well decide to attack.”
“They will,” said Ran. “But not until they’re sure it’s the right time. By that point, we should already be in position to attack them.”
Yasseh regarded him. “You’re awfully confident this is going to work.”
“I am,” said Ran. “But it’s not mere bravado; it’s human psychology. There’s no way they would ever expect us to do what we’re about to do. They left us a warning, and they probably think that they’ve got us scared now. Presumably, we will do what any other convoy would do in our situation: pull up and form a defensive position as best as we’re able to. They think we’ll rally and try to hold them off when they attack. It’s what most people would do.”
“Not you.”
“Not me,” said Ran. “Of course, it’s not my caravan, but since you’ve agreed to the idea, then it’s important that we do this as quietly as we are able. Surprise is the one thing that will tip the odds in our favor if we find that we are indeed confronting an overwhelming force.”
“I still have a hard time thinking it wise that we shouldn’t leave any sort of security behind.”
Ran nodded. “Let’s put it this way: we need all of our seasoned warriors out there with us. And if you leave some of them behind, not only does it hamstring our efforts, but it makes the other merchants in this convoy lazy. They’ll leave the fighting to the security and never lift a sword to help. If they know they’re out here alone, however, then their survival instincts will kick in and make them fight. That’s another win for us.”
Yasseh patted his horse and secured a feed bag to it. “You certainly seem to know a lot about how humans think.”
“I’ve done a lot of careful observing in my short time alive. Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to see. What we’re about to do is one of them.” Ran cleared his throat. “Now, I do have one question to ask you.”
“Yes?”
“Are you so certain that coming along is a good idea?”
Yasseh turned to face him. “As you said, this is my caravan.”
“No disrespect intended,” said Ran. “But we are going to have to crawl around in the mountains. Forgive me for saying so, but it doesn’t look like you’ve done much hard scrambling in a long time.”
Yasseh grinned and patted his girth. “I haven’t. Good living makes lazy fools of us all. But I haven’t forgotten my upbringing. Long before I was a wealthy man, I used to have to work like everyone else to find food, and I once survived on my own for several weeks when I got lost in my native land. I can wield a sword as well as any man, too. So while I understand your hesitation, there is no need to worry about me. I will be able to hold my own.”
“I hope so,” said Ran. “Our survival may well depend on it.” He moved off and watched as Gunj directed several of the guards to light up fires. He dispatched more of the merchants to gather wood and place it in piles next to the fires. Their job would be to keep the flames stoked throughout the night.
Ran walked to the edge of the canopy and looked to the sky. The sun was fading quickly in the west. Ran estimated they had perhaps twenty minutes before the twilight would consume them. Perfect, he thought.
Kuva appeared next to him. “We’ve lit the fires. Anyone watching from the northwest won’t be able to see much beyond the glow of the flames.”
“Exactly what we want,” said Ran. “Have the men ready to move out within twenty minutes. As soon as we can use the deepening night to our advantage and steal away unobserved, we’ll be on our way. And make certain that anyone staying in camp moves about, to make it seem like there are still plenty of men in camp.”
Kuva left, and Ran adjusted his swords. He felt for the package of senban concealed inside of his tunic. The flat throwing blades had been wrapped securely so as not to clink against each other. But Ran checked anyway. Better to check and
“They will,” said Ran. “But not until they’re sure it’s the right time. By that point, we should already be in position to attack them.”
Yasseh regarded him. “You’re awfully confident this is going to work.”
“I am,” said Ran. “But it’s not mere bravado; it’s human psychology. There’s no way they would ever expect us to do what we’re about to do. They left us a warning, and they probably think that they’ve got us scared now. Presumably, we will do what any other convoy would do in our situation: pull up and form a defensive position as best as we’re able to. They think we’ll rally and try to hold them off when they attack. It’s what most people would do.”
“Not you.”
“Not me,” said Ran. “Of course, it’s not my caravan, but since you’ve agreed to the idea, then it’s important that we do this as quietly as we are able. Surprise is the one thing that will tip the odds in our favor if we find that we are indeed confronting an overwhelming force.”
“I still have a hard time thinking it wise that we shouldn’t leave any sort of security behind.”
Ran nodded. “Let’s put it this way: we need all of our seasoned warriors out there with us. And if you leave some of them behind, not only does it hamstring our efforts, but it makes the other merchants in this convoy lazy. They’ll leave the fighting to the security and never lift a sword to help. If they know they’re out here alone, however, then their survival instincts will kick in and make them fight. That’s another win for us.”
Yasseh patted his horse and secured a feed bag to it. “You certainly seem to know a lot about how humans think.”
“I’ve done a lot of careful observing in my short time alive. Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to see. What we’re about to do is one of them.” Ran cleared his throat. “Now, I do have one question to ask you.”
“Yes?”
“Are you so certain that coming along is a good idea?”
Yasseh turned to face him. “As you said, this is my caravan.”
“No disrespect intended,” said Ran. “But we are going to have to crawl around in the mountains. Forgive me for saying so, but it doesn’t look like you’ve done much hard scrambling in a long time.”
Yasseh grinned and patted his girth. “I haven’t. Good living makes lazy fools of us all. But I haven’t forgotten my upbringing. Long before I was a wealthy man, I used to have to work like everyone else to find food, and I once survived on my own for several weeks when I got lost in my native land. I can wield a sword as well as any man, too. So while I understand your hesitation, there is no need to worry about me. I will be able to hold my own.”
“I hope so,” said Ran. “Our survival may well depend on it.” He moved off and watched as Gunj directed several of the guards to light up fires. He dispatched more of the merchants to gather wood and place it in piles next to the fires. Their job would be to keep the flames stoked throughout the night.
Ran walked to the edge of the canopy and looked to the sky. The sun was fading quickly in the west. Ran estimated they had perhaps twenty minutes before the twilight would consume them. Perfect, he thought.
Kuva appeared next to him. “We’ve lit the fires. Anyone watching from the northwest won’t be able to see much beyond the glow of the flames.”
“Exactly what we want,” said Ran. “Have the men ready to move out within twenty minutes. As soon as we can use the deepening night to our advantage and steal away unobserved, we’ll be on our way. And make certain that anyone staying in camp moves about, to make it seem like there are still plenty of men in camp.”
Kuva left, and Ran adjusted his swords. He felt for the package of senban concealed inside of his tunic. The flat throwing blades had been wrapped securely so as not to clink against each other. But Ran checked anyway. Better to check and
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