“As you can see,” Vaijon said, “we’ve marked last year’s gains in green. We lost a little ground over the winter down in the southwest, farthest from the river, and we need to regain that first.”
Hurthang drew his dagger and used it as a pointer, indicating the area in question, and Vaijon gave everyone a moment to absorb the lines on the map. Then he continued.
“Hopefully, we can clean that up in the next week or two. Prince Bahnak would like to get it taken care of before the new arbalests arrive. After that, we’ll turn to expanding the depth of the corridor along its southern edge, pushing back from the river. As you can see, there are at least half a dozen ghoul villages in the area we’re talking about.” Hurthang’s dagger indicated the crimson symbols of the villages in question. “Two of them in particular are going to be hard to get at because of the terrain, so we’re thinking-”
Chapter Fourteen
“I’ll not want to hear as how you’ve taken any foolish chances once I’ve gone,” Bahzell Bahnakson said sternly, frowning down at Tellian Bowmaster with his mighty arms folded across his chest. “There’s healers in plenty here in Sothofalas, but never a champion, and there’s limits in all things.”
“I’ve been putting on my own boots every morning for quite some time now.” Tellian’s tone was mild, but there was a certain sharpness in his gray eyes. “And what happened on the way here made your point for you quite nicely, Bahzell. Don’t pound it into the ground.”
“It’s not the ground I’m after trying to pound it into,” Bahzell replied with a twinkle. “Still and all,” he continued before Tellian could fire back, “I’ll grant you’ve a point of your own. And it’s not as if you’ll be gallivanting around the city where just anyone as wishes you ill can be getting at you.”
“Oh, no,” Tellian agreed cuttingly. “I’ll be hiding in my apartments-when I haven’t crawled under the bed, that is. Is there anything else you’d like to remind me about before you go? Like coming in out of the rain? Eating all of my vegetables? Wait! I know-reminding me to wipe the drool off my senile old chin?”
“If I’d not come so close to losing you, I’d not give you so hard a time,” Bahzell said in a much gentler tone. “I’ll not say another word about foolishness, but this I will say. Whoever it was as was truly behind the lads who tried for you, they’ve proven as how you can be killed.” He looked very levelly into Tellian’s eyes. “It was only Norfram’s luck you weren’t, and had one of those arrows been after hitting you betwixt the eyes rather than in the chest, there’s not a thing in all the world even Vaijon and I could have done about it. That’s a scare I’m not wishful to be having again, nor one as Hanatha should have. You’ve those who love you, Tellian Bowmaster, and there’s not a one of us doesn’t know how many others would sooner see you dead than sit down to dinner. They’ve come close enough to be thinking as how next time they might succeed, and if it should happen they do, there’s too much chance as how all you’ve set your hand to would be dying with you. It’s not in my mind to badger or pester, and well I know there’s no way at all, at all, we could wrap you up in cotton wool. But that’s not to say you can’t be taking a little caution, and you’ll do me the favor of thinking about those of us who do love you.”
Tellian’s eyes softened, but then he shook his head with a snort.
“Of course I will, you big…lummox. Now go before you make me break down and bawl into my beer.”
“Now that I’d pay money to see,” Brandark remarked to no one in particular, and Tellian shot him a quick grin.
“Don’t start saving your kormaks anytime soon. I suspect I’ll be able to bear up under my embarrassment with manly fortitude.”
“And after you went and got my hopes up.” The Bloody Sword shook his head, ears half-flattened mournfully.
“Blame your overgrown friend. And”-the baron glanced out the open window at the early afternoon sunlight-“you’re wasting daylight.”
“Such a way with words you have,” Bahzell said, and unfolded his arms to clasp forearms. “I’ve your letters to Hanatha and Leanna,” he added, touching his belt pouch, “and I’ll tell them as how you were whole and healthy when last I saw you. Stay that way.”
“Yes, Poppa,” Tellian sighed, gripping the hradani’s massive forearm.
“Good.”
Bahzell gave his arm one final squeeze, then he and Brandark turned and headed for the stables where Walsharno and Brandark’s warhorse awaited them. Hathan Shieldarm and his cousin Tarith were waiting as well, and Hathan arched his eyebrows.
“Took it with his usual becoming humility, did he?”
“Not so much as anyone would have been noticing,” Bahzell told his fellow wind rider dryly.
“I wouldn’t want to say I told you so, but-”
Hathan shrugged eloquently, and both hradani laughed. Then they sobered, and Bahzell turned to Tarith.
“I know it grates on him, Tarith, and I’ve no doubt at all as how he’ll snap and fret if it should be you sit on him too tight. But I’m thinking whoever it was tried last time won’t be minded to give over.”
“I know, Milord.” Tarith’s shrug was heavier than Hathan’s, but his expression was determined. “And I’ll bear what you had to say about poisons in mind, as well. I won’t deny I’d feel happier with you here to do the sitting on him, but I know you can’t. For that matter, if you tried, he’d really pitch a fit! He’s not going to like it if he finds out about it, but I’ve arranged for one of the Court magi with the healing talent to ‘just happen’ to run into him every two or three days.” Tellian’s armsman smiled. “If anyone’s managing to get any poison into him, she’ll pick it up.”
“And just who’s going to pick you up-or the pieces of you, at any rate-if the Baron should discover this little plan of yours?” Brandark asked interestedly.
“She’s a very good healer, Lord Brandark,” Tarith said without so much as cracking a smile, “and she’s promised to repair any damage I might suffer.”
“Good man!” Bahzell clapped Tarith on the shoulder, then looked past the cousins to where Walsharno stood, ears cocked, beside Brandark’s mount. The warhorse looked like a pony in the courser’s shadow, and Walsharno tossed his head impatiently.
‹ They’ll take the best care of him he’ll let them take, Brother, › the courser told him. ‹ And while you’re so busy worrying about people who might try to kill him, you might want to spare little thought for the number of people who’d cheerfully kill you if the opportunity should come their way.›
Bahzell started to reply, then stopped himself. Walsharno had a point, after all, and the courser would undoubtedly be unscrupulous enough to use Bahzell’s own words to Tellian against him if he tried to pretend otherwise. Under the circumstances, discretion would undoubtedly be the better part of valor, he decided.
“I’m thinking we should be on the road,” he said out loud, instead, and heard Walsharno’s silent laugh in the back of his mind.
“Well, at least we’re rid of Bahzell.” Malahk Sahrdohr’s tone was almost as sour as his expression. “That should simplify things a bit. For now, at least. Somehow I have the feeling he’ll be back.”
“He is rather like the bad kormak, isn’t he?” Master Varnaythus replied. The older wizard sat well back in the comfortable leather chair, feet propped on the ottoman in front of him, nursing a moisture-beaded tankard of ale. He took a deep, appreciative sip, although he really preferred wine or whiskey as a rule, then looked back up at Sahrdohr. “In a way, I rather admire him, you know.”
“ Admire him?” Sahrdohr blinked. “He and his father-his whole damned family-have been nothing but a massive pain in the arse for years now!”
“And your point is?” Varnaythus arched one eyebrow across the small table at the younger, taller man. “There’s nothing wrong with admiring an adversary, Malahk.” He waved the forefinger of his free hand gently. “In fact, it’s far better to admit you admire-or at least respect-an enemy than it is to denigrate him the way Cassan does. Think about it. Cassan gives lip service to the fact that Tellian is a dangerous opponent, but under the surface he lets his hatred turn into contempt. He doesn’t really respect him because he’s too busy hating to waste time and
