A Burden Given

by James Bee

  “LOOSE FORMATION!”Gerald screamed, desperate to be heard over the din of the battle. Immediately the line lengthened as the men stepped to the side. A lull formed as the two side stared at each other. At a guttural command, the Sanish broke into two. Gerald could tell they were outnumbered. The Sanish would pay dearly, but they would prevail. Without his shield and separated from the soldiers beside him, Gerald felt vulnerable. He would not last long.

  Another command, and the Sanish charged. A lanky warrior swung at him. Too clumsy. Gerald slid under and buried his blade in the man’s stomach. An axe cut into him, glancing off his armour. Tearing his blade free, he met the next blow. The force of it nearly tore his sword away. Another sent him reeling backward. All around, his men were fighting and dying. The enemy was too many. He and Kayl had been wrong. The main attack had fallen here.

  The line broke and the battle fell into chaos. Gerald sent a man stumbling, blood pouring from his face. Two more pressed at him, jabbing, forcing him to give ground. The soldiers around him were fighting desperately, hard pressed. A stab reached him, skittering off the centre of his armour. Another landed but was turned aside. They don’t know how to fight an armoured man! Gerald realized grimly.

  Stepping forward, he let a cut slash across his chest. The blow took his wind away but did little else. His attacker didn’t have the benefit of such protection and was felled by Gerald’s blade. The other man fared little better, reeling backward and clutching at where he hand had been.

  A knot of clansmen held back, wary of him now. Gerald knew their fear would not last. He’d only moments before they charged. All around, his men were being pressed together, herded into a tight knot. Soon they would be overwhelmed. The Sanish would flood into the town, and the battle would be lost. The men in front of him began to step forward. Any moment now, they would rush forward and take him.

  Suddenly Gerald became aware of sound. The sound of screams. And charging footsteps. A moment later, men rushed from behind and joined the fray. Blane’s men! The militiamen fell into the suddenly unsure Sanish. With a cry, Gerald followed them. Within moments, the momentum was reversed. The clansmen began to give ground. Ground they did not have.

  Over the fighting, Gerald could see the other line. By the looks, they’d managed better. With their charge, the Sanish were pressed together. Caught in between, they had no room to use their weapons. The battle quickly turned into a rout, then a slaughter. Dropping their weapons, some tried to flee but were held tight by the press. Most bravely held their ground, fighting bitterly to the end.

  It was over before long as the lucky few clansmen that survived were sent fleeing for their lives. A cheer rose up from the defenders. Gerald added his voice to it, screaming out his defiance. The blood was roaring in his ears as he stood staring out of the gateway. Beyond it he could see clansmen fleeing into the forest. An urge to chase them took hold, though he knew it was madness. Dully, he became aware of shouting, someone yelling. Yelling his name.

  “GERALD! Are you hurt, lad?”Gerald turned away from the enticing view of the gate. Blane was standing beside him. There was a look of genuine concern on the man’s face. Gerald shook his head then shook it more sharply. The bloodlust fled and his sanity returned. Exhaustion suddenly swamped him, as did relief. He’d survived, at least for now.

  “The other gate?”Gerald croaked, the cries of the wounded and dying filling the air. Blane took his arm and led him away from the gate.

  “Kayl held it. Looks like they made their main push here. Damned fine work, holding them back for as long as you did. Might be I was wrong about you, boy,”Blane said, handing him a waterskin, which he accepted gratefully. “Some scaled the walls, though. Some we caught, some we didn’t. Bit of a skirmish at the church from what I gather. Lucan saw them away, though. Don’t look like we had any townsfolk get killed or taken off. Damned lucky, really.”Gerald nodded. A few more minutes and we’d all be corpses.

  “You have my thanks, Blane. And my gratitude. We’d all be dead here if not for you,”Gerald said, holding out his hand. The grizzled warrior took it with a strange look on his face.

  “You’re defending my village, boy. Your men have died for my people. It’s I who should be thankful …and should apologize.”Gerald waved it away. Before he could respond, the sergeant whose name he couldn’t remember ran up.

