Hanara’s blood boiled on behalf of his master. How dare he! It’s up to Takado to decide! Up to Takado to give the orders!
He felt his heart leap with mingled terror and glee as Takado stepped forward to face Nomako, his face dark with anger.
“I lead this army, Nomako,” he snapped. “Not you. Not even the emperor. If that isn’t to your satisfaction – or his – then go home and leave the fighting to us.”
Nomako stared back at Takado and his face tightened with annoyance and dislike for a moment. Then his gaze dropped to the ground. “I apologise, Takado. I thought only to save you more losses.”
“Then you are a fool! They are spent.” Takado turned away and called to Dachido and Asara.
“They have not lost a single magician,” Nomako protested. “And we have lost nearly a dozen. It is a trick. A trap. I promised the families of Sachaka that we would not spend lives needlessly. We must analyse what they are doing and find a way to combat it.”
Takado looked at his army and frowned. Hanara tried to read the mood of the fighters. Many looked uncertain. Some had backed away several steps and appeared to be expecting Takado to confirm Nomako’s order. None seemed eager to pursue the Kyralians.
They did not expect us to lose fighters without the enemy suffering the same.
Sighing, Takado shrugged his shoulders. “We stay,” he said. The relief on the faces of his followers and Nomako’s was clear. Some gathered into pairs or groups to talk, others headed back towards the village. Nomako joined the three men who appeared to be his most trusted companions.
Dachido and Asara reached Takado’s side.
“What were they doing?” Dachido said. “Why did none of them fall?”
“They are protecting and supporting each other. Something we should be doing. Though I doubt we can expect it from one quarter,” he added in a quieter voice. The three allies began talking in murmurs. Hanara crept closer, straining to hear.
“. . . not retreat if they weren’t,” Asara was saying.
“We cannot be sure,” Dachido replied. “It may be a trap.”
Asara nodded, then turned to Takado. “I like your idea last night,” she said. “Let’s do that instead.”
“We need horses,” Dachido warned.
Asara shrugged. “We could demand some of Nomako’s as reparation.”
“And give the impression we need his assistance?” Takado asked, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the emperor’s representative.
Asara grimaced and said nothing.
Takado looked towards the village. “Are there any horses left in the area?”
Dachido followed his gaze. “There was one, but it was old and we slaughtered it to feed the slaves.”
“If we look further afield we might find some,” Asara said.
“Further west, where they do not expect us to go.” Takado smiled.
“So we’ll try it?” Asara asked, her eyes gleaming.
“Yes. And I have a first target in mind.”
The pair looked at him expectantly.
“Did you notice their apprentices were not with them?”
“Ah,” Dachido said.
“Ah!” Asara exclaimed.
“Yes,” Takado replied. “It seems they have forgotten one of the key rules of battle, and we are going to remind them.”
By the time the army stopped for the night, exhaustion had almost overcome Jayan’s curiosity to know what had happened when the magicians had confronted the Sachakan invaders. All Dakon had said was that the enemy had been stronger than the Kyralian army. Sabin had ordered a retreat. The Sachakans hadn’t pursued them, but the possibility they were following at a distance couldn’t be discounted. The Kyralian army needed to gain some ground between themselves and the enemy, so they had a chance to recover some magical strength before the next confrontation.
It was amazing to think that, despite losing the battle, nobody had died. But from the uneasiness and haste of the magicians, Jayan guessed that was due to luck or the ignorance of the enemy.
All day Jayan had seen the flashes of blades and hands briefly linked as magic was transferred on the ride. Though the apprentices and servants had given their strength only that morning, and so did not have much to offer, the magicians feared attack at any moment and wanted to be as prepared as possible.
Dakon, however, shook his head when Jayan suggested they do the same. “I am fine,” he said. “The benefit of having two apprentices. I’d rather you and Tessia had a chance of defending yourselves if we are attacked. And you may need to take charge of the apprentices again, if we do engage the enemy.”
The army had moved off the main road a while before in a weak attempt to confuse any pursuit, and followed a smooth road into a fold between two hills. They were hidden from the sight of anyone travelling down the main road, but Jayan suspected they’d left so much evidence of their passing that even the most unskilled scout would have been able to locate them.
The road wound through low hills and shallow valleys, all striped and divided by fields. Dusk settled like a growing mist, then darkness fell. Scouts galloping along the road reported no pursuit. The Sachakans had returned to the village of Lonner and appeared to be settling for the night.
Then, long past nightfall, the ghostly white walls of buildings appeared ahead. Several were storehouses, one had many doors and Jayan guessed it was accommodation for servants, and the two-storey mansion was clearly the owner’s residence.
“What is this place?” he asked Dakon.
“Lord Franner’s winery.”
“Oh.” Jayan grimaced.
Dakon chuckled. “His wine may not be particularly good, but he has plenty of food to offer. As he pointed out, better we have it than the Sachakans.”
“Is there another exit from this valley?”
“Yes.” Dakon smiled approvingly. “Sabin made sure of that. We won’t be trapped here.”
As the army gathered between the buildings, Jayan saw Werrin turn in his saddle, searching the crowd. His gaze snapped to Dakon and he beckoned.
“Ah, the inevitable meeting,” Dakon murmured. He looked at Tessia, who had been silent the whole afternoon, then at Jayan. “Will you two be all right alone?”
Jayan grinned. “Of course. And we’ll hardly be alone.” He gestured at the army around them.
Dakon nodded, then rode away towards Werrin and the small group of magicians gathering about him. Looking at Tessia, Jayan shrugged.
“Want to explore this place?”