Travel through the east was more perilous then Davrag could have ever
expected when he first began his journey. The road was long and hard and
hardly made easier by the well supplied army of Vandashira's soldiers.
Tazak had told Davrag he had been sent with his rather large group to lend
assistance to the Academy, only having discovered it destroyed from an
agent implanted inside who had escaped to them. This revelation turned
Davrag' stomach; it meant Tazak was probably seeing through his lie.
Regardless, they were heading back to Vandashira, the mysterious Living Darkness Davrag had been sent to kill. Fortunately, the raid on the mouse village had provided the group some entertainment, as well as Davrag's own small troupe of soldiers. The battle had been swift and furious, allowing Davrag to show off his combat skills but unfortunately Cordin had been killed in the little skirmish, though whether by a mouse or by one of his own comrades, Davrag was not certain. Much to Davrag's shock and the shock of all others, Tazak had promoted the dark stoat to his second in command for his efforts in the battle, with Silter openly supporting the decision and the others saying nothing but it was obvious that some like Exles were very unhappy with Tazak's decision.
It had been several days since the raid and the group was growing. Every time they came across a group of bandits or smaller soldiers, Tazak would brutally force them into his own company and none could oppose him. They numbered almost three hundred by the time they reached the east.
Davrag walked alongside Silter, his mind wandering over a myriad of subjects, he did not trust Silter but considered her an ally, just the same as he did with the Five, especially Arithia.
The line of the horizon was choppy, marred with sharp ridges and the earth was a strange mixture of grayish green stone with veins of raw, auburn clay. Small, barren hills and rises surrounded the company. An immense growth of earth with a crevice along its spine and serrated, evenly spaced depressions leading off in crooked gaps continued for miles. Davrag felt as if he was looking at the skeletal remains of some incredible giant.
Davrag had been separated from Yarel and the others, Tazak's troops keeping them to the back and that made the stoat remarkably nervous. Davrag tried to calm himself, the dry afternoon heat was sweltering and even the slight breeze did little to assuage the bands of broiling, intense heat that assaulted the company as they trekked along the paths. The heated pressed against Davrag's flesh like scorching, oppressive paws, causing rivulets of sweat to pour into his eyes, obscuring his view of Silter momentarily.
Looking around at dozens of faces he didn't know, Davrag considered the fact that each of the agents followed their mistress for individual reasons. Nearly all of them would lay down their lives without a moment's hesitation if the Living Darkness called for it. Incredibly, it was Tazak that these beasts had turned to for temporary leadership. The political maneuvering that Davrag had observed Tazak perform in order to ensure his own supremacy surprised the stoat. Davrag thought the weasel incapable of even conceiving of such well thought out plans, much less carrying them out.
Davrag cleared his eyes and returned his gaze to Silter. Davrag once again thought of Tazak though. The weasel had a weak spot, a vulnerability that Davrag knew he had to exploit. What was it? As he focused on Silter, the stoat killer smiled. Perhaps there was a very simple way of discovering it.
An hour later, Tazak was off chatting with the commander of a ten- beast contingent that had come from the west. Ren had gone up with Tazak. Davrag moved up through the line and motioned for Silter to join him a few lengths ahead of the others. Werril, a rat and one of Tazak's officers had taken point a few hundred yards ahead of his troops and Davrag told the others that he and Silter would replace him for a little while.
"Why are we replacing Werill on point?" Silter asked as she walked beside the stoat. Davrag hesitated and Silter's brow creased and wrinkled as she flashed her eyes wide open in a gesture meant to emphasize her surprise, "What is it you really want with me?"
"Am I that obvious?" Davrag asked as he looked away from Vanda's agent.
Silter grinned, "Don't ask if you don't want an answer."
Davrag chuckled as he wiped sweat from his forehead, "By Vulpuz, it is hot!"
Silter frowned and tapped her claws on the stock of her crossbow. "If this is your idea of small talk, I think I'll take my leave," she grumbled.
"I was merely making an observation," Davrag snapped, turning to the fighter, "And I was wondering how observant you have been..."
The female killer's eyes narrowed and she looked to Davrag with mistrust, "In what regard?" She asked.
"I wish to know more about your company," Davrag stated flatly, looking straight at the other stoat.
"I can guess why. It's Tazak you want to know about, right?"
This one's brighter then I expected, the killer thought. "Aye," Davrag admitted, keeping his face innocent as possible. "His actions confuse me. So do yours, for that matter."
Davrag saw Silter was intrigued, "Explain yourself," She said abruptly.
"You recommended me for second in command when you certainly could have had it yourself. Why would you do such a thing?" Davrag asked while wiping more sweat from his brow.
Silter grinned maliciously, "Survival. Beasts in that position don't last long in these companies."
Though Davrag tried to appear shocked he was actually quite pleased. It seemed Silter needed little prompting to tell the truth. This could be a useful quirk. "Yes..." He said, "I thought there was something odd about Cordin's death. Was there anybeast before him on this trek?"
"Yes," Silter replied casually, "He was a ferret named Ekrin."
"What happened to him?"
"Dead," She stated flatly, "What else?"
"Tazak killed him?" Davrag looked extremely interested, "Why?"
Silter shook her head and shrugged. "Who's to say?" We were on our way from this spot. Tazak, Ren, Ekrin and Cordin had gone off to forage for dinner. Everybeast except Ekrin returned. We were told that they had separated to cover more ground and Ren placed a shaft in Ekrin...by mistake. They buried him in a shallow grave and we moved on."
