Fate of the Crown

by Paul J Bennett

  "Not quite true," offered Gerald, "though she did like playing with the little wooden horsemen."

  "It's true," said Beverly, "what can I say? Even at an early age, I liked horses."

  "How ARE we to proceed, Your Highness?" interrupted Arnim.

  In answer, Anna looked to Gerald.

  "We'll start," he said, "by setting up some trenches to stop them from popping out again. Thanks to Falcon here," he pointed at the retired ranger, "the Elves have come in force to help us."

  "What changed their mind?" asked Arnim.

  "I think I did," offered Telethial.

  "You were in communication with your father?" responded Arnim.

  "No, but my actions in support of this rebellion may well have swayed him."

  "How many Elves did he bring, Falcon?" asked Anna.

  "About three hundred," the man responded, "a third of them Elven bowmen."

  "Excellent," said Gerald. "That means, between the Elves and the Dwarves, we can deliver long-range archers to each of the gates. That should prevent any further sallies on their part."

  "When do we assault?" pressed Arnim.

  "Not for some time yet," said Gerald. "We've already started building siege engines, but it's a time-consuming task, and it will be the end of the week before we can commence bombardment. The Trolls are gathering stones for ammunition and to keep our options open, I've ordered the construction of rams and ladders."

  "The walls are too high for ladders," declared Arnim.

  "True," said Gerald, "but if we can reduce the top half of a wall, we can climb up to it. It's a long shot, but we should prepare for every eventuality."

  "Any news on when Prince Alric and his men will arrive?" asked Hayley.

  "Any time now," said Gerald. "I suspect the faster units will start arriving late tomorrow. The main army camp will be behind our lines to the west of the city. It's nice and flat with plenty of trees to the north for raw materials."

  "What are your orders for the meantime?" asked Fitz.

  "Baron, I'd like you to take command of the forces to the south. You'll have your own troops with you, but I'll add some reinforcements once Prince Alric arrives."

  "And am I to attack?" asked Fitz.

  "Not for a while yet. I rather suspect we'll have weeks of bombardments before we're ready to assault."

  "The walls of Wincaster are thick," warned the baron.

  "They are," Gerald agreed, "which is why I'm open to other ideas if anyone has them."

  "What about mining?" asked Herdwin. "We could tunnel under the wall and collapse it."

  "That would take quite some time," said Anna.

  "Yes," agreed Gerald, "but it's a definite possibility, and one, I admit, I hadn't thought of."

  Arnim glanced at Nikki and, when she nodded, turned his attention to Gerald. "How about subterfuge?"

  "I'm open to the idea," said the general, "but I'd need more detail."

  "I'd rather talk about it in private," replied Arnim. "It does no good to talk of these things openly."

  "Very well," said Gerald, "once we're done with this meeting we'll talk over the idea."

  "I may be of some help in the siege," offered Aldus Hearn, "and I think that Albreda could be as well."

  "How?" asked Anna.

  "In many ways," added Albreda. "We can animate trees, for one thing."

  "How would that help us?" asked Arnim. "Can they tear down the walls?"

  "No," replied the witch, "the walls of Wincaster are far too thick for that. But we can move trees to provide cover."

  "Or," added Hearn, "we could move them forward like siege towers."

  "That would have to be some very large trees to top the walls," said Gerald.

  "I agree," said Hearn. "But it's not outside the realm of possibility, though I daresay I could only control one such tree at a time."

  "I concur," added Albreda.

  "Can we use some sort of spell to get inside of the city?" asked Gerald. He looked at the mages, but none was quick to answer.

  "I can look inside the city," offered Aubrey, much to everyone's surprise.

  "I can use Shellbreaker for that," said Revi, "no need to put yourself in danger."

  "No," persisted Aubrey, "with all due respect, I don't think you understand what I mean. I can use a spell called spirit walk to enter the city in a ghostly form and look about. It might be useful to determine where the best troops are."

