The Broken Throne

by Christopher Nuttall

  She heard Cat mutter a curse. A hundred men had been struck by the arrows and fallen to the ground, but the remainder of the enemy army kept coming. Rocks were falling now, aimed to slam into the walls or just behind the walls. Lord Burrows was definitely no fool. He knew where Cat was hiding his archers and was determined to drive them away. Other rocks were crashing down around the observation tower, one – slamming into the wards – hitting hard enough to make the entire building shake. It wouldn’t be long before it had to be evacuated.

  “Archers ready,” Cat ordered. “Fire!”

  It isn’t enough, Emily thought, as a messenger shouted that the city was under attack from three directions. Thankfully, Lord Burrows didn’t seem inclined to try to force his way up the river and into the city that way. It isn’t anything like enough.

  She eyed the onrushing siege engines, then stepped forward, mustering a spell. They would have some protections woven into the wood, of course, but would they be enough when pitted against science from a different world? She carefully cast the first transfiguration spell, using as little power as she could without causing the spell to collapse, then followed it up with two more. Lord Burrows – or his magicians – would know she was doing something, but what?

  Cat looked at her. “Emily?”

  “Watch,” Emily said.

  She summoned a trio of fireballs, then launched them towards the three siege engines. They passed through the field of pure oxygen and exploded with staggering force, the wave of fire incinerating two of the three siege engines. The third was badly scorched, but it didn’t catch fire. Emily was almost disappointed. She tried not to think about the men she’d condemned to death.

  “Impressive,” Cat said. “You’re going to have to teach me that trick.”

  The enemy didn’t seem to be deterred by the loss of their siege engines. A handful of men, hidden under the tortoises, had reached the walls and were setting up ladders, covered by the enemy archers. Cat barked orders, directing his infantry to get into position as the enemy soldiers scrambled up the ladder. Behind them, a small army advanced towards the castle, heedless of the archers. The chance to make and exploit a breach was not one to be missed.

  And they’re bringing up more siege engines, Emily thought. The tower rocked twice as it was hit by two rocks in close succession. This time, they’ll be ready for me.

  A fireball rocketed through the air and slammed into the wards. Emily blinked in surprise as she saw a magician standing on top of one of the siege engines, throwing fireballs at an impressive rate. She mustered a fireball of her own and threw it back, only to see it explode harmlessly against his wards. The magician waved, then turned and exposed his bare buttocks to her. Emily had heard stories of people under siege dropping their pants and daring the enemy to do their worst – they normally ended with an arrow in a very awkward place – but never someone on the attacking side. She summoned a force punch and threw it with all the power she could muster. The siege engine rocked violently, its wards unable to absorb all of the impact. Emily watched the magician lose his footing, roll over the side and fall. She couldn’t tell if he’d been killed.

  The tower shuddered. This time, she heard crashing masonry in the distance.

  “Time to go,” Cat said. He grabbed his telescope and a handful of notebooks, then led the way down the stairs. The tower was shifting badly, as if on the verge of collapse. Emily could feel the wards cracking under the impact. “Hurry!”

  The sound of battle was louder outside. They ran across the street and into the next building an instant before the tower collapsed into a pile of rubble. Cat let out a sigh of relief as it became clear the tower hadn’t fallen on the walls. That would have been a disaster. Emily glanced at him, then rolled her eyes. Cat was actually enjoying himself.

  “We have to get back to HQ,” he said, as the hiss of arrows echoed over the city once again. “I don’t want them thinking I’m dead.”

  Emily nodded. “I’ll come with you. Just in case.”

  She hadn’t thought it possible, but the noise actually grew louder as they made their way down the streets. They were empty of civilians now, even the handful of soldiers careful to stay under cover as they hurried towards the walls. The enemy was pressing the offensive hard, flooding soldiers against every potential weak spot in the wall. Lord Burrows had the numbers and he was using them ruthlessly. Emily felt a stab of sympathy for his men, although she knew exactly what they would do to the helpless men, women and children within the city. Thousands of them would die in the next few hours.

  “Glad to see you made it,” Gars said, when they reached the HQ. There was no sign of Hansel, but Tobias was a brooding presence at the table. “I was starting to worry.”

  “I’m too mean to die,” Cat said. He studied the map for a moment. “How up to date is this?”

  Gars smirked. “What do you think?”

  Emily leaned against the wall and rested, as best as she could, while Cat assessed the situation and barked orders. A steady stream of messengers ran in and out of the room, bringing updates and carrying Cat’s orders back to the men on the front lines. He didn’t like issuing orders, although she was sure that no one else realized it. Cat liked to be on the front lines himself, risking his life in glorious combat. It wasn’t an attitude she shared – combat was never glorious – but she knew it was his. Staying at the back didn’t sit well with him.

  “They’re going to make a major breach here,” Cat said, studying the map. “They’ve captured too much of the wall for us to push them back.”

  Emily stood upright. “What do we do?”

  “We have barricades inside the walls,” Cat said. “I’ll take personal command of the reinforcements. You watch my back.”

