by M J Webb
“Then Caro, I should think it highly probable that we will all share the same fate.”
***
Sawdon stood at the flap of his tent, watching with immense satisfaction as the last of the huge siege towers was manhandled into position. He had already spent several hours observing with increasing delight as the rest of the war machines were wheeled onto the battlefield, and he was wearing a very large smile. In his contentment, he had not noticed that King Vantrax and Melissa had arrived on the scene, nor the fact that they were both now admiring him and amusing themselves at his expense.
“Frah! See Melissa? Thargws are not such difficult creatures to understand. They like the simple pleasures in life, a good sword, a well balanced axe, or a finely crafted bow… And a dozen or so of the largest machines ever seen on Estia,” the wizard joked, deliberately raising his voice so that his Thargw Gerada could hear what he was saying.
“Ha ha… Yes my King, If only I had known how simple it was to please him. Maybe we would have…?”
Sawdon glared angrily at her. He reached for his sword instinctively, but he did not draw it, managing to control his temper and halt his arm. He cut the Sebantan Princess off in mid sentence, as the tower continued to move slowly past them.
“We? Do not flatter yourself, Sebantan! You have your merits no doubt. I can see why others fall for your ways. But you are no match for a Thargw! We are a warrior race, we are proud and strong, and we like our women…”
“Yes, yes. Alright! Enough Sawdon! Let us turn our attention to the battle ahead. Tell me, have my orders been carried out in full? Are my new warriors at the head of this army, ready to do battle for the first time?” rasped King Vantrax.
Sawdon nodded and grunted a reply, before adding to it with an explanation. “Yes sire, all except for those who built the last tower, they are helping to move it into…”
The mighty Thargw warrior stopped talking abruptly. He was interrupted suddenly by lots of raised voices and cries of excitement; the unmistakeable sounds of a ferocious fight occurring before an enthralled crowd.
The noise was coming from behind the siege tower and Sawdon ran quickly to the scene, followed by King Vantrax and Melissa. They arrived just in time to see weapons being drawn by two Thargw warriors, who had begun a fight to the death. Both had recently been resurrected from the Estian soil, they now held their battleswords aloft for the briefest of moments, before launching into an immediate attack upon one another.
Sawdon made to stop them, feeling the need to exert some sort of control over the ill disciplined rabble which had gathered around and not wishing to lose his warriors in such a fashion, but the evil King clutched his arm tightly before he could say or do anything.
“No Sawdon! Let them fight!”
The wizard watched with fascination as the two huge warriors duelled. It was a fantastic and terrifying contest to behold. Two Thargws fighting against one another was considered by most on Estia the pinnacle of entertainment, the large and excited crowd continued to grow as more and more warriors raced over to watch the spectacle. They began clapping, cheering and roaring with delight. Eventually, after several minutes of ferocious endeavour, the smaller of the two warriors gained the upper hand and his speed began to tell. His final sword thrust was too quick for his opponent and it entered the Thargw’s flesh just beneath his ribcage. He pushed it in hard and twisted it slightly before pulling it out, inflicting a mortal wound which was both deep and wide.
An enormous smile of satisfaction spread across his face as he watched his opponent roar in pain. The crowd gasped, everyone expected the stricken Thargw warrior to fall. But, to their astonishment, he continued to stand! He stopped his screams as realised that the pain had miraculously disappeared, along with all sign of his wound!
Sawdon’s eyes lit up and his nostrils flared. He began to understand what was happening. Everyone present turned to King Vantrax as his Gerada shouted out triumphantly.
“Sire! These warriors you have raised from afterlife with your new stone, they cannot be killed!!!”
***
Several hours earlier, Jake had woken on the windswept ledge of the mountain. It was pitch black and for several minutes he struggled with his senses as they refused outright to function properly. He felt awful, almost as if he had been knocked out by a heavyweight boxer. His entire body throbbed and ached and all he wanted to do was lie down and rest. Slowly though, everything returned to normal and at last he was able to think straight.
