The Swithing Skill Chapter Four

The band of Chalkars following the girl were hardened warriors and expert horsemen, accustomed to forcing forbidding mountain ranges with armies of tens of thousands, carrying along with them the huge trains of equipment and supplies that such bodies of fighting men require. Now, relatively unencumbered, they found that to travel swiftly through such land as this, although not easy, was hardly an extraordinary task. To a Chalkar, brutal marches, frozen limbs, and extended discomfort were to be expected.
      Thus it was that by midday--much sooner than Dar-teh would have guessed--the Chalkars reached the forest where Dar-teh had taken the horses, and shortly thereafter they discovered the place of the battle--and their slain comrades. They squandered little time poking about the place; it required only a few minutes to examine the tracks and other signs and surmise that the girl had turned to fight and had been joined by a stranger. They found it mysterious, as it was difficult to explain why a lone fighting man would be present in this place, and how it was that he found the might to kill at least two of their own, before disappearing along with the girl, much weaponry and equipment, the clothes of one of the dead, and all of the beasts.
     Mysterious, yes, but no call for men such as these to hesitate or become faint of heart. They were Chalkars, the people who had swarmed out of the eastern grasslands under the leadership of the great Betpak Dala, who had magnetized the thousands upon thousands of nomads wandering and warring across the northern steppes, and then pulled them together like uncountable iron shavings rushing to join one another when called by the irresistible force. Under his leadership they had become unstoppable, for each man had a herd of his own beasts, mostly the horse, upon the spines of which every boy and many of the girls had spent most of their waking hours since birth, riding, hunting, always moving; and they had the bow, the stout, thick re-curve, made of wood and bone, capable of sending a shaft even through the thickest of hide shields or of striking an enemy down while hundreds, or even a thousand, paces away.
     The Chalkars had utterly destroyed every enemy who had fallen across their path. No other race was prepared for the onslaught of swift, mounted, deadly bowmen bursting forth from unknown lands, maneuvering like gazelles, striking like the cobra, if not the raging bull, subduing or enslaving every race who stood in their way, and thoroughly destroying those who resisted, to the extent of reducing to rubble the most magnificent of cities, leaving the corpses piled high, so that a wandering Yidu priest, ten years later, would pass the expanse of wasteland and report that, "Not an object above the height of the knee hinders one's view as far as they eye can see, and the charred earth is so befouled that not the least of weeds will grow there to this day. The stench of rotting flesh still foils one's attempt to wander too close."
     So the ten moved on with confidence, curious, perhaps only in the least uneasy, but certain that they would soon overtake and mete out a torturous death to the man who had somehow defeated their brethren, after which time they would enjoy the young girl, the much storied Miradi, before returning her to their general and denying any accusations she might make of them. They had incentive to move swiftly and to do well, for all ten of them had ravaged the women and girls of a hundred villages since their current march began two years ago, yet, since the winter campaign had begun, they had been occupied in remote wilderness and uninhabited mountains such as these, and were tremendously anxious to experience once again the carnal pleasures to which they had become accustomed. A half day's ride ahead, Dar-teh and Miradi, heads bent to the chill wind, forced their way higher into the peaks, striking an unnatural path for human travelers, who would ordinarily have stayed on the warmer slopes further below, clinging to the lower bosom of the great monoliths, until such time as their trail completed a giant half circle around to an eastern face, offering an easy descent to lowlands, the goal of any traveler trying this difficult passage.
     But Dar-teh and Miradi had struck upwards, through scant forests and up icy slopes, knowing not exactly where they headed, but knowing that their survival was at stake, and only brave, desperate measures such as this could save them. The girl's bleeding had slowed, but she had lost much of the precious fluid through the gash made by the Chalkar's blade. As a result, her body was unable to warm itself; she grew weak, and she was wracked with pain. Dar-teh had seen the wounding take place, and knew both from that quick sight as well as from the manner in which the girl slumped ever lower in the saddle that her condition was poor. The afternoon grew gray, snow blew across their eyes, and clumps of the ice formed in the manes and tails of the beasts. They came upon a bare outcropping offering a steep, frightening view of the land below, even down to the trail they had quitted some time ago. It was just such a place for which the warrior had hoped. "Here," he called to the girl, who rode a short distance ahead. She stopped and looked back at him with glazed, wondering eyes. He swung from the saddle.
      "Dismount, and I will lead your horse into the trees. Take your bow and find a place behind these stones overlooking the slope below. I will do the same. We have made poor time since leaving the trail, and it may well be that our followers will be passing along it shortly. If they are fooled and continue on, then we are saved. If they follow our tracks toward this place, then we will be waiting."  
     Miradi nodded and did as she was bade. By the time she had found a partly sheltered place among the rocks, Dar-teh was returning from the trees. He observed approvingly at the place she had chosen and looked some distance away at a second place which would complement hers. He looked back to the girl and noticed her trembling.
     "Gird yourself, fair one. My guess is that we will know our fate soon, and, should the spirits see fit, we will have the freedom then to secure more suitable shelter--even enjoy a small flame."
     Miradi nodded briefly and huddled down further in her shallow den. Dar-teh moved off and set himself in such a way so as to be able to cross his fire at an angle to that of the girl. He had barely settled into his place and begun to study the land below when the Chalkars appeared. They moved at a trot along the shelf, many hundreds of paces below, and then, to the dismay of the pair above, stopped short. The lead man, who had held up his hand, was examining the ground. He bothered not even to dismount before his eyes slowly wandered upwards, and then, twisting in the saddle to face his comrades, he barked out a short report. The others made a comment or two of their own, but otherwise sat waiting. Their leader looked up the icy slope a moment longer, pondering the situation and wondering at the intent of the strange pair he followed, then, without another word, signaled to his horse and turned off the trail. The others followed, and the line of horsemen began slowly picking their way upward, toward the hiding place of Dar-teh and Miradi. These latter let them come, for although the powerful bows they wielded were capable of great distance, sure hits would be easier at less than sixty paces. Yet, they must not permit the Chalkars to come closer than that, for if the warriors had the presence of mine to charge, they might overun Dar-teh and his companion before all of them were struck down themselves, although in that case, they would still have to contend with Dar-teh's blade. Each had strung a shaft, but the girl knew to wait for a sign.