  "I like it," said Gerald. "That could give us a much better idea of where to attack."

  "I can help," said Kraloch, "I too, can use such a spell, and I can conjure forth aide from the beyond."

  "It's true," said Hayley, "he conjured an Orc hero back at the Redridge Mine."

  "It's called hero of the past," offered the shaman, "but it only lasts for a short period of time."

  "We could also cast a vines spell," added Albreda, "strong enough for soldiers to scale the walls."

  "I'll consider it," said Gerald, "but I think we'll start on a more traditional plan of reducing the walls for now. Once the catapults are in action, we'll take a second look at all these other options. Does anyone have anything else they'd like to add?"

  He looked around the room before continuing, "Then we'll call an end to this meeting. If anyone should come up with anything else, I'm always available. For now, you should get some sleep; the morning will be quite busy."

  They began filing out in small groups.

  Arnim and Nikki waited till the room was empty, save for Anna and Gerald, before continuing the description of their plan.

  "Go ahead," prompted Gerald, "tell me what you're thinking of."

  "Nikki and I have plenty of contacts in Wincaster," he began.

  "I fail to see how that helps us," said Gerald in response.

  "If we can get a message to them, we might be able to take a gate from the inside."

  "It would be dangerous," warned Gerald. "How well armed are these friends of yours?"

  "Not very well," offered Nikki, "but they wouldn't have to be. You can have an assault column waiting to march in as soon as the door is in their hands."

  "How would you get a message in?" asked Anna.

  "We have a couple of options," said Arnim, "but the real question is timing. It would have to be coordinated with an outside assault."

  "We could use Aubrey's spell," suggested Anna. "She could be inside the gate, in spirit form, during the attack, and then relay their success to the assault group."

  "I'll consider it," said Gerald.

  "It's a chance to wrap things up quickly," pressed Arnim. "Surely you can see that?"

  "I understand it's an option," said Gerald, "but it also carries, potentially, a high price. If the attackers are too soon, they risk being killed, and if they're too late, the relief column will be cut to pieces waiting for the city gate to open."

  "So you won't approve it?" asked Arnim.

  "I'll consider it," said Gerald. "You have my promise, but you are to take no action until we have made our final plans. Ideally, I'd like to try a number of things, but they have to be carefully coordinated, or else we won't succeed."

  "Very well," said Arnim, "then by your leave, Your Highness, we shall retire."

  "By all means," said Anna.

  The couple left the room, leaving Anna and Gerald alone.

  "What are you thinking?" she asked.

  "I'm thinking we have a multitude of options available to us, but if we try something that fails, our support may dwindle."

  "You don't like Arnim's plan?"

  "Not without further details," he warned, "and it would be nice to have it coincide with a wall assault."

  "And for that," added Anna, "we have to have catapults ready."

  "Precisely."

  Thirty-Two

  Preparations

  Summer 962 MC

  The line of Weldwyn troops marched past, led by a contingent of horse.

  "A fine body of troops," offered Jack Marlowe.
r />   "Indeed," agreed Prince Alric, "but I wish we had more cavalry."

  "Foot soldiers are more useful in a siege, Highness," the cavalier reminded him.

  "True, but nothing is quite as splendid as armoured horsemen; they're the finest troops in our army."

  "I'm surprised your father let you have them," mused Jack. "After all, he wasn't too keen on the idea of sending Weldwyn troops into Merceria in the first place, as I recall."

  "Nonsense," said Alric. "He already sent the volunteers to help, why not send more?"

  Jack looked at the young prince carefully, "Surely it was a little more difficult than simply asking?"

  Alric grinned, "You know my father well. Yes, it took quite a bit of convincing to send these men."

  "And how much more to convince him to allow you to accompany them, Highness?"

  Alric blushed, "Well, let's just say that I had help."

  "The queen?"

  "Naturally, she's the only one that can make the king see the sense of it."

  Alric's horse shuffled its hooves as the young prince adjusted his position slightly.

  "How much longer, Jack?"

