At that moment, realizing that they were being left to the hyenas, the stranded mules began to bray, harsh terrified cries that echoed across the plains.
Even the nomads, those hardened warriors, were touched by the animals' plaintive cries, and more than one of the drivers turned their heads to look back toward the wagons. The lucky mules that had not been abandoned dug in their heels and tried to turn back, bawling out their own confusion.
'Muzzle the mules!' cried Mika, fearful that the keen-eared gnolls would discern the distance between the two sets of sounds. His instructions were quickly followed; strips of leather, shirts, whatever was handy, were wrapped around the mules' jaws, muffling and finally stopping their cries. Harsh blows got them moving again, and the small party crept on, trying to close their ears to the piteous cries behind them.
They had positioned the wagons so as to block themselves from the view of the monster horde. With the cacophony of the mules covering the sound of their retreat, they increased their pace steadily until they were out of sight of the wagons.
Unfortunately, they were not out of hearing. An hour later, the abandoned mules began to scream. Even though they should have continued, nomads, drivers, horses, and mules alike stood riveted as though imagining tooth and fang on their own bodies. The screams, which rang loud and traveled far in the thin night air, were mercifully short. A shrill outbreak of frenzied cries signaled the end of the mules' misery.
'I don't see that it gained us much time,' said Hary. 'Those mules would barely make a mouthful among that horde.'
'The mules will keep the hyenas and the hyenadons busy,' Mika explained patiently as they spurred their horses into motion.
'The gnolls don't care about eating, but the contents of the wagons will occupy them for a while. With any luck at all, greed will cause them to fight among themselves. And we need all the luck we can get right now.'
The sharp snarling yowls erupted once again from the direction of the wagons even as he spoke, evidence that the hyenas and their foul cousins had disagreed over the division of the mules.
Mika prayed that the gnolls would find the wagons likewise irresistible.
They stopped in the hour of deepest darkness, too exhausted to continue. They watered the mules and horses and fed them small amounts of grain to augment the sparse grass. Then, wrapping themselves in their blankets, men and wolves collapsed wherever they found themselves and were asleep within seconds.
Mika, although as tired as the rest, stayed awake for the next two hours, watching the darkness intently for any sign of the inhuman army. Then he wakened Hornsbuck to take the watch, and he and Tam curled themselves under the wagon and fell asleep instantly.
Chapter 12
It was a nightmare that went on seemingly forever, whether waking or sleeping, not that there was much of the latter. The army followed them with single-minded determination. Sacrificing the mules had not bought much time, as Hary took every opportunity to remind Mika.
They had extended their lead to nearly ten miles by the continuous movement. They ate and even slept in the saddle. They were doing better than Mika had any reason to hope or expect, but he knew that the constant activity, plus the lack of adequate food and sleep, would soon begin to take its toll. And those that fell behind, whether human or animal, would be left to their own fate.
'I don't see why we have to drag that cursed wagon along with us,' growled Hornsbuck as he and Mika rode apart from the men and rested their horses on a slight rise where they could view their pursuers. 'The damn wagon just slows us down. We could ride all the faster without it. Dump it, Mika!'
'All right,' said Mika, through teeth that were gritted with prairie sand. He pictured the princess, asleep, held in Recknass's thick arms, her beautiful slender form pressed close to his ugly body. He shuddered and forced the picture from his mind. He knew that Hornsbuck was right; the heavy wagon was a luxury they could not afford.
'Mika, the men want to know what's in the wagon,' said Hornsbuck. 'They've been grumbling and complaining about the mystery ever since we left the other wagons behind. And I do, too. It's our right to know.
'I'm as brave as the next man. I've fought my share of ores and kobolds and even a few goblins when I was younger, but never anything like this army of fiends behind us. And I don't even know why they're after us. I think you do, Mika, and before I get myself killed fighting for the Great She Wolf knows what, I think you should tell me what's going on.'
Mika hesitated, glancing at the older man, noticing for the first time, the white lines thick at the corner of each eye, the scars that marked his dark tanned arms, corded with muscles from years wielding a heavy sword, and the steady green eyes that appraised him coolly. He knew that no lie would suffice. In spite of his bluff manner, Hornsbuck was no fool. 'Yet still Mika hesitated. What would Hornsbuck do when he learned of the princess?
'Tell me, lad, and none of your fancy stories,' Hornsbuck said softly, as though guessing Mika's thoughts. I will have the whole truth or I will leave, and the nomads will go with me. We'll separate and ride off in twenty different directions. Yon army will not follow us. They will follow you and your stupid wagon, and they will catch you. So tell me the truth, lad, and do it now.'
Mika bit his lip and nodded, knowing that the older warrior had spoken his true intent. Mika knew that while many of the nomads liked him, if the knucklebones were thrown, the men would follow Hornsbuck.
Slowly, hesitatingly, Mika told Hornsbuck the whole story, including his encounters at the hands of the old magic-user. When he was done, Hornsbuck stared off into the distance without speaking.
'You should have told me this sooner,' he said at last, his voice curiously flat. 'I can't believe that you have been such a fool. If you thought with your head instead of your balls, you might turn out to be a halfway decent warrior.
'Enor begged me to take you in hand, allow you to lead the caravan, give you a chance to prove yourself. I did it for the sake of your father who was a good man. And because you remind me of myself at your age. I should have known it would never work.
'I thought I could prevent any damage you did and give you a chance to redeem yourself. I see that I was wrong. Your folly will be the death of twenty good men, including myself. They will curse you with their last dying breath.'
Hornsbuck stared at Mika with empty, stony eyes, his big callused hands holding the reins. Mika saw the intelligence behind the brusque manner and realized for the first time how badly he had misjudged the man, taking his easygoing, casual attitude for stupidity rather than the kindness it was meant to be.
'I, I did not mean…' he stammered, at a loss for words.
'Oh, you meant all right, lad,' Hornsbuck said levelly. 'You just didn't think of anyone, save yourself.'
And Mika knew it to be true.
'Well, what do you intend to do now, Master Wolf?' Hornsbuck asked in a cool, mocking tone. What is the plan?'
Ride fast,' Mika muttered softly.
'Oh, ride fast. Yes. That's a wonderful clever plan. Would never have thought of it myself. We'll certainly shake those monstrosities off our tails in no time.'
'Well, what would you do?' asked Mika.
'I'd cut that wagon loose, for starters,' said Hornsbuck. 'Then I'd ride for the hills. We'll never lose them out here on the plains; we're too easy to see. We might stand a chance in the hills.'
'What hills?' asked Mika.
'The hills outside Eru-Tovar along the southern march,' replied Hornsbuck pointing out the landmarks on an oiled leather map. 'We are here,' he said, stabbing the map with a thick finger. 'The hills are there, two days hence.'
'Do you think we can make it?' asked Mika, his heart giving a leap within his chest.'
'Aye, probably, if we abandon the wagon and ride for all we are worth,' Hornsbuck said slowly, turning the situation over in his mind, weighing their chances.
'Gnolls are lazy bastards. They would not venture from their lairs and stick to us like this unless there was