      It came in the form of a buzzing string of gut, and the rushing of air as the missile passed by. His first shaft sunk deep in the chest of the lead rider, and the girl, had she not had the responsibility to shoot herself, would have paused long to marvel at the power and accuracy of the shot. As it was, in another instant, she knocked from the saddle the second man, for her own skills with the bow were equal to those of the man with whom she fought. The remaining eight scattered, however, the foremost three falling to the ground and rolling for cover, the other five lashing their mounts into short gallops into the surrounding brush. Dar-teh strung another shaft. He spied a warrior slide to a halt behind large stones and dismount. While the Chalkar stood grappling with his own bow, Dar-teh put a shaft through his side. Most of the remaining seven caught the direction of this last shot and the three foremost began stalking toward it, a formidable slab of rock, some thirty paces above their heads, over which they could not have seen, even had the mist and blowing snow been clear.
     Dar-teh, however, could lift his head carefully and observe them coming. They were brutish, scowling men, stocky and bow-legged from years in the saddle, broad shouldered, leather-faced, and with only slits for eyes against the stinging wind. Heavy cloaks covered them all, their bows were strangely massive, and they possessed many blades and an occasional lance. Despite the wind and distance, Dar-teh smelled occasionally of their scent, a rotting smell of horse and filth. They stalked like leapords across the ice, dashing quickly from one place to another, preventing Dar-teh from loosing another shot. Others, from locations unseen, sent shafts of their own flying close above the hidden warrior's head. But Dar-teh had chosen their position well. Miradi was in position to strike on the flank of those stalking him. He wondered an instant at the resolve of the girl; would she freeze in terror, flee as the fierce Chalkars grew close, or tremble so much as to miss her mark? His doubts were short lived, for as soon as the girl had chocked another shaft and aimed carefully, the missile flashed through the air and a fourth Chalkar lay dead. The others disappeared into cracks in the ground or behind slabs of rock. Dar-teh peered intently. The land was silent, motionless and gray, save for the whining of the wind and the blowing flakes of snow. He thought swiftly. Together with the girl, they had killed three of this race on the ledge that morning, more a moment ago; he could expect nothing but torture and death for the girl and himself if they did not defeat the rest of them now; therefore he did a thing that was distasteful to him, but which would save his life. The Chalkar mounts stood for the most part in open view, especially the ones who hadn't been ridden off to the side. Dar-teh strung shafts and fired rapidly and downed a pair of the creatures in an instant. As he strung again, Miradi shot, understanding her companions intent. A third animal whinnied and went down; then Dar-teh put a shaft through the neck of a fourth. The closer Chalkars dashed toward their beasts, horrified at what was taking place. Dar-teh buried a shaft in leg of one, causing the rest to hide again, and Miradi slew the remaining horses that were within reach of her shafts. Soon the wind whipped across a seemingly emptly slope, for the animals were gone and the remaining Chalkars hidden. What action these Chalkars might take next, Dar-teh could only guess, but his instincts told him that the time had come for the he and the girl to flee. He slithered behind the cover of naked branches and sharp stones and made his way to the girl, who lay shivering and pale, but watching intently the mountain below her. "Carefully fall back," he said. "Move rapidly but make no noise." He balanced her arm as she rose stiffly and moved at a crouch toward the trees behind. Dar-teh studied the hillside a moment longer, saw nothing, and followed after the girl.

The Switching Skill, Chapter Three

    Dar-teh remained still, hopeful that here would be the abandoned mounts of the slain men, but knowing that other Chalkars might be present as well. All was quiet, however, and after a short wait he quit the trail and stepped softly into the forest, moving briskly from tree to tree, pausing briefly behind each large trunk, moving in a circular fashion toward the sounds he had heard.
    Although his ailment blocked the memories of his past, Dar- teh knew the skills of stalking and was aware of the procedures to be used. The brief thought came to him that he should stop and wait for a much longer time, in order to assure himself of the absence of men, but something else urged him to continue, and although he bothered not to examine the reason why, the dark hair and lovely face of the girl waiting above flashed frequently though his mind.
   As he crouched in the mist, a rogue breeze rushed through the trees, clearing the fog momentarily, and revealing to the man the beasts he had heard. They were standing in the trees just a dozen paces away, three of them, staring at Dar-teh, their ears pricked curiously forward.
    He had not bothered to question the girl in detail regarding the number and location of the Chalkars. He could only hope that the initial three had been a party separated by any main group by a substantial distance, sent by their fellows to track and capture the girl, as she herself had said. He stayed motionless for a time, then, satisfied that no other men were present in this portion of the mountain forest, stepped towards the beasts.
   They were fine horses, not great in size, but sturdy, well muscled, and of good conformation. They were saddled and bridled, and carried additional equipment of the vanquished trio. Dar-teh stroked each one and spoke in low tones, allowing the animals to take in his scent, familiar to them because of their late master's clothes, then, he loosed the reins from the branches to which they were tied and led the animals away.
    As he began to retrace his steps, a faint, distant sound reached his ears. So delicate was the tone that at first he thought it to be the wind crying among the distant cliffs and gorges, or perhaps even the imaginings of his overwrought and exhausted mind. Then he heard it again, and knew it for what it was; the sound of men, coming from below, perhaps miles down the mountain, reaching his ears only through some freakish quirk of the wind and the rocks. Then it was gone, and although he strained to hear more, there was nothing.