This time, they had left Cordin for the crows with the dead mice, Davrag thought. The oaf hadn't even merited a shallow grave. "Maybe they were telling the truth," The lean stoat suggested.
Silter bit her lip and let out a deep breath. "Ekrin was a troublemaker. He had known Tazak for years before the formation of our company. The ferret was loud and stupid and took liberties nobeast would dream of risking. He courted death until it came to collect him and we were all glad to be rid of him."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Davrag asked after a moment. He felt he knew the answer but wanted Silter to say the words aloud and commit herself to the course of action they would imply.
The female stoat looked at the killer for a moment then glanced back at the company following them. "Because Tazak is weak," She stated without a trace of emotion. "He's not a warrior. His dreams consist of a comfortable place somewhere in the bureaucracy in our network. His reticence to engage in battle has cost us days of travel. By the time we reach Vandashira's palace, these hunters you spoke of may have reached her. If not, our take will be to protect Tazak and Vandashira's life at all cost.
"The others elsewhere, the ones who follow brave leaders will be awarded the glory and honor of destroying our enemies for the Living Darkness. If I can help it, I will not be denied that opportunity," Silter growled and placed a paw back on her crossbow.
"What do you mean to do?" Davrag replied, trying to look innocent once more.
"Don't be coy!" She hissed angrily. "Your talens do not lie in the art of deception, no matter how much you may believe they do."
Davrag looked ahead. They'd soon catch up to Werril and his group.
"I know ye, Davrag. You're a hunter, a murderer. And you're ambitious. Lie to the others, if you want. I can help you and help myself by doing so." Silter gripped her crossbow and replied, "The time may not come to act until we next see battle. All we have to do is let ourselves be distracted and let an enemy sword take Tazak's head off."
"Good," Davrag grinned, dropping his façade of innocence quickly. "And if the opportunity to act comes sooner?"
She narrowed her eyes again and looked at Davrag as if seeing him for the first time, "We take it," Silter said, "Afterwards you give me my own company. Thirty soldiers to start will be good, alongside that rat lackey of yours, Yarel. That way, if your blood is as thin as Tazak's-no offense- we will not find conflict between us. You can do what you with your troops and I do what I will with mine."
"Agreed!" Davrag said, returning her stare.
Werril was almost within hearing range, so the two stoats let the conversation die. As the other group approached, the heavyset rat turned and signaled them to hurry to his side. "Glad you came out here, sir," Werril said to Davrag. "You've saved me the trouble of going back to report." He pointed, "There's something on our horizon."
"Silter, how hostile are these lands?"
"Pretty hostile," She replied with a shrug, "When we get out of here, a bit before Kolma there're lots of settlements in fairer grounds. They may send beasts out here as they don't much approve on our agents on their territory."
Davrag nodded and followed where Werril pointed and saw a bright, quick glimpse of movement in the distance. The pitted mountainous rise to the right flank of the group provided no cover for the troops from whatever had caused that movement. In fact, there was no sign of natural protection within a hundred yards in any direction.
"Could be trap," Werril replied, rubbing his chin. "Our enemy could be waiting in the ribs off that spine of that rise. The rifts could hold a hundred beasts or more."
"Perhaps," Davrag answered, "But why risk us seeing the danger? Why not just lie in wait, and then take us by surprise? There must be some other explanation."
"It could be just some trick of the light or even some manifestation of the chaos in nature," Silter noted, "Beasts always catch glimpses here, even when there's no attack."
"We'll head back and inform Tazak," Davrag nodded, "Werril, keep watching and inform us if you see anything else, but don't go any farther. When the company catches up to you, you'll get new orders."
Werril nodded as Davrag and Silter turned and walked back to the main body of the army. The female stoat remained silent before replying, "An enemy ambush would give us the opportunity we're after, Davrag."
"At the expense of how many or even our lives?" The killer asked gruffly. "There'll be better opportunities then this. Besides, we have another problem-Ren. He blends into the background so well I rarely notice he's around. He seems to be Tazak's true second in command, no matter who holds the actual title. Any plans we make will have to take his interference into account."
The stoats arrived at the front line of the advance. Tazak, Perdis, Ren and Exles were waiting for them.
"Would the two of you like to explain yourselves," The dark furred weasel screamed, waving his fist in the air like he was shaking dice.
Davrag looked to Silter. "I do not understand, sir. What did we do that requires explanation?"
"Spare me," Tazak snarled. "Word came to me that the two of you left the ranks and so I was forced to go up to the front and investigate. The penalty for desertion is-"
"Am I your second in command?" Davrag's features turned hard as stone.
Tazak flinched. "What has that to do with anything? You will be treated the same as any-"
"You're wrong," Davrag snapped, causing looks from steely Perdis and wild eyed Exles, "As your second officer, it is my duty to see that your policies are followed to the exact letter when you are not present to enforce them."
The dark eyes of the weasel narrowed.
"Werril was staying far too close to the main body," Davrag continued, pointing to the rat as he spoke. "He is not a member of the main company and doesn't know your views about serving in this army." Davrag paused and grinned, amber eyes glittering, "Of course we both know that is Werril was close enough for our beasts to see him clearly, he would not be an effective scout, Silter and I informed him of this error." Again Davrag paused, turning to look for the source of movement on the ridge. This time he looked to the female stoat, "That's when he pointed out movement on that ridge. Right, Silter?"
Ren leaned in close to Tazak and whispered something in his ear, "What movement?" Tazak asked as soon as Ren was done, "What's causing it?"
Davrag forced bewilderment to his face. "We don't know." He admitted, relating what he and Silter had seen and their personal views of the situation to Tazak. "I told Werril to hold position until you caught up with him."
