CHAPTER NINE
Ran felt full and content as he settled in for his first shift of sentry duty. He’d already relieved Kuva and sent the burly warrior to get some sleep. As Ran shifted in the deep shadows on the hill overlooking the caravan’s camp, he felt a cool breeze wash over him, and he shivered in the night. He looked away from the camp and off into the wilderness that extended in all directions. Fortunately, Yasseh had picked an excellent spot to make camp. There were meadows on all sides for at least half a mile. The hill Ran stood on gave him a perfect vantage point, and he would be able to spot anyone trying to creep up on the camp.
If Ejul and his band of thugs really did intend to attack the caravan, this would be a foolish place to attempt it. Ran or any of the other warriors would be able to spot them long before they got close and could take appropriate steps to counter their attack. The question was, would Ejul really do what he’d said he would do to his group?
Ran felt fairly confident that he would. If Ejul had thought nothing of throwing his lot in with Kayo and Magya, then he would certainly have little problem attacking his own father’s caravan. Again Ran wondered what would make Ejul betray his father. He couldn’t fathom doing such a thing, but then again, Ran had only the foggiest memories of his own father before their farm had been attacked and his family killed. That he could even remember his father at all was something of a miracle, Ran decided.
His eyes scanned the dark, but Ran was careful to not focus on anything directly in his line of sight. He’d long since been taught to look out of the corner of his eyes to see better in the dark. Movements registered better that way. At this time of night, anything that moved meant it was either an animal or a man. Ran’s hand stayed on the scabbard of his sword in case he sensed something moving out there in the night.
He shivered again and thought about Cassandra. This journey west would bring him to Valrus eventually. What would her reaction be when they saw each other again? He shook the image of her out of his head and tried to concentrate on watching the evolution of the night. There would be time enough to think about Cassandra later.
There was also the fact that Ran had disobeyed an order from the Nine Daggers clan that he had to worry about at some point. Even now, the elders in Gakur might be deciding whether or not to have Ran killed for his betrayal. But did they know yet? If Tanka had seen him leave with the caravan and informed Gakur, that would be the only way for them to find out. If Tanka had not seen Ran or decided not to tell the clan, then Ran was safe.
He smirked. Safe was a relative term, of course. He was heading west on a highway where travelers were frequently ambushed by brigands. Ran felt fairly certain that the caravan had enough guards with it, but if they were attacked by an overwhelming opposing force, then things would get bad pretty fast. He couldn’t worry about the what-ifs, however. At least not right then. Sentry duty was boring enough, and Ran had to force himself to maintain a disciplined mind so he would be alert in case anything happened.
His shift passed without incident, and Ran found his way back to his bedroll a few hours later. With his hand on his long sword and Ryu perched nearby, Ran dropped into a deep sleep by laying on his back and rolling his eyes back under their lids.
At dawn, Ran woke and glanced around. The rest of the camp was still fairly quiet, but Ran was used to waking earlier than most thanks to the years of intense training back at the shadow warrior school in Gakur. Ryu eyeballed him as he rose. He grinned at the bird and then watched as it took off to do some flying about. Ran walked to the water basins and threw some of the cold liquid on his face to help reinvigorate him for the long day ahead. Within the hour, the entire camp had eaten a quick breakfast and the wagons started rolling out of the meadow. Yasseh once again assumed the lead position and waved them all forward.
Kuva found his way to Ran again. “How’d you sleep?”
Ran shrugged. “No complaints. I went to bed and woke up alive. There’s something to be said for that.”
Kuva grinned. “An interesting perspective. I heard you were from Nehon.”
The question was far more direct than Kuva should have been, but Ran nodded anyway. “That’s right. I came over to Igul from Hiryu. Do you know it?”
“Never been there,” said Kuva. “I hail from Adosa. The journey to Nehon was always deemed far too unsafe for any of us to attempt. The Dark Sea claims many. I didn’t want to be another of her victims.”
“I was shipwrecked in southern Igul only a few weeks ago thanks to a terrific storm that blew us off course. The fact that I survived was pure luck.”
