The Disciple was, simply, proclaiming his return. He wanted the world to know that he was in command again, that he was El Murid once more, that the hiatus of will had ended.
The word spread across the Second Empire like ripples across a pond. An upswing of morale accompanied it. Countless believers reaffirmed their faith.
The era of stagnation ended. The movement took on new life. The gloom of the future vanished like a fog burned off by a hot, young sun.
Nevertheless, the Disciple could not expunge the gloom of the past from his own heart. His losses were a soul-burden he could not shed.
Chapter Seventeen:
THE GUERRILLAS
Between them, Ragnarson and bin Yousif recruited seven thousand men in three years. The enemy no longer came to the Kapenrungs hunting them. They were all hardened veterans with nothing to lose.
Haroun directed field operations throughout the Lesser Kingdoms, through a score of sub-commanders. Many were men he had never met, men who had allied themselves with him because of his guerrilla successes. He had learned the lessons of Nassef's campaign in Hammad al Nakir. Now, in the Lesser Kingdoms, the nights were his. He had begun to believe that he was at least the ghost of a king.
He selected the targets and chose the men who would attack them. He ran the spies and assassins who were making the enemy miserable. When a big operation came up he took the field himself.
His partner, Ragnarson, trained recruits.
Ragnarson was not happy. He had seen no real action in two years. The world had forgotten that he and his Guildsmen existed. He worked his tail off to make stubborn fighters of the hungry, ragged, dispirited leavings of lost battles, then Haroun sent them off to skulk in the woods like bandits.
"I just don't feel useful anymore," he complained. "My men don't feel useful. None of us have wielded a sharpened sword in so long that we've forgotten how."
"Uhm," his brother grunted. "Nor sheathed a sword of flesh in its proper place." Women were scarcer than gold in the mountains. The occasional wild hill woman stopped by and made sure gold and silver did not accumulate.
"We're not ready for heads-up fighting," Haroun insisted, as he had been doing since they had come to the mountains. "You keep looking at it like we should fight in one big mass. We may someday. If the war goes on long enough. But not yet, damnit! It'd be our last battle if we did."
"This hiding in the bushes and stabbing guys in the back is getting to me, especially since I don't get to do even that. It's not getting us anywhere. Ten years from now we're still going to be hiding in the same bushes."
"It worked for Nassef and it'll work for us. You just have to be patient."
"Bragi was born impatient," Haaken said. "Mother told me he was a month premature."
"I can see that. Well, I've been thinking about the problem. You may see action sooner than you want, my friend."
Ragnarson perked up. "How so?" His brother and Kildragon looked interested too. Beloul and el Senoussi continued to look bored.
"I got us together because I've had some news from Al Rhemish. Seems El Murid had a visit from his angel."
Ragnarson shuddered. He became uneasy whenever facing the notion that there might be something to El Murid's religious claptrap. "How does that do us any good?"
"It doesn't. My spy says that Disciple came out of seclusion spitting fire. He's ready to go again. He's going to recall Hali and replace him with el Nadim-and the eastern army."
"Sounds grim."
"Worse than grim. It'll mean the whole war. Some of us like to think the tide's turned. But we're deluding ourselves. My friend the Itaskian Minister is scared silly. Greyfells hasn't broken the Host. He's just squandered lives and wealth. Itaskia's allies are muttering about a separate peace. Any big setback will knock everything apart. And Itaskia can't go it alone."
Ragnarson frowned and shook his head. "We supposedly had them when we finished Nassef and Karim. It was a sure thing after el-Kader fell." He looked at Haroun sourly. "Now we have friends Mowaffak Hali and el Nadim and... "
"I'll eliminate them."
"Exactly what I thought you'd say. And then what?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that this's one of those dragons that grows heads as fast as you chop them off. You're going to tell me that we'll have them by the shorthairs if we get rid of Hali and el Nadim. And I'm telling you that's a load of horse manure. There'll be another one step in just like el-Kader and Hali and el Nadim."
