"It is smaller than it might have been," Dahren said. "My knights..."
"And our army is smaller as well." Bryon cut him off. "Dahren, you boast of deeds that you would do better to keep hidden. You held in the west when you should have retreated and saved your forces. You did Aerioch no good turn by your actions." Bryon's fierce scowl seemed to forestall any retort on Dahren's part.
To the group in general, Bryon said. "I like not being in command of what may be a last, desperate defense, but with the King and the Prince both gone it falls to me and I will do the best I can." He scowled. "Shillond, I think this plan of yours is our only chance. The Schahi spend their changeling soldiers like water and they seem like to campaign through the winter."
Shillond nodded. "I have to agree. I wish I had better news."
"If they settle for a siege," Kreg said, "we can go ahead with the plan. If Shillond can find an answer to the changeling spell, then we've won if we have anything left." He grinned. "Whatever human troops they have will find it a shock to see the bulk of their army converted back to mice, squirrels, and rabbits. We should be able to take advantage of that confusion if we have even a handful left."
"That is well," Bryon said. "Then all resides with you, for never has Norveth been taken by storm."
"But never have we faced such numbers before," Kaila said. "Can we hold against such a host?"
"We can hold against any host!" Dahren slammed a fist down onto the table. "The knights are strong. They fight with courage and do not flee at the first hint of danger." His gaze remained unwaveringly locked on Kreg's while he spoke.
As Kreg opened his mouth to speak, Bryon interrupted. "That is as may be. Perhaps we may hold against any mortal force, but the Schahi have wizards with them. Many wizards. If they attempt an assault on the city, we will need all our resources to fend off their attack."
"Bryon? Are you sure that’s wise?" Shillond asked.
"Wise or no, it is what we need," Bryon said. "I will need your services in our defense." He paused for a moment. "And Kreg, I am told of your ability to turn spells aside. I would have your aid in that capacity as well as your strong sword arm while we repel their attacks."
Kreg nodded. "But maybe it won't be necessary. Maybe they'll just be content to starve us out."
Bryon, Kaila, and Shillond laughed. Dahren just sat silently.
Kreg stared at them for a moment, then grinned. "Yeah. You're right. It was a stupid thought." He frowned. "I just don't like it. We need to get on with the plan."
"I know, Kreg," Shillond said. "The longer we are kept from seeking an ultimate answer, the more chance there is of something stealing away any chance of victory."
“I hear your words, mage,” Bryon said, “and they are well said. But if the city falls before you can bring back an answer, then all is lost, answer or no. We must first drive them from our walls; make them turn from storm to siege. Then you may proceed with your plan.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Bryon, Kaila, and Kreg stood on the eastern wall shortly after noon when the Schahi first marched into view. The wind blew from the northwest, fluttering Kreg’s surcoat and burning with cold those spots not protected by the heavy padding under his mail. In the field below them, about a half inch of snow covered the ground. Servants had swept the snow from the battlements and spread sand and fireplace ash so that the footing would be less slippery in the coming fight.
The oncoming army divided into two columns and spread, forming a wall of armed men across the neck of land that led into the bight of the river. From out of the woods beyond them, other units emerged.
The army stopped just beyond bowshot from the first ditch. A lone rider trotted from the Schahi lines approaching Norveth with a white cloth tied to his spear. The rider wore heavier armor than Kreg had seen the Schahi wear before. In addition to the breastplate and hinged tassets, crude pauldrons were strapped to the shoulders. A large shield hung suspended from his back.
As the rider approached each of the three ditches and its wooden palisades, in turn the troops shifted, with reserve forces gathering near the gate before guards passed the rider through. Kreg smiled at the deception. To that rider their numbers would seem far greater than they were.
"Halt!" Bryon called out when the rider came close to the city walls. "Who comes under flag of parley?"
"I speak for King-Emperor Skathos, ruler of all the world."
Kreg snorted. "Didn't take long, did it?"
Bryon waved him to silence. "What have you to say, mouth of Skathos?"
