Chapter Twenty-Four
A few days later, he got an even bigger surprise. Sudden cries rose in the camp. "Dogs! The dogs are coming!"
2 Bold Dove rushed to the edge of the camp and there an amzaing sight greeted him; men in armor seated upon armor-clad dogs were coming down the road. The rest of the army gathered in shock and disbelief as the strange column entered the camp.
3 Nameless Fox dismounted from Big Fellow and came forward. "I'm sorry we're late!" he announced, "but I kept the armorer in The Southern City extremely busy for days preparing armor for my dogs, and we had trouble getting boats that would carry us. I have brought every dog I could muster. There are not many, but they should make a good showing."
4 Bold Dove looked in disbelief. "You mean to take THOSE into battle with you?" he gasped.
5 "Of course!" answered Nameless Fox.
6 "What if in the heat of battle, or if they are wounded, they turn on our own people?"
7 "Never!" cried Nameless Fox. "They know our clothes and our manner. They could never attack our people. They are trained to protect their riders and they will do so at the cost of their lives! But it will be hard to kill them."
8 He struck Big Fellow's armor. "You might get a crossbow through that," he said, "at close quarters, but then you'd be lucky! No spear or sword is going to cut through this! And they can carry it for hours!"
9 "I don't know," argued Bold Dove. "I will have to call a council. I cannot ask men to risk their lives without their advice. I am for it! These will terrorize the enemy! It fits into my plan! But I must have the other Warlocks' approval!"
10 The other Warlocks, too, were hesitant, but agreed. Bold Dove took out a map.
11 "The Valley of the Standing Bear," he began, "is actually two valleys, the upper one, sometimes called The Bear's Head, and the low one called The Bear's Body. They are separated by this narrow passage when the mountains come down close, and there are foothills on either side.
12 Now, my original plan was to form ranks across the passage here, in the narrows, place spoke poles before us, take the enemey's charge, fall back, then have the Giants attack the flanks.
13 Now, we've defeated him this way before, and if he's smart he'll hold back his reserve until after The Giant's attack, then throw them in.
14 We'll let him think he's winning, fall back into two half circles further up the passage. The enemy should fill the gap trying to block our retreat. When we have him here, my real counter-attack will begin.
15 I will bring bowmen in on these two ridges. As they loose their shafts Nameless Fox and his dogs reinforced by The Black Death and two groups of our finest spearmen will smash into the middle, cut through the enemy, cut him into pockets, and then we finish him off.
16 Alot depends on the enemy doing exactly what we think he will, but if we're good actors, if we make him bring his forces into the gap, where they can't maneuver, where we can swing out on them from both sides, when they're confused and dismayed by the counter-attack, we'll have him at our mercy."
17 The Warlocks liked the plan. "If the Mountaineers are right," they said, "we'll have a week to practice. When the time comes every man should know his place, everyone ready to carry out his job."
18 So day after day they practiced with the Mountaineers keeping careful watch, making sure no enemy got through to spy on them.
19 Two days before the road broke through, Bold Fox called Swift Goat to his tent.
20 "Swift Goat," he requested, "I know your people are anxious to take part in the battle, but I have a much more important job for you.
21 I want you to take your fighting people, slip behind the enemy, capture some of his uniforms, go as far as you can up the road, and make sure that no messengers get through with word of his victory or defeat.
22 If we win, you must capture all the supplies you can. If we lose, you must put all you can to the torch. You will need to give the people time to prepare a new army."
23 "You will not lose!" snapped Swift Goat. "My first mission is one I will carry out. Have no fear, Lord. The enemy will not know he's defeated until you come flying through his gate!"
24 Finally word came. The road had broken through! Column after column of enemy soldiers were marching into the valley. 25 They were thinking of clearing land to build their camp when suddenly they heard music, and the scouts who had been down the valley rushed up. "War leader!" they cried, "Look! The enemy! They're here waiting!"
26 The enemy leader watched in amazement as The Children of Spirit, led by a great number of musicians marched up the passage and formed ranks across it.
27 "Damn!" cried the Trn leader, "We must attack quickly before the sun is at their backs, and we lose the advantage!"
28 He formed his ranks quickly, and they began to walk forward when a trumpet sounded, and one of The Children of Spirit stepped forward, carrying a white flag. The Trn leader motioned for the men to stop, and the emissary came forward.
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