Ra' van (Book Three of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  Unlike on the plains their skills needed to be held in reserve for speed wasn't going to breach the walls. They knew that until the walls fell they were to offer support to the front lines and guard the batteries who would lob objects and try to break the stone walls down to dust.

  Just as soon as the lines formed properly a horn to advance blew.

  Alex walked beside Shade and behind the fifth row of foot-soldiers who all carried large, protective shields. Some were item, but the majority were made of wood, metal and a mix thereof.

  It took nearly an hour to get the catapults, trebuchets and ballistae within range. Just as they were, Central City struck first and loosed a huge volley of grapeshot, arrows and other deadly projectiles.

  In response Freelan fired back, creating and causing little effect. Then they had to re-aim and position for another volley.

  Those in front did well defending, but stray weapons found a weakness and hit their mark and forced the injured to retreat back and be seen by a field healer. The breaches in the lines were quickly plugged and shields raised.

  Some projectiles were perfectly aimed and Alex had to, at times using a soldier’s shield, intervene by destroying them in midair before wreaking serious damage to the men he fought beside. They cheered when he saved many from gruesome deaths, but sadly couldn’t stop them all.

  At one point Alex noticed a familiar item at work. The man he fought at showing off a Furion’s skills in Alluan had thrown a doll-like item on the ground. It accumulated the dirt beneath it and grew into a fifteen foot giant that instantly mimicked the owner's moves. The dirt doll proved to be effective until an enemy doll made solely of the moat's water met in battle and both items failed in gaining an advantage.

  Still the batteries were loaded and sent away.

  Several Fury tried flying into the city, only to be cut down a moment later by the wall defenders, when they passed the airless void that wouldn't allow their shrieks to be effective. After five failed attempts to force those on the wall asleep, Breaker had the Fury pull back and simply keep an eye from high above and search for a weakness to be exploited.

  The day passed and it became all too clear that Freelan wasn't making progress on the western and southern wall. The Shadow Fangs wished they could cross water within their shadows, but they need solid surfaces to move in that way. Solid surfaces kept their shadows together, but a water's ripples would break the shadow's cohesion, effectively ripping them apart and kill them. There was no worse way for them to die, even if the human's didn't know about it. They loved playing in the water, but knew instinctively how deadly it is if they dared turn incorporeal.

  Rakkian reluctantly called for a retreat when only a short few hours remained and not much had been accomplished. Although the numbers of Freelan and Central City were relatively equal, they had not only the high ground, but also a sturdy stone wall to hide behind. After a day's siege, he received only three reports revealing that they gained only minor headway and knew he would need to focus tomorrow on those three cracks and exploit them.

  The men were all exhausted, some more than others, and those injured will made a good recovery. In all only a hundred and three-and-sixty of his men met their ultimate fate and one-and-thirty fiends joined them. He knew he had to get rid of those batteries, but knew not how. The large siege ladders barely made it to the moats edge before the men were cut down. That is where most of the death toll came from.

  Alex, drenched in sweat from protecting five catapults only lost one. Already it is being salvaged to be repaired overnight. His first stop was at the command tent to give his report and could not offer much. The city's fortifications were well manned and planned.

  It wasn't till he retired for the night did he realize just how helpless all those who came to lay siege to Alluan's Royal City felt. Even if the walls were half the size of Allahandra's home, he wondered how many felt this daunting task before him. He knew, with his Furion skills, he could easily scale the walls, but he'd need to leave everyone behind. He knew his skills better than anyone and understood he could take out a thousand or so, but alone and against the entire city he would surely perish.

  Hopefully tomorrow we'll break through. He wished vainly.

  The next morning the siege began again and to worsen matters the three areas that had weakened the day before had been miraculously reinforced. Alex knew beyond doubt that random firing had little chance of success and the whole might of Freelan couldn’t even get close enough to deal any serious damage. Those upon the wall did what they were trained to do, defend it until the main force of the Royal Guard got there.

  Several radical attempts were tried and failed because over half of the projectiles thrown were shot out of the sky. An old Shadow Fang sacrificed himself when he dove into his shadow and surrounded a large javelin. He and the weapon were thrown, only to have a catapult lob grapeshot and it shattered the pole. The old one didn’t resurface. The Frox did their best, but short of launching them on a trebuchet they couldn’t find a way in. Even Rakkian had been launched to use his gauntlets to create an earthquake, but somehow the violent vibrations were negated.

  The most dangerous weapons fired to break through were always somehow intercepted and Alex received a report that Angie was currently locked in a Seers combat with three others while those other Freelan seers also fought, but somehow the psychics within Central City were finding holes to which alert the wall on where and when to knock down weapons before the damage would be severe enough to cause a breach.

  The violent day came to another tiring end and still nothing happened, but they had one day less to finish before being devastated on two sides.

  “Prince Alex! Princess Lily!” Someone shouted outside his tent.

  Roused from a short sleep, his temper matched. “What!”

  The voice hesitated for a moment. “The queen needs you in her presence and… come armed.”