  "We should be there by noon, Highness."

  "It's almost noon now," Alric noted. "We should get to the head of the column to greet our hosts."

  "By all means," agreed Jack, urging his horse forward into a trot.

  Alric rode up beside him, matching his pace. "Have we word on their deployments?"

  "Yes, they've surrounded Wincaster," said Jack, "and sent word that a delegation will be waiting to welcome us."

  "Then it seems there is little for us to do."

  "You mean, other than greet the princess?" suggested the cavalier.

  Alric broke into a smile, "Yes, precisely."

  Jack continued, ignoring the prince's obvious enthusiasm, "I know how much of a burden that is for you, Highness, I'll look after the troops. I imagine it will take hours, maybe even a day or two to ensure a proper welcome. I shouldn't like to distract you from your duties."

  Alric cast a glance at the cavalier, trying to maintain a serious expression. "It is, of course, my duty to keep a friendly relationship with our Mercerian allies."

  "And," offered Jack, "dare I say, a pleasure?"

  "Of course," grinned the young prince.

  Jack nodded his head in understanding, "We shall have to pick up the pace if we are to get in front of these troops, Highness."

  "Very well, Jack," said Alric, spurring his horse into a gallop, "let us not be tardy."

  * * *

  Gerald sat on his horse. The beast shifted slightly, perhaps sensing the anticipation in the air.

  Beside him, Anna sat, staring off into the distance. She stood up in the stirrups for a better view. "Can you see them yet?" she asked.

  "Not yet," he replied, "but then again, at this range all we can see is a column of people. They're not close enough to make out faces yet, but they soon will be."

  "I should ride out," she said. "It's been so long since I saw him."

  "You should wait," called out Arnim from behind, "it's only proper etiquette. After all, you're the receiving royal."

  The princess looked around, seeing the people lined up to greet the foreign prince. They were all fidgeting, eager to meet their allies. Anna returned to her gaze to the approaching Weldwyn troops. "Etiquette be damned," she said, then turned to the general. "Race you there, Gerald!" she called out suddenly as she pushed her horse forward.

  Gerald, who had been expecting just such a move, followed her almost instantly but the retinue behind was caught entirely by surprise. There was a moment of shock and panic before they all started advancing.

  Anna urged her mount on, quickly gaining the lead. She looked over her shoulder to see Gerald just behind her and smiled in glee. The only other horse even close was Beverly, who had also been taken by surprise, but her mighty Mercerian Charger quickly made up ground. The red-headed knight was soon riding beside Gerald, just behind the princess, slowing her gait to match his.

  As they drew closer to the Weldwyn column, Gerald noticed a couple of riders breaking off from the rest, and it soon became apparent it was the prince himself, along with his bodyguard, Jack Marlowe.

  "Alric," called out Anna, her face beaming.

  The young prince slowed his pace, his face equally animated. "Your Highness," he said, rather formally, "it's so good to see you again."

  "And you," she replied.

  They sat on their horses, gazing at each other as the rest of Anna's followers caught up.

  "Perhaps," offered Gerald, "Prince Alric would like some refreshment to wash away the dirt of the march? We have a tent set up nearby for just that purpose."

  Alric tore his gaze from Anna a moment to acknowledge Gerald, "A marvellous idea. Lead on, Gerald."

  The general turned his horse, guiding them back toward the Mercerian camp. Anna's retainers, finally having caught up, found themselves immediately turning around as the young princess led Alric away.

  Gerald trotted across the field watching Anna, who was deep in conversation with the prince. He looked to Beverly, but the red-headed knight was scanning their surroundings, always on the lookout for danger.

  They finally reached the tent, dismounting while servants ran forward to take their horses. The two royals entered together, while Gerald remained outside, as did Jack.

  "So, the war goes well then?" asked the cavalier.

  "It does," admitted Gerald, "though we've suffered some losses. Your reinforcements arrived just in time."

  They stood by, watching as the rest of the riders arrived and began noisily dismounting.

