Rogue of Gor

33. Battle Horns

"We welcome your sword," said Callimachus. We stood in the bow of the long galley, below the stem castle. The single mast had been lowered and lay secured, tied, lengthwise on the deck, between the benches.

Our ship lay to, east of the great chain. I could see little, because of the fot. it was a chilly morning. The water licked at the strakes. Far off, unseen, I heard the cry of a Vosk gull.

"It was not necessary that you have joined the fleet, sasid Callimachus. "It is here that I belong," I said. "You have risked much already," said he. "We were betrayed," I told him. "Yes," he said.

I was bitter. The great sea gates had crashed down, destroying the galley on which I had sought to enter the holding of Policrates. I had been captured, and had managed to escape. I had made my way to Victoria, and hence westward, learning of the movement of ships toward the chain. Yesterday evening, I had boarded the Tina, out of Victoria, captained by Callimachus. "If the Voskjard attempts to cross the chain in force," said Callimachus,"we will not be able to stop him."

"It was the Earth-girl slave, Peggy, Tasdron's property who betrayed us," I said. "Can you be sure?" asked Callimachus. "I am sure," I said. "Was it Callisthenes?" I asked him."It could not be Callisthenes," said Callimachus.

"He is known to me. Too, he is a captain of Port Cos, and of my own caste. I looked over the gunnels. To port and starboard, each some 50 yards aawy, gray and silent, intermittently visible in the fog, each lying to, as was the Tina, were two other galleys, the Mira out of Victoria, and the Talender out of Fina.

"Too," said Callimachus, "he is my friend." It was cold."Does it seem likely to you that it ws Tasdron or Glyco?" I asked. "It could not hve been Tasdron," said Callimachus. "His interests would be too opposed to such an action. Indeed, he is the leader in Victoria of those who would oppose the power of the men of Policrates."

"Perhaps it was Glyco, then," I said bitterly. "He is not of my own caste," admitted Callimachus. "Nor is Tasdron," I said. "True," said Callimachus.

"Glyco," I pointed out, "has enlisted your aid against the pirates." "He is not with the fleet," said Callimachus. "He is now east on the river, trying to raise support for our cause," I said. "Perhaps," said Callimachus. "But no ships have been forthcoming."I do not think Glyco will be successful," I said. "There is too much distrust among the towns, and they fear the pirates too much. Too, the fleet of Policrates is now east of Victoria, to prevent such ships from reinforcing us. I have told you this."

Callimachus was silent.

"Why is it not obvios to you that the traqtor was the slave, Peggy?" I asked. "She could not have heard," said Callimachus, uncertainly, angrily. "She was in the room," I said. "She must have heard.She is not stuipd, though she is a slave. She could have understood much of what we planned. Doubtless she revealed our plans to the courier of Ragnar Voskjard, or to a pirate in Tasdron's tavern, perhaps while moaning with pleasure in his arms, hoping to win her freedom by her treachery."

"She would not be freed," said Callimachus. "She would only be plunged into a deeper and crueler slavery."

"She would not know that," I pointed out. "She is from Earth." It can take years to learn Gorean ways, and how Goreans think. they tend not to be patient with slaves.

"Perhaps you were betrayed by one of th emen of Callisthenes or of Aemilianus," said Callimachus. "By trusted warriors," I asked, "who too would have had little opportunity to make contact with the enemy?" I looked at him angrily. "Why can you not see that it was the slave, Petty, who betrayed us?" I wondered if he cared for her.

"It could have been no other," agreed Callimachus. His voice was grim and terrible. I didnot understand, fully, his tone of voice. It was almost as though he, personally, in some subtle way, had been betrayed.I looked out over the bow into the fog. One could see almost nothing.

"If we should be so fortunate as to survive this engagement," said Callimachus, "I will see that the treacherous slave is dealt with."What will be done to her?" I asked. "She will be dealth with as a female slave is dealth with, who has not been fully pleasing," he said quietly. I shuddered.

"Are you cold?" asked Callimachus. "Yes," I said. I drew the cloak I wore more closely about myself.

"Perhaps there will be no engagement," said Callimachus. "We have been at the chain for two days."The Tamira has crossed the chain hs she not?" I asked."Yes," said he. "I anticipate an engagement," I said."The Tamira is a merchantman," said Callimachus. "It is a scout ships of Ragnar Voskjard," I said. "It has already paid call on Kliomenes in the holding of Policrates. "I find that hard to believe," said Callimachus. "Was she inspected at the chain?" I asked. "No," said Callimachus.

