Homesteading on Jord

by Allan Joyal

  Everyone turned to look at me. Verval sighed. "We only got a roof on one shelter," he said. "It's not enough."

  "It's all we have time for," I said. "The orcs have decided that it’s time for us to prove that we really want this valley and will die to defend it."

  "I'll get the spears," Heather said.

  "Spears?" Verval asked.

  "Ron picked up several spear heads when we were in Saraloncto," Heather said. "The last couple of nights I worked with Al to get them attached to some of the heavier bamboo we found."

  "That hollow reed we are using to hold up the roof?" Verval asked pointing back at the shelter that everyone had been working on.

  "No, there is a different type of bamboo about two miles to the west," Heather said. "Natalie found it. The stalks are solid. Al suggested that we us this to help make spears. It took some work to get the heads to fit, but we have six new spears now."

  "What about bolts for the crossbows?" I asked. "I remember picking up extra arrowheads."

  "No feathers," Joelia answered. "We've been watching for any pheasants or other large birds. This meadow should have had several nests, but I'm guessing that the giant cat was eating them."

  "Dare I ask if we can use chicken feathers?" I asked.

  "Some," Joelia admitted. "But they won't be as good and we haven't collected any."

  "I'm using them to provide nesting material for the rabbits," Dafalia said.

  She seemed ready to say more, but I raised my hand. "Later, if we don't have them, we'll have to make do. I know Aine and Lydia have retrieved all the arrows they could. Also everyone has plenty of sling stones correct?"

  "We do," Piemal proclaimed. "Soldrin and I gathered them every morning and evening. We have lots more if you want."

  "Get them and bring them to the wall. Everyone else get weapons and head to the wall. We might not have to fight today, but we better start preparing. Krysbain, do orcs fight at night?" I asked.

  "Believe it or not, they don't live underground. They need light just like we do. We should watch for goblin infiltration. They often accompany orcs, and they can see fairly well at night, but the orcs will want to fight at dawn or dusk. Probably dawn so the sun will be behind them," Krysbain responded.

  "Let's go," I said after nodding at Krysbain. I turned and started running back toward the wall. The children, led by Piemal quickly passed me and sprinted ahead as I ran forward crossing the meadow and headed back to the wall.

  I had just reached the trees when Lydia and Aine caught up with me. They were carrying their crossbows and had tied together a bundle of bolts under an arm. "How many?" Aine asked.

  "Three fires worth," I panted out. "We haven't seen them, just spotted fires in the distance. But the rumbling you hear is orc war drums according to Krysbain."

  "That could be hundreds," Lydia said worriedly. "Ron, if everyone fights we don't have fifty people, and that includes pregnant women and a toddler."

  "Jesame doesn't toddle," I said smiling. "And I expect Mary will keep her out of trouble. I know about how few people we have, that's why I threw everyone at building the wall. We weren't a roman legion to also build all the breastworks and moats quickly, but we got a wall together very fast."

  "What?" Lydia asked.

  Aine giggled. "Part of the story of Julius Caesar. Supposedly he trapped a barbarian chief on a hill. To keep the chief trapped Caesar's legions built a wall around the hill. Then as a relief army was on its way, they built a second wall facing outward. If the stories are believed, they put up miles of wall in a week."

  "I think it was more time than that," I demurred. "But the idea is correct. We just need to add some fighting platforms so we can push back any attempt to push over the wall. Aine, Lydia you'll probably be asked to snipe at the orcs in command. If they have no leader, they might leave us alone."

  "Can do," Lydia said darkly as we dodged trees. A moment later we emerged into the clearing just before the wall. I could see Gertrilla and Yveney standing on the platforms whirling their slings.

  "Henck?" I shouted as I looked around for the man.

  "Over here," Corwar shouted back just left of the platform Gertrilla was standing on. "We're trying to get this platform up."

  I looked over and could see that Hencktor was kneeling down and using a hammer to drive some spikes into a new upright. Corwar was holding it steady. I jogged over just as Gertrilla's sling stopped whirling with a loud snap.