  His eyes met hers for a moment, reminding her of her promise. Emily winced inwardly, feeling guilty at the mere thought of running away. She hadn’t spent years in Martial Magic – and then taking private lessons from Sergeant Miles and Lady Barb – to turn and flee when danger reared its ugly head. But she had given her word...

  Cat looked at Gars. “Funnel reinforcements to any other breaches, if they’re made,” he said. “And if they can’t be contained, draw our people back to the inner walls and abandon the slums.”

  “Understood,” Gars said.

  Flaming arrows were already hissing through the air as Emily and Cat made their way back to the barricades, landing right across the city. Most of them were harmless, but a handful started a series of fires that threatened to grow out of control. Emily wondered if that meant Lord Burrows had given up on taking the city largely intact or if he was simply trying to weaken the defenders. He must not have expected the Levellers to put up such a savage fight. She mulled over the possibilities as they reached the barricades, defenders already manning the trenches while others hastily reinforced the structure. It didn’t look very strong, but she’d been told it was an illusion.

  A messenger appeared out of nowhere. Emily almost blasted him before she took in his uniform. “My Lord! They’re breaking through the East Wall!”

  “Understood,” Cat said. He raised his voice, somehow making himself heard over the constant din. “Man your places!”

  Emily braced herself as a handful of defenders ran down the streets, slipping through holes in the barricades and jumping into the trenches. The remainder of the men on the battlements would be dead, she realized dully. Lord Burrows definitely hadn’t expected the Levellers to put up such a fight. But they were fighting for a cause, for a better life for themselves, while the attackers were fighting for their feudal overload. It was unlikely Lord Burrows’ army really cared who won.

  “The next people coming down that road,” Cat said with calm confidence, “I want you to kill.”

  His men cheered an instant before the enemy infantrymen arrived. They were carrying swords and spears rather than firearms; behind them, Emily thought she saw archers hastily taking cover behind the rubble. Cat muttered orders to his men, comm
anding them to hold their fire as the enemy gathered themselves. They had very little choice. They had to charge the barricades if they wanted to get into the city. For a moment, it seemed as if time itself had slowed to a crawl...

  ... And then the enemy charged, screaming incoherently. Emily forced herself to watch, feeling magic bubbling within her. Cat seemed to take it in stride, warning his people – time and time again – to hold their fire as arrows started hissing over their heads. The enemy got closer and closer...

  “Fire,” Cat snapped.

  The enemy line stumbled, then came apart as the muskets fired a ragged volley. A couple of guns hadn’t fired – Emily couldn’t tell why – but it hardly mattered. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of men had been hit. They stumbled to the ground, their successors tripping over them as they tried to make it to the barricades. Cat snapped orders, commanding the musketmen to reload and continue firing. Lord Burrows could still win, could still smash through the barricade, if he was ruthless enough. Emily had no doubt he’d keep throwing men into the fire, now that he was committed. He’d need to have something to show to the king, just to prove that the engagement had been worthwhile...

  She mustered her magic as the next wave of enemy troops jumped over the bodies of their fallen comrades and charged the barricade. The musketmen were falling back, allowing the swordsmen to cover their retreat. Emily shaped a spell, then threw it with all the power she could muster. Flames billowed to life, incinerating the closest enemy soldiers and driving the others back. A second later, she realized that she’d made a mistake. She’d also set fire to the barricade! She flushed, but no one seemed to care. Cat was too busy directing his men to repel the next wave of attackers.

  Emily lost count of just how many men came at them, time and time again. She cast spell after spell – Cat joined her as the attack became more and more intense – but they just kept coming. Something exploded in front of her, the blast smashing the remainder of the barricade into rubble; she ducked, instinctively, an instant before an arrow flashed overhead and vanished. It would have killed her if she hadn’t been moving. A man came at her, his face crazed with battle; she hit him with a fireball without even taking the time to watch him die.

  “Emily,” Cat shouted. “Fall back!”

  “Coming!” Emily shouted back.

  She tossed a handful of spells towards the onrushing enemy, then joined Cat as they ran to the next set of defenses. Everything seemed to be crumbling. The defense lines were coming apart, Eagle’s Rest was burning to the ground... she looked at Cat and saw the same exhaustion she felt. And yet, they couldn’t go. There was no time to rest...

  “Emily,” Cat said, quietly. “Go.”

  “I don’t think I have the power,” Emily said, equally quietly.

  Cat’s face darkened. “Then go slip into the crowd and vanish,” he ordered. “Or snatch a boat and go upriver.”

  Emily shook her head. There was no safe place in the city, not any longer. And trying to take a boat was suicide. Instead, she turned back to face the oncoming enemy. They seemed to be rallying, preparing their strength for the final thrust into the city. The rocks were no longer falling, but it didn’t matter. Lord Burrows was about to win.

  “Go,” Cat said. “Emily...”

  The enemy charged. Emily raised her sword, summoning what shreds of magic she could as she prepared for the final battle. Beside her, Cat let out a pitying sigh – she wasn’t sure just who he was pitying – and stood next to her. The remainder of the men joined them, their faces hard and cold. After everything they’d been through, after everything they’d done, they didn’t want to surrender. Emily didn’t blame them.

