Redemption (27 page)

"We just have to find it in all this sand," Talot shook his head as he dismounted and started unwrapping the canvas. "I prefer the jungle over this endless wasteland."

"Some of my trips to the jungle have been rather stressful," quipped Prince Antion. "Let's get the shelter up quickly. The sand will blow strong enough to peel your skin off."

"What about the horses?" asked Winona. "We can't just leave them here."

"They will do fine," answered Prince Derri. "They will turn away from the wind and crowd together for protection. They have weathered many a sandstorm. It is people who don't know how to handle the weather."

Talot chuckled as he realized the truth in the prince's words. The giant shoved the handle of his axe deep in the sand and tied the canvas around the double-bladed head, making sure that the blades were not in a position to sever the cords. The two princes spread the canvas out and piled sand over the opposite end to create a small tent with the opening facing away from the wind. Monte used some arrows to spear the forward corners into the sandy soil and then the warriors crawled inside. The tent was cramped, and there was not enough room for anyone to move around, so they went to sleep.

When the sun set, the winds died down, and the warriors scrambled out of the tent. Most of the canvas was buried in sand, and it took quite an effort to pull it free. They ate some trail rations and had a sip of water before mounting up for a night's ride. Prince Derri set out on a southeasterly trek and used the stars to guide him.

"Is there any chance that we are not lost?" Winona asked half way through the night.

"Lost?" chuckled Prince Derri. "Of course not. I know right where we are."

"We are in Odessia," deadpanned Prince Antion.

"Right," laughed the Salacian prince. "If we see an oasis at anytime, then we are lost. When Umal says there are no water holes on this path, I am sure that he means it."

When morning arrived, the winds began to pick up again. Once again the warriors erected a tent and scrambled into it. Around sunset the winds began to lessen and Prince Derri was just trying to squeeze out of the tent when a harsh voice barked outside.

"Infidels!" cried the voice. "Shall we skewer them in their sleep?"

Prince Derri dove out of the tent, knocking Talot's axe aside as he did so. The tent collapsed and the other warriors struggled to free themselves in time to react to the threat outside.

"Not funny," scowled Prince Derri as he came out of his roll with a knife extended before him.

"Impressive exit," chuckled Prince Umal, "but that sword is a little short, isn't it?"

Prince Derri chuckled in spite of his embarrassment and sheathed his knife. The others scrambled out of the tent to find a hundred Odessian warriors surrounding them.

"Collapsing tents must be a form of Odessian humor that I missed during horse camp," Prince Antion said as he emerged from the tent.

"Actually," grinned Prince Umal, "it was the Salacian that collapsed the tent in his eagerness to offer us something to pick our teeth with."

"I see that you found your way to Natura," Talot said as he exited the tent. "Why so few riders?"

"We can't find the Borundans," frowned Prince Umal. "We have groups all over the desert looking for this massive army that is supposed to be descending on Natura. There is no sign of them. I volunteered to search this sector in hopes of finding you."

"We haven't seen anyone since entering Odessia," Prince Derri reported. "Of course most of that time has been spent traveling at night. It was just our luck to run into a late winter wind."

"It is a large storm," shrugged Prince Umal. "Perhaps the Borundans turned back when it struck."

"Are your people back from Caxon yet?" asked Monte.

"Both Kanior's group and my father's group will arrive in Natura tonight," answered the Odessian prince. "The eastern half of Odessia is not encumbered by the storm. Some of those who escaped before the attack on Oran arrived in Natura and told of the impending doom. I had little need to rush off and leave you as it turns out, but I would do so again."

"Better to be doubly warned than not warned at all," agreed the Arin prince. "May we ride with you?"

"We would be honored," smiled Prince Umal.

* * *

Paki was kicked awake and had his hands untied. A small chunk of bread was tossed to him and a soldier let him have a sip of water. The sun was just peeking over the horizon when a rider rode up and retrieved the rope that was still tied around Paki's waist. Paki dutifully rose to his feet and faced east, ready to lead the group through another day of dust storms when he felt the slight shift in the wind. He had not felt it while sitting on the ground, but he now knew that the storm would end today. Always during the last day of the storm the winds changed direction and eventually died to nothing. That was not to say that the storm would not blow hard during the day, but it would taper off long before sunset.

