by Sandell Wall
In the vanguard, an assault squad was forming. Aventine saw a huge warrior, clad in garish green armor, walking up and down the line of soldiers. Her father. No gate could withstand his mighty siege hammer. She gripped the edge of the wall. Amalt would fall, and there was nothing she could do about it.
“Captain?” came the voice of her young Rune Guard companion from behind her. “How can we stand against this?”
“We can’t,” Aventine said.
Chapter 26
CATACLYSMIC THUNDER SHOOK UMGRAGON. Remus could feel every deafening crash resonate in his bones. Lightning split the dark sky, again and again, the blinding flashes forcing him to look away. Jagged bolts struck the courtyard outside, but the lethal energy could not penetrate the black stone of the citadel. In the safety of the dim feast hall, standing in front of the throne room, Remus watched the storm tear the city apart. Tethana stood close, her weight pressed against his side. Sensing her fear, Remus put his arm around her. Pikon and his soldiers stood nearby, helpless before the destruction pouring from the heavens. Monstur was transfixed by the sight, but Shim yowled at the top of his lungs at every rumble of thunder. Pricker and Crell were the only people that seemed unimpressed.
What remained of the First Legion crowded into the great hall as the first raindrops pelted the stone floor of the courtyard. Several hundred wet, smelly troops joined Remus and his companions in the castle. When the First Legion soldiers started to stumble inside out of the rain, Pikon quietly closed the doors that led to the throne room. The squad of Ethari soldiers positioned themselves in front of the doors, effectively blocking all access to the scene of the governor’s death. One or two First Legion lieutenants tried to approach the doors, but were firmly rebuffed by Pikon. They finally gave up, content to hang back and glare at the Ethari soldiers.
If they find what’s behind those doors, we’ll have to kill every single one of these soldiers.
The constant thunder made talking impossible. They had no choice but to wait out the assault. Torrential rain filled the courtyard until it overflowed. A river of dirty water flowed out of the gate, rushing into the streets beyond. As the city was pummeled by titanic forces, Remus started to worry that they would find no survivors. Anyone caught out in the open was surely dead, and he feared what shelter could be found would crumble under the barrage.
I should have tried to get more people into the castle instead of exploring the dungeons.
Agony filled Remus’s heart. They had not found deliverance in Umgragon, and he had allowed himself to be distracted, at the cost of the lives of people who had trusted him to be their savior. His shortcomings magnified themselves in his mind, and he ran from them, seeking a black pit to cast himself into and hide himself from the world. At his side, Tethana lifted her face from his shoulder and looked at him. He knew she must sense his inner turmoil.
“Your despair is so strong that it almost sucks me into it,” Tethana sent the thought through their connection.
“I failed,” Remus sent back. “I gave the people out there hope, I promised deliverance. I should have brought them to the castle. No one can live through this.”
“You did everything in your power to aid the Volgoth. You gave them a chance they did not have.”
“I wasted precious time investigating the signal beneath Umgragon.”
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself!” Tethana’s thought carried with it emotions of exasperation and frustration. “What’s done is done. You help no one by losing hope. There will be survivors out there, and they’re going to need you…I need you.”
Remus squeezed Tethana’s shoulders, hugging her close to him. “Thank you,” he thought to her. Deep inside, he still hurt, but Tethana’s words were a shield that he could use to fight off his inner demons.
After what must have been two hours, the thunder receded and the lightning strikes ceased. Soon, the rain had stopped and the sky above Umgragon began to clear. Remus released Tethana and walked to the tall doorway between the courtyard and the feast hall. The air smelled of ozone and smoke.
Remus turned and looked back toward where the Ethari blocked the throne room doors. He made eye contact with Pikon, and the Ethari scanned the First Legion soldiers before returning to Remus’s face. The message was clear—they had to deal with the soldiers before leaving the castle.