"You overestimate them. They weren't that good. They were lucky, and their opponents were that bad."
"And Nassef picked them all. Except Hali. Who are you kidding, Haroun? You know your own people and you know the west. The Host has always been outclassed in weapons and training, and a lot of times outnumbered. They've had more than luck going for them. The only guy who can handle them is Hawkwind, and nobody'll give him enough men to do any good."
Haroun shrugged. "Maybe you're right. Still... Here's why I want to talk to you. I'm leaving you in charge here. I'm sending Mocker after el Nadim. Shadek, Beloul, and I are going to be away on personal business."
"Eh?"
"Beloul and Shadek have been nurturing a scheme. I can't tell you more right now. Except not to believe everything you hear the next couple of months."
"What am I supposed to do here? Sit and twiddle my thumbs all winter?"
"My spy system needs running. The raids have to be directed. Somebody has to take charge. Don't worry about it. I have faith in you. You'll manage."
Haroun looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "Just ignore any strange stories you hear about me, Beloul and Shadek."
The would-be king drifted away in his mind to happier times to come. He had to sometimes. He had to remind himself that these grim todays would be worth the pain and deprivation. He had found little happiness in this struggle.
He vanished one winter night, taking with him Beloul, el Senoussi and a dozen of his toughest supporters. He left behind less than a ghost of an idea of his plans.
That was his way. Like his onetime archfoe Nassef, he could not share his thoughts. Ragnarson said he would have fought his war alone had it been possible.
Mocker departed later that same week, leading a mangy-looking donkey loaded with rididulous impedimenta. For six months, through the length and breadth of the Lesser Kingdoms, Haroun's men had been risking their lives to accumulate that collection of junk.
"That's one guy I'm not sorry to see go," Kildragon observed. "I'd have killed him myself if it wasn't for Haroun protecting him. He can't do anything without cheating or stealing."
"He has his uses." Ragnarson rather liked the fat man, who could be entertaining. A man just had to have sense enough not to trust him.
"What're we going to do?" Kildragon asked. "I mean, we've got the whole thing to ourselves. We can try it our way now."
"Sit tight. Wait."
"You mean keep doing it his way?"
"For now. Because he's right. We'll just get ourselves killed doing it any other way."
"Well damn! Are we Guildsmen or are we bandits?"
"A little of both. I don't recall any Guild rule that says we have to do things thus and so, Reskird. Remember your first mission?"
"Stay alive. All right."
For two months Ragnarson let Haroun's organization, of which his Guild-oriented infantry made up a lesser part, roll along on its own impetus. Various warbands made desultory raids on remote outposts and terrorized natives who favored El Murid. Taking Haroun at his word, Bragi tried to ignore rumors that bin Yousif and Beloul had been slain.
The stories were dreadful. Some said el Senoussi had turned on his king, that he had made a deal with El Murid's son, Sidi.
"It's getting hard to keep those guys interested," Kildragon said of the Royalists. "They're ready to fall apart. You think el Senoussi really was playing a double game?"
"Nothing political surprises me anymore. But I never figured Shadek for sma
rts enough to work something that complicated."
"How do we make the troops believe?"
"We don't try. El Murid and Sidi have spies too. We want them to believe they're dead."
Haaken ducked into his brother's headquarters. "Hali's on the move, Bragi. Messenger says he got wind of the rumors about Haroun and decided to head home early. He figures it's some kind of trick."
"Damn! But he is the Disciple's moral and political enforcer, isn't he? Got anything more? Like what route he's taking?"
"No. You're not thinking of trying to stop him?"
"Damned right I am. It's just what we need. Get our old bones loosened up."
"But... "
"This is what we've been waiting for. Don't you see? It's a chance to do something."
"If you're going to do anything you'd better move fast. This messenger only had a couple of days head start. Hali doesn't piddle around when he decides to go somewhere."
"Get the maps. Let's find the fastest roads to Hammad al Nakir. Reskird, go tell our people to get ready. Rations for two weeks, but otherwise we're travelling light."
