‘Now I understand,’ said Decado. ‘You saw us as White Templars marching against evil, cheered by the crowds: a small band of heroes in silver armour and white cloaks. Well, it could never be like that, Abaddon. Evil lives in a pit. If you want to fight it – you must climb down in the slime to do so. White cloaks show the dirt more than black, and silver tarnishes. Now leave me and commune with your God – He has more answers than I.’
‘Will you pray for me, Decado?’ pleaded the Abbot.
‘Why should the Source listen to me if he does not want to listen to you? Pray for yourself, man!’
‘Please! Do this for me.’
‘All right. But go and rest now.’
Decado watched the old man move away into the darkness. Then he lay back and gazed up at the lightening sky.
11
As the dawn sun rose in blood, Tenaka Khan stood on the high ground overlooking the plain. With him were one hundred men armed with bows, swords and axes. Only about thirty of them had shields, and these warriors Tenaka placed in the open ground facing the dip into the plain. Mountains towered on either side of the small force, while behind them the Demon’s Smile widened on both sides, becoming wood-covered hills.
The men were becoming restless now and Tenaka had no words for them. They moved warily around the Nadir warrior, casting suspicious glances at him; they would fight alongside him, but only because Rayvan had asked it of them.
Tenaka raised a hand to shield his eyes and saw that the Legion were moving. He could make out the sunlight glittering on their spear-points and flashing from their polished breastplates.
After the Dragon, the Legion were the finest fighting men among the Drenai. Tenaka drew his sword and tested the edge with his thumb. Taking a small whetstone, he honed the blade once more.
Galand moved alongside him. ‘Good luck, general!’ he said.
Tenaka grinned and cast his eyes over his small force. Their faces were set, determined; there was no give in them. For countless centuries men like these had held the Drenai empire together, turning back the greatest armies in the world: the hordes of Ulric, the Immortals of Gorben and the ferocious raiders from Vagria in the Chaos Wars.
Now they stood again to face impossible odds.
The rolling thunder of hooves on the dry plain floated into the mountains, echoing like the drums of doom. To the left of the men with shields Ray-van’s son, Lucas, notched an arrow to his bow. Swallowing hard, he wiped a sleeve across his brow; he was sweating heavily – strange how so much moisture could form on his face, while his mouth was so dry. He glanced back at the Nadir general to see him standing calmly with sword in hand, his violet eyes fixed on the charging horsemen. There was no trace of sweat on his brow.
Bastard, thought Lucas. Inhuman bastard!
The horsemen had reached the slope before the Smile and their charge slowed fractionally.
A single arrow soared out to meet them, falling short of the riders by thirty paces.
‘Wait until you hear the order,’ bellowed Galand, switching his gaze to the impassive Tenaka.
The riders thundered on, lances levelled.
‘Now?’ asked Galand, as the leading horsemen passed the mark made by the first arrow, Tenaka shook his head.
‘Face front!’ shouted Galand, as nervous archers craned their necks to see the command given.
The Legion were riding fifty abreast in twenty-five ranks. Tenaka gauged the gap between each rank as around six lengths. It was a well-disciplined charge.
‘Now!’ he said.
‘Give them Hell!’ screamed Galand and a hundred arrows flashed into the sunlight. The first line of horsemen disappeared as the shafts hammered home into their mounts. Men were hurled headlong on to the rocks as screaming horses reared and fell. The second line faltered, but the gap between ranks allowed the riders to adjust in time to leap the fallen. But they leapt into a second volley of arrows that killed, crippled or maimed their mounts. As the dazed riders rose to their feet, more shafts flashed death to them, slicing into exposed flesh. But still the charge continued and the horsemen were almost upon them.