Ahead the smoke of the burning Phaxosi village grew thicker. Behind Xykos the sound of musketry grew louder. Now it was almost loud enough to drown out Prince Sarrask's voice shouting orders. On his right side, the banner of Queen Rylla's Mounted Lifeguard, a white horse under a gold crown on a blue field, flapped in the wind.
Great Queen Rylla sat upon her horse with as much patience as the gods had given her, which wasn't very much. Xykos was glad the gods had sent to the queen a man who could endure her tongue and temper. Himself, he would have thrashed such a woman, and no doubt been shortly repaid with a dagger in the ribs.
In spite of her fidgeting, the Queen had gone quietly enough when Sarrask suggested she might want to observe the right flank. Was she really willing to do her old enemy's bidding, to make him respected in the eyes of the Army of Hos-Hostigos? Xykos had learned enough about war in the past year to know that such things were possible. He had also learned more about the Great Queen, enough to doubt she would move a finger at Sarrask's request unless she had reasons of her own. From the expression on her face, Xykos judged he was about to learn what those reasons might be.
The Hostigos Army had spent the last moon quarter taking border tarrs and maneuvering for position against the out-numbered Army of Phaxos.
Today was the first time that both armies had met on the field. The Phaxosi fighting from dug in positions and on familiar ground had had the advantage, at least all morning long.
"Xykos!"
"Your Majesty?"
"Can you see the First Royal Carabineers?"
Xykos had dismounted to spare his horse; mounts that could carry his weight were none too common. A good stout oak tree was ready to hand, to let him see even farther. He scrambled up, then down.
"They're still behind that little stream, the Ox Bath they call it, Your Majesty."
Rylla tapped her teeth with a gauntleted finger. "Damn Sarrask! No, that's not fair. Few have learned as much about my husband's way of fighting as the Prince of Sask. No great harm that he has forgotten to send the Royal Carabineers here. But the work must still be done. Xykos, how many men can the Queen's Bodyguard spare?"
Xykos grinned. "Your Majesty will stay."
"You dare to bargain with your Great Queen?"
"Nobody else around to do it, Your Majesty. And it's my head if you lose yours, too."
"I could take yours first, you know."
"Yes, but you wouldn't. Not for trying to save our Great King from having to sleep alone the rest of his days."
Rylla had the grace to blush, then laugh. "Very well. I will stay out of the village until you say it is safe. How many men, then?"
The bargain they struck gave Xykos thirty of the Bodyguards to lead into the village. That was only half of the Beefeaters in Phaxos, a third of the total strength. The growing strength of Rylla's personal bodyguard had already won Xykos promotion to Captain. Of course, to properly shield Queen Rylla from all the dangers she faced in battle would require a bodyguard so big a Captain-General could command it! As it was, she would have thirty Beefeaters and four squadrons of her Lifeguard to protect her while he was away.
Xykos slung Boarsbane, his big two-handed sword, across his back before he led his small command into the village. He took his horse's reins and it followed behind. The big sword was really too heavy to carry just as a luck token, but Xykos always felt better with it slung over his back, ready to hand. He also had two pistols and a musketoon double-charged with smallshot, at the ready.
The village straggled along the hilltop like an ill-tended flock of sheep. Since most of it was burning, the smoke veiled the whole right wing of the Hostigi from Phaxosi eyes. As he passed the first farmhouse, Xykos realized that this might also be shielding the enemy from Hostigi eyes. So that was why the Queen has asked for a regiment! She wanted to not only find out what the Phaxosi might be up to, but also to stop them if it was dangerous.
With thirty Beefeaters, all Xykos could do was learn the lay of the land and hope he'd live long enough to tell the Queen. Smoke swirled up from a burning pigsty, hiding two of his men. A shot exploded from the pigsty, and one of the two staggered back into sight, holding his stomach. Another shot, a scream from the sty, and the sound of running feet. Two men in the black and green colors of Phaxos dashed out of the sty, heading for the far side of the village.
