Day Nine after departing Estreon.

True to his promise, the Eagle had once again dropped on the blooming town surrounding Scorpio Point. To a second question regarding the town's name, he had replied simply "Nasri"--meaning 'aid'--to immediate cheers of those who understood. A band of twenty men also stepped forth with an offer to, as their leader put it, "be worthy of our newfound name and march alongside he who had given it"; to which Urdin readily assented.

As his still-modest host continued to navigate the plain eastwards in three lines as a precaution against possible raids, Urdin learned the bit about the Skandian cavalry.

"Is that so?" he returned with considerable surprise and alarm. "How kind and generous of that Alingga to share this with you, Arys."

"Nor would I have known this otherwise, sir. My guess is they are moving at speed to where we are on horseback. Let's hope they don't catch up before Leo Point..."

"Better still, let's pray that the outpost we're heading to is a loyal one," Kalasnir joined, "or we'd be caught between two fires. Despite our slight advantage in numbers, we don't have anything whatsoever to breach any form of fortification this outpost might have..."

"Some truth there," the Eagle nodded thoughtfully. "Leo Point is the central hub of our trade networks in 'the Link', strategically and geographically. We could expect it to be constructed differently than the others."

"Then again," Arys countered, "a host of a thousand would not be so easy to deal with logistically. We can count on the Skandians and the rebels picking a slow pace... can we not, Sir Urdin?"

"Better not bank on it. The Skandians in their glory days are known for their efficiency. Roads they constructed in abundance, and if they are smart enough to repair ones heading to us..."

"What of the rebels?"

"Suppose they brought siege equipment to break down Leo Point's defenses, their march would be even slower. We on the other hand, are coming there with well intentions."

"So much are being left to chance here," Kalasnir moaned, earning a scoff.

"Welcome to your first real engagement in years, then, Kalas. Campaigns are never certain until their final conclusion, that's one thing you should start to learn. I hope my nephew, wherever he is, is learning this as well."

Arys chuckled. "Wish we could see him for ourselves, sir, this nephew you talked so often about."

Urdin laughed heartily. "Try not to get killed, then. Who knows how many skirmishes we'd have to go through after passing Kasna's station."

***

After prayer that evening, Urdin summoned his aides for a conference in his tent. His common soldiers meanwhile had constructed their own, four or five to a tent, or enjoying the night around campfires without neglecting to patrol its fringes.

"Arys," the Eagle began, "earlier you asked how we are going to handle two thousand hostiles, I recall."

"Yes, sir, and you did reply that we should just fight and pray."

"Be that as it may, I do have another solution... but this will require your strict cooperation."

"We are at your service, Prince Urdin," Kalasnir joined. "Command us."

Urdin took a good look at each of his assembled aides before resuming.

"Rumors say we will be facing two equally hostile armies... but I am of the opinion that we might just be able to fight only one. The other could be induced to take our side, but a bold stroke shall be required."

"Inform us, then, sir, of what steps we ought to take," Vesna added. "We shall see to its successful completion."

For the next minute they all listened intently. At the end of it, Arys tilted his head, both hands clenched on the table; Vesna frowned skeptically; and Kalasnir smiled, nodding to himself. Urdin's expression, however, was nowhere pleasant.

"On this single daring move shall hang the entire balance of this fateful engagement, sirs," Arys tried to reason. "Fail, and--"

"Minds during battles are so hard to fathom, Sir Arys," Vesna cut in. "Recall also that they still have their conscience to consider. Personally I favor this... which might explain why we need to 'pray all the while', as Sir Urdin had wisely put it. Yes, indeed! By the Infinite One's Grace, should this maneuver succeed, we'd have dealt staggering blows to our adversaries, and regain the loyalty of the rest."

"Indeed," Kalasnir murmured, "we're already too far ahead to think of failure."

"Halt!" someone outside shouted. Swords were drawn. "Who goes?!"

Sounds of struggle followed. Urdin turned his gaze outside but did not otherwise stir, while Arys' hand was already on his sword hilt.

"Ambush?"

"Just be prepared."

The flaps of the tent was soon opened and a soldier came in, bowing like it was nothing.

"My prince. There is someone outside wishing to see you."

"Any names?"

"Not to our ears, sir. Said as much."

"I'll be there."

The soldier bowed again and left.

Urdin strode out without indicating whether any of his aides might follow, but Vesna and Kalasnir followed anyway just to keep him safe.

Outside, Kalasnir got the shock of his life.

***

"I... I recognize these uniforms..." he stuttered, pointing a trembling finger to the contrite-looking fugitive on his knees. Two others were being held back behind him. "You're..."

"Mubarizuns," Urdin finished for him. "Are you alone, or are there others lying in wait?"

