Book 2 - October's Baby by Glen Cook Page B

his mouth. He looked up from the ground puzzledly, a finger feeling loosened teeth.
    "Ten lashes," Bragi said. "Special consideration so it won't be said I spite the children of old enemies. But I'll hang him next time."
    The man was about to spring. Discretion bit him. He frowned questioningly.
    "Up, you," Ragnarson ordered. "Which of Bjorn Thorfinson's whelps are you?"
    "Eh? Ragnar..."
    "Ragnar? The gall of the man. But no matter. It's an honorable name. Wear it with honor. There's a saying, 'Like father, like son.' I hope it's not true in your case. Blackfang, somewhere there's a man with a purse full of gold. Someone who was poor when he left the north. Bring him when you report."
    He nudged his mount forward. Mocker followed, grinning hugely.
    ii) Child with the ways of a woman
    Ragnarson had met the Trolledyngjans and Itaskians who were to be his staff. Though Kildragon had nominal control of the latter, a question of loyalties might arise. Most of the Itaskians were raw youths, but their officers and sergeants were obvious veterans, and almost as obviously the Minister's hand-picked men, detached from regular service.
    But the Trolledyngjans were the pressing problem. Their leaders were solid, experienced men who knew the lay of things. The young men had never seen a real war. They wanted to plunder the countryside, called wiser heads cowards for demurring. Their exposure to Itaskian military procedures had been sketchy. Wolf-strikes by coast-reevers gave the raiders no true picture of the capacity of the attacked.
    "Reskird," said Ragnarson, after a lot of useless talk, "clear your drill ground. Dig a trench down the middle, as wide and deep as you can in two hours. Arm your best men with shields and pikes. Scare up blunt arrows for the rest, and pad the tips. Blackfang will attack you in the Trolledyngjan fashion. We'll give your youngsters some confidence and knock the cockiness out of Haaken's."
    Kildragon, a dour man, replied, "Two birds, eh? Show them Itaskian firepower, they'll lose interest in plunder. And we'll build some mutual respect."
    "Right." To the Trolledyngjan officers, Ragnarson said, "Push the Itaskians hard. Try to break them. Straight frontal attack, no tricks. See how they stand up..."
    A racket approached. Blackfang stalked in, pushing a scared Trolledyngjan. "Here's our gold man," he growled. "Caught him trying to sneak into the hills."
    Ragnarson considered the youth, who had been one of Haaken's bodyguards in Itaskia. "Took you long enough, and then you didn't get the right one."
    "Eh? He had it when we caught him."
    "When did he get it? He was with us in Itaskia. Mocker?" The fat man nodded. "He ever give you any trouble before?"
    "No."
    "Where'd you get it, Wulf?"
    The soldier wouldn't answer.
    Blackfang drew back a fist.
    "Self," said Mocker, "being accustomed to use of brain instead of fist, would suggest is time for brainwork. Who does boy have for friends? Is friend rabble-rouser? Is friend?..."
    "Don't have no friends," Blackfang interjected. "Just that girl Astrid he's always sniffing round..."
    "Ah?" said Mocker. "Girl? Is said, 'Look for woman.' Might same be sister of mouth-man in camp in morning? Saw same with boy on trek to Itaskia."
    "Bjorn had a daughter?" Ragnarson asked. Vague recollection of a face. Young. What was it the Star Rider had said? Beware of the girl who acts like a woman? "Get her."
    "Never thought about a woman," Blackfang said, leaving.
    He soon returned with a howling, kicking adolescent in tow and a group of sullen youths trailing. "Where's her brother?" Ragnarson asked. "I want him here too." Ragnar appeared almost instantly. "Wulf, you and Ragnar stand back, out of the way." To Reskird, "If they move, cut them down. Girl, shut up."
    The girl had been alternating threats, pleas, and calls for help.
    "Blackfang, watch the door. Kill anybody who sticks his head in."
    His officers stirred nervously. He was daring mutiny. "Sit down, girl," said Ragnarson,