“Oh my God!” he exclaimed, as the memories came flooding back and he realised that he had remained on the mountain for far too long. “What time is it? No! I must have slept for ages, I have to get going!”
He calmed himself and attempted to use his mind to communicate with the winged horse, trying to summon it to rescue him. The stallion responded within minutes. It appeared suddenly out of the darkness like a ghost, and it hovered just below the ledge, as close to the rocks as it could fly. It left a leap of some considerable distance however, and Jake wasn’t at all sure he could make it. He was weighed down by the bag with the box of stones and the numerous packages of herethdar flowers he had tied about his person. He knew that he had no choice but to try!
He took a running jump at it and leapt off the cliff for all he was worth, falling onto the horse with such force that he almost bounced off the saddle and overshot his mark completely. He just about managed to hold onto the horse’s mane and stop himself from plummeting down to the ground, far, far below. It was yet another close call and dice with death for the youngster, but this time he hardly gave it a second thought. He tugged hard on the stallion’s reigns and the creature veered violently away, flapping its wings furiously and rising into the night sky.
***
The great wall of Dassilliak had protected the inhabitants of the city for hundreds of years. On its thick ramparts now, an entire army watched with mounting concern and trepidation as the sun began to rise slowly over the far horizon, fearful of what the day might bring and certain that a vast and powerful enemy force would attack them soon.
Only a select few knew the truth about the warriors they were about to face in battle, that they could not be killed. The Alliance soldiers were therefore scared, but quietly confident of repulsing any attack. They were blissfully unaware that the reality of the situation meant they had no real hope of survival. They did not know it but without the flowers of herethdar, they were all doomed!
The rising sun shed its light upon the massed ranks of warriors which were lined up on the fields outside the city wall. The rays hit their machines of war and an audible, collective intake of breath sounded in the Alliance ranks. Princess Zephany and Lord Caro could not fail to hear it and the Perosyan champion leaned in to his young leader to comment upon it.
“Huh! If only they knew!” he whispered quietly.
Zephany smiled at him but her heart was racing now, beating inside her chest so loudly that she could not think straight. She was in turmoil. For the first time since becoming Leader of the Alliance she was caught in two minds. She had an immediate decision to make, but she was unsure what she should do, without a clue as to which way she should turn.
‘Oh Knesh, help me to decide. What do I do?’ she thought, trying to call upon her guardian and mentor, as she stared up at the skies above. ‘I cannot watch these good people sacrifice themselves in a hopeless cause! I will lead them anywhere, against any army, if there is a small chance of being victorious. But this? This is no even fight! There is no chance of beating an army of… If they cannot be killed, how in the name of Nitrii-Hebul are we to prevail? Raar! I was so sure that Jake would be here. I…’
“Princess, look!” stated Caro suddenly, interrupting her and pointing towards the enemy hoards. “They are launching the attack!”
The front ranks of King Vantrax’ warriors had begun to move, many of them taking up the strain on the large ropes which were attached to the siege towers, whilst the others covered their com
rades and marched slowly alongside, keeping pace with them as the enormous constructions were pushed and pulled across the fields and towards the wall.
“This is it! Make ready!” bellowed Caro.
The orders were passed along the line. Archers drew their arrows from their quivers and warriors dispersed to take up their assigned positions. Everyone waited anxiously for Princess Zephany’s orders. She appeared outwardly calm, but in her mind she was still trying to call upon Knesh, questioning what she should do.
‘Where are you? You said you would be here to guide me, so help me now!’ she pleaded.
“I have not left you, Princess,” came a soft and gentle voice she knew and loved. It was sounding solely within her mind. “The Keeper is coming, though he has been delayed.”
“Delayed??!!” Zephany screamed out loud, forgetting all about the nature of the conversation.
