Valour and Victory by Candy Rae

you about
something that has been worrying me.”
    “If I can
answer I will,” she replied.
    “Do you know
how Susyc Julia and Alyei intend to use our younger warriors?”
    Tanya nodded,
“the fourth ryz?”
    “Yes.”
    Tanya did her
best to allay his concerns.
    “They will be
used as support, Sadei, that I can promise you. They will not be
fighting in the front lines of the battle unless …”
    “I understand,”
said Sadei with relief, his fears partly put at bay. Susyc Julia
understood. If the young had to fight it would because the north
was losing the battle. Julia would not insist that the part-trained
fourth ryz of his Lindar meet the demented and battle crazy charges
of the Larg kohorts unless she had to.
    That was why it
was the Susa of the Vada who always commanded the Armies of the
North and not the Garda Field Marshall who did not have experience
of the Lind, or one of the Lindar Susas who had little or no
experience of humans.
    “I will see you
with the sun,” said Tanya and left the members of Lindar Hanei to
eat their meal.
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    Niaill
     
    Niaill and
Taraya splashed on to the rocky beach as they led the First Ryzck
ashore.
    : The
welcoming committee is waiting, I see : Niaill made the
comment.
    : I do see
: replied Taraya and added, surprised : it doesn’t smell any
different! :
    : Why should
it? Salt air, rock-pools and seaweed smell the same the world over
:
    : Perhaps
: She sounded disappointed. She stopped and began to shake the
water off her paws, one at a time, as they waited for the other
thirty-four vadeln of the Ryzck to catch up.
    : I don’t
look my best : she complained : I’m all covered in sand, my
fur is all matted and I don’t smell nice. I could do with a bath in
some fresh clean water :
    : Vain woman
: teased Niaill, who knew his Taraya : perhaps later
:
    : I think I’ll
have to insist :
    : Lets get the
greetings over with first shall we? :
    : Very well
: replied Taraya with a flicking flounce of her tail : the
others are here now :
    Niall glanced
up the beach to where ‘the welcoming committee’ stood waiting, four
men and two Lind. The two latter must be the Avuzdel Julia had told
him about and who had relayed Duke William’s message that the
Armies of the North would be welcome in his Duchy.
    : Who are
the men? : asked Taraya as she began to walk up the beach
towards them.
    : Duke William
will be one, he’s that fair haired one at the front if the
descriptions are to be believed. The other with the same hair is
likely to be his son, the Duke-Heir, name’s William too. As for the
other two, I have no idea. Probably retainers of some sort. Tell
the others to stay well back. I think it best if we make the first
contact ourselves, less threatening :
    : I am sensing
nothing but relief from the men and Baltei and Jilesei are relaxed.
They wouldn’t be here and be so if there was any danger. Baltei
tells me that it is the Duke and his son. The other two are senior
vassals of his whatever that means :
    She stopped
just in front of the six and Niaill dismounted.
    “Duke William?”
he greeted the tall fair man. Now that he was closer Niaill saw
that his short hair was greying at the temples. “I am Ryzcka Niaill
of the Vada First Ryzck. I bring greetings from Susyc Julia.” He
bowed.
    “I am Taraya,
also Ryzcka of the First Ryzck,” Taraya said, determined not to be
outdone. “I bring greetings from Alyei, also Susyc.” She inclined
her head towards him, her furry ears cocked forward.
    Duke William
also bowed.
    “Welcome to
Duchesne,” he said, straightening up. He snuck a short glance over
at the First Ryzck. “I was expecting more of you.”
    “We’re only the
first of the advance party,” Niaill explained. “The Fourteenth
Ryzck should be here in a bell or so, but you say candle-mark here
do you not? After them will come the Thirty-third and the
Fifty-first and then the cadets who will help direct the rest of
the army to the staging