by Paul A Jones
‘We should smash their camp and men before they get settled.’
‘You don’t need to convince me.’
Three days later the first missiles struck Northtown. The enemy constructed trebuchets undercover and hit the walls and buildings of the town. The defender’s guns fired in retaliation. Sergun knew it was only a matter of time before the enemy found their way into the town. Unless the army sent reinforcements or attacked the cities from the sea he could not see the place holding for long. He knew hordes of enemies would not be allowed to force their way across north Tharne. The government must have a plan but for now he was out of the loop.
Sarish insisted on staying in the town and wasn’t afraid to be one of only a few women. She wanted the Lord to arrive and to cut his head off. Sergun admired her focus and wondered if she would ever get the chance to fulfil her aim. Jehran was happy to stay in the town, to be with Sarish and he relished the idea of being back in the army of Tharne and fighting again. The soldiers of the City of Dreams found allies in the Raiders. If the alliance lasted they could inflict serious losses on Tharne and stir up trouble in the east.
Kall found safe passage for Joluna and Jersa. They were great fun to be with and paid the debt they believed they owed in a series of most delightful ways. With them gone he could focus entirely on dealing with the enemy outside the walls. Jersa was as Sergun said a free spirit not tameable by a man from Tharne. She became restless and Kall recognised she would not be acceptable in Edge City even as a mistress.
The attack was dull and slow at first, a gun managing to damage a trebuchet, wounded men here and there with the unfortunate man or Gall killed, but slowly the numbers outside grew and for every loss, there was a gradual replacement. The order to stay within the walls was a terrible limit on their ability to defend. It wasn’t a true siege as the enemy couldn’t surround the town and prevent the flow of supplies to it but the defenders and occupants felt trapped and under siege. Kall could only hope such passivity from his side was because an army was sent against their foes from another direction. Either a coastal landing to the northeast or perhaps from Edge City? He wasn’t privy to such information which frustrated him. The men and engineers worked to repair damage, and the enemy was too distant for the archers. Kall wanted more men to arrive in the town and for them to launch a counter-attack.
Sergun stood on the highest point of the town, one of the two towers. It was a great position for their spotters and a prime target for the enemy. The rocks being fired weren’t yet large enough to knock down the tower with one shot but it was a less than pleasant experience to climb the ladder to the tower. Two men were present with a pair of binoculars between them. Both were unshaven and looked tough.
They looked surprised. ‘General, we didn’t expect you.’
‘Easy lads, I’m just here for a check on the enemy. An officer’s curiosity that’s all.’
‘The bastards have been concentrating on the other tower this last day, but they like to surprise us by launching at ours every now and again.’
Sergun looked through his binoculars. He could see three trebuchets and several thousand men with perhaps a thousand tents. Stretching back to the horizon there was a trail of men and horses. ‘Has there been any change in the numbers of the enemy over the last days?’
‘Perhaps a small rise, there’s a steady flow in. It looks like they’re here to wait.’
One of the trebuchets was manoeuvred in the direction of the tower the three were in. ‘Brace yourself, Sir.’
Sergun lay flat on the cold stone floor. He moved back from the slit and waited. The rock hit high above them with a loud shattering crash. The tower shuddered and stones fell, clattering down the walls. Dust filled the room. ‘Show me your binoculars,’ he said.
The men’s device was crudely made and limited in its range. ‘Take mine,’ when the next team come up to leave it for them. We need to know if there’s any change in the numbers or trebuchets they bring up.’
The younger man stared at Sergun’s binoculars and grinned. ‘Thank you, sir, when will you be wanting them back?’
‘They belong to the spotter unit now.’
The next shot missed the tower completely and whizzed by landing on a roof within the town. The next hit the wall directly in front of the three men and Sergun closed his eyes to prevent debris from going into them. Being crushed or crippled by rocks would be a rubbish way to die. ‘How long is your duty up here?’
The older man replied, ‘four-hour shifts.’
‘You’re the eyes of the army here, it’s essential work men. We’ll take the fight to the enemy soon I’m sure. We must wait for the right moment to strike.’
34. Inventions
General Sergun was invited by Chromosol to a secret location for a meeting. It did not seem the right time to leave Northtown but there was a stalemate. Kall hoped the meeting would reveal the strategy for stopping the fall of the town. A carriage arrived escorted by thirty or so horsemen. They were not wearing black but were he discovered troops incognito. The carriage was comfortable inside and fitted with an improved suspension. A Captain greeted and escorted him inside.
The journey was uneventful, the Captain a pleasant soldier, curious about the events which led Sergun to Northtown, but he had been stationed in the capital and knew no useful information about problems elsewhere. Sergun carried no reports to read and so he watched the countryside go by enjoying the comfort of the carriage. The land still looked peaceful and he hoped the tranquillity would not be ruined by a breakthrough coming via Northtown. They rested at lunch and once in the evening to allow the passengers to stretch their legs. The horses were changed and they rode through the night, Sergun eventually fell asleep and woke up several times in the darkness. His travelling companion thankfully did not snore. It was another two day’s journey before they arrived at their destination.
