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his throat and his legs trembling. The one other time he had seen Bakran had
been enough to etch the renegade's image in his mind forever, though he had
only been Makajia's age at the time. A group of warriors surprised
Hazier while he was hunting frogs along a creek bank. Bakran had spoken to
him, and then abruptly ordered his men to seize and kill him. But Hazier had
run away quickly, losing his pursuers in the woods. Perhaps Bakran had only
meant to scare the boy; certainly, his men did not chase Hazier with as much
resolve as if he had been an adult warrior. But if scaring Hazier was Bakran's
intent, the renegade had done that well. The terror he felt in that encounter
was still vivid in
Hazier's memory
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116
"So, Raymon," Bakran showed his teeth, smiling darkly.
"You do not like my people. You do not have to live with them. You do not have
to live at all."
"Neither do you," the guardsman replied. He was pale-
faced, yet his voice was steady.
"You will fight?" Bakran sounded surprised. "I had not thought your kind
possessed so much nerve." Bakran drew his sword, and the people nearby quickly
backed away.
Bakran let the guardsman move to attack before he moved.
Even so, the fight ended almost immediately. Hazier glimpsed the guardsman
fall to the ground as he and Makajia fled into an alley.
* * * *
"That is what I saw." Hazier finished his story, out of breath.
Chimquar clasped his shoulder. "You did well, Hazier. Very well."
Chaiki pressed thru thumb end of his fist against his teeth.
"We should speak with that merchant."
Chimquar nodded. "My own thought. It might open an easier path to Bakran."
"I'll go with you," Maruic said. "Ibon and the others can pack up."
"No. This is for me alone."
"We are sword-brothers." Maruic's protest was quiet, taut.
"No," Chimquar repeated.
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"If you will not take Maruic," Chaiki said, pausing to run his eyes across his
companions' faces. "Then take me. I know this city."
"Take Chaiki or one of us," Moshin said. "This city is death.
I can taste it. Do not go alone, war-leader."
Chimquar saw the same devotion and determination in each of their faces. Ibon
and Moshin had been with her since her first plains battle. Chaiki grew up
awed by her deeds against the dread creatures that descended the Katal
Escarpment to prey upon his people. Chimquar avoided
Maruic's eyes, feeling herself unable to cope with what she expected to find
there. Her eyes returned to Chaiki, and his concern decided the matter for
her.
"Chaiki and I will go," she said. But suddenly, the plan was made worthless.
"Bakran is coming!" Makajia said, racing into their midst.
Chimquar and Maruic quickly backed into the late afternoon shadows between
their stall and the adjacent one. Ibon moved near enough to hear them, but not
enough to draw attention to them.
"How many with him, Ibon?" Chimquar hissed.
"Less than a dozen ... and a woman. A very beautiful woman," Ibon added.
Chimquar leaned forward for a look at the woman, risking discovery to see what
she had hoped to see Scheiharia.
Bakran held Scheiharia above the elbow, propelling her toward the Euzadi
stall, fully aware that these men were (so far as he knew) Arazas, of the same
tribe as the woman.
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"Look, Scheiharia! I can give you whatever you want," the renegade said.
Scheiharia stared stonily ahead, refusing to look at the soft hides and furs.
Bakran liked to taunt her by taking her to the
Araza stalls each time some of her tribe came to the city to trade, which was
becoming less frequent. "I want nothing, Bakran," she said, as she always had.
"You will look," Bakran snarled, forcing her face down into
Ibon's furs.
"Diangar take you!" She screamed in futile rage when he let her up a little.
Bakran jerked her head back, casting her into the street.
His men circled Scheiharia, laughing at her. She lay on the ground, glaring up
at the renegade leader. "Chimquar will kill you," she spat out.
Bakran laughed. "So you wish."
"She does not have to wish any longer, Bakran." Chimquar could stand to watch
no more. She stepped from between the stalls, her sword drawn. Her companions
drew their blades and waited, giving Bakran's men the chance to make the first
move. For a moment all eyes were on the Dazalero war-
leader, and at that moment Scheiharia seized her long-
awaited opportunity: She sprang to her feet, darting between two of Bakran's
men. They made a vain attempt to grab her, but she was already past them, and
running to Chimquar's side.
"Chimquar!" she exulted.
"You are safe now," said Chimquar. "Stay back and be protected." Chimquar
directed her toward Ibon with a thrust
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119
of her chin. "This warrior will watch over you while I make your wish come
true."
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People began to scatter as the battle joined. Merchants hurriedly gathered
their wares and escaped. Two ranks of guardsmen halted at the far end of the
marketplace, refusing to intervene. A large band of Bakran's warrior arrived, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]