A Burden Given

by James Bee

  Gerald grunted his agreement as he hefted the bag. “Oof!”The weight nearly toppled him. Placing it back on the desk, he opened it. The bag was packed tightly, and clothes spilled out. Ripping them out, Gerald clawed to the bottom. Halfway down, he found what he was looking for. Two large sacks emerged, heavy and jingling. Wordlessly, he handed them on to Orland.

  “Gods! How much is in here?”the nobleman asked, weighing it in his hands.

  “Enough to buy a man, apparently,”Gerald replied.

  “So the guild paid Fletcher to kill the mayor. Then you show up and he kills Wylliam and his mother and then tries to do you in as well. What then? He takes the money and tries to escape, probably to the mine? That’s one hell of a risk. Even with all of the guild soldiers he had with him, I wouldn’t wager much on his chances,”Orland said.

  “Men would risk much for this much gold. There’s enough here to set him up in a nice villa somewhere in the south, somewhere where he doesn’t have to worry about getting put in the mud by a Sanish arrow. A man like Fletcher might risk it.”

  “Aye, if only we could ask him. It’s almost too bad that Kayl put an end to the snake. Seems like every time we find an answer, another question is waiting behind it. One of which is what do we do with this?”Orland asked, waving the bag.

  “Hide it until all this business is over. Either we’ll be dead, in which case it won’t matter, or we’ll survive and there’ll be a lot of dead people with families left behind. Just don’t tell anyone. I’ve already had one person try to kill me over it. I’d rather not have to fight off any more,”Gerald said, putting the coin purse back in the sack. Reluctantly, Orland did the same with his.

  “Aye, that’s good sense. If you get your throat cut in your sleep tonight, you’d miss the battle!”Orland said.

  Gerald laughed bitterly.“Speaking of which, if they attack I want you in the church. There’s a second-floor balcony above the doors that’s Kayl is putting archers in.

  “The church? Why?”Orland asked.

  “It’s the biggest building in town. Everyone not fighting is going to be sent there. More than likely the Sanish will make it in somehow. The walls are too short in some places, and we don’t have the men to patrol the whole length properly. Also I don’t want you anywhere near the gates. You might be damn good with that bow, but you’re not a soldier. I don’t want to have to explain to your father why his son defending a mining colony he’s never heard of. I have enough powerful men trying to kill me as it is,”Gerald said, bracing himself for the inevitable protest.

  Instead, to his surprise, Orland simply nodded. “If you’d told me that yesterday, I’d have argued with you, but after today …I’ll be happy to do it. So long as you and Kayl don’t go off getting yourselves killed.”

  “I can’t make any promises about myself, but if Kayl falls, I doubt anyone else will still be alive. We’ll get through this, Orland.”Wearily, Gerald put his arm around the younger man’s shoulders.

  “Aye, but what will be the cost? There aren’t very many people up here as it is. If the fighting goes on long enough, only ghosts will live in Redstone.”Gerald didn’t have anything to say to that. Suddenly, shouting from down stairs echoed up to them.

  “Up here!”Gerald bellowed, not eager to have to walk back down the stairs. His shoulder was burning and every limb felt wooden. “You take the gold, keep it safe.”Heavy footsteps pounded up toward them.

  Blane and Lucan came into sight, breathing heavily. Both were armed, Blane with a longsword, Lucan holding a sturdy-looking staff. Idly, Gerald knew that they could kill him and Orland. He was in no shape to fight. Now we find out whose side they’re on.

  “Gerald! We heard you were attacked! By Fletcher? That can’t be true! What happened! Tell us everything,”Lucan said, looking around at the disaster of the room. Blane took everything in with his typical calmness. Gerald locked eyes with him, unable to read much of anything in his look. Mainly, he thought the man just looked tired.

  “Fletcher set a trap for me, and I walked right into it. He and about a dozen of Rolan’s boys,”Gerald answered. Lucan swore an oath and swung his staff with surprising power. It smashed into a nearby mirror, shattering it.

  “What about Wylliam and his mother?”Blane asked, his voice quiet.

  “Both dead, likely by Fletcher’s hand, in the next room. Lord Banesfort too, poisoned. Fletcher confessed it to me before he died. He murdered the whole family,”Gerald said.