The carriage stopped within a few hundred metres before the forest. Sergun did not know what to expect or where they were and wondered if this was a meeting with the senior commanders at some hideaway. He heard in the distance muffled explosions, too deep to be handheld weapons. He wondered if there was a quarry nearby. The Captain wasn’t permitted any further. Another smaller carriage took him down the track and he noticed there were government troops within the forest as well. Only the first Ministers normally had such security and he wondered what they wanted with him. He hoped there would be a solution to Northtown and that his journey would not be wasted. Battles could change quickly.
There was a large building when he stepped out. He hadn’t been aware of such a place within the forest. It didn’t appear to be a rich person’s home as the style was wrong; there were too few windows and it wasn’t ornate. He was escorted to the building and permitted entrance. It didn’t look like he would be meeting the Minister.
To his surprise, it was Lord Chromosol who greeted and welcomed him enthusiastically. He was dressed immaculately. He wore brown trousers, a long cloak and had what looked like ear muffs around his neck. He appeared to have overcome his grief and Sergun was happy. ‘Such mystery and security. I thought I might be being taken to see the Minister, what is all this for my friend?’
‘All in good time, yes the security here is excellent. Welcome my friend. We want to keep this to ourselves for as long as we can. Come to the lab and I’ll show you what we’ve been working on. The information you gave to me was most useful. It has awakened a man who had been asleep for too long!’
Sergun decided not to mention Thear’s death unless his friend did. The laboratory he was shown was far larger than the one he remembered at his old friend’s home. The single room was bigger than main area at his house. He was a little disappointed as it was good old-fashioned swords and combat which had won most of the battles recently but he knew the Lord wasn’t a man to waste another’s time.
‘The information you passed to me contained a plan for superior weaponry, more powerful and accurate than before, and other des
igns. The persons who thought of them is a genius no doubt.’
So that’s what the oracle showed to Sergun. The Lord was full of enthusiasm for what he had developed and wanted Sergun to see a demonstration. He wondered what had his friend so excited.
‘Cannons the like of which you will never have seen before.’
He’d seen cannons in use before and knew their limitations and effectiveness and was curious what they could now do. His friend wasn’t prone to excitement over non-important things. He must have a good reason for inviting him here. Yet it did not sound a miraculous kind of weapon. ‘Let us see why you so excited.’
He was escorted to the rear of the building. He could see little as trees were within ten metres of it. A slope hidden by doors led to an underground door and he followed his friend inside. To his disappointment there was little beyond the door but two small sets of stairs leading to a higher level.
‘This is the only way to the rear of the mansion so anyone might hear what is going on but no one unauthorised can see what is occurring,’ Lord Chromosol explained. ‘These inventions are a vast improvement and the fewer people who are aware of their existence the better for us.’
Sergun was interested. His friend’s excitement was evident. He was an intelligent man of great learning and the inventions must be surprising. Ascending the stairs there were two tables, a few chairs and a wall with narrow viewing slots. There were drinks on the table and a bell to call for assistance. It looked a roughly made place. Newly built and in a hurry he guessed.
‘This is a safe place to view the weapons from.’
The Lord picked up a small instrument which fitted in the palm of his hand and spoke into it. ‘Prepare two shots standard against target one and then six a minute later.’
The Lord smiled and said. ‘This device is also excellent, almost a miracle. I’m talking with an officer hundreds of metres away. Another invention from your plan. This will also be portable one day but we’re not ready yet.’
His friend passed Sergun a pair of binoculars and told him to watch the distant target. He was curious and watched carefully. The target was a wooden building. He heard two thuds and the building disappeared in an explosion and when the smoke cleared there was little left. He knew cannons could do that already. He was disappointed to be bought here to see the display. ‘We need assistance at Northtown. Is there anything here you’re doing that can help?’
‘Certainly; keep watching for the six. Imagine there are say fifty men there now. We were using animals but believe me, it’s a waste of the poor creatures.’
Sergun waited, a minute passed and six explosions hit the same area with great accuracy. He was impressed when the Lord assured him the guns firing were two kilometres from the target area.
‘They will be great fixed on the walls of our defences.’
‘Indeed they will but these guns can move and are far more portable than previous ones. No longer cumbersome defensive weapons, they can support offensive operations. The prototypes we have tested can fire accurately up to nearly six kilometres. We also have smaller, portable devices which fire called ‘mortars’. These can be carried by two men and are vicious at short range. The enemy is on the other side of the village and out of sight. Within minutes we can drop many shells and decimate our foes.’
‘This is excellent news; you and your men have been working hard. The enemy will be shocked by these new weapons and will not suspect anything like them exists.’ Sergun was amazed at the distances the guns fired and to have portable explosive weapons would be a great advantage. It would give them the ability to bring destruction upon the enemy without being able to see them. Even the Keratha’s terrifying flame cannons could only fire at visible targets.
‘Smash the Raiders and those who threaten our northern borders. This should cut down casualties on our side by a great amount. Used correctly the enemy will be obliterated before reaching us.’