  That got his attention. He had just spoken to Allahandra an hour ago. What could have happened? Alex looked over to see an expression on Lily that asked the same question. She had been just as tired as he. Shade raised his head and Alex explained what had been said.

  Shade opened his maw in a menacing yawn of deadly proportions. Then he shook his head to clear the fog of his mind. “We best be going then.”

  While Alex and Lily dressed and armed themselves Shade, Crest and Ava stretched and had a drink from a nearby large bucket of fresh water.

  The five began walking towards the command tent to see it abuzz with activity. What’s more, Clift stood saddled beside another two other horses off to the side and acknowledged Alex and the others with a bob of the head.

  In the darkness, Allahandra’s guards were more alert, but seeing the content look upon their fiend’s expression and body language they relaxed somewhat knowing that it was only Alex and his family.

  They parted and pulled the flaps back to allow the five into the tent.

  Inside stood only five people; Allahandra, Rakkian, Marlin and a middle aged woman with a demure air about her and a Freelan member attired in standard green and yellow. Light graying in brown hair crowned the woman’s lovely tan features while a light blue dress covered a petite frame. Compared to Lily’s size this woman seemed more like a small child. In her hand she clutched a small blue wand that Alex knew from research that it could freeze water for a limited time. It is a level two utility item. The man stood about Marlin’s height, revealed to be an Alluan native due to his dark complexion and seemed to be in his mid-thirties.

  “You called for us, Allahandra?” Lily asked while she too studied the other two visitors.

  The queen raised an arm and a confident smile appeared. Alex hadn’t seen that in two days. “I would like to introduce you to Lady Hanna. She has come here and given us much hope.”

  “What kind?” Alex asked and then backtracked. “Forgive me, where are my manners. It is nice to meet you, Lady Hanna. I am Alex. This is my wife Lily, my sister Ava, my brother
Shade and his mate Crest.”

  “I’ve heard much of the famous pack and Marlin here is apart of it…”

  “Aye, he is.” Alex met his friend’s eyes proudly. “So what hope do you bring that can make Allahandra grin like this?”

  Confidently Lady Hanna announced “I know a secret way into the city.”

  Silence gripped the tent until Lily asked “Is it true?”

  Rakkian then spoke deeply and with confidence. “It is, as far as we can tell. Commander Yort and another truth seeker have said she is here to help and holds not an ounce of hostility or enmity towards our cause. In fact she wishes to ally with us after we win and create proper negotiations between Gagiat and Alluan. Travis also did everything he could think of to see if she had been altered, but couldn’t reveal any tricks. She has come to help us infiltrate the city of her own free will.”

  “Won’t it fail like our attacks have been going thus far? They seem to know where we are going to hit something important and stop us before we can act.” Lily asked in a sigh after the resentment and exhaustion caught up to her.

  This is where Allahandra’s grin became larger. Marlin remained strangely quiet. The queen of Alluan announced with barely suppressed cheer “That is why I’m relying on Alex because his heritage will work in our favor.”

  “The seer blind spot.” Alex said and began chuckling, finally finding his hope rekindled and stress being washed away.

  “Exactly!” Allahandra clasped her hands before her silvery dress. “That is why we are meeting like this. Leaving as little chance as possible for sabotage. With Lady Hanna’s aid Alex can enter the city and no seer alive will ever be able to foretell what he will do next. If you, Alex, lead a small group through this secret passage and be the center of all orders they will not see you coming. She will be your guide and this lieutenant here will be the one who will breach the wall…” The dark man nodded and pulled his cloak back to show five explosive cylindrical objects capable of demolishing a wall of nearly any size. Each were a foot long and bright pink. It became clear he is a level five, explosive warrior. “He will follow your command and place his items where you tell him to, making any seers not know what will happen until it is too late.”

  “Where is this secret passage and how does she know of it?”

  Lady Hanna answered. “Before Ra’van took control of Gagiat, my family ruled as part of one of the five council families. Since my family was the most influential and prosperous, my father governed Central City while the other four did likewise for their province. The five families met every few months to discuss matters of state and the system worked well until little by little we were taken over by Runkamon. The families were killed off one by one, leaving my family for last.

  “When the assassins came for us, my father sent me and my brother through the secret passage. As you all know there is only one easy way into the city. That was the plan for the city’s construction, make there appear only one way in or out. But my grandfather knew that if something went wrong that there needed to be a secret route out that no enemy could ever know about.

  “Then about ten years ago my brother revealed who he really was to the wrong person and was executed by the High Lord of Gagiat, who was placed there by King Runkamon. And Sleed, that is the High Lord’s name, only obeys Ra’van’s rules and has caused much suffering. That stone wall you’re trying to destroy has killed thousands in its construction, mostly by the backs of prisoners who don’t agree with Ra’van’s rules and laws that are beyond barbaric.” Alex stole a glance and the look of disgust revealed that she too had known someone dear that had been forced to labor on the wall.

  Marlin then spoke. “Was there any chance that your brother spoke of the passage before being killed?”

