"You did well, friend Cabot,” said Lord Grendel.
"Your subsequent contacts with their agents, secretly accomplished, enabled their intervention in the affairs of the world."
"We gave them the opportunity, if not of redemption, in their own eyes,” said Lord Grendel, “at least that of striking a blow for the world."
"I fear many still feel it incumbent upon them to submit to the rope or knife,” said Cabot.
"That is madness,” said Lord Grendel, “though this, I recognize, may be no more than an evidence of my weakness, a hesitation due to the human in me."
"I tried to convince them,” said Cabot, “that defeat in a struggle well waged cannot be accounted dishonor."
"And were you successful?"
"I fear not."
"What then brought them to the field?"
"To do honor to Lord Arcesilaus,” said Cabot.
"They are Kur,” said Lord Grendel, proudly.
At this point Statius joined Lord Grendel and his human ally, Tarl Cabot. Statius carried a weighty Kur ax, double-headed, and each blade bore blood. Statius, as other Kurii from the trenches, had been active in the field. The Kurii of Agamemnon had not only been taken unawares, but had been found themselves trapped between the fleet's survivors and the forces under the command of Lord Grendel.
"Four hundred are chained, and ready to be slain,” said Statius to Lord Grendel. “To be sure, fearsome tortures may be arranged."
"Those are the very chains, I would suppose, which had been brought for us,” said Cabot.
"Yes,” said Statius, “and now they wear them themselves."
"Only four hundred?” asked Cabot. “We must have been encircled by two to three thousand foes."
Lord Grendel did not immediately respond.
Then Cabot looked about, at the broad field. “I see,” he said.
"Kurii seldom take prisoners,” said Lord Grendel. “Too, you must understand that the attack of a Kur is commonly fatal."
"What of our wounded?” asked Cabot.
"They will be attended to,” said a Kur.
"And the enemy wounded?"
"They will be killed,” said a Kur.
"Lord Grendel!” protested Cabot.
"It is the Kur way,” said Lord Grendel.
"Let the Kur way change,” said Cabot.
"Do not be weak, commander,” said a Kur.
"They were defeated,” said a Kur. “It is a disgrace for them to live."
"Tend their wounds,” said Lord Grendel. “If they wish, they may kill themselves later."
"Would you tend and heal a foe whom you might then face again, and less successfully?” asked a Kur.
"You need not follow me,” said Lord Grendel. “I am weak."
"You are lord,” said the Kur.
"Obey him,” said Statius. Then he turned to Lord Grendel. “What of the four hundred? Surely, even should you not subject them to the tortures which they in turn would have inflicted upon us, you will have them slain, swiftly, if you would prefer."
"Remove their chains,” said Lord Grendel.
"Madness!” cried Statius. “None will follow you, if you do this!"
"I will follow him,” said Cabot.
"I, too,” said Archon.
"I, too, of course,” said Statius, “but who else would do so?"
"I believe Lord Lucullus commanded the forces of Agamemnon,” said Lord Grendel. “Is he accounted for?"
"He is not among the dead, or the prisoners,” said a Kur.
"Some escaped,” said a Kur.
"What of our scout, Flavion?"
"He, too,” said a Kur, “is not accounted for."
Lord Grendel then turned to a Kur. “Please convey my greetings, and thanks, to Mitonicus, and ask him to attend us at his convenience.” Mitonicus, who had commanded the fleet's survivors, was a minor admiral. He had brought his four ships, damaged as they were, back to the world, that they not be lost to Agamemnon's navy. He was one of the few surviving officers, as most, if they had not perished in the fray itself, their ships destroyed about them, melting and fragmenting in the silent fields of space, had hung themselves in shame, some aboard their returning vessels, others, having made worldfall, in the groves about the small camps.
"I cannot do so, commander,” said a Kur, “as he has returned, with his men, to the gathering."
"The work here is not done,” said Lord Grendel.
"He has departed, commander,” said the Kur.
"Mitonicus has the ring of Arcesilaus now, does he not?” asked Lord Grendel.
"Yes,” said Cabot. “It seemed fitting that he should bear it."
"I agree,” said Lord Grendel.
"The four hundred must now, surely, be killed,” said Statius.
"No, free them,” said Lord Grendel, wearily.
"What are we do to?” asked Archon.
"We will return to the forests,” said Lord Grendel. “A precarious stasis now exists. With the departure of Mitonicus, we are unable to force our war to a favorable resolution, but, too, I think that Agamemnon, as well, now lacks the power to dislodge us from our retreats. Further, he must be wary of Mitonicus and his cohorts."
"Not if Mitonicus and his fellows all hang themselves,” said Cabot.
"I do not think they will do that,” said Lord Grendel.
"Why not?” asked Cabot.
"Because,” said Lord Grendel, “they have now tasted victory."
Chapter, the Fifty-Seventh:
WHAT OCCURRED IN THE CAMP OF LORD GRENDEL
The gate of the forest camp of Lord Grendel swung open, and an astonished, elated Peisistratus, who had governed the camp in the absence of its lord, rushed forward, stumbling, half-speechless, bewildered.
"Dear Grendel!” he cried, “we had report that your plan had failed, and your command destroyed, wiped out, each and every one of our fellows, in the Vale of Destruction! Praise the Priest-Kings! You, and Cabot, and some others, Statius, I see, and some few, have escaped!"
"Praise the Nameless One, if you will,” said Lord Grendel, “if it pleases you to do so, but do not praise Priest-Kings, not in this camp, for they had, I am sure, little influence on the day, nor had they had influence, would it have turned out as it did."
"Forgive me, Lord Grendel,” sobbed Peisistratus, “but I am overcome with joy, that you have escaped the slaughter."
There was, behind him, as well, elated denizens of the camp. His Corinna was eagerly heeling him, Statius’ female hurried forth, to kneel at his feet, rubbing her head against his leg, and other slaves crowded about, kneeling, weeping with joy, and the seven or eight humans and Kurii who had been commanded, to their sorrow, to stay within the camp, to protect and hold it, with its goods and slaves, now pressed forward, jubilantly seizing comrades in arms, and crying out with pleasure, and some of the Kurii bounded about, and turned in the air, and then scratched in the dirt and flung spumes of celebration yards into the air.
"It is true there was slaughter,” said Grendel.
"You are followed, surely,” said Peisistratus.
"I do not think so,” said Grendel.
"But Agamemnon would surely follow up his victory and press a determined, vengeful pursuit."
"I am sure he would do so,” agreed Grendel.
"But you were not followed?"
"I do not think so,” said Grendel.
"How fortunate that you have escaped!” said Peisistratus.
"We have not escaped,” said Grendel. “We have returned."
"But it was reported you did not even reach the palace,” said Peisistratus.
"That is true,” said Grendel.
"The massacre, it is said, took place in the Vale of Destruction,” said Peisistratus.
"That is true,” said Grendel.
"Hundreds must have perished,” said Peisistratus.