The Sworn Knight by Robert Ryan (novels to read txt) 📕

that slope was slow going.They might yet be able to use all those spears, and all the while there wouldbe arrows flying too. The enemy would have a hard time of things indeed. Ifthey fell for the trap.

The afternoon wore on, and they rested as best as theycould. Ferla noticed that Kubodin had not tethered the mule, and indeed hadremoved its reins, saddle and carry bags where much of their dwindling supplieswere kept. When the time arrived, it would be free to run.

She approved. They all knew what it meant, but none of themsaid anything. If they were to die here, then at least the mule could escape.She was glad of that.

As they waited, the storm built in the east, piling cloudson clouds until it looked ominous. This time, it was coming for them. Alreadythe air felt strange, and a few gusts of wind picked up leaves and dust andblew them swirling through the air. No sooner did the leaves land than anothergust lifted them, and from somewhere not that far away there was the dustysmell of new rain on the earth.

The wind picked up. It changed direction a few times, andFerla feared it might swing the wrong way and take their scent to where theenemy was expected to show. If that happened, all was lost.

But the wind favored them, even if the rest of the weatherdid not. A pitter patter of rain came and went, and thunder rumbled. The toweringstorm drew closer, and it was much darker than it should be for this time ofday, even though it was now late in the afternoon.

A hush fell over the forest. The only sound now was the windin the tops of the trees, and the thunder. The three companions had positionedthemselves behind a fallen tree trunk, itself victim likely enough to a stormsuch as the one that approached, but it must have been several years ago.

Lightning flashed, and even as it did the enemy appeared,following the trail that had been set for them. It was hard to see much, for itwas hundreds of feet away, but Savanest was there, and he stood upon the ridgelooking down the rocky slope. Yet he hesitated.

Perhaps he sensed the trap. Perhaps he was considering wherebest to find shelter against the storm, or if he should do so at all while hisquarry might try to travel through it.

But for whatever reason, he hesitated. And he gave no signalfor his followers to descend the slope.

24. Battle!

Savanest hesitated, and Ferla held her breath.

The servants of the once-knight milled behind him, and itwas hard to see clearly because of the distance, trees and the dying light ofthe sun. Yet Ferla felt her heart skip a beat as she realized the men, everyone of them, had now been transformed into were-beasts.

What evil could countenance such a thing? What man couldinflict such an atrocity on fellow men?

Her hatred of Savanest flared to life. She knew that waswrong. She knew that such a strong emotion might jeopardize her judgement, butshe could not help it.

She sensed Asana stiffen beside her, and Kubodin on herother side muttered unintelligibly under his breath.

The tension grew. Savanest remained poised on the ridge, buthe did not descend. Lightning flared, splitting the sky, and thunder rumbledover the land. The storm was no longer distant, but drawing close, and the windpicked up, hurling debris through the forest and bending the tops of the trees.

Trying to be calm, Ferla strung her bow. It was a familiaraction. It was ordinary, and by doing it she hoped to settle her mind. She mustbe rational and calculated here.

It did not work. She fumbled several times, and her heartcontinued to race. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and a spattering ofrain lashed across her face. The wind blew it in sideways at her, but then thewind died away and in the momentary lull all seemed still and the rain stopped.

She waited, and in the temporary pause, where even natureheld her breath, Savanest finally acted.

Slowly, the once-knight raised his hand, and then swiftly hebrought it down. It was a signal, and all at once the were-beasts howled andgrunted and barked. In a mad rush they leaped forward, and they tumbled in achaotic group down the side of the slope in a frenzy. But for all their chaos,they were unified by the single purpose of pursuing the trail.

Savanest waited until they were all passed him, and then hetoo moved down the slope, going carefully. But for all his dignity, Ferla couldnot help feel that he was the one true beast of them all.

Ferla felt her heart pound. This was the moment she hadplanned for. She did not look at the other two. She knew they would be withher. Bounding up, she leaped over the fallen log and raced toward where theenemy had stood but moments ago.

It could still all go wrong. It could go terribly wrong. Ifshe tarried too long, the enemy might be too far down the slope and away fromthem. If she were too quick, they might not be far enough down the slope andher opportunity to kill by arrow would be diminished.

Worst of all, Savanest could be cautious. He had time on hishands. He did not need to come back up the hill and attack. He would know sucha move would cost him, and he might choose to stay right where he was untilnightfall, and then climb the slope elsewhere and track her again.

They glided through the forest, and they left the mulebehind. If any of them lived, they could come back for it.

The storm drew closer still, and lightning forked the sky.The trees danced around them, and a smattering of rain drove hard against theirfaces.

Ferla caught a glimpse of Asana. He was serene, and yetthere was an alertness and determination about his face that forewarned troublefor the enemy. Not for the first time she was glad he was a friend. On herother side, Kubodin ran with his axe in his hand. There was a light of glee inhis eyes, and the