Army of the Dead by Richard S. Tuttle

Author:Richard S. Tuttle
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Publisher: KBS
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

The Need for Spies

The men gathered in a large rectangular room in the palace at Angragar. Maps and charts were spread over the large table and tensions were high.

“Why would the Motangans pass up a chance to pursue our warriors?” asked Yojji, leader of the Kheri tribe. “They have chased us every time in the past.”

“Maybe they are getting wise?” suggested Adger, leader of the Mutang tribe. “It does not take much more intelligence than that of a wasooki to learn that they lose men each time they chase us.”

“I don’t know the reason,” sighed Blaka, leader of the Extala tribe. “I am only reporting what I have observed. The last half dozen attempts at luring the Motangans away from their march have failed. Oh, they defended themselves, but they showed no interest in chasing us. When we retreated, they continued following the north branch of the Meliban River.”

“Almost as if they knew their destination?” frowned Bakhai. “Is that what you are saying?”

“That is certainly one reason to explain such behavior,” shrugged Blaka, “but I have no way of knowing for sure.”

“Must you draw them away from the river to attack them?” asked Bakhai.

“Our men are horsemen,” interjected Wyant, the sheriff of Fakara. “Our method of fighting is to sweep down on the enemy in large numbers and smash the defenders. We leave just as quickly. Fakarans are no match for the Motangans if we dismount and hide behind trees. We need the enemy in the open.”

“Yet not so open that they can see us coming,” nodded Rejji. “Our best fighting so far has been at night when their visibility is limited, but those days are over. To defeat the Motangans in the forests and mountains, we must adapt new tactics.”

“New tactics?” balked Yojji. “You expect the tribes to change the way we have fought for a thousand years?”

“If you want to survive,” Rejji spoke slowly and clearly, “yes. The tribes developed their method of fighting because it suited the terrain. The enemy is no longer on the plains. They are in thick forests, and soon they will be climbing the mountains.”

“Until they descend out of the mountains on this side,” Adger pointed out. “Then they will be back in our kind of terrain.”

“True,” nodded Wyant, “but do you want to face two hundred and fifty thousand Motangans so close to Angragar? They must never be allowed to attack this city.”

“Wyant is correct,” agreed Rejji. “That many Motangans that close to Angragar is a disaster for us. We need to cut down their numbers before they cross the mountains.”

“What about the Valley of Bones?” asked Mobi, a Qubari tribesman “It was used effectively against Grulak and his men.”

“The Valley of Bones is not large enough to accommodate the Motangan army,” Wyant shook his head. “We trapped twenty thousand of Grulak’s men and caused the others to throw down their weapons and go home. The Motangans will not throw down their weapons and leave.”

“They mean to kill all of us,” agreed Rejji.

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