  She shook her head but then answered Alex’s remaining question. “I will not even tell you where the passage is. I will show you, I must. That cannot be negotiated nor can anyone else take Sleed’s life except for me. After I show you the way in I’m getting revenge for my family. You do what you must.”

  Lady Hanna expected this Alex to fight her, especially after hearing so much about him, but he shrugged and said “I can understand. I too am trying to right the wrongs done to my family and that of the lands. If you can get us in you can do what you want to. But where will we exit or is that too a secret?”

  She smiled. “We will come out of the basement of my family’s estate, but it is the home of Sleed at the moment. The entrance to the passage is well hidden.”

  “When do we leave?” Lily asked.

  “You wish to depart, ya?” Allahandra asked the lady.

  “The sooner we leave the more quickly this war upon my home will end. My horse is ready and prepared. Let me know when you wish to go.” And then she excused herself, giving much room as she skirted Shade and Crest.

  When they were alone Alex asked “Are there any orders you need to give?”

  Rakkian answered. “We cannot or else we might mistakenly have our plans revealed by the opposition. Only you can give orders if we are to have any chance of success. But I can suggest that you have the lieutenant here place his charges either on the western or southern walls, where we will be attacking. We will be ready wherever you strike and have our troops within the city within three to five minutes. With the confusion of the explosion and wall’s disappearance it will be all the time we’ll need.

  “Good luck.”

  “We’ll need it.”

  And then they grasped each other’s forearms before parting.

  Alex then explained what was happening and both Shade’s and Crest’s tails became a blur of excitement in anticipation for the secretive mission.

  Outside Lady Hanna waited by her horse and seeing as how they were as prepared as possible for battle Alex had everyone mount up. Some stopped to see what was happening, but when no answers were evident they moved along.

  The woman led the way out of camp, taking a southerly direction.

  They had been silently following Lady Hanna for hours and twice Shade and Alex had to take out enemy spies hiding in the forest they traveled in. Torches were forbidden because it would easily attract unwanted attention, but that made traveling slow, moving in the darkness. Questions were also kept to a minimum to limit noise generated. The two spies would wake tomorrow with massive headaches, but Alex felt merciful and didn’t take them out for good.

  An hour before dawn their guide came to a stop, but it was Marlin who said in an awkward tone “Alex?”

  “I know.” He replied similarly.

  “We were so close, but didn’t know. Where do you think it could be?”

  “I know not…”

  “What are you two going on about?” Lily asked.

  “Alex, is this?” Shade rumbled and turned his large head to set a large golden eye upon his older sibling.

  “Aye, this is the place.” Then he looked at the others and settled his eyes on his one true love. “Lily, this small clearing is exactly where Marlin, Shade and I worked out the details of rescuing you from your execution.” He then pointed “See the smaller height of the grass that stands out among the rest. That is where we drew the layout of the city and over there is where you attacked Shade. That apple tree was where your first meal came from afterwards and that stream was where we got fresh water and fish to eat.”

  “Really?” She then looked at the clearing anew and recognition lit her features. “That’s right… It looks different with all the fallen leaves, but it’s true. It has remained untouched…”

  “You’ve been here before?” Lady Hanna queried. “How do you know this place?”

  Marlin answered. “When Alex heard of Lily’s execution we ran here and it was Shade who caught the scent of apples and fresh water. We just happened by this place because it offered food, water and shelter from prying eyes. Your telling us that the secret entrance is close?”

  “It is, but I’m glad you came here and didn’t know its true purpose. You see this is
the place of respite from the long journey through the passage. Normally in summer and early fall, apples fill that tree and my family came here to relax in silence to get away from matters of state.” Then she dismounted and grabbed a tightly bound leather bag. “Collect your things. We must not waste time idling.”

  She then walked to the water’s edge. “The entrance to the passage lies between those two trees. I hope you can swim.” She pointed at two large conifer trees.

  “I wondered why there were several holes…” Marlin spoke absently

  “WHAT!?”

  He grinned at the stunned woman. “Those hidden holes at the stream’s bottom. There are several large holes that were perfect for fishing. Last time we were here I used them to fish. You see my item can see under water. Most holes don’t go anywhere while others loop, but I remember one that stopped suddenly and thought it was just an air pocket. So that is the entrance huh?”

  The lady sighed and nodded.

  “Are the holes large enough for Shade and Crest to follow?” Lily asked.

  “The hole is large enough,” She admitted a moment after looking over the large beasts. “but the passage might be another story.” She then tied one end of rope to a nearby tree.

  All watched as Lady Hanna dove into the water and swam to the center and disappeared. She took the rope and swam down into the darkness, feeling her way to the large opening and pulling herself down and after a few tense moments began to swim up. Seconds later she took a grateful breath and pulled twice on the rope. She then swam to the passage edge and climbed three rungs to relax on the straight and level ground, but she didn’t take it easy as darkness enveloped her. She blindly opened the watertight bag and pulled out three wrapped torches.

  Marlin, not blindly trusting, kept his bobber in the water to clearly watch Hanna swim the path and he said “She is no longer in the water.”