The Two of Swords: Part 5 Read Online Free PDF Page A

home—”
    “If I’d liked it, I wouldn’t have left,” Duzi said firmly. “Fourteen when I went to the Academy, never been back since, and too late now, of course. Never look back, that’s always been my rule.”
    “What about your family?”
    “Oh, them.” Duzi shrugged. “No, the Order’s been my real family. Yes, I know it’s a cliché, but it happens to be true. They looked after me when I was a stupid kid, they taught me everything I know, gave me everything I’ve ever had, and that’s why I’m doing the same thing for these kids here. You’ve got to put something back, I always say, or what’s the point of us being here at all?”
    Which reminded him. “I don’t think I’ve thanked you properly,” Forza said, “for saving my life. If you hadn’t shown up when you did—”
    “Actually –” Duzi gave him a slightly guilty grin “_ we’d been following your trail for a while, and then we saw those buggers and we held back. We’re not supposed to fight the tribesmen, see, not unless it’s absolutely unavoidable. So I told my lads, leave it to the very last minute. Didn’t reckon on them taking it quite so literally. I saw that bastard stringing his bow and I said to the lads, what the hell are you waiting for? And Rhesea looked at me, you said leave it, and I said, for crying out loud; and then fortunately Teucer there, up with his bow, ping, ping, ping. Like I said, you’re incredibly lucky. Almost like it was meant, if you believe in that stuff; can’t say I do myself, but there you are.”
    The sun was high and Forza felt its weight; it was wonderful to be carried on a horse instead of having to make the intolerable effort of walking. There was a full water-skin hanging from his saddle, but he didn’t like to drink too much in case his saviours needed it. For a dead man, though, he was feeling really quite well. He let Duzi’s gentle flow of speech sweep round and over him, soothing now rather than annoying, now he’d got used to it and it was evident that he wasn’t required to contribute. He was just starting to doze when Duzi reined in his horse and pointed at the skyline.
    “See that rise over there?” he said. “Your oasis is just the other side, about eighty yards. Your lot’s still there; we’d have seen the dust if they’d moved out.”
    Forza waited for a moment, and then it sank in. The army, his people, Raiso, and he didn’t know if she was alive or dead. He’d
forgotten
. He said something, some trite expression of gratitude, and kicked the horse hard. It shot away, nearly toppling him off. He grabbed a fistful of mane with his left hand and gripped hard with his knees. He heard Duzi shout after him, but couldn’t make out the words. He didn’t dare look back, for fear of falling off the horse.
    “So who were they?” she asked.
    The lamp was burning low, but neither of them wanted to get out of bed to top it up. The flame was flaring and stretching, throwing strange extended shadows on the tent wall. “I have no idea,” he said. “I mean, the leader was an Eastern Imperial, and his men were Northerners. I could tell you large parts of the leader’s life story, if you need help getting to sleep.”
    “Large parts.”
    “Very large parts.” Forza grinned. “Everything except what I wanted to know. They were following us, and their job seems to be rescuing survivors from battles, which is very nice of them. Why they do it, or what side they’re on—” He shrugged. “They’re an order, but that could mean anything. Anybody can be an order if they’re prepared to spend five angels on a few badges.”
    “They were following us.”
    He looked at her. If I was as clever as that, he thought, I’d make damn sure people knew it. Or maybe that was the whole point. “Quite,” he said. “Forza Belot, the military genius, unparalleled in all of history for his ability to move quickly and
unobserved
.” He looked at her, but she shrugged. “I don’t