Rebels of Vulvar (Vulvarian Saga Book 2), стр. 34
“Commander, let us not beat a dead baacaas,” Emer said. “We’ve had this same discussion before. I will not leave your side.”
“Can’t you be reasonable for once, Emer?” I fumed.
“Can’t you?” Emer retorted. “You must forget Idril for a time. Perhaps, if she survives, you can go to her once they have crushed the rebellion and restored order.”
“Emer, I won’t abandon her,” I said. “I can’t. I must at least learn of her condition. Until I do, I can’t think about anything else.”
“Fine,” Emer said. “Then let us mount the baacaases and continue your foolish quest.”
We mounted and continued riding south, giving the paved road to our west a wide berth. After some hours, we were riding upwards toward the crest of a ridge line when we heard trumpet blasts and the sounds of battle. Dismounting the animals, we lead them uphill to near the crest. I handed the reins of my baacaas to Emer and retrieved the small telescope from my saddlebags. Leaving Emer with our mounts, I walked to the crest. Lying down on the ground, I looked out at the valley below through the glass.
Several hundred rebels were near the center of the valley with their backs to a small range of steep hills. It appeared the insurgents had been retreating under pressure before the combined forces of the Port Abrago warriors and the Thivans but could retreat no further because of the cliffs behind them.
The warriors of the two cities were engaged in a double envelopment maneuver, simultaneously attacking both of the rebel flanks. The archers were pouring arrows into the insurgents, who huddled in a circular defensive position with their shields raised. I could see that the arrows were having a devastating effect. The scene before me brought to mind a story I’d once read about the great Battle of Thermopylae on Earth in 480 BC, where the Persians had slaughtered a courageous band of Spartans led by King Leonidas.
As the Vulvarian sun sank in the sky, it seemed the rebels had no desire to die to the last man as the Spartans had done. At different points along the weak circular defense, men waved white cloths of surrender from their spears. I got up and walked downhill to rejoin Emer.
“What did you see?” Emer said.
“The Port Abrago warriors and the Thivans have crushed a large body of insurgents in the valley on the other side of this ridge,” I said. “It looks like they are now capturing the survivors of the rebel force.”
“It’s not much over twelve legas to Nisa from here,” Emer said. “It seems you were correct when you said the rebels were near defeat.”
“Yes,” I said. “I can’t imagine that there are many groups of insurgents as large as the one I just observed left since the Port Abrago warriors and Thivans have now combined forces.”
“So, what is your plan, commander?” Emer said.
“With only a few hours of daylight left, I expect the army will encamp in the valley tonight,” I said. “They won’t attempt moving so many prisoners from this distance to the road in darkness. We’ll wait here until nightfall, and then I’ll go down to the camp and see what I can learn of Idril’s whereabouts and condition.”
“If someone must go to the camp, I’ll go,” Emer said. “They would assume you’re a rebel slave and either kill or capture you.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” I said.
“You didn’t ask me to,” Emer said. “I volunteered, and it is the only sensible option for accomplishing your insensible plan. You can find a position close to the camp where you can cover me with your bow in the event they try to detain me.”
I nodded. “Yes, the Thivans may have received word by now from the city about us,” I said. “I’m sorry for putting you at risk, Emer. But I’ll go mad unless I find out Idril’s condition and where she is.”
“I know,” Emer said. “You need not continue reminding me.”
We mounted the baacaases and rode back down to the base of the ridge line, where we had passed a small stream to water the animals and to allow them to graze. After removing the saddles, we hobbled the animals and then ate our evening rations while waiting for nightfall. We passed the time quietly. Emer didn’t seem in the mood for conversation, and concerns for Idril consumed my own thoughts.”
19
End of the Quest
We crossed over the ridge line, and after we had ridden for perhaps some twenty minutes through the narrow valley, we came upon several bodies. We saw them clearly by the light of Vulvar’s larger moon, which was in its waxing gibbous phase, and because they were lying across our line of travel. I dismounted to examine them. There were four dead men, all of whom had multiple arrows sticking out of their yellow tunic clad bodies. I assumed they had fallen during the retreat under the merciless hail of arrows loosed by the warriors of Port Abrago and Thiva. It seemed apparent the victors had quickly passed by these fallen rebels since their weapons lay scattered on the ground beside them. I picked up a fine Vulvarian curved bow and relieved one of the dead of his arrow quiver. Since I already had one, I passed the recovered bow and quiver to Emer, who still sat astride her baacaas.
“The bow might come in handy when you approach the camp,” I said. “Both the Port Abrago cohort and the Thivans here are mostly archers. It would probably arouse their suspicions if you approached the camp without a bow.”
“I thought of that earlier,” Emer said. “But I couldn’t have very well taken yours since you will have need of it if I get into trouble.”
I checked the rest of the bodies and found two leather money bags with coins inside them, and a metal flask the