toward the caravan and trotted back to meet them as they approached. Kuva’s face lightened as Ran drew in alongside him.
“Find anything?”
“Tracks,” said Ran. “They lead up into the hills. At least three men, but I’m guessing there are many more. They probably just used three to get the body down and then to erase the signs as they retreated.”
“Which hill?”
“According to this fellow,” said Ran, pointing at Ryu, “there’s a hill to the northwest of our current position. That’s where they are.”
Kuva raised an eyebrow. “We’re going to trust a bird now?”
Ryu’s head swung toward Kuva, and the falk squawked once at him. Kuva drew back. “What in tarnation is that thing anyway?”
“Falk,” said Ran. “They’re very special birds, apparently.”
“Bred and raised in Nehon,” said Gunj as he rode up. “Most people have never seen them outside of that island nation. But they are excellent trackers. Their eyesight is rumored to be extraordinary. If Ran thinks the bird was able to locate the raiding party, then I think it’s wise that we trust it. The bird, after all, can see things we cannot.”
“You heard?” asked Ran. “About the hill?”
Gunj nodded. “What do you think?”
Ran smiled. “If it was up to me, I’d pitch camp. Make a show out of preparing a funeral. Once the sun sets, we lead a small party out to that hill and ambush them before they can mount their attack.”
“Risky,” said Gunj. “What if we stumble into them on the way to the hill?”
Ran shrugged. “We’ll hear them coming, and we can put an improvised attack in on them still. They’ll think that they have the element of surprise when it’s us that has it. Even if they have superior numbers, our offensive move can disrupt them. If they haven’t planned for it, they won’t know what to do.”
“Most of these raiding parties are comprised of thugs, not warriors,” said Gunj. “There’s a chance your idea might work.”
“The other option is to sit here and let them work their way into a superior position and attack us. We’ll be purely defensive. I don’t like waiting to be attacked.”
“Nor I,” said Kuva. “I say we bring the fight to the bastards and get vengeance for Ejul.”
“Don’t let vengeance cloud your judgment,” said Gunj. “I happen to agree with you both, but I’ll have to talk it over with Yasseh.” He wheeled away and worked back toward where Yasseh sat. Ran watched the smaller man talk to Yasseh and then glanced at Kuva.
“Here’s hoping.”
Kuva grunted. “Your plan makes the most sense. Yasseh is a reasonable enough man. He listened to you back at the kill site. He should listen to you again.”
“Or at least listen to Gunj. Either way is fine.”
“How many of us in the raiding party?” Kuva eyed Ran. “Because I don’t want to be left behind and miss out on the fun.”
“All of us,” said Ran. “It’s a risk, but it’s a bigger risk to leave any capable fighters behind. Especially if we blunder into a huge force. We’ll need everyone there. If we lose, it won’t matter anyway. Will it?”
Kuva grinned. “I like the way you think. Big risk, big reward.”
“I’m young,” said Ran. “Some would say I’m impulsive.”
Kuva shrugged. “If it works, who’s going to argue?”
Gunj rode back over to them. “All right. Yasseh agrees to the plan. We will pitch camp at the next suitable location and wait.” He eyed Ran. “There’s just one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Yasseh wants to come along on the raid.”
C HAPTER E LEVEN
A mile farther down the dirt highway, the convoy found shelter under a copse of small fig trees that blanketed a field. Yasseh led them under the canopy and then pulled around before sliding down from his saddle. Ran rode over and dismounted.
“Couldn’t have asked for a better location.”
Yasseh grunted. “The trees will obscure what they can see. If we light several fires, they may
“Find anything?”
“Tracks,” said Ran. “They lead up into the hills. At least three men, but I’m guessing there are many more. They probably just used three to get the body down and then to erase the signs as they retreated.”
“Which hill?”
“According to this fellow,” said Ran, pointing at Ryu, “there’s a hill to the northwest of our current position. That’s where they are.”
Kuva raised an eyebrow. “We’re going to trust a bird now?”
Ryu’s head swung toward Kuva, and the falk squawked once at him. Kuva drew back. “What in tarnation is that thing anyway?”
“Falk,” said Ran. “They’re very special birds, apparently.”
“Bred and raised in Nehon,” said Gunj as he rode up. “Most people have never seen them outside of that island nation. But they are excellent trackers. Their eyesight is rumored to be extraordinary. If Ran thinks the bird was able to locate the raiding party, then I think it’s wise that we trust it. The bird, after all, can see things we cannot.”
“You heard?” asked Ran. “About the hill?”
Gunj nodded. “What do you think?”
Ran smiled. “If it was up to me, I’d pitch camp. Make a show out of preparing a funeral. Once the sun sets, we lead a small party out to that hill and ambush them before they can mount their attack.”
“Risky,” said Gunj. “What if we stumble into them on the way to the hill?”
Ran shrugged. “We’ll hear them coming, and we can put an improvised attack in on them still. They’ll think that they have the element of surprise when it’s us that has it. Even if they have superior numbers, our offensive move can disrupt them. If they haven’t planned for it, they won’t know what to do.”
“Most of these raiding parties are comprised of thugs, not warriors,” said Gunj. “There’s a chance your idea might work.”
“The other option is to sit here and let them work their way into a superior position and attack us. We’ll be purely defensive. I don’t like waiting to be attacked.”
“Nor I,” said Kuva. “I say we bring the fight to the bastards and get vengeance for Ejul.”
“Don’t let vengeance cloud your judgment,” said Gunj. “I happen to agree with you both, but I’ll have to talk it over with Yasseh.” He wheeled away and worked back toward where Yasseh sat. Ran watched the smaller man talk to Yasseh and then glanced at Kuva.
“Here’s hoping.”
Kuva grunted. “Your plan makes the most sense. Yasseh is a reasonable enough man. He listened to you back at the kill site. He should listen to you again.”
“Or at least listen to Gunj. Either way is fine.”
“How many of us in the raiding party?” Kuva eyed Ran. “Because I don’t want to be left behind and miss out on the fun.”
“All of us,” said Ran. “It’s a risk, but it’s a bigger risk to leave any capable fighters behind. Especially if we blunder into a huge force. We’ll need everyone there. If we lose, it won’t matter anyway. Will it?”
Kuva grinned. “I like the way you think. Big risk, big reward.”
“I’m young,” said Ran. “Some would say I’m impulsive.”
Kuva shrugged. “If it works, who’s going to argue?”
Gunj rode back over to them. “All right. Yasseh agrees to the plan. We will pitch camp at the next suitable location and wait.” He eyed Ran. “There’s just one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Yasseh wants to come along on the raid.”
C HAPTER E LEVEN
A mile farther down the dirt highway, the convoy found shelter under a copse of small fig trees that blanketed a field. Yasseh led them under the canopy and then pulled around before sliding down from his saddle. Ran rode over and dismounted.
“Couldn’t have asked for a better location.”
Yasseh grunted. “The trees will obscure what they can see. If we light several fires, they may
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