Master Of The Hashomi

So Blade only said, «Thank you,» and reached for more beer.

The Fighters of Junah poured out of the cities like rats leaving a sinking ship, and scattered in a dozen different directions. Shortly they found themselves being herded west by carefully planted rumors, by the Baran's cavalry patrols; and by the outraged farmers of the lands to the east. Those who didn't move in the right direction were often lynched by the farmers, or driven into forests and swamps to starve along with the Thieves.

Day after day the reports came in of the Fighters gathering in the west, and day after day the Baran assembled his army. He was going to lead west every man not needed to defend the walls of the city and maintain law and order within them nearly eighty thousand altogether. It was the greatest army in the history of Dahaura, and the battle when it met the Fighters of Junah would be the greatest battle.

In the end, though, there was no battle. The Fighters of Junah gathered in the west, nearly a hundred thousand of them. At first they were able to live precariously by stealing cattle and crops, catching fish, and picking nuts and berries. A hundred thousand men could not live long that way, and hunger came swiftly. After hunger came fear and despair. The Hashomi did not come at all.

Now the reports that reached Blade day after day told of men drifting away from the Army of the Fighters. They were turning themselves in to the Baran's garrison or the local population, willing to do almost anything to be fed.

Then the Baran issued his second proclamation, with its pardon for those Fighters who surrendered, and led his army west. Blade rode with him, hoping that nothing would happen to give the Baran a chance to rush into danger once more.

Nothing did. Most of the «campaign» against the Fighters of Junah was about as dangerous as rounding up cattle. The trained warriors among the Fighters seldom surrendered, but they were too scattered to be really dangerous. The largest number found in one place was only two thousand, and the Desert Riders broke them in a single bloody charge. On that day the Baran was thirty miles away, talking with some of the leaders among the Fighters who'd surrendered.

He mentioned the offer of land and free worship for those Fighters who marched with him against the Hashomi. Even Blade was surprised at the response. The prisoners were almost incoherent with rage against the Hashomi and, above all, against the Master. They hadn't seen a single Hashom lifting a finger to help them since the night of the warehouse raid. What would that mean, but that the Master had only been playing with them? They'd played along with him, and now the blood of thousands of their followers was on the Master's hands.

They did not love the Baran or the Children of Junah even now. But they hated the Master of the Hashomi savagely and completely. Certainly they would march against him with the Baran, who treated them like men and not like puppets.

So much for the Fighters of Junah. After centuries of opposition to the Baranate, Blade's strategy had swept away their menace in a few weeks.

The Hashomi were going to be a more difficult proposition. As Blade said, «As far as I know there is only one route into the Valley that an army can use. The Hashomi can defend it until they are all dead, and perhaps ten thousand of your men as well. There is no certain way to avoid that, but I have a plan that gives us some hope. I am assuming that the valley people are not too happy with the rule of the Hashomi, and that the Hashomi themselves may be somewhat shaken by the collapse of the Master's strategy. If this is correct, then we may look to find allies in the valley.»

Blade explained briefly, with the help of a map he'd sketched of the Valley of the Hashomi. The Baran followed him appreciatively.

«I will need only three or four hundred men, but they'll have to be picked fighters, the best soldiers and the best of the Eyes. In fact, I think that the whole army going to the valley ought to be picked men. Many of your soldiers are brave, but the Hashomi could still slaughter them like wolves killing sheep.»

«I'd thought as much,» said the Baran. «I've already given the orders to limit our invading army to twenty thousand men, plus five thousand of the Fighters of Junah. I'll also put Giraz under your orders as second-in-command. From your plan, it sounds as if you might not live through it even if everything goes well.»

«I may not,» said Blade. «In fact, I'm not sure that any of my people will be coming back from this one. But it's going to be worth it. It will save your soldiers' lives, and it may help the people of the valley. Once the Hashomi are dead, we have no quarrel with those they have ruled so harshly for so long.»

«Want to leave as many of your future subjects alive as you can, eh, Blade?» said the Baran.

«Why not?» said Blade. «I don't want to rule a desert, either for myself or for you.»

Blade was busy during the next few days, picking the men of his force and conferring with Giraz. He also found time to marry Esseta.

It seemed a good idea. Even if he got back alive from the invasion of the Valley of the Hashomi, he would sooner or later be returning to Home Dimension. Then what would happen to Esseta? She had the Baran's favor and her own money, but the favor might be withdrawn at any time and her money would not last forever. She could rely on Kubin Ben Sarif for as much help as he could give, but Kubin was well past fifty. He would not always be around to help her.

On the other hand, as the widow of one of the Baran's most distinguished officers, she would be in a much better situation. She would have legal and social rights that no one could question. She would also inherit Blade's property, and that was a real fortune. The Baran had been giving him estates and villas with a lavish hand. As Blade's widow, Esseta would be one of the richest women in Dahaura.

In spite of all these obvious arguments in favor of the idea, Blade had quite a job persuading Esseta. Her first reaction was, «Blade, you've lost your mind! Did you get hit on the head in that warehouse fight?» She went on from there, less outspoken, but no less stubborn, for several days.

«Blade,» she said at last. «Do you realize who-or what-you're marrying? Do you realize that I ca

«If I return from the Valley of the Hashomi,» put in Blade.

She shook her head angrily, but at the same time there were tears in her eyes. «Blade, I am what I am, and I ca

«The woman I am going to marry,» he said calmly.

Esseta looked as if she wanted to tear out either Blade's hair or her own in sheer frustration. While she struggled with her feelings, Blade went on. «Apart from everything else, I am not so sure that you ca

At that point Esseta burst into tears and collapsed on Blade's shoulder. He held her gently, while she murmured over and over again, «I ca

«Very good,» said Blade at last. «Then don't. We should go to the Baran and ask his permission. As a Demad of his household, I'll need it.»

The Baran not only gave his permission, he offered to sponsor the bride in place of the father she'd never known. The other sponsor was Kubin Ben Sarif, and the principal witness was Giraz. Esseta looked her age on the day of the wedding, no one would have mistaken her for a young girl. But she was as nervous and blushing as any seventeen year-old virgin bride.