Haaken spread the maps. Bragi considered them. "I only see three roads that look worth worrying about. We can get to these two ahead of him, but it'll be a footrace."
"Send Haroun's boys to that farthest one. They're used to long, hard rides."
"They might refuse."
"Take a chance. You're supposed to be in charge."
"Who should lead them? Who do you trust?"
"I'd say Metillah Amin."
"All right. Tell him to move out today. We'll start tomorrow."
"It's going to snow tonight."
"Can't help that. I'm going to have Reskird take care of this eastern road. You and me will take the middle one."
"That's a lot of walking. Let me have the east road."
"Nope." Bragi grinned.
All day, along the way, the locals came out to watch. The Guildsmen bowed their heads and slogged on. None of the watchers spoke. Very few smiled. The occasional snowball flew from a youthful hand.
"Haaken, Reskird, we'd better be nice to these folks."
"Aren't exactly friendly, are they?" Kildragon asked. "Guess you could say they're not on our side."
"Guess you could say."
A light snow began falling as they parted with Kildragon and his three hundred men. By noon next day Bragi and his three hundred were fighting a blizzard.
"Just like home," Haaken growled.
"It's a part of home I don't miss," Bragi replied. "I've never seen it this heavy in these parts."
"Nobody else has either. So naturally we've got to be out in the middle of it. We're crazy. You know that?"
"We should be there pretty soon."
"And then what? Sit and freeze our butts off till we find out that this Hali had an attack of smarts and holed up by a fire somewhere?"
"Nice to see you in a good mood, Haaken."
"Good mood?"
"I can always tell. You talk more. And it's all bitchcraft."
They would have missed their road had it not been for the town and a soldier who knew it. "That's Arno yonder, Captain," he said. "Right where we want to be."
"Here's where we make ourselves unpopular," Bragi said. And they did, by forcing the townspeople to quarter them while they waited. Nearly a thousand people lived in Arno, and none of them welcomed the Guildsmen. It was not a good feeling.
Bragi paid what he could, and made his men meet Guild behavior standards. It did little good.
Four days passed. The townspeople grew increasingly resentful. Like common folk everywhere, they just wanted to be left alone.
"Riders coming," a chilled and winded scout reported the fifth afternoon. "Four or five hundred. Look like Invincibles."
Haaken glared at his brother.
"Another fine mess I've gotten us into, eh?" Bragi asked. "Pass the word. And tell the civilians to get into their cellars."
Arno had no walls. What a place to die, Bragi thought as he hurried toward the church. Its belfry commanded a good view of the countryside.
The afternoon sun blazed off fields of snow. He squinted. The Invincibles were hard to see. They blended with the background. They were walking, leading their animals.
He spied one man clad all in black. Curious. Black was not popular with El Murid's followers.
"How am I going to work this?" he wondered aloud. "They're not going to let us pull another Alperin."
A horseman forged ahead. Bragi galloped downstairs. "Haaken! They're sending a guy to scout. Have a couple men make like townspeople. Tell him everything's wonderful."
Haaken waved acknowledgement from the loft of the town inn. A few minutes later two men stepped into the road.
By then Ragnarson was back in the belfry and wondering if he should avoid a fight. He had a hollow sensation. Something was wrong. This one did not feel like a winner.
The north wind picked up. He shivered. This winter was getting bad. People in these parts did not know how to handle the cold and deep snow. Most of his men did not.
He could not picture them surviving a long retreat. Not harried by an enemy and burdened by wounded. "But Hali won't be used to it either," he reminded himself. "It'll be harder on his men."
The fighting would be savage. Refuge from the weather would be the prize. The loser would be out in the cold literally.
He watched as several Invincibles gathered around the returned scout. The man in black joined them, gesturing emphatically.
The meeting broke up. Invincibles readied weapons and spread out for an advance upon the town.