The kneeling man dared not reply.

"Speak up, will you?"

Still he did not dare to meet Urdin's fiery gaze. "My prince, my name is Khalid; and I, speaking also for my comrades there, plead for your most affectionate pardon. Never have we thought we would be tricked so easily into becoming part of an adventure against Hospodia..."

"Let him stand," the Eagle told the pair of soldiers behind him. They did, taking one step backwards.

"You can look up now, Khalid."

The fugitive slowly did, and Urdin saw tears on his bearded face.

"Tell us now, calm and precise. What happened?"

"On that day... we thought it was an insurrection of dissatisfied rank and file under Captain Hnakir. Plus, our barracks were suddenly assaulted for undisclosed reasons. It was then that Vasmir implored us to join, and most of us immediately did... myself included, sadly. Only much later did I find out that Hnakir's forces were in fact trying to protect Lord Hospodia from Vasmir's treachery, but by then His Grace was no more and Hnakir and Senna had fled. Oh..."

Urdin frowned.

"Senna was there fighting in my brother's defense?"

Khalid wiped the tears with the back of his left hand, nodding.

"I was among those ordered to stand down as your female aide raged through our ranks with the strength of a thousand lionesses, all by herself. She battled Vasmir all the way into the palace. While this was happening I thought I saw someone flying away, holding on to something. Later came the announcement that Lord Ingeras was no more and that, in absence of Prince Vlos despite the most thorough searches, Vasmir was taking for himself the responsibility to--as he put it--oversee the domains. As mubarizuns and therefore the elite corps of the House, we were ordered to put down any attempt whatsoever to resist his authority."

"What 'authority' is that?" Urdin growled with venom. "Darn you, Vasmir..."

"That was how the so-called 'rebellion' spread to three other outlying outposts so quickly, huh?"

The Eagle saw that Arys too had come out and had apparently been listening to a good part of the narrative. To this question Khalid wordlessly nodded.

"When did you come to realize that something is amiss?" the Eagle inquired again.

"For some time since Vasmir took power, my prince, we felt it odd that there were no more attempts to find Prince Vlos or you. Some of us deduced that the former might well have been marked for 'incidental' death, had he not managed to somehow slip away, while you were in fact already in Estreon to see that said city agreed to join our cause, so I tried to send a letter... In any case, discontent to Vasmir's 'rule' had begun to bubble.

"Please do not get this wrong, Prince Urdin. We would gladly have resisted, if only we could know that there was someone of your caliber to lead us. As it was, there was not, and we had no wish to break our oaths for the second time by engineering a second insurrection... so we had laid low. Now, against all expectations, you have come! Therefore," Khalid knelt again, "please kindly accept us back into your ranks!"

Urdin did not immediately answer, instead surveying his surroundings and noting small groups of his men curiously beginning to gather around behind Khalid.

"And how do you suppose just three of you would be of any help to our cause?"

"Then we beg to march in the front line! By seeing us, hopefully, the others would be reminded of their true loyalties."

"My prince," Arys suggested, "you'd do well to ask him just how many of his comrades are marching under that wretch's banners."

The Eagle relayed the question.

"I cannot remember the precise numbers, my prince, but they are said to comprise exactly a quarter of the entire force," came the reply.

"Two-hundred and fifty," Urdin murmured. The loss of that many swords would indeed hamper any army's ability to mount an effective charge. Still...

"Do you realize what you are doing, Khalid?" came Kalasnir's question. "You are about to induce the mubarizuns to another mass desertion. Such an act would inevitably blacken its reputation as noble protectors of Hospodian legacy thus far."

"We may have deserted the first time, out of ignorance," Khalid responded. "This is something I seek to amend, good sir."

Their expectant gazes again turned to Urdin.

"Your absence would be noted," the Eagle said carefully.

"Like I would care a spit about it, sir. Besides, it was overdue. I was sent out patrolling with those two, but once on the plains we agreed to ride together in your supposed direction. We changed horses in Leo Point, and another three days brought us here."

"Three days on horseback, and open plain before and after Leo Point," Arys repeated, mentally noting. "Very well. What sort of welcome is to be expected?"

"A warm one, sir. Sir Kasna, upon hearing our plight, readily agreed to dedicate his strategic outpost to your cause. He also mentioned that he shall try to better pacify it from panic-mongers. Your speedy arrival, if it could be reasonably managed, would also serve to improve things."

Urdin nodded to himself after a brief silence.

"You three are welcome to our ranks, Khalid. Retain your ranks, uniforms, and steeds. Until shortly before the actual engagement, I ask that you scout for us. Ascertain the path ahead and keep the rear safe. Together we shall give Vasmir and his sorry excuse for an oligarchy a decent taste of Hospodian justice."

"Sir!"