Reen could not help but gawk when the raptor actually shook its head, giving a clear negative response in answer to the question. Even though he expected to die, it never occurred to him his fate would be decided by a bird. “Who is in command here?”
“Sergeant Tanner commands the squad, but the ultimate commander is Sir Daniel himself,” said a young man to the right of the female Sentinel.
A grunt sounded from above and a huge beast swung out of a nearby tree, landing a few paces from the Sergeant. It was the tallest and slimmest sasquatch Reen had ever seen and the pungent scent wafting from its black fur equaled that of several skunks. At ten cubits in height, it towered over everyone. “Alfa Daniel say move that way,” the male said in a somewhat garbled, yet understandable voice while pointing west. Reen realized his mouth was still open and then closed it. “No more scavengers come to hunting ground. Go to walls when others go back to own hunting ground.” The beast delivered the message and then took a great leap, caught a branch, and swung back up into the tree.
The bald Sentinel pointed his dagger at Reen’s chest. “The weapons, you can drop them now.”
Reen relaxed his grip, allowing the ax to fall and then slowly drew his sword and dropped it as well. The Ducaunans were better defended than General Kall had been led to believe. The butcher’s bill for this campaign is going to be far higher than expected and paid mostly by the wrong side. For the first time Reen began to wonder if there even is a wrong or right side.
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Mallory SuKendall took another bite out of her chicken leg while staring at the hillside to the north. Twilight was upon them and torches along the walls were being lit, some of which had angled mirrors behind them to focus the light toward the kill zone. General Tallen’s series of signal towers from fort to fort worked in a similar way only on a much larger scale. An orange glow on the other side of the hill marked the Pentrosan lines. They had started their fires a mark earlier in an effort to drive away the wasps and the smoke seemed to have done its job, not that she could see much of the results from her vantage point. It was the lack of hearing men scream and complain that gave her the clue.
After the first attack of Sir Daniel’s tiny air-born soldiers that sent hundreds of enemy horsemen flying from their steeds and tumbling down the hill, the much lauded Sutton Guard retreated out of bow shot, and all seemed quiet. Mallory sipped from her canteen and wondered what would happen next.
“I remember Sir Daniel mentioning sasquatches being willing to help in the fight, where are they?” General Malcus questioned.
“Your men reported the same as mine,” Commander Herling replied while his eyes never wavered from the hillside. “None have mentioned the shaggy beasts. Wasp attacks occurred along all of the walls at the same time, causing a good number of the invaders to fall within bowshot, giving us the opportunity to kill many hostiles, and proving to be a more than adequate deterrent. Neither wasps nor the sasquatches are under my command so I cannot tell you where the creatures are or if they will choose to help. However, I am pleased with the wasps.”
Malcus nodded his acceptance of the fact. “That little trick is not likely to work again, not against the Sutton Guard. I am hoping for something to force them back across the border.”
“According to my reports, their two legions are split into four unequal segments with the weakest point being in the woods to the east. Captain Yolan can punch through their line with half a legion, decimate their troops, and then swing round and attack those camped to the south,” General Tallen suggested. “The maneuver may not force them out right away, but it would break this stalemate, and be a start in accomplishing the goal.”
“That plan is worth considering,” Chas replied and turned his gaze on the General, “at a later time. For now we are secure, well fortified, and more than adequately supplied. The opportunity to strike as it did earlier will come again and we must be ready when it does.”
Mallory knew the holding had enough supplies for a siege and that Sir Daniel could bring in more food even as he clearly sent the wasps, which means he knows what is happening here. Did he know the fate of Quicksilver Squad? Falcons, hawks, and ospreys filled the sky, some over the holding, and others well beyond the walls to the north, south, east, and west. The hoots of many owls filled the evening, which meant they were taking over the night watch. She held firmly to the belief the Chosen Vessel could see through the eyes of those birds and spot the whereabouts of half her command. Their survival depended largely on whether Jacob would choose to play it smart or tried to be clever. The young man impressed her, even though he did have a tendency to be over confident. While she could do nothing to help Quicksilver Squad, Lightning Squad stood beside her with the steady Sergeant DuArren, and the focus needed to be on the matter at hand.