   Yet he knew it had been the cries of men, and along with them the ghost-like neighs of horses, even the crack of whips. Men, many men, possibly the army of the Chalkars…far below, but traveling up this same tortuous trail.
   He reached the broken mess of rocks which permitted passage to the shelf above, where he had left the girl, and where the earth soaked up the blood of the Chalkars to the extent that it could before the sticky fluid froze on its surface. Dar-teh pulled on the reins of the three mounts, and they followed well enough, being animals familiar with rough terrain. Dar-teh bounded the last few steps to the top, and the animals leapt up behind him, snorting and milling about nervously on the open space above. Dar-teh held their bonds tightly and called soothing words. Then, as the animals calmed, he turned his head slowly, half expecting disappointment, but there, a short bow shot away, sitting her mount close against the gray stone wall, was the dark hair and small form of the girl.
    Dar-teh mounted the best of the horses, and clucking softly to them all, moved at a soft trot toward her. The powerful muscles and smooth gait of the beast felt pleasantly familiar between his thighs.
   As he approached, she observed, somewhat surprised, that he'd secured the Chalkars' mounts in short order, and that he rode with ease and handled the animals well. She looked at him with soft and wondering eyes, but eyes which also revealed to the perceptive warrior much fear and distrust.
   "I heard distant sounds," he said, "as if a great number of men were coming. If so, they do not know the land, for such numbers as they seemed to be cannot pass along these narrow shelves, or up the rough trail."
    The girl's eyes widened slightly. "A great number of men--that would be the Chalkar army, or part of it. The Dala has sent a flying column, consisting of five thousand men, south through these mountains to clear his flank. I was with that column. They will sweep west, across the lower hills and valleys, and destroy the towns and villages along their way."
    Dar-teh looked at her with narrow eyes. A flying column of five thousand? Ravaging the countryside? The main army he knew, must then be of immense proportions, bigger than he could believe. But the girl had spoken quickly and in a knowing tone. He searched his memory for knowledge of an immense army made up of almond-eyed horsemen, but he recalled nothing.
   "Then we are safe," he proposed, "for we are high above their intended path."
   "Perhaps," answered the girl. She motioned toward the dead ones. "Those, however, followed me for two days. I escaped from the column on the open plain, and they no doubt expected to recapture me quickly. Now that the army is passing below the place where I climbed into these high peaks, the commander may set others upon my trail, or at least upon the trail of the three who will never return."
    These revelations provided Dar-teh with much information to ponder, and his mind raced ahead, asking questions and endeavoring to provide plausible answers, yet he did not utter his queries aloud. Instead, he gazed at the girl quietly as he thought. She had obviously been a captive. No doubt she was an important one too, for her relatively good condition and the fact that she had possession of a good horse and equipment precluded the possibility that she had been merely a slave--and she had been wise and brave enough to escape. Yet, a large army with flanking columns indicated a war or invasion of tremendous proportions. What role could this small girl play in such ponderous events?
   "Then, if you still fear pursuit," Dar-teh spoke at last, "we should leave at once. There is nothing to keep us on this forsaken cliff." He touched his heels to the sides of the horse, and moved forward without another word. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and thirst burned his throat, but it was not the custom of the man to pause in such a place as this merely to satisfy such cravings. True, he had vanquished enemies in this spot, and possibly the couple could find a defensible and sheltered place nearby at which to make camp, but Dar-teh's warrior instincts were strong; his judgment told him to ride further into the heights, and to establish a redoubt at a place of his own choosing, rather than at one which fate had selected for him.
    Soon, the prudence of these actions would become apparent. The girl followed on her own mount, and they proceeded along the trail, away from the scrub and rocks wherefrom Dar-teh had recently emerged, and passing the dead Chalkars Dar-teh and the girl had slain.
   To go up was his goal, for he knew a similar ledge existed there, running by the cave in which he had slept. It had been dark during most of his time upon it, but that shelf, like this one, seemed to be part of the natural, winding passage across the cold range.
    Their path sloped upward, and after a time the brush and trees cleared away on their left, permitting them a sudden and tremendous view of the cascading side of the range, tumbling down upon countless forested slopes and hanging valleys. Dar- teh allowed his mount to choose its own way and its own pace upon the icy stone. The animal stepped slowly, providing the man and the girl ample opportunity to scrutinize the terrain below. It was the girl who called out softly and pointed.
    Dar-teh followed her gaze and saw the ten brown specks forming an unnatural row. They were still far below, perhaps half a day's ride, winding cautiously along the huge mountainside as their three companions had undoubtedly done the day before.
   The girl had been correct, Dar-teh thought. The commander in charge of the column had detected the trail of the girl, with the first three scouts in pursuit, cutting away into the peaks. His column may have followed the same trail from the time the girl had escaped back upon the plains, but could no longer do so, and so he had sent a fresh party of ten to reinforce the first, and bring them back quickly.
    Dar-teh motioned, and quickly they pulled away from the edge. The chance that the men below would catch sight of them so high above was slim, but it was a chance that need not be taken. They were able to continue along the narrowing trail some distance further, and then a cut in the rock provided the chance Dar-teh had hoped for. He pointed his mount toward the narrow, rubble filled crack and urged it upward. The horse did not waver; it took a few light, careful steps, and then bounded forcefully up the climb, scraping for footing on the bare stone and progressing with powerful leaps. After a moment, they emerged on the ledge above, not far from the place Dar-teh had first awakened half covered with snow.
    His mount pranced nervously forward and Dar-teh pulled it around in time to see the girl's mount bound up beside him.