The dark furred weasel nodded and grinned a wolfish smile. "All right," he muttered, motioning to Ren. "Let's bring the company to a halt. It may be nothing but somebeast is going to have to investigate before we ride further."
He turned to Davrag with the same cold grin, "Davrag, since you seem to have unlimited potential in the task of investigation, the task of discovering the source of movement falls to you...and Ren. Silter will remain by me. You and Ren will scale that southern rise and follow the path until you know what the movement is."
Davrag's heart skipped a beat as he stared into Ren's narrow face. The beasts eyes were cold and emotionless as if he were looking at a corpse that was yet to be buried. In short, Tazak's orders were a death sentence and both Ren and Davrag knew it.
"Be careful up there, Davrag. With all the gaps and rifts, it would be a shame if either of you...had an accident.' Tazak said. Grinning evilly, he nodded to the two. Ren nodded and gestured for Davrag to lead the way.
"Of course," Davrag said cheerily, pretending Tazak's orders had no particular significance. The stoat nodded and growled low. "Goodbye, Tazak...Silter."
Ren followed close behind the stoat and the two were no more then a hundred feet from the column when Tazak and Silter both screamed in shock. Davrag turned, confused, until he saw the arrow protruding from the throat of one ferret near Tazak and Silter.
Davrag drew his swords in a fluid motion and sprang forward as fast as possible with Ren on his heels to the main body. Ren had drawn his own dagger, scanning the ridge.
Davrag looked back to Ren who had a paw on the hilt of his sword. The agent was possibly Davrag's equal in the art of murder and that knowledge made Davrag thankful circumstances had recalled them from their 'scouting expedition.' Davrag knew he had to make the reprieve permanent.
His original plan had been to murder Ren on the ridge, then escape over the southern side and head for the river. But without supplies, his chances for survival were slim. If Tazak should turn vengeful sent beasts after him, his chances were downright dismal. And returning with Ren dead was out of the question. Tazak would have him executed on the spot. It was a no-win situation and Davrag knew he had to turn the circumstances to his favor in this current situation.
Davrag lunged forth, knocking Silter to the ground as an arrow struck the spot where she stood not moments before. Davrag helped her to her feet and she nodded to Ren and Davrag, the former having knocked Tazak out of harm's way, "My thanks, you two."
Ren nodded, "I live to serve," The lanky stoat's voice low and scratchy.
Ren leaned down, touching the arrowhead and withdrew his paw with a hiss, "The metal burns. They must have heated it!"
Tazak tried to regain his composure, "I see nobeast near and that shot could only have been made with a longbow."
"That'd explain the movement in the distance," Davrag nodded.
Cries erupted from the main body as Davrag could make out forms on the ridge, and the twang of bows as a score of arrows rained upon the agents.
"How can this be?!" Tazak cried, voice cracking. The leader reached over and clawed at Silter's shoulder trying to get her attention. Silter moved from his paw, trying to conceal her desire to fling him to the ground and cut his throat.
Instead she yelled, "Don't touch me!" and slapped his paw away.
"Tazak," Ren murmured, "What are your orders?"
An arrow fell like a drop from the heavens like a drop of water from a melting icicle. Tazak tore his gaze form the ridge and covered the back of his head with his arms, then he lowered his face. From a hundred feet away there was a scream.
"It got Sirk in the leg!" Somebeast shouted.
Some of the soldiers had broken ranks, scattering across the flat, open field. A foolish move as it made them easy targets. "There's nowhere to hide," A beast cried and a ripple of panicked cries arose form the troops.
Davrag watched their leader quake and moan in fear, "Ren's right!" He growled as Tazak raised his head slowly. Contempt for the coward raged within Davrag as he yelled, "You must give an order!"
Tazak was about to speak when an arrow fell from a sky, striking Perdis in the shoulder and the agent howled in agony as steam rose from his flesh and the metal.
"It-it burns!" He screamed pitifully. The weasel tried to pluck out the shaft but it only caused him greater pain. The cries only seemed to alert the mysterious archers and two more arrows ended Perdis's pain forever.
Davrag, Silter and Ren turned to face Exles and the others. They all shouted for calm, then looked to Tazak, waiting for the weasel to speak. Discord was spreading through the ranks and individual leaders were trying to take control of individual factions. Davrag was pleased to note Yarel had retained control of his own force and seemed to have avoided losing any of his beasts.
"We're...dead." Tazak whispered as he stared to the sky. "There's no place to go!"
Davrag stepped over Perdis's corpse and grabbed Tazak by the collar, shaking his angrily, "Don't say that! You'll lose control of the soldiers!" Davrag was surprised that Ren didn't make a move to stop him.
"The arrows," Tazak moaned, "So many...run!" He muttered; his voice soft like a child's.
Half a dozen arrows dropped on the soldiers. Those that had shields worked them up to save themselves.
"What did he say," Exles growled, his eyes darting from side to side.
"He said run!" Davrag yelled, "We have to reach the shelter of the eastern rise before they begin firing more arrows!"
Ren nodded and he and the others took off, the soldiers following them. Pawfuls of more arrows flew into the ranks, dropping more soldiers.
Davrag could no longer see Tazak. Good, he thought, let him rot back there. In seconds, the stoat found himself racing towards the auburn, skeletal ridge. The arrows were letting up as if the archers were reluctant to pursue.
The soldiers are at my back, Davrag thought with a pang of ironic amusement. His amusement faded swiftly as he felt alone and exposed at the very head of an army, knowing a well placed shaft could end all his problems forever.
