black beard and thinning hair and eyes like chips of obsidian.
As the leader of the Wing Riders, his presence was essential.
Tiger Ty was there as a personal courtesy and because Wren
trusted his judgment. They were gathered in a loose circle
under an aging shagbark hickory, nudging at nut shells and
twigs with their boots as they listened to her speak.
“We’ve found them,” she continued, “but that’s not enough.
Now we have to decide what to do about it. I think we all re-
alize what sort of progress they are making. A massive army,
but moving at a decent rate of speed—much quicker than we
had anticipated. Five days, and they have already crossed the
Mermidon and gotten here. Our own army is at least a week
away from where we sit. The Federation is not going to wait
on us. Left alone, they will reach the Rhenn in that week’s
time, and we will be making our first stand in the place where
we had hoped to make our last.”
“The heat might slow them some on these open grasslands,”
Desidio observed.
“A fire would slow them worse,” Rift suggested. He rubbed
at his beard. “Set properly, the wind would carry it right into
them.”
“And right into the Westland forests as well,” Triss finished.
“Or the wind could shift it into us,” Wren shook her head.
‘Too risky, except as a last resort. No, I think we have a better
choice.”
“An engagement,” Desidio declared quietly. “What you
have planned for all along, my lady. What I am forbidden by
order of the general to do.”
Wren smiled and faced him squarely. “I told you there
would come a time when it was necessary for you to hear me
296 The Talismans of Shannara
out. The time is now. Commander. I know what your orders
are. I know what I promised General Oridio. I also know what
I didn’t promise him.”
She shifted her weight and leaned forward. “If we sit here
and do nothing, the Federation will reach the Rhenn before we
do and bottle us up. Arborlon will be finished. There will be
no time for anyone to come to our aid, free-born or otherwise.
We need to slow this army down, to give our own time to
come forward where it can be effective. Orders are orders,
Commander, but in the field events dictate how closely those
orders must be adhered to.”
Desidio said nothing.
“We both promised that the vanguard would not be taken
into battle against the Federation army until General Oridio ar-
rived. Very well, we’ll keep that promise. But nothing binds the
actions of the Home Guard, which I command, or the Wing
Riders, who arc free to act on their own. I think we should con-
sider ways in which they might be used against this enemy.”
“A dozen Wing Riders and a hundred Home Guard? ”
Desidio raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“More than enough for what I think she’s got in mind,” Ti-
ger Ty interjected defensively. “Let’s hear her out.”
Desidio nodded. Erring Rift was rubbing his chin harder,
eyes intent. Triss looked as if they were discussing the weather.
“We are too small to engage the Federation army openly,”
she said, her eyes sweeping their faces. “But we have speed
and quickness and surprise on our side, and these could be val-
uable weapons in a night attack designed to disrupt and con-
fuse. Wing Riders can strike from anywhere, and the Home
Guard are trained to be present without being seen. What if we
were to come at them in the dark, when they do not expect it?
What if we strike at them where they are vulnerable? ”
Triss nodded. “Their wagons and supplies.”
Erring Rift clapped his hands. “Their siege machines!”
“Set fire to them,” Tiger Ty whispered eagerly. “Bum them
to the ground while they sleep!”
“More than that,” Wren interjected quickly, drawing them
back to her. “Confuse them. Frighten them. At night, they can-
not see. Let’s take advantage of that. Do all you’ve suggested,
but make them think there is an entire army out there doing it.
The Talismans of Shannara 197