    It was a cold and gray morn, but nevertheless the light was sufficient, whereas on the evening before, when the man had come to consciousness nearby, all had been mysteriously dark. Now Dar-teh was able to look about him and observe the strange surroundings.
   First, there was the almost bare stone upon which they stood, treeless, and nearly devoid of other plant life as well, allowing the chill wind to rush down from its icy source even higher in the range. In both directions the stone slab extended until disappearing in the murk, and before them yet another tall cliff rose. Turning, they could observe the view below, still magnificent, almost frightening.
   Experiencing the place again, this time with the benefit of daylight, renewed a sense of mystery and uneasiness in the man. How could he have come to be in this remote, uninhabitable place? Why could he not remember the simplest details of his identity or his past? Not even in his most drunken stupor had he woken to such a blank remembrance. He stepped his horse slowly across the stone.
   "Here is the place where I found myself, coming awake from a weird slumber in the dark of the night. I do not remember how I came to be here, nor even my name or where I am from. It was as though the spirits had deposited me here themselves. I stumbled to a small cave further down and huddled there until I heard the shouts off the Chalkars pursuing you this morn."
   The girl watched his face as he studied the unfriendly slope and turned to look at her quizzically. His expression and the tone of his voice could be mistaken for nothing but utter bewilderment and sincere concern.
    "It is true," she replied, "that it is hard to imagine a reason for a man to be alone and naked deep in an uninhabited land such as this. Perhaps, however, like me, you were the prisoner of some enemy band passing through this country, and you also escaped."
    Her words were meant to set his mind at ease, yet she knew they could not be true, for no men, soldiers or not, would have cause to--or would even dare--pass so high across the jagged peaks, for there were several established routes further below well suited to both large caravans and small groups of pilgrims. The trail they followed now was one made by the wild deer or bear, and would only be attempted by the most foolish, the most desperate, or the bravest of men.
   As she considered Dar-teh, the stories of her people flashed to mind, the tales of the Yidu, the high priests, as well as those of old Lintao, the grandmother who had raised her, legends of an ancient warrior, a spirit returning to the form of a man.....
   Dar-teh heard her words, but he was deep in thought, remembering as far back as he could, to the moment he waked on the ground. He endeavored to push his mind back a fragment further, trying to capture a moment beyond.
    The girl spoke again. "I am Miradi. How are you called?"
   "Dar-teh," he answered without thinking. Then, realizing he had spoken his name, a name from the past, he looked at her and saw a slight smile. But his name was all he could recall.
    "My home is upon the dry steppe far to the east. We are called the Kufra Kashmar, the desert people. To reach that land I must continue to cross this range and then travel for a hundred days across steppes, mountains, rivers and swamps. Perhaps I will never see my home again, but I will try."
   She paused briefly, then went on. "You may travel with me if you wish. At least accompany me out of the mountains. Once we make the flat land, perhaps you may recall more than you do now."
    Dar-teh needed little exhortation to be convinced to accompany the girl, especially as he had no idea as to any other reasonable course of action he might pursue.
    "Yes," he replied, "Perhaps I will remember more once away from this place, and, as I said before, together we may stand a better chance against whatever difficulties we face. First, however, we must be concerned about your Chalkar friends, for those following the trail will soon come upon their dead comrades. Even should we return and hide the corpses, they will undoubtedly still decipher from the blood and other sign that there has been a fight, and at that point their pursuit will become relentless. They will have good horses and equipment. We, on the other hand, although not poorly equipped, are only two, and you have a grave wound which requires rest and attention. I fear they will overtake us within a day."
   Dar-teh spoke like a commander himself, even like one who had formulated strategy and tactics for fighting men in many similar predicaments in the past.
   "What you say is true," Miradi replied. "What, then, do you suggest?"
    "We must put an end to their pursuit. They will know little or nothing of me, even if they suspect my presence. We are well armed with the bow, and they will expect only flight from us, not an attack. Should we find the proper place, we may be able to slay or wound another portion of them--at least enough to make them give up the chase."
   Miradi looked at the strange warrior, mounted on the rough saddle of hide and wood, dressed in hides, furs and pressed felts, and wrapped with the harness of the Chalkars, which supported blades, bows and shafts. His thick hair blew back from his face as the anxious horse danced nervously on the rock, revealing a stern hard countenance and a deadly stare. The metal of the bits and of the weapons clanked, and the hard leather creaked in reply. He appeared to her to be a more fierce and brutal figure than any of the Chalkars she had known, even though some of these latter had been among the most mighty and cruel warriors in the land.
    At the same time, however, she thought of how this stranger spoke intelligently and well, even in a tongue that was not his own, and how accurate his perception of their situation was. She was wounded, and she felt herself growing weaker with each passing moment. The thought of the ten Chalkars riding fast in pursuit sent chills up her spine. She had seen others of her gender in Chalkar hands when there was no chief or headman present to restrain them. Gladly would she cooperate with this man called Dar-teh in an effort to save them both.
    "Let us then," she said, "find the place where we will turn and destroy them." She nudged her mount into motion, and headed up the shelf, in a moment disappearing around the curve of a huge stone.
   Dar-teh took a last look around the bare, freakish ledge, the place where, as far as he knew, he had magically appeared in this world. Also, he looked again into the monstrous chasm before him, and watched fog banks of indeterminable length drift over the forests and across the naked cliffs, occasionally clearing to offer glimpses of vast, seemingly infinite stretches of mountains and valleys. He had only a moment to sit and wonder, however, for soon he remembered the girl, and clucking to his mount and to the horses he led, he turned and moved into the mist himself.

The Switching Skill, Chapter Two

     He had only a small distance to fly outward, for the warriors were almost directly below; but the distance downward was great, and he fell through the air feet first, aiming directly for the uninjured man.
