“You’d be proud of Owen, Wayd,” Gauden said. “He rushed them. Ran in and cut down three of them before they knew what was happening.”
“It was reckless,” Malithan said flatly as he finished cleaning the wound on Owen’s side. Owen grimaced in pain. Wayd looked at the cut and saw that it was fairly superficial but no doubt painful. He was lucky.
“But effective,” Gauden continued as Malithan pulled out a needle and string and began sewing Owen up. “It distracted them long enough for Malithan and I to help. Malithan killed another two before they regrouped, and by then it was even.”
“Even?” Owen asked between groans. “They still had six to the three of us!”
“Even,” Gauden reiterated with a smile. “You had me, which definitely made it even.”
Owen shook his head as he grunted when the needle caught, and then laughed in spite of the situation. The laugh was a welcome sound that completely drowned out the sound of death—for just a moment.
Malithan finished sewing Owen and stepped back to inspect his work. “Not the cleanest job I’ve done, but it will work,” he observed.
Owen tried to look down, but the cut was located on his side, so it was difficult to see. “It looks crooked,” he said with concern. “Wayd, does it look crooked?”
Wayd looked at it. It most definitely was crooked. The cut started about a hand’s length below his armpit, and then extended in a jagged line down the length of his side. “Most definitely will leave a nasty scar,” he said.
Owen’s face went aghast. Then a moment later he smiled. “For a minute there I was concerned the ladies wouldn’t like it. But—they like scars. They’ll think I’m tough!”
“Dear Creator!” Malithan exclaimed in disbelief. Then he turned to Gauden. “Let me patch your face, Gauden.”
“It’s nothing. Looks worse than it is,” Gauden said. “We need to get moving, and this is barely a scrape.”
As if to accentuate his comment, a loud boom sounded outside and the entire building shook. Pieces of the stone ceiling jarred loose and showered down on them as dust blanketed the room.
“Gather round,” Malithan instructed as he moved to a barrel and wiped it clean of debris. He picked up several pieces of the broken ceiling and placed them on top of the barrel, forming the smaller pieces into several lines, and the larger ones he stood upright at certain junctures. Wayd recognized it as a rude replication of Old Draestl.
“As the dragons attacked, I got a good view of their entry points, what was destroyed, and what’s still standing—at least what was standing,” Malithan clarified.
He pointed to the debris that symbolized the outer wall. “They destroyed the towers first,” he said as he knocked the taller rocks over. “They were obviously trying to prevent any of the signal fires from igniting, and they unfortunately succeeded. They also targeted here,” he said as he pointed to the largest rock of all, which Wayd recognized as the location of the barracks. “Unfortunately, we lost a good amount of men in the barracks,” he said painfully.
“We’re here,” Malithan said as he pointed to the northern gate. “Surprisingly, it’s mostly intact, as the towers fell in on themselves. That is where Gregor is positioned right now, doing his best to buy us time before the gaps are overrun. The western and eastern walls were decimated and there are only a few defenders remaining there.”
“How bad are our casualties?” Wayd asked.
Malithan sighed. “They are bad, but not as bad as they could be considering how effectively we were ambushed. Any in the towers are dead, and the eastern wall was overrun in a matter of minutes. As a result, about half of the Dragons and Falcons, but the Wolves and Eagles are still intact.”
Wayd was relieved his men were safe, but concerned about the other companies. Malithan’s report implied that over two hundred men were already dead. In a matter of minutes.
“Their strategy is simple,” Malithan continued as he stepped back and observed his model. “They took out any way we could alert Draestl—”
“And now they are flanking us,” Wayd observed, “so that we are forced to the castle. Which keeps us contained until they destroy us.”
“I saw dragons carrying riders to the south,” Owen said as he pointed to the other side of the formation. “It appears their largest forces are at the northern and southern walls, which effectively keeps us pinned, since the eastern and western walls are fallen.”
