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ance； which had begun before dawn； continued into the early afternoon without a halt for any reason。 The rested and well…fed inoropes did not like the continuous ride； but they were capable of it when goaded on by the spurs。 They shrieked protest； but the advance went on。 The endless jogging did not seem to bother the nomads； who had been in the saddle almost since birth； but Jason； in spite of his recent riding experience； was soon battered and sore。 If the ride was affecting the Pyrrans in any way； it was not noticeable。
Squadrons of riders scouted out ahead of the main pany of troops； and by late afternoon the invading army came across their handiwork。 Slaughtered nomads； first a single rider； his blood mixed with that of his butchered inorope； then a family unit that had been unlucky enough to cross the path of the army。 The escungs and folded camachs were still smoldering； surrounded by a ghastly array of dead bodies。 Men； women and children； even the moropes and flocks； had been brutally
slain。 Temuchin fought total war and where he had passed nothing remained alive。 He was brutally pragmatic in his thinking。 War is fought to be won。 Anything that assures victory is sensible。 It is sensible to make a three…day ride in a single day if it means the enemy can be surprised。 It is sensible to kill everyone you meet so that no alarm can be given； just as it is sensible to destroy all their goods so your warriors will not be burdened by booty。
The truth of Tetnuchin's tactics was proved when； just before dark； the racing anny swooped down upon a large…sized village of the weasel clan in the foothills of the mountains。
As the great line of riders topped the last ridge； the alarm was given in the camp； but it was too late for escape。 The ends of the line swung in and met behind the camp； though it looked as though some hardridden moropes had slipped through before the forces joined。 Sloppy； Jason thought； surprised that Temuchin had not done a better job。
After this it was just slaughter。 First by overwhelming flights of arrows that drove back and decimated the defenders； then by a lance charge at full gallop。 Jason hung back； not out of cowardice； but from simple hatred of the bloodshed。 The Pyrrans attacked with the rest。 Through constant practice they were all now proficient with the short bow； though they still could not fire as fast as the nomads； but it was in shock tactics that they proved what they could do。 If they had any qualms about killing the nomad tribe； they did not show it。 They struck like lightning and tore through the defenders and overrode them。 With their speed and weight they did not parry or attempt to defend themselves。 Instead； they hit like battering rams； slashed； killed and kept on without slowing。 Jason could not join them in this。 He remained with the two disgruntled men who had been detailed to guard the gunpowder bombs； picking out chords on his lute as he posed a new song to describe this great occasion。 It was dark before the pillage was over and Jason rode slowly into the ravished encampment。 He met a rider who was searching for him。
〃Temuchin would see you。 e now；〃 the man ordered。 Jason was too tired and sickened to think of any sharp ebacks。
They made their way through the conquered encampment； with their moropes stepping carefully over the sprawled and piled corpses。 Jason kept his eyes straight ahead； but could not close his nose to the slaughterhouse stench。 Surprisingly； very few of the camachs had been damaged or burned； and Temuchin was holding an officers' council in the largest of them。 It had undoubtedly belonged to the former leader of the clan； in fact； the chieftain himself lay gutted； dead and unno
riced； against the far side of the tent。 All of the officers were assembled
…though Kerk was not present…when Jason entered。
'We begin；〃 Témuchin said； and squatted cross…legged on a fur robe。 The others waited until he sat； then did the same。 〃Here is the plan。 What we did today was nothing； but it is the beginning。 To the east of this place is a very large encampment of the weasel tribes； and tomorrow we march to attack this place。 I want your men to think we go to this camp； and I want those who watch from the hills to think the same。 Some were permitted to escape to observe our movements。〃
That for my theory about sloppy soldiering； Jason thought。 I should have known better。 Temuchin must have this campaign planned down to the last arrowhead。
〃Today your men have ridden hard and fought well。 Tonight the soldiers not on guard will drink the achadh they find here and eat the food and will be very late arising in the morning。 We will take the undamaged cainachs and destroy the rest。 It will be a short day and we will camp early。 The camachs will be set up； many cooking fires lit and kept burning； while patrols will sweep as far as the foothills so that the watchers will not get too close。〃
〃And it is all a trick；〃 Ahankk said； grinning behind his hand。 'We will not attack to the east after all？！〃
〃You are correct。〃 The warlord had their plete attention； the officers leaning forward unconsciously so as not to miss a word。 〃As soon as it is dark； the horde will ride west； a day's and a night's ride should bring us to The Slash； the valley that leads to the weasel's heartland。 We will attack the defenders； with the gunpowder bombs against their forts； and seize control before reinforcements can arrive。〃
〃Bad fighting there；〃 one of the officers grumbled； fingering an old wound。 〃Nothing there to fight for。〃
〃No； nothing there； you brainless fool；〃 Temuchin said in such a cold and angry tone that the man recoiled； 〃nothing at all。 But it is the gateway to their homeland。 A few hundred can stop an army in The Slash； but once we are through they are lost。 We will destroy their tribes one by one until the weasel clan will be only a memory for the jongleurs to sing about。 Now issue your orders and sleep。 Tomorrow night the long ride and the attack begins。〃
As the others filed out； Temuchin took Jason by the arm。
〃The gunpowder bombs；〃 he said。 〃They will blow up each time they are used？〃
〃Of course；〃 Jason answered； with far more enthusiasm than he felt。 〃You have my word on that。〃
It wasn't the bombs that were worrying him…he had already taken
precautions to assure satisfactory explosions…but the prospect of another nonstop ride even longer than the first。 The nomads would do it； there was no doubt about that； and the Pyrrans could make it as well。 But could he？
The night air was bitterly cold when he emerged from the heat of the camach。 His breath made a sudden silver fog against the stars before it vanished。 The plains were still； cut through by the occasional snort of a tired morope or the drunken shouts of the soldiers。
Yes； he would make the ride all right。 He might have to be tied to the saddle and hopped up with drugs； but he was going to make it。 What really concerned him was the shape he would arrive in at the other end of the ride。 This did not bear thinking about。
13
〃Hold on for just a short while longer。 The Slash is in sight ahead；〃 Kerk shouted。
Jason nodded； then realized that his head was bobbing continuously with the Inorope's