Joel Shepherd - Sasha

"Might they already have seen us?" Sasha asked.

"Perhaps… but I suspect they'll be watching north for Taneryn reinforcements, not south. These are Hadryn villagers, I'm moderately sure, not company soldiers."

A low stone wall approached, Peg and Terjellyn jumping it comfortably. "You think they've claimed this land for Hadryn?" Sasha asked.

"I think they've been awaiting an opportunity for a long time," Kessligh said darkly. "As for what they've actually proclaimed… we'll know when we're down there."

"Who's in charge now with Lord Rashyd dead? Usyn?" Kessligh nodded. Usyn Telgar was heir to the Hadryn Great Lordship and not much older than herself. "You think Usyn ordered this?"

"I think he'll deny it. But so much in the Hadryn-Taneryn conflict just happens by mutual consent of all involved."

Leftwards, Sergeant Garys's contingent of perhaps thirty horse came to a halt upon an open, sloping field and began forming up. Sasha and Kessligh reined upslope, angling past a broad shelf of dark rock that thrust from the green field, forming a minor cliff below which numerous sheep were grazing.

"Back there," said Kessligh. "That woman called you the Synnich."

"It was Synnich-ahn," Sasha corrected. "Across all the northern tongues, the "ahn" infers a guide."

"They used to call me that."

"They still do. But I'm your uma. It seems it's fallen to me."

Kessligh looked displeased. "You shouldn't fool around with prophecies, Sasha. This kind of superstitious nonsense can get you into deep trouble."

Sasha stared at him, aghast. "How is this my fault? What possible say can I have over what people may choose to believe?"

"You've become a symbol to the Goeren-yai, Sasha. You of all people should know how long they've wished for a royal Goeren-yai-"

"I'm Nasi-Keth, I can't speak for them!" Sasha cut him off, angrily.

"And as Nasi-Keth," Kessligh replied, "you should remember that you are bound to the Nasi-Keth as much as to anyone in Lenayin."

Sasha snorted in disbelief. "Why is it that as soon as anyone important says anything nice to the Goeren-yai, all the Verenthanes are up in arms!"

"Because it is the nature of power to be nervous," Kessligh said grimly. They reached the next low wall, and cleared it together. "And because the ruling class are all Verenthanes and know only too well what a Goeren-yai uprising could mean for them all."

"How could anyone possibly be stupid enough to think I would be interested in that?" Sasha demanded.

"Because the more powerful men are, the stupider they become. Lord Krayliss threatens exactly that. And rumours now place you at his side. As I predicted, if you recall."

"I can't control what people say about me!" Sasha snapped. "I am who I am!"

Kessligh did not reply. Up ahead, every man was watching as they rode forward. Sasha could see the confidence in their eyes, and their posture in the saddle, to see the great man approach. Many had no doubt grown up with their ears filled with stories of the great Kessligh Cronenverdt. To ride into conflict of any in the company of the great Kessligh was an honour above nearly all else.

A cheer went up as Kessligh and Sasha approached, and Sasha decided to pull Peg back a length and allow all attention to fall upon her uman. Kessligh waved his sword in reply. Surely these men weren't to know how much Kessligh hated all the adulation. Not that he ever let it show-he respected the pride of Lenay warriors far too much. Let them have their hero, and cheer when they wanted to cheer. Kessligh had more important things to worry about.

"We'll take the rear," Kessligh announced to the group, meaning himself and Sasha, "like the pair of unarmoured cowards we are." A roar of laughter. "We'll be crossing the road to Hadryn on this side, and the guardpost there. If they've got archers, remember-don't charge, flank. That's what cavalry's for. Get behind them and kill them, no need to give them easy shots. If they look undecided, demand they surrender and save yourself the trouble. It'd be lovely if they all surrendered immediately, but I don't expect it. As flankers, we have the perimeter, Prince Damon shall lead the main force into the town. He's relying on us to keep his flanks and rear secure from counterattack. Let's not let him down. Sergeant Garys has the lead."

Another cheer went up. From back at the road, an answering cheer, no doubt in reply to a similar speech from Captain Tyrun. The right flank would be led by a lieutenant whose name Sasha hadn't yet learned. Kessligh had said that Damon would lead the central attack, Sasha reflected as they moved aside for the formation to come past. Flattery of the prince before the mentechnically Damon was leading the central charge, but he would be several rows deep from the front, surrounded by his little contingent of Royal Guard.

To her faint surprise, she felt the first, genuine stab of worry. Concern for Damon, no less. And reprimanded herself a moment later-Damon was a fine horseman and swordsman… for a non-svaalverd fighter, anyhow. No effort in training was spared for a Prince of Lenayin. And he was the best protected soldier in the formation; not easily distinguishable from a regular soldier in his dress-he would be fine.

"You," said Kessligh, pointing to Terjellyn's rear, "stay right here, the whole time. You're good on your feet, but cavalry's a whole different world. Know your limitations. And his." With a sharp gesture to Peg.

"I know," she told him, meeting his stern gaze as calmly as possible. "I won't do anything stupid. I promise."

"First time for everything, I suppose." But his crooked smile held a hint of real affection. Sasha felt her heart swell. He reached out and they tapped fists. From Kessligh, a rare gesture indeed. It almost worried her, that he should choose this moment for such a gesture.

A yell then from the centre, and across the rolling hill, the central formation moved off downslope, three lines of horsemen following the road and two additional lines to either side. Sergeant Garys waved a fist and the left flank moved forward at a canter. As the last of them passed Sasha and Kessligh's position, they tapped heels and followed.

The low wall they'd jumped on the way up presented the first obstaclearmoured Lenay horsemen regularly practised on obstacles twice as high, and cleared it comfortably. The pace accelerated to a fast canter, each of the two lines' leaders scanning intently ahead, selecting their line across the undulating downward slope, over walls, past orchards, farmhouses, barns and clusters of livestock, planning ahead and predicting events. The leader of the right-ward column had another man at his side, holding formation with his leader, but glancing continually across at the central formation as they came down the winding road, making sure this flank did not outpace, nor were left behind.

The rear had a certain freedom, Sasha saw, realising now the other reason why Kessligh preferred it, apart from his and her lack of armour. She could see everything without bothering about formations-the central column upon the right, weaving and splitting to pass about another burned farmhouse, the broken, rocky ridge over to the far left where the open farmland appeared to stop, and all the sweeping contours in between. The pace accelerated once more, and she took the liberty of galloping off to Kessligh's side, to gain some space.

The hillside was flatter for a moment, then fell away more steeply and she had a brief, fantastic view of the town of Perys, nestled upon its protruding ridge below. As they drew closer, some of the smoke in town appeared to be accompanied by flames.

The horses in front leaped another wall, then descended the steeper slope beyond… the wall rushed up, Sasha counting Peg's strides and judging distances by reflex, then sailing precisely over, touching with barely an impact as the slope fell away. They plunged at rapid speed as the whole front accelerated, Peg stretching out and threatening to gain on the riders ahead. Sasha wove him off to one side, then back again, and liked the way the vantage changed at that speed, as the wind stung at her eyes and clods of earth from the racing horsemen in front spun and fell to all sides like rain.