Chas had briefed her and Al Benkorren on the weapons and tactics of the Sutton Guard and it seemed to her they were not doing as expected. “Why do you think they have not brought in the catapults?” she asked after finishing her snack and licking her fingers.
“That is exactly what I have been pondering while watching the fires glowing on the other side of the hill,” Commander Herling replied. “I expected flaming balls of pitch to come hurtling in our direction the moment those fires were lit, yet all is quiet.”
Tallen sipped from his canteen while his eyes scanned the area of discussion. He swallowed and nodded his head. “Even if the main body rushed ahead of the supply trains to get here, the catapults should have arrived by now and been placed into position. Perhaps the commander is waiting on orders or a specific time.”
A torch flamed on the hillside and then a fiery projectile streaked into the sky and arched down toward the gate. “Everybody, get down!” Commander Herling shouted. Soon nine more giant flaming arrows shot up right behind the first.
Few people actually ducked, seeing as the impact points were not hard to foresee as the brightly illuminated missiles angled in. “I said, everybody get down!” Herling repeated.
This time no one failed to obey. The whooshing sound of a massive dart flew just above Mallory’s head even as the over-sized flaming arrows fell beyond the wall on the inside. Small fires sprang up and cavalrymen ran to extinguish the flames.
Commander Herling suddenly spoke up in a firm voice meant to carry to the ears of all who were near. “It is called a Spin Off maneuver. Make the enemy see your most obvious move and simultaneously spin off and hit him where he cannot see and least expects. Mobile ballista bolt and dart launchers are mounted on two wheels and pulled along with the cavalry. The flaming bolt launchers can carry ten bolts and the dart launchers each have four racks of ten. While you see a flaming ballista bolt in the air, what you don’t see are the ten ballista darts flying right behind it.”
“Blasted illegitimate sons of dogs, what a nasty way to fight,” General Malcus gave his opinion of the Pentrosans.
Chas Herling smiled. “Nasty and very effective,” he agreed. “As to their questionable parentages, I have no doubt some of them were born of fornication, as are some in every kingdom.”
Mallory tossed her black braid over her shoulder, peered up over the wall, and watched as another torch flared. This time she aimed her dagger and repeatedly touched the ruby. She smiled, seeing blue lances shoot across the distance and into the light source. “Everyone who has the range, aim at the torches or the origin point of the flaming bolts,” she ordered and became aware of Lighting Squad pointing their daggers over the wall. Tallen’s cavalrymen using the longbows began sending shaft after shaft at the sources.
Her idea did nothing to stop the ballista darts, which were blasted hard to detect until they came whizzing by. Each dart was a cubit long and a thumb-width in diameter. Sentinel Kala Warner took a dart in the forehead and blinked in surprised as it bounced off and fell on the other side of the wall. Corporal Benquel of the Ducaunan Royal Cavalry dropped his arrow when a dart embedded in his left hand, pinning it to the bow. Similar injuries were hap
pening along the wall among those who dared to rise up and shoot at the enemy. Aid Providers hurried to assist the wounded.
Mallory aimed and sent another lance of light at the same area as before and this time no more bolts came back in return. Another torch flared and she concentrated at that point on the hilltop and kept touching her ruby, sending lances until the flaming stick began rolling down the hill as if dropped and not a single bolt launched from that position. The barrage went back and forth for half a mark and then not a single bolt or dart came from the Pentrosan side. “Why have they stopped?” she wondered out loud, after time passed and silence prevailed.
“I suspect they have run out of ammunition,” Commander Herling replied from a few paces away. “What can be attached to and carried on the launchers is limited and only meant to give the commander options on the field. The rest of the bolts and darts should arrive with the supply trains.”
Mallory kept a close watch on the glowing crest and wondered what was happening beyond the enemy line. If they had their supplies, not only would bolts and darts be headed her way, she should be on the receiving end of flaming balls of pitch. A thought stirred and made her smile. “Maybe the sasquatches are fighting elsewhere.”
Sergeant DuArren stroked his chin. “That might explain the Pentrosans running out of ammunition. If so, the Sutton Guardsmen are going to be mighty hungry come morning, what with them crossing in a hurry, traveling light, and expecting the wagons to bring in food.”