      The latter was reaching again for the girl when Dar-Teh struck. A foot hit on each shoulder of rogue, and such was the impact that Dar-teh's feet crushed the bones beneath them and bounced viciously off, and as the man crumbled, the naked warrior smashed against him with his full weight, crushing him to the earth.
     There was a shout, then the ring of metal coming unsheathed sounded in Dar-teh's ears, and he knew the noise well. He glanced up in time to duck under the slash of the one wounded by the arrow, and then to spring like a giant cat to the side, snatching as he did so the sword of his fallen adversary from the ground next to him, and landing lightly with a snarl to face the man.
     This latter foe stood snarling as well, despite the fear and surprise that this naked tiger's onslaught had produced in him, for the almond-eyed swordsman had spent a lifetime in the forest and on the steppes, and was a tough veteran of a dozen campaigns, in which the armies of his people had fought battles of such horror and gore as to make Dar-teh's small offensive seem a child's game. He feigned at Dar-teh, but did not close, for he heard a shout and knew that a third companion was now rushing to his aid.
      Dar-teh, however, would not wait. He, too, was experienced at the deadly game. He knew not why, but the curved blade felt at home in his grasp, and his arm hesitated not. He feigned a short lunge, then leapt forward with two fast cuts, slicing his enemy's breast each time. His speed and skill were such that the other man was taken by surprise, and although he leapt backwards in a catlike response of his own, he was not fast enough to avoid being touched. The sharp edge sliced both his garments and the skin of his breast.
     His running companion shouted, and feeling the blood trickling down his flesh, the warrior shouted nervously back, then glanced briefly over his shoulder.
      In that instant Dar-teh struck, flashing forward with a crushing blow to his opponent’s sword arm, then a powerful, upward sweeping cut to the man's neck, knocking him off of his feet and killing him before he hit the ground.
     He squared to face the third warrior rushing toward him, pounding softly over the frozen ground, his skin boots skipping lightly over stones and scrub. Then Dar-teh heard an angry groan behind--the first man, the one upon whom he had jumped! Dar-teh glanced behind in time to see the man, standing, and raising a short dagger. The naked giant spun, his foot flying through space and catching the man fully in the chest, knocking him away. Dar-teh followed through, repeating the kick with his other foot, this time crushing ribs and felling his foe. A short chop with his blade ended the man's life.
     A bow string sung, Dar-teh heard a grunt, and remembered the running man. He turned quickly to see this last fellow falling, a shaft protruding from his chest. He came to rest just a swords length from Dar-teh's feet. The girl stood, still near the stone wall, her bow grasped in her hand. Aside from her breath, and that of his own, he heard only the small whistle of the wind amongst the rocks and frozen twigs.
     It had been a brief flurry, nothing more; yet three fighting men lay dead at the feet of a naked, shivering man and a slight, frightened girl. The latter looked out of dark eyes at the strange figure before her with a mixture of relief, dread, and wonderment. Never taking her eyes from the man, she cautiously strung another shaft onto her bow.
      The fighting over, Dar-teh's discomforts rushed back over him with excruciating speed. His limbs trembled slightly from the cold and the adrenalin as he stepped quickly to the largest of the dead. Stooping, he pulled roughly at the man's garments, stripping him of his felt and fur trappings, and quickly donning these items himself.
      He continued with this work, finally leaving the almond eyed warrior stripped of nearly all of his clothing and warlike accoutrements. Such were the ways of war, Dar-teh knew, and although he remembered it not, he had similarly equipped himself at the expense of his vanquished enemies a number of times in the past.
      He turned and looked at the girl, who had remained motionless while Dar-teh dressed. Now she raised slightly her bow and shaft, aiming in Dar-teh's direction. He examined her closely. Immediately he was struck by her beauty, for she was young, possessing raven black hair, flashing eyes, and even, well-formed features; and a figure which, despite the heavy coverings against the cold, possessed the alluring shape of womanhood even at her early age.
      He noticed her garments--similar to the men lying dead on the ground--and her bow, a short, thick, weapon, which appeared, although undoubtedly difficult to draw, powerful enough to pierce thick garments and skins; even the hide or bone shields of which Dar-teh knew. He noted that she appeared to be of the same race as those who had assaulted her. Many questions flashed through Dar-teh's mind.
     "You need fear no harm from me," he said. "I am lost and injured in this strange land, and I know not who my enemies may be. I have no reason to consider you one, and have no desire to make one of you."
     The girl stared intently as he spoke, and her expression seemed to Dar-teh to be that of one who knew the words but struggled to digest their meaning. Instinctively, he felt that she knew his language, but only slightly.
      Nevertheless, she did not respond herself; only stood, quiet and watching.
     Dar-teh's relief was great at finally being warmly clothed. The mountains were cold and the wind strong, but the elements were not so severe at to cause great discomfort to a person properly attired. He looked away from the girl, considering once again the men he had just killed, his own puzzling situation, and what he must do next.
      A familiar and somewhat pleasant scent had filled his nostrils upon donning the dead man's cloak, and suddenly the significance of it came to him--horses. These fierce warriors must have been horsemen, and quite possibly their beasts would still be nearby. Dar-teh's next move was immediately decided, for there was no more doubt in his mind that he should try to mount himself if possible than there would have been had he been faced with the choice between swimming a torrid river or crossing such on a secure bridge. He stepped from one man to another, taking a quick inventory of the weapons and equipment of each, and began taking those items which he desired.
     The girl spoke. "Stranger, I know not from whence you have come, or why you are traveling alone and unclothed in this remote place, but you should know that there are many more Chalkars nearby. These three were only a short distance ahead of a larger party. If you do not know yourself, let me tell you: they are your enemies as well as mine. I must leave this place immediately, and I advise you to do the same."