  She drew on her final flickers of magic as the enemy crashed into their position. The barricades and the buildings made it hard for them to bring their full power to bear on the defenders, but both sides knew it was just a matter of time before the defenders were crushed by sheer weight of numbers. Emily killed a soldier who didn’t seem to know what he was doing with his sword, then dodged back to avoid a blow from a man who did know what he was doing. She tested the knife in her sleeve as he pushed forward, slamming his blade against hers time and time again. The expression on his face revolted her. He was enjoying himself.

  He pushed forward, knocking her sword from her hand. Emily slipped the dagger from her belt and stabbed him in the throat before he could react. He stared at her in horror, as if he couldn’t comprehend what happened, then collapsed. Emily scooped up her sword, ducking a blow from a third soldier. It looked as though only a handful of men were still alive...

  ... And then the enemy forces simply melted away.

  Emily stared, unable to believe her eyes. They’d been winning! She knew they’d been winning. And yet, they were retreating. They were running for their lives.

  “The Queen!” The shout went up along the line. “The Queen!”

  Cat grabbed Emily and kissed her, heedless of who might be watching. “Alassa made it,” he cheered. “We’re saved!”

  Emily sagged in relief. “Yeah,” she said. She kissed him back, trying not to think about the dead and dying. “We won.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  ALASSA ENTERED THE CITY AN HOUR later, riding a large white horse.

  Emily stood at the edge of the city square, just outside the mansion, and watched as the crowd cheered lustily. They knew, even if no one said it outright, Alassa had saved their lives. Her army had arrived just in time to send Lord Burrows fleeing to the east, leaving hundreds of his common-born soldiers behind to face the music. Most of them, save for the poor bastards who had been hacked apart by vengeful locals, were on their way to a makeshift prison camp.

  “Jade must be furious,” Cat muttered. “Look at her.”

  Emily frowned, puzzled. Alassa was wearing a long white dress, her blonde hair hanging down her back, but she was decently covered. Her clothes were only tight around her baby bump. And then she realized that Alassa had also made herself a target. Her white dress and blonde hair – and the golden coronet on her head – would tell any watching sniper who she had to be. Jade had to be terrified of someone taking a shot at his wife, no matter how many wards were woven around her. Emily was glad she hadn’t been a fly on the wall during that argument.

  She tensed, keeping an eye on the crowd as Alassa made her way towards the manor and stopped just in front of the gates. The crowd was cheering loudly, but Jade was right to be worried. A lone gunman could pull the trigger before anyone could react. Emily wouldn’t have bet good money on his ability to actually hit a target – she’d only been hit because the shot had been fired at practically point-blank range – yet it wasn’t something she would have taken for granted. Alassa’s death would turn the civil war into a confused blood swarm as various noblemen, with vague claims to the throne, fought to take control.

  Unless the king brings out his bastard son, Emily thought. He won’t have a choice.

  She turned her attention back to Alassa as she dismounted with the ease of long practice, brushing down her dress in one smooth motion. Viscount Hansel and his brother – and a handful of minor noblemen – waited to greet her, their faces oddly unreadable for men who’d been saved from certain death. They went down on their knees as Alassa turned to them, bowing their heads to their ruler. Emily wondered, sardonically, just how much they meant their promises of respect and fealty. Hansel would never have absolute power over his domain again and he knew it.

  But he’ll still be a big fish in a small pond, if he takes advantage of the opportunities that will come his way, Emily thought. And if he doesn’t... well, at least he had a chance.

  Alassa turned to face the crowd. Hats were removed, but no one tried to kneel. Emily didn’t really blame them. The square was jam-packed with people, from soldiers who’d fought on the front lines to women who’d hidden in the shelters and braced themselves for the worst. A handful of children played together, their clothes suggesting they were from different social classes. The
y would normally never even have been allowed to look at each other.

  “My troops advanced as fast as they could,” Alassa said. She spoke quietly, but her words echoed over the square. She was using magic to carry her words to the people. “We came here to save you. But we would not have been able to save you if you had not saved yourself first. This is your victory. By holding the line, by forcing them to fight to take the city, you ensured your own salvation. This is your victory.

  “There will be many more victories to come, as we advance towards Alexis. They will be your victories too, because what you did here will make those victories possible. You – all of you – ensured that the Great Charter will be propagated throughout the land. You – all of you – ensured that the Great Charter will have teeth. The world will never be the same because of what you did here.”

  Emily looked at Viscount Hansel, still kneeling behind Alassa. He didn’t look pleased. His people had felt their strength now, his people had tested themselves against a full-fledged army bent on destroying their city. Hansel was irrelevant now and he knew it. The mercenaries, standing by the walls, looked uncomfortable. Emily suspected they were quietly planning to either offer their services to Alassa or leave the kingdom as quickly as possible. They would no longer be welcome in Eagle’s Rest.

  “I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman,” Alassa continued, “but I have the heart of a king! In me runs the blood of Alexis the First, who built this kingdom from the rubble of empire, and Alexis the Third, who saved the kingdom from greedy noblemen who would tear it apart. And I pledge my word that we will save the kingdom, once again, from those who would destroy it... and change it, so they may never bring our kingdom to the brink of destruction again. We will not fail!”