"King-Emperor Skathos bids you lay down your arms and surrender to his will. He promises to extend to you his mercy."
Bryon laughed. "Mercy? Mercy such as he showed to Merona? To the City of Callens? Mercy such as that known in Shendar, where Schahi troops loot and rape at will?"
"It will go worse for you if you resist."
"Then so be it!" Bryon said. "For resist we will. We shall fight while stands a knight of Aerioch. We shall fight while lives a yeoman with bow or spear to slay one of your demon spawn. We shall fight while breathes a peasant who has known the mercy of good Marek Caelverrum even if all he has is staff or knife to strike with. While one man lives, Aerioch shall not fall."
The messenger stood in his stirrups. "So be it. By your own mouth is this city's fate sealed. We shall not cease until every living thing within lies dead."
With that, he turned and spurred his horse back to the lines of his own army.
Kaila lifted her bow, drawing an arrow to her breast. Bryon laid a hand on her shoulder. "Nay. He came under flag of parley. We will honor it."
"I don't like it," Kreg said. "He's seen our defenses."
Bryon shrugged. "Does it truly matter?"
Kreg laughed. "I guess not."
"And so we wait," Bryon said.
"Wait?" Kreg asked. "What for?"
"For their attack," Kaila said. "They will sit in their lines until their siege train reaches them. With towers to strike from above and thus hamper our defenders, they will begin their attack. How think you, Bryon? In what manner will they proceed?"
"Ladders, methinks," Bryon said. "Attempts to storm a defended wall with men are always costly, but their numbers seem endless and they have shown no fear in spending them."
Bryon turned to Kreg. "It may be some days before they begin or it may be sooner. I would that you remain always ready to defend. Even before their siege train arrives, it may be that they will launch a magical attack. "
Kreg nodded. "You want me to stay on the wall?"
"Nay, but close. I will attempt to send scouts out this night. If Schahi mages have not struck by morning and the siege train is not too near, then join with Shillond and attempt to beard the demon for an answer. I shall attempt to ensure that you have a city to return to."
"I suppose nothing will happen for a while, but I'll go ahead and stay here anyway," Kreg said. "If you don't mind, that is."
"As you will, Kreg," Bryon said. "Kaila?"
"I will remain with Kreg for a time, Your Grace."
"Kaila," Bryon said in surprise. "We are near of equal rank. You need not..."
Kaila shook her head. "It is because we are of so near rank," she said. "I want all to see that I accept your rule."
"Only for a time," Bryon said. "The King will return."
"Aye," Kaila said. "Only for a time, but you rule."
Bryon hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He turned and descended the ladder from the battlement.
"You know," Kreg said. "Except for training each evening, I've hardly seen Bertan since we arrived in Norveth."
"It is no great wonder," Kaila said in the same casual tone. "I know you are yet unused to having a squire. And so short was your time as squire yourself that you know not all the duties. I have also taken him in hand in training on horseback and with lance. I hope I do not offend, but methinks your skills in those areas are not yet sufficient."
Kreg glanced over at her. She seemed
genuinely worried that he would be angry. "Kaila, about the only thing I do know is just how much I don't know. Bertan wanted to be your squire so much that I'm glad to see he's getting training from you."
"I am relieved," she said.
Kreg stretched, then leaned against one of the merlons atop the wall, watching the Schahi army through the space between the merlons. Kaila mirrored Kreg’s position on the next merlon, silently watching along with him. Her position put her close alongside him, close enough to touch.
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The siege train arrived some hours after sunset, large wagons pulled by oxen. By firelight the Schahi busied themselves assembling wheels and other items carried by those wagons with timbers cut from the local forest into siege towers, ballistae, and other weapons.
The attack came at dawn. Tens of thousands of screaming Schahi charged the first ditch. Schahi fell in droves under the rain of arrows as they crossed the field and then plunged into the ditch, wading through the icy waist-deep water. Those who reached the near side threw grapples and ladders up the wall. The defenders overset the ladders and cut the cables to the grapples but more came. The sun had not yet reached halfway to the zenith before the defenders of the first ditch fell back to the second. The Schahi began tearing down the palisade and using its timbers to bridge the ditch, making a ready path by which to bring up reinforcements.
