"A forced march is a calculated decision made in order to close a gap or seize the high ground first, it may also be used to rush a force to the aid of another or even escape an enemy. Thus, it can prove to be disastrous to an army if handled wrong, but it may save them from being overrun and completely destroyed or change the tide of battle. Still, it may sometimes bear unexpected fruit in ways no one expected."
-Lisimba-

Ismat walked slowly along the side of the road taking her time as the blood began flowing in her legs again, it left a tingling sensation but it was expected after having ridden for too long in what had been her personal carriage. Now it was laden with supplies and had just enough room for her to perch on the front and if she held on tight enough, left her jostled every step of the way as things rattled behind her. Every speck of room had been taken up in whatever could be moved faster than an ox drawn wagon and now her column was as much a column of soldiers and levy as it was a prison column of unwilling baggage carriers. Behind her and now more than two days away sat Mjesani while Adil was much closer but still a fair distance behind.

"Mjesani, overwhelmed, riotous peasants, merchants and nobles alike... What a mess, but it had to be done."

Every granary was seized, food stripped from homes, every slave in the market hauled away to carry whatever they could and still march at a double quick pace. Oxen, wagons, carriages, anything at all that could be used to carry supplies had been so thoroughly stripped from the locals that if someone had to be carried to the local physician there were not two poles to put together let alone a blanket to throw between it as a litter, for it was already in use as a supply litter or bindle pack. No payment had been offered, it was a direct order in the name of Fareed and though mention of such usually scared the locals into compliance, this time it had not for beyond the gates lay a new problem: an overwhelming tide of tribals and villagers who had fled seeking shelter within the safety of Mjesani's walls. Turned away one and all the noble in charge had sealed the gates for the first few days and only reluctantly permitted them to pitch massive, sprawling shanty towns in whatever empty space they could find.

Having packed away what they could and abandoning the rest, those huddled masses had begun to slowly turn to crime in order to fill starving bellies, fights broke out, guards had been dispatched and soon the nobility found themselves sitting on a very large fire pot ready to ooze out in all directions. Weapons had been seized but others threatened to put up a fight and the action had been called off just prior to her arrival, not so much because they feared the tribals but now that word had come that the entire caliphates army was bearing down on them they decided to hold off on further confiscation; not because they believed it prudent but more that there was a real threat of being called into the levy and marched away. A mass throng of angry, armed tribals was a tempting offering for conscription but upon her arrival the idea had been put aside. Of course conscription looked promising compared to staying in a city where the price of a single piece of bread had more than tripled in just the day before her forces arrival, then skyrocketed again after the seizures were carried out en masse.

"So eager to make your problems my own but unwilling to listen and learn the details, arrogant bastards. If you had just listened to what the tribals had said rather than fortify you would know they have no intention of coming westward but remain on the river."

How many of them were there though? Compared to what was coming down the road behind her they were but a speck on an oxes ass, while her own forces now numbered enough to handle the situation on her own had Adil only agreed, which of course he had not. Instead he doggedly marched the army on with a new plan in mind. Activity had all but ceased, whatever force was attacking had packed up everything they had and vanished down the river leaving only a few raiding parties roaming free but within tight boundaries. It was the same story everywhere: small groups arrived, scared off the locals, then came the looters. There was no sense behind their actions, every movement botched, too slow and as she walked it was clear someone was less than interested in winning whatever war they were trying to start while another was rabid and hungry for blood.

Unfortunately for the locals, crops still had to be tended and despite her advice chieftains and village elders had begun to send back parties to water and tend the crops while trying to remain unnoticed. So far it appeared to be working, a day ago the boundary had been crossed and not a single raider had been seen or heard from. No calls for help, nothing. However, if this was not resolved very soon and the locals sent home their crops would all be lost to the heat and the caliphate would face a new problem they were woefully unprepared to combat. But, so long as the threat of raiders remained no one was willing to risk going back in any great number. Only one town within the boundary had refused to flee but only because they had a wall, which had remained untouched. So far they sent the occasional dispatch and it was thanks to their efforts she knew the unseen enemy had begun to roll up their activities some time ago.