Lord Caro responded immediately, asking what she meant and if she was alright. She dismissed his attentions quickly and pointed to the attacking forces, instructing him in no uncertain terms to concentrate on the task in hand. The enemy was moving slowly and in pace with their machines, she had a little time yet and the Princess returned to her thoughts.
‘What do you mean, delayed?’
“He has had a very difficult time on the mountain. It has been quite an ordeal,” replied the voice of the fallen Gerada.
‘I see. Is he injured? Does he carry the flowers we need?’
“He does.”
‘Then, how long will he be?’
“The wizard’s warriors will be upon you before the Keeper arrives.”
“Raarrttt!!!” Zephany screamed aloud, cursing and startling everyone around her.
“What? What is it?” asked Queen Bressial.
Zephany stared into the faces of those around her. She knew immediately what she had to do.
‘It is okay, Knesh, I will take it from here, thank you,’ she thought, as her confidence suddenly returned.
“Listen to me, all of you! It is imperative now that you do not question my orders. Though they may appear strange to you, I assure you that I have good reasons for giving them and I need you to do exactly as I say without any delay! Your majesty,” she began, turning to Queen Bressial, “I want you to get all of the people to safety. Take them into the caves as far as you can go. You are to take the cooking pots and vessels with you, start the fires near to the entrance but ensure that the smoke can escape and does not enter the caves. We will need to be ready when Jake arrives for we may not have much time.”
Queen Bressial looked a little shocked. “You mean, he is still coming? I thought we were alone. Then there is still…”
“Hope?” interrupted Zephany. “Yes, a little. Now, Tien, go with her please. Take all of the footsoldiers with you, every warrior we have, apart from those of Caro’s legion. They are to remain with us.”
“We will do as you command,” answered the wizard, before disappearing down the steps with Bressial and racing out of sight. Castrad and Caro looked quite bemused but they said nothing.
“Castrad, you and I will remain here on the wall with the archers. We cannot kill these warriors we face but we may be able to delay their advance a little, give them something to think about, and afford Jake the time he needs to bring the poison.”
“So, we are a rearguard detail now? Facing impossible odds, playing for time and hoping somehow to survive this fight?” replied the Nadjan noble, a tiny smile on his face as he rubbed his sore leg. “Kra... I like it! A moment ago we were making our last stand and certain to die. Things are improving all the time.”
“Yes, you could say that. I would not let it raise your spirits too highly just yet, when the enemy breech this wall, as they will surely do, we have a long and hard fighting withdrawal to conduct. We have to barricade every street and alleyway, block their path and make it impossible for them to pass. At the very least, we need to slow them down. Empty the houses of furniture. Take carts and wagons and upend them, use anything you can find, set fire to them if you have to, you know what has to be done. Caro, go now, take your warriors and begin, we will hold them at the wall for as long as we can before withdrawing to join you. Listen out for the horn, for when it sounds you will know that we are in trouble. We will be upon you quickly, in all likelihood with an entire army of Thargws right behind us.”
Caro left immediately and Princess Zephany turned to Lord Castrad. “I am very sorry but I can see no other way open to us. At least this may give us a small chance of survival.”
“Yes Princess,” replied the experienced knight, “I understand completely. But, where exactly are we retreating to? The caves are large I am told, but they will only provide us sanctuary for a brief period. They lead to nowhere, there is no exit and we will be trapped, will we not?”
“Yes, I know. One thing at a time, Castrad. One thing at a time.”
Chapter 32
Dawn – 28th August – Dassilliak – Perosya
“Hold your fire!! Wait until they are almost upon you. Aim for any old wound you can see, pass the word along the line!”
Princess Zephany screamed to her warriors as the enemy vanguard continued to advance ever closer. The siege towers moved perilously close to the great wall. Then, all of a sudden, the sky above seemed to turn black as the sun was blotted out by a hail of boulders, arrows, bolts and fire, which descended upon the city and its buildings with devastating results.
