Path of Revenge by Russell Kirkpatrick

Author:Russell Kirkpatrick [Kirkpatrick, Russell]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: General, Fiction, Epic, Fiction - Fantasy, Fantasy, Fantasy - Epic, Fantasy - General, Magicians, New Zealand Novel And Short Story, Revenge, Immortalism, Science Fiction And Fantasy
ISBN: 9780316007153
Publisher: London : Orbit, 2008.
Published: 2008-08-01T06:00:00+00:00

Noetos peered around the corner of the last house before the beach, then fingered the impromptu bandage on his arm. His vantage point gave him a wide view: the houses fronting the beach swept around in a semicircle, mimicking the curve of the shore. He studied the disposition of the invaders, who had now split into three groups. Nearest were those guarding the massed group of villagers, perhaps thirty men armed with swords and pikes. Fifty paces to their left as he saw it was a smaller group, half a dozen Neherians with drawn swords pointing at two men lying face down in the sand. His two sworn men. Not dead; they would not be guarded if they were dead. He couldn’t even remember their names. The third group, ten or so Neherians surrounding as many villagers, stood much further away, near the far end of the row of houses.

The fisherman ran through the list of impossibilities. Attack the third group, two against ten, with one minute to overwhelm them before their reinforcements arrived. Attack the second group, two against six, rescue his sworn men, then attack the third group, four against ten. Or assault the first group, two against thirty. Even if he could guarantee there were no real swordsmen among them—which he could not—the beach offered no tactical advantages. It was not a narrow lane, where one man could dominate a space. No matter which group he and Gawl assailed, within moments they would be taking on practically the entire invading force.

When confronted by overwhelmingly superior numbers, Cyclamere said in that dispassionate voice of his, disengage. If you must continue the battle, withdraw and wait for the strategic moment. Look to surprise or deceive your opponent. If nothing presents itself, and no reinforcements are due, flee.

Withdraw and wait. They could not remain in such an exposed position. Nor could they hide inside one of the houses, as they might well become trapped. Up, then. Like all dwellings on the Fisher Coast these beachfront homes had flat roofs, with parapets to shelter behind. A few words with Gawl, followed by a leg boost, saw Noetos on the roof. He pulled the miner up after him, grunting at the pain in his arms and shoulders.

The withdrawal component completed successfully, Noetos settled down to wait. As he stretched his legs to find a comfortable position, Gawl tapped him on the shoulder and pointed—not down at the beach, but along the row of roofs to their left. There, perhaps a dozen houses away, another figure hauled himself onto a roof, then hobbled forward and ducked down behind a parapet.

‘Don’t any of you people know how to obey orders?’ Noetos growled, secretly pleased at the boy’s courage.

‘Nuh. We go by us instincts in the mine, ‘wise the smothergas or the creepin’ water gets us,’ Gawl muttered. ‘What’s that lameborn fool up to?’

The boy limped back the way he had come, then disappeared. A minute or so he re-emerged, this time on a roof further away.

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