Half a dozen pistols cracked; one Phaxosi threw up his hands and fell. The other seemed to bear a charmed life, until Xykos leveled his musketoon. The small shot made the man leap and stumble. Before he could get back on his feet Xykos was on top of him, wrestling him into submission as if he were a child.
"What do you hear, man?" Xykos shouted.
"Oath of Galzar-" began the man.
"You're no mercenary! You'll guest at Regwarn without your manhood, if you don't speak up!" Xykos motioned to one of his men, who drew a poniard.
"We're picketing the village, to warn of any Hostigi movement around the flank," the man gasped.
"And the rest of your army?"
"I can't say-"
"Tythos, just a small cut."Tythos sliced the soldier's breeches from groin to waist; then smiled like a man who enjoys his work.
"No! Mercy-I'll talk. We're shifting round, to hit you in the flank when the rear comes up."
"Hoho."
That made sense, from what the Queen had said. She'd wondered aloud why the Phaxosi had let Sarrask drive in their scouts and fight their vanguard in a simple old-fashioned headbutting kind of battle. Prince Araxes or one of his captains had guessed one of the Great King's tricks-be one place to draw your enemy in, and then be strong somewhere else to attack him.
Well, they would soon learn that Great Queens as well as Great Kings knew the new way of fighting.
"Tythos, take this fool back to the Queen, privy parts and all. Let him tell her what he's told us, then take his Oath to Galzar. Take a couple of-"
Xykos broke off, as the gap between two burning houses appeared to sprout Phaxosi. The pickets' friends had arrived, probably called by the shooting. They were waving swords and running straight toward his small command.
"Run, Tythos! Forget the prisoner! Bodyguards, cold steel!" Xykos had seen that none of the Phaxosi had drawn their pistols, but all had drawn their swords and daggers.
By Galzar's grace, both friend and foe had left Xykos room to draw Boarsbane. The great sword rasped from its scabbard and leaped through the smoky air. It cut under one man's helmet and took his head from his shoulders before he knew an enemy was in striking distance. Another man lost an arm, a third the use of a leg.
"It's one of Kalvan's demons!" a Phaxosi screamed.
This threw the whole band into confusion, then into retreat. Xykos shifted Boarsbane to his left hand and brought down one of the fugitives with a pistol shot.
"Fire!" he shouted. If the men got away, they would give far more warning to the Phaxosi commanders than the sound of shooting.
Xykos emptied his other pistol, saw that some of the Phaxosi were going to get away, and broke into a run after them. Suddenly hoof beats swelled behind him, and he was shouldered aside by one of the mounted Lifeguard. He reeled against a smoldering wall, jumped back as an ember seared his cheek, and turned to see Queen Rylla leading her Mounted Lifeguard out the other side of the village.
So much for Great Queen's promises!
To do her justice, Rylla was back, bloody saber resting across the pommel of her saddle, in hardly more than a few breaths. Without even looking at Xykos, she ordered two mounted men to ride back and bring up the First Royal Carbineers.
Then she seemed to notice Xykos for the first time. "Well done, Captain, and for the twentieth time."
"Boarsbane seems to bring me luck, Your Majesty."
"And you hope some of it rubs off on me?"
"Well…"
"Never mind. The Phaxosi are moving up on the right, but they haven't joined up their flankers to their main body. We push both regiments into the gap, and we can catch the flankers before they deploy."
"Two regiments?"
"Kalvan taught me that even one regiment in time can do more than ten regiments an hour late. If Sarrask can just hold the Phaxosi by the nose while I kick them in the pants, we've won the battle."
Xykos nodded and began searching one of the dead Phaxosi for something to wipe Boarsbane. When the blade was clean, he started to sprint towards his horse, which had wandered away from the fighting. He knew that the Great Queen was a fine captain. Now he prayed that she was also a good prophet.