Oathbound

'We wait,' Tarma replied with a certain grim satisfaction. 'He'll have to signal the rest of his troupe to attack us sooner or later, and one of us should be able to spot him at it. With luck and the Warrior on our side, we'll have enough warning to be ready for them.'

'I hope it's sooner.' Kethry sipped at the wellwatered wine which was all she'd allow herself when holding spells in place. Her eyes were heavy, dry, and sore. 'I'm not sure how much longer I can hold up my end.'

'Then go to sleep, dearling,' Tarma's voice held an unusual gentleness, a gentleness only Kethry, Warrl, and small children ever saw. 'Fur-face and I can take turns on night watch; you needn't take a turn at all.'

Kethry did not need further urging, but wrapped herself up in her cloak and a blanket, pillowed her head on her arm and fell asleep with the suddenness of a tired puppy. The illusions she'd woven would remain intact even while she slept. Only three things could cause them to fail. They'd break if she broke them herself, if the pressure of spells from a greater sorcerer than she were brought to bear on them, or if she died. Her training had been arduous, and quite thorough; as complete in its way as Tarma's sword training had been.

Seeing her shiver in her sleep, Tarma built up the fire with a bit more dried dung (the leavings of previous caravans were all the fuel to be found out here) and covered her with the rest of the spare blankets. The illusions were draining energy from Kethry, and she got easily chilled; Tarma didn't expect to need the other coverings. She knew she'd be quite comfortable with one blanket and her cloak; and if that didn't suffice, Warrl made an excellent 'bedwarmer.'

Warrior, guard her back, she prayed, as she had every night lately. I can guard my own -- but keep her safe.

But the night passed uneventfully, despite Tarma's vague worries.

* * *

Morning saw them riding deeper into the stony hills that ringed the desert basin they'd spent the day before passing through. The road was considerably less dusty now, but the air held more of a chill. Both Tarma and Kethry tried to keep an eye on their suspect guard, and shortly before noon their vigilance was rewarded. Both of them saw him flashing the sunlight off his armband in what could only be a deliberate series of signals.

'From ambush, bandits screaming Charge the packtrain and its prize And all but four within the train Are taken by surprise And all but four are cut down Like a woodsman fells a log The guardsman, and the lady, And the maiden and the dog. Three things know a secret -- First; the lady in a dream; The dog that barks no warning And the maid that does not scream.'

Even with advance warning, they hadn't much time to ready themselves.

Bandits charged the packtrain from both sides of the road, screaming at the tops of their lungs. The guards were taken completely by surprise. The three apprentice traders accompanying the train flung themselves down on their faces as their master Grumio had ordered them to do in hopes that they'd be overlooked. To the bandit master at the rear of the train, it seemed that once again all had gone completely according to plan. Until Kethry broke her illusions.

'Then off the lady pulls her cloak -- In armor she is clad Her sword is out and ready And her eyes are fierce and glad The maiden gestures briefly And the dog's a cur no more. A wolf, sword-maid, and sorceress Now face the bandit corps! Three things never anger, Or you will not live for long -- A wolf with cubs, a man with power, And a woman's sense of wrong.'

The brigands at the forefront of the pack found themselves facing something they hadn't remotely expected. Gone were the helpless, frightened women on high-bred steeds too fearful to run. In their place sat a pair of well- armed, grim-faced mercenaries on schooled warbeasts. With them was an oversized and very hungry-looking kyree.

The pack of bandits milled, brought to a halt by this unexpected development.

Finally one of the bigger ones growled a challenge at Tarma, who only grinned evilly at him. Kethry saluted