain, then shattered the links and sank deep into his shoulder before the shaft shattered, spinning him like a toy.

Caterham had been trained for this, Angelica knew that. She did not appreciate how well he had been trained by the old Cavalryman, but she watched in awe as he shifted his weight and with his shoulder effortlessly slammed the soldier who had been standing next to the officer to the ground as they rode though. Angelica unlooped the broken spear letting it fall to the ground, then drew her sword. Caterham turned back up the slope, setting for another run, as Angelica looked around to see what had happened to Liva and Maii.

For someone who loved peace, flowers, and books, the efficiency with which Liva had ended the soldier she had picked out stunned Angelica. The soldier had not been quick enough bringing up his shield, and her spear had gone clean through his mail punching through his chest. Liva had dropped her spear as she passed, changing to her sword. Maii had turned faster than Caterham, allowing Liva to catch the other soldier while he scrambled to run. As Angelica watched, Liva let Maii's force carry her blade into the nape of the doomed soldier's exposed neck.

Liva looked ready to be ill, but it was over. She had imposed a grim smile on her face as she breathed hard, ignoring for the moment the bright red blood dripping off her sword. "Are you ok?"

It had not occurred to Angelica that she might actually get hurt, but now she thought on it she had been sloppy with her shield. A long bright scrape adorned her chainmail, where the officer's sword had sliced across it. But the chain had held, and while her tabard would never be the same she was completely unharmed.

"Up!" Alzuule and Antrayon had rushed up after the charge, and disarmed both the officer and the groaning heap that was the other soldier Caterham had trampled.

"Erm" the officer groaned. To look at him now, he was little older than they were. He yanked the piece of metal out of his tunic, holding the bright shining tip of Angelica's spear, glistening with his own blood. "Well fought, we yield to your mercy."

"Huh?" Liva replied, pulling the young Mann's armour aside for a better look at the wound. "You should be very, very dead right now." she added, perplexed.

"I say, we yield." he repeated. "Can you hear me, M'Lords?"

"I'm only deaf to pleas of mercy." Angelica responded tartly.

The colour ebbed out of the young Mann's face, as he tried to rise only to be held still by Alzuule leaning unceremoniously on his shoulder. "Forgive me” the young officer stammered “I have never seen women cavalry before" he said with both fear and wonder in his voice. "Indeed you look younger than my little sisters."

Angelica simply glared at him.

"No no, I meant no disrespect! I was wrong, and rude, and oh damn it I've cocked it all up haven't I. Please don't kill me or Tom! We were just doing our duty. We were sent to intercept these four, we thought you scouts for an enemy attack." he babbled.

"Well" said Liva as she pulled his armour back into place, having shoved some rags over his wound which was barely bleeding. "The Qin don't want you dead this day, or they would not have spared you. Who are we to ignore their will? But you shall not go back to those you served, you are bound over. Will you promise on your honour to follow the orders of my soldiers, and to give no quarrel without leave to our people?"

"Gladly M'Lady, pray forgive my outburst before." the young man replied more evenly.

"Your name?" Liva prodded.

"Whyte, M'Lady. From Neran City."

"You speak for him too?"

"Indeed. You hold our lives, and we have none with reason to ransom us free. We shall not betray the trust you place in us."

"Get them up." Liva commanded, and together they all fell back to the plinth, collecting their scattered gear as they went.

"Antaryon" Angelica asked quietly as she sat guard on Caterham, eyes roving for signs of more trouble "Please tell me, where is Alexandras?"

With a long sigh, Antaryon looked up at her with sunken red eyes, tears running freely down his face. He squared up his shoulders, his form as a soldier nearly overcoming the youth painted on every aspect of his features. He drew in his breath to steady himself, then gave his report. "M'Lady, Alexandras took three arrows to the body. They punched deep though his chainmail. I regret to inform that my brother is dead."