visiting warriors looked to each other, then to the third Chezhou-Lei, offering deferential nods. ?The hierarchies of our order are determined outside the boundaries of the Yatols," Woh Lien explained. ?In those hierarchies, noble Wan Atenn is already placed above the two of us. If that hierarchy was different, Wan Atenn would readily and gladly submit to my will."
Grysh started to respond that he was glad of that, but he stopped and sat there smiling instead, realizing that these two had been selected by Douan specifically, and that the Chezru Chieftain had well understood the politics of the Chezhou-Lei. Well done, God-Voice, Yatol Grysh silently congratulated.
The Yatol of Dharyan was convinced then that Douan had sent him the forces along with a clear message: secure To-gai once and for all. Put down the pockets of insurgence swiftly and definitively.
"You carry with you supplies enough to get through the winter months?" he asked.
"And more," Woh Lien replied. ?We are trained to forage, Yatol, and to hunt. Chezru Douan was concerned that our numbers not strain the re-sources of Dharyan, and so they shall not."
"That is good," said Grysh. ?Then let us put the word out that you have come delivering supplies to me, that we might help the outposters through the difficult season."
"If that is what you deem necessary."
"That is what I deem necessary to tell the people," Grysh explained ?Our task will be much more difficult if the upstart Ru believe that I have eight hundred new warriors under my command. So, as far as the populace is concerned, I do not. Each of you will section thirty-two soldiers to Wan Atenn, that the eight-square I requested will be filled."
"As you order, Yatol," said Woh Lien, and Dahmed Blie echoed the thought.
"Has word of the massacre at Douan Cal been made public?" the Yatol asked Carwan Pestle.
"Limited, perhaps."
"See that it does not spread. Allow the people to know that Douan Cal was attacked, but not that it was eliminated, else it will become common perception that the soldiers are in response to that attack."
"The outpost settlement was eliminated?" Woh Lien asked.
"Our enemy is a Ru called Ashwarawu," explained Wan Atenn.
"A mighty leader?" Woh Lien asked.
"A coward, who strikes at the vulnerable and retreats to the shadows. But of late, he grows bolder, and his attacks come nearer and nearer to Dharyan."
"He will attack us, but only if he believes that we are vulnerable," said Yatol Grysh. ?Thus we will make great fanfare of the arrival of a permanent eight-square, and then I will send the eight-square out hunting for him.
Though, of course, they will not find him."
"And while they are out, perhaps Ashwarawu will strike for the greater prize of Dharyan," reasoned Wan Atenn.
"Where the jaws of death will be waiting for him," said Grysh. ?There are a series of caves to the north, farther into the foothills, where one of your remaining forces can go. As for the other..." He looked to Carwan Pestle as he finished.
"Delvin Plateau," the man replied.
"Ah, of course," Grysh agreed, and he turned to Woh Lien. ?Delvin Plateau is a small village nestled halfway up the rise that separates the To-gai steppes from the land of Behren. Few know of it, and it is so easily de-fended, with a cliff on one side, a sheer wall on the other, and only a narrow road allowing access, that Ashwarawu will not go near to it. But from there, if you are alert, you will be able to sweep down to Dharyan in a single night's march."
The Yatol sat back then, nodding, considering the possibilities. Suddenly the idea of going out in pursuit of Ashwarawu seemed a foolish thing to do. Especially if he could somehow manage to lure Ashwarawu in to him.
Of course, other possibilities remained wide open to him. It occurred to him that he could merely send the three mighty Chezhou-Lei warriors out in pursuit, and likely have Ashwarawu's head served to him within a it this plan he had just improvised appealed to Grysh more. Better to >t Ashwarawu and his foolish rebels in one devastating sweep. Better to crush Vi resistance at its core.
Yatol Grysh silently congratulated Chezru Douan again, and fully ex-ected that his life on the frontier was soon to become much easier.
PART 2 GRASSES in THE WIND Chapter 16 Her new Family
They pretend that they search for you, but none wish to find you," Barachuk said with a wry grin. He and Tsolona had -Iv. been coming out