  “My lords, the clansmen were armed with these,”he said, handing both Gerald and Blane a sword. Turning it over in his hand, Gerald could feel its balance, and the quality of the blade was unmistakable. This is forged steel, as high quality as any in the realm. No way the Sanish could have forged it.

  “There’s only one place they could get weapons like this,”Blane said, fury reddening his face.

  “The mine could have fallen. Everyone slaughtered and these weapons taken by force,”Gerald said weakly.

  Blane shook his head violently.“Not bloody likely. You saw those walls! That bastard Rolan gave them these. They were supposed to go to the garrison! He gave them to the bloody savages! I’ll have his guts for this!”he exploded, shaking with rage.

  “Aye. But why? To buy the safety of the mine? To help them slaughter us all? Why arm your enemy?”Gerald said. The annoying feeling that he was missing something, that the puzzle was in front of him but he couldn't solve it, was creeping into his mind. There has to be an explanation.

  “Don’t really matter now, does it. Once we finish with these damned woodsmen, we’ll find that bastard and cut the answers out of him,”Blane growled. “I’ve matters to attend to. I’ll return later with some men to help patch that gate up.”The garrison commander stalked off, muttering curses to himself.

  “Sergeant, please gather up the fallen Sanish blades for distribution to the garrison. Also see to it that our wounded are taken to the church and attended to,”Gerald said, wearily looking at the carnage at the gates. No way we can fix that gate in time. They’ll knock it down twice as easy tomorrow.

  “And the Sanish wounded, sir?”the sergeant asked.

  “Drag them outside of the walls. Put them with their dead. Let those that will come tomorrow walk past their corpses.”

  31

  Chapter 31

  The last few bodies were placed carefully into the pit. Soldiers and militia lay side by side. There was no time for a proper burial. Not enough space in the graveyard. Too dangerous to bury them outside. Too dangerous to hold off on dealing with them. A few days and the whole town would be riddled with disease. We have to do this now. No choice, Gerald thought numbly.

  The pit was well attended. Some were weeping, tears streaking down and landing in the mud. Most just watched numbly. Later they would grieve for those they had lost. Now, the fear of ending up in a pit of their own was too strong. The danger was too pressing. Some would be feeling a shameful sense of relief, glad that they had lived. Guilty too. Why should they live while others had died? Gerald knew all of the feelings; he’d experienced them before. He’d buried his men. Men he’d lead into battle, men who were his responsibility. He’d buried them and moved on. How much more could be endured? Could he burn a whole town full of people and leave? Would it break him? If Redstone fell, would he fall with it?

  Torch in hand, Lucan was speaking passionately, but the words weren’t making it to Gerald’s ears. Many were listening intently, hanging desperately on to his words. In the darkness a man will run toward any light, no matter how dim. If they found heart in the priest’s words, Gerald wouldn’t begrudge them. Though the words were too hollow for him. He’d heard the prayers, the oaths given. Men pleading for the protection of Gods, begging to be watched over. To be protected against their enemies. Only Gerald knew that there were gods on both sides. The prayers would be little use against a stray arrow or axe. Gods didn’t live on the battlefield. No man ever died because he forgot to utter a prayer or make a sacrifice.

  Lucan tossed the torch in the pit. The bodies were packed around dry straw and caught fire immediately. Before long, it
would spread and devour them. Already the acrid smell of burning hair was filling the air. In a few minutes it would be choking, the sickening smell of burning flesh.

  Gerald turned and walked away. He’d seen enough. More likely than not he’d be in a pit tomorrow, if there was anyone left to burn him. Kayl strode up beside him. The big knight looked little worse for wear, despite having been in a pitched battle a few hours earlier.

  “Never gets easier,”he said.

  “No,”Gerald replied. Lapsing into silence, they strode toward the north gate. Like the west one, it had been broken. The clansmen had pressed but been rebuffed, multiple times. Casualties had been high on both sides.

  “Gerald. We don’t have enough men to hold both gates tomorrow,”Kayl said, breaking the silence. Gerald nodded. He’d come to the same conclusion. They were down to half their men, the others dead or wounded.