     Dar-teh stared at her strangely as she spoke, and she returned his stare, awaiting a response. The big warrior understood her words well, although they were not of the language he himself had used. He could not recall the names of their respective tongues, and he required several moments to even recall the concept of different idioms, such was the nature of his mysterious mental ailment.
     As Dar-teh was digesting these thoughts, she observed him more closely. She noted his size, greater than the men of her race, and even the garments of the largest of their attackers barely fit his frame. Thusly clothed, with broad shoulders and wild hair, he reminded her of the great bears who roamed these forested slopes. His face however, was young--not many years older than her own--handsome, and rugged. Most striking to her were the man's eyes, a light grey color, unlike any she had ever seen, for all of the clans with which she was familiar possessed black eyes and straight, black hair. Dar-teh's eyes and thick, dark brown hair intrigued her. Many thoughts dashed through her mind as she struggled to suppose from whence this enigma might have come.
     The wind continued to blow the dry snow through the air, occasionally stinging their faces with the icy crystals. The girl shook herself from her thoughts, girded her cloak around her and attempted to move off past Dar-teh. Upon taking her first bold step, however, she was apparently overcome by pain, for she emitted a short cry, grasped her side, and fell forward with an expression of agony on her face.
      Dar-teh stepped forward quickly and caught the girl in an outstretched arm, slowly lowering her to a sitting position against the stone wall. Immediately she pushed his arm from her.
      "I need no help. I stumbled--that is all." She tried to rise but, unable to bear her own weight properly, slipped again to the ground. She began another attempt, but Dar-teh, crouching close by, put out a hand to stop her. She could not rise with his heavy grip upon her.
      "Stop long enough to hear my words," he said, "and do not be afraid. I saw from above the slash of the warrior's blade, and I know that it bit your flesh well. Alone on this cold mountain your chances are poor. Together, perhaps, we can help each other."
     He had spoken in her language, causing her brief surprise, but then she considered the words. Were she to resist, this giant of a man could subdue her easily, if he so desired; and he was correct, her wound was a serious one, still bleeding and causing pain, and alone, she might easily perish or be captured by her foes. But with a companion such as this one, so long as his actions remained kind, she might fare well. Instinctively she felt the man was sincere.
     An idea began to form in her mind about the man--although the notion seemed so wondrous she hardly dared wish it to be true. Yet, even if he eventually turned foul, he might at least delay pushing his advantage with her for some time, allowing her to benefit from his aid and protection until they achieved a distance from the Chalkars. Then, perhaps, she would be in a better position to strike off alone, if she saw fit to do so. There was little choice. The burning sensation growing along her side convinced her of it.
      "Very well," she said, then motioned towards a place further along the wall, toward which she had been heading. "Take me to my mount."
     Dar-teh looked in the direction indicated and saw a small but sturdy horse standing quietly amongst the scrub. He was surprised but pleased. He lifted the girl easily to her feet and supported her as she limped painfully to her mount, whereupon Dar-teh hoisted her lightly into the saddle.
     "These men were no doubt mounted as well," he said, "and started off on foot only to scale the cliffs below."
      "Yes," replied the girl. "The trail winds slowly up the mountain from shelf to shelf, but the Chalkars dismounted and climbed this last precipice in order to capture me."
      "Our chances will be greater if I am on horseback as well. Where does the trail cut down to the lower shelf? The horses of these dead ones may still be there."
     She looked at Dar-teh and considered his words. What he proposed made sense. Even among these rugged peaks, the land was still suitable for horsemen, and, depending on the direction of their flight, they might soon come to terrain upon which it would be a great advantage, if not necessary, to be mounted. She felt the warm trickle of blood now pooling under her garments, and knew that she might soon be unable to ride unassisted. Furthermore, for some reason she could not explain, she felt a great sense of trust in this strange man. She pointed along her back trail.
      "Past that stunted sapling, where the large thicket is. Look between the branches. There is a descent which the horses can manage."
     Dar-teh looked into the dark eyes of the beautiful face, lovely despite the welt from the blow of the Chalkar, and marveled at their calm expression. "Flee if trouble comes," he said, "otherwise, wait quietly." The girl nodded.
      Dar-teh moved off, noticing again his own discomforts, the nearly frozen feet and aching ribs. He had been able to shove them from his mind during the excitement of the battle. Now, not only these physical pains, but mental confusion as well overwhelmed him. Since awakening on the icy shelf the night before, he had been forced to concentrate entirely upon survival; now, as he strode away from the girl, he was finally afforded the luxury of being warmly clothed and having a relative moment of leisure in which to ponder his situation.
      He tried to think back more than a day, but there was nothing. Until now, the man had expected the memories to return, as they do to one who awakens from a deep sleep and only slowly recalls the events of the night before, but a strange emptiness was the only result of his attempts to remember, and this strange feeling left him disturbed and uneasy.
     Dar-teh, although he did not know it, was a man who had traveled vast distances and back again, had traversed tremendous plains and forests, fought through mountains such as these, with and against giant armies, and had, at different times, been lost, defeated, and victorious. Such a past allowed him proceed such as he was now, taking action in order to save himself and the girl, and, at least for the time being, to put from his mind any confusion and worry.
     A hundred cat-like paces, keeping close to the shadows of the cliff above, brought him opposite the thicket. Through it would be some sort of trail leading below. A vague path could be discerned disappearing under the scrub.
     Dar-teh moved cautiously forward. Perhaps these Chalkars were already approaching from below. He felt for the weapons of the Chalkar he had slain, testing the location and arrangement of the harness. He gently parted the branches and stepped partially through.
      He saw what the girl had described; a slope tumbling away before him, at a reasonable angle, but strewn with jagged rocks and boulders as big as a man. Some distance below was another flat shelf, similar to the one upon which he had left the girl. A vaguely beaten trail, narrow, such as one made by wild beasts, wound though the rocks in front of him, and stunted trees and bare scrub clung to such places as offered a bit of soil or a crevice for their roots.
