[Bêthberry]

"Stinking, pestilent crows," swore the wounded strawhead as he rose up, sword in hand, to smash both Akaaw and Fingot at their feast. He never made it.

"Kraaaawwck," screeched Pip'kha as he dove and then ripped with his talons the hand holding the sword, flying up and then returning to rend the face of the horsemen in bloody shreds. The strawhead fell back in surprise and torment as a startled Akaaw, Fingot and the other older crebain rose into the air, streaks of blood and flesh mottling their feathers.

Pip'kha hovered near them at first, but he knew better than to make any retort, and so he then, wordlessly, flew on to catch up with his company, now nearing the top of the hill.

Iadoc turned slightly to watch him, a knowing glance in his yellow eye. "Old big bellies make blind eyes," he murmured. Pip'kha shrugged one wing without missing a beat. "We cannot underestimate these horsemen," was his only reply.

As they rose scarce yards over the top of the green hill they were met by a troup of horsemen, riding hard, shields raised but swords and spears down. Pip'kha squawked out a command and the company circled tighter and then seemed to fly right into the horsemen, rising suddenly only at the last moment once the horsemen had given way and broken rank. Yet three of the crows had left their ascent too late and smashed into shields, falling with shattered bodies to the ground.

At that moment, Mitikaw appeared with his company and prepared to swoop down on the horsemen, talons outstretched. They barely missed Pip'kha's group and Pip'kha spun around, furious at the arrogance of Fingot's son.

"Stupid bird," he cried, "trying to claim this action as your own and nearly killing us. You'll never make leader that way." He hissed his words into Mitikaw's wings and overflew him, throwing the other crow into a mild spin. Then he wheeled around high in the air, drawing his company after him, and dove once again with them into the herd of strawheads, who this time had their swords up. But the crows aimed now for the horses' head, for that blind spot shortly in front of their eyes, and the horses were spooked, scattering and forcing their riders into pulling up reins and stopping their forward march. A final pass saw Pip'kha's group streak towards the animals' haunches, ripping horse flesh as they dared low dives. Some, again, misjudged their distance and were downed by the battering swords which were scrambled in the air.

Yet Pip'kha had chosen his attacks well and his losses remained small. He and Iadoc climbed high, bringing the company with them and emitting a cackling retort of bravado towards Mitikaw's group, which had not been able to maneuvre fast enough to join the attack, which they had never practiced before.

Mitikaw had been bested and embarassed in front of his company and he seethed with anger. But off in the distance he could see Akaaw watching. He did nothing, for now.