“I like your positive thinking,” General Tallen stated while staying low, seeing as no one was totally sure the rain of darts was at an end. “Too bad we have no verification of the notion.”
The night wore on, all seemed quiet, and Mallory was given time off from the wall. She and her squad jogged back to building four and ate a full dinner before each went to their quarters for a brief rest. Her eyes opened several marks later and she headed downstairs where Will DuArren sat in the common area. “Sergeant, wake the squad, it is time we get back to the wall,” she told him needlessly, seeing that he knew what ought to be done.
“It will be as you say, Lieutenant,” he replied and in short order had the twenty members of his squad, fifteen men and five women, lined up.
They jogged to the north wall and took their positions above the gate. The two Generals were back in building two, no doubt asleep, yet Commander Herling stood where Mallory last saw him. He turned to her. “Don’t worry, I slept up here, a bit, and managed not to roll off the ledge,” he stated briefly and then fixed his eyes on the hill. She admired his dedication and fortitude.
The trumpeters from both camps signaled midnight and it seemed a harsh thing to be hearing the short series of blasts breaking the silence. Cavalrymen shivered in the chilly wind and yet none of the Chosen’s Sentinels seemed aware of the cold, no more than she. The shield spell amulets were even more useful than she first realized.
Al Benkorren along with Sentinel Shella Gabler, who as all female Sentinels wore her hair in a single braid hanging below her helmet, approached the steps and quickly ascended up to the ledge. “What brings you here, Lieutenant?” Chas Herling inquired in his usual unflappable manner.
Al gave a formal salute. “Commander, the Pentrosans are moving out of the south to the northwest.”
“How many are on the move?” Herling shot back quickly.
Al’s eyes widened as if he could not quite believe what he was about to say. “All of them. Shella and I cut to the east on our way here and those forces seemed to be moving north as well. It appears to be an organized withdrawal.”
The news, if true, is wonderful, yet Mallory had a hard time accepting the report. “What could they possibly gain by invading, taking siege for half a day and night, and then pulling out?”
Chas took a few moments to ponder the possibilities and then nodded his head as if ready to share the most likely. “First, we need to be sure the Sutton Guard is actually leaving Ducaun, and then I will give my opinion on the why of it all.”
Mallory decided to speak up before Al could. “I volunteer to lead a squad out to make sure our uninvited guests are leaving.”
Al sighed, no doubt over having been slow to speak, and the Commander gave a brief half formed smile he managed to keep from spreading the rest of the way across his face. “Permission granted,” he replied and then held up his hand when Mallory prepared to leap off the ledge. Every Sentinel was in such good shape the height of the walls did not intimidate them. “You may go in two marks and only after the invaders on the hill have begun their withdrawal.”
“It will be as you say, Commander,” she replied. Her eagerness had as much to do with making sure the enemy has gone as finding her missing squad. She jumped from the inner ledge and Lightning squad hit the ground lightly behind her.
Once Chas Herling signaled for the gate to open, she and her squad would exit and move out to the north. General Tallen appeared half a mark later and climbed the steps to confer with the Commander. Mallory considered requesting horses from the cavalry, many of which were near enough to mount in a hurry should General Tallen order a sally from the gate, and then dropped the notion. She and each Sentinel could sprint all the way to the border and still have energy to fight if the need were to arise.
Another mark passed and a commotion occurred at the gate. Bows were drawn and aimed almost straight down at whoever was there. “Starlight,” a familiar voice called out, indicating the presence of a friendly force.
“Captain Yolan, do you have good news?” Tallen replied from atop the gate.
“Good news in deed,” Yolan shouted. “I and several hundred of my closest friends were out for a ride and discovered the Pentrosans have departed. Ah, yes, here come my friends from the west side. Lieutenant Permeter, what news?”
“It is as you suspected Captain, the Pentrosans have retreated from this side as well,” the officer replied in a deep voice.
The trumpeter sounded and the gates swung open. Mallory and her squad stepped out to find themselves between two groups of mounted men, about five hundred in all. “Lieutenant SuKendall, make sure the invaders leave this land and bring back Quicksilver squad,” Commander Herling called down.