"Where and why are they consolidating their forces? Are they preparing to face me? Their speed is such they could come and go easily..."

Ismat mulled over the possibilities and kept her eyes on the terrain always looking for a position that could be taken up quickly while a fleet of hoof enemy bore down upon her. Eyes wandering along her forested surroundings and nearby hills, ridges and humps in the terrain she stopped her train of though as a stallion came running.

"Speak."

"I found a small force of raiders not far off, they are but a short distance to your north east, there, behind that ridge. Camped, they have a great number of prisoners with them."

"How many raiders and prisoners? Lookouts?"

"Fifteen raiders, at least a hundred prisoners bound and sitting in the middle. One lookout, they ran as your columns dust cloud came into view but they are not moving yet."

"Then what are they doing?"

"Sitting and eating, some have the prisoners loading up what I assume is loot from pillaging."

"And you are certain they were not in a hurry to run?"

"No, they are... Taking their time. They are well off the path you see and I believe they hope you will pass them by."

"How did you find them then?"

"Luck, chance..." The stallion shrugged. "A prisoner escaped and I found him along the road heading back towards Mjesani early this morning, they are from a village not far ahead."

"Did they not bother to chase the prisoner?"

"Yes, but they lost interest after others began to try and escape. He was the lucky one, the other ones not so much."

"Hmm..." Ismat nodded. "Fifteen guards trying to keep nearly a hundred flighty tribals from running away, guarding loot, they are stretched very thin." Looking towards the ridge a moment she looked at the scout again. "That ridge yes? Is there a path or... Good. Would it be possible to move a small force around them without being seen and assault them from the north?" Watching the scout nod she shouted and waited as her call was relayed down the line. "If they think they are safe for now I shall allow them to continue their blunder."

"Emira?" The well dressed and armored Arabian stallion gave a quick bow.

"Soufidal, I need information and there are fifteen possibilities sitting beyond that ridge there... They are bound to go somewhere and I want them to neither report that we are here nor escape with the knowledge I seek. So far they are preparing to leave but taking their time, fifteen raiders at least, around a hundred prisoners plus whatever they have stolen from the locals and stashed. The dust cloud we made has been seen but it appears they believe we will continue on towards Iuny and that I do not know of their location. I shall pander to their false belief but you have other orders to attend to. We shall stop for a short time further down to "rest" before moving on, you on the other hand will take forty of your best hand picked soldiers and archers, get behind them. The scout here shall show you the way and I want prisoners who can talk but if you must kill all of them then do so. Do not permit one raider to escape, understand?"

"Yes Emira."

"Go."

Soufidal gave a sharp nod and waving for the scout to follow jogged back down the line towards his tiring levy. As they continued past he began yanking some from the line and sending them hurrying off into the bush on the side of the road, counting off the last "volunteer" he snatched two more as runners before joining them and waited in hiding as Ismat's force continued past before nodding to the scout. Picking their way slowly through the under brush they slowly made their way to the base of the ridge before being directed up and through a particularly dense patch of growth. Fighting their way up single file with the scout far ahead they would freeze now and then to allow their dust to settle before moving again. Nearing the top they heard a distant horn blast announcing that the column had stopped to "rest."

Watching the scout ahead of him closely he watched as their arm slowly extended and pointed to a striped, grayish figure far to their extreme right squatting in some bushes before carefully waving them forward again and through the slump they had found themselves in. At the top of the ridge the brush broke and a gap presented itself but waving for them to stay low they shuffled across and down the other side before coming to a quick halt. Pointing once more they watched the scout who had been watching Ismat leave their post and make their way lazily down the ridge towards their camp. Keeping a keen eye on the sentry the soldiers waited as the zebra waved his arms and continued towards the camp, where below them whatever urgency they ever had to pack and flee ebbed off further. Clicking his fingers quietly Soufidal motioned a runner over and after speaking a few words gave them a push sent them skittering through the undergrowth and back towards Ismat's force.

