Balor was captaining Majestic while Toron held a tight command of the heavy icebreaker, Iron Shark.
Three of Zeb’s most trusted men captained the other ships he commanded, including the flat-bottomed Freedom Winds, but she was to be used as an evacuation vessel only, being ill-suited for sailing the open seas.
Zeb studied those ships with a professional eye. Outnumbered and far outgunned, he knew that even with the young Sorcerer’s help, it was going to be a dangerous, almost insanely difficult battle if it came to that, and he was not looking forward to such a prospect with nearly as much enthusiasm as Toron was.
***
Kayne had not even reached the city but was already suffering battle losses, and it annoyed him to no end. First, he lost three men to some savage animal attack and another with the cleanest sword cut he had ever seen. Four men were killed outright by various booby-traps employing swinging logs and sprung tree limbs with sharpened stakes lashed to them. Seven more had stepped into shallow pits with sharp wood and steel spikes in them. Those men would either lose their foot or die within days from infection caused by the filth spread on the spikes.
Word came back this morning that two of the night sentries were dead with arrows in their throats, and no one heard or saw a thing. He would have to double up the sentries from now on. He had not expected this kind of guerilla tactics from the peaceful northern people.
Still, the numbers were small considering the nearly five thousand men under his command. Ulric had done well recruiting and shoring up his forces. Kayne had had some reservations about attacking a city like North Haven with only the thirty-five hundred men he had expected to lead, but the bolstered numbers made him confident that he could take the city within weeks, if not days. He paid his engineers and sappers well, and soon they would earn their gold.
His engineers would be at the edge of the forest just a short ways from the gates of the city where they would lead men in the construction of siege engines. Rams and huge trebuchets should make short work of the walls and gates, but he would have men working on scaling towers as well in case the barriers proved overly resilient. They should not be necessary, but he would be ready in any case.
North Haven was built to defend against pirates and other sea-born threats, not powerful sieges by land. The builders had always thought themselves too far north and far enough from any source of hostile forces to require the extra expense of the tall, reinforced walls of the southern cities like Southport, Brightridge, and Argoth. That assumption was now going to cost them dearly.
***
The sound of axes, saws, and mallets soon echoed throughout the once peaceful forest. The cracking and crashing of the majestic trees sounded like a death rattle to Wolf’s pointed ears as he watched the invaders desecrate his home. He would make them pay for this he swore as he crept wraith-like from shadow to shadow.
He occasionally found a lone man or a pair of men chopping and sawing on his trees at the far edge of the ring of guards who were supposed to protect them. However, their great numbers left them feeling overly safe and not expecting any danger despite Wolf’s previous ambushes. This allowed him to pick off a few more men from the fringes of the main body from time to time. Wolf knew he was a flea biting a bear, but he would not allow these men to foul his home unanswered, so he would keep biting them every chance he got.
CHAPTER 20
Kayne tasked a hundred cavalry and five hundred footmen to take what he had heard described as some sort of orphanage. Kayne knew it was overkill, but his men described it as having a respectable wall and several men guarding it as if it were a military outpost. Even so, he wanted it taken quickly. A single ram should have little trouble breaching the gates, and then his men would easily take the tower.
All things considered, everything was going exactly as planned. This endeavor, although long and complex in the making, would prove quite profitable for him in the end.
Kayne relaxed inside his command tent, sipping tea from a fine set of porcelain he liberated from a nobleman’s home in Groveswood. It was one of those rare pieces of plunder that he enjoyed, not for the monetary value, but for its fine artisanship and uniqueness. It was as thin as an eggshell and felt so fragile that it almost made him nervous to pick it up. It was pure white with a gold rim encircling the top and featured a very life-like depiction of a stag hunt in fine azure lines beneath the flawless glaze.
“Commander Kayne,” one of his guards addressed him just outside the tent, “there are three individuals who request to see you. They say they have been sent by Duke Ulric.”
“Let them in,” Kayne replied over the top of his delicate teacup.
He smiled in appreciation as he felt the cup vibrate under the sound of his voice.
The guard entered and held open the tent flap for the guests. Two of them appeared to be tall and lean, the other much shorter and possibly on the fat side. It was hard to tell. Heavy, hooded robes of a dark material obscured their forms considerably. One of the tall ones and the short one’s robes were of the deepest black. The other tall one, the one standing in the center, wore robes of such a deep red that it was nearly black as well.
“You are commander Kayne,” the one in the middle spoke with a soft but commanding voice.
It was not a question but Kayne answered anyway. “I am. What can I do for you?”
The one who spoke lowered his—her—he now saw, hood. “I am Magus Lillis Bauer of The Magus Academy. These two gentlemen are both wizards of the Black Tower. Duke Ulric has enlisted our services and requested that we provide you with whatever assistance we can. I assure you, our aid can be quite substantial.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” Kayne said with a broad smile, flashing his perfect white teeth. “Please, have a seat. Would you care for tea? It is quite good.”
“Tea would be excellent, Commander, thank you,” Magus Bauer replied and took a seat on an available campstool.
