“Make the call to signal an attack on the harbour then get downstairs and send up a runner.”
The trumpeter obliged and took off to find a runner, returning with one shortly.
“Get to the harbour as quick as your legs will carry you and inform the Harbour Guard Captain that the Reavers will arrive shortly, about sixty ships. Go!”
The runner took off and Jorgen followed his progress from the window of the gatehouse as the runner propelled himself toward the harbour with a fine burst of speed. Once the messenger was well on his way, Jorgen returned his attention to the fighting in front of him. The Reaver ships were now someone else’s problem. An arrow whined through the narrow gap of the front slit window and shattered on the wall behind him. It was a reminder to Jorgen that he was in the war too.
The message bearer reached the harbour where the group from Cristal’s household were assembled. All bar Krissi, who Arwhon had left at the mansion with a promise to return. They had been informed by Trelin that Jorgen de Frie was quite capable of handling the initial assault on the wall and Cristal, who had a lot of faith in the woman, had taken her at her word. The Reavers were their biggest worry, as Belvedere’s harbour was an open back door to any attack.
“The Reavers are here, about sixty ships,” the little runner panted out, chest heaving with his exertion.
Kuiran and Arwhon exchanged glances.
“Leave this to me Arwhon,” the big man said as he pointed to a Captain near him.
“Are the reserve bowmen ready?”
“Aye Kuiran. What would you have me do?”
Kuiran hefted his staff.
“Get them fallen in behind me. We’re going to the redoubt on the western arm of the harbour. At least we’ll be able to harry the Reavers as they sail in if my plan doesn’t work.”
The Captain looked puzzled. Everyone knew there was no lamp oil left and the fiery trick they used last time could not be repeated.
At that moment Escarion arrived, puffing, having run all the way down the church tower steps and the cobbled street that led to the harbour.
“The Dark Mage is on the other side of the harbour entrance Kuiran. I’ll come with you in case he uses magic against you.”
Kuiran nodded acceptance.
“Do you want me to come too?” Sihron’del asked. “As backup, just in case.”
“No lass, you are Shield. Stay and protect Arwhon.”
Kuiran, Escarion, the Captain and the troop of bowmen, quivers full of arrows took off, running around the western side of the harbour, heading for the redoubt on the end of the harbour wall overlooking the entry to Belvedere’s port.
In the distance, visible now to the onlookers, red sails could be seen dotting the horizon as the mighty armada headed for the harbour of Belvedere. Reaching the redoubt, the Captain deployed his men around the circular walls and organised arrow supplies, while Escarion and Kuiran stood looking out into Moreland Bay. Escarion pointed out the dark cloaked figure standing on the eastern side of the harbour, well out of bowshot range.
“That’s him, the Dark Mage. I don’t know why he’s here but I suspect it’s to aid the Reavers. What’s your plan?”
Kuiran turned to Escarion, a strange look on his face as he considered his reply.
“Feelings, friendship and trust.”
Escarion’s right eyebrow rose in doubtful query.
“Is that it? You realise I’m not allowed to use magic to directly interfere in all of this. All I can do is neutralise the magic of the Dark Mage over there.”
“Trust Escarion, there has to be some trust in the world. Just watch.”
They stood there, Giant and Mage, side by side as the Reaver ships loomed closer and their numbers could be easily made out. Well before the harbour entrance the lead ships dropped their mainsails and slowed, preparing to use their oars, while those behind closed up on the leaders in a tight formation. It was evident a huge force of men was going to be landed quickly. By now, Escarion was looking extremely worried and drummed his fingers on the wall.
“I bet they’re going to pick up the Dark Mage.” Escarion muttered.
Kuiran stood immobile, waiting.
Down below them, out of the murky depths, a sleek brown head broke the surface of the water and fixed its gentle, bright-eyed stare on Kuiran.
“Iss time we think Kuiran. Do not forget uss. We are kin.”
The head slipped back beneath the water. Escarion murmured appreciatively.
“A Sealie. You surely have powerful friends. I never thought to ever see one. Well, that changes things.”
