Rezkin kept track of the corporal’s movements in his mind and noted that someone else was moving from the campsite in his direction. Lieutenant Jimson arrived a moment later. After a few minutes, the lieutenant grunted softly and said, “Your eyes must be much better than mine. I can only make out a few movements that indicate their presence. I cannot determine any numbers, though. Five of my men are in position on the other side, and I told your friends to keep their swords on them and stay near the fire. I would not want them getting lost or killed by accident. That leaves you, me, and Corporal Lattery on this side. You think we can handle it?”

“It will have to do. When we are done here, we can go help the others,” Rezkin replied.

The lieutenant frowned at him. “That was not what I meant. I meant, do you think we need more men on this side?”

“We are more than sufficient,” Rezkin replied with surety. In truth, he could handle them by himself, but it would take too long, and some could slip by him. He would not turn down assistance when it was offered.

“If you do not mind, lieutenant, I will take the five on the right, you can take the four in the gully on the left, and the corporal can take the two in the bush,” Rezkin said.

The lieutenant sucked in a heavy breath and tried to steady his nerves. Four was a lot, and he was not sure he could handle them all, especially if they came at him at once. For that matter, he did not think the corporal could take two at once if they were coordinated attacks. Rezkin noted the lieutenant’s hesitation.

“If you both can hold them off for a few minutes, I will assist you once I have dispatched mine,” he offered.

The lieutenant’s breath released in a whoosh. He wondered at Rezkin’s assertion that the young warrior could even take out all five men, much less do it quickly enough to render assistance to others. Lacking a better plan, Jimson decided to accept the offer in the face of their impending battle. He nodded once. “I think I can do that. Corporal?”

The corporal gulped. “Just hold them off? I think so. I’m sure I can take them both out if they don’t come at me at once, assuming they aren’t experts with the blade.”

“I do not expect these to be masters of any sort if their comrades on the riverboat were anything by which to judge. You will probably be fine if you stick to the Rules,” Rezkin said. The corporal was not sure what these rules were but nodded in agreement anyway.