‘Bowman, we must talk,’ he said.
‘Go ahead. First, let me introduce Caessa. Caessa, my dear, this is Gan Hogun of the Legion.’ He turned and nodded once in her direction.
‘Do you mind if we talk alone?’ he asked Bowman. Caessa’s green eyes blazed with anger but she kept silent and stood, desperate for a parting remark that would sting the man.
‘I will see you later,’ said Bowman, as she opened her mouth. ‘Get yourself some food now.’ As she turned on her heel and left the room, Bowman watched her, delighting in the feline grace of her walk.
‘You’ve upset her,’ he said.
‘Me? I didn’t even speak to her,’ said Hogun, removing his black and silver helm and placing it on the table. ‘Anyway, that’s immaterial. I want you to speak to your men.’
‘What about?’
‘They spend a lot of their time loafing around and jeering at the soldiers as they train. It’s not good for morale.’
‘Why shouldn’t they? They are civilian volunteers. It will all stop when the fighting starts.’
‘The point is, Bowman, that the fighting may start before the Nadir arrive. I have just stopped one of my men from gutting that black-beared giant, Jorak. Much more of this and we will have murder on our hands.’
‘I’ll talk to them,’ said Bowman. ‘Calm yourself and have a drink. What did you think of my lady archer?’
‘I really didn’t look too closely. She seemed pretty.’
‘I think it must be true what they say about the cavalry,’ said Bowman. ‘You are all in love with your horses! Great gods, man, she’s more than merely pretty!’
‘Talk to your men now. I will feel a lot better then. Tensions are rising pretty badly and the Nadir are only two days away.’
‘I said I would. Now, have a drink and relax. You’re getting as edgy as your men and that can’t be good for morale.’
Hogun grinned suddenly. ‘You’re right. It’s always like this before a fight. Druss is like a bear with a sore head.’
‘I hear you lost the Open Swords to the fat one,’ said Bowman, grinning. ‘Tut, tut, old horse! This is no time to be currying favour with the hierarchy.’
‘I didn’t let him win, he’s a fine swordsman. Don’t judge him too harshly, my friend; he may yet surprise you. He certainly surprised me. What did you mean when you said I upset the girl?’
Bowman smiled, then laughed loudly. He shook his head and poured another glass of wine.
‘My dear Hogun, when a woman is beautiful she comes to expect a certain . . . how shall I say? . . . a certain reverence from men. You should have had the good grace to be thunderstruck by her beauty. Stunned into silence, or better still into a babbling fool. Then she would have merely ignored you and answered your devotion with arrogant disdain. Now you have slighted her and she will hate you. Worse than this, she will do all in her power to win your heart.’
‘I don’t think that makes a great deal of sense. Why should she try to win my heart if she hates me?’
‘So that she can be in a position to treat you with disdain. Do you know nothing about women?’
‘I know enough,’ said Hogun. ‘I also know that I don’t have time for this foolishness. Should I apologise to her, do you think?’
‘And let her know you know how slighted she was? My dear boy, your education has been sadly lacking!’
18
Druss welcomed the arrival of the Dros Purdol riders – not so much for their numbers, more for the fact that their arrival proved that the Dros had not been forgotten by the outside world.
Yet still, Druss knew, the defenders would be badly stretched. The first battle on Eldibar, Wall One, would either raise the men – or destroy them. The Delnoch fighting edge was sharp enough, but spirit was a different thing. You could fashion the finest steel into a sword blade of passing excellence, but occasionally the move from fire to water would cause it to crack where blades of lesser metal survived. An army was like that, Druss knew. He had seen highly trained men panic and run, and farmers stand their ground, armed with picks and hoes.