The attacking ships were bunching and moved forward a little slower now under oars. Kuiran noticed a current forming in the water ahead of the lead ship, which had started to heave toward the eastern shore, most likely to pick up the Dark Mage who had signalled to attract the Reaver’s attention. The ship lurched slightly off course in an anti clockwise direction and he could see the men on the huge tiller hauling it across to compensate. Other ships started to swing to port and the current became more pronounced as it began to form a huge circle around most of the Reaver ships. The current moved ever faster, dragging ships around its perimeter and several Reaver ships thunderously scraped and ground together, timbers, spars and oars fracturing to splinter overboard. Over on the far shore, the Black Mage stood watching, casting glances over toward the redoubt. Suddenly he swung and pointed in their direction and Escarion reflexively flung up his hand with a shout. The surprise attack nearly succeeded, Escarion’s defensive shield only stopping the powerful magic blast a few spans from the wall. Those in the redoubt were rocked by its backlash, stars in their eyes from the brilliant flash of colliding energies. Another gesticulation by the Dark Mage but this time Escarion was ready and the spells cancelled each other midway between them, out over the roiling water.
“He thinks I’m responsible for what is happening to the Reaver ships. I just wish I had that much power.”
As Escarion held off the spells cast at him by the Dark Mage, Kuiran kept his eyes glued to what was transpiring before them. The circular current had sped up and the sea was now depressed in its centre. It had become a giant whirlpool, thick with mud and seaweed sucked from the bottom of the sea. Boats were spinning around its rim and being inexorably sucked toward the centre. One by one, as each boat reached the centre of the rotating whirlpool, it disappeared down the funnel. The speed of the spin was amazing. As the last boat caught in the whirlpool vanished down the centre of the vortex, the waters slowed down, the current slowly reducing.
About ten of the Reaver ships had missed being caught up in the fatal whirlpool and their oars bent under the strain of rowing backward away from it. One of those ships carried a golden flag atop its high mast but no orders were issued from it and none of the remaining ships tarried to look for survivors. At a safe distance they swung about and the insistent drum beats marking the rapid stroke rate could be heard on the southerly wind as the remaining Draakon Reavers rowed away from Belvedere, retreating with their lives.
The sea gradually slowed its mad churning and calmed, returning to normal, although discoloured by mud and full of weed. Pieces of wreckage floated to the surface, spars and ropes, shreds of sail, barrels and bits. Oddly missing from the flotsam and jetsam were the bodies of the vanquished sailors. The drowned Reavers had vanished.
The Dark Mage ceased his attack on the redoubt, turned and walked dejectedly back to join the troops at the north wall of Belvedere. The failure of the Reaver attack was a bitter, unsatisfying result.
Not a sound could be heard in the redoubt as the Captain and his men stood in awe of something so amazing their children’s children would hear of it over times to come. Kuiran cast a relieved glance at the Mage.
“Trust, Escarion, trust. Shall we go?”
The onlookers around the harbour cheered as the Reaver fleet was pulled beneath the water and word was quickly passed around the beleaguered city. Spirits rose all too briefly and as Cris
tal’s party made its way up from the harbour to the gates of Belvedere, the enemy’s attack on the walls was redoubled. Arwhon turned to his Grandmother.
“Cristal and Raleen. Please save your magic for a time when it is most needed. If you use your energies too early you might regret it later. It would be wiser to go back to the mansion to ready its defences. As we discussed earlier, if we can make some of Martine’s troops fight us there, the pressure on the square will be slightly reduced for a while.”
Cristal nodded in agreement and took Raleen’s hand to hurry her along. Raleen stopped for a quick shy kiss with Kuiran.
“Take care my love,” was all she said as she allowed Cristal to lead her away, the pair closely followed by Lareeta. Raleen would much rather have stayed at Kuiran’s side.
As Arwhon, Shiri and Kuiran headed for the wall where the sound of fighting was growing even more intense, Arwhon had a sudden thought and spun around, yelling out to the departing women.
