Morning dawned cloudy and damp. A thin rain began just as the army formed. Battle that day was even more confused and exhausting than the day before, as the hazards of mud compounded those of battle. When heavier rain fell in curtains after some hours of fighting, Siniava’s troops gave back slowly. The Phelani and Halverics pushed forward, but the militia in the center could not advance. Paks slogged on through the slippery mud, rain beating in her face, but she could not keep up with the retreating army, which vanished into the woods. At last the Duke halted them. As far as Paks could tell, Siniava’s army was in full retreat.
Back in camp, rumors flew that Siniava was on the run and his army dissolving. Paks had her doubts. Siniava had regrouped before. She splashed through the rain, checking on the wounded, bringing food to those who could eat, and making sure that no one was missing. When she went back to the cooks’ tent at last for her own meal, Stammel, Kefer, and Haben of Dorrin’s cohort were inside talking.
“You can’t blame the Clarts,” Kefer was saying. “They’ve taken losses all along, and this heavy rain is hard on ’em.”
“Aye—but those Blue Riders needn’t have been larking about with Sorellin’s militia. Not that they could have done it alone—Vonja and Foss Council just wouldn’t move.” Stammel turned to Paks and grinned. “Got ’em taken care of? Good. Eat hearty; we’ll be marching early.”
“And late,” added Haben. He was Dorrin’s senior sergeant. “By Zudthyi’s Spear, I hope they don’t slip us and get away somewhere to regroup.”
“What I heard is the Blue Riders are keeping contact.”
“But can we keep contact with the Blue Riders?” Haben took his bowl back for another helping. “And even if we can, would you wager those militia could?” He gulped down several mouthfuls. “I tell you, Stammel, if they set foot out of camp by noon tomorrow, I’ll buy you a jug of The White Dragon’s best ale.”
“No bet,” said Stammel gloomily. “They won’t. I’ve heard that a good third of the Vonjans are actually Siniava’s anyway.”
“After today?” asked Kefer, grinning.
“Maybe not, after today. Tir’s bones, I’m tired. Paks, you’re watch-second to Kefer tonight. If you need me before the change, Kef, I’ll be asleep near the middle post.” Stammel yawned, waved, and went out. Paks finished her meal while Kefer waited. When they left the tent, Haben turned toward Dorrin’s area, and Paks and Kefer walked the perimeter posts together. This was her first experience as watch second; she was very aware of her responsibility as she went from post to post during the watch.
Morning looked no better; rain had continued all night. The mercenary companies were soon ready to march, but as Haben had predicted the militia were only then struggling out of their tents to look around. When the march finally began, about noon, the mercenaries went alone, though the militia were pulling down their tents.
The Clarts had found a village, mostly burned but with several large barns intact, along the line Siniava had taken. They reached this village by nightfall; all the wounded, and most of the others, slept in shelter. Paks tried to ignore the stains where the villagers’ bodies had been dragged away for burial by the Clarts. Rain continued all that night, slow and steady. In the morning light, the wreck of the village was even uglier. Paks found a body the Clarts had missed: a young girl or woman who had been trapped in a burning sheepfold. She stared at it for a time before she called someone to help carry it away for burial.
For three wet days they marched on in the mud, along crooked lanes that led from village to village. Paks heard from Stammel that the militia was finally on the move behind them. But they could not catch Siniava’s army, and one day the Blue Riders reported that it had split. They were not sure which part of it Siniava was with. Finally the Duke turned them south, toward Cortes Cilwan.
“He thinks Siniava might have kept troops in reserve there,” said Kefer. “The Blue Riders are still trying to find out which remnant he’s with, but if the Duke is right, we could cut him off.”
Several days later they came in sight of the high walls of Cortes Cilwan, the inner keep standing far above the main city. They marched closer, in battle order. Paks could see sentries on the walls, and hear horns cry the alarm.
“Hmmph. I don’t see his standard,” said Arcolin. “I wonder if they’ve changed sides already.”
The Duke had ridden to the front of the column with Vladi and Aliam Halveric. “They’ll wish they had, if they haven’t,” he said. “But I expect they’re waiting to see who we are before they decide who they’re for. Let ’em see our colors, Arcolin, and we’ll find out.” Arcolin signalled the standard bearers, who unfurled the Duke’s banner to the light breeze.
“Nothing yet,” said the Halveric. “Coy, aren’t they?”
“Merchanters,” growled Vladi. “No courage, no honor—bah! Tir take all such to the black realms!” Paks glanced cautiously at him; she’d never been so close to him before. He looked like someone who would be called the Cold Count: a pale narrow face with cold blue eyes and a pointed gray beard.
The Duke lifted his reins and rode a little forward; the others went with him. A bellow came from the walls. Paks could not understand the words, and the Duke made no reply, advancing farther. He was close under the walls when he stopped. After a few minutes, someone came from a postern gate to speak with him. The discussion went on some time. Paks counted the sentries on the wall, and tried to see if there were archers up there too. It was hotter; standing in the sun she felt sweat trickling through her hair under the helmet. It itched. She resisted the urge to scratch her nose. Sun glared on the city walls. She looked past the city to the river. A bath in the river—Stammel cleared his throat and she jerked her attention back to the Duke. He and the others were riding back.
“Siniava isn’t here,” he told them. “They’re having riots inside, it sounds like, but they all swear Siniava isn’t here, and hasn’t been since he marched for Koury and Ambela. They won’t open the gates to us, and I won’t waste time taking the city when Siniava isn’t there. We’ll stay here until our scouts can tell us where he is.”
Paks had her bath in the river, as refreshing as she’d hoped; the camp was festooned with drying socks and tunics. By the time the couriers came in, rest, hot food, and baths had revived enthusiasm for the chase—among the mercenaries. They heard without surprise that the Vonja and Foss Council militia would not go farther east.
“I suppose we can’t complain,” said Devlin. “With all these bandits running loose in the confusion, and their own cities and lands at risk, I can see they’d want to stay closer to home.”
“I heard the trouble with Foss Council is that they’re still arguing about who’s in command since their captain-general was killed,” said Paks.
“Probably. With those units from different cities, their chain of command is tangled as briars. I wish the Sorellin militia would show up. Just because they were beaten once is no reason to hang back now. Siniava’s lost a lot, and not just on the battlefield.”
Seli limped heavily to their fire and eased himself down.
“Are you supposed to be here?” asked Devlin.
Seli grinned. “The surgeon said to try walking a few steps.” Devlin looked at the distance from the surgeons’ tents and shook his head. Seli ignored him. “Well, Paks,” he said. “How do you like being corporal?”
Paks blushed. “I’m not, really. Just until you’re well.”
“You’re doing the work. You’re as much of one as I am. If you weren’t doing it right, Kef and Stammel would have replaced you by now. Or so they told me, when I was worrying about it a few weeks after my promotion. I remember I was scared stiff. Did you feel like that, Devlin? I thought my friends would think I’d gotten conceited, and wondered if anyone would obey my orders.”