1 The double file of Arridan cavalrymen cantered slowly across the Toscan plain. A faint cloud of dust rose behind them to mark their passage. With little wind to disperse it, the dust hung in the air behind the riders. The sound of their hoofbeats carried to the small group of observers on a low hill, some half a kilometer away."Halt," Selethen ordered, standing with a team of signalers on the hill a short distance from the other observers. One of his men immediately raised a large flag, checkered in red and white squares. He waved it back and forth twice, then quickly swept it down, out of sight. The observers heard the faint cry of command from the plain below them, and the twin lines of riders came to an immediate stop. The dust swirled around them, momentarily obscuring them from view."Deploy in one line." Selethen spoke in the common tongue, rather than his native Arridan. He wanted the observers to understand his commands. As he issued the order, his signaling team went to work. They selected three varicolored flags from the bins around them and held them high above their heads. Then, as before, they whipped the fluttering squares of fabric downward.As they did so, the troopers began to move once more. The riders at the rear of the two files began to canter to either side, closely followed by the ranks in front of them. Only the two riders at the head of the little column remained where they stood. The two files rapidly transformed into a single, wide line. Then the movement stopped."Archers forward," Selethen said. More flags were shown, then concealed.Fifteen riders at either side of the long line now urged their horses forward, those on the extremes moving farther than their neighbors, so that the line now resembled a bull's horns, with the two sides curving forward from the straight line of riders between them. As they moved to their new positions, the thirty men stowed their long, slender lances in narrow leather buckets attached to the right-hand front of their saddles and, reaching behind them, produced short bows from holders on their saddles' left side. Letting the reins drop onto his horse's neck, each man reached over his shoulder and took an arrow from a back quiver, nocking it to the bowstring. The simultaneous actions showed as a flutter of motion at each end of the line.Selethen looked up to the Toscan general who was watching these evolutions keenly. "From this point, General Aquilifer, we use horn signals rather than flags."The general, a tall, thin Toscan dressed in ornate white leather armor, nodded, his eyes on the horsemen below."That makes sense," he commented. The flag signals had worked well so far but he realized that, in the confusion and movement of a cavalry charge, they could be overlooked.Selethen made a gesture to another of his signaling team, who raised a brass horn to his lips."Advance," the Arridan commander said. BA-TAAA! BA-TAAA! BA-TAAA! The horn blared and the long line began to move forward at a walk. The jingle of harness and equipment carried faintly to the hill."Canter," said Selethen. Another blast blared from the horn and the line of riders accelerated. Now the sound of their hoofbeats on the hard, dry plain came more clearly. Some five hundred meters ahead of the troop, a line of dummies and obstacles marked the position of their supposed enemy.At three hundred meters, Selethen nodded to his trumpeter."Charge," he said quietly. His manner was at odds with the heightened action and sound of the horsemen below. BA-TAAAAAA! BA-TAAAAAAAA! BA-TAAAAAA! The three elongated blasts set the line moving at full pace. The sound of hooves was now much louder, and the watchers could hear the battle cries of the riders in the center of the line as they lowered their long, bamboo-shafted lances to the horizontal. The archers at either end, still leading their comrades by several meters, drew back on their short horse bows and released.The sound of the bows was lost in the thunder of charging horses, but the flight of arrows was visible as a dark cloud, soaring up and then arcing down toward the ranks of "the enemy."Before it had landed, another volley was on its way, with a third following as the second flight smashed into the still targets, sending dummies sprawling, and scattering shields and weapons.As soon as they had released their third volley, the two outer lines of riders wheeled their horses away from the charge, circling behind the seventy riders forming the middle of the line and reining in some thirty meters back, ready to cover their retreat if necessary.The center of the line smashed into the simulated enemy, bowling over the straw dummies, skewering them on the end of their lances, jabbing and stabbing as their horses came to a halt. Some lost their lances as they stabbed into the makeshift breastworks that had been set up. Instantly, they drew their long, curved sabers and began hacking at the dummies, scattering the straw stuffing around them.As the riders reached a frenzy of motion and action, Selethen said firmly:"Withdraw." BA-TA! BA-TA! BA-TA! BA-TA! BA-TA! The abbreviated notes blared out in a persistent, strident rhythm that was impossible to ignore. Almost immediately, the plunging, stabbing cavalrymen wheeled their horses in place and set spurs to them. As one, the seventy riders withdrew from the combat and galloped back the way they had come. As they cleared the field, the thirty archers released another two volleys into the battered lines of the mock enemy. Then they, too, wheeled away, re-forming on their comrades from