Kopporu allowed Yaua to vent her indignation. As yet, the color of the remaining battle leaders showed not a trace of blue. But Kopporu was certain that the sentiments being expressed by Yaua were shared, to one extent or another, by all of them. The sentiments would have to be addressed, before further action could be taken.
“We cannot throw ourselves into the center,” explained Kopporu patiently. “We would simply compound the chaos. No, worsen it—for the Utuku who are now licking the wounds we gave them would quickly follow. The trap would be complete.”
“Your plan will produce the same result,” pointed out Gortoku, one of the young battle leaders. “Even more quickly and completely.”
“True,” responded Kopporu immediately. “But we will not be in the trap.”
She rose to her peds. “Understand. Understand. The Utuku victory is inevitable. We can do nothing to prevent it. One question remains, and one only—will all the Kiktu perish in the trap?”
“Treason!” bellowed Yaua. “Treason!”
Kopporu allowed blue rage to flood her own mantle.
“Yes, treason—by those fools who led our people to this disaster. Fools like you.”
She paused, quickly scanning the other battle leaders. Five, she thought. Five out of seven. Better than she had expected.
“The penalty for treason is death!” roared Yaua.
“So it is,” replied Kopporu. Her mantle flashed black.
Instantly, two of Aktako’s warriors slammed the prongs of their forks into the mantle of Yaua. A moment later, the old battle leader was flopped onto her side. Aktako herself delivered the death stroke.
“That one also,” commanded Kopporu, pointing at the battle leader Doroto. The murderous scene was repeated.
The five surviving battle leaders were shocked into immobility. Hardened warriors that they were, the utter ruthlessness of Kopporu’s actions had stunned them scarlet with terror.
Kopporu noted with satisfaction that Gortoku was the first to bring her emotions under control. She had long thought the young gukuy was the best of the new battle leaders.
Her satisfaction deepened to pleasure at Gortoku’s next words.
“Why not me?” asked Gortoku. Truly, a valiant youth.
“Have I ever punished a warrior for questioning me?” demanded Kopporu. “Even once?”
The red was rapidly fading from the mantles of all five battle leaders. Gortoku’s was now pure gray.
The five young leaders looked at each other. Almost as one, their arms curled into the gesture of negation.
“No. Nor will I ever in the future. I am neither all-wise nor all-seeing. A battle leader who does not listen to the opinions of her subordinates is a fool.”
The black in her mantle was still as hard as obsidian.
“But we do not have time for a long and leisurely discussion. There is only this much that remains to be said. I do not know what the future will bring us. It is a desperate course we take. But until we find our way to some place of safety, I will rule what remains of our tribe with a palp of bronze. You may always question my decisions. But once I have given a command, it must be instantly obeyed. To do otherwise is treason.”
She did not feel it necessary to point to the gutted corpses of Yaua and Doroto.
“The penalty for which is known.”
Again, she noted, it was Gortoku who took the initiative.
“What are your commands?”
“Ropou will lead her group in a charge at the Utuku. But before reaching their ranks, she will call a retreat.”
She looked at the battle leader.
“Do you understand?”
Ropou made the gesture of affirmation.
“The Utuku will think we are trying to trick them into another ambush.” The young battle leaders whistled agreement. Three times that day, Kopporu had mangled overeager detachments of the Utuku by using that very tactic. Eventually, the Utuku had refused to be drawn into a charge.
“Under cover of Ropou’s maneuver, the remaining battle groups will retreat into the swamp. Ufta’s group will go first, taking the gana with them.”
“The gana will panic,” complained Ufta. “They will not enter the swamp.”
Kopporu stared at her. She had almost ordered the execution of Ufta as well. Perhaps she should have.
Something of her thoughts must have shown, for Ufta suddenly announced that she would see to the task. At once.
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