While the two troopers were getting the bound and unconscious bulk of the Kooreeos lashed behind his saddle, Klairuhnz listened in on Djeen’s comments and found himself in heartfelt agreement.
Myros, tied facedown behind Komees Djeen’s saddle, had recovered his breath as well as his supercilious manner. “Listen to me, Komees Djeen. Despite the crimes to which you were a party upstairs, if you and the others will surrender to me now, I give you my word that you’ll have an impartial hearing and a quick, painless death.”
Djeen snorted scornfully. “Your word, Myros? Your word pledged your loyalty to Bili and his father, when you were confirmed to your title and lands. Today has proven your precious word to not be worth a scant measure of turkey dung!”
“The House of Morguhn,” snarled Myros, “is and has always been usurping squatters, old man! My ancestors held this land when yours were scratching fleas on the Sea of Grass! The very first King of Karaleenos …”
“The very last King of Karaleenos,” the one-eyed Komees coldly interrupted, “is generations dead! You are a rebel, a traitor, a liar, a murderer, and, I doubt me not, much more and worse besides. In the Middle Kingdoms, such a one as you would be slowly whipped to death or impaled. When your mind runs to quick, painless deaths, you had best pray your obscene god for one. For do not forget, you forsworn pig, Bill’s upbringing was in the Middle Kingdoms!”
“Ha!” exclaimed Myros. “Dream on, dream on. You barbarians will never leave my city alive! You . . . gaaaagh!”
He broke off in a strangled scream, as the Komees sunk the needle point of his hook deep into the prisoner’s thigh. As he jerked out the brass hook, he grimly admonished, “Another word out of you, overassumptive degenerate, and I’ll jam my hook up your arse, and don’t think I won’t!”
But it began to appear that Myros might have been correct, for a growing rabble of Morguhnpolisee were beginning to mill about the foot of the formal garden which fronted the city palace. Few were armed at all and most of those ill armed, though more than a few pikepoints glittered above them. However, there were already several hundred there being harangued by priests, and the side streets and alleys were debouching more.
Slapping down his half visor, Bili uncased his axe, wishing for the umpteenth time that it was reliable Mahvros he bestrode, rather than this green, less than intelligent gelding. The others ranged out on his flanks, most now bearing one of the twelve-foot pikes, as well as the swords and light axes they had brought into the city.
Djehf hefted the heavy shaft, eyeing the wicked, two-foot blade. “I’ve never before used one of these for a lance, Lord Brother, and it’s not really weighted properly for that purpose, but,” he chuckled, “I trow I’ll spit me a few fat Ehleenoee ganders on it!”
Bili nodded shortly. “Aye, we must make do with the weapons to hand. Be sure that you ride well clear of me, youngster. I’d hate to axe you in error.”
Djehf laughed merrily. “Never you fear, Lord Brother, I’ve ridden the battle line with axemen, ere this. Besides, I’ve an odd aversion to being axed-in error or other-wise.”
Toeing his gelding forward of the line, Bili reined him about and visually inspected his minuscule force. Klairuhnz, having had second thoughts, had transferred Kooreeos Skiros’s limp body to the withers, where he could more easily keep an eye on him. As Bili watched, the Bard drew the saber that had served so well at the bridge fight and the sunlight flashed along its polished blade. Master Ahlee, like Djehf, bore a pike, as did all the others save for Komees Djeen. His troopers had helped him replace his hook with another, larger one with a cleaverlike blade welded to its flat side, while his one hand held his military broadsword. Most of the baggage had been unceremoniously dumped, that Feelos Pooleeos -wearing a too small cuirass and an infantry helm- might be mounted on the sumpter mule.
The Thoheeks’s oldest son addressed them soberly. “We must strive to remain together, but any man who is separated must fight free as best he can. Against so many, all must depend upon shock and speed. If we halt for any reason, we are lost. We…”