Midnight Falcon

'If you are to be the king of all Keltoi on this side of the water,' she said, 'you ca

Co

Sitting alone in his tent Co

Co

'We will draw Jasaray in towards the weak centre,' said Bran, 'and engage him there.'

'We'll not be able to hold him,' pointed out Gova

'Exactly. I will set the centre in a bow formation, the wings behind the front ranks. The Stone front lines will push us back. The heavy infantry, under you, Gova

'The plan has merit,' said Co

'And what of his archers?' asked the Gath general Osta. 'There are a thousand skilled bowmen marching with him.'

'I know,' said Bran. 'Each man carries a quiver of thirty shafts. We must force Jasaray to use them early, on our centre. Otherwise our cavalry charge will be cut to pieces, the Iron Wolves destroyed.'

'And what avenue of escape is there, should this strategy fail?' asked Gova

'None,' said Bran. 'I will be with the centre, and our backs will be to the river. If we ca

'Neither can I,' said Co

'I am not a strategist,' said Osta, 'but it seems to me that the centre will take appalling losses. What if they break and run? Half of them will be Norvii and Pa

Co

Now, in the dawn, Co

Moving from the tent, he saw Gova

With smooth, strong strokes he swam to where Gova

The two men waded towards the shore. Just as they were about to emerge from the water, something sharp bit into Co

'Damn, but these water dogs can be a nuisance,' said Gova

Co

'Are you all right?' asked Gova

'I am fine,' said Co

Gova

Co

Otters had many names among the tribes; water dogs was the most common, but in the old High Tongue they were called Hounds of the River Bank.

All his life Co

Back in his tent he bound the wound in his calf. 'If today is the day, so be it,' he said aloud.

Then he do

Banouin had also spent a fitful night, and his spirits were low as the dawn came. Brother Solstice, with whom he shared a small tent, saw the strain in his eyes. 'Do you fear the coming battle?' he asked the younger man.

Banouin shook his head. 'No, it is not fear but sadness. I have been thinking of the thousands of young men who will lose their lives – men on both sides. And for what, Solstice? What, ultimately, will be achieved by this coming violence? Surely man, with all his intellect, can find some other way to settle disagreements, without more seeds of hatred being sown, more souls to haunt a battlefield.'