     Dar-teh paused to take in a larger view, for in the distance the mountainside fell away sharply through the gray and misty dawn into a vast, empty space, and the range stretched as far as could be seen both to his right and to his left, the lower slopes blanketed with the moss green of forest. Patches of white appeared where snow hung in the branches of the thicker stands, or was revealed on the ground of small, wind-protected meadows.
     He stood motionless a while longer, searching for any sign of enemies. After a moment, he started off, moving quietly and rapidly down the trail, which wove amongst the boulders and slanted slabs of stone. Dar-teh was uncomfortable, for the trail was exposed here, and his tall frame stood above the rocks in many places. Twenty strides, however, brought him to a fog bank, and, as he entered, he felt a sense of security due to the heavy mist, but at the same time the mysterious surroundings caused a wave of eeriness to pass over him.
      The shapes of pines and firs emerged from the gloom as the trail leveled out, and their scent filled the nostrils of the man. The path turned along the mountainside and disappeared into the trees. Dar-teh's hand slipped to the leather-bound hilt at his side as he moved, ghost-like, along the trail.
     A slight scrape reached his ears, and instantly he crouched behind a gray trunk. A moment later he heard the blow of a beast's breath, and then the stamp of a hoof.

The Switching Skill, Chapter One

      The mind of Dar-the, the warrior, had nearly succumbed to what seemed to be the inevitable, having retreated slowly into ever more primitive stages of inactivity, desperately attempting to defend whatever elements of its being that it could from the assault that was taking place upon it. Death seemed inevitable, and was certainly close at hand, but was forestalled by a combination of small factors, a testament to the whimsical nature of man's destiny and to the significance, at times, of his tenacious character.
     Across Dar-teh's face crept a cold, unfeeling element, unaware of and unconcerned with the skin of the man across which it crawled, causing a stinging, prickly sensation which sparked something in the man's subconscious, convincing his mind that it must allocate a portion of its remaining resources to the activity of defending against this perceived threat.
      Therefore, the eyes of Dar-teh slowly opened, and saw before them the cold, powdery substance, traveling across his cheek, causing the sensation of a creeping arachnid.
     His other senses were also mustered, slowly, one by one. First he heard the whine of a relentless and powerful wind across the adjacent terrain; second, he felt a solid, bitter cold throughout his form, except for certain extremities, which were too numb to register any sensation; finally, he experienced the pain from his side wound, although he did not know as of yet the exact nature of its source.
      Now that his conscious mind was again in control of his destiny, the man's will was given a chance to alter the course of things, and rather than return to the narcotic-like slumber of a freezing animal, the big warrior brushed the irritating snow away from his face and pushed himself slowly, with great pain, up from the icy rock. He paused for a moment, crouching, his head spinning with dizziness and pain.
      He was naked, a fact which astounded him, but over which he had little time to ponder. Instinctively he knew that he must move, for to remain exposed to the bitter storm would mean death. But where to? Dar-teh peered through the blowing ice. He saw only the blur of the white particles, and beyond them, only a black emptiness. He turned his head towards the opposite direction. The same…except that the emptiness was of a different, deeper shade, and seemed even more distant. He rose and ventured a few stumbling steps in this latter direction until somehow he realized that the icy slab on which he stood fell away within a few yards into a dark, yawning chasm. He turned back and groped his way on bare, unfeeling feet until he identified a stone wall rising before him towards the heavens.
      He stood upon a ledge of some sort, he thought dully, no doubt high upon some bare, icy precipice. A wave of confusion passed over him. Where? And how had he come to this place? But the urge to move returned, and the man staggered away down the narrow shelf, instinctively heading down the mild incline of the thing, hugging the wall and looking, feeling for any crack or large object which might offer some refuge.
      He proceeded for many minutes, pausing occasionally due to the agony of the cold upon his flesh, however he continued to stumble along, finding nothing of significance on the remarkably naked, barren mountainside, save some evidence of scant shrubs and sticklike trees. He felt an increasing sense of desperation, accompanied by an urge to fall to the ground on the spot and huddle as best he could against the cold rock.
      He resisted this temptation, however, and proceeded on, despite the agonizing sting he felt most intensely in his head, but also throughout the rest of his body. Finally his stumbling feet slid from beneath him due to a polished piece of ice upon which he trod, and he fell heavily to the ground. Pain shot through his arm and his side, adding to the agony of the cold.
     As Dar-teh winced and writhed uncontrollably, his face by chance turned to the wall of the cliff. There, not three feet before his eyes, he saw a slit in the base of the wall, only several feet high and a dozen feet long, but forming a low cave which ran back into darkness.
      Immediately he rolled over and over, into the space, until he bumped against stone. He was only a dozen feet into the mountainside; he wished it was more. Nevertheless, the shelter from the howling wind was good, and the naked man felt a surge of relief as the stinging left the surface of his skin, although it still pounded his head and bones.
     Now that he had a temporary refuge--for he would not dare venture from this spot until daylight provided some positive guidance--Dar-teh for the first time had a chance to wonder at his situation. A strange confusion overwhelmed him again, for when he attempted to recall anything prior to awakening in the storm, he encountered an inexplicable blankness. He was Dar- the, a fighting man. These two things he knew, but nothing else. He considered that he might be dead, and now transported into the realm of spirits, a concept of which he was aware, although he remembered no specific teachings regarding this. Dully, he fought to explain the mystery.
      Instinctively he knew certain things: that he was a man, and a man had memories which recollected a lifetime, ordinarily. There was knowledge also, and this he still possessed. For instance, he felt for a sword at his side, where there was none, but he knew what a sword was and that it should be there. He knew of its use, and he thought also of horses, villages, fields, and forests. He had much knowledge, but no memories.
