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With that； he spun on his heel and stalked off into the darkness。
It had been a calculated risk； but I still found I was covered with cold sweat from facing the old man's anger。 I also realized the rest of the group was staring at me in silent expectation。
〃I suppose you're all wondering why I did that；〃 I said； smiling。
I had hoped for a response； but the silence continued。
〃I appreciate all your advice； and hope you continue to give it in the future。 But I'm leading this force； and the final decisions have to be mine。〃
Out of the corner of my eye； I saw Aahz cock his eyebrow； but I ignored him。
〃Everyone； including Ajax； said if I let him go； if I sent him back to Deva； there would be no harm done。 I disagree。 It would have taken away the one thing the years have left untouched 。 。 。 his pride。 It would have confirmed to him his worst …fears； that he's bee a useless old man。〃
I scanned my audience。 Not one of them could meet my eye。
〃So he might get killed。 So what？ He's accepted that risk in every war he's fought in。 I'd rather order him into a fight knowing for certain he'd be killed than condemn him to a living death as a washed…up has…been。 This way； he has a chance； and as his employer； I feel I owe him that chance。〃
I paused for breath。 They were looking at me again； hanging on my next words。
〃One more thing；〃 I snarled。 〃I don't want to hear any more talk about him being useless。 That old man still handles a bow better than anyone I've ever seen。 If I can't find a way to use him effectively； then it's my fault as a tactician； not his！ I've got my shortings； but I'm not going to blame them on Ajax any more than I'd blame them on any of you。〃
Silence reigned again； but I didn't care。 I had； spoken my piece； and felt no pulsion to blather on aimlessly just to fill the void。
〃Well； boss〃 …Brockhurst cleared his throat getting to his feet…〃I think I'll turn in now。〃
〃Me； too；〃 echoed Gus； also rising。
〃Just one thing。〃 The Imp paused and met my gaze squarely。 〃For the record； it's a real pleasure working for you。〃
The gargoyle nodded his agreement； and the two of them faded into the brush。
There was a soft kiss on my cheek； but by the time I turned my head； Tanda had disappeared。
〃You know； kid；〃 Aahz said； 〃you're going to make a pretty good leader someday。〃
〃Thanks； Aahz；〃 I blinked。
〃。 。 。 if you live that long；〃 my mentor concluded。
We sat side by side in silence for a while longer。 Gleep had apparently dozed off； for he was snoring softly as I continued petting him。
〃If it isn't prying；〃 Aahz asked finally； 〃what is this master plan you have for tomorrow that's built around Ajax？〃
I sighed and closed my eyes。
〃I haven't got one；〃 I admitted。 〃I was kind of hoping you'd have a few ideas。〃
〃I was afraid you were going to say that；〃 Aahz grumbled。
Chapter Nineteen
〃What if they gave a war and only one side came…〃
…LUCIFER
〃Wake up； kid！〃
I returned to consciousness as I was being forcefully propelled sideways along the forest floor； presumably assisted by the ready toe of my mentor。
After I had slid to a stop； I exerted most of my energy and raised my head。
〃Aahz；〃 I announced solemnly； 〃as leader of this team； I have reached another decision。 In the future； I want Tanda to wake me up。〃
〃Not a chance；〃 Aahz leered。 〃She's off scouting our right flank。 It's me or the dragon。〃
Great choice。 I suddenly realized how bright it was。
〃Hey！〃 I blinked。 〃How late is it？〃
〃Figure we've got about a minute before things start popping；〃 Aahz said casually。
〃How long？〃 I gasped。
Aahz's brow furrowed for a moment as he reflected on his words。 Klahdish units of time still gave him a bit of trouble。
〃An hour！〃 he smiled triumphantly。 〃That's it。 An hour。〃
〃That's better；〃 I sighed； sinking back to a horizontal position。
〃On your feet； kid！〃 Aahz ordered。 〃We let you sleep as late as we could； but now you're needed to review the troops。〃
〃Have you briefed everybody？〃 I yawned； sitting up。 〃Is the plan clear？〃
〃As clear as it's going to be； all things considered；〃 Aahz shrugged。
〃Okay；〃 I responded； rolling to my feet。 〃Let's go。 You can fill me in on any new developments along the way。〃
Aahz and I had been up most of the night formulating today's plan； and I found I was actually eager to see it implemented。
〃You should be thankful you aren't on the other side；〃 Aahz chortled as we moved to join the others。 〃Old Claude's been making the most of the time we gave him。〃
〃Keeping them busy； is he？〃 I smiled。
〃Since sunup；〃 Aahz confirmed smugly。 〃Drilling； sharpening swords； never a dull moment in the Empire's army； that's for sure。〃
I wasn't sure I shared Aahz's enthusiasm for the enemy's spending lots of time sharpening their swords。 Fortunately； I was spared the disfort of replying as Gus lumbered up to us。
〃You just missed Brockhurst's report；〃 he informed us。 〃Still nothing on the left flank。〃
〃Wouldn't we be able to tell from their signals if they were moving up additional support？〃 I asked。
〃If you believe their signals；〃 Aahz countered。 〃It wouldn't be the first time an army figured out the enemy had broken their code and started sending misleading messages。〃
〃Oh；〃 I said wisely。
〃Speaking of signals；〃 Aahz said with a grin； 〃you know the messages they were sending yesterday？ The ones that went ‘encountered minor resistance'？〃
〃I remember；〃 I nodded。
〃Well； it seems Claude has decided he needs to up the ante if he's going to get a promotion out of this。 Overnight we've bee ‘armed opposition 。 。 。 must be subdued forcefully！' Neat； huh？〃
I swallowed hard。
〃Does that mean they'll be moving in reinforcements？ '/'I asked； trying to sound casual。
〃Not a chance； kid。〃 Aahz winked。 〃Claude there has turned down every offer of assistance that came down the line。 He keeps insisting he can handle it with the pany he's manding。〃
〃I'd say he's got his neck way； way out；〃 Gus mented。
〃。 。 。 and we're just the ones to chop it off for him；〃 Aahz finished。
〃Where's Ajax？〃 I asked； changing the subject。
〃Down at the forest line picking out his firing point；〃 Gus replied。 〃Don't worry； boss。 He's awake。〃
Actually； that wasn't my worry concerning Ajax at all。 In my mind's eye； I could still see his angry stance when I called him a coward the night before。
〃Mornin'； youngster；〃 the bowman hailed； emerging from the bush。 〃Think I got us a place all picked out。〃
〃Hi； Ajax；〃 I replied。 〃Say 。 。 。 um 。 。 。 when you get a minute； I'd like to talk to you about last night。〃
〃Think nothin' of it；〃 Ajax assured me with a grin。 〃I've plum fergot about it already。〃
There was a glint in his eye that contradicted his words； but if he was willing to pretend nothing had happened； I'd go along with it for now。
〃I hate to interrupt；〃 Aahz interrupted； 〃but I think friend Claude's just about ready to make his move。〃
Sure enough； the distant encampment was lining up in a marching formation。 The hand…drawn wagons were packed and aligned； with the escort troops arrayed to the front and sides。 The signal tower； despite its appearance； was apparently also portable and