Chapter 6
The Wild Mountains
Crescent Mountains, Cygnus Province, Titan
"Much like a dog, at times the only thing distinguishing a proper man-at-arms from a bandit is the one holding his leash."
-Excerpt from the assorted writings of Mark the Guardian
It was the second day since they left Castle Edmond. They had long since crossed the border and were following the caravan trail along the southern foothills. In better times, perhaps Gladius and Titan would agree to build a proper road, but such times seemed to be far off.
The bugler sounded the call to halt. It was time to give the men a little rest. While it was important to advance at a good pace, that pace had to be tempered lest injuries and exhaustion sap the company of its strength. The King's men were one thing, but even the household troops in their number were not necessarily accustomed to marching over such distances. There was a long road ahead of them yet and they needed to remain in as good of condition as possible.
Mark looked to Sir Emerich and said, "Go take report from the lieutenants."
Sir Emerich bobbed his head and replied, "It shall be done, milord."
Mark personally took account of the company at the beginning and the end of the day as well as during the midday break, but for these hourly stops, he deferred the task to Sir Emerich. It kept him occupied and it made good use of his abilities. After their rocky start, Mark had to be judicious in how he approached the Lieutenant. He wanted to avoid any needless antagonism and appealing to Sir Emerich's professionalism as a soldier seemed to be the best course.
While he waited for Sir Emerich to return with the report, Mark took the opportunity to dismount and stretch his legs. Sonia did likewise, grunting as one of her joints popped loudly.
"It sure as hell doesn't get any easier," she said.
"It never does," Mark replied.
"How much farther?"
"If we can keep up our current pace, we should arrive at the abbey the day after tomorrow. From there it will be another nine or ten days until we reach Castle Titan."
"I'll be thankful to be back in civilization," Sonia said, "or at least what passes for civilization in these parts."
Mark sighed.
"Please tell me you're going to be more mindful about what you say around the Titians when we meet them."
"You afraid I'll open up a new front in the war?" Sonia asked with a wry grin.
"Remember that we are representing Gladius and His Majesty. You aren't just your own person, not for this mission."
"I don't think I've ever just been my own person."
"You certainly don't act like it most times."
Sonia chuckled.
"Yeah, well, I'll try not to give you any heartache, cousin."
"I appreciate that."
"Milord."
It was Sir Emerich, back from making the rounds. Mark nodded to him and said, "Give us your report, Sir Emerich."
"Milord. we had eleven men fall out of formation during the last movement: three from Watercress, two from Cruz, two from Sandstone, two from Corinth, one from Eagle... and one from Newstone, I'm ashamed to say."
"Any repeat offenders?" Mark asked.
"Six of the eleven have been found straggling before, four of them from the movement before this one."
"What do their lieutenants say? Do they expect malingering?"
"No, milord, but of course such men will protect their own."
"You should be more trusting of your fellow man," Mark said, "unless he gives you reason to think otherwise."
"I believe the opposite is true, milord."
"You may escape the cloak and dagger thinking like that, Sir Emerich, but you will not win any friends along the way."
"That is a risk I'm willing to take, milord," Sir Emerich replied firmly.
Mark sighed. He should have been used to it by now, but it was exhausting to deal with someone so much at odds with himself. If Sir Emerich would ever add insubordination to his contrary traits, he would be unbearable.
"For now, we will leave the matter to the lieutenants to deal with as they see fit," Mark said. "Still, the number of stragglers each movement is starting to concern me. Perhaps we should slow the pace."
"If anything, we should be pushing for a harder pace, milord," Sir Emerich said. "We mustn't keep the Archduke waiting."
"The Archduke won't delight in a company of men lamed from being marched half to death."
"Perhaps we would do well to winnow the wheat from the chaff."
"If we meant to do that, it should have been done before we crossed the border," Mark said. "Now we must do everything we can to ensure that each and every soul in this company returns home."
"That is a dream even in the best of circumstances, milord. We have come to this land to fight. Not everyone is coming home."
"Every man lost is a burden on my conscience I would not have. I intend to bring back as many of them whole and hale as I can."
"Duty comes first, milord. Surely you must understand that."
"He knows what he has to do, pup," Sonia said. "Doesn't mean he has to like it."
Mark was wanting this conversation to end and in a bit of fortuitous timing, one of the Rowanite scouts approached him. The scout raised his bow to salute Mark and said, "Milord, movement in the north."
"What kind of movement?" Mark asked.
"Men," the scout replied. "Armed. Over a hundred coming down from the mountains. With byrnies and spears. Shields painted red."
"The Archduke's men turned bandit..." Mark said. "This could be a problem."
"Shall we go meet them, milord?" Sir Emerich suggested.
Mark shook his head.
