'Yes, that's what I was thinking.'
'Jurgen would approve, you know.'
'Yes, he would.'
'So would your father,' Gregory added.
Asayaga walked across with a purposeful stride, once more as if on a Tsurani parade ground and Tasemu snarled the command for the men to come to attention. There was a quick inspection, Asayaga nodding with approval, and then another flurry of commands.
Six men stepped out from the column, bows in their hands, and sprinted out over the hill.
'Forward scouts,' Gregory said. 'My, how they do learn quickly.'
'I hope Tasemu is right,' Dennis said.
'About what?'
'About our not meeting again.'
Gregory said nothing.
The column started off, the horses carrying the Tsurani wounded falling in at the middle. Many of the women and children from Wolfgar's stockade openly wept at the parting.
Asayaga looked over at Dennis and nodded. Dennis left Gregory's side and fell in with the Tsurani.
'Remember, avoid contact going through the Kingdom lines: you promised that.'
'Is that an order or a request, Hartraft?'
'You know.'
Asayaga smiled and nodded. 'A request then from me, Dennis.'
'What?'
'The war between our nations might last for years yet. We serve on the same front. If a day should come when we see each other again, in the woods, or across that open field…' His voice trailed off.
'That we back away,' Dennis suggested.
'Yes,' Asayaga said after a hesitation. 'Yes, my honoured friend.'
Dennis nodded and extended his hand.
Asayaga grasped it firmly, then let go. Alyssa came to Dennis's side and Roxanne joined her sister, who put her arm around Dennis's waist, and he put his arm around her shoulder. He was surprised at himself for doing it, but whatever comfort he gave her was returned.
He glanced back and saw Roxanne watching Asayaga and her sister with a slight smile on her lips, though tears ran openly down her cheeks as the Tsurani marched off.
Silhouetted by the evening sun, the column moved over the crest of the hill and disappeared. The world seemed strangely empty.
Dennis waited, giving them time to go down the road and then turn into the woods. Then, finally, he nodded.
'Standard march,' he announced, 'Sergeant Jurgen…'
He fell silent, looking at his men who were gathered around. He glanced at Gregory. 'He's gone, isn't he?'
Sadly, Gregory said, 'Yes, Dennis, Jurgen is gone.'
Acting Corporal Jenkins stood at the head of the column, waiting for an order to lead the men out.
Dennis looked at him, and at the men, women and children waiting behind, all of whom depended upon him to get them to safety.
Finally, Jenkins said, 'Sir, shall I lead the trail-breakers?'
Dennis was silent for a moment, then he smiled. 'No,' he whispered, 'I'll lead. Now let's go home.'
EPILOGUE. REUNION
The day was warm.
Captain Dennis Hartraft of Highcastle, Squire of Wolfgar's Hold, shaded his eyes to look at the evening sun setting beyond the mountains which rimmed the valley.
Bow over his shoulder, he slowly walked back from the woods. He carried no game, though he had seen more than one stag. But the larder was full, the valley was rich, and he felt no desire to draw his bow on this warm spring evening. Hunting had been an excuse for some quiet time alone, to think. His conversation with Alyssa this morning over breakfast had put him in a reflective mood, making him ponder the strange twists of fate that had led him back to this valley after the war. And the children were running riot through the keep.
At times he wondered why he found their noise far more stressful than the din of battle. He smiled at the thought of his eldest, Jurgen, trying to lift his father's shield, though he was only four years of age.
He paused at the crest of the small rise in the road overlooking the keep. It was a ritual which had become habit – nodding to the burial mound which held the ashes of Wolfgar, Richard, Alwin, and the others; even Sugama. He sat down for a moment. Looking at the small marker he had erected to mark their grave, he said, 'Well, Wolfgar, you old bastard, you're going to be a grandfather again. Alyssa's with child once more.' He looked down into the valley.
Where the old stockade had stood, now a sturdy keep rose. He laughed silently at the irony of life.
What had once been his land had been granted to the Tsurani with the ending of the war. Lord Kasumi, now Earl of LaMut, had been granted that office by King Lyam after the end of the war, when Earl Vandros had gained the office of Duke of Yabon, upon old Brucal's retirement. Dennis had no problem with the King taking Kasumi and the other Tsurani stranded on Midkemia into service.
Better than any solider in the King's army, Dennis knew the quality of those men. For every Sugama there were a hundred Asayagas, men who would guard your back with their own lives and give everything in the name of honour and duty. No, he welcomed them as allies on the northern borders, keeping the moredhel at bay.
What he objected to was them giving his family's land to a Tsurani vassal of Earl Kasumi.
The news had been a bitter blow, for he had fought loyally for ten long years and to have his ancestral home bartered away was difficult to accept. He sighed as he remembered how angry he had been at the time.
There had been, he knew, a cloud over his name. For someone had indeed talked. He could not have expected different. Soldiers were soldiers and in the days after their return to the Kingdom lines rumours had been flying about the miraculous return of what was called 'the lost patrol' and clearly someone had finally spilled the tale of what had really happened.
Then had come the night when old Duke Brucal had called him to his pavilion and pressed the charges that he had consorted with the enemy, and knowingly let an elite Tsurani unit escape.
It was ironic coming from Brucal, who was known to be one of the most pragmatic soldiers in the field. Yet, duty was duty, and if the rumours were true, Dennis could stand accused of treason.
Fortunately, none of his men would implicate him before the tribunal of Dukes Brucal and Borric, and Earl Vandros of LaMut.
Dennis was freed and returned to duty, but his reputation had been sullied. The Marauders were disbanded and he was sent to serve the last year of the war with Vandros. The Earl had been quick to realize Dennis's abilities and by the end of the war, Dennis had regained his rank and prestige, but the whispers about his mysterious journey with a Tsurani patrol never fully went away.
In a way, the new duty had been a welcome relief. The front was quiet, the patrols a boring routine, and thus he had spent the rest of the war.
And twice he had seen Asayaga. The first time was in the woods, nearly a year afterwards. The Tsurani were pressing on another front, and then launched a quick diversion into the territory patrolled by Dennis. There had been a short, shocking fight at a burning inn, both sides losing heavily. Just as he was pulling out, dragging his wounded, he caught a glimpse of Asayaga on his flank, Tasemu by his side.
He waited, not sure of what was to come next. Smoke drifted between them, and when it lifted the two were gone, and he had managed to get his command out.
The second time was on the day the Rift closed. Dennis had stood at attention with the honour company sent to attend the historic meeting between King Lyam and Emperor Inchindar, the Tsurani Light of Heaven.
Even now, five years after the war, Dennis didn't fully understand the betrayal of the elves and dwarves. One