“Now hear this,” Remus said, his voice carrying across the long hall. Every First Legion soldier turned to watch him as he moved to stand in the center of the great room. “We did not come to Umgragon as invaders. We came seeking shelter and aid. The storm followed us and behind it marches an army intent on our destruction. Your governor invited us in and then ambushed us under the banner of hospitality. I know that the rebels he hunted are actually those loyal to the emperor. I know that the First Legion has forgotten their oath to the empire.”
As Remus spoke, the able-bodied members of the First swore and jumped to their feet. Blades flashed as they were pulled from scabbards. Remus activated the vessel stone, letting the lightning play between his fingers. He raised his gauntleted hand for effect, drawing attention to the power of the stone. The soldiers paused, hesitant to test plain steel against a man who held the power of the storm in the palm of his hand.
“Your governor lies dead behind those doors,” Remus said, pointing at the throne room. “He was slain along with his bodyguards after they tried to murder us in the dark. If any of you wish to join him, step forward now. I promise I’ll give you a clean death. However, if you would prefer to live, I’ll forget your treason and give you a chance to redeem yourself. Help us fight the approaching enemy. Stand in defense of Umgragon and its people, as you should have done from the start, and maybe the gods will not send you through the traitor’s gate when you enter the afterlife.”
There was a long pause as his words sank in. Remus had expected shouts of anger and defiance at the news the governor was dead, but the room remained silent. Finally, a squat, ugly sergeant spoke up.
“Wranger had it coming,” the sergeant said. “That whoreson used the First like his own personal mercenary company. Not only did we debase ourselves for his coin, he spent our lives cheaply. We were the finest Legion in the empire and now look at us. We’re nothing but diseased misfits eating out of the hand of a traitor.”
The sergeant spat on the floor. “I’ll help your people. Maybe someday I’ll be able to look the emperor in the eye again.”
A young lieutenant spoke up. “I’ll stand with you, too. My family has been locked outside the city for months. Wranger treated them worse than animals.”
Around the room, the soldiers of the First Legion took turns denouncing Wranger and pledging their support to Remus. He suspected there would be some still loyal to Wranger, but those few would not speak up now that the majority had decided to join with him.
“If you’re able, come with me,” Remus said. “We need to go see if anyone still lives out there.”
Remus exited the castle, followed by his companions and one hundred soldiers of the First Legion. Monstur still carried Crell. They splashed through the submerged courtyard, dodging the filth and debris bobbing in the water. On the other side of the castle gates, they found the city a smoking ruin.
Scorched stone and splintered wood still smoked from the relentless lightning barrage. Entire streets were blocked where houses had been toppled. Those buildings still standing were riddled with burning holes where thunderbolts had punched their way inside. Smoke rose on the horizon from dozens of separate fires. The cries of the dying and injured filled the city.
Remus paused, stunned and overwhelmed by the destruction. His mind could barely register the scope of the damage, let alone come up with a plan to help these people.
“So much suffering…” Tethana said from beside him, her voice trailing off in horrified wonder.
“What are your orders?” the young First Legion lieutenant asked Remus.
“I don’t…I can’t…” Remus tried and failed
to reply. He lowered his head, trying to regain his composure. He felt reassurance and trust flow from Tethana through their connection. When he looked up, he was ready to act.
“Split the First into ten man squads.” Remus said. “Search the city, find and help any survivors. Bring them back here, to the castle. The city is no longer safe. I’ll head to the walls and see if I can locate my people.”
The lieutenant nodded and turned away, barking orders to the First Legion. Faster than Remus could have believed possible, the soldiers were formed into ten man squads and running into the wreckage that had been a city.
“Let’s make for the gate,” Remus said to the rest of his companions. “Hopefully Goregash and Promost Lister were able to get the Volgoth under shelter.”
“You want me to carry this little man with us?” Monstur said. He still had Crell tucked under his arm.
“He wants to know what we should do with you,” Remus said, leaning close to speak to Crell.
“Leave me here,” Crell said. “Just prop me up against the wall. I want to stare into the sky and feel the sun on my skin. I won’t go anywhere—you’ll find me here when you return.”