The killer focused on the ridge, even though he thought the flight was useless. Then one of the rifts leading off from the skeletal hills beckoned, growing larger, its night-black shadow opening wide in front of the soldiers like the maw of a hungry animal and it was their only chance.
The lucky beasts were killed by the arrows. The unlucky were wounded and left to be trampled by their companions. Silter was running by Davrag when they finally reached the mouth of the rift, where Ren and his troops had taken refuge. The soldiers were grateful for the rest and no more arrows came for them.
Silter grabbed Davrag's arm as she and Exles practically fell back into the shelter. Once inside the rift, the soldiers packed up tightly, putting them in danger of suffocation.
"They aren't using their heads," Davrag cursed to Silter who cowered next to him, listening to the frantic yells and the hiss of arrows started once more. The walls of the shelter helped to slow the arrows but others loosed rocks from the ceiling that landed upon the skulls of troops.
"Use your shields," Davrag scream, then Silter and Exles joined him in the cry, trying to make their voices heard above the din. Oddly enough, Davrag couldn't see Ren anymore. The thought was forgotten as a dozen soldiers surrounded the trio, looking to him for orders, their eyes wide and frightened but Davrag's words seemed to slice through the chaos as the sharp edge of a blade through naked flesh. "Use your shields! If you don't have one, crawl under a corpse!"
More soldiers turned to Davrag and obeyed his command.
"Interlock the shields, then-"Davrag cried out as a shaft hit his arm, not a crippling hit but it was damn painful. Fortunately the metal seemed to have cooled but he felt his flesh burning. He gritted fangs and nodded to Silter, "Anchor the shields, I've been hit."
The female stoat complied with Davrag's commands. As the stoat pulled his arm from the line of fire, looking to the dropped sword at his feet and dropping the second, drawing a dagger and steeling himself for the pain to follow as a group of nearly fifty stood around Davrag and his group, closing ranks to protect him.
Davrag ripped a piece of his tunic off, stuffing it into his mouth as he bit down on it and began to work on digging the arrowhead out of his flesh, his cries well muffled as he dug it out and flung it away. Sitler focused on binding the wound with what little she had.
"Forget the pain!" Davrag yelled, "At leas you still live! Give the biggest beasts the shields and the rest of you stay low and under cover!"
He moved to the huddled beasts and gave orders to frightened troops, Silter and Exles always at his side, "Those of you on the ground, go help the wounded! Forget the dead; they're beyond out help! Keep the shields up all of you!" Davrag yelled, slapping beasts on the back, encouraging others to move through the ranks.
Davrag's plan was working, throughout the rift, more then one hundred beasts with shields huddled under the network of protection.
At one point, Davrag sat resting while Silter rebandaged his wound, she asked Davrag how he thought of telling the soldiers to use their shields as one instead of separately.
Davrag smiled or came as close to smiling as he had since the deadly rain had begun, "Long ago I helped some beasts storm a castle. I saw that tactic used. It's called 'the tortoise.' It keeps your troops from getting slaughtered when your enemy decides to drop oil on your head or have their archers fire at you. It's really very simple."
"Davrag!" A low, throaty voice called from within the huddled soldiers.
Davrag spun and saw Ren crawling towards him, his tunic torn and bloody from a number of small wounds.
"Tazak's dead," The lanky stoat replied, "He froze when death looked him in the eye, the coward."
Yarel had joined up with Davrag's small entourage, having been one of the first to follow Davrag's command to hold a shield and was protecting his commander well, glowering at the stoat agent. Davrag nodded for Yarel to stand down and the large rat did so, nodding to Ren, "If Tazak's dead..." He began, brow furrowing.
"Then you are our leader now, Davrag. I live to serve," Ren replied, bowing his head slightly.
Davrag's ehad was swimming. He considered turning over command to another but that would most certainly be Ren and that would most likely mean Davrag's death. As usual, Davrag found himself sure he wasn't being given a choice. Ah, well. He'd work this out later. "But who do you serve, Ren?"
Ren frowned, "As I said, I live to serve. You saved the troops, you should lead them. There is no need to fear me...for now, anyways."
The killer ignored the last comment, nodding for Yarel, Silter and Exles to stand off. "Ren, show me Tazak's body."
The two quietly maneuvered some distance through the shield bearer. Finally Ren pointed to a dead weasel lying ten feet beyond the last beast with a shield. Although blessed night was descending, Davrag could see that an arrow had pierced Tazak's chest, near his shoulder. And Davrag noticed something else: Tazak's throat had been cut. The arrows would never have been so efficient. Thankfully, they had stopped completely some hours ago. Davrag turned to Ren.
"Ren, tell me; what secret did Tazak bear that was so terrible you had to kill to protect it?"
Ren paused and looked to Davrag who was considering his options regarding Vanda. Trying to kill her would mean his death most certainly. But if she could somehow be turned to his advantage...it could work out even better then if he killed her in the first place.
"Lately, Tazak had become frantic somebeast would discover what he'd done a long time ago at a small outpost of Vandashira's soldiers north of here, by the settlements out of this hellhole. Tazak was hot-blooded and idealistic in his younger days and decided to revolt when they scorned an offer to join him. He raided their group and slaughtered them. If Vandashira ever found out-"
"It would mean his head," Davrag concluded and then laughed aloud, "Tazak was a fool! What he did might actually advance him in this circle!"
Ren frowned and lowered his eyes as Davrag grinned and whispered, "I've done far worse then Tazak ever dreamed of, Ren. But you won't have to protect my secrets. I take care of that myself." The lanky stoat's frown deepened and Davrag turned away from him, "We'll wait another twenty minutes. It should be safe to send the scouts out by then."