  In the distance there was a roar of pain. Yveney's sling snapped as that roar faded. This time the response was a loud grunt.

  "Right in the eye!" Yveney crowed. "They are fading back into the trees."

  "Gertrilla report," I called out as I grabbed the upright to steady it. "Corwar, get the next piece."

  "I didn't get a count, but it was maybe eight or nine orcs. Not all of them emerged from the trees," Gertrilla replied. "My stone caught one in the shoulder. I think he had armor because he didn't go down. The one Yveney hit is lying at the edge of the trees. I think he's dead."

  "Ron? What's happening?" I heard Verval ask.

  "Orc scout party it sounds like. They didn't come out of the trees before Gertrilla and Yveney used their slings. Gertrilla, help Verval up to your platform and point out the fires and the body. After that both of you come down. Piemal you'll replace Gertrilla, she should get a break," I ordered.

  Verval hissed and then sighed. "That makes good sense. What else should we do?"

  "Hencktor is the one who has been designing how we'll add more platforms. He's in charge of that. We need all the men working on that for now. Lydia be prepared to jump on a tower if the orcs come back. I expect they are done for the day, but now they almost have to attack us," I said.

  "Have to?" Jeff said. "You mean they might have left us alone?"

  "Left us dead," Krysbain said. "But what Ron is saying is that after our first fight the orc leader might have been able to ignore us. But with another orc dead and proof that we are here, he has to act."

  "So we could have not fought, and they would have walked up to the wall and turned around?" Jeff asked.

  "Rarely," Krysbain responded. "Only if they believed we had more people behind the wall than they would have in the attack. And they would have seen that we don't have large fires burning."

  "That's what we could have done, set up lots of campfires for smoke so as to confuse the orcs," I said as Hencktor stood up.

  The man looked at the upright and nodded. "Let me get the other end hammered in and we can have this platform up in an hour," he said.

  "How many people do you need?" I asked.

  Hencktor stood up and looked around for a moment. "Everyone?" he asked.

  "We're all here," Lydia called back. "Do you really need that many though?"

  Hencktor blinked. "Oh, no. I mean, not for putting up the platform. I'd like four adults to help lift the pieces into place, but the framework anyone can put into place. We should probably get more started. Ron and I have enough pieces to assemble eight or nine sections."

  Verval stepped forward. "I'll help Hencktor. Gerit are you and Amalya willing to join us. Al should lead a second team with Borlan, Jeff, and Joelia."

  I heard Heather's hissed intake of breath, but put a hand out and shook my head. "I'll handle the rest. We still need to split a lot more wood if we want to have platforms along the whole wall."

  Verval smiled. "And we can't be sure they'll come at this part of the wall. Can we do it?"

  "We have to," I said. "This valley is perfect for us."

  "Ron, I see more movement in the trees," Yveney called out.

  I held back a curse and ran over to the wall. Verval and Gertrilla had jumped down from the one platform. I jumped up as I grabbed the rope and pulled myself up. I was on the platform a moment later and gazing off into the trees.

  Chapter 28: Invite to a War Party

  The late afternoon sun made the shadows cast by the leaves dance, but I could soon see more than a dozen larg
e figures slowly advancing towards the edge of the clearing. They were taking some care to stay behind tree trunks as they approached. I could hear grunting and hoots as the figures made their way towards us.

  "I need someone with a crossbow," I called back towards the ground. "Looks like the orcs sent another group."

  I heard everyone scramble behind me. The movement in the trees was slow, but steady as the shadowed figures moved closer to the clearing. I tried to gauge how many orcs were in the woods, but could not see any of them clearly.

  "What do you need me to do?" I heard Aine ask from just behind me. I looked down to see her standing at the base of the platform.

  I squatted down and lowered a hand. "Take my hand," I said.

  Aine moved the crossbow to her left hand and took my hand with her right. I stood back up, yanking her from the ground. She gave a screech of surprise as I lifted her up to the platform.

  "Ron!" she screamed once her feet were steady on the platform. "Why did you do that?"

  I put a finger to my lips and then pointed toward the trees. "We have visitors. I thought we might look for a commander or leader and see if we can start thinning the ranks of the enemy."