Kuva grunted. “That and your ability to fight. They kept you alive. A warrior spirit is so often misunderstood, confused with only seeking violence. But the real truth is that the spirit of a warrior allows one to endure under the harshest environs. As you certainly found out.”
“A philosopher, too?” Ran smiled.
“Probably a better philosopher than a warrior, if truth be told,” said Kuva. “But don’t tell old Yasseh that. I need the money, and this journey should go a long way toward helping me pay off some debts back in Adosa. I hope to go back there some day and grow old while I make wine.”
“Well, I happen to agree with your assessment about the warrior spirit. Most don’t understand. And those that claim to are sometimes far worse than those who are simply dumb to it.”
“Indeed,” said Kuva. “Gunj would understand it probably. If you could get him to talk to you.”
Ran cast a glance over at Gunj, who sat astride a horse today instead of a wagon. The horse seemed miles too large for the small man, but Gunj rode it with a sense of authority and the animal obeyed him without question. Ran frowned. What was it about the little man that intrigued him so much? If Gunj had been from Nehon, Ran might even have suspected him of being a fellow shadow warrior. But Gunj hailed from Igul. And northern Igul at that. The Nine Daggers clan would never have allowed him entrance to the training program. But Gunj clearly had a warrior background.
“I think Gunj talks to whomever he wants, whenever he wants,” said Ran finally. “If you happen to catch him at the right time, then maybe he’d tell you something interesting. Otherwise, it’s probably just wasting your breath.”
Kuva nodded. “Agreed. I can’t help but think he doesn’t feel too inclined toward me. When Yasseh had him test me, I threw a single punch, and then it was all over.” He smirked. “As I said, probably a better philosopher than warrior, but there you go.”
Ran smiled. “Kuva, your appearance might be one of your best assets. You look utterly intimidating. Those arms are huge, and you look like you could easily kill anyone you happened to look at.”
“Thank you,” said Kuva. “Hopefully my dreadful appearance won’t scare off the women. I’d like to meet a nice girl in the west and bring her back home to Adosa.”
“There aren’t enough nice girls in Adosa for you to marry?”
Kuva sighed. “I’m bored with them. They all look rather the same, and I want someone different. I’ve heard tell of a kingdom far west of here where the women are more like warriors in their own right. Adosian women are more content to raise children and do little else. I want someone I can appreciate as a fighter. Strength attracts me, you know?”
Ran thought about Cassandra and how adept he’d seen her in combat. “I think I can appreciate that.”
“Anyway,” said Kuva with a sigh. “It’s still a ways off. But a man can dream, can’t he?”
“Sometimes that’s all we have,” said Ran.
Ryu suddenly swooped down and perched on Ran’s wrist. Unlike most times, Ryu gripped him harder this time, and Ran felt the power of the falk’s talons coming close to breaking his skin. Ryu also seemed agitated and kept fluttering its wings.
Kuva pointed. “Something’s got your friend there upset.”
Ran remembered Tanka telling him that the falk would only get upset during times of danger. Ran frowned. “Something’s not right. Get to your station.”
Kuva wheeled himself around and rode off to the right flank again. Ran kicked his horse in its side and urged it toward the front of the caravan. Ryu squawked as they rode. The bird had obviously seen something on the road ahead. As he rode up, Ran glanced around and noticed that they had come into steeper terrain now. Steeper terrain meant better opportunities for ambush.
Yasseh glanced back when he heard Ran approach. “Everything okay?”
Ran shook his head. “The bird is upset.”
Yasseh guffawed. “Maybe it’s just hungry. Did you feed it earlier?”
“It feeds itself,” said Ran. “Falks don’t get agitated unless there’s danger nearby. And Ryu is quite obviously agitated now.” Ryu squawked once as if to underscore this point.
Yasseh frowned. “What would you have me do?”
Gunj rode up a moment later. “Is there a problem?”
Yasseh pointed at Ryu. “Ran says his bird here only gets upset when there is danger. Do you know anything about those birds?”