The soldiers quickly formed into a column, and the lead rider prompted Paki to start walking. The winds were quiet as the old Odessian led the Borundan army eastward. A while later the sun peeked over the horizon and the wind began to blow. It was a gentle breeze at first, but Paki knew that its gentleness would not last for long. It was an hour later that the winds began to pick up and blow the sand into his face. Paki pulled his headdress up to cover his face and that was when he noticed the rider in the distance. He saw the figure for only a moment and then it was gone, but he had spent too many years around horses not to notice that the beast was an Odessian beauty. Paki's heart beat rapidly because he knew what that image signified. Before the day was over the Odessian warriors would attack. The old man promised to be ready when the time came.

As it had the previous two days, the wind intensified until visibility was reduced to nothing. Unlike the previous days, Paki did not deviate from an easterly course. He knew that his people were watching, and he wanted the Borundans' path to be predictable. It was in the middle of the day when the winds began to taper off. The path before him passed through a long valley created by a series of long sand dunes, and Paki recognized a perfect ambush place when he saw it. He turned his head briefly and his eyes followed the rope that was holding him captive. He saw the other end wrapped tightly around the rider's hand and smiled as he returned his attention to the path before him.

The wind died to almost nothing as Paki led the long column between the rows of sand dunes. The old man's eyes shifted left and right in an attempt to catch some sight of one of his countrymen, but he saw nothing. Still, he was not disheartened. The Odessians, after all, were not supposed to be seen, at least by foreigners.

When Paki saw the end of the sand dunes approaching, he made his move. He suddenly picked up his pace until the rope holding him became taught. As soon as he felt that tautness, he turned and yanked on the rope. With the rope wrapped around his hand, the rider was pulled from his saddle and tumbled to the ground. With swiftness unexpected from an old man, Paki leaped onto the rider's horse and slapped its hindquarter. The horse bolted forward, and shouts erupted behind Paki. Several riders raced after the old man, but Paki merely chuckled to himself. He knew what waited just beyond the end of the last sand dune.

Paki rode swiftly between the long rows of sand dunes, dragging the soldier with the rope wrapped around his hand. Three Borundan riders chased after the escaped Odessian, but Paki had a decent head start on them. The old Odessian man grinned broadly as he guided his stolen horse around the last sand dune on his left. As he curved around the giant curve of windblown sand, he saw the Odessian warriors waiting. A war cry flew from Paki's mouth, and he raised his right fist high overhead. The waiting Odessians did not return the salute, but Paki had hardly expected them to. The warriors' hands were busy with other things.

As the three Borundan riders raced around the sand dune, their eyes opened wide at the sight of hundreds of Odessian warriors. The Borundans tried desperately to turn around, but it was a futile effort. A dozen arrows flew from the bows of the waiting Odessians. The three Borundan riders fell dead, their bodies toppling to the sand.

One of the Odessian warriors tossed Paki a knife, and the old man cut the rope free from his waist. He turned and stared at the backsides of the long row of sand dunes and saw thousands of his countrymen hidden from the Borundans. The warriors sat waiting for the signal to attack, and that signal was given as soon as the old man was out of danger.

Several hundred of the horsemen urged their Odessian beauties to life, and they raced back along the path that Paki had taken during his flight to safety. At the same time, the thousands who had been waiting patiently behind the long row of sand dunes charged to the summits. As the several hundred warriors charged towards the vanguard of the Borundans, the thousands of others raced down the sides of the sand dunes.

The Borundan soldiers who had been marching through the desert in a bit of a haze were suddenly confronted with an ambush. Everywhere they looked there were Odessian horsemen charging at them. Some of the officers shouted orders in an attempt to organize a defense, but the cause was hopeless. In just a few minutes the leading third of the Borundan army was destroyed. Those soldiers who had not yet entered the long line of sand dunes, turned and ran towards the west. The Odessian horsemen charged after them, and battles broke out all over the desert. By nightfall, half of the Borundan army was dead, and the other half had surrendered.

As the coolness of the desert night began to spread over the land, the leaders of the Odessian army gathered at an oasis to share the evening meal. Prince Umal and his foreign friends joined King Rihad, Kanior, and Paki in one of the large yurts.

"Come and sit," King Rihad smiled to the newcomers. "Paki was just telling us how he led the Borundans around in circles. It is no small wonder that we had trouble finding the Borundans. They were nowhere near the Oran-Natura Road."

"Then we have saved the lives of half of the Borundans," smiled Prince Umal as he sat next to his father. "They would never have found their way home. What about Oran? How much of an army is still there?"

"Half of what General Bassner brought east," Paki answered.

"That is still a lot of men to defeat," frowned Kanior, "especially since they have the fortifications of the city to hide behind. We could lose a great number of men taking Oran back."

