Free Rise and Fall by Joshua P. Simon

get ahead of his company.”
    “Many in your position would,” said Cassus. “But you won’t.”
    The commander paused, breaking his stare with Cassus. “No. I won’t. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t given it thought.”
    “Of course you gave it thought.”
    “What is that supposed to mean?”
    “It means you always consider every scenario. But in the end, your decision tends to be the right one.”
    Jonrell considered his friend’s words, thoughts drifting back to a time in their youth. “Twelve years ago, Cassus. Did I make the right decision then?”
    Cassus frowned. “I…I don’t know.” He paused. “But I know you’re making the right one now by going back home.” He bit his lip. “I just hope that when the time comes, I make the right decision as well.”
    Jonrell opened his mouth, wanting to ask what he meant but couldn’t find the words in time. An arrow struck the ground no more than two feet from him, shaft vibrating to and fro. Red fletching told him the arrow belonged to one of his men. He looked up and spotted the archer waving from a nearby hill. He waved back and the archer let fly two more arrows. One landed near a group of men stationed around wagons on the eastern side of the valley. The second struck near a group of archers stationed on Jonrell’s hill, just below his position. In both cases men jumped, nearly falling over as the shaft struck within a hair’s length of them. The archer waved again before ducking out of sight.
    “Yanasi sure is getting bold, showing off like that.”
    Cassus grunted. “Bold as long as she has a bow in her hand, without it she’s still as shy as ever and will barely meet your eyes.”
    “I wish I knew why.”
    “You can’t be serious, Jonrell. As much as you notice everything else in this group, it seems you’d realize she wants your approval and can’t stand to let you down. Why else do you think she is so obsessive about that bow? She wants to be the best—probably for your sake more than her own.”
    Jonrell shook his head. “She knows how I feel.”
    “I don’t think she…” started Cassus.
    “Melchizan’s earlier than I thought he would be,” cut in Jonrell. Now isn’t the time for this, Cassus. “He isn’t known as an early riser.”
    Cassus let it drop. “Well, you always found a way to get him up before. Why should that change now?”
    At the base of the hill, men positioned behind wagons waited for the enemy to appear, staring into the dawn. The archers on the ridges stood in orderly ranks, waiting for the command to fire. Jonrell felt the tension rising from his men.
    “C’mon, we need to get ready ourselves.”
    * * *
    The sound of pounding hooves reached Jonrell’s ears as Melchizan’s men entered the mouth of the valley. The ground near the western entrance did little to reveal the treacherous slope that followed deeper after a small bend in the path. Jonrell suspected Melchizan would ignore the glaring sun and push on over the rough terrain, bent on reclaiming his slaves. Still, to encourage the poor decision from his former employer, Jonrell sent many of the Byzernians to fill in holes and clear away stone near the entrance of the gorge during the night before.
    Byzernians moved about on the opposite side of the valley, acting as if caught unaware by the sight of Melchizan rounding the turn on the other end. Some of the former slaves even fled and Jonrell saw Melchizan shout back orders to his men, signaling a charge and spurring his horse forward.
    Jonrell chuckled to himself as the plump man took the bait, nearly falling from his saddle at the sudden increase in speed. His men poured ahead of their would-be lord, impatient to wait for their leader to regain his seat. The wave of cavalry advanced, seeing what they wanted to see, easy prey fleeing on foot, a chance to seek retribution.
    But no sooner did the charge seem to come together, than it fell apart. Camouflaged holes snapped horses’ legs from the