The townsmen on the flank saw what was happening and charged. Some of the pirates rallied, while others kept on running, now heading for their boats. Word must also have reached the townsmen holding the streets. Djoh saw the two pirate bands there wavering, then thrust violently backward on to the waterfront. Townsmen poured out of the streets after them, just as the pirates on the flank broke for once and for all.

The townsmen swept in on the right and left of the pirates, catching them like grain between two millstones. Djoh saw

Iron Claw still in the middle of the pirates, a ring of bodies around him.

Then a churning mass of pirates and townsmen swept over and around him and he vanished from Djoh’s sight.

Djoh wanted to dash into town and rescue his friend, but now the pirates who weren’t taking to their boats were running along the bank, hoping to be picked up. If he left Marthuh alone, some of the fugitives might still spot her and carry her off.

Reluctantly he led Marthuh back into the shelter of the forest. His last sight of the fight was a handful of pirates rallying for a final stand on the town wharf. Archers were already climbing onto the roofs of waterfront buildings, to shoot them down or send a few parting arrows after the pirate boats.

As the boats started passing Djoh, he saw that few of them had all their oars at work. Most carried dead men, and some of the oarsmen were bleeding as they thrashed their way along.

It would be a long time before pirates raided Blue Springs again. It would be even longer before this band of pirates raided anybody at all.

HalfwaV back to the Shrine, Djoh had to stop to rest his leg. It was aching as if he’d been hard at work since before dawn. He took Marthuh in his arms, then tried to mindspeak Iron Claw. He’d almost given up when the answer came, very faintly:

“Little Brother, are you and your mate-to-be well?”

“Yes, cat-brother. I watched you send the bad two-legs running. I was proud.”

A long mental sigh of relief, pain, and weariness. “Little Brother, it is my time to go to Wind. May Sun shine on you, may your kittens be many and strong ...”

A long pause. Djoh was glad he was mindspeaking, because he couldn’t have forced any words past the stone caught in his throat. Then:

“Do not grieve, Little Brother. I had a long time, and the end was—a most glorious fight. I thank you for it. . .

This time the silence in Djoh’s mind went on, until he knew that it would last forever.

He tried to squeeze his eyes shut so that the tears wouldn’t overflow, then gave up and clung to Marthuh as they streamed down his face.

“Djoh, what is it? You’re hurting me.”

“I’m sorry, Marthuh. I’m just glad you’re all right.”

“You won’t be, if we stay here. Maybe now we can take one of these boats.”

“The river won’t be safe until that band’s run all the way back to wherever they came from. Besides, I don’t think we’ll need to leave Blue Springs now.”

“But my father!”

“He’s not going to be able to chase me out of town with his lies anymore. The chief Caterpillar just about told him so. Besides, I’ve learned a lot about fighting today. I’m not afraid of your father anymore.”

He took Marthuh’s arm and started downhill again, toward the town. He wanted to be there when they found Iron Claw’s body. No matter how many questions the people asked, he wasn’t going to let Iron Claw be treated as just another dead animal!

He knew there would be no answer, but he still sent a final thought:

“Goodbye, Nightfriend. You taught me well.”

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

Battle at Kahlkopolis

A Vision of Honor

Rider on a Mountain

Maureen Birnbaum on the Art of War

The Last Time

High Road of the Lost Men

Yelloweye

II

Ill

Ties of Faith

The Courage of Friends

The Swordsman Smada

Sister of Midnight

Nightfriend