Page 118 of The Robber Knight
“Well, we fought on for some time. The enemyattacked again and again. I was pretty busy with caring for thewounded soldiers, so I didn't see exactly why and how, but we beatthe enemy and they retreated.”
There was a pause. Ayla was smiling, waitingfor applause. Yet Reuben was equally silent. He seemed to bewaiting for more.
Finally, he apparently realized that herstory was finished. “Just like that?” he asked. “They retreated,just like that?”
“Yes.”
*~*~**~*~*
Reuben nodded slowly. Captain Linhart must bea good commander. He had heard of similar feats before—a small armyat a pass or some other narrow point overwhelming and turning backan infinitely larger force through pure persistence. No doubt SirLuca, the fiend, would attack again. But this time, it seemed, hehad lost.
But no. Something was not quite right withthis picture.
“They attacked the bridge?” Reuben asked,trying to find a clue to what was bothering him. “They attackedjust like the first time?”
“Yes.”
He frowned, deep in thought. “That'sodd.”
Ayla stared at him, incredulity written allover her pretty, mud-streaked face. “Odd? What do you mean, odd?They're here to attack us, aren't they? I would have said terrible,atrocious, villainous, but not odd.”
“No, I don't mean it's odd that they attackedyou. I mean it's odd that they attacked the bridge. They alreadytried that strategy once, and it failed. It is odd that they shouldtry the same strategy again. From what you have told me of this SirLuca, I would have judged him to be a better commander.”
“Perhaps he's not as clever as he thinks heis.”
“Perhaps...” Reuben's voice didn't soundconvinced, even to himself. Frustrated, he stared at the oppositewall. Something, there was something wrong...
Then, suddenly, Reuben saw it. His eyeswidened and his breathing hitched. Oh no. Could it be? No, no,no...!
*~*~**~*~*
In a heartbeat, the whole atmosphere in theroom changed. Ayla felt it: where before there had been the triumphof victory, which, though marred by loss, was sweet and joyous,there now was an undefinable dread.
She returned Reuben's wide-eyed gaze and sawfear and anger boiling there.
“Tell me what you said again,” hedemanded.
“What I said? That Luca isn't as clever as hethinks he is?”
“Not that! What you said when you saw yourtwenty men weren't enough to defend the bridge!”
“I...” Ayla floundered for a moment. “Youmean... you mean that I called for everybody to come help defendthe bridge?”
Reuben paled and a low growl escaped histhroat.
“I don't understand. What's so bad abouteverybody coming to help?”
His gray eyes were intense—full of anger,fear, and... pity as they looked at her.
“Don't you see, Ayla?” he said. “Everybody.Everybody—including the riverpatrols.”
It took a moment for the meaning of his wordsto sink in. When it did, a cold hand gripped Ayla and froze her inplace. She was speechless. Paralyzed. Not able to move or think.God, what had she done?
“Luca must have planned this all along,” sheheard Reuben's voice as if from very far away. “The surprise attackat night, bringing nearly all his forces to bear down on you atonce—it was just a distraction. As we speak, dozens of his men areprobably just climbing out of the boats they have crossed theunprotected river in.”
“Yes.” Was that her talking? No, she couldn’tbe talking. She was speechless, after all. It had to be someoneelse, using her mouth. This felt so unreal...
“Ayla!”