Davrag paused and looked at Tazak's corpse. "And then you can announce me as your new leader," The killer said proudly and walked back to rejoin the ranks of his troops.
Regardless, they were heading back to Vandashira, the mysterious Living Darkness Davrag had been sent to kill. Fortunately, the raid on the mouse village had provided the group some entertainment, as well as Davrag's own small troupe of soldiers. The battle had been swift and furious, allowing Davrag to show off his combat skills but unfortunately Cordin had been killed in the little skirmish, though whether by a mouse or by one of his own comrades, Davrag was not certain. Much to Davrag's shock and the shock of all others, Tazak had promoted the dark stoat to his second in command for his efforts in the battle, with Silter openly supporting the decision and the others saying nothing but it was obvious that some like Exles were very unhappy with Tazak's decision.
It had been several days since the raid and the group was growing. Every time they came across a group of bandits or smaller soldiers, Tazak would brutally force them into his own company and none could oppose him. They numbered almost three hundred by the time they reached the east.
Davrag walked alongside Silter, his mind wandering over a myriad of subjects, he did not trust Silter but considered her an ally, just the same as he did with the Five, especially Arithia.
The line of the horizon was choppy, marred with sharp ridges and the earth was a strange mixture of grayish green stone with veins of raw, auburn clay. Small, barren hills and rises surrounded the company. An immense growth of earth with a crevice along its spine and serrated, evenly spaced depressions leading off in crooked gaps continued for miles. Davrag felt as if he was looking at the skeletal remains of some incredible giant.
Davrag had been separated from Yarel and the others, Tazak's troops keeping them to the back and that made the stoat remarkably nervous. Davrag tried to calm himself, the dry afternoon heat was sweltering and even the slight breeze did little to assuage the bands of broiling, intense heat that assaulted the company as they trekked along the paths. The heated pressed against Davrag's flesh like scorching, oppressive paws, causing rivulets of sweat to pour into his eyes, obscuring his view of Silter momentarily.
Looking around at dozens of faces he didn't know, Davrag considered the fact that each of the agents followed their mistress for individual reasons. Nearly all of them would lay down their lives without a moment's hesitation if the Living Darkness called for it. Incredibly, it was Tazak that these beasts had turned to for temporary leadership. The political maneuvering that Davrag had observed Tazak perform in order to ensure his own supremacy surprised the stoat. Davrag thought the weasel incapable of even conceiving of such well thought out plans, much less carrying them out.
Davrag cleared his eyes and returned his gaze to Silter. Davrag once again thought of Tazak though. The weasel had a weak spot, a vulnerability that Davrag knew he had to exploit. What was it? As he focused on Silter, the stoat killer smiled. Perhaps there was a very simple way of discovering it.
An hour later, Tazak was off chatting with the commander of a ten- beast contingent that had come from the west. Ren had gone up with Tazak. Davrag moved up through the line and motioned for Silter to join him a few lengths ahead of the others. Werril, a rat and one of Tazak's officers had taken point a few hundred yards ahead of his troops and Davrag told the others that he and Silter would replace him for a little while.
"Why are we replacing Werill on point?" Silter asked as she walked beside the stoat. Davrag hesitated and Silter's brow creased and wrinkled as she flashed her eyes wide open in a gesture meant to emphasize her surprise, "What is it you really want with me?"
"Am I that obvious?" Davrag asked as he looked away from Vanda's agent.
Silter grinned, "Don't ask if you don't want an answer."
Davrag chuckled as he wiped sweat from his forehead, "By Vulpuz, it is hot!"
Silter frowned and tapped her claws on the stock of her crossbow. "If this is your idea of small talk, I think I'll take my leave," she grumbled.
"I was merely making an observation," Davrag snapped, turning to the fighter, "And I was wondering how observant you have been..."
The female killer's eyes narrowed and she looked to Davrag with mistrust, "In what regard?" She asked.
"I wish to know more about your company," Davrag stated flatly, looking straight at the other stoat.
"I can guess why. It's Tazak you want to know about, right?"
This one's brighter then I expected, the killer thought. "Aye," Davrag admitted, keeping his face innocent as possible. "His actions confuse me. So do yours, for that matter."
Davrag saw Silter was intrigued, "Explain yourself," She said abruptly.
"You recommended me for second in command when you certainly could have had it yourself. Why would you do such a thing?" Davrag asked while wiping more sweat from his brow.
Silter grinned maliciously, "Survival. Beasts in that position don't last long in these companies."
Though Davrag tried to appear shocked he was actually quite pleased. It seemed Silter needed little prompting to tell the truth. This could be a useful quirk. "Yes..." He said, "I thought there was something odd about Cordin's death. Was there anybeast before him on this trek?"
"Yes," Silter replied casually, "He was a ferret named Ekrin."
"What happened to him?"
"Dead," She stated flatly, "What else?"
"Tazak killed him?" Davrag looked extremely interested, "Why?"
Silter shook her head and shrugged. "Who's to say?" We were on our way from this spot. Tazak, Ren, Ekrin and Cordin had gone off to forage for dinner. Everybeast except Ekrin returned. We were told that they had separated to cover more ground and Ren placed a shaft in Ekrin...by mistake. They buried him in a shallow grave and we moved on."
This time, they had left Cordin for the crows with the dead mice, Davrag thought. The oaf hadn't even merited a shallow grave. "Maybe they were telling the truth," The lean stoat suggested.
