‘I would expect so, captain. What is your plan?’
‘Have you ridden this pass?’
‘Not in seventy years.’
‘What do you make of the Vagar?’
‘He is untried and his men are wary of him. There is too much of the woman showing in him.’
‘His sexuality is immaterial to me.’
‘And to me,’ said Goray equably. ‘But that is not what I meant. I am talking about perceptions. Not what it is – but what shows. His men are afraid. In war soldiers look to their leaders as wells of courage or inspiration. They drink from those wells. I fear that, for many of his soldiers, he is a figure of fun, someone to mock. This worries me.’
‘I accept that,’ said Talaban. ‘But I asked what you made of him.’
‘He needs a victory, something to give him confidence in himself – and to inspire his men.’
Talaban rode back to the column where he called Pendar aside. ‘Touchstone believes there is a force waiting for us in the pass. Is there another way forward?’
Pendar was silent for a moment. ‘We could swing north, but that would bring us in close to Morak, Ammon’s capital. It would also add three days to our journey both ways. And, since we are carrying supplies for only ten days, it would limit our opportunities to harass the Almecs. Can we not fight them here?’
Talaban ignored the question and stepped down from the saddle, gesturing Pendar to follow him. Moving to an area of bare, dry earth he knelt down. ‘Sketch me the pass,’ he said. He watched as Pendar drew his dagger and began to cut a series of lines.
‘Once into the mouth of the pass it bends to the right and then undulates. The walls are sheer for the first four hundred yards. After that the pass narrows for a way – perhaps another five hundred yards. There have been many rock falls, and there are hundreds of hiding places among the boulders. After that it becomes sheer again.’
‘So the main site for an ambush would be around a quarter of a mile into the pass?’
‘I would say so, but I am no soldier.’
‘You are now. Get used to it.’ Pendar reddened, but before he could answer Talaban spoke again. ‘Touchstone believes we are being observed. At what point does the pass bend to the right?’
Pendar pressed his dagger into the earth. ‘Here. Is it significant?’
‘If we are being watched it is from high on the cliff. Have you ever been up there?’
‘On the left side only. You can walk to the top. There is a narrow series of paths and ledges. The right is sheer.’
‘Then the watcher is on the left. He will lose sight of us as we enter the pass.’ Talaban took a deep breath. ‘Let’s move!’
Stepping into the saddle he raised his arm and the column moved forward, across the open empty land. Touchstone rode back. ‘I see him. He crouches behind big stone. High on left.’
‘How high?’
Three hundred feet.’
The walls of the pass reared up before them, pale red sandstone sculpted by thousands of years of wind and rain and running water. Deep vertical lines were scored into the towering walls as if chiselled there by a master hand. Talaban halted the column. Dismounting he gazed at the rock wall to his left. It was sheer, but there were no overhangs and he could see a shelf of rock some 60 feet above him. Calling his Avatars to him he outlined a plan and asked for ten volunteers. Every man raised his hand. Talaban chose the slimmest and smallest of the men, then summoned Pendar.
‘We are going to climb the cliffs and move out above and behind the enemy. If there are a hundred or less we will shoot down into them. Once we begin shooting it is vital you lead a charge into the pass immediately. For there will be no cover for us, and their fire-clubs will cut us to pieces. You understand?’
Pendar nodded. ‘But surely any one of the Almecs could look up and see you?’
‘Touchstone will ride out and appear to be scouting the pass. Their eyes will be upon him.’