  “Why? Why would he betray them? He’d been a loyal man of theirs for years!”Lucan exclaimed.

  “I don’t know,”Gerald said, carefully avoiding looking at the sack. “He was conspiring with Rolan, though what their purpose was, I’ve no clue.”Blane stared at him, frowning. Did he believe him? Probably not. Kayl and Orland always said I was a terrible liar.

  “Aye. They were working together, clear as day. Under your nose as well. The man was practically your shadow. Yet you still failed to foresee this,”Blane said witheringly. Gerald flushed; the words were not far from the mark. Fletcher had been around him for days, whispering advice, providing assistance. He’d relied on the man and nearly died for it. Why? The desperation for friendship had blinded him, made him unwilling to see.

  “Aye. He fooled me. And all of you, but he’s dead now, and what’s done is done. As we speak, Kayl is hunting down any miners or guildsmen left in Redstone,”Gerald said.

  “Good! I have no doubt that the heretics will be amongst them! I saw the guild for what it was weeks ago. Do not forget I came to you, and you did not see. Evidence! That’swhat you asked for! Yet you found it too late! Too late for those lost in the raid! Too late for the men that died beside you today! Too late for Wylliam and his mother!”Lucan said, pointing his finger shakily in Gerald’s face. The accusations piled on him, all the people who’d died under his watch. He wanted to collapse, to shrink away from them. Give up command, take up his sword and head to the gates. The temptation was overwhelming. All I have to do is say the words. Give up Redstone to Blane or Lucan. A few words, and the burden would be shifted. The terrible weight would be lifted from his shoulders.

  Yet he could not. He was a knight, and he had his orders from the king …and the queen. Keep Redstone safe — the task had been given to him. Don’t dishonour your father’s name. The words haunted him. He couldn’t back down now, couldn’t surrender. If he gave up the town now, he’d never wrest it back.

  “Aye. I was slow to act and people died. A mistake that will haunt me till the end of my days. I will not allow any more to die because of my weakness. Tomorrow the Sanish will come. When they do, I’ll lead our defence, and we’ll send them back into the woods. Then I’ll drag Rolan out of his precious mine and see him hung for murder, if I have to knock down his wall myself.”Gerald could see the defiance on their faces. Blane’s hand was firm around his sword hilt. It wouldn’t take much, one stroke and he’d be dead, Orland with him. Redstone was within their grasp, and all they had to do was reach out and take it. He had to gamble, no choice now. “I can’t do it alone. The people of Redstone look to you both, not me.”Both men’s faces were hard, unreadable. The moment stretched until Gerald was sure that they would strike him down.

  Instead, Blane took his hand off his sword and offered it to him. Shocked, Gerald took it. The old soldier pulled him close, causing a bolt of pain to go through his shoulder.

  “We’re all in the pot together now, boy. I’ll step back and let you pull us out of it,”Blane said. Gerald turned to leave, but Blane pulled him even closer and whispered in his ear. “If we survive this, though, you give up Redstone willingly. Or we’ll take it from you.”

  30

  Chapter 30

  The warning bells screamed, and Redstone was plunged into chaos and fear. Townsfolk, mainly the old and children, rushed toward the church. Huddled inside its protective walls, they waited and listened. As quickly as they could, soldiers pulled on armour and strapped weapons to their waists. Shouted orders sen
t them charging down the streets toward the enemy. In their midst a tall man walked, bull helm atop his head. A long broadsword was lashed to his back, gleaming in the early morning light. Standing head and shoulders above nearly everyone else, he was easy to spot.

  “Kayl!”Gerald yelled, running to him. A night’s sleep had done him good, and he felt grimly prepared for the day ahead. Grasping Kayl’s arm, he pulled the big man close, their armour clanging together. Getting into it one-armed had been an ordeal, but Gerald had managed. He’d lashed a shield to his nearly useless left arm, though he barely had the strength to lift it.

  “You shouldn’t be fighting. Yesterday you could barely walk.”Gerald couldn’t see his face but he knew his friend was frowning.

  “I’ll manage. Even one-armed I’m more than a match for these savages,”Gerald boasted thinly.

