Glen Cook Black Company 10 Soldiers Live

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The Great General had not yet broken contact entirely. He seemed willing to
continue skirmishing indefinitely.
Swan told everyone, "I think we did well. The casualty ratio ran in our favor,
certainly."
Sleepy snapped, "But, strategically, Mogaba must be celebrating. He's pleased
with what he accomplished." She had no way of knowing any such thing, of
course. She knew only that she was not pleased. Mogaba had surprised her
again.
She overlooked the fact that she had managed to drive off a much superior
force once the fighting started, that Mogaba might have been too subtle and
clever for his own good.
Willow Swan did not overlook that. He said, "Mogaba may be back. Once he
understands that he did surprise us and could've rolled over us if he'd just
charged in without all the maneuvering."
Heads bobbed. One brigadier noted that were he in charge on the other side he
would attack again even if he thought his enemies expected him. He would do it
just to see what would happen. And to build in the minds of the attacked a
belief that they had to stay alert. Keeping ready to repel an attack would
grind a force down after several days.
Sahra wandered in. Late and uninterested in the discussion. To no one in
particular she said, "It's started to rain."
Because that was important news that might have a serious impact on
operations, Swan stepped out for a look.
The sky was overcast. The smell of rain was in the air. But it was not raining
now and did not look likely to start until well after nightfall, which was
only a short while away. Swan went back inside shaking his head.
That Sahra might have been speaking figuratively or metaphorically became
evident a short while later, when a patrol brought in news that the Grove of
Doom had been cleansed of Deceivers.
"Even of the Daughter of Night and the Goblin thing?" Sleepy demanded.
"We didn't find their bodies, Captain. And there were plenty of bodies there.
All with their heads missing. Maybe those two managed to escape."
"Maybe. I wish Tobo would get the hell back here. I really hate this being
blind."
"You're totally spoiled," Swan told her.
"And loving every minute of it. Tso Lien. More work for your recon people.
Find out what happened. And find out if we can run anybody down. Keeping in
mind that it would please Mogaba no end to lead us into a lethal trap."
"It shall be done, my Captain."
Swan sneered at Tso Lien's flowery response. The man hailed from a province
where styles of speech were as important as what was being said. He was
another of those fiercely competent professional officers who had wanted to
shed the feudal chains of Hsien in hopes of making his fortune.
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Swan wondered if the men from the Land of Unknown Shadows might not begin
concentrating more on staying alive than on winning a war. Their future
fortunes were in Company hands already, hidden in that cemetery.
Chapter 87
Glittering Stone: Fortress with No Name
Oh, so alert the observing eyes when Lady and I opened the shadowgate. I
tossed in several unnecessary steps just for drama and confusion. Then we were
moving again, flickering southward along the shielded road toward Shivetya's
great wintry fastness.
The entire plain seemed a chill, grey, wintry place, lacking all glitter. The
standing stones seemed old and tired and not much interested in making any
effort to proclaim the glories of the past. I did not spot any new ones. Not
once did the wind grow warmer than the heart of a loan shark. We saw patches
of ice and snow.
Tobo suggested the plain was getting its weather from somewhere where the
season was less comfortable than our own.
"You think?" I said. "With the Khatovar gate busted completely?" There was no
sense of menace to the plain today. Could the shadows have become that few?
Shukrat said, "Only, it would be the heart of summertime at home, now."
I grunted. I adjusted my flying log to make more speed. The kids had no
trouble keeping up. I heard Lady curse in the distance as Howler's carpet fell
behind. Howler could not hurry because his conveyance nearly filled the
protected area. He had to be cautious.
As we neared Shivetya's fortress, Tobo shouted, "It's safe to go up now!" He
and Shukrat shot toward the sun. Or where the sun would have stood had the
weather not been vile.
"Don't you dare!" Murgen barked.
"Too late, buddy. Hang on." I was rising already, though not with the
derring-do of some immortal teenager. When Murgen squawked I said, "You don't
like the ride, get off and walk."
In moments we had a god's-eye view of the glittering plain. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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