Sacrissa looked as if she might again speak, but just that the stange Elf, who had been waiting patiently while the others explored the stone, came forward to address them.
“Greetings, noble ones. You stand before the Trysting Stone. It marks the place where Men and Elves may meet in safety and without arms, be it a time of peace or…,” paused the Elf, “war.”
Their graceful host now had their full attention, and continued, “I am Farherde Celandrim. As none of you have leave to enter upon our lands, I have brought you here.” Here the stranger exchanged looks with Elyssa. They were not happy looks.
“We are uncertain of your purpose in coming here,” the Elf continued, “If that purpose is no threat to us, I am here to bless your journey and to give you what news I can. One amongst you is known to us, the others we have guessed at.”
Elyssa shot the newcomer a questing look. In turn, the Elf seemed to be regarding her with particular attention, “Fear not. I am charged to hear your account, and, if I deem you mean no ill, not to hinder you. Any of you. For it is time, we deem, for the sun to rise, even if it rises in blood, and for the Houses of the Most Faithful to come together once more.”
Elyssa was dumb and noncommittal at this. It was the Huntress who replied, “Gentle One, I cross this dale in peace with this daughter of your people as my friend and equal. We lead the townsfolk of the Vale, now beset, to safety among the Stedinglas.”
“How so?”
“The Vale is a sea of a numberless unknown Enemy. The Gryphonhold is besieged.”
“Darkness contests for the Vale. This is ill news indeed,” replied Celandrim, “who is this Enemy and whence did it come?”
“We know not. The Vale had no warning.”
“This is passing strange. What of the King?”
“He is safe, for now”, Elle replied.
“And his daughter, does she fare well, does she bear her burden well?”
“She does,” Elle spoke levelly.
It was now the strange Elf’s turn to pause and look thoughtful.
Elle broke the silence, “Pray, what of the Men who dwell hard by the borders of this dale, and of your own people, for we have seen none but you in this fair land all day?”
“We meet with Men but seldom,” Celandrim replied, seeming to relax somewhat, “There is another such trysting place on their side of the dale. There of late both folk would meet to treat of things of mutual concern, mainly the grazing of the dale, and to renew the bonds of friendship.
“In former days it was the place where disputes were to be settled, raids and theft accounted for, wergild and ransom determined and paid, prisoners exchanged. The custom had fallen into abeyance, then, a generation of Men or so ago, there was… well, three men of the North helped restore the custom between Elves and Men. This stone was then set up as an earnest of our new faith in one another.
“These three men….?” ventured Sacrissa.
“Yes,” anticipated the Elf, their sigils mark the stone, set beneath the sign of our Queen.
“There has been but little trouble over the years since the stones were raised. But we have still met here in fellowship, keeping in mind the blessings of peace. Thus, my people and those sons of Men who dwell on the south side of this dale keep tryst twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn. This spring, our invitation to this place was given yet none came here. And this autumn, no invitation has yet come from the Men to their trysting place, though the time for it is overdue. Men have yet grazed the dale, as we do, but have ceased to greet us where they come upon us, preferring to turn their backs. Then suddenly, three days ago, the herds of Men were withdrawn from the dale, and they have not yet come back. Our people deem it unwise to enter the dale without knowing the cause of this latest strangeness. Perhaps your news from the Vale makes some sense of this.
“The light of the Morningstar has been snuffed out, and we fear that the darkness we perceive growing in the Kingdoms of Men has now reached the borders of this dale. If so, you are not safe here. The Stedinglas will remain true; they are Elfwyn, blessed of both our High Queen and the King-in-the-North. Yet we are unsure of all others. Other Men may aid your strange Enemy, willingly or unwillingly it matters not. They will surely know you are here and lead your foes by the paths they know down into the dale to hunt you.” Celandrim seemed genuinely concerned at this prospect, and Elves were not known to trouble over much concerning the fates of Men.
“Then we must hurry from you,” said Elle, “we cannot afford to meet the Enemy here. We may not overcome him, but if we do, the delay could yet be fatal.”
“Yes,” replied the Elf, “you must not delay!”
***
They had left swiftly after that. Elyssa tarried just long enough to exchange some private word with Celandrim. The others knew nothing of what passed, but Elyssa looked worried when she caught up with them. Mystery upon mystery, thought Sacrissa, reflecting upon the strange news that her father had once been at this place. They were now making their way as quickly as they could down to the river. They could not risk a broken horse’s leg, so their progress was tense and slow. Once they were free of the steep moorland descent, they broke into a trot to a canter, down the gently sloping pastureland towards the ford. Elle and Elyssa soon stretched out in front. Sacrissa and Sigird were soon someway behind. Sacrissa rode fast when pursued and when she wanted the thrill of doing so. At other times she was a more circumspect horsewoman. Sigird was a competent rider, but where she surpassed her companions was in seacraft, not in the saddle. Thus, the two of them fell a little behind. Not much, but enough to change the rest of their day and the night. As Elyssa and Elle passed through the gap in the belt of trees that overlooked the river, they saw, to their horror, a strong body of mounted men disgorging into the valley from a pass in the southern hills. There must have been some three score. They were approaching the road. They wore long quilted grey coats and open helms. They carried long spears and round shields on which were seen splashes of yellow.