  “Just promise me you’ll stay away from the thick of it. Most of those who cannot fight are headed to the church. Lucan will look after them,”Kayl said, gesturing behind him. “Blane and his men will be patrolling the wall and reinforcing us as need be. I reckon they’ll attack the gates. Plenty of trees around to make some rams. Figure we split our men, half on each gate, one of us at each,”Kayl said.

  “I’ll take the north gate,”Gerald said quickly.

  “Like hell you will. I’ll take the north. Argue and I’ll drag you into the church myself,”Kayl growled. Reluctantly, Gerald nodded. The north gate was closest to the woods. Likely that’ll be where the fighting is the fiercest. Reaching to his belt, Gerald handed over a horn, chipped and plain.

  “What’s this for?”Kayl asked, holding it up to examine it. Gerald took another one off his belt loop.

  “If you’re getting overrun, blow it, and help will come. If there is still help to be had. If you cannot hold, fall back to the church,”Gerald explained.

  Kayl grunted, putting it on his belt.“I hope we won’t need it. If they make it past the walls, it’ll go poorly for us.”

  “Aye. Best be off. Don’t go doing any heroics. I’ll see you when this over.”Gerald stuck out his hand, and the big knight grasped it firmly.

  “Luck to you, Gerald.”With that Kayl jogged away up the road. Turning, Gerald strode off to his own task. Something felt wrong, more than the usual nerves on the eve of a battle. With a jolt, he realized this would be his first battle without Kayl at his side. Besides the ambush from last night, of course. And that nearly was the end of me until he showed up. There would be no Kayl to watch over him this time.

  Up ahead the gate loomed, looking worryingly short, barely taller than three men. The gate itself broad enough for two wagons to pass through comfortably. It wouldn’t be easy to hold if it was forced open. Arrows littered the road leading up. The Sanish bowmen had already been hard at work that morning. The distance that they could send their arrows still astonished him. By their estimates, their range was nearly twice as far as his own bowmen. Insanity! Roughly two dozen of Kayl’s soldiers were pressed up against the wall, shields over their heads. Breaking into a sprint, Gerald hurried over.

  Two men shifted and opened up a space for him. Slamming against the wall sent a wave of pain up his arm, but the relief at not getting an arrow through the neck softened it.

  “Damn good of you to show up sir. ’Fraid I might have to command this lot myself,”a nearby soldier said. The man had white hair and was missing an eye. Gerald hazily remembered the man’s name. Sergeant Falk? Or is it Fink? Is that even a real name?

  “Not to worry …Sergeant. I wouldn't want you all to have all the fun!”he said loudly. The men in earshot laughed easily. It was no hard task to make a soldier laugh before a battle. If you had a chance of dying, might as well do it with a smile on your face. A few more arrows fell in front of them. “No chance of returning fire, eh?”Gerald asked.

  “Tried that. Bastards are too far away. Figure they’re just trying to keep our heads down while they get up to some mischief,”the sergeant said before spitting on the ground.

  “Aye. They’ll be able to walk a ram right up here without us being able to do shit to stop it,”Gerald growled. There’s no chance the gate will hold against more than a few blows. Another arrow fell, and he jumped, feeling naked without being able to hold the shield over his head. “Alright, here’s the plan, Sergeant. If they start to break down the gates, we use spears. Keep them away as long as we can. Then when we can’t hold it any more, we fall back. Create a semi-circle and make them come to us. Hope they aren’t as disciplined in their fighting as their archery.”The sergeant nodded, yelling the order down the line. Gerald knew they would fight well. Will it be enough? Can we hold them? He’d find out soon enough.

  In the distance, through the gate, Gerald could hear the sound of drums. The beat started out slow but then increased in tempo until it was at a steady march. A ripple of nervousness went through the men, inevitable before a fight. Gerald felt the fear keenly, made worse by not being able to see what was on the other side of the gate. Sweat was dripping off him, though he felt as though icy fingers were holding him. Weakness had taken his knees, and the urge to empty his bladder was almost overwhelming.

