threatened to pen them in. The pursuing band began to gain on their quarry, their horses obviously fresher, though all the animals would be tired by the fighting and the chase. He’d seen enough. “Let’s go, Maldar. We don’t want to be here when…”
His voice trailed off as he watched the yellow riders gallop into a canyon. From his vantage point, Esk kar could see their path led nowhere.
In a few moments the yellow riders whirled their horses about and rode back out, the gap between pursued and pursuers shortened by the time wasted on the false trail. A short ride would bring them to another fork.
One branch led to a narrow, twisting trail that would lead to the open plain where Esk kar’s men now waited.
The other branch, twice as wide, led into another, larger canyon, one that twisted and turned alongside the cliffs, but one he could see ended in a second cul — de — sac. But it wouldn’t look that way to the harried riders. A flash of insight possessed him, almost as if he could see what would happen. At the same time, an idea, a foolish one perhaps, took hold of him.
His eyes marked the landmarks beneath him.
“Come,” he ordered, his mind made up, and he began scrambling down the steep hillside, grasping at roots and the hard rock edges that jutted through the thin grasses.
At the bottom Esk kar waited for Maldar to come rattling down, then grabbed his arm to halt him. “Walk slowly toward the horses, Maldar.
Don’t spook them.”
They reached the horses that watched nervously, nostrils flaring and eyes wide at the unusual sight of men and stones sliding down the hillside.
Esk kar made sure he had a firm grip on the halter before he undid the knot, looking at Maldar to make sure he followed his example. Once mounted, Esk kar led the way back to Sisuthros and the rest of his men, hidden from view by yet another tiny rolling swell sprinkled with skimpy grass.
“Captain, we should hurry.” Maldar’s voice betrayed his excitement.
“They’ll be here any moment. We’re right in their path.”
Esk kar reached the top of the grassy mound that opened up to the plain and spotted the rest of his men. He waved to them, summoning them forward. The faint sounds of the barbarian horses could be heard now, echoing off the rocks. The warring parties were less than half a mile away.
Maldar began again, but Esk kar cut him off. “No, they’ll take the wrong turn into the canyon, and be caught in a trap. They don’t know this ground or they’d never have gone up the first blind canyon. We’re safe for now.”
Sisuthros rode up at the head of the men and looked toward the hills.
Esk kar saw fear on each man’s face, especially the new men and the boys.
Everyone could hear the pounding hooves, amplified by the cliff walls, and they all knew danger lay just over the ridge. He waited until they’d bunched up around him.
“Listen carefully.” Esk kar kept his voice calm and assured. “There are two tribes of barbarians engaged in a battle inside the canyon over there,” he pointed to his left. “The larger band is Alur Meriki, and there are about fifty or sixty of them.” No sense frightening them even more by telling them the exact truth. “They fight against another, smaller band of about forty barbarians, one that I don’t recognize but clearly from a different clan. By now the Alur Meriki have trapped the first band in a box canyon and will soon be attacking them.”
“Then we’ve time to get away.” Sisuthros’s voice showed his relief. The men nodded agreement.
“No, we’re not riding away.” Esk kar watched their faces go blank at his words, their mouths opening in surprise. “We’re going to attack the Alur Meriki from the rear. We’ve enough men on fresh horses to tip the scale of battle.”
“Why fight to save barbarians?” Maldar asked. “Why not let them kill each other, while we get away?”
Esk kar shook his head. “Barbarians have a saying-the enemy of my enemy is my friend. If we help this other tribe, we gain allies against the Alur Meriki, and Orak needs all the help it can find. With our help, these Alur Meriki can be defeated.” He saw the doubt and disbelief on their faces. “You said you wanted to fight, didn’t you? Well, here’s your chance!
Or would you rather run away?”
He gave them no time to answer, as he turned his horse’s head back toward the canyons. “Mitrac, come with me and ready that great bow of yours. Sisuthros, prepare the men and walk the horses two hundred paces behind us.”
Esk kar rode off without a backward glance. In a few moments Mitrac reached his side, pale but determined, his eyes wide. Esk kar looked at the young man. “Trust me, lad, we can do this. I promise that you’ll kill at least five Alur Meriki today.”
Esk kar rode through the creases in the hills, the sounds of shouting and excited horses growing louder. The first party realized they’d ridden into a trap, and now both sides took their time readying their men for further battle. No doubt the first band had ridden to the end of the box canyon and would regroup from there. But the battle hadn’t started yet, so Esk kar knew he had some time.
Checking the landmarks he’d noted from the hilltop, Esk kar took his position and dismounted. He tied his horse to a gnarled tree limb, then retied Mitrac’s mount.
“That was a poor knot,” Esk kar said. “Your horse would have bolted loose at the first sound of trouble. Always make sure of your horse.” He slapped the lad lightly on the shoulder. “Now, string your weapon and follow me.”
Without waiting or looking behind, Esk kar moved silently the last hundred paces up the narrow trail. Boulders rose up on either side, twice his height, until he came to the final bend in the path. He slipped through the rocks and took a quick look up the trail.
The barbarians had left two riders to guard the opening against the chance of any opponents breaking through their ranks and escaping. Their gazes were fixed down the canyon. Mitrac’s rapid breathing announced his arrival, and Esk kar stepped back behind the rocks.
“Mitrac,” Esk kar said, noting the youth’s bow was strung and an arrow fi tted to the string. “There are two warriors, both with bows across their mounts, just around the bend, about forty paces away. Neither has an arrow to his string yet. Shoot the one farthest away first because he’s closest to the canyon entrance, and I don’t want him getting away. Then shoot the other one. If you miss, keep shooting. If he charges, I’ll take him with my sword.”
Esk kar looked at the lad, who seemed steady enough though his lip trembled and the bow shook a little in his hand. “Are you ready?”
Mitrac swallowed hard but managed to nod.
Esk kar had seen the signs of fear before. “It’s an easy shot, and they won’t be expecting it. Just do it, and think about it later. Now, let’s go. Take three good paces and let fly. I’ll be right behind you.”
Esk kar pulled his sword from the scabbard, more to give Mitrac a sense of security than out of actual need. At that moment, a great war cry sounded from the Alur Meriki inside the canyon, mixed with the pounding of horses put to the gallop as they launched their attack.
Mitrac’s hands shook a little, just enough to betray his nervousness.
He bit his lip, took a deep breath, exhaled half of it, and stepped forward.
Three long paces, then he turned and braced his left foot.
The boy’s long training under the stern tutelage of his father paid off.
The bow bent smoothly and, with scarcely a moment to aim, he launched the shaft on its flight. The first warrior cried out when the arrow struck him behind the right shoulder. The second man looked the wrong way. As he turned back to his rear, Mitrac’s second arrow, which had leapt from quiver to string, struck its target full in the chest. The Alur Meriki pitched slowly off his horse.
Esk kar darted back toward his men and, waving his sword, urged them forward. He raced back to Mitrac, clasping him on the shoulder to give him confidence. “Take a stance up in those rocks. Shoot anything that comes your way wearing red.”
Pushing him on his way, Esk kar ran ahead and gathered up the two riderless horses, leading them away from the canyon’s opening. Up close, he saw that the gap between the canyon’s walls was about forty feet wide at the entrance. He handed the horses off to Sisuthros, who rode up, sword in one hand, leading Esk kar’s horse with
