His heels struck something soft and with a curse he stumbled and fell.
The marine glanced back. 'On your feet, dammit! Someone's after us!'
Duiker had tripped over a body, a Tithansi lancer who'd been dragged by his horse before the mangled mess of his left hand finally released the reins. A throwing star was buried deep in his neck. The historian blinked at that – a Claw's weapon, that star – as he scrambled to his feet. More unseen back-up? Sounds of battle echoed through the mists, as if a full-scale engagement was underway.
Duiker resumed covering the marine as she continued on, Nil's limp body hanging like a sack of turnips over one shoulder.
A moment later three Tithansi warriors plunged out of the fog, tulwars swinging.
Decades-old training saved the historian from their initial onslaught. He ducked low and closed with the warrior on his right, grunting as the man's leather-wrapped forearm cracked down on his left shoulder, then gasping as the tulwar it held whipped down – the Tithansi bending his wrist – and chopped deep into Duiker's left buttock. Even as the pain jolted through him, he'd driven his short sword up and under the warrior's ribcage, piercing his heart.
Tearing the blade free, the historian jumped right. There was a falling body between him and the two remaining warriors, both of whom had the added disadvantage of being right-handed. The slashing tulwars missed Duiker by an arm's length.
The nearest weapon had been swung with enough force to drive it into the ground. The historian stamped a boot down hard on the flat of the blade, springing the tulwar from the Tithan's hand. Duiker followed up with a savage chop between the man's shoulder and neck, snapping through the collarbone.
He launched himself behind the reeling warrior's back to challenge the third Tithan, only to see the man face down on the ground, a silver-pommelled throwing knife jutting from between his shoulder blades. A Chw's sticker – I'd recognize it anywhere!
The historian paused, glared around, but could see no-one. The mists swirled thick, smelling of ash. A hiss from the marine brought him around. She crouched at the inside edge of the picket trench, gesturing him forward.
Suddenly soaked with sweat and shivering, Duiker quickly joined her.
The woman grinned. 'That was damned impressive sword-play, old man, though I couldn't make out how you done the last one.'
'You saw no-one else?'
'Huh?'
Struggling to draw breath, Duiker only shook his head. He glanced down to where Nil lay motionless on the earthen bank. 'What's wrong with him?'
The marine shrugged. Her pale-blue eyes were still appraising the historian. 'We could use you in the ranks,' she said.
'What I've lost in speed I've made up in experience, and experience tells me not to get into messes like this one. Not an old man's game, soldier.'
She grimaced, but with good humour, 'Nor an old woman's. Come on, the scrap's swung east – we shouldn't have any trouble crossing the trench.' She lifted Nil back onto her shoulder with ease.
'You nailed the wrong man, you know ...'
'Aye, we'd guessed as much. That Semk was possessed, wasn't he?'
They reached the slope and picked their way carefully through the spikes studding the earth. Tents were burning in the Tithansi camp, adding smoke to the fog. Screams and the clash of weapons still echoed in the distance.
Duiker asked, 'Did you see anyone else get out?'
She shook her head.
They came upon a score of bodies, a Tithansi patrol who'd been hit with a sharper. The grenado's slivers of iron had ripped through them with horrific efficiency. Blood trails indicated the recent departure of survivors.
The fog quickly thinned as they approached the Wickan lines. A troop of Foolish Dog lancers who had been patrolling the wicker barriers spotted them and rode up.
Their eyes fixed on Nil.
The marine said, 'He lives, but you'd better find Sormo.'
Two riders peeled off, cantered back to the camp.
'Any news of the other marines?' Duiker asked the nearest horsewarrior.
The Wickan nodded. 'The captain and one other made it.'
A squad of sappers emerged from the mists in a desultory dog-trot that slowed to a walk as soon as they saw the group. 'Two sharpers,' one was saying, disbelief souring his voice, 'and the bastard just got back up.'
Duiker stepped forward. 'Who, soldier?'
'That hairy Semk—'
'Ain't hairy no more,' another sapper threw in.
'We were the mop-up mission,' the first man said, showing a red-stained grin. 'Coltaine's axe – you were the edge, we were the wedge. We hammered that ogre but it done no good—'