Malithan nodded. “Thornclaw is being extra vigilant to prevent our retreat or any attempt to warn Draestl. He wants you, Wayd, and he’s well on his way to accomplishing his goal.”
“Are there many citizen casualties?” Gauden asked.
“No, thankfully,” Malithan answered proudly. “We have practiced retreat many times and they followed protocol. They are gathering at the castle as we speak, and they are holding their own against the Draebek patrols they stumble across. But it’s only a matter of time before we have casualties. We have to make our way to the castle so we can begin our retreat as quickly as possible.”
“The underground tunnel?” Wayd asked. It was a rhetorical question, but considering everything they were facing, it seemed impossible.
Underneath the castle was an escape tunnel that led several miles to the south before opening up in the forest. It was built years ago when Old Draestl only consisted of the castle, but it was still in working order and designed to be their last resort in case of an emergency. Wayd had never imagined it would actually be used.
“Yes,” Malithan said. “But it was never designed for all the citizens of Old Draestl, only a handful of survivors. The idea was that the walls would hold longer while people fled. With how easily the Draebek made it through the outer wall…”
He didn’t have to finish the sentence. There was no doubt they needed to escape, or they would all end up dying at the castle.
“Right now, everyone is heading toward the castle. Gregor is holding off the largest Draebek force, but I’m not sure how much longer he will be able to hold, and he has commands to retreat once he begins to be overrun. We’re going to need to use every man available to withstand the attacks at the castle,” Malithan said. “I’m just not sure that everyone gathering at the castle is the right next step. The escape tunnel will work, but we will be easily guarded and overrun if we are all in one place.”
Malithan raised a hand to his chin and scratched his stubble. Another explosion sounded outside, shaking the building. Additional ceiling fell, and the dust was thick enough that several of them coughed.
“Whatever we do,” Gauden began as he shook a hand in front of him to clear the air, “we need to do fast. Not sure how much longer this section will stand.”
“I’d appreciate any thoughts,” Malithan said as he continued to scratch his beard and stare at his makeshift model.
Wayd looked at it himself. He had walked these walls and streets hundreds of times and knew them well. From Malithan’s description, it would be a matter of minutes before Draebek filled the streets. They needed to move quickly.
Going to the perimeter wasn’t an option because that’s where the stronger forces of Draebek were. They couldn’t escape out the front wall because they would be in the wide open for too long. It would be easy for the Draebek dragon riders to track them down and demolish them from the skies. He heard Gauden and Malithan arguing that point.
“They wouldn’t expect it,” Gauden said emphatically. “They expect us to alert Draestl so we can get help. We know their tactics now, and while they are deadly, they are avoidable if we prepare appropriately. Since they stopped us before we ignited the signal fires, Draestl won’t know we’ve fallen until they send patrols tomorrow. That gives Thraegar’s army enough time to attack with the element of surprise.”
“I don’t disagree with your logic, Gauden,” Malithan said patiently. “But heading away? We’d be in the wide open. The Draebek dragons would annihilate us because we’d have zero cover. We have to get to the safety of the tree
s as soon as we can. Not only will the trees protect us, but we know those paths better than any. They are practically our own creation!”
“Well, how do we accomplish that?” Gauden asked impatiently. “We have the escape tunnel, but not enough time to get everyone through!”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Malithan said, and he glared at the big man before turning his attention back to the model. “It would be easy if we move in smaller groups, but if we ran into any Draebek patrols, we’d be easily killed. But we would be annihilated in a direct assault. We’d have to focus our attack at the weakest point and pray to the Creator that we can make it through. But it seems too risky because we don’t know where they are the weakest and we don’t have the time or resources to figure it out!”
Wayd looked at Owen and saw his friend shaking his head. Then he shifted his feet back and forth. It was a habit he did when he was anxious or uncomfortable, and he was shifting aggressively right now.
“What do you think, Owen?” Wayd asked. He could tell Owen had something to say.
Owen opened his mouth, then shut it quickly. “Not anything helpful,” he said. Then he glared at Wayd.