"No. We would be at a disadvantage. These hills are their allies. If we must fight, let it be down here where the ground is more even."
"Do we prepare an ambush then?"
"No. We don't even know if they're going to try to attack us. It would be a waste of our supplies to hold in place for an attack that may never come.
"Reposition the baggage train to the center of the formation. Don't let any stragglers fall out. Load them on the wagons if they can't keep up. Newstone and Corinth will take the van, Eagle and Cruz on the right wing, Watercress and Sandstone on the left, and Stormtree and Rowan at the rear."
"You leave the left flank weak, milord," Sir Emerich said.
"The greater danger is from them coming down the foothills at the right wing or coming at us from the rear."
"Then why are my men in the van?" Sir Emerich asked. "They are the most fit to meet the enemy."
"Firstly, your men are usually in the van. Secondly, if there is an attack from the north, you are well-positioned to to either reinforce the right wing or to go around and flank the enemy. Do you object to my tactics?"
Before Sir Emerich could answer, Sonia cut in and asked him, "Do you complain this much to your own squadron leader?"
"I have no reason to doubt his mettle on the battlefield," Sir Emerich replied.
Sonia pointed to Mark and said, "Just proof that you've never seen him on the battlefield."
"Get them formed up," Mark said, ending the discussion. "We'll proceed with the march and see what they do. Don't lower your guard."
"Shall we pick up the pace?" Sir Emerich asked.
"No," Mark replied. "They may be aiming to tire us out first. Steady as she goes."
The company formed up according to Mark's instructions and headed out. The next hour's march proceeded without incident, but the scouts reported that the bandits were following along in the hills. If you did not know to look for them, you probably would not notice them. It seemed that they were indeed seeking an opportunity to strike when the company was worn down from marching, just as Mark expected.
After another hour, it was time for the midday break. While Mark was making the rounds inspecting the rank and file, he could see that the men were on edge and rightfully so. There was no telling when they might be attacked.
"No campfires," Mark instructed Sergeant Williers of the Watercress levy. "Travel rations must suffice. Eat light. Split the break into two shifts. Half up and half down. Keep your weapons close at hand, even while resting."
"Yes, milord," Sergeant Williers replied.
A man came up to Mark and said, "Milord, a party of four coming from the west on the road. Red shields."
"Call Squire Halfdan," Mark said. "The rest of you, be ready. Spread the word."
"Yes, milord."
Squire Halfdan commanded the Sandstone levy. The son of a Marauder granted amnesty after the Restoration, he was one of a handful of men in the company versed in Titian. If these bandits meant to parley, his skills would be needed.
Before long, Squire Halfdan joined Mark, Sonia and Sir Emerich as they rode out to meet the bandits. Several Rowanites followed at a distance so that they were not too close but still within range to shoot the bandits dead should Mark signal for it.
As the bandits came closer so that Mark could get a better look at them, he was reminded of the Marauders. It should have been no surprise, though, with many of the Marauders being Titians and sons of Titians. They were professional soldiers but with a wild edge, like wolf-dogs only half-tamed. It may have been that they were always like that and so their mutiny came easily.
The apparent leader among them hung back, much as Mark did, while the man selected to speak on his behalf exchanged greetings with Squire Halfdan.
"Milord, milady, Sir Knight," Squire Halfdan said to Mark and the others, "they greet you in the name of the Godi... er, Chief Thor Olsson of the Blood Eagles."
Mark had heard the stories of the barbarous method of killing known as the blood eagle. It was said to date back to the days before Titan was united under a single king, but the horrific image was passed down from generation to generation and now these bandits were using that image as a symbol to inspire fear in their victims. Mark would not put it past these men to make their namesake more than just an image.
"Tell them that Lord Mark of House Aran greets them in the name of his liege King Edric of Gladius."
"Yes, milord."
Squire Halfdan passed the words along, listened to his counterpart, then said, "They would like to know what business brings us to these lands, milord."
"The Archduke pleads for aid and the King has answered that plea."
When told this, the bandits laughed.
"Ask them their business," Mark told Squire Halfdan. "If they are simply here to welcome us to these lands, we appreciate the gesture."
"Milord, you know that's not why they're here," Squire Halfdan said.
"Just tell them as I said."
Squire Halfdan did so and the bandits laughed again.
When they told the squire something more after that, Halfdan then said, "They said that they are here to welcome us. They say this is their territory and travellers must pay a toll."
"How much?" Mark asked.
Sonia, of course, objected.
"You can't possibly be thinking of—"
Mark raised his hand to stop her, then nodded to Squire Halfdan.
Squire Halfdan asked the bandits, then told Mark their reply.
"Half," he said. "Half of everything."
Mark drew in a slow breath through his nostrils, then said, "We have come at the request of the Archduke. You can draw up a bill and surely he will pay what is rightfully yours."