  "Do you think that's enough time?" asked Jack.

  "I think they've had enough privacy for now," replied Gerald. "Let's head inside."

  * * *

  Gerald watched as another stone arced overhead, flying through the air to strike the walls of Wincaster with a solid cracking noise.

  "Saxnor's balls, it did nothing," he grumbled. "The damn walls are too thick, we can't seem to affect them at all."

  "I understand the frustration," offered Baron Fitzwilliam, "but after all, the walls of Wincaster have never been breached."

  "That's because no one has ever attacked them," said Gerald in defence.

  "True," admitted Fitz. "Still, they are a formidable obstacle."

  They had been at it for almost a month now, lobbing stone after stone to little avail. Even Prince Alric, who was eager to learn the ways of siegecraft, had fallen by the wayside, bored with the unending rain of the catapults.

  "Perhaps the trebuchet will do better," offered Fitz.

  Gerald looked up at the giant construction. "Perhaps," he mused, "it certainly took a lot to build."

  "Thank Saxnor for those Dwarves," said Fitz.

  "I'd be happier if Saxnor would let us knock a wall down. These siege engines are far too inaccurate for my tastes. It would be nice if two stones could at least hit the same section of the wall."

  "It can't be helped, General," said Fitz. "The men do what they can. How's morale holding up?"

  "The men are happy," said Gerald, "and why not? No one is in any imminent danger except for the poor souls within the city."

  "They'll surrender eventually," said Fitz, "after all, they have to. They have no hope of reinforcements and their food can't last forever."

  "In the meantime," said Gerald, "we'll keep hammering away at them, though it feels like throwing stones into a lake."

  * * *

  "I must say," said Prince Alric, "it's a much more pleasant experience being on the outside of a siege for a change."

  "You wouldn't say that," said Anna, "if you were charging into a breach."

  "Doubtless I wouldn't," he agreed, "though it's going to take months for that wall to come down at this rate."

  "We have the advantage of time," said Anna. "While they're putting up with this, they'll be going through their food stocks with no hope of replenishment."r />
  "And you have plenty of your own?" asked the prince.

  "We do," she confirmed, "thanks to your father, we can last for months. The food shipments have proven most useful."

  "My father understands the requirements of warfare," he said.

  "Speaking of your father," Anna said, "have you talked to him any more of our wedding?"

  "He's all in favour of it, you know that."

  "Yes, but does he know you won't rule as king?"

  "Not exactly, no."

  "What do you mean, 'not exactly'? What exactly did you tell him?"

  "Things have been busy back home," he deflected, "and with all the Clansmen to deal with he's had a lot on his plate."

  "Alric, you have to tell him."

  "I will, in time," he promised, "meanwhile, I've enlisted the help of someone. Someone who has his ear."

  "Not Jack?" she said in mock horror.

  "Did someone say my name?" came a call from behind them.

  Anna looked back to where Alric's champion rode. "No, Jack, we weren't talking to you."

  "But you were talking about me," he proclaimed.

  "Yes," confirmed Alric, "as a matter of fact we were, only we weren't."

  "What's that supposed to mean, Highness?" quipped Jack.

  "It means," said Anna, "that your name came up but not as the principal subject."

  "But it still came up," said Jack, wearing an impossible smile.

  "Sometimes I wish his hearing wasn't so keen," said Alric.

  "Agreed," said Anna. "Now, tell me who you've enlisted to the cause."

  "My mother," confided the prince, "she's always been on my side. She'll work on Father while I'm here in Merceria. Don't worry, it'll all be sorted out by the time we're married, whenever that may be."

  "I told you, Alric, I have to change the laws first. If I marry you before that, I lose my position as queen."

  "Surely as the wife of a king you'd still be queen?"

  "Of course," she said, "but what I meant was I'd lose my power as queen. I'd essentially become just a decoration."

  "I understand," replied Alric, "though I wonder which will take longer; convincing my father, or convincing your earls?"