Free Wizard's Funeral by Kim Hunter Page A

and splashing around, their excited squeals plain to hear from the heights above. Soldier had a conference with his officers. What do you think? he asked Velion. Where will they keep their prisoners? In one of the big caves? she said. Kaff said, Did you see that hut without any windows, down by the second corral? My guess is that theyre in there. Why have a hut without windows? You cant store grain or perishable goods in such a place: you need the free flow of air for that. Perhaps they have stock in there, but I doubt it its too low and awkward to keep anything but sheep or goats, and the Hannacks are not sheep farmers. Soldier pointed at Kaff, impressed. If they are in there, theyre having to squat down low, because the ceiling is not more than a metre off the ground. Its a way of demoralising your captives, agreed Velion. Keep them crouched down in the dark. Kaff added, Theyll be cramped. We cant expect them to run if we get them out. That means we cant sneak them out in the dark hours. Well need the use of the horses. Well double up on the horses, agreed Soldier. Youre right. The best way would have been to try to creep down and let them out. That would have been quite risky, however. Hannacks are notoriously deaf, having those small ears, but their eyesight makes up for it. So heres the plan. Full-frontal attack. Hannacks, as you all know, are swift to retaliate to any threat. So we must be quick and clean. Velion nodded. Kaff nodded. All were agreed. The two sets of cavalry were placed appropriately: the righthanders on the right, the left-handers on the left. Velion led her Carthagans, Kaff his Imperial Guardsmen. In the centre of the column was the Jundra detachment, mostly ambidextrous women, who used their swords like scissors. The idea was to sweep down, split the column down the middle and swallow the hut. Get the prisoners out, put them up behind the riders from Jundra, and ride back up the slopes to the high passes. I want the archers up here, ready to cover our retreat, said Soldier. Each archer will stick sixty arrows in the sand in front of them, ready to pluck up and fire at will. Pick off the leaders or their horses, in that way they will fall in front of the riders behind and hamper them. Understood? The bowmen and bow-women nodded their heads, then set up their firing zone on a shelf above the slopes. Simple, said Soldier. Lets go. He gave the command to charge. They flowed down the hillside. Almost immediately a horn sounded from somewhere and Hannacks ran out of the caves, or if already outside, dropped what they were doing. Instead of going for their ponies, as expected, they ran to defend their territory on foot. As the column approached the area, the air suddenly became alive with spears, thrown by the Hannacks. Soldier could see the children in their makeshift swimming pools, watching the action with wide eyes. Hannack women, who did not fight, were gathering precious pots and running for the caves. The horsemen drove into the confused Hannacks, the flanks bristling with swords, the head of the column windmilling blades. There was no way in. Lefthanders, righthanders, both-handers the horsemen were protected on all sides. The invading force surrounded the low hut. Soldier leaped from his saddle, sprang to the door, which he found unlocked. Warning bells jangled in his ears. There was a strong smell of pigs coming from the hut. Indeed the squealing began the moment he opened the door. Hogs rushed out into the sunlight, running between the legs of the horses, causing panic. They tumbled on into the Hannacks, bowling some of them over. These were the lucky ones. Their comrades were being hacked down by the invading cavalry. Soldier saw Kaff reach out with his eagles claw and tear a Hannacks face open to the bone. Velion was laying about her with her sword, cutting down on shoulder and neck. It was not all going one way. Some invaders saddles were already empty, the horses being led away as prizes by