"We have lost too many already," scowled Paki. "Most of our elderly gave up their lives to allow the younger ones a chance to flee. The Borundans left a trail of Odessian bodies behind them as they moved eastward. Out of hundreds, only a handful of us survived. The Borundans must be made to pay for those deaths."

"We have just destroyed thousands of their men," frowned Prince Umal, "yet you still seek revenge?"

"I do," Paki nodded stubbornly. "The men we killed today, we killed in battle. Their deaths were delivered on the battlefield as it should be for soldiers, but those old people were killed for merely being Odessian. They were old and frail and murdered because they could not keep up with the Borundan soldiers. That was not an act of war. It was an act of barbarism. The Borundans need to be taught a lesson."

"What did you have in mind?" King Rihad asked apprehensively.

"I don't know," Paki conceded with a sigh. "I bear part of the guilt myself. I alone ordered the frail and elderly left behind in Oran. I suspected that death awaited all of us, but I could not imagine the barbarity of General Bassner. He pushed cripples into the desert to lead his army to Natura, and he did so knowing full well that he would kill them when they faltered. Even his own people were sickened by the trail of bloodshed. He had to order his enforcers to kill any Borundan soldier who passed by Odessians without killing them. What kind of a country puts such a man in charge of others?"

"One that is ruled by a mad king," Jared said softly. "At least Zinan has an excuse for his depravity, but Bassner has none."

"What excuse does King Zinan have?" snapped Paki.

"King Zinan is no longer in control of his own destiny," Talot replied softly. "The Talent has taken control of him. I do not see that excusing his behavior, but I do understand what Jared was trying to say. General Bassner should never have been put in charge of any men. He is unfit to lead. What has become of the general?"

"General Bassner is dead," answered Kanior. "He died in the initial attack at the battle of the sand dunes."

"A pity," remarked King Rihad. "We could have used him to save lives in the retaking of Oran."

"We still can," Prince Antion declared.

* * *

Most young officers would have been thrilled to be given command over an enemy city, but Captain Hardan was a cavalry officer, and he yearned to be riding through the forests of Borunda, not watching over the empty Odessian city of Oran. Besides, he knew that command was given to him not because of his great capabilities, but rather to avoid giving control to those officers who coveted replacing General Bassner. There had been quite a row when Bassner had chosen him to command the garrison. The general had refused to justify his choice and many assumed it was because Hardan was a bootlicker just like the general. In fact, the opposite was closer to the truth. Captain Hardan was probably the only officer who did not try to court favor with the general. He considered General Bassner to be incompetent, although no one had ever heard him say so. Hardan had requested a transfer to General Ortega's army, but the request had been denied. He had intended to make a second request, but when General Ortega was hanged as a traitor, it seemed wiser to remain silent and suffer under General Bassner.

To cope with the feeling of being wedded to the Odessian city, the captain was in the habit of rising well before sunrise and taking a ride through the surrounding countryside. His staff always objected strenuously to the daily routine, but none of them were energetic enough to rise sufficiently early to halt the practice. Captain Hardan's early morning routine included walking the walls of the city before taking off for his ride. He would stop and question each of the wall guards before heading to the stables. He did so not out of fear of an attack, but to build some base of support for his position. The soldiers had responded by spreading supportive comments to the rest of the men, and by the end of the week the captain was well liked for the consideration shown to the troops.

On this particular morning, the captain was troubled by the reports from the wall guards. While there had been no attempts to attack the walls, each guard had reported hearing strange noises during their watch. The captain's curiosity grew with each report, and he finally decided it was prudent to abandon his morning ride. Captain Hardan walked all of the walls a second time and ended up over the eastern gate.

"Any more strange noises?" he asked the guard.

"There were some more after you left," answered the guard, "but none recently. Whatever is out there must be a night dweller that has returned to its den."

"So you think it was an animal then?" questioned the captain.

"What else could it be?" the guard shrugged anxiously. "What fool of a man would prowl around the gate of an occupied city all night long without seeking entry?"

It dawned on the captain that the guard thought he was the only one hearing the noises. Hardan did not think it was animals surrounding the city.

"I do not share your thoughts on this," the captain replied softly. "I want you to wake the men up, but do it quietly. I want all of the men on the wall, but I do not want whoever is out there to know that we are preparing for an attack."

The guard's eyes widened in surprise at the captain's orders, but he nodded affirmatively and ran off to carry out the orders. Within moments Borundan soldiers began to stealthily climb the stairs and spread out along the walls of the city. Within a half hour, the entire garrison was awake and spread out over the four walls of the city. The soldiers stood staring out into the darkness, not knowing what to expect when the sky lightened.