Gunj shrugged. “I do not, but I have heard that they are remarkable creatures. Perhaps it would be wise to listen to this one.”
Yasseh shook his head. “I’ve got a convoy of wagons to keep on schedule. I can’t simply stop here because a bird, of all things, thinks there might be trouble ahead.”
Ryu squawked again and then took flight. Ran watched as it circled high overhead. “That’s perhaps a mile away.”
“Then we’ll soon find out if there’s any truth to what the bird claims,” said Yasseh. “Keep your men ready, but we’re moving on.” He rode off, leaving Ran and Gunj behind.
Gunj eyed Ran. “Yasseh is sometimes more a businessman than a worldly traveler.” He shrugged. “This is his way.”
“And do you agree with him?”
“I’m not paid to agree or disagree,” said Gunj. “But I do think he’s right. Keep your men ready for an attack. If one comes, it will be quick. These hills have caves aplenty in which to hide.” Gunj urged his steed on to catch up with Yasseh.
“My men?” Ran frowned. Since when had he been promoted to captain of security? He turned and waved Kuva over. “Pass the word that there may be trouble. If it happens, Gunj says it will be quick. I’ll take the front, and you cover the flanks with the other men.”
“Understood.” Kuva rode off to relay directions. Ran kicked his horse again and drove to catch up with Gunj and Yasseh. As he did so, he noticed that Gunj had a curved saber, the likes of which Ran had never seen, in his hand. It would be interesting to see him use that in battle, he thought.
Ahead, the road curved around behind a hill. Ran glanced up and saw Ryu circling just beyond it. He shook his head. The location was the perfect spot for an ambush.
Yasseh had slowed to a trot now, and Gunj had as well. They were about half a mile away from the bend in the road. Yasseh held up his hand and signaled for the caravan to stop. Ran heard the snort of horses and pack mules as they ceased their forward momentum.
Ran drew alongside his employer. “That bend in the road concerns me.”
Yasseh nodded. “Agreed. The positioning would be a perfect one for an attack. And your bird seems to be circling overhead as well.”
“If there was an ambush party waiting, they would no doubt try to shoot the bird out of the sky,” said Gunj. “It is, after all, acting a bit like a marker.”
Ran eyed him. “You don’t think there’s anyone there?”
“I don’t know,” said Gunj. “But it seems a bit ridiculous to imagine a bunch of thieves lying in wait while a falk circles overhead. Don’t you think?”
“A lot of people never look up,” said Ran. “It’s possible they don’t know he’s there.”
Ryu let loose a loud squawk at that point. Ran sighed. “They’d certainly know he’s there now.” He waited for an arrow to pierce Ryu’s side, but none came. Ran shrugged. “You might be right, Gunj. Maybe there’s nothing there.”
“Excellent,” said Yasseh. “Then we can continue.”
Gunj put a hand on his arm. “No. Not yet.” He looked at Ran. “Ride ahead. See what the bird is upset about.”
“All right.” Ran eased his horse forward. As the horse sauntered down the road, Ran kept his eyes peeled to either side of him. Spindly shrubs that offered little concealment lined the road. Beyond them, linden trees and tall grass obscured his view. Someone could hide an army in there, thought Ran. And you wouldn’t know it until it was too late.
He approached the bend in the road. Ryu squawked again and then flew down to perch on Ran’s shoulder. Ran slid out of his saddle and eased his long sword two inches out of its scabbard. As he walked, he kept his right hand on the hilt, ready to draw and cut in a single motion if he was attacked.
The road curved, and Ran craned his neck to look around it, aware that every eye in the caravan was on him at that moment. If he’d been alone, Ran would have approached this location in a far different manner. But no one knew that he was a shadow warrior. He had to act like a normal warrior, not one trained to infiltrate and conduct reconnaissance.
There.
He smelled it before he saw it. The scent was one he knew all too well, but Ran kept his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The stench of death hung in the air as he rounded the corner. Ran’s eyes roved all over, but he saw nothing moving in the brush. Nothing stirred at all.
Certainly not the body in the middle of the road.