warrior laughed. ‘I am not sure I am going to enjoy this, but go ahead.’
‘Get used to being beaten by my brother; he does not like to lose,’ Teclis said.
‘That is a useful trait in a warrior,’ said Korhien. Tyrion proceeded to demonstrate how Teclis could win.
‘How do you do that?’ Teclis asked again.
‘How can you not? It just seems very obvious to me.’ It was true too. Tyrion really could not understand why his cleverer brother could not see what was so clear to him.
‘In what way?’ Korhien asked. There was a sharpness to his tone that Tyrion could not quite understand. He gave more thought to his response than he normally would.
‘Certain squares are more important than others, most of the time. Certain combinations of moves fit together. There are always weaknesses in every position and always strengths. You play to minimise the weaknesses and maximise the strengths.’
‘Those are sound general principles,’ said Korhien, ‘but they do not really explain anything.’
Tyrion felt frustrated. He understood how Teclis must feel when his twin tried to explain the principles of working magic to him. ‘It’s like I can see the way the patterns will work out. I see the ways all of the pieces potentially interlock. It’s like when I look at the maps of battlefields in old books...’
‘What?’ Korhien asked even more sharply.
‘There are certain obvious lines of attack on every battlefield. Places where troops should be placed. Places where they should not be. Hills with clear fields of fire for archers out over the rest of the field. Flat areas where cavalry can advance quickly. Woods and swamps that can guard flanks. You can see these things when you look at the maps.’
‘You can,’ said Teclis, stifling a yawn.
‘Blood of Aenarion,’ muttered Korhien. It was Tyrion’s turn to stare hard at him.
‘What do you mean by that?’ he asked.
‘They say Aenarion could do the same thing. See the patterns on a battlefield.’
‘Anybody can, if they take the trouble to think about these things,’ Tyrion said.
Teclis laughed again.
‘It is not often I hear my brother laud the virtues of thinking,’ he said, by way of explanation. ‘You should be applauding.’
‘Anyone can look at a map and say something. The trick is to be correct,’ said Korhien. Tyrion shrugged. He went over to the book shelf and picked up a copy of The Campaigns of Caledor the Conqueror. He opened it to a well-thumbed page and then walked over to where the warrior sat.
‘Look,’ he said. ‘Here is an example of what I mean. Here are Caledor’s dispositions against the druchii General Izodar. See the way he has placed his war machines to cover the approaches to Drakon Hill. Notice also the way the main strength of his cavalry is placed out of sight here behind this range of hills but with easy access to the defile that will allow them to emerge onto the field of battle at his signal.’
‘Yes, everyone knows about this, though. It was a fine trap, one of Caledor’s greatest victories.’
‘Yes,’ said Tyrion. ‘But he made mistakes.’
‘Oh ho, you do not lack for confidence, do you doorkeeper? The Conqueror was the greatest general of his age. His record is one of more or less unbroken victories. You look at a map of one of his greatest triumphs and claim he got it wrong.’
‘No. I do not. He won. No one can fault that. I said he made mistakes.’
‘An important distinction,’ admitted Korhien. ‘So, by all means, explain to me the mistakes he made, doorkeeper.’
‘Look where he placed the bulk of his cavalry. In full view, close to the enemy, and when the battle started, they closed too quickly with the druchii right flank. It could easily have spoiled the trap.’
Korhien smiled. ‘Your analysis is flawless, but you have failed to consider one thing.’
Tyrion was not offended to hear his theory so casually dismissed. He sensed that here was a chance to learn something about a subject that intrigued him from one who possessed some expertise in it.
‘What have I missed?’ he asked.
‘I doubt Caledor wanted to place his cavalry there, or that he gave the order for that early charge.’
‘Then why did it happen?’
‘Because Prince Moradrim and Prince Lelik were rivals, and they both wanted the glory of breaking the enemy. They insisted on being where they were. Then one of them charged and the other, not being able to endure the possibility of his rival grabbing all the glory, followed suit.’