24
Ætharr had planned it out carefully with everyone. The army would march out in their contingents to prepare for the final battle.
Ibos and Brownhide had already left, as had Blackaxe, Jager and Kazahley. Horal and Ferric were both to depart in the morning, and Blackback would team up with Ervaring to leave within the evening next day.
It was a timed departure for everyone: if there were any scouts, they would see the smaller forces of the captains heading off in different directions. Oorlog would hear of it, and would more likely believe it when he heard that Blackaxe was alone, and preparing to fight him.
Rosheen had not been heard from at all, but there had been a message stating that they had passed the border into the Falcarragh territory.
Judos was simmering with hatred for Blackback. The sable ferret was merciless, hard, and an old friend of Coldbane's. Had he been with Coldbane when the grey fox had killed his family? The thought of that possibility drove the otter mad. He had not told anyone of his intentions, for he knew that Ætharr did not want to lose either him or the black ferret in a duel. Plus, Blackback would be hard to kill, and a part of Judos still tried to avoid battle.
He was nervous of the battle to come: but there was something else. He felt stimulated by the thought of fighting. Judos wanted to prove himself again, to show that he was as mighty a warrior as possibly Martin himself.
Ætharr's group would march in two days, so they, along with the others still at Brocovar, were feasting in celebration of the victory to come.
Only Iola was not jolly. She had shrieked that if they were not careful, they would all be slain. She begged Ætharr and the commanders to stop the feast, for danger was coming.
Horal and Ferric were puzzled by this, stating that the feast could not possibly be stopped now. To appease the vixen, Ætharr forbade the commanders to drink. Most of the troops leaving tomorrow knew better than to drink too much, anyway, he reasoned.
However, there are times when comradeship, alcohol, and emotion erodes even the most disciplined soldier. So it was for many of the soldiers. They were far from home, from family, they had comrades here, and the ale was plentiful. Despite the scores of soldiers that stayed within their limits, others were pickled drunk in a matter of an hour or two.
Soon, they were all loudly singing an old soldier's song that had originated in the west, but had spread out among all warriors.
When on the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo Hurroo
When on the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo Hurroo
When on the road to sweet Athy
A stick in the hand,
A drop in the eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ya run from me and the child
Johnny I hardly knew ya
[Chorus:We had swords and drums and drums and swords,
Hurroo Hurroo
We had swords and drums and drums and swords
Hurroo Hurroo
We had swords and drums and drums and swords
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Where are the legs with which you run,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run,
When first you went to join the fun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Johnny I hardly knew ya
We had swords and drums and drums and swords,
Hurroo Hurroo
We had swords and drums and drums and swords
Hurroo Hurroo
We had swords and drums and drums and swords
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
I'm happy for to see ya home,
Hurroo Hurroo
I'm happy for to see ya home,
Hurroo Hurroo
I'm happy for to see ya home
From the isle of Ceylon
Johnny I hardly knew ya
We had swords and drums and drums and swords,
Hurroo Hurroo
We had swords and drums and drums and swords
Hurroo Hurroo
We had swords and drums and drums and swords
The enemy never slew ya
JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YA!
It was a great song, and soon all were snarling the lines out alongside wild music notes of percussion and pipes. Ætharr, who personally loved the song, sang as loud as anyone, standing with his cousin, who roared out with him.
Suddenly, just as the song came to an end, a few beasts with voice left began to sing it again. It was then that Jinn approached Ætharr,
"You should see this."
Surprised, Ætharr followed his friend, taking Ædall and Judos with him.
They went to the wall, where they leaned over the battlements to stare at a bright glow in the distance. The sun was a mere speck of red in the sky (As always, Ætharr remembered that red suns meant blood to run), but there was a small orange glow in the distance. A trail of black arose from the glow.
"What's going on out there?" Ædall was suddenly worried.
None answered him. There was something amiss, and they were trying to figure out what it was.
Suddenly, there was a call from below, "I'm looking for Jinn!"
"Who is that?" Jinn called out, deepening his voice.
The other three were surprised at the security Jinn took.