King Vantrax’ various machines of war were spitting their venom. The Alliance soldiers hugged the wall for all they were worth, hoping to be spared and thanking their Gods for the large, heavy construction which now protected them. They waited patiently for Princess Zephany’s orders. Here and there along the line the fireballs hit their mark and a huge boulder smashed through part of the wall. The screams of wounded and dying men pierced the morning air, but the remaining defenders kept their nerve and discipline.
Whilst her army was crouching behind the thick wall, out of sight of the enemy, many of them so scared that they were almost trying to dig themselves into the impenetrable rock, their young and fearless leader was displaying a confidence and valour which seemed to border upon insanity to those around her. Having realised that everyone was looking to her for inspiration in the absence of Jake and Prince Laertral, and having already resigned herself to the fact that she was probably going to die, a feeling which she had had since learning of her opponent’s invincibility and just could not shake, Princess Zephany had thrown caution to the wind. She was now standing upright, in plain view of the enemy warriors, almost taunting them and daring their archers to pick her off. It appeared to be madness to many of her soldiers, they shouted at her to get down, but she ordered them to remain out of sight and ignored every plea from the horrified Lord Castrad to take cover.
“No Castrad! They have to believe that we are not afraid of them, that we are going to make a stand! I have to sow a seed of doubt in my uncle’s mind, to stop him from committing all of his forces at once and lead him to believe that I have a nasty surprise waiting for him. It is a bluff, but it is one he will take seriously. He will bear witness to my rashness, believing it to be the action of a child, but he will guard against any contingency, if I know him at all.”
The Nadjan knight nodded to signify that he understood her reasoning. He stood up alongside her. “Then, if we are to die here on this wall, let us die together, as comrades in arms. Where you lead, I will follow!”
Arrow after arrow whizzed past them, some so close that they instinctively ducked when they heard the distinctive whistle they made as they passed by, though the sounds were barely audible over the noise and it was more of a sense, or feeling, that protected them now.
The first of the siege towers was only a few feet away from the wall. Already, several scaling ladders had been thrown up against it by the eager Thargws, who were just beginning to climb them to begin the assault. Zephany gave the order to fire to Castrad. It was relayed immediately to
all of the commanders along the entire length of the wall.
The archers responded straight away, many of them shooting flamed arrows which had been dipped into buckets of fat and set alight, aiming for the wooden siege towers and hoping to set them ablaze. The ladders were pushed away with the aid of long pieces of wood which had been fashioned specifically for the purpose. The enemy soldiers upon them fell from great heights onto their comrades below, but to the astonishment and immense disappointment of the defenders, every single one of them simply regained his feet and rejoined the fight!
For minutes, the Alliance soldiers fought frantically to keep Vantrax’ army at bay, but it was useless. Their arrows poured into the resurrected Thargws and Falorians, hitting them in every conceivable part of their bodies. But, except for the few examples where a lucky or well aimed strike hit the warrior’s mortal wound, they had no effect whatsoever! The strikes which would normally bring down any foe were merely an inconvenience to the relentless waves of creatures who continued their onslaught unabated. They were watched contentedly by Sawdon and Vantrax, who were positioned on a small rise which lay on the field before the forest that overlooked the city, at the far end of the valley.
King Vantrax’s archers on the siege towers then began to take a terrible toll on the exposed defenders. The resistance wavered a little in its intensity and several of the towers managed to reach the wall unscathed. The ramps dropped down onto the ramparts and the occupants decanted swiftly, charging over them to launch a furious attack and falling onto the hapless defenders, who now knew that their weapons were useless and they had no way of defeating their adversaries.
Princess Zephany realised that all was lost and she gave the order for the horn to be blown. Upon hearing the sound, the entire contingent of Alliance soldiers extricated themselves from the fight as best they could. They hurled themselves off the wall, falling onto the carts of hay below, before disappearing rapidly into the city streets. Princess Zephany and Lord Castrad joined them, though the Nadjan warrior was hampered badly by the wound to his thigh, and clearly in some pain.