CHAPTER FORTY SIX

The Bezane of Ajaktut's fortified headquarters consisted of a great hall, thatched and built of wood, surrounded by smaller wooden buildings within a high earthen wall, topped by a wooden palisade. The Bezane was a short, heavily-built man with an enormous black beard and a brilliantly-coloured turban, and Feldak had to a address him through an interpreter. With Chaldez and Dan at his side, he explained that the "bandits" were in fact the remnants of an Imperial army that had been on its way to Laifya.
The Bezane stroked his beard, and did not look impressed. He accused Chaldez of being a thief, and he said that thieves in Ajaktut were customarily impaled. Chaldez tried not to show his anxiety; adopting as imperious an air as he was able, he said that as a plenipotentiary of the Empire he would have offered the Bezane and his subjects the normal courtesies, but that circumstances had not allowed it. He and his army, he said, had been despatched to drive back the barbarians, of whom he was sure the Bezane had heard, and that that remained his objective.
"We are all but destroyed," he said, "but I am Zhakarrah, nephew and protégé of the Grand Marshal of the Empire, the Great Zhak Kassimo, and when my messenger reaches him he will send 50,000 men to make up for those that I have lost. In the meantime I intend to form an alliance with Prince Feldak and the Laifyans and march to join an army which is assembling in the east. Be sure that your generosity in providing provisions for me and my men and our animals will reach the ears of my patron, the Grand Marshal."
The Bezane was entirely cowered by this speech; he released Feldak from his obligations, paid him off handsomely and provided Chaldez with a dozen mules laden with provisions.
Chaldez was pleased with what he regarded as an inspired piece of bluffing. Zhakarrah was the title by which he was known to the Seians, and it means Prince Commander. Dan, he thought, should have been impressed. But Dan gave no hint that he was, so Chaldez took his boast to Tsem, saying he had saved their lives by claiming to be related to the Imperial Grand Marshal, and instead of congratulating him on his quick thinking, Tsem merely attributed their change of fortune to the fact that the Bezane was old enough to have known the Empire in the days when its Grand Marshal commanded respect.
A day's ride brought the allies to the confluence of the Stenovin and its great tributary the River Ix, and here Feldak announced that they should leave the Stenovin valley. "This river," he said, indicating the Ix, "will bring us to the army in the east."
Moving a 70-strong armed force from one territory to another would, Chaldez realised, be fraught with diplomatic complications which the language barrier could only aggravate. At the very beginning, however, their way was smoothed for them by an emissary sent ahead by the Bezane, and impressed by his success, Chaldez could see no reason why every petty ruler and king whose territory they had to pass through should not do the same for them.
Feldak said that it might work, but warned him "These people don't trust each other."
Within days they were to find out how right he was.
Believing they had permission to proceed, they crossed from one territory to another, and were challenged almost at once. A powerful-looking force barred their way, while on some high ground to their right archers and cavalry were taking up position.

Negotiation was impossible on account of language differences, and Chaldez perceived that to fight would be suicidal; apart from its greater size, the opposing army was in a superior tactical position, and even if he had had the best fighting men in the world he would not have taken it on. He even doubted that they could safely withdrew. Peremptorily he ordered his own men and his Laifyan allies to throw down their weapons and surrender.
Feldak was outraged. "What are you doing?" he screamed. "They'll kill us all!" He attempted to countermand Chaldez's order, but Dan rode up beside him, grabbed him, and slipping out of his own saddle, pulled him to the ground. While they struggled, Chaldez repeated his order. The Laifyans were confused.
"I have given an order!" he bellowed. "You will obey it!" But they still hesitated.
Dan, a powerful wrestler, pinned Feldak down, and when the Laifyans saw it they did throw down their swords.
After a brief interval, the opposing commander sent a troop of men to gather up the discarded weapons, and then escorted the intruders to the fortified palace of his prince. It was quite close, and overlooked a walled city.
The ruler of the territory treated Chaldez courteously, and sent to the city for a merchant who could speak Laifyan to act as interpreter. Through him Chaldez said very much the same thing as he had told the Bezane of Ajaktut, and with a similar result. They left the palace not only with their weapons, but laden with provisions
Feldak, although proved so badly wrong, did not apologise. He refused to ride with Chaldez and Dan, and that evening he very ungraciously conceded the command of the Laifyans to Chaldez.
Chaldez tried to mollify him. "You are their natural leader," he said, "but you must realise that in matters of warfare I am your superior. I must be in command."
Feldak glowered. "How can I be their leader?" he demanded. "You have destroyed my authority. No. They're yours! I want nothing more to do with this."
"You'll leave us?" Chaldez was incredulous.
Feldak shook his head. "No. I'll ride with you, but don't expect my help."
"Indeed I will!" Chaldez returned. "If we have to fight and you try riding away I'll have you killed like a dog."
Feldak stalked off, in a sulk.
For a while he rode alone, but a small group of Laifyans soon gathered around him, and Chaldez sensed that they resented him and were critical of his command. Dan said "Take no notice. Everyone else knows you did the right thing. I promise you this - if they make trouble I'll settle them."
Shortly after the upset with Feldak there was a minor crisis and Dan rode up the column to advise Chaldez, at its head, to call a halt. Before reaching him he shouted out "Chaldez!"
Chaldez turned in his saddle and again Dan called out "Chaldez!"
"Yes?" he called back irritably, and immediately regretted it. Feldak and his group were quite close. Had they heard?
His change of name had not so far caused any practical difficulties: the Seians, even Tsem, knew him only as Zhakarrah, and Dan had taken to calling him "Brother." But now, for the first time since joining Feldak, his true name had been uttered.
He gauged, from the lack of any obvious reaction, that no harm had been done, but he could not be sure of it and afterwards he had many uneasy moments wondering if his guise as Zhakarrah, the Imperial commander, had been destroyed. Dan said "What would your real name mean to them anyway? They won't have heard of you."
Chaldez was not much comforted. "Call me 'Brother,'" he said, "but never again 'Chaldez.' That name is too dangerous."