Silter bit her lip and let out a deep breath. "Ekrin was a troublemaker. He had known Tazak for years before the formation of our company. The ferret was loud and stupid and took liberties nobeast would dream of risking. He courted death until it came to collect him and we were all glad to be rid of him."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Davrag asked after a moment. He felt he knew the answer but wanted Silter to say the words aloud and commit herself to the course of action they would imply.
The female stoat looked at the killer for a moment then glanced back at the company following them. "Because Tazak is weak," She stated without a trace of emotion. "He's not a warrior. His dreams consist of a comfortable place somewhere in the bureaucracy in our network. His reticence to engage in battle has cost us days of travel. By the time we reach Vandashira's palace, these hunters you spoke of may have reached her. If not, our take will be to protect Tazak and Vandashira's life at all cost.
"The others elsewhere, the ones who follow brave leaders will be awarded the glory and honor of destroying our enemies for the Living Darkness. If I can help it, I will not be denied that opportunity," Silter growled and placed a paw back on her crossbow.
"What do you mean to do?" Davrag replied, trying to look innocent once more.
"Don't be coy!" She hissed angrily. "Your talens do not lie in the art of deception, no matter how much you may believe they do."
Davrag looked ahead. They'd soon catch up to Werril and his group.
"I know ye, Davrag. You're a hunter, a murderer. And you're ambitious. Lie to the others, if you want. I can help you and help myself by doing so." Silter gripped her crossbow and replied, "The time may not come to act until we next see battle. All we have to do is let ourselves be distracted and let an enemy sword take Tazak's head off."
"Good," Davrag grinned, dropping his façade of innocence quickly. "And if the opportunity to act comes sooner?"
She narrowed her eyes again and looked at Davrag as if seeing him for the first time, "We take it," Silter said, "Afterwards you give me my own company. Thirty soldiers to start will be good, alongside that rat lackey of yours, Yarel. That way, if your blood is as thin as Tazak's-no offense- we will not find conflict between us. You can do what you with your troops and I do what I will with mine."
"Agreed!" Davrag said, returning her stare.
Werril was almost within hearing range, so the two stoats let the conversation die. As the other group approached, the heavyset rat turned and signaled them to hurry to his side. "Glad you came out here, sir," Werril said to Davrag. "You've saved me the trouble of going back to report." He pointed, "There's something on our horizon."
"Silter, how hostile are these lands?"
"Pretty hostile," She replied with a shrug, "When we get out of here, a bit before Kolma there're lots of settlements in fairer grounds. They may send beasts out here as they don't much approve on our agents on their territory."
Davrag nodded and followed where Werril pointed and saw a bright, quick glimpse of movement in the distance. The pitted mountainous rise to the right flank of the group provided no cover for the troops from whatever had caused that movement. In fact, there was no sign of natural protection within a hundred yards in any direction.
"Could be trap," Werril replied, rubbing his chin. "Our enemy could be waiting in the ribs off that spine of that rise. The rifts could hold a hundred beasts or more."
"Perhaps," Davrag answered, "But why risk us seeing the danger? Why not just lie in wait, and then take us by surprise? There must be some other explanation."
"It could be just some trick of the light or even some manifestation of the chaos in nature," Silter noted, "Beasts always catch glimpses here, even when there's no attack."
"We'll head back and inform Tazak," Davrag nodded, "Werril, keep watching and inform us if you see anything else, but don't go any farther. When the company catches up to you, you'll get new orders."
Werril nodded as Davrag and Silter turned and walked back to the main body of the army. The female stoat remained silent before replying, "An enemy ambush would give us the opportunity we're after, Davrag."
"At the expense of how many or even our lives?" The killer asked gruffly. "There'll be better opportunities then this. Besides, we have another problem-Ren. He blends into the background so well I rarely notice he's around. He seems to be Tazak's true second in command, no matter who holds the actual title. Any plans we make will have to take his interference into account."
The stoats arrived at the front line of the advance. Tazak, Perdis, Ren and Exles were waiting for them.
"Would the two of you like to explain yourselves," The dark furred weasel screamed, waving his fist in the air like he was shaking dice.
Davrag looked to Silter. "I do not understand, sir. What did we do that requires explanation?"
"Spare me," Tazak snarled. "Word came to me that the two of you left the ranks and so I was forced to go up to the front and investigate. The penalty for desertion is-"
"Am I your second in command?" Davrag's features turned hard as stone.
Tazak flinched. "What has that to do with anything? You will be treated the same as any-"
"You're wrong," Davrag snapped, causing looks from steely Perdis and wild eyed Exles, "As your second officer, it is my duty to see that your policies are followed to the exact letter when you are not present to enforce them."
The dark eyes of the weasel narrowed.
"Werril was staying far too close to the main body," Davrag continued, pointing to the rat as he spoke. "He is not a member of the main company and doesn't know your views about serving in this army." Davrag paused and grinned, amber eyes glittering, "Of course we both know that is Werril was close enough for our beasts to see him clearly, he would not be an effective scout, Silter and I informed him of this error." Again Davrag paused, turning to look for the source of movement on the ridge. This time he looked to the female stoat, "That's when he pointed out movement on that ridge. Right, Silter?"
Ren leaned in close to Tazak and whispered something in his ear, "What movement?" Tazak asked as soon as Ren was done, "What's causing it?"
Davrag forced bewilderment to his face. "We don't know." He admitted, relating what he and Silter had seen and their personal views of the situation to Tazak. "I told Werril to hold position until you caught up with him."
The dark furred weasel nodded and grinned a wolfish smile. "All right," he muttered, motioning to Ren. "Let's bring the company to a halt. It may be nothing but somebeast is going to have to investigate before we ride further."