Looking at each other carefully Soufidal glanced back at his small group of archers and nodded. While everyone waited the archers stood slowly and carefully hiding behind whatever they could find began unslinging their bows and then pulled strings from pouches on their hips before finally stringing their bows. Removing their quivers from the shoulder the archers shifted them to their hips and fastening them into place before pulling the cloth coverings exposing the shafts held within, Soufidal waited until their leader nodded to him before motioning for the scout to continue.

Below the camp was exactly as described, fifteen, no more, no less, but the number of prisoners was getting to be beyond their handling even with all of them roughly tied together and forced into a large huddled mass. As they moved closer he motioned off now and then leaving small groups of his soldiers in place to better surround them while the rest continued to circle the camp. Almost all their eyes were focused either on eating or the prisoners while a few lay sleeping on the open ground with their shields as a headrest. Glancing at the scout again who shrugged they continued to slowly encircle the camp, waving for the rest to continue on after reaching his halfway point he waited as the scout guided the last of his force to cut off the other flank leaving the raiders one way to go: directly back, up the ridge and into the grasp of Ismat who was by now quietly marching a line up the other side to close the hole.

Hurriedly looking around while the single zebra sentry who only glanced around once in a great while before turning his attention back to the prisoners, Soufidal nodded to himself and stood along with the archers who followed suit. Pointing with his spear at the densest cluster he nodded and moved away as arrows were pulled silently from quivers and notched. Praying the others had noticed his movement and were rising up to charge after the first volley he gave one last look at the archers and raising his spear up, lowered it sharply.

A quiet flurry of arrows shot out from the brush and wasting no time for them to reach out and hit Soufidal charged forward as the archers slung their bows and drew knives, daggers or short swords and followed. Ahead the arrows pattered into the camp, some missing, others hitting. One flew too far and embedded itself into a prisoner who slumped forward but those others that hit their mark did their job. Panic flooded the raider camp as the prisoners suddenly became meaningless and for a few an obstacle as they tried to run. Bursting from the undergrowth his plainly clad soldiers rushed forward screaming which compounded problems as the prisoners began to attempt their own escape in the chaos to come. Closing the gap with one of the wounded but still standing raiders he made a short, sharp stab to their stomach as they tried to bring a shield up and after giving a sharp twist yanked it free before moving on.

Around him the raiders bolted in all directions while those who had been sleeping struggled to their hooves confused as soldiers bore down on them. Some threw their hands in the air while others fell to the ground begging to be spared, a few fought on and others tried to run through the obvious gaps in his line. One stared at him a moment before bolting to his left only to fall over a prisoner trying to wriggle their way across the ground and were immediately set upon by the archers who swarmed him kicking and stabbing furiously after the zebra stabbed at one of them. Further away he could see one making a run for the gap and he understood why Ismat wanted to conduct an ambush, the zebra was a bolt of lightning running through the gaps and headed for freedom.

"Archers! There!"

Pointing with his spear the archers backed away from their deceased victim and unslinging their bows hurriedly he waited impatiently as they notched, drew, aimed and with a shout let loose a volley. The arrows struck the zebra in the back harshly causing her to stagger forward before slumping to one knee and finally collapsing.

"Count them, quickly!" Looking around Soufidal counted out the raider bodies and prisoners quickly and after counting the arrow laden zebra farther away sighed in relief. "Fifteen. Keep the prisoners corralled over there until the emira can "speak" with them. You, see this lot is kept contained, we do not want anyone escaping."

Walking around he counted off the dead and dying, two were a lost cause but seven others were laying on the ground gasping for air or screaming in pain not including the one villager who had been killed by a stray arrow. Returning to his first victim he stared down at the grey zebra as they lay on their side, clutching their stomach as bloody vomit flowed out before lifting his spear again. Two sharp thrusts to the neck and the zebras movements slowed to a halt before going silent, turning his attention to the ridge he saw a line of soldiers crest and make their way down. Standing at the edge of camp to greet them he waved them off to various duties until Ismat arrived and give another bow.