"Had she been," I said, "it would have been discovered that she was carrying loot from the Flower of Siba. More importantly, she would doubtless be carrying papers linking her with Policrates, such papers as the signs and countersighs whereby the actions of the joint pirate fleets might be integrated and directed."

"You are mistaken," sid Callimachus. "Reginald, her captain is a known man." "I learned these things in the court of Kliomemes," I said. "You must be mistaken," he said. "I anticipate an engagement," I said."It should have taken place by now," said Callimachus. "That seems possible," I admitted. "Perhaps the Voskjard fears the chain," said Callimachus. "Perhaps," I admitted.

From where we lay to I could hear from time to time the restless creak of the mighty links of the chain, suspended on pylons, stretching across the river. The links of the chain were some 18 inches in length and a foot in width; the metal of the links themselves was as thick as a man's forearm. The cahin in places lay submerged a foot or so below the water; in other places and near the pylons it sould range from a foot to a yard above the wter. It was anchored to great rings on the ppylons. At five places in the river the cahin could be opened, swung open on huge rafts at which point there were guard stations. Too, there were guard stations at the terminal pylons on the north and south shores of the river.

"Where is Callisthenes?" I asked. "He is at the south guard station," said Callimachus.

This was regarded as a point of maximum danger. Gorean ships on the whole, even the round ships, are shallowly drafted vessels. It is common, where warfage if not available, to beach them at night. Thus, the chain, theoretically, could be circumvented at these points, the shallowly drafted ships being brought to shore and on rollers, being moved about the terminal pylons. The south guard station was regarded as more vulnerable than the north guard station because of its comparatively remote location. The supply lines from Port Cos to the north station are shorter and it is easier to move troops to that point. Also the barracks for the guardsmen of the chain are at that point. I was pleased to hear that Callisthenes had taken up his post at the south guard station. it was at such a point that we particulrly needed good men. Yet we would miss him in the fray, should the Voskjrd's fleet dare to approach the chain more directly.

"Perhapds it is there where we too should be," mused Callimachus.

"The chain does not seem fearfully strong," I said. Neither Callimachus nor myself had seen the chain until we had come westward. We had been unprepared for its impressiveness. It represended an engineering feat of no man proportions. Although we retained our theoretical reservations about its effectiveness, these reservations in the very presence of the chain, seemed to my relief, less alarming and more tenuous and abstract, than they had in the urgen discussion which had taken place in the tavern of Tasdron. It was easy to understand now why those who had seen the chain tended to be more confident of its effectiveness than those who had not. I listened to the creaking of the mighty links and to the water lapping at the sides of our galley and to the occasional cries of Vosk gulls.

"Perhaps the Voskjard does fear the chain," I said. "There is surely enough predation west of the chain for him," said Callimachus. "I would think so," I said.

I looked over the rail, to the great wooden, iron-shod ram, which protruded in part from the water. I looked over the starboard rail and saw the great, curved shearing blade, fixed in the side of the vessel. Its mate, anchored too in the strakes forward of the oars, resposed on the port side. These blades were seven feet in height, like convex moons of iron. It is said that such blades were an invention of Tersites, a shipwright of Por Kar. I returned to stand beside Callimachus.

"You he not fought on the water before have you?" he asked. "No," I said.I could not scarcely see the Mira and the Taldnder so thick was the fog."it is cold," said Callimachus. "Yes," I said. "Callimachus," I said. "Yes," he said. "Do you think Voskjard will come?" I asked. "I do not think so now, " said Callimachus. "Why not?" I asked.

"The chain is strong, " said Callimachus. "Too, it seems his fleet should have arrived at the chain by now, did it intend to do so."Then you do not think he will come?" I asked.

"I do not think so, " said Callimachus. "An engagement upon the water must be a terrible thing," I said. "I am of the Warriors," said Callimachus. He licked his lips. I shuddered. I wondered what had been his experiences, and what he knew that I did not. I feared him then, in that moment. For an instant I felt I no longer knew him. I felt in that instant, that he might be a man of a different sort than I.

"Are you frightened?" asked Calllimachus. "Yes," I said. "That is natural," he said. what are the numbers involved?" I asked.Callimachus grinned. "that is a Warrior's question," he said. "Surely we have intelligence on this matter," I said.