‘We’ll sure to kill those who threaten us, they need teaching a lesson,’ Sergun said. ‘We’ve been hiding behind the walls of Northtown too long. It’s time to take the attack to them.’
He was taken on a brief tour. The mortars were much smaller than he expected but were heavy to lift and carry. A tube with supports and a plate. Sights to aim with. The most impressive were the largest guns. They were amazing to look at with huge barrels, wheels to make them portable and the shells to fire from them were dangerous looking. Solid tubes containing powder and shrapnel. They made the handguns appear like toys for small children. The men were all proud of their new weapons and eager to demonstrate their prowess. Sergun was most impressed. Previous guns were fixed or hard to move and required line of sight. These new weapons could be fired at targets out of sight and those well beyond arrow range. They were no longer firing solid balls or metal. Now they were firing shells containing explosives or shards of metal for horrific wounding. With the latter, it would be as if hundreds of arrows had been fired into a group. He shuddered at the thought but if it gave his side the advantage and ended the war quicker it would be beneficial.
‘Let’s go and discuss how many of these guns will be needed and how quickly they’re constructed. We must not waste time; our trials out here have been excellent and full production of the weapons has begun. As with the sword the guns need trained men otherwise their tools will be clumsily used.’ Chromosol said. ‘We haven’t been hiding here wasting our time. Those plans you gave to me are wondrous and I would love to meet the person who was able to come up with the ideas.’
Sergun admitted the origin of the plans must remain a secret. His friend raised his eyebrows but did not pursue the query further. They talked for many hours discussing both the development of the weaponry and how it would be used and later old times both good and bad. There was optimism in the conversation as it drew to an end. The new weaponry would help ensure the safety of Tharne. The Raiders would no longer be a threat. He told his friend in greater detail what happened while they were hunting for Jannesse. Chromosol reminisced about his sword-fighting days but declared his own personal participation in battle was in the past. He admired his friend’s willingness to carry on fighting from the front but told him everyone’s luck runs out at some point and it was better to stop fighting before his did.
Sergun knew he was right but how could he abandon the fight unless Tharne was safe? It wasn’t his way to sit back and let others risk their lives while he did nothing. He wasn’t yet released from his resumed position in the army and rather than protest he would see what help he could give in the few days there were left. Keeping the borders of his lands safe and weakening the enemy made his family safer, and he hoped gave them a longer future.
The Lord said, ‘you will have seen many troops in these grounds. It wasn’t only to see me and these inventions you were bought. A Minister requested to meet you.’
35. A Meeting with Minister Thorne
The meeting took place in finer rooms than the viewing area for the weapons. Plush carpets, a warm fire, comfy chairs and servants. Drinks were offered, along with refreshments and the servants were dismissed. Minister Thorne was a short, lithe, energetic man with sharp blue eyes and a mop of brown hair.
Introductions were made. Hands were shaken and Sergun was introduced as former commander of the First Division.
Minister Thorne said, ‘war has come. Four cities and the Raiders now oppose us. The letter said to rescue a girl, not to start a dammed war!’
Sergun did not reply. He was used to war and fighting. Having someone raise their voice slightly was uninteresting.
‘It’s a mess and I’m surprised no one is trying to blame you. I’m glad as well as they would blame for me sending you there. A known general and ruthless murderer. You won’t be getting out of the army until we’ve won the war.’
Sergun went to speak. Minister Thorne cut him off, ‘it’s not personal. Many reservists and able-bodied men are going to be called up. If we win then we’ll secure peace for all humans
on this continent.’
At what price? Sergun knew the answer. He hadn’t caused the war to happen; perhaps the Raiders were tired of hunting animals and selling one another. The cities wanted to show their power but the government would not hand him over. If the cities longed to trade, he wondered how good they would be at war, which was sure to disrupt their comfortable lifestyle. The Tharne Navy had increased its size since the last war and might be able to surprise the cities. The Raiders rarely used ships.
‘An alliance of the cities and the Raiders is powerful. They sent thousands of riders against us and they would only have been a small party of them,’ said Sergun.
‘Agreed, the best thing to do with an alliance is break the allies apart but neither of these parties love us or it seems even fear us.”
‘It’s only a matter of time before Northtown falls. Assistance is needed there before a swarm of enemies enter our lands.’
Lord Chromosol entered the room. ‘You’ve stirred up a nest of fire ants with your antics,’ he said. ‘Proud of yourself?’
Sergun knew he was playing a part. His friend was always a good actor when required.
‘We’ve done well,’ Sergun admitted. ‘I was given a mission and with great help we achieved it.’
‘Firebugs should be crushed into oblivion.’
‘At least the Keratha are staying out of this,’ said Thorne.
‘I think they’re incapable of allying with another species. It would be like us allying ourselves with a whipman. They must be carefully watched. If they sense weakness they will attack.’
‘The Keratha are no different to any enemy.’
Sergun objected. ‘They’re the ones we fear the most. Their flame cannons, their fearsome warriors. poison and speed. A thousand of their soldiers and we’d need a division to hold them back.’