"Well done Soufidal, how many of their wounded are expected to survive till they can be questioned?"

"A few, but not many. I erred on the side of caution in not allowing them to escape."

"Then I shall begin by questioning..." Ismat looked at the huddled throng of villagers who stared at her silently and intently. "As for them... Those who are not slaves are free but will remain here to be questioned, slaves will be returned to their masters. They will be cut free after being questioned and will aid in carrying supplies."

"At once emira."

"Now..." Ismat walked up to one of the wounded prisoners who could talk. "I have some questions and you have answers. Ah, going to be noble and refuse to talk... You two, stand this one up."

She waited as two archers forced the injured zebra to his hooves and holding him up she looked at his wounds a moment before picking up on of their short spears and looked it over.

"Interesting weapon... Now, when I ask a question, you will answer. If you do not answer, you will feel pain. I am not going to kill you, but make certain you survive because if you do not answer me there are those who can and will get what I need to know from you in a far more painful manner. Is this understood?" The zebra remained silent and clamping his jaw tightly she took a moment to look at the others who remained stoic. "Very well." Using the butt of the spear she jammed it into his leg wound and ground it slowly before stopping leaving the zebra groaning in pain while his compatriots seemed more convinced of her threat. "I am being gentle and rather graceless mind you. Now, I shall ask again..."

Ismat watched the zebra try to straighten up with his jaw still locked and holding back an annoyed sigh she gave a sideways glance at another noble who nodded quickly and headed back to bring one more "specialized" in retrieving information.

"This is going to be a long night... But Adil should be happy to have a few prisoners to interrogate if he wishes, assuming they do not break and speak before he arrives or die first."

The din of buzzing insects filled their ears as the small group of three crouched low before moving forward again, their movements were short but rushed as they got ever closer to a section of the wall they could scale without the aid of rope or ladder. More followed behind them, but they had a special purpose tonight. Halting once more the zebras watched as the lone sentry stared out before turning and walking on, waving his arm forward his two companions followed, torches in one hand, spears in the other. Reaching the base of the earthen wall they huddled close and listened intently before using their spears to aid in their ascent to the top. Freezing they waited as a sentry appeared once more but after leaving their efforts continued. Reaching the top he poked his head over for just a moment and seeing the sentry further away quietly hissed at the other two before climbing in. Waiting quietly while hovering low to the ground he kept his eyes on the sentry who stood motionless and looking the other way, checking the area for their targets he stared at the yet unburned huts and pointed.

Putting their backs to a hut they looked around quickly as he retrieved flint from a small pouch and squatting close they held their torches out. As the stones clacked together faintly the noise was thunder in their ears as they hissed at him to light the torches faster, sparks flew and as the oiled rags finally caught they stood and started to run in different directions, their task simple: start as many fires as they could and burn the villagers out.

As the first hoof moved forward to carry out their errand one of the zebras buckled violently and slumped to the ground. Dropping his torch and holding his spear out the zebra spun to his right and stared into the darkness, his eyes still adjusting from the sudden flash of torchlight. Beside him his brother in arms had done the same but as he turned something struck him causing the zebra to double over and unceremoniously retch onto the ground before a heavy thud from a mallet drove him to the ground unconscious. Eyes adjusting to the moving shadows and standing alone he moved away from the torches quickly and made a sudden jab into the doorway of a hut, the blow met only air for a moment but was quickly thrown to the side. However, before he could make a run for the wall a sharp pain in his back pushed him down as more sharp, searing agony shot through both legs.

Along the wall he could see the first heads appearing that would mark another night assault on the village but as a zebra poked his head over there was a sharp glint of metal in the dim torchlight as an axe fell on it. Alarm was quickly shouted announcing their retreat from assailing the walls but struggle as he might the pain in his legs and back did not relent, no matter how much he thrashed the pain grew worse and was joined by more sharp pricks until he could only lay groaning in pain. Giving a snort of air he rolled his eyes around and tried to make a feeble slash at the nearest hoof he could see but a boot stomped on his hand and the air was filled with a faint popping sound as bones and joints gave way. Grinding down hard his groan of pain became a scream as the boot pushed down harder until it was satisfied that he was not going to try again. Helpless as his iklwa was yanked away he began wheezing as various sets of eyes stared down at him.

