Read Book 2 - Dreams of Steel for Free Online

to leave. Put Ram in charge, then come back."

    "Yes, Mistress." Narayan scampered off. At times he seemed a mouse. He returned. "They're grumbling."

    "Let them. As long as they don't run. Do the Shadowmasters' men know we're this close?"

    Narayan shrugged.

    "I want to know. Put out a picket line a quarter mile into the wood. Twenty good men. They're not to interfere with scouts coming north but they're to ambush them headed back." They wouldn't be expecting trouble going away. "Use men who aren't good for anything else to raise an embankment along the creek. Drive stakes into its face. Sharpen them. Find vines. Sink them in the water. There's no room to maneuver on the south bank. They'll have to come straight at us, hard. Once you've got that started, come back." Best get everybody busy and distract them from their fears. I snapped, "Narayan, wait! Find out if any of the men can handle horses."

    Other than my mounts there were just a half dozen animals with the band, all strays we'd captured. I'd had to teach Ram to care for mine. Riding amongst Taglians was restricted to high-caste Gunni and rich Shadar. Bullock and buffalo were the native work animals.

    It was the tenth hour when Narayan returned. In the interim I prowled. I was pleased. I saw no panic, no outright terror, just a healthy ration of fear tempered by the certainty that chances of surviving were better here than on the run. They feared my displeasure more than they feared an enemy not yet seen. Perfect.

    I made a suggestion about the angle of the stakes on the face or the embankment, then went to talk with Narayan.

    I told him, "We'll scout their camp now."

    "Just us?" His grin was forced.

    "You and me."

    "Yes, Mistress. Though I'd feel more comfortable if Sindhu accompanied us."

    "Can he move quietly?" I couldn't picture that bulk sneaking anywhere.

    "Like a mouse, Mistress."

    "Get him. Don't waste time. We'll need all the darkness we've got."

    Narayan gave me an odd look, took off.

    We left a password, crossed the creek. Narayan and Sindhu stole through the woods as though to stealth born. Quieter than mice. They took our pickets by surprise. Those had seen nothing of the enemy.

    "Awfully sure of themselves," Sindhu grumbled, the first I'd heard him volunteer an opinion.

    "Maybe they're plain stupid." The Shadowmasters' soldiers hadn't impressed me with anything but their numbers.

    We spied their campfires before I expected them.

    They'd camped among the trees. I hadn't foreseen that possibility. Damned inconsiderate of them.

    Narayan touched my arm diffidently. Mouth to ear, he breathed, "Sentries. Wait here." He stole forward like a ghost, returned like one. "Two of them. Sound asleep. Walk carefully."

    So we just strolled in to where I could see what I wanted. I studied the layout for several minutes. Satisfied, I said, "Let's go."

    One of the sentries had wakened. He started up as Sindhu drifted past, firelight glistening off his broad, naked back.

    Narayan's hand darted to his waist. His arm whipped, his wrist snapped, a serpent of black cloth looped around the sentry's neck. Narayan strangled him so efficiently his companion didn't waken.

    Sindhu took the other with a strip of scarlet cloth.

    Now I knew what peeked from their loincloths. Their weapons.

    They rearranged their victims so they looked like they were sleeping with their tongues out, all the while whispering cant that sounded ritualistic. I said, "Sindhu, stay and keep watch. Warn us if they discover the bodies. Narayan. Come with me."

    I hurried as much as darkness allowed. Once we reached camp I told Narayan, "That was neatly done. I want to learn that trick with the cloth."

    The notion surprised him. He didn't say anything.

    "Collect the ten best squads. Arm them. Also the twenty men you think best able to handle horses. Ram!"

    Ram arrived as I began readying my armor. He grew troubled. "What's the matter now?" Then I saw what he'd done to my helmet. "What