“Lareeta, take all the horses, Cristal, Raleen and Mendle to the south western end of the square and guard them well. I’m relying on you.”
He received a firm wave of acknowledgement in return.
From his vantage point in the gate tower, Jorgen had witnessed the Reaver ships sunk and had passed the word to his men. The news had invigorated their determination and they had renewed their efforts to drive back the enemy but to no avail. More and more fresh Dominion troops poured over the bridge from the siege tower and ever more scaling ladders kept hitting the walls. His men were tiring and Martine’s troops were gaining a solid foothold on the battlements.
Looking outside the city from the gate tower, in front of the main gates, Jorgen saw a dark sea of Dominion soldiers waiting to gain entrance to Belvedere. There were so many that the task ahead of the defenders seemed almost hopeless but Trelin had forewarned him of these feelings, so he stood straight and drew breath. His men needed to see him act courageously at all times. Making a quick check back toward the city Jorgen saw Arwhon and Kuiran approaching and looked forward to seeing the big man in action with his staff again. He knew little of Arwhon’s fighting abilities but he looked the part in chain and helm, although Jorgen had his doubts about the Tarkent style sword Arwhon wore on his back.
Jorgen’s eyes narrowed as he took stock of the action occurring all along the length of Belvedere’s walls. The situation was becoming hopeless, he was just condemning good men to die if he left them there any longer. It would be easier to defend the stairs. He ordered the trumpeter to sound the retreat. His men knew it should be orderly and he was relieved to see Kuiran and Arwhon ascend the stairs with the green armoured woman close behind them. She did not carry a weapon, although Jorgen suspected she didn’t need one. As the three of them climbed the stairs, Jorgen left his post inside the gatehouse and descended to the cobbled street below. His patrol went with him. The walls were lost.
At the head of the stairs nearest the bridge to the siege tower, Kuiran took one side of the stairhead while Arwhon took the other and they created an aisle of safety for the defending soldiers to retreat back down. Kuiran’s staff was deadly as it whirled and wove and bit, in and among the attackers and Jorgen, from the street below, noticed the giant wore chainmail gloves on his hands. No weapon could damage the wood the staff was made from and when the metal ends of the staff hit any other weapons, small blue sparks were given off. Jorgen had to completely alter his view on Arwhon’s sword as a weapon. It flashed and spun with grace, dancing past opposing soldiers’ guards and when it hit another weapon, there was a red flash as it clove the steel. The slain lay piled at their feet while Shiri stood guard at Arwhon’s back. As the last defender scrambled down the stairs, they withdrew also, fighting as they backed down, defending every step of the way.
Moving in total harmony with each other.
The enemy now had control of the northern walls but still they couldn’t open the gates and there was only room for so many on the battlements. They came down the stairs, leaping off the edges of them and fighting toward the gate portal. Some broke ankles or legs by jumping so far but it mattered little. Greed drove them. Loot. Belvedere was a rich city.
Jorgen called up more reinforcements and the fighting spread. Kuiran and Arwhon guarded the entrance to the main gates, blocking any of the enemy who managed to pass Belvedere’s brave soldiers but eventually the task became too great, even for them, and they had to leave the gateway to the enemy.
Jorgen had the trumpeters sound ‘Fall Back’ and his men made an orderly retreat, fighting the Dominion soldiers as they went. Arwhon and Kuiran dashed past, following Shiri. Arwhon pausing for a moment to pass information to Jorgen.
“We’re off to Cristal’s mansion. We’re going to try to hold some of them up for a while. Take heart Commander, we fight for Truth.”
It was quickly said before they were gone.
The enemy troops who had clambered over the walls and fought their way tooth and claw to the inside of the city’s mighty gateway, found their path blocked by the portcullis. Others of their number broke into the gatehouse through its locked and barricaded door to get to the giant windlass which raised the portcullis. More delays as the enemy soldiers found the massive chain had been severed and there were yet more delays before the situation could be rectified.