The Leopards saw the four riders. A small group of them, a dozen or so, spurred forwards to beat them to the ford. Elle and Elyssa exchanged a look of understanding, dug their heels in and galloped for the ford. They splashed across it, not noticing the soaking they got and changed rein to pelt down the road after the column, even as the first grey horsemen gained the road. But these Leopards did not turn to pursue the two riders, they carried forward to win the ford before Sigird and Sacrissa could reach it.
“Damn!” cried Sacrissa, as they saw their way blocked and pulled up their horses.
“We must turn here and ride west along this side of the river,” shouted Sigird.
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“Wherever we go they’ll catch us now, for sure!” cried Sacrissa, “We cannot fight them all!”
“No, look,” replied Sigird, pointing to the other side of the ford to where the main body of the enemy cavalry had turned onto the road to pursue their two companions, and the column.
Half a dozen grimacing Leopards were now splashing across the ford towards them.
“Alright,” decided Sacrissa, “go!” and they turned the heads of their steeds to the west and galloped across the empty pasture in the direction of the afternoon sun.
***
Horses had been heard, thundering up the road, so the column was prepared for trouble. Trum, Ebban and half a dozen soldiers greeted the women as they pulled up at the rear of the column with their news of the pursuing Leopards. Elle and Elyssa quickly gave their orders for the disposition of their men. They took in the lie of the land at this place. Here, about half-way along the dale, they reckoned, the river had swung south a good way and crossed the path of the road again, forming a second ford. About a third of the column had passed, or was passing, across the ford. The rest were here, on what was now the Enemy bank. Naturally, the pace of the column was slowed as it waded the ford. They would not all gain the farther bank before the Enemy horsemen caught up with them. The Leopards had chosen the time and place of their descent into the dale well. Whether that was by luck or judgement, they could not say. Ebban and his scouts were sent, pushing, cajoling, slipping and splashing, across the ford to the front of the column to watch the road ahead. Conan went with them, smiling, bowing, easing their passage through a confused crowd close to panic. The soldiers were concentrated at the rear of the column. They watched the billowing dust grow larger and listened to the sound of hooves grow louder as the grey horsemen drew nearer. The Leopards emerged from the dun cloud of their own making, at the canter, in a line.
“Well, my Lady,”, observed Trum, “I make that about three to one in their favour.”
“Let our bows even that up a little,” replied Elyssa. The Huntress nodded, nocking an arrow.
***
Sigird and Sacrissa pounded along the northern bank, a thin line of trees down to their left stood between them and the river, obscuring the view south. Inhospitable moors rose upon their right. All that concerned them was the wide margin of grassland between the two and the speed their great horses made upon it. The wind roared in their ears, their cloaks billowed behind them. Their horses’ hooves thudded on the ground and the green grass flew away beneath them. They exchanged a brief glance; they were in mortal danger, yet the thrill of the ride gave them joy.
Sacrissa risked a glance behind. The Leopards were not gaining, thank the Powers, but they were keeping pace, and, somehow, she and Sigird must outstrip them. The belt of grassland was beginning to narrow and the knees of the moors to their right stepped more steeply. There was no way up and out of the dale to their right. The ground was rising before them, leaving to their left a thicker belt of trees in the river valley lying below them. Sacrissa saw a ridgeline ahead. Much might depend upon what they found beyond it.
***
Amora and Trystan were with Trum, his dozen men, mounted, swords drawn in readiness. Elle had her horse ready to hand, so she could join them after she had added to Elyssa’s small strength of bows. Sixteen riders against forty-eight, Elle’s quick eyes reckoned. Elyssa would need to thin the Enemy’s ranks. She bent her bow, now, glancing across at where Elyssa stood. Fourteen bows bent in readiness, and then, huffing and dripping came Berend the Carter, who had fought his way back across the ford to lend his crossbow to the fight. Elyssa nodded to him with grateful approval. Berend grinned sheepishly.
“Wait!” cried Elyssa, “Nock. Wait …… Draw! Loose!” and fifteen missiles flew towards the Leopards and fifteen saddles were emptied.
“Ha!” cried Elle, “Two to one now! I’ll take those odds,” and she swung herself into her saddle and drew her sword, “On! On! For Dragongate!”
