The archers looked around at each other quickly. “We’re in,” the leader announced, extending a hand to Janis.
Janis shook it and pulled himself out of the snow. “Good. We’ll fill you in on the move. What you’ve told us about Reoth proves what we suspected all along.”
“What’s that?” the lead archer asked.
“I won’t say now,” Janis said, looking around. “We must return with all speed. Hern, Sermas, Khollo, take the lead and clear drifts. I’ll follow and bring our new friends up to speed.”
Khollo stumbled through the snow to Arle’s side and stowed his gear quickly. Then he vaulted into the saddle and urged her to the northeast, closely followed by the others. Once they were underway, Khollo drew the two halves of the Sen-teel and joined them.
I won’t be caught without a weapon twice, he thought grimly, reflecting on the earlier ambush.
As they rode, Khollo listened to Janis filling in the hunters from Reoth. They were properly stunned and horrified at the news that the vertaga were on the move again, and frankly skeptical. Janis showed them the shield they had found in Holwey, but the hunters did not recognize it as a vertaga symbol, or any other emblem for that matter. Eventually, everyone fell silent and focused on moving forward. All the while, the archers kept arrows on their bowstrings and Khollo and the others kept their weapons drawn and ready for use.
By nightfall, they were closing in on the West Bank. The weather had remained clear throughout the day, but as the sun set the temperature dropped quickly. Janis chewed his lip thoughtfully as darkness fell, then came to a decision.
“We’ll push on,” he decided. “We can make it in another hour, and I will sleep better behind stone walls and knowing that there are soldiers on patrol.”
Sure enough, as the sky continued to dim, flickering lights of orange and yellow hues appeared above and ahead. Khollo relaxed fractionally, thinking of his tower room with its comfortable bed. I’ll build a fire tonight, he thought cheerfully. And every night after if I want. I will never be cold again if I can help it.
The wind gusted across the plains. The low bushes dotting the landscape rustled in reply, then fell silent. Khollo looked up and saw the West Bank looming above him on its hill, sentries pacing the wall agitatedly. There was only the final ascent left now, then they would be safe again.
The bushes rustled again, louder, though the wind was gone. There was a clatter of rocks that set the hair on the back of Khollo’s neck prickling. Wind doesn’t move rocks. And there’s no wind . . .
“Damn,” Khollo whispered. He immediately dropped back to ride beside Janis. “Janis, there’s something out – ”
The bushes rustled again. “Run!” Janis shouted, shoving at the hunters. “To the fortress, now! We’ll follow.” After a moment’s hesitation, the archers took off at a dead sprint, laboring up the hillside, Sermas and Hern flanking them, shouting for the gates to be opened.
Khollo and Janis brought up the rear, scanning the land to either side of the trail uneasily. The further up the hill they retreated, the more Khollo relaxed. Then, a shadow moving low to the ground between two boulders drew his eyes.
“Janis,” he said, his voice rising in pitch.
“Go!” Janis replied. “I’ll be right behind you.” He turned Gray Wind sideways though and Khollo knew what he was planning to do.
He’s using himself as bait! Khollo thought, horrified. “Janis, come on!” he shouted, bringing Arle to a halt as well.
Janis held his sword at the ready. “Get going, Khollo, that’s an order.”
“But – ”
“That’s an order!”
Khollo cast about for a solution, then, out of frustration, broke his Sen-teel into its halves and rammed one of the hilts into Janis’ skull. The warrior, unprepared for an attack from this quarter, grunted and slumped forward, stunned. Khollo grabbed Gray Wind’s lead rope and dragged the massive beast’s head around, tugging him towards the gate. Gray Wind snorted and rolled his eyes but followed.
“Shut the gate!” Khollo shouted as they crossed the threshold. “Shut it! Now!”
The oaken doors swung forward ponderously as the two regular guards put their shoulders to the task. Hern, Sermas, and the hunters lent their aid as well and the doors fairly flew shut, finishing with a rumbling boom that rolled back through the fortress.
“What’s going on?” one of the gate guards demanded. Khollo recognized Rowert’s pale face in the darkness. “Are we under attack?”
Khollo shook his head. “I don’t think so. There may have been someone lurking on the road, but there couldn’t have been a large force. We wouldn’t have made it if there was.”
Janis groaned and sagged sideways, nearly falling from Gray Wind’s back. One of the hunters propped him up just in time. “What happened to him?” Rowert demanded. “And who the devil are you lot?” he added, realizing that there were six unfamiliar faces looking back at him.
“We’ll explain later,” Khollo muttered. “Lord Kurkan took a blow to the head. Nothing serious, just stunned him. I think.” I hope I only stunned him.
“Get him down from there,” Rowert ordered crisply. “Leonard, take over here. I’ll take this lot up to the keep. Ondus will want to speak with them.”
“I know the way,” Khollo interrupted. “I’d feel better if you stayed here, Rowert. Something was definitely lurking in the bushes by the trail. Inform the sentries. Tell them to put an arrow through it if they get a clean shot.”
“Then it was definitely an enemy?” Rowert asked.
“It wasn’t one of our men,” Hern replied, clearly shaken.
“How do you know?”