"It is conjectured," said Callimachus, "that the Voskjard is stronger than Policrates. it is thought he commands some 50 ships and2,500 men. We have better information on Policrates. He commands 40 ships and some 2,000 men. "United, they would become a mighty force," I said.

"To be sure," said Callimachus, "and yet some 50 ships can be brought into the river by Port Cos and some 45 by Ar's station. Accordingly in an engagement of fleets Port Cos and Ar's Station, acting together, would bring to bear the superior forces." "How many ships of Ar's Station support us at the chain?" I asked. "Ten at the chain and 20 in the vicinity of the south guard station," said Callimachus. "Thirty in all," I said.

"There are another 20 at Port Cos, of course," said Callimachus. "They are, however, held there to defend the town if need be." "How many independent ships?" I asked.

«Seven,» said Callimachus. "Two from Victoria, two from Jort's Ferry, two from Point Alfred, and one from Fina." Jort's Ferry and Point Alfred lie west of Ar's Station and tend to follow the lead of Ar's Station, favoring generally the politics of Ar.

"We have then 47 ships upon the river," I said. "Yes," said Callimchus. "And it is estimated that the Voskjard's fleet numbers some 50 ships?" "Yes, said Callimachus.

"It would seem, then," I said, "that the odds are approximately even." "Or, with the chain, perhaps in our favor?" said Callimachus. "It might seem so, " I said. "But you are skeptical?" he asked. "Our ships are scattered," I said. They patrol the chain."And the fleet of the Voskjard can, at will, attack at any given point."

"Cutting the chain," I said, "they could, in one or more successive engagements, outnumber and destroy the defending ships." "You think like a Warrior," said Callimachus."Our hope, of course," I said, "is that they can be held behind the cahin long enough to permit the massing our our full forces." "Of course," said Callimachus.

"You said earlier," I said, "that you did not think we could stop an attack in force upon the chain." "That is true," he said. "Why not?" I asked. "Consider the matter," he said. "Those from Ar's Station are essentially infrantrymen of Ar, put at the oars of galleys. They are unfamiliar with naval warfare. And the independent ships like the Tina, are not manned by warriors, but by volunteers, stalward but untrained fellows, mostly of lower castes. Our defensive force, in effect, is the fleet of Por Cos."

"It is then, you feel," I said apprehensively, "in effect some 30 ships, those of Port Cos, against the fleet of the Voskjard?" Substantially so, " agreed Callimachus.

"Why then are you here?" I asked. "I am of the Warriors," said Callimachus. "I see," I said. "Why are you here?" he asked. "I do not know," I said.

"You are here, " he said, "because you, too, are of the Warriors." "I am not of the Warriors," I said. "Not everyone who is of the Warriors knows that he is of theWarriors," said Callimachus. "I do not understand," I said. "I have seen it," said Callimachus, "in your eyes, that you are of the Warriors." "You are mad," I said.

"Ten thousand years ago," he said, "in the mixing of bloods, and in the rapings of conquered maids, the caste has chosen you." "You are mad," I told him.

"We shall see short," said he. He drew his sword. "Why are you drawing your sword?" I asked. "Surely you can hear?" he asked. "What?" I said, "What?"

"I was wrong," he said. "I thought there might be no battle." "I do not understand," I said.

"Yet," said Callimachus, "if the Tamira were truly the scout ship ofRagnar Voskjard, and if she crossed the chain westward four days ago, and a rendezvous was made in the river, in the vicinity of the holding of Ragnar Voskjard, the times involved are not inappropriate."

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "Can you not hear it?" he asked. "I hear nothing," I cried. "You are mad!" I heard only the water at the strakes, the creaking of the chain, the sound of oars restless in the thole ports, the far-off cries of occasional Vosk gulls."There is nothing," I whispered.

Suddenly the hair on the back of my neck lifted and froze. "See?" asked Callimachus, lifting his sword, and poining out into the fog. "No," I said. I coul dnot see anything in the fog. But, now, clearly, I could hear it.

Then, suddenly, through a rift in the fog I saw, not more than a hundred yards away, across the chain, what seemed a countless number of ships.

"It is the fleet of Ragnar Voskjard," he said. There was an elation which I found incomprehensible in his voice.

I stood, for the moment unable to move, on the deck at the bow below the stem castle of the galley.

"Your sword is in your hand," smiled Callimachus. I could not remember unsheathing it.

"Sound the battle horns!" called Callimachus to the men on the ship. "Sound the battle horns."