Remus translated what Crell had said and then gestured for Monstur to do as Crell requested. When Crell was comfortable, they turned their attention to navigating the rubble-strewn streets. Forced to detour around blocked avenues and alleyways, their journey to the gate was interrupted by frequent backtracking. All around them, people were crawling from destroyed houses, pleading for help. Remus left the survivors for the First Legion to aid. He had to know what became of the Volgoth.
When they finally neared the gate, Remus slowed. His heart sank. There were hundreds of bodies in the streets before the city gates. The Volgoth had been cut down with the Umgragon refugees as they tried to find safety in the city. He could see the dark-armored corpses of Ethari mingled with the fallen. A few trembling survivors huddled next to the black stone of the outer wall.
“You!” a voice erupted from nearby.
Remus whirled toward the cry. Goregash emerged from the tunnel next to the gate, axe in his right hand. With his left, he pointed at Remus as he shouted.
“You led my people to the slaughter!” Goregash roared. “You have brought only suffering and death to the Volgoth. Now I visit the same upon you!”
Goregash sprinted at Remus, nimble on his feet despite his massive frame.
“Let me deal with this,” Remus said before any of his companions tried to intervene. With the runes on his fingers, he activated the vessel stone, waiting for the lightning to appear on his fingertips and for the power to flow through his limbs. Nothing happened. He tried again, panic flooding through him.
“The gauntlet only stored the power of the storm,” Pricker sent the thought through the circlet. “The power is not infinite. It must be recharged.”
“You could have told me that before I tried to use it again!” Remus shot back.
“You didn’t ask.”
Remus ducked under Goregash’s swing, the axe ripping through the air a foot above his head. With biceps as thick as Remus’s waist, Goregash could chop him in half as easily as splitting wood.
Goregash missed with his axe, but his backhand connected, sending Remus sprawling across the stone street. Remus flipped over onto his back just in time to see Goregash lunging toward him, axe raised to smash his brains out. Remus rolled left. The axe hit the street with a crunch, the crude blade splintering stone and sending shards flying in every direction.
Remus tried to rise, but Goregash was too fast. He only managed to get on one knee before the barbarian was on him again. Frozen in fascinated horror, Remus watched the Volgoth axe hurtle toward his head.
“Uncle, no!” Tethana screamed, throwing herself in front of Remus. Goregash checked his swing just in time.
“Get out of my way,” Goregash snarled. “What is he to you? Your foolish female affections blind you to his true nature. He has brought devastation to our people.”
“No, you’re wrong,” Tethana said, her chin raised in bold defiance. “Remus did not enslave our people and chase us from our home in the Wilds. He did not summon the storm and pursue us across the plains. He’s done everything in his power to save the Volgoth. The only reason you’re still alive is because of him, and uncle, my affections are not foolish. I love him.”
Remus’s heart skipped a beat as he listened to Tethana speak. Still on one knee, he filled his fist with pebbles and dirt, prepared to fling them into Goregash’s face if the barbarian did not back down.
“It is good that you love him,” Goregash said, his voice savage. “He will not enter the underworld unmourned.” He swatted Tethana aside with one huge hand, raising his axe to finish Remus off.
Seeing his opening, Remus flung his fistful of grit into Goregash’s eyes. Goregash bellowed, backing off and swiping at his face. Remus did not give the barbarian a chance to recover. He lunged forward, smashing his gauntleted fist into Goregash’s torso once, twice, putting every ounce of strength he had behind each blow. The gauntlet tightened itself around his arm when he made a solid fist, transforming itself into a weapon. Each blow hit with the force of a hammer.
Goregash swiped blindly with his axe, but Remus ducked it with ease. Remus heard ribs crack under his relentless pounding. Goregash staggered, spitting blood from his lips. When the barbarian’s head dipped down where Remus could swing at it, he slammed a vicious uppercut into the bottom of Goregash’s jaw. Goregash grunted, took a step backward, and toppled onto his back.