He turned to Davrag with the same cold grin, "Davrag, since you seem to have unlimited potential in the task of investigation, the task of discovering the source of movement falls to you...and Ren. Silter will remain by me. You and Ren will scale that southern rise and follow the path until you know what the movement is."
Davrag's heart skipped a beat as he stared into Ren's narrow face. The beasts eyes were cold and emotionless as if he were looking at a corpse that was yet to be buried. In short, Tazak's orders were a death sentence and both Ren and Davrag knew it.
"Be careful up there, Davrag. With all the gaps and rifts, it would be a shame if either of you...had an accident.' Tazak said. Grinning evilly, he nodded to the two. Ren nodded and gestured for Davrag to lead the way.
"Of course," Davrag said cheerily, pretending Tazak's orders had no particular significance. The stoat nodded and growled low. "Goodbye, Tazak...Silter."
Ren followed close behind the stoat and the two were no more then a hundred feet from the column when Tazak and Silter both screamed in shock. Davrag turned, confused, until he saw the arrow protruding from the throat of one ferret near Tazak and Silter.
Davrag drew his swords in a fluid motion and sprang forward as fast as possible with Ren on his heels to the main body. Ren had drawn his own dagger, scanning the ridge.
Davrag looked back to Ren who had a paw on the hilt of his sword. The agent was possibly Davrag's equal in the art of murder and that knowledge made Davrag thankful circumstances had recalled them from their 'scouting expedition.' Davrag knew he had to make the reprieve permanent.
His original plan had been to murder Ren on the ridge, then escape over the southern side and head for the river. But without supplies, his chances for survival were slim. If Tazak should turn vengeful sent beasts after him, his chances were downright dismal. And returning with Ren dead was out of the question. Tazak would have him executed on the spot. It was a no-win situation and Davrag knew he had to turn the circumstances to his favor in this current situation.
Davrag lunged forth, knocking Silter to the ground as an arrow struck the spot where she stood not moments before. Davrag helped her to her feet and she nodded to Ren and Davrag, the former having knocked Tazak out of harm's way, "My thanks, you two."
Ren nodded, "I live to serve," The lanky stoat's voice low and scratchy.
Ren leaned down, touching the arrowhead and withdrew his paw with a hiss, "The metal burns. They must have heated it!"
Tazak tried to regain his composure, "I see nobeast near and that shot could only have been made with a longbow."
"That'd explain the movement in the distance," Davrag nodded.
Cries erupted from the main body as Davrag could make out forms on the ridge, and the twang of bows as a score of arrows rained upon the agents.
"How can this be?!" Tazak cried, voice cracking. The leader reached over and clawed at Silter's shoulder trying to get her attention. Silter moved from his paw, trying to conceal her desire to fling him to the ground and cut his throat.
Instead she yelled, "Don't touch me!" and slapped his paw away.
"Tazak," Ren murmured, "What are your orders?"
An arrow fell like a drop from the heavens like a drop of water from a melting icicle. Tazak tore his gaze form the ridge and covered the back of his head with his arms, then he lowered his face. From a hundred feet away there was a scream.
"It got Sirk in the leg!" Somebeast shouted.
Some of the soldiers had broken ranks, scattering across the flat, open field. A foolish move as it made them easy targets. "There's nowhere to hide," A beast cried and a ripple of panicked cries arose form the troops.
Davrag watched their leader quake and moan in fear, "Ren's right!" He growled as Tazak raised his head slowly. Contempt for the coward raged within Davrag as he yelled, "You must give an order!"
Tazak was about to speak when an arrow fell from a sky, striking Perdis in the shoulder and the agent howled in agony as steam rose from his flesh and the metal.
"It-it burns!" He screamed pitifully. The weasel tried to pluck out the shaft but it only caused him greater pain. The cries only seemed to alert the mysterious archers and two more arrows ended Perdis's pain forever.
Davrag, Silter and Ren turned to face Exles and the others. They all shouted for calm, then looked to Tazak, waiting for the weasel to speak. Discord was spreading through the ranks and individual leaders were trying to take control of individual factions. Davrag was pleased to note Yarel had retained control of his own force and seemed to have avoided losing any of his beasts.
"We're...dead." Tazak whispered as he stared to the sky. "There's no place to go!"
Davrag stepped over Perdis's corpse and grabbed Tazak by the collar, shaking his angrily, "Don't say that! You'll lose control of the soldiers!" Davrag was surprised that Ren didn't make a move to stop him.
"The arrows," Tazak moaned, "So many...run!" He muttered; his voice soft like a child's.
Half a dozen arrows dropped on the soldiers. Those that had shields worked them up to save themselves.
"What did he say," Exles growled, his eyes darting from side to side.
"He said run!" Davrag yelled, "We have to reach the shelter of the eastern rise before they begin firing more arrows!"
Ren nodded and he and the others took off, the soldiers following them. Pawfuls of more arrows flew into the ranks, dropping more soldiers.
Davrag could no longer see Tazak. Good, he thought, let him rot back there. In seconds, the stoat found himself racing towards the auburn, skeletal ridge. The arrows were letting up as if the archers were reluctant to pursue.
The soldiers are at my back, Davrag thought with a pang of ironic amusement. His amusement faded swiftly as he felt alone and exposed at the very head of an army, knowing a well placed shaft could end all his problems forever.
The killer focused on the ridge, even though he thought the flight was useless. Then one of the rifts leading off from the skeletal hills beckoned, growing larger, its night-black shadow opening wide in front of the soldiers like the maw of a hungry animal and it was their only chance.