Their numbers seemed scarcely smaller than when they had begun.
By noon, the Schahi had repeated the process with the second ditch. The forces at the third held no longer and the way was opened to the very walls of the city.
As soon as the Schahi had breached the third ditch and come into range, Kreg had begun shooting arrows. Even through the leather glove, Kreg's fingers ached from the pressure of the bowstring. His shoulders flamed from the effort of repeated drawing and loosing. In the confusion he could not tell the effect his arrows were having.
A hand pulled at his arm. He shook it off and shot another arrow.
The hand grabbed him again and Kreg turned to yell at its owner. Bertan stood behind him. "Sir Kreg. You must get below and don your armor. The siege towers..." He pointed to where three tall wooden towers mounted on wheels rolled toward them. As Kreg watched, the first arrows arced from the towers. At extreme range, they fell with little effect.
"But the fight..." Kreg began.
"Others will fight," Bertan said. "But you must get into armor now."
"Go, Kreg," Kaila said, her voice muffled by her helm. Kreg had not seen her return. "We will hold the wall until your return."
As Kreg descended the ladder, dropping swiftly so he would not hinder the men trying to mount to the wall, he swore at himself. Why had he not left before, sometime last night, to arm? He started toward his quarters, but Bertan tugged him toward a shed. "Here, Kreg. I had your arms brought up. We can't afford to have you too far from the wall."
Kreg nodded, glad someone was thinking. He certainly had not been. "Thanks." He followed Bertan into the shed.
Bertan helped Kreg into the armor, fastening lacings and straps with far more surety and speed than Kreg had managed in the battle at Griselde when he had performed that service for Kaila. This time, Kreg had high leather boots to protect his legs. When he held them up, Bertan said, "Kaila had me see to their make. She worried should you again enter battle not properly armored."
Kreg humphed as he stamped into his boots. Kaila would think of things like that.
"Okay," Kreg said, flipping down the visor of his helm. "Let's get back to the fight."
He followed Bertan back up the ladder. The instant he reached the top of the wall, two arrows caromed off his breastplate and another off his helm.
Bryon and Kaila fought side by side. Kreg hastened to join them.
"As I thought!" Bryon called, looking down into the swarm below the city wall. "Ladders."
Kreg saw men running toward them, ladders held over their heads. He snatched up a fallen bow and looked around for arrows.
"Nay, Kreg," Kaila said. "Wait for it."
He did not know what she meant, but he set the bow aside and drew his sword.
The first ladder slapped against the wall near him. Kreg ran to push it over.
"Wait for it!" Bryon called.
Again, Kreg waited. When the first climbers had come halfway up the ladder, Bryon shouted, "Now!"
Together, the four of them heaved at the ladder. Slowly at first, then faster, it toppled over.
As Kreg watched its fall, he saw that some of the men on it clung to it. Others dropped to land hard on the ground. When the ladder and its remaining living burden hit the ground, it broke.
Kaila clapped Kreg on the shoulder. "They will not use that ladder again."
Beneath his visor Kreg smiled grimly. Of course. Obvious. But reading about sieges was far different from being in one.
Around them other ladders rose. Other Schahi mounted, far more than even the entire army could overturn. Soon the fighting on the wall top was hand-to-hand.
Bryon designated some to deal with those that had reached them, others to continue overturning ladders. Kreg found himself in the first group and did not have time to think of anything save trying to stay alive.
Kreg's third opponent was somewhat more skilled than the first two. Kreg was tired, his sword like lead in his hands. He fell back, and back again.
Suddenly the man facing Kreg jerked and toppled. Bertan stood behind him, his sword red for a third of its length. As Bertan stood, staring at the corpse of his kill, Kreg lunged, thrusting over and past Bertan's shoulder. His sword pierced the joint between breastplate and tassets on the man who had been about to take Bertan from behind.
"Th-thanks," Bertan said weakly.