"Milord..."
Mark nodded for Squire Halfdan to go ahead. The bandits were not as amused this time around and their answer was not especially good-humored.
"They say that they could take everything and our lives with it."
Mark rested his hand on the pommel of his sword and began to focus on the power within. Unless you were looking up at the sky, you probably would not have noticed the clouds beginning to move and gather above them. Mark could make this happen faster if he wanted, but there was no call to be hasty.
"Tell them that I do not know what crimes they have committed, but I believe in redemption, of the soul if not of the body. They can lay down their arms and we will deliver them to the Archduke to face justice. The laws of men may not spare them, but they may find mercy in the eyes of God if they repent of their sins."
Squire Halfdan's jaw tightened. It was clear that he was reluctant to interpret what Mark said and that he wanted to object, but he also knew that Mark would insist on it.
Squire Halfdan passed Mark's word along and the mask of false geniality dropped when the bandits heard this. Looking rather dreadful, Squire Halfdan relayed their response.
"They say that they cannot laugh at your joke, milord."
"Tell them it's no joke and that this is their last chance," Mark said grimly.
Squire Halfdan closed his eyes and took a breath before turning to face the bandits. They were only further displeased once they heard Mark's ultimatum.
"They say that we could have saved our lives," Squire Halfdan said, "but now they are going to make an example of us. They say they are going to drive spears up our—well, you can imagine where, milord—and decorate the roadside with our corpses. Starting with—"
The bandit who was speaking on behalf of his companions spurred his horse to spring forward and run Squire Halfdan through with his spear, but the moment he tried, a red circle formed on the ground beneath his mount and a pillar of flame shot upward. Man and beast made horrible sounds as they were set alight. The horse bucked and thrashed about before running off.
Mark only had time to glance at Sonia before the other three attempted to flee. He signalled to the Rowanites and three arrows were loosed. Two found their mark, felling the riders, but the third must have gotten lodged in the man's shoulderblade or else the Rowanite did not use a bodkin-tipped arrow to pierce the mail shirt.
Mark drew his sword and pointed at the fleeing bandit. The gem adorning the sword's crossguard glowed and a bolt of lightning streaked from the blade, striking the bandit dead.
There was a brief, tense moment of silence that followed, then horns sounded and voices were raised as bandits appeared like ants swarming down the hills.
"To arms! To arms!" Mark shouted as he hurried back to their formation.
The buglers sounded to call to rally the men. It did not take long as half of them were already at the ready as Mark had instructed them.
While they were forming ranks, Mark shouted, "Reinforce the right flank! Guard the rear!"
Mark left the men to their lieutenants while he began to channel energy into his sword. The sky darkened as the clouds he had been gathering came together. Lightning began arcing from cloud to cloud, accompanied by loud claps of thunder. Then the lightning began to strike the foothills like a searing scourge. Even if a single lightning bolt did not strike anyone, men would scatter or stop dead in their tracks with the deafening peals of thunder. At the same time, Sonia had her sword raised as orange orbs swirled into being above her head. When they took form, the fireballs flew like fisherhawks diving at prey. Each one landed with a blossom of flame that lit up men like candles.
The bandits would have never imagined they had challenged two Elemental Knights and the magical assault caused many to lose heart and flee. Of those mad or foolish enough to keep up the charge, most were felled by arrows or javelins, leaving only a handful to clash with the front line and break like waves on the rocks. It was not long before it was all over.
Sir Emerich rode up to Mark and said, "The enemy has been routed, milord. Shall we pursue?"
"No," Mark said. "Broken and bloodied as they are, the hills still give them an advantage and they could do more hurt than we can afford."
"But, milord—"
"Get me a count of our losses. Have the wounded tended to. Bury the dead."
"Even the bandits, milord?"
"Even the bandits. See that no plunder is taken off the bodies."
"If they were once the Archduke's men, their gear is his."
"Then the Archduke can come and claim it."
Sir Emerich looked like he was about to object but quickly thought better of it.
"Yes, milord," he said.
As Sir Emerich left to carry out his duties, Sonia approached Mark.
"It's been a long time," she said. "Too long."
"Not long enough," Mark replied. "It would be better to never taste war again."
"Well, most of these boys got their first mouthful."
Mark found himself unconsciously wiping his mouth with the back of his glove when she said this. It was almost like that taste was something real.
"I fear it will not go so easily next time," he said.
"Then you ought to be thankful they got in a little practice."
Sonia clapped Mark on the shoulder. Though he would have rather she not shared this potential death sentence with him, there was no one he would rather have at his side in times like this. They had survived their first trial, but this was only the beginning. He would be relying on her fierce spirit all the more in the days to come.