  "Some enemy," Verval said from the ground to my left. I glanced down and was surprised to see that the first part of the platform was being raised onto the framework. It was going to be about a foot lower than the tower platforms, but otherwise looked like it would be a good place to fight from.

  "Ron, do you want your spear?" Heather asked.

  "Not right now," I said. "The orcs aren't moving in large numbers yet. I think they are still probing."

  My last word was said quietly as a thought entered my mind. "Ron?" I heard Lydia ask.

  "Lydia, you and Oleiana, run to the south end of the wall and get on some tower platforms. Watch the woods. See if they are moving in that area. Piemal, I know I said use this platform, but move to the middle of the valley. Shout if you see any orc enter the clearing."

  "What about?" Verval asked.

  "I'll jump down in a second. We need more platforms and we need them fast," I said.

  I was about to jump when the orcs started to emerge from the woods. The first four were dressed in ragged leather loincloths and carrying clubs. They were followed by eight orcs holding what looked like small bows and a final orc wearing an elaborate helmet that appeared to have been made from bones. This orc raised a stone axe above his head and started reciting something in the grunts and howls that made up their language.

  "Ron?" Aine asked me.

  I was going to say something when Thom ran to the base of the platform. "Want me to bring messages from the others?" he asked.

  "Go," I said without turning my head. The orc was continuing to boom out his strange challenge. As he did the other orcs spread out.

  I looked more closely at the objects they were holding. They appeared to be made from branches that had any twigs hacked off. A string bent them in the shape of a bow, but the knots and other lumps made me question how much power these primitive weapons could have. Still I gasped as the eight orcs raised their arms.

  "Incoming! Use the wall for cover," I shouted as I ducked down and put my shoulder against the wall. I heard a huff from Aine as she did the same.

  Barely a second later there was a faint rattle. It sounded just a bit like rain hitting a wooden roof, but lasted barely a moment. There was one squeak of surprise from the ground below us as the rain ended.

  "That caught my dress!" I heard Konstanzia complain.

  "Anyone hurt?" I asked as I stood up enough to look over the wall. Six of the orcs were reloading. The other two tossed broken pieces of wood to the ground and pulled wooden branches from somewhere.

  "No one was hit," Esme said. "It looks like only two arrows cleared the wall."

  "Two of their bows broke," I said. "Yveney, see if you can get another hit. Aine, shoot the one with the axe."

  "The what?" I heard Verval ask as Aine raised her crossbow and started aiming over the wall.

  "One of the orcs has some kind of bone helmet and is carrying a stone axe," I said. "He's the one shouting over there."

  "Headman," Krysbain said. "They are usually bodyguards for a chieftain. I'm surprised to hear one is out there. They rarely leave the sight of the chief. Most of them are rivals for his position."

  Aine's crossbow thrummed as she fired. The loud grunting stopped. I looked over to see that the bolt had struck the orc in the throat. He slowly sank to the ground.

  The other orcs noticed that the chanting had stopped. Several looked behind them at their leader. Two turned back and started to grunt an alarm when Yveney let fly with a stone from her sling.

  This time her aim was off. The stone flew between two of the orcs holding bows before embedding in the ground at the feet of one of the ones holding a club. The orcs all stared at the spot where the stone stopped.

  There was a long moment of complete silence. Aine had ducked back down while she tried to get the crossbow reloaded. As I watched the six orcs with working bows all turned and fired at Yveney.

  Yveney tried to duck down behind the wall, but her left foot slipped from the platform. As I watched in horror the young woman tumbled from the platform and fell to the ground. She gave a shriek of surprise and fear as she fell. It was followed by a moan of pain. She writhed on the ground holding her left forearm.

  Esme and Shaylin dashed over to her. I started to move around Aine to jump to the ground.

  "Dammit!" Al shouted. "We need the platforms so that we can display more weapons. Jeff, get that upright pounded into place. Soldrin, run and grab me three spikes and a small piece of wood. Wedge shaped if you can find it, I need to add a bracket to this crosspiece."