The lucky beasts were killed by the arrows. The unlucky were wounded and left to be trampled by their companions. Silter was running by Davrag when they finally reached the mouth of the rift, where Ren and his troops had taken refuge. The soldiers were grateful for the rest and no more arrows came for them.
Silter grabbed Davrag's arm as she and Exles practically fell back into the shelter. Once inside the rift, the soldiers packed up tightly, putting them in danger of suffocation.
"They aren't using their heads," Davrag cursed to Silter who cowered next to him, listening to the frantic yells and the hiss of arrows started once more. The walls of the shelter helped to slow the arrows but others loosed rocks from the ceiling that landed upon the skulls of troops.
"Use your shields," Davrag scream, then Silter and Exles joined him in the cry, trying to make their voices heard above the din. Oddly enough, Davrag couldn't see Ren anymore. The thought was forgotten as a dozen soldiers surrounded the trio, looking to him for orders, their eyes wide and frightened but Davrag's words seemed to slice through the chaos as the sharp edge of a blade through naked flesh. "Use your shields! If you don't have one, crawl under a corpse!"
More soldiers turned to Davrag and obeyed his command.
"Interlock the shields, then-"Davrag cried out as a shaft hit his arm, not a crippling hit but it was damn painful. Fortunately the metal seemed to have cooled but he felt his flesh burning. He gritted fangs and nodded to Silter, "Anchor the shields, I've been hit."
The female stoat complied with Davrag's commands. As the stoat pulled his arm from the line of fire, looking to the dropped sword at his feet and dropping the second, drawing a dagger and steeling himself for the pain to follow as a group of nearly fifty stood around Davrag and his group, closing ranks to protect him.
Davrag ripped a piece of his tunic off, stuffing it into his mouth as he bit down on it and began to work on digging the arrowhead out of his flesh, his cries well muffled as he dug it out and flung it away. Sitler focused on binding the wound with what little she had.
"Forget the pain!" Davrag yelled, "At leas you still live! Give the biggest beasts the shields and the rest of you stay low and under cover!"
He moved to the huddled beasts and gave orders to frightened troops, Silter and Exles always at his side, "Those of you on the ground, go help the wounded! Forget the dead; they're beyond out help! Keep the shields up all of you!" Davrag yelled, slapping beasts on the back, encouraging others to move through the ranks.
Davrag's plan was working, throughout the rift, more then one hundred beasts with shields huddled under the network of protection.
At one point, Davrag sat resting while Silter rebandaged his wound, she asked Davrag how he thought of telling the soldiers to use their shields as one instead of separately.
Davrag smiled or came as close to smiling as he had since the deadly rain had begun, "Long ago I helped some beasts storm a castle. I saw that tactic used. It's called 'the tortoise.' It keeps your troops from getting slaughtered when your enemy decides to drop oil on your head or have their archers fire at you. It's really very simple."
"Davrag!" A low, throaty voice called from within the huddled soldiers.
Davrag spun and saw Ren crawling towards him, his tunic torn and bloody from a number of small wounds.
"Tazak's dead," The lanky stoat replied, "He froze when death looked him in the eye, the coward."
Yarel had joined up with Davrag's small entourage, having been one of the first to follow Davrag's command to hold a shield and was protecting his commander well, glowering at the stoat agent. Davrag nodded for Yarel to stand down and the large rat did so, nodding to Ren, "If Tazak's dead..." He began, brow furrowing.
"Then you are our leader now, Davrag. I live to serve," Ren replied, bowing his head slightly.
Davrag's ehad was swimming. He considered turning over command to another but that would most certainly be Ren and that would most likely mean Davrag's death. As usual, Davrag found himself sure he wasn't being given a choice. Ah, well. He'd work this out later. "But who do you serve, Ren?"
Ren frowned, "As I said, I live to serve. You saved the troops, you should lead them. There is no need to fear me...for now, anyways."
The killer ignored the last comment, nodding for Yarel, Silter and Exles to stand off. "Ren, show me Tazak's body."
The two quietly maneuvered some distance through the shield bearer. Finally Ren pointed to a dead weasel lying ten feet beyond the last beast with a shield. Although blessed night was descending, Davrag could see that an arrow had pierced Tazak's chest, near his shoulder. And Davrag noticed something else: Tazak's throat had been cut. The arrows would never have been so efficient. Thankfully, they had stopped completely some hours ago. Davrag turned to Ren.
"Ren, tell me; what secret did Tazak bear that was so terrible you had to kill to protect it?"
Ren paused and looked to Davrag who was considering his options regarding Vanda. Trying to kill her would mean his death most certainly. But if she could somehow be turned to his advantage...it could work out even better then if he killed her in the first place.
"Lately, Tazak had become frantic somebeast would discover what he'd done a long time ago at a small outpost of Vandashira's soldiers north of here, by the settlements out of this hellhole. Tazak was hot-blooded and idealistic in his younger days and decided to revolt when they scorned an offer to join him. He raided their group and slaughtered them. If Vandashira ever found out-"
"It would mean his head," Davrag concluded and then laughed aloud, "Tazak was a fool! What he did might actually advance him in this circle!"
Ren frowned and lowered his eyes as Davrag grinned and whispered, "I've done far worse then Tazak ever dreamed of, Ren. But you won't have to protect my secrets. I take care of that myself." The lanky stoat's frown deepened and Davrag turned away from him, "We'll wait another twenty minutes. It should be safe to send the scouts out by then."
Davrag paused and looked at Tazak's corpse. "And then you can announce me as your new leader," The killer said proudly and walked back to rejoin the ranks of his troops.