Dylvana, one hundred forty-four Dwarves, one hundred ninety-seven Fjordlanders, one hundred eighty-two Jutes… and one Warrow. Another eighteen hundred or so allies had suffered grievous wounds and would no longer engage in battle in the near days to come.
As to the black-robed men, altogether twelve hundred had been slain outright, and another three thousand had been felled with deep wounds, and they lay afield and moaned in agony and called out in a strange tongue. These latter were questioned by the King's men, but even though suffering dreadful injury they yielded no useful information, for although hissing in distress, still they called upon Rakka to strike these infidels down and to grant themselves a glorious death in the service of Rakka, for by doing so they would win an eternal place beyond the sky in the paradise of Janni.
And whelmed as they were by wounded allies, Beau and Melor and Aris and the other healers had time to tend only their own; the injured foe would have to wait.
'Why did they disengage?'
Vanidar looked 'round the hastily called captains' council-all captains having been summoned across the bridge to advise the King. Vanidar's gaze slid past DelfLord and coron and chieftain and skipskaptein and kapitan and field marshal and the like, and past Mage Farrin and High King Blaine himself to finally settle on Commander Rynna, for 'twas she who had asked. 'A mystery that,' said Silverleaf,
'and I know not why they withdrew, for they had us outnumbered, and were driving us back and ever back.' Sil-verleaf turned to King Blaine. 'I deem they could have won the bridgehead and destroyed the way across ere you, my lord, arrived. Yet they withdrew, regardless.'
'A tight fist is harder to crush than a loosely clasped one,' growled DelfLord Volki. 'And we were becoming a tight fist. Regardless, though, they would not have broken through the Chakka at the bridgehead itself.'
Across the circle, DelfLord Okar clenched a fist in agreement.
'Perhaps thou art right, Lord Volki,' replied Coron Ruar, 'yet I, too, deem it a mystery they did not smash on through and tear down the bridge.'
Volki snorted but otherwise did not reply.
'They did try to burn the bridge,' said Rynna.
'It was but a small oil fire, neh?' asked Farrin, representing the Mages. At Rynna's nod, he added, 'Not likely to have caused much damage unless it had been let burn.'
Coron Eiron said, 'I agree, but they withdrew ere then. Nay, I deem the Fists of Rakka made only a minor effort to take the bridge from us ere they ran unto the hills.'
'Tell that to my slain warriors,' gritted Chieftain Urel, the great Baeran scowling.
'That the Fists of Rakka were even in these hills came as a surprise,' said King Blaine, 'for I thought them in Alban still. Could they have marched across Garia and then H?l's Crucible and by happenstance have been here?'
Those in council looked at one another, but none had an answer.
'That the Fists of Rakka were at this place-or even that they ran-is not the only mystery here,' declared Field Marshal Burke, the leader of the men of Wellen, as he peered northwesterly through the glum day. 'Where are the Hyrinians and Kistanians and Chabbains? Shouldn't they have come by now?'
All eyes turned to King Blaine. 'We must needs wait on the scouts to report back.'
'Even though the Fists of Rakka have withdrawn, and even though the Lakh and Rovers and the Askars are yet to arrive, still much of the day remains,' said Chieftain Durul, 'and so we must expect an attack. Too, in the night there is every chance they will try to take the bridge, either to use it themselves or to destroy it outright.'
King Blaine nodded and gestured at the riders yet crossing the bridge. 'Aye, but when my host is finally across, the foe will not find it easy to win through forty thousand men.'
Silverleaf smiled at Okar's remark and added, 'Thy numbers are grown beyond that, my lord, for the legion I command is at your hest as well.'
Volki growled and said, 'Forty thousand men? Men? You forget, King Blaine, in addition to men, Chakka and Dylvana and Lian and Baeron serve as well.'
Rynna glared at Volki, and he quickly added, 'Waer-ans, too.'
DelfLord Okar said, 'And the Chakka of the Red Hills, who have been with you since Gunnaring Gap, several Lian from there also.'
'And Magekind,' said Farrin. 'Our numbers are small, but you must add us in.'
King Blaine laughed and threw up his hands. 'I stand corrected by each and every one of you, for all Free Folk serve'-his eye singled out Rynna-'Waerlings not the least. Aye, the foe will not find it easy to win past us to the bridge.'
'Perhaps not aland, my lord,' said Skipskaptein Arnson, leader of the Fjordlanders, 'but there is yet the water. I deem we should set craft upstream and down, for the enemy may try to swim the river and hole the hulls or send down floats afire.'
'Ja,' replied Kapitan Dolf. 'The upstream side guard we will. The side downstream yours to guard it will be.'
Arnson glared at the Jutlander, but nodded in agreement.
Blaine canted his head in assent. 'That settled, the rest will be according to plan, lest someone has a new tactic to discuss.'
Farrin cleared his throat. 'This wind, my lord, I remind you: it has the taint of darkness.'
Rynna's eyes widened. Taint of darkness? Oh my.
Silverleaf spoke: 'Modru?'
Farrin shook his head. 'I know not, for Modru and I have never crossed paths.'
'Know you yet what it means?' asked the King.
Farcin shook his head. 'If it is Modru, then mayhap a storm is brewing, but I cannot be certain.'
Blaine frowned. 'Then there's nought we can do until we face whatever the wind may bring.'
'Clearly, my lord, we can prepare for a blizzard,' said Phais, looking back along the Sea Road, where a thousand supply wagons and their escort now trundled into view. 'In yon train are spare warm garments and blankets for those who need such.' She gestured at the hijls nearby. 'And should a tempest come, yon crags will provide shelter of a sort.'
'Agreed,' said King Blaine. 'My lords, make certain each warrior in your command is well prepared for a blizzard should one come riding on this tainted wind.'
A murmur muttered about the council circle, but then Blaine held up his hand and asked, 'Is there aught else we need discuss?'
Silence fell among the captains as the High King gazed to each and every one. When he looked at Volki, the Delf-Lord said, 'We need deal with the dead; honor is due to each.'
Silverleaf sighed. 'Aye. Collect them on the far side of the river. But any honors due are to come after the fighting is done.'
Volki nodded, as did they all, for in war the dead must wait for the living.
Even as the Dwarf agreed, a runner came to the circle. 'Milord, a rider approaches!'
'Whereaway?' asked the King, standing.
'From the northwest along the river, this side.'
'One of the scouts?'
'I know not, milord.'
'Then we shall wait.'
And still the King's army rode across the bridge.
Within moments Elon rode in among the host and was directed to the council. The Dylvana scout dismounted and said, 'My lords, the Hyrinians, Kistanians, and Chabbains have turned northeasterly into the hills-'
Rynna's heart leapt to her throat. The hills are where my Tipperton is, and Linnet and Nix and Farly and Dinly.
'Toward H?l's Crucible?' interjected Captain Donal of Gelen, a frown on his ruddy face.
'Aye,' replied Elon.
Arth of the Wilderland, leader of the remnant of the Beacontor muster, grunted in surprise and brushed back a stray lock of red hair from his youthful brow, then asked, 'Scouts yet follow them?'