Kayne opened the ornate silk and cotton-padded case that held the entire service set and removed three more of the delicate porcelain cups. He then crossed the tent and retrieved the silver teapot that steamed over a lit brazier.
Ulric had told him that he had recruited some special talent, but he had no idea that it would be in the form of three wizards. As a fighting man, he was not overly fond of spellcasters, but he did not fear them either, like most. They were a tool, a weapon, and he would employ them to the fullest of their abilities and be grateful for it.
His intelligence heard rumors that the man who ran the orphanage on the hill was some sort of magician, but he had paid little heed to it. However, if it were true, then these three should be more than capable of countering whatever resistance he threw at them, unless they were somehow inept or lacking in skill.
He could tell right off that that was not the case. Malicious power lay very close to the surface of Magus Bauer. He could feel it raise the hairs on his arms and could see it in her eyes. She was not one to cross. The other two had lowered their hoods as well and both had the look of men who were quite confident in their power but were smart enough to defer to the woman.
“Exactly what kind of assistance will you be able to provide me so that I may better plan my stratagems?” Kayne asked as he returned the teapot to the brazier and sat down.
“We can provide wards to protect your rams against fire, stones, and magical attack, we can greatly reduce the effectiveness and accuracy of arrow volleys, as well as striking the enemy with powerful magical attacks if necessary. You know, fire, lightning, those sorts of things that impress and terrify the common rabble so much. But mostly, our role should be defensive in nature, particularly against the citadel atop the keep.”
Kayne nodded his understanding. Perhaps there was more to the rumors than he suspected. “I had heard there was a wizard of some sort within the keep. Is he likely to be a problem?”
Kayne was surprised to see that the woman was capable of looking even more serious and dour than before. �
��The one who owns the tower was once a student of The Academy, a sorcerer. He left well before his training was complete, but he managed to pick up a measure of power on his own or with the help of someone unknown to The Academy. Although exceedingly young, he does not lack talent or audacity. Not long ago, he strolled into The Academy headmaster’s office and killed him, doing a great deal of damage in the process.”
“The headmaster? Then he is formidable.”
“He is more crafty than powerful, I believe, but not to be underestimated. He is no archmage, and my associates and I can handle him with little trouble.” Her face grew more shadowed. “A greater concern is that one of my former colleagues may be there as well. He had some kind of special attachment to the boy. If he is here, then that will certainly add a measurable challenge but not an insurmountable one. That is why our power is best left to providing defensive measures, to counteract those that would use magic against your men so that we might keep them alive long enough to kill them with steel.”
Kayne nodded. “Very wise, Magus, I will defer to you and your associates in all matters magical. I just ask that you keep me informed so that I can direct my men most effectively.”
Magus Bauer cracked a humorless smile, breaking her rigid countenance. “Ulric told me you were a smart man for a mercenary. I am glad to see he was correct. We have already had our apprentices erect our quarters. As soon as you are prepared to take the citadel, we will be ready.”
The three magi stood as one and departed Kayne’s tent. They crossed the muddy ground, churned up by countless boots and mixed with slushy snow. A simple cantrip kept the wizards from soiling their robes or soaking their soft leather and fur-lined boots.
They approached a small, circular tent no more than fifteen feet in diameter recently erected only a short ways from the command tent and strode through its open flap. They were not concerned with anyone entering unannounced, such would be impossible. The magic of the tent allowed only those who were granted permission to enter its true confines. Anyone else entering would only find an empty tent.
However, those that belonged would find themselves inside a palace made of rich, colorful canvas and silks. The interior was enormous with half a dozen large, opulent bedrooms, dining section, library, and reception room. It was neither hot nor cold no matter the weather outside.
Two apprentice wizards were busy setting up a tray of finger foods and wine. “Masters, mistress, everything is ready,” the young woman told the three senior wizards.
“Very good, Cecilia,” Magus Bauer replied. “Bring the tray to the library, Vincent. We will have dinner at six. I am in the mood for mutton and wild rice.”
“Yes, mistress.”
***
The siege of North Haven began two days later. Six massive trebuchets hurled stones weighing hundreds of pounds each. Some of the stones fell short and littered the ground between the attacking army and the city walls. Others sailed over the walls and occasionally crushed homes, shops, and anyone unfortunate enough to be in its path. Nearly half impacted the wall after a short bounce or roll across the frozen ground or struck it squarely, doing a great deal of damage to the barrier with every strike.
Onagers hurled dozens of fist-sized stones to help clear the walls of archers and to intimidate any forces that may be rallied against the ram crews. Magus Bauer and her two companions cast multiple wards upon the large, wood and hide-covered rams that would be used against the gates.
For now, Kayne kept his men out of bow range and let the onagers and catapults soften up their targets before sending in the ram and the men to keep it safe. More aggressive tactics were put into place at the citadel. The three wizards stood several hundred yards from the school’s walls with five hundred footmen a hundred cavalry waited for the order to charge.
“We are ready to begin our initial sortie. Are you ready, Magus?” the officer in charge of taking the citadel asked Magus Bauer.
“We are prepared, Captain.”
