Rebels of Vulvar (Vulvarian Saga Book 2), стр. 25

Dismounting, I tied the reins of the baacaas to a bush and ran to the edge of the small hill so I could look down on the path that ran between the two low hills. After only a few moments, a baacaas and a person wearing the maroon cape, armor, and helmet of a Thivan warrior came into view. The rider rode while leaning to the side of the animal, looking at the ground, no doubt seeking the tracks of my baacaas. The path had turned from dirt to gravel just as I had approached the narrow pass, making the hoof prints few. The rider reined up, casting about for signs where my tracks had disappeared.

After several moments, the rider spurred the animal forward to enter the defile. I got to my feet. As the mounted rider drew even with me, I leapt from the hill and dropped atop the baacaas and its passenger. The animal reared, spilling us both to the ground.

After rolling on the ground for some moments, I gained the advantage and pinned the rider, a female, to the ground. I reached down and stripped the helmet off, so I could see her face.

Grinning up at me, Emer said, “Hail, Tobias Hart.”

“Emer, by the Goddess Queens, what are you doing here?”

I released her and stood up, allowing Emer to get to her feet.

“The Thivan warriors proved most unwelcoming,” she said. “Rather than stay with that ungrateful lot, I followed you.”

“Emer, you can’t accompany me,” I said.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m probably riding to certain death.”

“All death is certain,” Emer smirked. “Shall we go?”

I did not speak for several moments but only gave her a long stern look.

“You cannot wear the uniform of a Thivan warrior if you insist on coming,” I said.

“What would you have me wear?”

“I have an extra plain tunic in my saddlebags,” I said.

“Let me catch my baacaas,” Emer said, bending down to retrieve her helmet. “Then lead on.”

Leading her mount, Emer followed me uphill where I’d left mine tied to the bush. I retrieved a spare, plain tunic from my saddlebags and tossed it at her.

“Throw away the cape and armor,” I said. “Put on the tunic. Keep only your sword belt and helmet.”

“Yes, commander,” Emer said, throwing me a mock salute.

To my surprise, Emer stripped off the cape and armor and stood naked before me. Then she pulled the coarse tunic over her head before strapping her sword belt back on.

“I did not mean you should disrobe before my eyes,” I said.

“Do I embarrass you, commander?” Emer grinned. “You have seen me naked before. Have you not?”

“Mount your baacaas,” I said with annoyance. “And, stop calling me commander.”

“Yes, commander,” Emer said. “As you wish, my liege.”

I turned away, shaking my head, untied my baacaas, and climbed astride my saddle.

“Do we have a plan, commander?” Emer said.

“We will follow the road until we hear an army passing upon it,” I said. “Then, we shall see what develops.”

“A simple yet brilliant plan, commander,” Emer said with a mischievous smile and a nod.

I sighed. “Regular rations and a bath must have agreed with you,” I said. “You seem to be in fine spirits.” Then I spurred the baacaas downhill to the trail with Emer following.

* * *

For four hours, we alternated moving at a trot and then a walk every lega, as I estimated the distance. We covered about ten legas before stopping at a brook to water and rest the baacaases. While we had remained close enough to the paved road to hear an army passing, we had heard nothing. After dismounting, we stripped off the saddles and allowed the animals to water and graze.

After the break, we rode for another four hours, which put us around eight to nine miles north of Nisa. Encountering another stream, I told Emer we would make camp there for the night. We still had heard nothing on the paved road.

“The rebels have not yet marched,” Emer said.

“No, and I’m pleased about it,” I said. “I expect the rebel army will encamp only once on the march to Thiva. That offers only one good opportunity to seize the Dabar.”

“Do we ride to Nisa?”

“No, in the morning, we will find a suitable place from which to observe the road,” I said. “Then we will shadow the rebel army until they bivouac for the night.”

After unsaddling the baacaases and staking them so they might graze and get water from the stream, Emer and I had a meal of dried meat and brown bread. Afterward, we hiked near the paved road seeking an observation post. It was not yet dusk when we heard the approaching shod hooves of a baacaas ridden at a gallop striking stone. Concealing ourselves amid some boulders next to the road, we waited. I notched an arrow on the string of my bow.

A baacaas appeared with a rider wearing the bright yellow cape of a rebel warrior. I carefully aimed with the bow and released the arrow, which struck the baacaas in the chest. The arrow it seemed had pierced the heart of the animal. It went down right away onto its forelegs. The rider had taken flight over the animal’s head. The dead baacaas skidded to a stop on its left side, and its dazed rider stood up several feet away, trying to determine what had happened.

“You missed,” Emer observed.

“I did not miss,” I said. “I was aiming at the baacaas. I wanted to take the rebel alive.”

I hurried out onto the road with another arrow drawn. When the warrior saw me, he turned and ran south on the road. I sent the second arrow into the back of his thigh, and he fell to the road. I notched another arrow and walked towards him. Staggering to his feet, the warrior drew his rakir and brandished it.

“Throw away your sword,” I said, aiming the bow. “Or the next one will find your heart.”

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