"Tough bastard this one. Welcome to Wete, I don't know if you will live long enough but we have some questions for you and your surviving friends over there."

Rotating his head the zebra wheezed again and stared as the other who was being bound up rapidly. Muttering between his gasps for air the figure staring at him glanced at the others.

"Anyone understand that?"

"Not a word captain but... I do not believe he will be with us much longer anyway. It took several spears to keep him from standing."

"Sad but true, so many questions, so little time. Alright, you're dead, you have enough holes in you now that if the blood loss does not get you the organ failure will and very soon. If you were standing I would call you the walking dead."

Standing and waving the others back Verik lifted his pole axe and aiming brought it down swiftly on the zebras unprotected neck, with a second swing from the crude axe the head came free. Lifting the severed appendage up he passed it to one of the others.

"Put that on a nice stick where they can see it like the others. Alright, Shahid, you can go back to bed and Altayih your now on watch. You five, lets get this one over to Nuru and Sefu. I imagine they have many questions for him."

"I imagine so captain, first time any have survived long enough to be questioned."

"Well at least they aint those damn grey ones, bastards kill everything that moves and then some. And! Fortunately for this one... It was not the "locals" that got them tonight, they have no interest in prisoners."

"Captain! Before you, escort them to be questioned there is something I must say."

"Speak."

"I know you have proven beyond a doubt just how... Brutal, you can be."

"Dont like the heads decorating the walls?"

"A fine touch captain, I believe it has certainly weighed on them as of late as they have become cautious to the point of near paranoia in their activities but no. I understand you have certain reservations in regards to-"

"I know."

"It is quite normal captain..."

"Yes, I know. And while I do not agree with it, I know that Nuru has her own little ways of making this one sing like a song bird if she wants them to, which is why I am taking them to her first and not Sefu. I imagine he would get answers out of them quickly enough but I have to draw a line somewhere."

"Not at severed heads on sticks?" Shahid wandered past already half asleep. "Strange one you are, very confusing."

"I know what kind of world I am on and have accepted that fact. No, I am not going to torture the hell out of someone despite it being par for the course around here but that does not mean I wont try to scare the living hell out of them either. Neither shall I permit other, well "barbaric" behavior towards my enemies as a general rule... But-"

"But you will put their heads on sticks and if you had the rope hang their bodies from the walls as a warning in the hopes of sending a message. You are rather the hypocrite captain."

"Its called a double standard and yes, I am a hypocrit. But only when I need to be and right now against these odds acting barbaric has kept us alive. Being nice only goes so far."

"Ends justifies the means?"

"No, that is why I will not torture nor- Altayih, there are limits to what I shall do and when but if you are concerned I might... Go berserk and lay waste to everything, the answer is no."

"Not without a good reason at least?"

"It would have do be a damned good reason, now... Oh you're awake." Verik and the rest stared at their groggy prisoner. "Well, lets go meet Nuru then!"

Altayih watched them leave as the half concious zebra began muttering furious prayers after having laid eyes on Verik. Shaking his head and looking back over the wall for a minute he listened to the distant sounds of the enemy camp pick back up again as their work continued.

"My dear captain, the worse things become the more brutal and terrifying you get. Yet, it always works out somehow... You really were made for this place. As for you o' distant camp... I know not who commands there, but they are just too predictable lately. They stop hammering and being noisy, it means an assault is underway... When they are noisy all will be quiet. What a fool their commander is. But! It is our good fortune and not theirs, therefor I shall not question it."

Author's Note

This is the last chapter before the "magnum opus" chapter which will be the final assault on Wete. It will take time to write, edit, etc so dont expect it this month but later next month.