Free Rally Cry by William R. Forstchen Page B

chuckled darkly.
    What frightened him even more, though, was the look of open hatred Mikhail gave to him. He had guessed right on that one, sensing the noble's plan when he had insisted personally on riding with him back to the city, pumping him for information all the way.
    "A good plan, yes, a good plan," Ivor mumbled, looking curiously at his brother and then back to the trembling peasant.
    "And mark this well," Ivor said darkly. "Say but one word of the Tugars to them and I'll not kill you on the spot but will save you and your family instead for their festival of the moon passing."
    "Never would I do such a thing," Kal whispered.
    "Let it be known to all others as well," Ivor said sharply, looking to his speaker of decrees who stood in the corner. "Let it be known by all that whoever attempts to tell the bluecoats of the Tugars will be saved for the festival as well."
    Ivor leaned back in his chair. Perhaps Rasnar was right about how the Tugars would feel regarding these bluecoats. He could use them for more miracles like the glasses he held in his hands, but in the end they would go to the pits, thus granting exemptions to others that would beg him for such things when the time came.
    "Bring their Cane before me tomorrow morning," Ivor growled. "Now leave me."
    And standing up he put the glasses back on and strode from the room, peering about and gasping with amazement.
    As Kal withdrew, still bowing, he spared a quick glance to Mikhail, who was looking straight at him.
    Do not growl at the wolf so loud that he might hear, Kal thought nervously, for he will never forget the challenge.
     
     
    "All right then, boys, look sharp now, the colonel's expecting you to act like the soldiers you are. You men of Companies A and B have been selected for this honor—now live up to it."
    Vincent tried to push his narrow chest out even farther as Sergeant Schuder stopped in front of him, gazed for a moment, and then with a snort of disgust continued down the line.
    Vincent breathed a sigh of relief. For. some reason the colonel no longer terrified him—in many ways he looked on his one-armed commander as a father—but Schuder was more like the old schoolmaster at Oak Grove, ready to explode with Old Testament wrath at the slightest provocation.
    From the corner of his eye Vincent saw Keane approaching, with Dr. Weiss riding alongside and Major O'Donald and Kal walking in front of them.
    Keane reined his mount up in front of the company and looked the ranks over.
    "All right then, lads," Keane said softly, as if addressing a group of friends about to embark on an afternoon stroll.
    "Kal here," and he pointed to the peasant standing beside him, "indicates we can make a peaceful arrangement with these people. I'm trusting all of you to do your duty. I want those people out there to see the type of soldiers we are. But one mistake and it could go badly for the lot of us. I expect this to go smoothly, and it's important we don't show the slightest trace of fear. So look and act like soldiers, no matter what you see. If things should turn ugly, you are to fire only on my command, or Sergeant Schuder's. Any questions?"
    "Colonel, just where in hell are we?" Vincent could tell by the defiant tone that it was Hinsen.
    Keane reined his mount around and came up to stand directly in front of Hinsen. With a cold look, the colonel stared down at the private.
    "That is what we are going to find out, private," he said sharply. "Let me worry about that. You're new to this regiment, private, so I'll let it pass this time. But the veterans among you know that the 35th has always seen its way through, no matter what was put in front of us.
    "Now, are there any other questions?"
    The men were silent.
    "All right, then. Major O'Donald is senior in command until I return." As he spoke he looked over to where Captain Cromwell and his crew stood. Vincent instantly sensed that there was some conflict brewing there, the way the two men looked at each