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little way off. Blade clapped the Captain on the shoulder.
"Listen to me, Ogier, and listen well. Then you must decide. For much has
happened and I need a friend now as never before."
He told Ogier of the interview with Casta and that the Izmir was dead. He
spoke of his promised marriage to Hirga. He said nothing of the interlude in
the cubicle.
Ogier, arms akimbo, stepped back a pace and surveyed Blade. His face was dark.
"And you agreed to all this?"
"I had to, Ogier. I was in a weak position. I had no power to strike a better
bargain."
Ogier shook his head. "You have me. I have sworn an oath and I will bide by
it.
So will my men."
"Ogier! Think, man. You and a dozen soldiers, no matter how loyal?"
"I could get other men. I am not the only soldier who hates the priests."
"How many men, Ogier?"
The Captain scratched at his stubble. "Perhaps a thousand. Or even more."
Blade smiled wryly. "And how many priests are there in Zir? I want a cool
answer, Ogier. Forget your prejudice and anger. Give me an officer's answer."
Ogier frowned. "At last intelligence, Casta had some ten thousand priests to
his back. I admit the number. But it is of no matter. Give me a thousand good
men and I
will slit their throats as if they were pigeons and not black crows. Only we
had best hurry before Casta can organize. Give me the word, Blade "
Blade shook his head. "No. It is my game and I will play it my way."
Ogier looked his disgust. "As you say. I promised the Izmir I would obey you,
and I will but you are a fool. For one thing cannot you see why Casta sends
you to invade the Hitts? To get you out of the way, and at the same time do
his dirty job for him. For it is true that the Hitts are a menace to our north
flank and we dare not invade elsewhere until they are pacified."
Blade grinned at him. "That is better. That is the soldier thinking. Keep to
such thoughts, Ogier, and let me worry about the plots and the intrigues. I am
not a child at such matters. Now take me to this Thane."
With his little party trailing along behind, Blade was directed to a cluster
of huts nearby on the plain. In the largest of the huts he found the man
called Thane and so glimpsed his first Hitt.
Thane was as tall as Blade and thicker in the chest and shoulders. His yellow
hair fell to his shoulders and his eyes were wide set and an icy blue. He wore
leather trousers and a vest and the hair on his bare chest was thick and as
yellow as his head. He did not rise as they came into the hut. There was a cup
on the table and a large jar of wine nearby and it was evident that Thane was
drunk. For a moment
Blade thought to come another time, or have the man brought to him, then he
realized that here was a man who could drink and still hold to his senses. The
voice was thick and the eyes bloodshot, but Thane knew what he was about.
Ogier spoke first, introducing Blade, and then stood back. Thane stared at
Blade, still not rising, and if there was no overt disrespect in his tone and
mien, neither was there respect. Blade was secretly amused, and not
displeased. He did not want a serf. And it was evident that Thane could draw
the line just short of insolence.
"So you are the babe grown to a man so soon, eh? I have been wanting to see
with my own eyes, for one must be a fool to believe these Zirnians. But now I
see and I must believe. But how, I ask? I would give a lot to know the trick."
Blade smiled. "So said the High Priest Casta."
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Thane scowled and smashed at the table with a huge fist. "Do not speak to me
of that black corpse. It sickens me to think of him. But he is a brain-picker
for all that I admit it. He is always after my secrets. Not that I tell him. I
lie to him. Not that he believes me. Aha, what games we play, the crow and
me!"
Blade sat down and poured himself a cup of wine. Ogier looked on, arms crossed
on his barrel chest, and refused drink. "One of us must stay sober," he
commented dourly. "This is not a time for drinking, Blade. It is a time for
thought and preparation."
Blade grinned and winked at Thane. "I know, Ogier. I will have but the one
cup.
And why am I here, if not for thought and preparation?" Thane drank off his
wine and splashed his cup full again. "You speak like a warrior, Blade, and
you look like a warrior. Are you one?"
"I am," said Blade mildly. "As time will prove. And it is of war that I came
here to speak, Thane."
Thane belched. "You want something of me, then? I thought so. What is it?"
"I plan to invade the Hitts. I need an engineer. I will make you a Captain and
you will have full authority in your field, also a full share of loot and
treasure."
Thane shook his head. "I am well enough here. Anyway, the work is not finished
yet. Now that the old man is dead I would like to finish it quickly, even
though he will never see it."
"I could command you," said Blade softly, "but I will not. An unwilling man
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