Remus stood over the fallen chieftain, breathing hard. He had again bested Goregash, but again there was no satisfaction in it. Tethana rushed forward to tend to her uncle’s injuries. Remus knew the huge barbarian would be okay. It would take more than a few broken ribs and a bruised jaw to stop Goregash.
“If you’re done beating your allies senseless, perhaps you would like to fight the enemy,” a calm voice said from behind Remus.
Alarmed, Remus jerked around to face the speaker. It was Promost Lister.
“Come,” Promost Lister said. “See what the storm has brought us.”
The leader of the Ethari turned and made for the stairs cut into the black stone of the city wall. Still dazed from the fight, Remus followed without saying anything. On the city battlements, Remus found the surviving Ethari arrayed along the top of the gate. Perhaps a hundred still lived.
Promost Lister moved to the edge of the wall and looked out over the plains. To Remus’s surprise, Marthis appeared and stood next to the promost. Remus joined them.
Spread out in front of Umgragon, waiting on the edge of the abandoned refugee village, was the runebound horde. Six red-robed Drathani prefects stood motionless in front of the massed runebound, and they were not alone. Remus could see rank after rank of silver-armored soldiers.
“Damnation and hellfire, where do they keep finding the thralls?” Remus said, his voice weary. “We had to have killed at least several thousand back in Delgrath, yet their numbers have doubled. And who are the soldiers? There’s an entire legion down there.”
“Invaders from the sea,” Marthis said. “Those’re the raiders that have plagued the countryside these past months. There’s nothing left to pillage, so I guess they’ve come to join the siege.”
“That’s not all,” Promost Lister said, pointing to the far right of the enemy army.
Where Promost Lister pointed, the banner of a noble house of the empire snapped in the wind. It bore the red lion of House Lome. The colorful crest of nobility looked out of place in the enemy horde.
“What in the abyss?” Remus said. “What’s House Lome doing here, and why have they joined forces with the enemy?”
“The only possibility is that they are in league with the Drathani,” Promost Lister said. “I count at least fifty warriors down there.”
“They won’t be normal soldiers,” Remus said. “They’ll be equipped with rune-enhanced weapons and armor.”
&nb
sp; “The world has gone mad,” Marthis said. “We tried for months to get into the city. Now we’re going to die here.”
Remus rested a hand on the older man’s shoulder. “There may yet be hope. Umgragon has not yet revealed all of its secrets.”
Marthis rubbed a hand across his face. When he spoke, his voice sounded hollow. “My wife’s down there among the dead, the life snatched out of her by a bolt of lightning. I’ve got nothing left in this world. If this is to be my grave, I’m ready to die, but I’m taking as many of those bastards with me as I can.”
While Marthis spoke, the Drathani prefects went into motion. One of them produced a great bow as tall as he was. The other five gathered around him. As Remus watched, the prefect with the bow drew an arrow back, sighted it on the gate, and let fly. When the arrow left the bow, one of the other prefects activated a runestone and the arrowhead flared with orange light. The glowing missile hit the wooden doors, exploding with astonishing force. The massive gates rocked on their hinges. Standing above the gatehouse, Remus felt the impact reverberate through the stone wall.
Promost Lister barked orders to his few remaining soldiers. The Ethari on the wall split into two groups. Half of them remained on the wall with bow and arrow, the rest went to form up behind the gate. When the city was breached, the Ethari would be waiting for the enemy.
Helpless to do anything but watch and wait, the three of them counted arrow after arrow as they slammed into the gates. The walls of any other castle would have crumbled under the barrage, but the black stone of Umgragon shrugged the assault off like it was nothing. The wooden gates, however, did not last long. After the tenth arrow detonated beneath their feet, Remus heard a terrible groaning followed by a tremendous crash.
A horrible pause followed, and then the runebound horde surged forward. From his spot on the walls, the onrushing army looked like a sea of flesh. Glowing red, ten thousand rune circlets spurred the thralls into a killing frenzy. The Drathani Legion and the warriors of House Lome hung back, content to let the thralls storm the broken gates.