Ranger's Apprentice 10: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja Read Free Page B

fact that Horace had grown up as an orphan, and so he was drawn to Shigeru’s understated strength, gentle wisdom and unfailing good humour. In some ways, the Emperor reminded him of Halt, although his smooth good manners were a marked contrast to the Ranger’s often acerbic nature. He gestured to the carefully cultivated trees around them, their leaves now blazing yellow and orange to herald autumn.
    ‘I should tell George to start making preparations for the trip,’ he said. ‘I’ll leave you to contemplate your trees.’
    Shigeru, in his turn, gazed at the patterns of dark trunks and blazing leaves around him. He loved the peace and solitude in this garden, far away from the self-serving politics of the capital.
    ‘Their beauty will be small recompense for the loss of your company,’ he said smoothly and Horace grinned at him.
    ‘You know, your excellency, I wish I could say stuff like that.’

Toscana

    A command rang across the parade ground and Will watched the roof of shields disappear as the legionnaires lowered them back to their normal position.
    Then, in response to another command, the second and third ranks took a pace backwards. Each man carried a long javelin in addition to the short sword he wore on his right side. Now the men in the rear rank reversed their grip, turned side on and raised the javelins to the throwing position, right arms extended back, the javelins balanced over their right shoulders, aiming upwards at an angle of about forty degrees.
    ‘Azione!’
    Thirty-three right arms came forward, thirty-three right legs stepped into the cast and the flight of javelins arced away towards the wooden targets. They were still on their way when the second rank repeated the action, sending another thirty-three projectiles soaring.
    There was no individual aim – each man simply cast his weapon at the mass of targets in front of him. Will realised that in a real battle, the optimum distance would be decided by the century commander, who was calling the orders.
    The first volley arced up, then pitched down as the heavy iron heads of the javelins overcame the force of the throw. There was a rolling, splintering crash as the javelins hit home. Half of them struck the ground harmlessly. The other half smashed into the light wooden targets, knocking them to the ground. A few seconds later, the second flight arrived, with similar results. Within the space of a few seconds, nearly a third of the hundred targets had been splintered and demolished.
    ‘Interesting,’ Halt said softly. Will glanced quickly at him. Halt’s face was impassive but Will knew him well. Halt was impressed.
    ‘The first blow is often decisive,’ Sapristi told them. ‘Warriors who have never fought our legions before are shaken by this sudden devastation.’
    ‘I can imagine,’ Selethen said. He was watching keenly and Will guessed that he was imagining those lethal javelins crashing into a company of his light cavalry at full gallop.
    ‘But today, for the sake of demonstration, our “enemy” will be overcome with rage and will go on with the attack,’ the general continued.
    As he spoke, the wild mass of enemy warriors moved up to the point where the targets had been savaged and splintered. Now they brandished their swords and charged at the wall of shields.
    The solid crash as they hit the wall carried clearly to the observers. The front rank swayed a little under the initial impact. Then it steadied and held fast. Looking carefully, Will could see that the second row had closed up and were actually pushing their comrades forward, supporting them against the initial impact of the charge.
    The tribesmen’s swords flailed in swinging arcs at the big square shields. But for the most part they were ineffective – and they were getting in each other’s way. By contrast, the short wooden practice swords of the legionnaires began to flicker in and out like serpents’ tongues through narrow gaps in the shield wall, and the