Malithan and Gauden regarded the two for a moment and when they realized they weren’t going to help, they turned their attention back to their debate.
Wayd watched Owen. He was studying the model, and the way his eyes focused, Wayd knew he had an idea. As the son of the Knight General, Owen was often compared to his father and how they were nothing alike. Part of that was true. Owen was always looking for fun—and some would argue trouble—whereas his father was a man of disciplined principles. But one similarity was their strategic minds. In many instances, it was Owen who was the first to solve puzzles, and right now he shared the same look that Wayd had seen in the past when Owen knew exactly what needed to be done to get them out of trouble.
Wayd walked over to him. “You look awful,” Wayd said flatly.
Owen stopped staring at the stones and glared at Wayd. “And you’re ugly now that you have that nasty bandage over your head. What would Alaina think?”
Wayd glared back. “I’m being serious,” Wayd said. “Are you feeling all right?”
Owen nodded. “I’m just frustrated. Hearing those two bicker like old ladies is exhausting, and this place is going to cave in on us at any moment.” To prove his point, another blast sounded, followed by a piercing scream, and the entire building shook and more stones fell. Several swords on the side of the wall tumbled to the ground, and the noise startled all of them.
As the dust settled, Wayd regarded his friend. Once again Owen was staring at the model. He most definitely has an idea. “What crazy idea are you thinking about?”
Owen looked at him, and the familiar twinkle flashed across his friends eyes. It always happened when he was about to do something mischievous. Or flat-out stupid. Then he shook his head. “It’s too risky, Wayd. And it puts our lives at risk.”
Wayd knew for a fact that Owen had the solution. “Too risky? Owen, if we don’t do something soon, all of us are going to die. If you have an idea…”
Wayd hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but he had, and Malithan and Gauden had stopped talking and looked up at them.
“Do you have an idea, Owen?” Malithan asked hopefully.
“If you do,” Gauden said, then stopped as the building shook again and more stones fell. “Out with it quickly! We may not last long, and as soon as we step out of this building we’re going to be surrounded.”
“It’s way too risky,” Owen repeated, shaking his head. “Well, actually suicidal.”
“Out with it,” Malithan said.
“What we need is a very convincing distraction,” Owen said calmly. “A misdirection that will force Thraegar to reposition his forces in an unplanned way.”
“Precisely,” Malithan said. “Any ideas?”
Owen took a deep breath. “What is something that Thraegar wants more than anything else? Something he will do anything to get? Something he may even become reckless to obtain?” He paused for a moment.
Then he pointed at Wayd.
“Give him up?” Malithan scoffed. “Not only am I surprised that you would suggest such a thing, he’s also your friend. Your best friend for that matter. You’d want to give him up?”
Owen looked aghast. “No. Well. Not really. Ok, kind of. But we wouldn’t just hand him over.”
“Absolutely not,” Malithan said. The way he said it made the decision final.
Owen opened his mouth to argue, but then shut it. He looked back at Wayd and shrugged. Owen looked offended, but the twinkle was still in his eyes. He absolutely had an idea that would get them out of this mess.
“Let’s just hear it out,” Wayd said. When Malithan began to argue, Wayd rushed ahead. “There aren’t many alternatives, Malithan. We know we’re surrounded, and we have to assume more Draebek are being dropped off as we sit here wasting away the precious few moments we have to escape—so we’ll be even more surrounded if we don’t act quickly. We should at least hear the idea.”
Malithan looked as if he was about to argue, but then he nodded softly. “Very well. You make a valid point.”
“What’s your plan, Owen?” Wayd asked. “For me to surrender? I’ve honestly been wondering if I should. I could have avoided this whole thing.”
“Nonsense,” Gauden said. “Don’t let those thoughts enter your mind, ever! Do you really think Thraegar would have stopped if you had surrendered? He’s obsessed! Driven! He would still attack.”
“Still…” Wayd said, trailing off.