"He's a Calador weasel, illegitimate son of Darrin and Liana!" Jinn had kept his mother's affair a dark secret, and it served well to use it as a pass code for this weasel. Jinn gave every agent a different pass code.
Jinn smiled, "I'll be right down."
The four creatures ran down to the small gate that opened to the east. An insistent knocking sounded from outside, "It's Mallory."
Ætharr turned to Jinn, almost laughing, "Mallory?"
"It's a code name." Jinn opened the door.
Mallory was a fine-looking Calador weasel, fit and lean. However, the weasel was panting heavily, evidently having rushed to give his master news.
"An attack! Blackaxe has been ambushed and driven back!"
Judos went cold. Oorlog had planned a secret strategy of his own, and both plans had now collided, "What happened?"
"They were resting, preparing to leave, when a group of vermin attacked them. This was Oorlog's vanguard, so they fought off the vanguard and broke camp quick. Not many loss in life."
Ædall breathed a sigh of relief. It would be a bad thing if either Snauw or Blackaxe had died.
Mallory was not finished, "That's not all."
Jinn narrowed his eyes, "What else?""Another force attacked Ibos and Brownhide. Ibos panicked and tried to fight, but Brownhide kept a level head and withdrew into the hills."
Ætharr shook his head in exasperation. Ibos had been lucky when he had scaled the wall of Brocovar: the ferret just wasn't a soldier, as much as he wanted to be one. Besides, his life depended on Ibos' survival, as he had sworn his life forfeit to Nero if his son died.
A fury enveloped him. Oorlog had outfoxed them, then. It was maddening to think that he had now thrown them in disarray. Why had they not sent spies to observe Oorlog's battle plan? 'Through my own arrogance,' Ætharr thought bitterly.
Jinn was suddenly confused, "But you said Oorlog's army was chasing Blackaxe. Ibos is to the northeast of Blackaxe's troops. Did he split his force?"Mallory shook his head fearfully, "Ibos was attacked by Millars. Oorlog has recruited Ealdor Ælfer, and the entire Millar army. King Grodellflak leads his tribe alongside Ælfer."
For Mallory, it was a fear-inducing experience to see the three weasels change. Jinn went pale beneath his fur, his eyes glazed over in his silent anger.
Ædall, son of Ælfer, clenched his teeth so hard that it hurt.
Ætharr's eyes had turned red with almost uncontrollable wrath. His uncle had plotted the death of his father, and had taken the land of Calador of his own, allowing the Millars to run wild across its lands.
Judos, who had never even met Ælfer, felt a pulse of hatred, remembering what Ætharr and Ædall had said of him.
"Lords?" Mallory was hesitantly lifting a paw, as though being asked to speak.
"Finish your report." Jinn's voice was controlled, but he had not changed expression.
"Jager and Kazahley contacted me. They said that their march has been cut off by the Millars' approach. They're diverting south, and will head for the Ridge of the Dead."
Ætharr saw the wisdom in that. The Ridge of the Dead was 20 kilometres south-east of Brocovar, and all the commanders had a map, replicated from the original copy.
"Go find Blackaxe and tell him to pull back to the original location." Ætharr began to see how he could turn the tables and make the best of it.
It was still a shambles, though. If Kazahley and Jager were blocked off by advancing Millars, it meant they were heading towards Brocovar in an effort to recapture the fortress.
Mallory was about to go, but Ætharr called him back, "After that, try and find Ibos and tell him to join up with Blackaxe." It had been a mistake to put Ibos in charge of an army division, albeit with Brownhide. Brownhide would be much more useful under the giant marten leader.
As Mallory sped away, Ætharr turned to Jinn, "Take Redjaw and head into the wild. Scout, harass, I don't care what you do, just don't give open battle."
Jinn was good as an independent commander, Judos thought. The lithe weasel possessed the cunning of two weasels.
Jinn nodded, and sped away into Brocovar.
The Ealdor in Exile turned to Ædall and Judos, "It's a good thing we listened to Iola. We'll have to stop the feast and put those most drunk to bed. All sober beasts must form a guard. Also, tell them we're leaving early in the morning."