  The drumming was faster still, almost at a frantic pace. Through his fear and nervousness, an idea tickled at the back of his brain. The drums went faster and faster, growing louder and louder. A flurry of arrows flew over the walls, pressing them tighter against the wood. They wouldn’t…

  “GET AWAY FROM THE GATE!”Gerald yelled. The men who’d been bracing it hurried to the side. Striding forward, Gerald threw the bracing bar off with a grunt. Seeing the gate unlocked, the soldiers yelled in alarm and fear. Only their discipline kept them from rushing forward and overpowering him. Gerald tore his sword from its sheath and hurried backward, out of the way. Now we wait. The drums were near deafening now, filling their ears with thunder.

  “Any moment now …come on…”Gerald muttered to himself. If I’m wrong…

  Then the ram burst through the gate, ten clansmen stumbling after it. The great log passed through the gate and crashed to the ground. With a shout, Gerald rushed at the stunned and helpless Sanish, his men close behind him. It was over in a handful of moments, the invaders cut down to a man.

  “CLOSE THE GATE!”Gerald yelled, gesturing with his bloodstained sword. His men moved quick but not quick enough. The gate was stopped, a sword’s breath from closed. Sanish pressed on the other side, straining to force an opening. Soldiers flocked to it, throwing themselves against the aged wood. Gerald joined them, teeth gritted and heels digging into the mud.

  Slowly, painfully slowly, it closed. Someone replaced the lock bar, and the straining stopped. Shouts of fury rang out from the other side, and a flurry of arrows rained down. Pressed back up against the wall, Gerald began to laugh. Slowly, one by one, the rest of the soldiers joined in.

  “Got their fucking ram, eh!”Gerald said, kicked at the fallen log.

  “Aye. That was a neat trick, my lord,”the sergeant said, wiping a tear from his eye. “Suppose they go cut down another tree? What then? Got another trap up your sleeve?”As quick as it came, the laughter left Gerald.

  “Shit.”

  *

  The gate crashed under the weight of the blow. There had only been a few, but it was already in danger of coming apart.

  “She won’t take many more of those,”a nearby soldier said.

  “Aye,”Gerald said sadly. It’s almost time. I wonder how Kayl’s managing? “SPEARS! TO THE GATE!”Half of the men rushed over, clutching the long shafts. Great chunks of the gate began to splinter away under the merciless assault. A pair of grim soldiers poked their spears through the openings, trying to get at those holding the ram. A couple of cries rewarded their efforts, but the battering continued. A few more and they’ll be in. Gerald looked around, searching for signs of the garrison. Blane’s men hadn’t been seen for some time. The beating of the drums outside drowned out all other sounds. No chance at hearing anything else. They could be inside the walls
by now if the other gate fell or if Blane has betrayed us. Gerald pushed the thoughts from his head. There was nothing he could do now but hold them. Hold them and hope the others were able to do the same.

  With a great creaking the gate burst open, drawing shouts of triumph from the other side of the wall. At the sergeant’s command, the men fell back into a semicircle around the ruined entrance. This time the Sanish approached cautiously. Two more blows from the ram broke the gate down completely. Through the sudden opening, a flurry of arrows flew. A handful found their mark, felling soldiers. Another flurry of arrows flew through the gate, and the Sanish followed.

  They boiled in, brandishing weapons. Steel-forged blades, Gerald noted numbly before they crashed into the line. By chance he’d ended up on the side of the circle, near the wall. The Sanish’s main charge slammed into those standing in front of the gate. The spears did their work well, sending many down. Yet each clansmen that fell had another behind to take their place. The line began to buckle outward, the pressure too great.

  “FORWARD!”Gerald yelled, striding forward and closing the gap, the men keeping pace beside him. Across the melee, the other side charged in too, and the trap was sprung. Gerald hacked a man down, slashed at another. Despite being pressed from three sides, the Sanish held their ground. The fighting was fierce, and Gerald lost himself in it.

  An axe hooked the top of his shield and tore it from his weakened grip. Before the owner could strike again, a spear took him in the side, and he disappeared from view. Desperately, Gerald parried a slash, the press around him too thick to move in.

  He felt more than saw the line give way beside him. The Sanish continued to pour through the gate. Too many! The clansmen pressed, turning their line, breaking their connection. The semicircle broke away, splitting into two parallel lines. Packed tightly together, it would be simple for the Sanish to get around their flanks.