With a nod to the wizard, the Captain gave the order. “Cavalry, charge!”
A battle horn repeated his command, and the sound of thundering hooves filled the air.
Azerick stood upon the wall next to Alex and watched the soldiers arrayed in the field just outside the tree line. He looked at the young men and few women standing atop the wall with him, ready to defend their home with their lives if necessary. Azerick had offered to let anyone who wanted to wait out the battle inside the much stronger walls of North Haven, but not one wanted to leave. From the youngest student to Agnes the cook, none would abandon the citadel.
The youngest students, Simon, Teresa, Brother Thomas, and Aggie stayed inside the tower along with Sandy. The little sand dragon had suggested that she might be more useful atop the wall where the enemy could see her, insisting that the mere sight of such a fearsome creature may frighten the humans enough to leave them alone. Azerick swore that these men were all insane and would not be scared enough to run, and that her awesome might was best used to protect the younger children in case they gained entrance to the tower itself.
Azerick could hear some of the students fearfully muttering at the sight of the army arrayed against them. No matter how much Alex and Jansen had tried to explain that there was nothing glorious about battle, he knew that most of them did not fully accept that fact until now. The sorcerer could almost hear the doubts in the minds of what were mostly children. Children in armor and wielding crossbows and bows, ready to take the lives of the men that threatened them.
The thought made Azerick queasy. It was how he was forced to grow up, and he was fully aware of what it had done to him, how it had changed him. It was not what he wished for his students, but there had been little choice. The greed of other men had stolen their choice just as the choice had been taken from him. Very well then, at least they would not stand alone in this battle.
Azerick looked to his left and saw Rusty’s characteristic flaming red hair and orange and red robes standing next to Jansen halfway to the corner of the wall. To his right, Allister looked as if he were a statue, his steely gaze unwavering, all trace of his kindly, grandfatherly face gone and replaced with a look of grim determination and pent up anger. Ken, the thin but incredibly strong blacksmith, stood near the old wizard wearing a shirt of mail and gripping a heavy forging hammer in each of his calloused hands.
A horn sounded in the distance, and the ground vibrated under the brutal pounding of a hundred charging horses. The swift running horses ate up the ground between the walls and the tree line with frightening speed. Wide, nervous eyes watched the invaders racing toward them, sweat dripping from the hands gripping weapons.
Alex was given the responsibility of issuing the battle commands, which is why he held the center of the wall. Jansen was undoubtedly the most skilled fighter any of them had ever met, but he was not trained to lead an army. Alex had been groomed for commanding troops for the past twelve years at the Martial Academy, the finest battle college known in the kingdom.
“Archers, ready!” Alex called in a high command voice that carried over the sound of the thundering horses and the shouting of men. “Loose!”
Every defender who held a crossbow or bow stepped between the stone crenellation and released their shafts. Panic and inexperience caused many of them to over-shoot the fast approaching enemy, forgetting to adjust their aim for the speed at which the they were approaching.
Rusty sent a massive fireball into the charging army that burst directly in the midst of the lead horses. The resulting explosion of super-heated air was massive and shook the stones under Azerick’s feet. The flash was so bright that spots floated in his vision. However, as soon as he blinked them away, he was shocked to see that the huge conflagration had done only minor damage. A few men and horses tumbled to the ground with severe burns while several horses panicked at the blast and threw their riders or bolted in another direction, but most emerged unscathed.
Azerick heard Allister curse and turned just i
n time to see the old mage raise his arm up over his head then whip it down as if he were throwing something onto the ground. Hailstones the size of his fist streaked down upon the charging cavalry by the hundreds. The thunder of their impacts matched the pounding hooves of the horses in volume and rhythm. Again, the spell seemed to do far less damage than it ought to have. Azerick saw that many of the stones shattered before they struck the ground or the enemy. A few more men were knocked from their saddles but not nearly enough.
Azerick was desperate to stop or at least slow the charging invaders and slashed the air with his staff in a long, horizontal arc. A towering wall of flame erupted from the ground just yards in front of the oncoming cavalry. The blaze stretched higher than the walls of the citadel and was too close for them to avoid. As quickly as the flame wall sprung from the ground, it suddenly disappeared.
Azerick quickly realized what was happening. They had wizards of their own, and they were countering the spells that he, Rusty, and Allister were casting! This added a completely new set of problems for the defenders. Magic was the only thing that was going to give them a chance of successfully defending the citadel.
Azerick cast one of his most reliable spells. With luck, it was unique enough and quick enough to prove effective before the enemy wizards could negate its effect. The sorcerer turned his hand up like an inverted claw and watched with pleasure as a long, double row of stone spikes thrust through the earth impaling the broadly muscled chests of the unfortunate horses.
Over a dozen of the animals tumbled to the earth at tremendous speed, throwing and rolling over many of their riders, crushing and pinning them beneath their enormous weight. Several more mounts directly behind those now impaled tumbled to the ground as they tried to vault over or dodge around the twisted chaos of riders and horses.
The Sorcerer's Path Box Set: Book 1-4 Page 135