either side. When the extended line reached its original starting point, Selethen glanced at his trumpeter."Halt," he said, and the trumpeter nodded, raising his instrument once more. BATA! BATA! BATA! BATA! BATA! The series of rapid notes, on an insistent rising scale, echoed over the plain. In response, the riders slowed their galloping horses, bringing them to a halt and turning them in place so that the line faced back the way they had come."Stand down," Selethen ordered, and a blue-and-white-striped flag was displayed, waved back and forth, then brought rapidly down.The line of horsemen relaxed, leaning forward to pat their mounts, mouthing praise to them. The horses, excited and energized by the charge, tossed their heads and shook their manes. Then, they gradually calmed down, with only the occasional stamp of a hoof to disturb their rigid line.General Aquilifer turned to Will, who had been watching the demonstration."Very impressive," he said.Will nodded. "I thought you might see it that way." He smiled at Maddie, who was astride Bumper a few meters behind him.Will and Maddie were on a diplomatic mission for King Duncan of Araluen. Duncan, who had come to power as a battle commander, had shown a recent flair toward diplomacy and negotiation. Having seen the beneficial results of the mutual treaty between Araluen and Skandia--an arrangement brokered originally by Will--he was constantly on the lookout for opportunities to create agreements between other strong nations. His aim was to increase understanding between his near neighbors, and to create strong mutual defense treaties wherever he saw the opportunity. Having nations such as Toscana and Arrida bound by a mutual defense pact would create a more stable atmosphere in the world and provide an effective buffer against aggression from the outside.Not all countries were suitable candidates, of course--the Iberians were notoriously untrustworthy and devious, for instance--but when Duncan saw an opportunity to meld two powerful armies into a united force, he took it.The current arrangement being tested between Toscana and Arrida was a perfect example. Neither country had ambitions beyond its own border. The Toscan army was a powerful, stable force--with the finest heavy infantry in the world. But they lacked an equally effective cavalry wing, which limited their reconnaissance capability and left them vulnerable to ambush and surprise attack in the event of a campaign.The Arridan force, on the other hand, was composed mainly of expert light cavalry. And, as Selethen had just demonstrated, his troopers were highly disciplined and kept under tight control with strong central direction.Aquilifer tapped his heels into his horse and trotted slowly to where Selethen and his signal staff were waiting. Will and Maddie followed him, a few meters behind.As Aquilifer approached Selethen, the Arridan commander bowed slightly in the saddle and made the usual graceful, flowing gesture of welcome, touching the finger and thumb of his right hand to his lips, then to his forehead and his lips again.Aquilifer returned the gesture with the Toscan military salute--his right arm extended forward, palm down."You appear to have complete control over your men during a battle," Aquilifer said.Selethen nodded. "Of course, in a real battle, some messages go astray. But generally, we can oversee their actions and signal for changes and variations.""And an orderly withdrawal," Aquilifer said.Selethen inclined his head in agreement. "And an orderly withdrawal when needed."The Toscan general nodded several times. "That's what we need," he said, his voice betraying his dissatisfaction. "Our cavalry is recruited from several neighboring states, but they have no idea of discipline and no central control such as you've just demonstrated."He turned away, looking down at the straight line of cavalry formed on the plain below them."In fact, I've found in the past that when they do go into battle, all control goes out the window as soon as the horses begin to gallop. They become nothing more than a bloodthirsty rabble, seeking only to score victories over the enemy."Selethen said nothing. He was too courteous to criticize the Toscan cavalry. But his raised eyebrow spoke volumes."That could be dangerous," he said at length.Aquilifer nodded vigorously. "It is. I've seen troops wiped out when the battle turns against them and they refuse to heed the recall signal. Or they simply don't hear it. Our cavalry auxiliaries are unreliable and undisciplined. And most of our generals are reluctant to use them.""Which must make life difficult," Selethen commented.Aquilifer met his gaze. "Very difficult. Our army is highly trained. In a face-to-face battle, no force can stand against them. But we're hampered by inefficient, unreliable cavalry and a lack of reliable reconnaissance.""Which is why King Duncan thought your two armies should work together. You each have what the other lacks," Will put in.The two commanders turned in their saddles to regard him and he continued. "You, General Aquilifer, need a reliable, mobile force to scout for you. And you, Selethen, can benefit from the power of Toscana's heavy infantry.""Speaking of which . . . ," Selethen said with a slight smile.Aquilifer sat a little straighter in his saddle. "Yes indeed," he said, his voice determined. "Perhaps it's time to show our Arridan friends how a Toscan legion goes into battle." Excerpted from The Royal Ranger: the Ambush at Sorato by John Flanagan All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