“That’s not exactly what I had in mind,” Owen said. Everyone looked back at him. “I agree with Gauden, Thraegar is not to be trusted. Have you seen those eyes? They are crazy-people eyes. So instead of handing you over, I think if we reveal where you are, Thraegar will come after you.”
“I told you,” Malithan said calmly, and a little discouraged. “I’m not going to put Wayd’s life at that kind of risk. What? We go have him stand on a tower and call on Thraegar to duel him?”
“I thought of that,” Owen said, shaking his head. Wayd raised an eyebrow. Thought of me dueling Thraegar? He had to remind himself when they were through all of this to sit down and talk to Owen. “But it won’t work,” Owen continued. “The duel won’t last long enough—I’m not saying you won’t win,” Owen added when Wayd scoffed, “but we need time to get everyone in the tunnel and on their way. No, we need Thraegar to think that you are trying to break free with a small army. Here,” he said as he pointed to the outer wall.
Gauden was nodding emphatically. The big man had obviously figured out where this was going.
“Located just outside the eastern wall,” Owen said as he walked to that side of the barrel, “is a network of caves.” He stopped as he made it to where he wanted to stand. “About here,” he gestured. “It’s about fifty feet outside of the eastern walls. You know that tall mountain that casts its shadow on us every morning? At its base are several small tunnels. Well, Gauden and I, in our free time, have spent a lot of time exploring them.”
“They double back to here,” Gauden explained as he took another rock and stepped over to where the escape tunnel ended. He paused for a minute as the building shook and more dust settled onto them, then placed the rock down. “The mountain range veers off back to the east, but not before the cave opens up. We’d only be a few hundred yards from where the escape tunnel opens up, not to mention that it’s all densely covered in trees. This could work,” he said as he clapped Owen on the shoulder.
“But how do the distractions work?” Malithan asked. He, too, had hope in his voice. “There is a large force on the eastern side. It’s one of the first walls that was destroyed, and our forces on that side have surely fallen. It will be tough to get through.”
“That’s why Wayd isn’t the only distraction,” Owen said with a smile. “This is where it gets risky.”
“Gets risky? Me being a deco
y seems risky enough,” Wayd declared.
Owen’s smile grew larger. “The fact of the matter is we need a diversion so that the larger army can escape through the underground tunnel below the castle. Everyone is basically there or heading there, so that is the main escape. But we need to make the Draebek think that the only escape is through one of the walls. If Wayd is heading toward the eastern wall, then this distraction needs to be to the opposite. Malithan, you said the western wall was flattened?”
“It is. Nearly entirely leveled,” Malithan answered.
“Then this idea could work. That’s easier for the enemy army to enter, but also easier for an army under siege to escape through. If we form a wedge with our forces and attempt to break through the western walls, I’d bet Thraegar would respond. Especially if we provide something he can’t resist.”
“Wayd will be going to the eastern wall,” Gauden said.
“What’s something that Thraegar hates almost as much as Wayd? The only force to have escaped his fury?” Owen asked.
“The Wolves,” Wayd answered. A knot formed in his stomach and he felt sick.
“The Wolves,” Owen repeated. “Thraegar hates us. And besides, if he sees the Wolves leading the wedge, he will think Wayd is with them. We’ll make sure to make plenty of noise to get everyone’s attention, and as Thraegar commits his forces—including the eastern forces—to the west to avoid the Wolves from escaping, then Wayd and a smaller force can rush toward the east. When Thraegar sees what has happened, he will have to respond to prevent Wayd from fleeing and he will split his forces. While the Draebek try to prevent the Wolves and Wayd from escaping in opposite directions, everyone else can flee through the escape tunnel. I’m assuming that Thraegar will redirect all of his forces to the east, so hopefully the Wolves can double back and escape through the tunnel as well.”
There was silence as everyone considered Owen’s plan. The silence was eerie, and for a moment the only thing they could hear was their own breathing. Then screams sounded outside. Things were happening too fast.
Siege of Draestl Page 6