"Steady, Bertan," Kreg said, feeling none too steady himself. "It's not over yet."
He looked around. The ladders were all gone, as were most of the Schahi at the top of the wall. The numbers below the wall seemed undiminished. He saw Kaila a few yards away dispatching an opponent, and a little beyond, Bryon, stooping to wipe his sword on a dead Schahi's surcoat.
As Kreg watched, Bryon jerked upright, an arrow protruding from his back. "Kaila," he shouted. "Command. To you." He fell.
"No!" she cried. She ran to Bryon's fallen body.
Kreg felt sick.
Finally, the crews of the ballistae seemed to realize the source of the greatest danger, or their commanders did. Someone had decided that the risk of burning the catapults was warranted. Flaming hay bales flew to strike around the siege towers. By shear chance, a few bales fell atop them. The towers started to burn. The arrows stopped.
Kreg ran to Kaila's side.
She looked up at him, her eyes wet behind her helmet. "He was my only true friend on council. Gods, Kreg, what am I to do?"
Kreg took a deep breath before replying. "Command. It was his last order to you."
"Aye," she said weakly, heaving herself to her feet. "Command." She leaned against the battlement. Kreg could see her chest heave as she gulped air. "Have you any advice?"
"Not as such," Kreg admitted. He pointed to the woods. "They'll probably have men making more ladders already. They'll be back."
Kaila pushed herself back upright. "They will be back, aye. If--if we can just hold them...hold them long enough to convince them to try to starve us out. Then we may still win."
Her eyes turned in the direction of Shillond's workshop, invisible in the distance.
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A page ran toward them. "Milady," he said seeing Kaila, "I must find Duke Bryon."
"Duke Bryon is dead," Kaila said. "I command in his stead."
The page stopped in front of her. "I have a message from Duke Shillond."
Kaila nodded.
The page took a few ragged breaths before continuing. "Schahi forces have attacked across the river on rafts and boats. Dahren was nowhere to be found, so Shillond took command of the forces. They repulsed the Schahi but with heavy losses."
"Dahren?"
Kaila looked over at Kreg.
Kreg laughed. "After all his posturing, it's Dahren who turned coward."
Kaila smiled wryly. To the page, she said, "Tell Shillond that we too repulsed our attack with losses. Bid him hold as he is able and we shall do likewise."
"Aye, Your Grace." The page bowed to her and left.
Kreg noticed Bertan hovering by his elbow. "Is something on your mind?" he asked.
"Kreg," Bertan said hesitantly, "I'm sorry...I..."
Kreg looked from Bertan to the body of the man he had killed. "The first man you ever killed?"
"Aye." Bertan stared at his boots. "I had not thought I'd turn coward."
"You didn't turn coward," Kreg said. "It's not uncommon to freeze after something like that." He pointed at the body with his sword. "It happened to me my first time."
"You?" Bertan looked up at him.
"Me," Kreg said. "And all through the battle, all through all the battles I've been in, I've been terrified."
"But...but you're a hero."
Kreg shrugged. "Maybe. That's for others to judge, not me. For the most part I've been trying to stay alive, that's all. The point is, being afraid does not make you a coward." Again, he pointed at the body. "And never, never be ashamed that killing is not easy. Sometimes--all too often--it's necessary, but it should never be easy. Do you understand?"
"I...I think so."
Kreg smiled. "Another time, Bertan."
Kreg looked up at Kaila. She nodded at him. A moment later, she said, "I am going to send the guards down in shifts to rest. They will fight the better for it, methinks."
"Good idea," Kreg said. "I could use a rest myself."
"Aye," Kaila said. "It was my thought that you be in the first group."
Kreg opened his mouth, but Kaila said, "Nay. No protests. You are tired and we cannot afford your loss."
Kreg decided he was too tired to argue.
Seeing acquiescence in his expression, Kaila nodded. "Bertan, guard him well."
"With my life, Your Grace."
Kreg descended the ladder considerably more slowly than he had climbed it.
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The Hordes of Chanakra (Knights of Aerioch) Page 28