“Colonel Debreen. Too young if you ask me, but he’s got the rank. That is until the rest of the division arrive.”
Diagus leaned closer to grey beard, their noses almost touching. “Never heard of him. I see you’ve got seven horses. One for each of my group. You will surrender them to us.”
The smugness dropped from grey beard the same instance as his dirk came level with Diagus’s face. “By whose authority, old man?”
“The Shadojaks,” said Diagus, pulling his hood down and revealing his face.
Elora felt a coldness sweep through the clearing. Nobody moved. Then inch by inch grey beard lowered his blade and his mouth opened as if to say something, but no words passed his lips.
“It’s the Pearly White,” exclaimed one of the sell swords on horseback. The man holding the bow against Otholo and Nat, accidentally let it fly. The arrow disappearing harmlessly into the trees.
“Do you yield?”
Grey beard cowed back and fell to one knee, bowing his head low to the ground. “Forgive me, sir. Had I known...”
“How would you have known?”
Elora noticed a younger man, perhaps closer to her own age, shuffle towards grey beard. A blonde speckling of fluff above his lip, in an attempt at growing a moustache. It bobbed up and down as he spoke. “What? We yielding to this bunch? We could take them easily...ouch!”
Grey beard cuffed the young lad around the back of the head, sending him reeling back, where he stumbled and finally dropped his sword. He turned back to Diagus. “Sorry about that. He’s my sister’s sprog, full of piss and vinegar, that one. Suppose we all were at that age.”
The Shadojak raised an eyebrow, his only reaction to the insult. “Now, about those horses.”
Elora was glad to be back on a horse, although the stares they were receiving from the men they had taken them from, were full of hatred. As they passed from sight she could hear the young lad whining to his uncle that it wasn’t fair, they could have taken them. She heard him being cuffed again and felt a pang of guilt.
“I think Prince Dylap delivered my message to the Shadojak Supreme. He’s the only one who’d get the Emperor to move so fast,” she heard Bray comment to Diagus as they led the group through the woods, picking their way through the trees until they reached a deer track.
“Might be that the Emperor’s reaction will hinder us. It won’t be easy getting passed this Colonel Debreen. Might be we’ll need to force our way through.”
The deer track gave way onto a wider path and the Shadojak quickened the pace. Elora felt invigorated, bouncing in the saddle as they cantered through the woods. Her hood caught in the wind and pushed back, releasing her hair to fly out behind her. Maybe she should ask Ejan to plait it like hers, but then it felt so refreshing having it whipped about.
They stopped only once, to water the horses and let them graze for a spell. By midday they had left the woods and Elora saw that the mountains were a lot closer and a great deal bigger. Snow-capped and incredibly tall, they loomed high into the blue sky. The wind occasionally dusting a layer of snow from a peak in a fine white spray. Between the mountains and themselves lay a camp. Scarlet and gold coloured tents scattered about the flat ground. Men and horses busy between, dressed in the same colours with polished armour glinting in the sun.
As they approached they were stopped by several guards who eyed them warily. Halberds were brought to arms along with crossbows. Diagus steered his horse towards the older man who seemed to be in charge.
“By order of the Shadojak, you will dispatch a runner to the commander, informing him that myself and my companions will be passing through.”
“Nobody is permitted to pass,” said the guardsmen, but dispatched a young soldier to fetch the Colonel.
About her, Elora caught more than once, ‘the Pearly White’ being whispered, excitedly by the soldiers. The hushed voices travelling into camp as the word was spread. A few moments later and the runner returned, a cleanly shaven man, red in the face, stormed towards them on his heel. He was younger than Elora would have guessed a Colonel to be.
The guard stood erect as he arrived, the guard commander thumping his chest in salute.
“Sergeant, I instructed you that nobody is to pass. Which part of that order did you not understand?” asked the Colonel, clearly irritated.
“Sir, this here’s the Shadojak sir,” replied the man who dispatched the runner, his own face going red even though he must have been at least ten years the Colonel’s senior.
“Indeed, he is Sergeant. But the order still stands. Do not dist...”
“Colonel Debreen?” Diagus cut in. “Am I to understand that you are refusing the authority of the Shadojak?”
Debreen, flicked his attention from the guardsmen to Diagus, his face becoming pinched and petulant. “I have my orders, sir. As do my men. Nobody is to pass. The Shadojak you maybe, but unless I receive a further order from the Emperor to allow you admittance, you will not cross.”
Diagus kicked his mount forwards, stepping close enough to the Colonel that he forced him back. Jaw clenched, eyes bulging and fingers curling into fists the commander looked ready to order his men to attack. Although Elora noticed that only the Sergeant stood by his commander, the rest of the guard having put space between themselves and the Shadojak.
“You’re young for a Colonel. That means you’re one of two things,” said. Diagus. “Either you’re a determined tactician: manoeuvring yourself up the ranks with eyes set on being General. Or, your family is someone important and you’ve your father to thank for getting you this position.”
The Colonel attempted to argue back but was preoccupied, wrestling to get passed the horse which was pushing him up against the ropes of a pavilion tent.
“Doesn’t matter which,” continued Diagus, leaning down so his face was inches from Debree’s. “You’ll get the blame for any tragedy that befalls us from this delay. You see, when it all boils down to high ranks in the army, it’s simply a blame game. Shit rolls downhill from on high. When the Emperor learns that this mission failed because we were delayed; even though you’re following orders - he won’t be impressed. Do you think the General will accept the responsibility for this mistake, or will he use you as a scapegoat, letting the shit role a little further down?”
“But the General will be here this evening,” spluttered the Colonel, his voice rising another octave. If you just wait until then, I’m sure...”
Diagus pulled his sword from his smuggler’s pouch. As did Bray. Elora also noticed that Ragna’s hammer had found its owner’s meaty hands and Ejan had an arrow notched.
“You misunderstand me Debree. We mean to cross that bridge now. Either with or without your permission. If we are delayed, it is because we needed to cut a bloody path through you. You’ll be dead when the General arrives, so you can see how easily he will blame you.”
“But, but...” stuttered the Colonel, darting apprehensive glances to his men who were reluctant to draw any weapons of their own against the Shadojak, even the soldiers with the halberds, pointed them in the other direction. Debree’s shoulders dropped, his attention drawing back to his Sergeant. “Let them pass,” he growled. The Sergeant nodded, relief smoothing the crease from his brow as he ordered the runner to carry the message to the bridge.
Diagus re-sheathed his sword and the rest of the group put away their weapons. “I see you’re more of the careerist tactician than a privileged buffoon,” said the Shadojak, as he led his horse passed the livid Colonel. “Give my regards to the General, when you see him.”
They trotted through the camp unhindered, the guards at the bridge saluting as they crossed the wide river.
The bridge was old. Made from stone it appeared sturdy and just wide enough to take a cart across. A thigh high wall was built to either side to prevent people falling into the vast river. The noise the horses created as they began to ride across, echoed strangely along the huge body of water.
“That went easier than I thought,” said Otholo. “For a moment there I was expecting him to order his men to attack.”
Two loud blasts of a bugle suddenly pierced the air, startling the horses. Elora patted her mare’s neck reassuringly. “Debree’s, changed his mind?” she asked, as she stared at the men clambering around the camp, gathering up weapons and mounting horses.