"There are men out there!" the guard exclaimed softly. "I can just pick out their shapes."

The captain squinted into the darkness and shook his head. He could not see any men.

"Which way are they moving?" he whispered.

"I don't see anybody moving," answered the guard. "They are just standing there." A moment went by before he continued, "Actually, I think they are not standing. They are lying down."

"You mean they are crawling towards the wall?" the captain asked with confusion in his voice.

"No sir," the guard shook his head. "They aren't moving at all."

The captain frowned and sighed deeply at his inability to see what the guard could see. He waited impatiently for the sky to lighten. Just as he was able to make out the forms of men lying on the ground, the guard next to him stiffened.

"They are Borundans!" gasped the guard. "Merciful sword! What has happened?"

Gasps rang out along the wall as the predawn light showed thousands of Borundan bodies surrounding the city of Oran. Runners came from every section of the wall to report to the captain, and Hardan waved the men back to their posts after he heard their reports. Several other captains showed up and huddled behind Hardan so that they could hear the reports.

"One would suspect that General Bassner's assault on Natura did not go well," the captain said softly.

"But why bother to carry their bodies back here?" asked one of the other captains. "Is it some sort of Odessian ritual?"

"I think they are telling us that we are not welcome in their land," replied Captain Hardan.

"Well that was a waste of their effort," snarled the other captain. "We have the fortifications of the city on our side. What are the horsemen going to do about it? When they charge the walls, we will cut them down with arrows."

As the captain spoke, the Odessian warriors rode into view. Thousands of Odessians, sitting proudly on their Odessian beauties, rode towards the walls of Oran and stopped just outside the range of bow and arrow. For a full half hour the Odessians continued to arrive and form a ring around the city. Captain Hardan swallowed hard and shook his head in dismay.

"How many arrows do the men have?" he asked the other captain.

"Enough," snarled the other captain, but his voice cracked with fear. "Besides, there are not enough Borundan bodies down there."

"Not enough Borundan bodies?" snapped Captain Hardan. "There are thousands of our brothers down there. What are you talking about?"

"That can't be all of General Bassner's men down there," scowled the other captain. "Maybe the general was ambushed and lost some men, but that doesn't mean that the rest of his force is destroyed. He may be leading them up behind the Odessians at this very moment."

"If General Bassner has any force left," retorted Captain Hardan, "he will not waste them in an open battle against the horsemen. Frankly, I do not think the Odessians would put themselves in this position if General Bassner were still alive."

"You can't possibly know that," shouted the other officer. "You want to take control of the western army. You are merely hoping that he is dead. We will not allow you to take control."

"You won't allow it?" snapped Captain Hardan. "General Bassner left me in charge of this army. You will obey my commands, or you will face the consequences for treason. If General Bassner returns, you can complain to him about my orders, but until then, you will do as I say."

With a wave of Captain Hardan's hand, a group of soldiers surrounded the other captains. Hardan was about to continue with his verbal lashing when a distant whoosh caught everyone's attention.

"That sounded like a trebuchet," the guard said with alarm.

Everyone faced east expecting to see a fiery ball approaching, but their mouths fell open when they saw that it was merely a human body being tossed over the city wall. They followed the progress of the body, which slammed to the ground in the middle of the marketplace.

"That was General Bassner," announced the guard. "I don't think he will be coming up behind the Odessians."

"I thought the Odessians were on their way to Caxon," one of the captains remarked. "How could they also be here?"

"Evidently King Zinan was wrong in his assessment," sighed Captain Hardan. "If the Odessians have defeated General Bassner, which I now think it is safe to say is true, that means that they have his siege weapons. They can tear down the walls of this city before sending their horsemen in to finish us off."

"They wouldn't destroy their own city," balked one of the captains. "You are thinking of surrendering. I know it. You cannot. The Odessians will kill all of us."

"All we need to do is get word to King Zinan and then hold out for a few days," offered another officer. "Surely he would send reinforcements?"

"That is one option," agreed Captain Hardan, "but how do you propose we get a messenger out of this city?"

"I am sure we can get a man out," boasted the defiant captain. "It only takes one man to get through. We could send several men at the same time to increase out odds."

"A good thought," smiled Captain Hardan. "Borundan officers are among the finest riders in the land. I am willing to let all of you give it a go. Surely one of you will get through to King Zinan?"