“It will be as you say, Commander,” she shouted and broke into a sprint up the hill.
She navigated around what seemed like hundreds of bodies before reaching the top with Lightning Squad running with her all the way. Fires burned unattended and the Sutton Guard no where in sight, what more proof did they need? “Sergeant, let’s see if we can catch up to the Pentrosans,” she said and then ran ahead carefully, not wanting to trip on a root.
The dirt felt firm beneath the boots after having been stamped down by thousands of horses and Mallory had no trouble keeping up the quick pace. Two spans from the wall a doe ran up beside her, moved ahead, and then came to a stop in front of her. Mallory peered into those eyes reflecting the moonlight and could feel the familiarity. She stopped and signaled DuArren to do the same. Each of the Sentinels gathered around the deer.
Kala extended her hand and the female came to her. “This is Cindi. I remember her at the great meeting,” she announced to the rest of the squad, although Mallory did not need the introduction, seeing as she recognized the doe.
“Did Daniel send you?” DuArren spoke softly, so as not to spook the deer.
Cindi bowed her head and then turned and led them to the northwest, away from where they had intended to go. Mallory would have laughed at anyone a month ago if they suggested she would be running through the woods in the middle of the night being guided by a deer, yet it all seemed so normal now. Being around Daniel Benhannon has so redefined what normal is; only a fellow Sentinel could say the word and know exactly what she means.
They ran up and down small hills, around tree trunks, and through more bushes than Mallory cared to count. She noticed an orange glow up ahead that grew brighter as she and Lightning Squad came nearer. Cindi ran right past two panthers, Wind and Dusk, and came t
o a stop beside a group of people sharing a fire.
“Lieutenant SuKendall, so good of you to join us,” Sergeant Tanner called out. There always seemed to be a tad of insolence in his voice even when he clearly tried to be respectful.
A huge number of wagons were gathered in a circle. She could not count them all in the dark, but knew there were many, and also heard what sounded like hundreds of horses inside the ring. She could count the twenty-two figures around the fire, one Pentrosan with his hands tied, and a shirtless fellow, who had to be Kater Brendage with a bandage covering his eyes and ears, yet he wore the pants of a Sutton Guardsman. She could hardly wait to read the written report on this turn of events.
Tanner stood up and with him the rest of Quicksilver Squad. He saluted and motioned with his hand toward the horses and wagons. “We have acquired some things on behalf of the Benhannon Holding, including an officer of the Sutton Guard.
“How did you all survive out here and manage to cut off the supply lines?” Mallory wanted to know.
Tanner laughed and shook his head. “Nothing out of the ordinary, we were the human element of an army that included raptor scouts, sasquatches, panthers, and hornets, all sent by Sir Daniel.”
“Good job,” Mallory replied, and her smile came as she thought of the new definition of normal and his answer: nothing out of the ordinary, in the life of a Sentinel.
Chapter Twelve: A Serious Matter
Daniel waited in a room with comfortable chairs and an elegantly carved table. Paintings hung on the back and side walls depicting the palace and the Queen’s mother. Cleona seemed to favor the less formal setting over talking to him in the large conference room, as did he. Meeting in this room meant fewer people were likely to be involved. It was so much easier without councilors, ministers, high ranking officers, Knights of the Realm, or other functionaries, involving themselves in the conversation.
The semiprivate atmosphere did not mean he could dress informally, nor could he show up in his field uniform. On this occasion his emerald green wool jacket was open, revealing the finest light weight silver chain mail over a light green silk shirt. The royal hawk in flight was embroidered on his jacket where when closed it would be over his heart, matching that on the sides of his green lacquered helmet. His cuffs were gold strands woven into the fabric as were what looked like thin solid bars on his shoulders. He had oval patches on his left and right upper arms, depicting in embroidery, the falcon in flight clutching a lightning bolt in a sky of blue. His pants were gold on green and his boots a shiny black. The helmet with the seven lighting bolts now rested on his lap, seeing as the Queen may enter at any moment, and it would be considered impolite to sit at table wearing headgear.
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