Chapter Thirty-Three

It was a brisk late spring morning when, to the roll of drums and the thunder of horses' hooves, the First and Second Armies went on the attack.

Hal and his flight were reconning for the First Army, and, from high above, it looked splendid—the Roche lines being broken by the heavy cavalry, light cavalry pouring through the gaps, and a steady stream of infantry securing the positions, then moving on.

This, Hal was glad to see, wasn't like the abortive invasion of Kalabas—Lord Egibi had given his commanders explicit instructions that they were to exploit any opportunity offered.

Hal saw two dragons, neither black, and he and his flight attacked, drove them down into the bloody hands of the soldiery below.

Kailas chanced flying south for almost an hour, and found the lead elements of the Second Army, half Deraine, half Sagene.

They, too, had been successful in the breakthrough, and were marching steadily north-north-east, toward Aude and the River Comtal.

They saw three dragons, killed two, and the third fled.

At base that night, most of the fliers were bubbling, sure an attack that began this successfully couldn't fail.

Hal tried to hold back their enthusiasm, but felt a warmth of hope in spite of himself.

The next few days they drove the Roche back again, and now, when Hal swooped low over the soldiers, he could hear singing, and see they were laden with loot the Roche had previously seized from the poor, vanished peasants of the area.

Hal took Garadice and Gart, flew over the Roche lines, such as they were, and on, deeper into the rear. Then an idea struck, and he blew his trumpet, waved for a course change, to east-south-east.

What he saw, or rather what he didn't see, sent him back at top speed, his bewildered wingmates trailing, until he spotted the pennons of the Armies' Combined Command.

He landed, told Garadice to watch Storm, and went looking for Cantabri.

"You're sure?" Lord Bab said.

"I'm positive," Hal said.

"Twice lucky," Cantabri said. "I remember what you didn't see on the day we invaded Kalabas."

"I hope the result is different," Hal said.

"It will if I have anything to do with it. Now for Lords Egibi and Desmoceras."

Bab's eyes were a-gleam.

"This, Hal, could win the war for us, in a week, or at most a month.

Come on, man!"

"There appeared to be no Roche formations to the south?" Egibi said, trying to hold back incredulity.

"None, sir," Hal said. "I saw scattered light cavalry, and they were in full flight."

"This is somewhat astonishing," Lord Desmoceras, the Sagene commander of the Second Army said. He was a thin man, a bit shorter than average, but his face and body were seamed with the scars that proved him a fighting man to contend with.

"I have full confidence in Lord Kailas," Egibi said, but there was a slight question in his voice.

"As do I," Cantabri said, without ever a question mark.

"Thank you, sirs," Hal said. "Lord Desmoceras, I'm an experienced flier.

I flew very carefully, saw no camouflaged camps or formations.

"The Roche have, from all I could see, been split in half. I'd guess some are fleeing toward Aude, the rest possibly to join up with other elements to our south.

"I'm ready to take out flights to find out just where they are."

Egibi nodded, didn't respond to Hal's volunteering.

"What do you think?" he asked Desmoceras.

The Sagene pulled at his nose.

"I think my Council of Barons would have my head for disobeying their orders, and turning away from Aude. Not to mention we have no spells ready, and it would take at least two days to change the army's orders."

Lord Egibi made a wry face.

"And here we've told our officers to take the initiative, not to be afraid to take chances.

"I myself wonder what King Asir would think if I changed the attack.

First, we'll have a supply problem, turning away from the River Comtal, and—"

"Live off what the Roche have abandoned," Hal said, somewhat astonished at his effrontery.

Lord Egibi turned to him, face reddening. Then he controlled himself.

"Yes. Thank you, Lord Kailas," he said, voice cold. "If you'll wait beyond, to see if we have any further orders?"

Hal forced calm, saluted, and left.

An hour later, Cantabri came out, lips pursed, hand on his sword as if he wanted to draw and kill the first person he saw.

¦

Hal didn't need to ask what the decision had been.

"Continue the attack?" he said.

Cantabri nodded, too angry to speak.

Hal stormed back to his dragon, took off for his flight base, barely noticing or caring that his wingmates were flanking him.

A drum kept pounding in his head—we could have won the war, we could have won the war, we could have won the war.

The next day, the advance continued toward Aude.