      Now, sheltered from the biting gale, he would survive, for the temperature, especially as he huddled in his tight crevice, was not so severe as to cause a quick death, and in fact, a slight warmth seemed to radiate from the mountains interior.. Dar-teh waited, therefore, in a shivering half-slumber, for daylight to come and, hopefully, for the storm to end. His tired mind had done what it could to save the body; now it too, needed a respite.
     He awoke some time later. How long he had slept he did not know, for darkness still prevailed and the wind still blew, although much more gently now. He felt cold, but stronger; again the bowels of the mountain against which he huddled seemed to emanate a bit of warmth. He still, however, winced at the pain from his side wound and from his frostbitten extremities. Dar-teh felt that it must have been the great hunger and thirst that he felt which had awoken him. As he was struggling to recall his last meal, which he could not, a faint, mysterious noise reached his ears, and he realized that he had been hearing it for some time, and that it was this noise, not hunger or thirst, which had roused him from his sleep.
     He listened, and in a moment he heard it again. A voice, shouting, and another, fainter, calling in return!
     The wind howled, and he could hear the sleet tap lightly the stone at the mouth of his cave. He knew however, that in his weak and abandoned condition, it would be foolish to remain in his shelter if there was the possibility of aid passing nearby. And the voices were those of men. Enemies they might be, but even to throw himself into the hands of enemies seemed a better choice than to face a slow death, freezing and naked, which might well be his destiny were the storm to continue and the temperatures to remain harsh.
     He tried to move quickly, but the powerful limbs that at other times could lift many times his own weight, were now stiff and sore. He slipped and scrambled, however, to the mouth of his cave, exited, and rose, leaning on the rock.
      For a moment there was nothing but the wind, and the grey hint of dawn. Then the shouts again, one calling, the other returning! Dar-teh turned in their direction and walked stiffly down the ledge as he had before. He could see that the ledge widened, and soon there was a flat portion. He heard faint shouting, now on his right, over the drop. He approached the edge and dropped to a crouch. Here there was soil clothing the rock, and scant shrubs grew. Dar- teh parted a branch and looked.
      There was a sheer drop, three, maybe four times the height of a tall man, then a flat shelf, similar to his own, but occupied by small trees, and dotted with brush. The lower shelf ran in the direction of his own, but he could see only dimly either way, although it was obvious to him now that daylight had returned. Its width was wider than that on which he presently crouched, but after several dozen paces it too appeared to drop away; beyond was a grey mist and the far off, dark shapes of what might be a forest.
     Then from out of this mist came a hoarse shout, and the head and shoulders of a man appeared! Another cry from below the first called back.
     Dar-teh watched with keen interest as the man pulled himself up onto the ledge below him, his gasping breath and noisy ascent reaching through the wind. It was a broad face, flat, and with only dark slits for eyes, with a body that matched; dark, thick, and broad. Dar-teh, a warrior, noticed briefly the bow, the blade, and then a different sound turned his head.
      It was a brisk rustle, a scrape, and faint breath. Dar-teh looked closer, almost directly below, and saw a figure dart through the brush and turn--directly below him, but knowing nothing of his presence--and lean against the stone wall. It was a slight form, although wrapped in heavy garments. The head was capped with a fur, but long, black hair ran from under it and down the back. A girl, thought Dar-teh, and watched in surprise as she fumbled with a bundle, swiftly producing a short bow.
     Dar-teh looked out again, and saw that the man was now onto the ledge, and a companion had joined him; two dark, swarthy, fighting men, and a third companion still called from below. The first of them looked about swiftly, spotted the struggling form of the girl, and with a growl, leapt across the frozen ground. His companion noticed and followed, voicing a satisfied snarl as well. They had over a dozen paces to cover, and had made half of them when a bowstring sung, and the first man spun with a howl that matched that of the wind of the night before. He fell to one knee, a shaft protruding from an arm, but his companion rushed past, and reached the girl before her cold hands could string another shaft.
     She tried to draw a blade, but the rogue, twice her size, struck first, smashing her light frame against the stone. She struggled again, twisting to one side, but the man had his own blade out now, and sliced through the air, doubling the girl over as she lunged by.
     Dar-teh had forgotten for the time his own pains, staring intently at the activity below him. Had there been no conflict occurring, he would have considered calling to such men, despite the fact that they might be hostile, in order to secure some small degree of relief from the elements and possibly some food and drink. Now, however, different sentiments were roused in him, for there were two parties below to consider.
     The girl, although foreign to him as well, was also a possible source of succor, for she too seemed well provisioned. Further, he would rather reveal himself to a lone traveler, which the girl seemed to be, rather than to a number that could easily overpower him if they wished. Also, however, and more importantly to Dar-teh, he felt an excitement, an inexplicable urge to throw himself into the fray, for his fighting instincts were strong in him despite his poor condition. He could not, however, join the strong ones attacking the weak, for that was not his way, and he would receive no satisfaction from such a fight; but he could go against the warriors, for that would be a true battle, and there was much to be gained should he win.
      The girl had leapt and fallen some distance from her assailant. The latter now stepped toward her, a low chuckle in his throat, and reached down. As she struggled to rise, the man spun her around roughly and tore the cloak from her shoulders. The girl swung a fist in defiance, but the man parried it easily. He reached for the cloth covering her breast and tore it away. The girl struck him in the face; he grabbed her wrist with one hand and clubbed her face with his other; a blow thrice as hard as the one he had received. Then he threw her against the cliffside once more, and stood back several paces, cursing. Behind him, his wounded companion now approached, uttering similar epithets, but smiling cruelly upon noticing the girl's bare breast.
      Dar-teh gathered himself above them, forgetting his sore and stiff joints, and leapt.