Hokanu agreed. “We had best report now.”
Kasumi looked at Laurie. “Stay inside. We want no risk. You are the tallest damned priest I have ever seen.”
Laurie nodded. He sat upon some cushions and waited.
The patrol moved silently through the trees. The rain had stopped, but the weather had turned colder, and Laurie suppressed a shiver. Years in the hot climes of Kelewan had driven away his ability to ignore the chill. He wondered about the new troops from Tsuranuanni and how they would react when the first snowfalls came. Most likely with studied indifference, regardless of what they felt inside. A Tsurani soldier would never let himself appear upset by something as trivial as solid water falling from the sky.
They elected the North Pass, for it led to the largest front, and they were less likely to be noticed passing through the lines. They reached the head of the pass, and a station guard passed them along. Once outside the valley they struck slightly more eastward than their patrol called for.
Beyond the rolling hills and light woods was the road from LaMut to Zun. Once the two travelers had left their patrol and reached the road, they would head for Zun, buy horses, and ride south. With luck they would reach Krondor in two weeks. There they would change mounts and head for Salador, where they would find passage on a ship for Rillanon.
The only obstacle between them and the road was a large portion of the Kingdom’s Army. If they were discovered by a Kingdom patrol, they would try to pass themselves off as travelers who had been captured by the Tsurani and escaped. There could be no question of Laurie being Tsurani, and Kasumi’s command of the King’s Tongue was so complete that he could easily pass for a Kingdom citizen from the Vale of Dreams; several languages were spoken in that border area with Great Kesh, so Kasumi’s slight accent would be reasonable.
The patrol moved at a dogtrot that ate up miles. Laurie ran beside Kasumi, marveling at the soldiers’ stamina. They might not be showing fatigue, but he was feeling it. Hokanu signaled for the patrol to stop at the head of a large, flat area near the woods. “Here we will start our swing back to our patrol area. We should not see any Tsurani soldiers from here. Let us hope, for your sake, we don’t meet with Kingdom troops either.”
He gave a signal, and they moved out. Laurie and Kasumi were handed backpacks and clothing. They quickly changed, then followed the route taken by the patrol. They would follow for a short distance, using the patrol for cover should any Kingdom troops be nearby.
They moved into a small vale and found the patrol held up by something ahead. The last man in line motioned them for quiet. They moved to the head of the line, and Laurie looked around for a quick exit route should there be any trouble. Hokanu said softly, “I thought I heard something, but there has been no sound for several minutes.”
Kasumi nodded. “Then move forward. We will wait until you have crossed that open area ahead, then follow to the woods.” He indicated a stand of trees, on the other side of the clearing.
When the patrol had reached the center of the open area, the clouds parted and shafts of moonlight lit up the area “Damn!” Kasumi swore under his breath. “They might as well light torches now.”
Suddenly the trees erupted with motion and sound. The ground trembled as riders came charging forward, out from the trees that hid them. Each wore heavy chain mail and a full helm. Long lances were leveled at the surprised Tsurani soldiers.
The Tsurani had barely enough time to ready a rude line for defense before the riders were upon them. Cries of horses and men filled the air, and the Tsurani fell before the charge. The riders rode over the Tsurani and re-formed at the end of the vale where the two fugitives hid. They wheeled about and charged again. The Tsurani survivors of the last charge, less than half the men, moved quickly up the west side of the vale, where the trees and incline of the hillside would counter the horsemen’s ability to charge.
Laurie touched Kasumi’s arm and motioned to the right. It was evident the Tsurani officer was barely holding himself in check from joining his men. Suddenly Kasumi was off, hugging the edge of the trees as he ran low. Laurie followed and spotted what appeared to be a rough path heading eastward. He grabbed Kasumi’s sleeve and pointed. They turned their backs to the fighting and moved off.