"So much for that idea," Bragi growled. He plunged back downstairs. "They're coming in ready, Haaken," he shouted. He glanced up and down the road, at windows where his men waited with ready bows. "Damned weather. Maybe he'd have gone around."
Back up the tower he went, puffing and snorting. "This has got to stop," he gasped.
The Invincibles reached the first houses. They were careful. Each carried a bow or crossbow. "Maybe I should get out after dark," Bragi muttered.
It began. And it looked bad from the beginning. The Invincibles were cautious, determined and as systematic as their commander. They cleared the buildings one by one.
Hali did not try to obliterate anyone, just to get hold of warm quarters. He did not surround the town. His men did not prevent Bragi's from fleeing a building they could not hold.
A third of Arno belonged to Hali when Haaken clumped into the belfry. "Looks like we lose this one."
"Don't it?"
"We've got a problem."
"Besides looking at a cold night, what?"
"They're using sorcery."
"I haven't seen any... They wouldn't. They're El Murid's men."
"Yeah? Go remind them. The one in black turns up anywhere we're doing okay."
"Hmm. Well. Get the wounded ready. We'll get out after dark."
Haaken thudded back downstairs. Bragi looked into the road. Several Invincibles were in easy range. He let fly. His arrows stalled their advance.
The man in black appeared. Bragi sped a shaft that missed.
The man turned slowly. His gaze climbed the church tower. His left hand rose, one finger pointing. A bluish nimbus surrounded him.
A monster voice bellowed in the belfry. Flat on the floor, Bragi clapped his hands to his ears. It did no good.
The sound went away.
A quarter inch layer of blue haze masked everything in line of sight of the man in black. Sorcery! Bragi thought,Haaken, I'm convinced!
The haze faded. He examined the wood underneath. It had turned an odd grey color. It flaked when he touched it.
He examined his bow. It looked sound. He peeped outside. The wizard faced the inn, his arm extended again.
"You sonofabitch, you asked for it."
His bow creaked at its moment of greatest tension. His arrow did not fly true. It smashed through the man's elbow.
"Well, damn my ey
es! I never seen such whining and carrying on."
Several Invincibles hustled the wizard into a captured house. His departure did not alter the outcome. The explusion of Guildsmen continued.
Bragi nearly waited too long. He had to fight his way out of the church. Haaken's only comment was, "We've got to quit fooling around here, Bragi. We're going to have too many people hurt to get them all back to camp."
"Scavenge all the warm clothes and blankets you can. And tools so we can build shelters. Find some harness animals and carts... "
"I took care of it already."
"You're not supposed to plunder... "
Haaken shrugged. "I'll worry about it when they court-martial me. What's the difference? These people will hate us no matter what. Which you already thought about or you wouldn't have told me to clean them out."
"I got that wizard."
"Shagh–n."
"What?"
"Shagh–n. That's what they call a soldier-wizard."
"Like Haroun is supposed to be? What's he doing here? With Hali, of all people?"
Haaken shrugged.
"He's going to be damned mad. Who's in good shape? We've got to let Reskird and Amin know what's going on."
"I sent Chotty and Uthe Haas right after Hali showed."
"You're getting too damned efficient."
A soldier approached them. "Captain, they're moving into this block."
Ragnarson withdrew as the sun set. The Guildsmen marched dispiritedly, sullenly, weakly. The cold was gnawing their wills. Bragi had to remind them that theywere Guildsmen.
Several of the wounded died during the night. The company paused to bury them next morning. A messenger from Metillah Amin overtook them while they were chopping graves in the icy earth.
Amin had heard the Hali was on the middle road. The messenger bore a belated warning and the news that Amin was on his way to help.
"We're back in business," Bragi announced. "Haaken, take some men to those woods over there and start building shelters."
"You're not serious." Haaken wore a look of disbelief. "You are serious."
"Damned right I am. And get some fires going first thing."
Haaken grumbled away with the men. Their disenchantment was unanimous. For a moment Bragi feared he faced a mutiny.