FOURTEEN. BETRAYAL

Dawn was breaking.

'Form ranks!'

Dennis passed the order as he always did, his voice almost soft, disdainful of the parade ground bellowing typical of too many officers serving in the Kingdom armies. The last of his men came out of the long hall, slinging on their equipment. Tsurani soldiers mingled amongst them, heading to the opposite side of the narrow street to fall into ranks as well, Strike Leader Tasemu, like Dennis, passing the order in a calm even voice.

Tinuva, Gregory by his side, leaned against the open gate, watching the show and it struck him as fascinating how both companies had basically the same rituals, the turn-out before dawn, the evening inspection, even the mannerism of the sergeants, who combined a certain gruffness with some and a touch of fatherly help with others.

The Tsurani snapped to attention as Asayaga came out of the long hall, dressed in full armour and accepted the salute of Tasemu. He then proceeded to walk slowly down the line, pausing to draw a sword from a scabbard to see that it was properly sharpened, stopping to adjust the buckles on a young soldier's armour, opening several backpacks to make sure all the equipment was properly stowed.

Dennis followed the ritual as well, though his men stood at ease, but at his approach they were watchful and respectful. He ordered one man to string his bow, then chewed him out over the fact that the string was not properly waxed and the ends were frayed; another man received a dressing down because his backpack was missing a blanket.

'If we had to pull out now, this minute,' Dennis snapped, 'you'd freeze to death the first night out and I'd forbid any man to share his blanket with you, damn it. Three days cleaning the jakes.'

After Dennis stepped past, Sergeant Barry gave the unfortunate a withering gaze and made a point of nodding towards the privies outside the stockade gate. They had replaced the slit trench Dennis had ordered dug the first day, but the privies needed cleaning whereas the trenches had not.

Inspection finished, Dennis turned to face the Tsurani who were standing less than a dozen feet away. Asayaga finished at nearly the same time and the two officers stood looking at each other, Dennis obviously uncomfortable with the Tsurani's insistence of standing at attention, thus forcing Dennis to do likewise.

'All equipment is in order. All my men are accounted for,' Asayaga announced.

'All accounted for,' Dennis replied, 'save for four on the north pass. Patrol to the eastern gorge reports no sign of the enemy.'

Asayaga nodded his thanks. The Kingdom soldiers had assumed the burden of patrols and watches so the Tsurani might observe their Day of Atonement. Tsurani soldiers would take extra watches and patrols to compensate the Kingdom soldiers over the next few days.

'I have no incidents to report,' Asayaga stated.

'Nor I,' Dennis replied yet again.

There was a moment of awkward silence then Dennis finally turned to look back at his men. 'The Tsurani, as you know, are observing a holy day that will last till sunset. Some of you saw the ritual begin last night. As I understand this ritual we may not speak to them unless they speak to us first. They will fast for the entire day and I ask that we refrain from eating in front of them. We'll stand their watches for them today so they may meditate and pray, and they will make up the difference tomorrow. I don't want to hear any damn comments about anything you see them do. They participated in our midwinter feast and showed proper respect.'

'And drank more than the rest of us,' a wag quipped from the back rank, his comment greeted by a ripple of laughter.

'Well, there will be a feast tonight, after sundown and we are invited. So be respectful and let's keep it peaceful.'

He turned back to Asayaga and the two saluted. The Tsurani broke ranks, stacked their gear inside the long house and then came back out. Several of the warriors saluted as they passed Dennis, their action causing him to respond with a confused nod.

'My men are grateful that you are respecting our Day of Atonement,' Asayaga said. 'When the subject first came up many thought you would refuse.'

'Why?'

'Just because, no reason was needed.'

'That's ridiculous. The request was reasonable.'

'Are you saying I am being ridiculous?'

'Are you saying I am being unreasonable?' Dennis snapped.

The two stalked off down the length of the street, arguing vehemently.

'Must they always seek a reason to argue?' Tinuva whispered, looking over at Gregory.

'You know Dennis, we've fought alongside him long enough. Besides, I think they almost like it.'

Tinuva nodded, turning away from the disagreement in the middle of the narrow street to watch as the Tsurani filed out of the gate of the stockade and formed up to face the eastern horizon.

The sun had yet to break over the mountains to the east, but the tops of the mountains to the north and west were already aglow, bathed in a radiant pink that glimmered off the snow capped heights.

Overhead the clouds shone in the reflected light of dawn, shifting rapidly in color, changing to a brilliant gold and at last the sun broke the horizon, casting long shadows across the snow covered valley.

Asayaga, who had finally come out to join his men, removed his helmet, placed it at his feet, then knelt down on the slushy ground, bowing low until his forehead touched the earth. Then he began a sing-song chant.

More than one Kingdom soldier, out of curiosity, stood by the open gate, watching.

For several minutes the Tsurani continued their chant, occasionally rising, then kneeling back down. Two of the men, standing behind the line, had lit a small brazier and the sweet scent of incense drifted on the wind as they brought it before the group and set it down.

From across the field to the north the last of the Tsurani guards returned from their watch atop the pass and hurried to fall in with the group, removing their helmets and quickly bowing before joining in with the prayers.

'Who's replaced the watch up there?' Tinuva asked, looking over at Dennis who had come up to his side to watch the ritual.

'I've sent up young Richard and Hanson this morning to join Luthar and Corporal Bewin.'

Tinuva nodded. 'Richard?'

'It's about time the boy did his share of duties around here,' Dennis said, his tone indicating that there was nothing more to be said about the lad.

'Shouldn't be too bad up there today,' Gregory interjected.

'Another few days of warmth and we might have problems. I want a forward patrol over the pass to check things out once this Tsurani holy day is finished.'

'We already reckoned on that,' Gregory said.

Tinuva looked around at the Kingdom soldiers who had gathered at the gate. 'Where's Corwin?' he asked.

'I don't know,' Dennis replied. 'Off meditating or getting herbs I guess. Why?'

'Just he's been gone a lot this last week.'

Dennis looked back at the group. 'Next time he heads out, trail him.'

The chanting began again.

'Just what the hell are they wailing about?' Dennis asked.

Tinuva cocked his head and listened. What little command he had of the language of the Tsurani had improved tremendously in the last few weeks. Like nearly all of his race, his sense of hearing was far more acute to the finer nuances of sounds, the subtleties of pronunciation, combined as usual with a near-perfect recall.

He nodded slowly, deeply moved by what was being said, and began to whisper a translation:

'Hear, O Hilio,'

'Hear, O Judge of the Living, for we call out to thy distant dwelling places,'

'Lost in the wilderness we call to thee,'

'Standing at the threshold of eternity, before the gods of all, we bow our heads in submission,'