LITMIR.BIZ

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the base of the cliff, aware that the auch may be a distraction while others exited from the fissure, but he could see no sign of movement there. The creature stopped again further down the cliff before disappearing somewhere into the country above. Jaimz walked back to the camp without speaking and Thom followed.

      Now he had one answer. They were not necessarily expected, but the auchs were taking no chances and were keeping a look out for any human approach.

      Back with his men he spread the word that the auchs were nearby and all noise was to be kept to a minimum. He did not need to say more. Men stopped whatever they were doing and no one spoke. All eyes watched the trees and cliff and all hands rested on weapons.

      They would set extra guards tonight and he hoped that tomorrow his full forces would be reunited. Judging by the auchs actions, he did not believe they had been seen yet, but now he could begin to determine their numbers.

      The question in his mind was whether the auch was a lookout or part of a larger force. He had given it much thought, and as far as he could tell the simplest plan would be best. All he had to do was have the auchs attack him, and be ready to run.

      But he had seen an auch close up, and words were easy. Putting them into action could lead to disaster for his men, and an end to his new career. The fact that it could also mean the end of his life did not enter his thoughts.

      The next day dawned cool, despite the sun shining bright in the cloudless sky. More men had arrived during the night and the final few would soon be here according to the scouts. The time had come to call his officers together and give them their orders, though he knew they would not like them. He outlined what he wanted and told them to have all horses saddled and ready. In his thoughts, he questioned whether to start early or late. Attacking early would give them better light if they were forced to run, but on the other hand, the dark could offer to hide them if things went wrong.

      But it was not to be his decision in the end. The auchs would decide the next step.

      Chapter 11

      The river flowed gently past the small cottage, delicately kissing the bank before running on to seek other pleasures. The trees still provided their shade but the vegetable garden showed its lack of care in recent weeks. Patches of mud had dried along the banks where the water had dropped to lower levels.

      On the verandah, two large chairs lazed in the morning sun. At present, they were occupied by Hirith and Battok who lay with their eyes closed, discussing the attack on Aiyu’s family and how the lowlanders came to be on the high country. They also wondered how they could have approached, completed the attack and left without being seen or any alarm given but they agreed the lowlanders had come with one advantage - they had not been expected. Ethru listened from where she sat on the floor with her back leaning against the wall and she wondered why she felt so at ease in this place so far from the city. Privately, she had no doubts that these men were the same ones who had chased Camille to the mountains and whose intent seemed only to cause trouble.

      Inside the cottage, Zon was preparing a mixture of fresh vegetables for them to snack on. They were all relaxed and enjoying the comfort of the unusual warmth of the sun. Their duty to Obiri was proving far easier than any of them expected. Since the attack on Bhata, there had been no sign of lowlander activity.

      Zon saw him first, through the open window. Kuir was approaching and his ungainly lope expressed a desire to reach the cottage quickly. She put down the food and came out onto the verandah, warning the others as she did. Together, they stood and waited for the guard to arrive.

      “Lowlanders here,” Kuir called when he was close enough to make them hear. When he reached the cottage they began to quiz him on what he saw.

      “Do patrol The Edge. See lowlanders in trees. First see two watch cliff. One see Kuir so Kuir look away. Make lowlanders think Kuir no see. Move different place. See more humans in trees. Then run here. Know Hirith want hear.”

      He paused, seemingly hopeful for some form of congratulations on his good work, but Hirith was more interested in his observations, and then asked him of the numbers of lowlanders who had come and what they were doing now. Finally he announced that it was time for them all to move to The Edge where they had prepared their defence for whatever came next.

      “Tell everyone come. We go now. If lowlanders want come mountains again, we play good joke on them.”

      While they trotted to their position, Hirith contemplated their coming actions to assure himself he could do no more. To Hirith, it was strange that the cliff that had been the barrier that kept humans and auchs apart since the days of Ngai was now to be the place that brought the two races together in war, because that is what Obiri told him this was to be.

      When did a war begin? he thought. Was it the first time two groups faced off, or was it the first death? Was it yet to start, or had it already begun? Or did there need to be a required number of people involved? And if so, how many?

      In a very short time their small group were gathered at The Edge above the fissure entrance. Their arrival at the cliff put an end to all the futile thoughts. He kept his people back from the lip so they could not be seen as he was certain the humans would be watching for them just as he was certain an attack was coming.

      Nothing else would explain the presence of the strong lowlander force, but he needed to know what was happening.

      He asked Kuir to move forward again but warned him to crawl and take care not to be seen.

      The others waited their instructions.

      “When lowlanders come, I stand with Kuir and two more guards. We throw rocks. Others keep rocks ready. This be good joke. But no think lowlanders laugh. We show lowlanders no come mountains.”

      But the expected attack did not come and eventually night spread its shadow again over the land. Battok called Hirith aside to ask his friend a question.

      “How many lowlanders in trees?”

      When Hirith admitted he had no idea of the size of the forces below but suggested their numbers were large enough to create the noise they heard but small enough to hide their numbers easily in the trees. Battok suggested the two of them should go and look and after only a moment’s hesitation, Hirith agreed and set out for the entrance to the tunnel. Battok hurried to catch up to his friend and together they walked through the luscious grasses, their careful passage watched by the stars, before descending through the dark tunnel to the mouth of the fissure.

      Hirith looked to see where the guards stood watch. Two men could be seen at the edge of the trees but as far as Hirith could tell no one hid among the rocks to raise any alarm. The human guards’ eyes seemed only for the cliff above. They slipped out and made their way along the cliff base until they were clear of the fissure before heading out over the rocky ground and into the shadows of the trees. Even the stars could not see them here. They circled around to approach the humans from the far side, the lowlands side.

      Crouching beside Battok, Hirith began to count and had determined that about sixty humans hid in the shadows when Battok touched his arm, making him aware of the approaching riders. More men were entering the camp and they remained still as a further nine rode past and into the camp. From their close position they heard one of the men warn the newcomers to keep quiet because the auchs were patrolling the cliff top, and for the groups’ leader to report for instructions.

      Battok turned to Hirith and grinned.

      “Lowlander talk be good to know,” he whispered.

      Hirith considered the risks and decided that since they were already here, it would be an insult not to listen to what they planned. The humans held their meeting, not knowing that two of their enemy sat less than fifty feet away, taking note of all that was planned. When they finished, Hirith and Battok withdrew quietly to make their way back to the fissure.

      Kuir and Ethru stood guard at the ramped entrance and Hirith asked them to join him. He would tell everyone what they had discovered.

      “Rest now. Humans come tomorrow,” he told them. “Lowlanders wait for Kuir do check. Come after he

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