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Lanachronan trumpet sounded once more, and once more the drumming of hoofs on
hard ground and stone filled the late morning. Once more, the mass of the
Lanachronan attack seemed directed at the center of the Matrite line.
Alucius blinked. A column of riders had broken off from the main attack and
was riding northwest, aiming toward the Barrow Mounds.
'Fortieth Company! To the left, oblique! Charge!" This time, Captain Hyrlui's
voice was the one that rose over the low thunder of hoofs. Had something
happened to Tymal?
'Second squad, column oblique! Follow me!" Alucius urged Wil-debeast forward.
^'Rifles out. Prepare to fire!"
Shooting while riding wasn't terribly effective for most troopers, but
anything that would slow the attackers would be helpful. Alucius lifted his
own rifle and concentrated on the one of the leading Lanachronan mounts. It
took him three shots, but the mount went down, as well as two following.
He managed to bring down one more mount slowing the attackers
fractionally before second squad neared the Lanachronan column. "Sabres at the
ready!"
Alucius aimed Wildebeast at the standard bearer beside the lead rider.
The leading rider swerved toward Alucius, and Alucius switched the sabre to
his right hand, ducking and coming in under the other's guard. The cut wasn't
what he would have liked, but the result was acceptable the Lanachronan was
lifted out of his saddle.
The standard bearer never even truly saw Alucius before the sabre took his arm
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and the blue-and-cream banner dropped into the dust.
From there, the battle turned into a man-against-man struggle, with more
horses turning, riders swearing and grunting and more troopers dying.
Another retreat sounded from the east, and Alucius turned Wilde-beast, trying
to make sure neither he nor any of his men were cut down by retreating
troopers. Once he was sure the Lanachronans had withdrawn, he called for the
squad to re-form on him.
'Fortieth Company! Return to position!" called out the captain.
'Second squad forward. We're heading back to position!"
'Third squad, take station on second squad."
Alucius took a deep breath, and then began to cough on the dust he'd inhaled.
He groped for the water bottle. After several more coughs, and then some
water, and he could breathe. He glanced eastward. From what he could see, the
Lanachronans had withdrawn so far that he couldn't see their forces.
Could that really be? Had they thrown them back from Zalt?
At what cost? Alucius wondered. For how long? And whose reinforcements would
arrive first?
He looked down at the bloody sabre in his hand, then slowly began to wipe it
clean.
Alucius nad not been certain that nc would sleep the night after the battle,
but he had, although he had awakened early and dressed and then checked
Wildebeast before making his way back to meet with the other squad leaders
before breakfast.
Gholar the acting senior squad leader after Tymal's death glanced at
Alucius as he walked back into the open space at the end of the squad leaders'
barracks wing. "I'll tell you before the others get here. The captain wants to
see you now."
'Yes, sir. Now?"
'As soon as you can get there. I'll catch you at breakfast and fill you in if
she doesn't." Gholar cleared his throat. "The captain watches you like an
eagle watches a stray mongrel. You want to tell me why?"
Alucius shrugged. "I was almost a herder. I was a scout. I learned some
things, and it seems like every time I use them, someone thinks it's unusual.
I
wasn't close to the best scout in the militia, but I'm probably one of the
best in the Matrite forces." He shook his head. "I can't not use what I know.
Troopers will get killed; I might get killed. If I do use what I've learned&
then I get questioned."
'You'd be better off as an officer." Gholar laughed. "Too bad you can't be
one."
Alucius laughed as well, if falsely. He just wanted to get back to Iron Stem
and be a herder, but that hardly looked likely. Surviving was hard enough, and
getting harder.
'You'd better get moving."
'Yes, sir." Alucius half-bowed and turned.
Although he didn't wish to face Captain Hyrlui, being late would only compound
the problem. So he walked rapidly through the dim corridors.
The door to the captain's spaces was open.
'Squad leader& come in and close the door." The captain did not stand, but
motioned for Alucius to take one of the stools set against the wall.
Alucius pulled one out opposite the captain and settled himself there,
waiting.
'What did you think of yesterday?"
'Everyone fought hard, sir." What else could he say?
'Yesterday was indeed hard fought, squad leader. Hard enough that the
Lanachronans withdrew into the hills. They're waiting for reinforcements."
'Yes, sir."
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The captain fixed her deep-set eyes on Alucius. "Second squad was most
effective yesterday in leading the charge to turn the Lanachronans' attempt to
flank us." She paused. "How many troopers did you lose, squad leader?"
'One, sir. We lost one in the earlier skirmishes with the Lanachronans.
'One& and yet your squad was in the first rank and met all attacks." Hyrlui
nodded.
Alucius wasn't sure that he liked what the nod implied, an inner
acknowledgement by the captain of a judgment, a recognition, almost self-
satisfaction, rather than fear or anger. "Yes, sir, but we were also on the
right flank, sir. We could see what was happening, and we didn't face quite so
many easterners as the squads did more toward the center."
'You led the attack on the flanking attempt, and all of your men rode into the
attack," the captain pointed out.
'I'd say we were fortunate, sir. This time."
'That may be." The captain's tone was polite, but Alucius could sense the
doubt, even as she smiled. "That may be, and let us hope that we continue to
possess such fortune, especially in the weeks ahead."
'Yes, sir."
'It's as I thought, but I wanted to hear it from you." The captain stood.
"Thank you."
Alucius stood and bowed. He could tell that the captain wasn't lying, and that
bothered him far more than if she had been, because it meant that she had a
good idea he wasn't exactly what he seemed to be.
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