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.LetOrmaz, Lord of the Caverns of the Dead, condemn Leonnestros to eternaldamnation in his lowliestCavern for deserting his post and leading his troopers into Kalvan'sdeathtrap!For a moment it appeared as if Kalvan's charge might be broken; there were fewlancers in the Hostigi first ranks and too many of the Hostigi pistoleers hadfired before the two lines met with clash of arms.Then from the Hostigi second and third ranks came point-blank pistol fire,tearing through his own front ranks.Phidestros' pressed his knees into Snowdrift's flanks, raised his sword andled the Iron Band directly into the Hostigi lines.The Iron Band's firstvolley emptied fifty or more Hostigi saddles, including some ofKing Kalvan's bodyguards.For a moment, no longer than the blink of an eye,the two commanders were within sword distance, then the currents of battletore them apart before either had a chance to break eye contact.Phidestros looked down at his still loaded pistol and cursed.What had stoppedhim from firing, or even thinking of it? The entire battle could have been wonin an instant.Maybe it had been the dawning of recognition on Kalvan's faceof meeting an equal and his own confirming nod.Maybe the gods weren'tfinished with either of them Kalvan could have shot him dead just as easily.There was something between the two men no doubt about that but it was notPage 194ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html'something' to be settled in the heat and confusion of battle.For not the first time, Phidestros wondered if he had picked the wrong side inthis war to the death and to the death it was, because Styphon's House wouldnot rest until Great King Kalvan andHos-Hostigos were no more.There were worse ways to die than at the side of good and brave men in a noblecause.He was noStyphoni; the upper priesthood reeked of corruption and worshipped gold, notgod.But there would not be could not be a parley with Kalvan until PrinceSarrask was dead.And, from all reports, the Prince led a charmed life muchlike Kalvan himself.Maybe there was something to this notion of a War of theGods?Phidestros had no time or energy to do more than ask himself the questionbefore a Hostigi captain with long blonde hair and no helmet was trying toskewer him with the longest and most pointed bladePhidestros had ever seen.His breastplate turned away several thrusts, then hefound himself out of reach of the blond captain.He looked around and suddenlysaw himself adrift in a sea of red sashes and red and blue plumes of Hostigos.He shot a Hostigi trooper aiming a musketoon at him and saw a redGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlblossom appear where the man's face had been.Turning his head over hisshoulder, he was very relieved to see a score of green and black plumes andorange sashes of Iron Band troopers fighting their way to his side.Suddenly Snowdrift screamed loud enough that it pieced even Phidestros numbears, then he reared, coming down hard on all four hooves.Snowdrift tried torear again, then his hind legs collapsed and tumbled backward.Phidestrosleaped from the saddle, landing hard enough to make his bad knee complainloudly.Blood was pouring out of Snowdrift's mouth and from his flanks; he was dyingbut not fast enough forPhidestros just to leave him.He pressed his pocket pistol to the gelding'shead, closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.That gesture almost cost him his life.Phidestros opened his eyes to seeSnowdrift relaxing in death, but neither un-wounded horses nor friendly ridersclose enough to help him remount.Geblon was the closest, about forty pacesaway, trying desperately to control a wounded horse without dropping the IronBand's banner.While he was trying to attract Geblon's attention, a bullet sang past hishelmet.He dropped to hands and knees behind Snowdrift and shot a Hostigicuirassier off his horse with his last loaded horsepistol.He looked back tosee an Iron Band lancer riding up, leading a blood-smeared but seemingly fitremount.Too small to carry him far, but better than standing in the midst of thiscarnage.As Phidestros rode back to the Styphoni lines, he saw large groups ofmercenaries some entire companies! raising helmets on sword points or holdingout reversed pistols.His stomach sank.What will Grand Master Soton say?The only consolation was that none of them wore the green and black plumes ofthe Iron Band.IIBrother Mytron clenched his hands tighter together each time he heard anotherscream from the RoyalBedchamber, now the royal birthing room.He knew Rylla well enough to knowthat only terrible pain could wrench such cries from her lips [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]