Even so, it wasn’t long before those inside threw open the gates to Belvedere. There was a huge roar from the area outside the walls as Martine’s army swarmed into the city. From her pavilion Martine saw the huge gates swing back. She sent runners to seek out her Commander and order all of her forces into Belvedere immediately, to take the city as soon as possible. Excitement coursed through her veins at the thought of finally being the first person in history to capture Belvedere. Her name would live down the ages.
This was her moment of triumph.
The Southland soldiers fought a brave rearguard action all the way back to the Plaza. The Dominion attackers didn’t have it all their own way. The dead and severely wounded from both sides of the conflict littered the roadway but now, many of the enemy soldiers were more interested in plunder than fighting and occupied themselves with looting the richer houses near the front gates of the city. Some had given up on the battle altogether and were intent on looking for money or treasures. Those coming behind them had to find other houses to plunder. Minor scuffles broke out among some of the attacking forces over ownership of various pieces of booty. Some even lost their lives to their own comrades over mere trinkets.
Arwhon, Shiri and Kuiran had arrived back at Cristal’s mansion and ordered the gates secured. A determined assault would probably broach them but it would take a lot of enemy forces to gain entry. Redbeard and his band were waiting for them, as were the household guards. Arwhon gave him a cheeky aside.
“Redbeard, this is where you earn your money.”
Then he turned to everyone else.
“We are not here to die, merely to hold up some of the enemy soldiers for a while. You don’t have to be stupidly brave. Sniffer here is going to lead our senior folk, that’s you Waltor, and you Billit, along with the young stable lads, down to the poor quarter.”
There were sounds of enemy soldiers in the street outside the mansion’s walls as Arwhon continued.
“So go around to the back yard and follow the sewers, Sniffer knows the way; we shan’t be far behind you.”
Sniffer led the old and young away as a clamour came from the gates. Redbeard caught Arwhon by the arm.
“That Lareeta took all of the horses. She would have fought me if I didn’t let her. Said it was your idea. If it was, thank you. And yes, young Arwhon, I’ll earn my money alright.”
Some of the enemy were trying to climb over the wall but were dispatched as soon as they did by Redbeard and a few of his men, so the attack on the gate was redoubled. Arwhon and Shiri dashed into the house to check there was no one left inside and found a very agitated Krissi who rubbed against him as he stroked her and sent reassuring thou
ghts. She had grown even larger on the feasts of horse offal Kuiran had provided. Her head now rose above his. Arwhon sent mental pictures of the enemy forces trying to break into the grounds of the mansion to let Krissi know what the general cacophony was about but also projected calm as he and Shiri searched the house, reassuring themselves it was empty. They had already removed their packs to the poor quarter earlier, entrusting them to a member of the Thieves Guild, so there was nothing for them to carry now.
They left the house to rejoin the fighting, as more and more enemy soldiers dropped over the walls to gain access to the mansion. A few received the shock of their soon-to-end existence as they dropped over the wall in front of an aggravated gryffon. Krissi didn’t feed, this was merely sport. The enemy now milled four or five deep around the outside of the mansion’s fortified, palatial walls, excited by the prospects of the riches inside. A battering ram was made from a stone column, part of a rotunda in a nearby garden and soon there was rhythmic pounding from the front gate.
“Alright everyone, it’s time to go. Crusher, could you take the lead please. You do know the way? Good. Kuiran, Krissi and I will be last. Go.”
The retreat was calmly efficient and Shiri reluctantly followed the rear of that group as Arwhon had asked her to. At the last, the gates gave way and Arwhon and Kuiran dispatched many of the first rush of the enemy through the gates, before sprinting around the back of the mansion toward the opened sewer. Arwhon went first, followed by Krissi, scrabbling into the large open drain. Kuiran was the last in and pulled the formidable flat slab of rock across the opening over his head, to cover the hole. For him, it was easy moving the great weight. He already knew from his exploration with Raleen that due to his size, he could only traverse this tunnel as far as the main square but that suited Kuiran. The Plaza was where the action was going to be.
The Fall of Belvedere Page 31