that our leader feared that his reputation might have grown too strong too far to the east too quickly, catching the attention of enemies he is not ready to face."
Brynn nodded, understanding well why Ashwarawu would welcome the news that eight hundred trained and well-outfitted soldiers were turning back to the east instead of coming his way.
"A fine line, is reputation," Pagonel warned. ?While it benefits among al- inspiring confidence and support, its effects on the enemy are varied. one hand, how much stronger are your forces if the enemy is in fear because of your reputation. On the other, the game is dangerous ,ur enemy is powerful enough to destroy you, as the Chezru Chief certainly is, concerning all of To-gai.
Brvnn nodded but did not reply. This was an important lesson, she knew, and one that she would not forget.
Winter's grasp grew thin on the land early in God's Year 841. Several terms reared above the plateau, only to fizzle as they crossed out of the mountains, turning to a gentle rain or disappearing altogether.
On the last day of the second month, with all of the fanfare they had brought upon their arrival to Dharyan, the two Jacintha twenty-squares marched out of the western Behrenese city. They left behind the sixty-four soldiers Yatol Grysh had requested the previous summer, but seemed no less diminished as they marched, rank upon rank, down the eastern road.
They crossed through Bohgadee, the next Behrenese city in line, two days later, again with horns blaring, and then continued on down the east-ern road, into the sandy desert, empty for many miles before the next oasis and city.
And there, in the empty wasteland, the army of Jacintha executed their turn, with Chezhou-Lei Dahmed Blie's group turning south and back to the west, and Chezhou-Lei Woh Lien's group turning north and then back to the west.
Advance groups, posing as simple scouting parties, had already prepared their camps, in the foothills along the mountains northwest of Dharyan, and in the cave complexes along the plateaus southwest of Dharyan.
There they would wait for proud Ashwarawu to err.
PART 2 GRASSES in THE WIND Chapter 18 Baiting the Hook
Carwan Pestle settled into his chair at Yatol Grysh's side in the main audience chamber of the temple in Dharyan.
Wan Atenn walked into the room almost immediately, storming up to stand right before the pair.
"You have heard the latest reports of the rebels, I suppose," Yatol Grysh remarked.
Carwan Pestle nodded, for he, too, had heard the reports, which placed Ashwarawu closer to the rim of the To-gai plateau than before.
"Ashwarawu is within striking distance of Dancala Grysh," said the Ya-tol, referring to a small outposter settlement, just over the To-gai rim, that had only recently been renamed in his honor.
Wan Atenn nodded.
"That settlement must not fall!" Grysh yelled suddenly, rising from his seat, a huge scowl upon his thick-jowled face. ?I will not be insulted as Chezru Chieftain Douan was insulted by the fall of Douan Call"
"The Jacintha soldiers have departed, Yatol," Wan Atenn reminded. ?I have few warriors at my disposal - "
"You have the garrison of Dharyan, bolstered by the men from Jacintha who remained behind. That should be sufficient to crush the fool Ru and his wretched followers."
Wan Atenn stiffened, squaring his shoulders and puffing out his broad and powerful chest. ?Even with the additional soldiers, the defense of Dharyan - "I did not ask you to defend Dharyan!" Yatol Grysh screamed at him.
"Yatol?" the seemingly stunned Chezhou-Lei warrior asked. ?That is my mission, above all. To defend Dharyan and to defend Yatol Grysh."
"And to defend the reputation of Yatol Grysh, you must defend Dancala Grysh," the Yatol explained.
Wan Atenn spent a long while staring at his leader. So did a confused Carwan Pestle. He had rarely seen the calculating Grysh so animated, and 11 hardly believe that Grysh cared so much about a minor settlement CoU haj borne his name for only a few months.
"Dancala Grysh has only a partial wall, and no defensive emplacements," \j. Atenn explained. ?To properly defend it will take nearly as many sol-der" as are needed to defend Dharyan itself."
"Then take them."
"Yatol, I cannot," the Chezhou-Lei warrior gasped.
"We have more than three hundred men in garrison," the Yatol said.
"More than enough to defeat the one or two hundred known to ride with Ashwarawu, even without defensive emplacements. And even if our losses -e heavy in the fight, ridding the land of that dog Ashwarawu will be worth the price. I will call