Elle led the riders in file, two abreast, and quickly spurred on to the gallop. They pierced the Leopard’s extended line about a third of the way from the right of the line as they faced it. Elle slashing to her right, Trum to his left, they crashed through, followed by Amora and Trystan and then the Men-at-Arms. Such was the speed of the action that the Leopards had no time to respond to the move. Only the lancers either side of the breach in the line could bring arms to bear, and they didn’t last long. Immediately on passing through the line, Elle reeled right, taking her file of riders behind her, whilst Trum wheeled left, leading the other file. The riders turned and spurred towards the rear of the Leopard’s line. The Enemy horsemen as they tried to slow up and turn, tangling with those beside them in the line. They were still disordered when Elle’s riders charged through them, slashing as they passed through, leaving confusion, death and many ugly wounds.
Meanwhile, as those to the left of the Enemy line reeled towards the centre the join the fight, Elyssa’s fifteen bows took their toll upon them.
The Enemy broke off, reeling round to canter rearwards and re-group, several slumped over their saddle pommels, or trailed weapons or shields from limp arms. Elle’s force galloped back to the right of the edge of the column’s rear, turning again, ready to renew the attack. Elyssa called a halt to the shooting, the Leopards had withdrawn beyond effective range and they could not now waste their remaining arrows. Two score and more Leopards littered the field amid shattered lances and round leopard shields. Riderless horses skittered nervously among the reck of their charge.
Just then, they heard a commotion behind them; hoarse shouting and the clash of blades. Elyssa turned, and to her horror, saw that the townsfolk were no longer making their way across the river, but something, or someone, was pushing them back, ‘The Powers forfend! Is the Enemy before us? If so, we are caught in a vice.’
There was, she realised, nothing she could do. With all the escort, save four, here at the rear, the townsfolk must fend for themselves. For now, her attention was once more commanded by the Enemy before her. Half the remaining Leopards, lances levelled, broke right to charge Elle’s riders. The other half were heading straight for her small band of dismounted archers.
“Loose when ready, then draw your swords!” Elyssa cried. She wished that diffident girl Sigird with her mail-piercer was at her side. What of her and the dark-haired girl now? But there was no time for that. She squinted and loosed, and a Leopard toppled backwards over the cantle of his saddle. Then she slung her bow, drew her sword and crouched braced in readiness for the shock.
Across the river, at the head of the column, Conan was staring placidly at a shouting man. He was grubby, mind you, they all were a bit grubby by now, and cross. His eyes were bulging, and foam flecked his beard.
“Don’t you see? It is the Leopards who come to save us?” the man demanded, “They will not drag us through danger to exile, as you do. They will leave us free to go where we will and let us prosper!”
“You are a very silly man,” said Conan, “and you are holding up the column and risking the lives of these people. Please step aside or I will have to move you.” Conan smiled encouragingly.
The man also smiled, nastily, and spat. Then he drew forth a wicked long dagger and raised it with the cry “For the Leopards! For the Queen!”
“That, my friend,” replied the still smiling Conan in a matter-of-fact tone, “was a mistake.”
Yet the cry was met with similar cries and half a dozen of the rougher looking townsfolk drew their weapons – they all had blades of some kind – with a scrape of steel. Conan found himself beset on all sides, and the men moved to drive him, and any townsfolk in the way, back towards the water.
To me! To me!” cried Conan in a deep loud voice, “Rangers of Dragongate, to me!” and he parried the first thrust aimed at him.
Then young Coquin was at his side, twitching and grinning wildly, addressing the rebellious townsfolk “Come on then! You grumbling grandsires, come on! You want some? Do ya? Well, come on!”
***
Elyssa thought to herself, ‘so this is how it ends.’ Just a dozen or so of them on foot with swords, while a dozen or more enemy horsemen with lances bore down on them. She asked herself what more she could have done. Nothing. That did not help, so she asked herself what she could do now; this was not a fight she could win.
“Strike the horses!”, she cried, unseating the riders was their only chance.
Just then, Elyssa heard a hoarse shout behind her. It was the town butcher, Hyldere. “Make way! Make way!” he cried, as he and a dozen stout lads trundled two carts towards them. The bowmen stepped aside as the carts trundled forward. The horses of grey riders reared at the sight of the cart rolling towards them and all momentum of the charge was lost as the horses bucked and reared in circles as their riders fought for control.
“Charge!” cried Elyssa, and her men ran forward to engage riders with the odds very much evened. At the same time Elle’s horsemen traded their first blows with the other Leopards. The fight was no longer in their enemy, and both groups of horsemen swiftly disengaged and wheeled off, retreating the way they had come.
Elle and Elyssa, both flushed and panting, waved greeting as they approached one another.
“Come,” said Elle, less steadily than she would have liked, “let’s see if this trouble ahead is dealt with and get the column moving. We are running out of time.”