  "Keep an eye on the orcs," I whispered to Aine. I could see that Shaylin and Esme had got Yveney to sit on the ground. Esme was asking questions while carefully holding Yveney's elbow. "I need to check things elsewhere."

  "I'll make sure they don't charge," Aine said as she raised the crossbow over the wall. I noticed that she remained hunched over so only her head and shoulder were above the wall. Beyond I could hear the orcs continue to grunt and howl. They appeared to be arguing over something.

  I jumped down as Shaylin grabbed a vine and scrambled up onto the platform Yveney had been on. Her movements were full of purpose. "Shay! No magic!" I shouted as I jumped down.

  "But they hurt Yveney!" Shaylin protested as she stood up on the platform. "They need to pay for that."

  "It's only a minor bruise," Esme said. "She tried to catch her fall and her wrist couldn't take the strain."

  I jogged over and stood over Esme and Yveney. "How bad?" I asked.

  "A few days," Esme said. "I don't think anything is torn or broken, but she'll be in pain for a while. We should probably ice it, but."

  "Unless we want to have her walk to the streams to the west, we don't have anything that cold," I finished for Esme. I turned to look at Yveney. The young girl had tears in her eyes.

  "I missed, and now I'm hurt," she said mournfully.

  "You have done well," I said. "You won't hit every time. Now you'll heal. For today relax. I don't think the orcs are going to charge the walls. Night will be coming soon. Rest and we'll have you back up on the towers far too soon."

  Yveney smiled sadly and nodded. I turned to check on the others to find Cimbra helping Al maneuver a large split log into place on one of the frameworks. The instant that Al nodded Corwar dashed in and started hammering spikes up through the framework and into the log.

  "What about the other platform?" I asked. Corwar was already working a third spike into the wood. As I watched he finished and dashed to the other end of the framework to add more spikes.

  "In place," Al said. "Hencktor is hammering in a couple extra spikes to stabilize one end. We'll have this one up shortly."

  "We won't get more tonight," Cimbra said. "The sun will be going down soon."

  I glanced up and realized that we had been
at the wall for at least four hours. My checking on others and just watching the orcs had taken far longer than I realized. I glanced around to see that Kariy and Natalie were carrying water skins and approaching people who were working.

  Just before I could walk over to talk to Kariy, Thom ran up. "Ron, Ron! Piemal says there are more orcs moving in the trees. He thinks they were headed to the river."

  I sighed. "Did you let Lydia and Oleiana know?"

  "I came here first," the boy shouted.

  I waved for him to stop approaching. "Run and let Lydia know. There might be an attempt to go around the wall."

  Thom stopped and then turned and rushed off. "Do you really think they'll try to go around the wall?" Kariy asked me as we watched him dash towards the river.

  "They will probably look, but I don't know if they will try swimming. It would give us too much of an advantage. Lydia and Oleiana could just snipe at them from the tower as they swam by. And wading near the wall would be slow making the orcs easy targets. I can't picture them trying," I said in a comforting tone.

  "Incoming!" Aine called out. I grabbed Kariy and pulled her towards the wall as I crouched down. I could see everyone else diving for cover as well. A moment later a single arrow dropped into the ground about twenty feet past the wall.

  "Aine?" I asked.

  "I'm fine," she said. "They aren't very accurate with those bows. And two more broke."

  "We have more moving in the trees," I said. "At least that's the report."

  "I don't see any right now," Aine said. "The remaining ones are retreating back into the trees. I did see one rip that bone helmet off the one we killed."

  "I'll run down to check on Lydia and Oleiana," Hencktor called out. He rushed off before I could say anything. I glanced around and spotted Victoria standing near the trees.

  "Vicki! Go with him!" I shouted.

  I watched Victoria glance over at Verval. The man nodded. "Go! He might need help, but we need the men here to get the next section up. Be prepared to send Piemal back if there is a problem."

  I nodded to Verval. "Thanks," I said as I stood up and looked around. The first platform was set up just to the left of the platform where Aine stood. It was lower than the tower platform. I glanced back at Verval. "Is it stable?"