the Thirteenth, don't get me wrong, but I can't say as this is the life I would have chosen.'
There came a sigh from the king, almost wistful. He picked up a branch from the flames and prodded at the fire.
'How much of our lives do we get to choose?' Ullsaard said. 'Who we kill? Who we fall in love with? Who falls in love with us? Maybe life is just about getting on with the best that gets handed to us.'
'Easier said by the man who's just been handed another crown,' said Loordin with a laugh.
There was a moment of tense silence as the soldiers waited to see if Loordin had overstepped the mark. Ullsaard tossed the brand into the flames and stood. He looked down at Loordin.
'What's your name, legionnaire?' the king asked.
'Loordin, king,' the soldier replied, getting to his feet. 'Apologies, if my joke offended.'
'No offence taken, but your point is mistaken,' said Ullsaard. 'Aegenuis may hand his crown to me, but he gives it to all of Greater Askhor. The victory is everybody's. You think he'd surrender to me if I did not have you villains to back me up? The victory is Askh's, where even a bastard son of a court whore can become king. There's hope for all of you yet!'
The king nodded and smiled, and walked away to the next fire. Loordin sat down again and the legionnaires sat in silence, contemplating Ullsaard's words.
'Nice of him to say that,' said Muuril.
'Yeah,' said Loordin. 'I bet he still wouldn't give me that crown if I asked for it though.'
'Right enough,' said Gelthius, settling onto the ground.
He swiftly fell asleep, glad that he was not in one of the watch companies for that night. He was woken by Muuril shaking him, the ring of the watch bells still sounding through the army. Stiff and still tired, he hauled himself to his feet and poked the fire into more life while the sergeant roused the others.
'The Salphors ain't moved,' said Muuril, returning to Gelthius's side. He raised his voice. 'Looks like we're going to have a fight today, after all. The king wants the Thirteenth at the front, so move your arses.'
Gelthius scratched his balls, yawned and stooped to pick up his helmet.
'Stupid bastards,' he muttered. He grabbed his spear and shield from the pile. 'Let's not keep 'em waiting, eh?'
III
Glittering in the dawn light, the river meandered down from the forested hills and curved gently to dawnwards. It foamed over rocks, the banks lined with bushes and reeds. It was at least half a mile across at the ford, which stretched over a quarter of a mile, the vegetation trampled flat from the passing of the Salphors.
The lead companies edged cautiously into the swirl, using their spear butts to test the depth and footing. Reining in Blackfang, Ullsaard dismounted and walked her down to the bank as the first companies waded through the water. He stopped at the river's edge, water lapping at his boots, and peered through the gloom to the far bank.
Dozens of glimmers from the Salphorian fires danced in the darkness, perhaps no more than a mile from the crossing. Under the urging of their captains, the Thirteenth legion forged across as quickly as possible, the first companies now forming up on dry land to guard those still in the water.
As Ullsaard took his first steps into the water, Blackfang skittish beside him, warning trumpets sounded from behind. The clatter of spears and shields sounded deafening in the early morning calm as thousands of legionnaires responded; those on the far bank halted their advance, those in the water pushing on as fast as possible to reach safer ground.
The signal blasts could mean only one thing: attack.
Ullsaard dragged his ailur back and threw himself into the saddle. With a flick of the reins and a shout, he urged Blackfang into a run, heading back up the column. Company by company, the legions were falling into position, the phalanxes arranging themselves back-to-back, unsure in which direction danger lay.
Riding hard, Ullsaard came upon Donar and his staff half a mile along the column. The king pulled Blackfang to a halt beside the First Captain of the Fifth.
'Report,' snapped Ullsaard.
'Scouts report Salphors coming down from the forests,' said Donar, pointing to the wooded hills silhouetted against the rising sun.
'You think the ones we are chasing have double-backed, perhaps across another part of the river?' asked the king.
'I don't know,' admitted Donar. 'Where's Anasind?'
'On the far bank, at the head of the army,' said Ullsaard. 'Don't worry about him, he can handle himself. Get your line in order, and send out more scouts, we need to know how many there are.'
Donar nodded and turned to his subordinates, rattling off orders. One-by-one the captains rode off on kolubrids, taking their orders to the companies spread along the line of advance.
'Hold here,' Ullsaard said, turning back towards the river. Blackfang broke into a run at his command, rushing across the ground with head low.
Back at the river, the Thirteenth were divided. Those in the water had finished crossing, leaving two thirds of the companies on the far side and a third on the closest. As he rode passed, Ullsaard called to the captains to form a perimeter around the ford and to hold their ground until they received fresh orders.
Running down to the river, Blackfang slowed as she reached the water.
'Get in there!' shouted Ullsaard, slapping the reins against her shoulder.
The ailur tensed and then sprang forwards, splashing up to her belly. Ears flat, tail twitching, she pushed further across the river, until the water was up to Ullsaard's knees. She baulked as she met a swirl around a cluster of rocks, but moved on at Ullsaard's command. He guided her around the worst obstacles, and set the reins to her again as the river ahead cleared. Feeling the water growing shallower, Blackfang broke into a run, erupting from the water in spume. Anasind was waiting a few dozen paces from the river as Ullsaard rode up the gentle slope. The king jumped to the ground, one hand keeping a firm grip of Blackfang's reins as she shook water from her fur.
'What's the situation here?' asked the king.
'Our friends are getting brave,' said the general. 'Seems they were waiting for us to cross. The camp was a decoy; they were waiting downstream in the vegetation. No more than half a mile away and coming straight for us. At least four thousand.'
Ullsaard made a quick assessment of the land. There was not enough time to get the companies back across the river before the Salphors arrived. He pointed to a rise in the ground about a quarter of a mile from the water.
'Set up your line on those hills,' he said, speaking quickly but calmly. 'Keep five companies here to guard the ford, you'll have their flank protected, and send for the other companies to cross over and reinforce.'
'What's happening back there?' asked Anasind, looking across the river.
'Not really sure yet,' said Ullsaard, following the general's gaze. 'More Salphors. No idea how many. I think two legions should be enough to hold them off.'
'You think this was their intent all along?' said Anasind. 'Is this some trick of Aegenuis?'
'Looks like it,' said Ullsaard, tugging at Blackfang's reins to pull her closer. 'No point worrying about that for now. You sort out things here; I'll lead the rest of the legion up to the hills.'
The king mounted again as Anasind signalled for his captains to gather. Ullsaard shouted out to the companies that were to follow and turned Blackfang duskwards. In the growing light, he could see the Salphors in the distance, approaching quickly. He reined in his ailur.
'Anasind!' The general looked back at his king. 'Forget that plan, we don't have time. Form up here and get those other companies across!'
Anasind raised a fist in acknowledgement. Within moments, the spear companies were gathering in line, eight men deep, widening their frontage to counter the enemy's greater number. Ullsaard sought out the legion icon with the first company and rode up beside them.
'I hope these lying dog-fuckers have had breakfast,' he called out to the legionnaires. 'They're not going to