  “Aye. Blane and the garrison will have to hold the west gate.”They arrived at the gate. The sight of it did little to raise his spirit. Wooden logs braced it, dug deep into the dirt. The gate itself was severely compromised. Gerald could see through it in several places. It’ll hardly take anything to knock it open again.

  “What of the walls? The Sanish scaled them today, all over. We can’t afford to have armed warriors running wild in our town. They’ll come down on our flanks and slaughter us,”Kayl protested.

  “The townsfolk will have to see to it. Any man and woman who can use a blade will be given one. You were right, we have more weapons than people to wield them,”Gerald answered. He knew he was sentencing many to their deaths. Most had no formal training, no combat experience.

  “That’s not enough! Lucan needs them to defend the church. If we pull them away, we’ll risk the lives of everyone in Redstone!”Kayl protested.

  “Aye. I have a solution to that. One I don’t think you’re going to like,”Gerald said, looking over at his friend. He’d been mulling it over all afternoon, since Felicia had suggested it to him. She’d looked drawn, pale and wan as a ghost. Little doubt that she’d lost friends in the fighting, as well as her brother. More would be lost before it was done.

  “You’ve got some more men hidden away somewhere?”Kayl asked, confusion wrinkling his broad face.

  “You might say that. Follow me.”

  A few minutes later they were standing in front of the jail. It was a drab, squat building. Two men stood outside of it, both sporting wounds. No one else could be spared.

  “Lucan wanted to execute them and be done with it,”Kayl said, arms crossed.

  “Aye, that does sound like something that he would wish. I don’t think he’s going to approve much of what we’re about to do,”Gerald replied, walking forward.

  “Erm. What is it exactly that we are about to do?”Kayl asked apprehensively.

  “We’re going to release these men and give them weapons,”Gerald answered. Kayl grasped his arm, stopping him dead.

  “Are you mad? They work at the mine! They’ll just as soon stab us in the back as they’ll fight the Sanish!”

  “They’re not Rolan, nor are they his hired thugs. Many of them have family in town, and most grew up in these parts. They’ll fight for us, Kayl — they’ll have to. I doubt that the clansmen will show them any more mercy then us. We need them. Twenty-five strong-armed men. That could make all the difference,”Gerald said.

  “Lucan won’t like it,”Kayl said, flaring Gerald’s already frayed temper.

  “Lucan doesn’t fucking like anything! This is my decision, not his!”Gerald said hotly, wrenching his arm free. Striding toward the jail, he waved the guards’ questions away. Inside it was hot, the smell of unwashed bodies and excrement choking him.

  All around him were cages, filled to bursting with men grasping the bars and peering out. A hush had fallen over the prisoners. All were staring at him. Probably wondering if I’m here to order their execution. Gerald tried imagine himself in their position. Arrested, thrown behind into jail. Any moment the order could come and you would be dragged outside to the executioner’s block. Hearing the sounds of battle, not knowing if the town would fall. Not knowing if your family would be attacked and slaughtered.

  Gerald stepped farther into the prison. “How many of you have family here in Redstone?”he asked, his voice echoing off of the cramped space. A few heartbeats passed. No one raised their hands. Gerald’s brow creased in confusion. Felicia said most had families here. Why would they hide the fact? Unless…

  “I am not asking because I wish to harm them. I am asking because they are in danger. Not from me, nor from any who lives inside theses walls. Tomorrow the Sanish will attack again, with greater ferocity then today. I don’t know if we can hold them back; in fact, I doubt it. If the city falls, all who live inside it will be in great peril. Slaughter and rape will be widespread, I doubt any will be spared. That is why I have come here.”Rustling and mutterings followed his words. Men pressed in closer. “There are some in Redstone who would see you all executed or left here to die.”More mutterings, sounds of fear and anger. “The guild betrayed us, the mine betrayed us! Left all those in Redstone alone to fend for themselves. Not to mention tried to have me killed twice!”

  “They betrayed us too!”a voice cried out from inside of a cell. A tall man pressed his face up against the bars. “We didn’t know of any of this! We were just labourers, working for a honest wage. Rolan abandoned us too. Let us out! We can fight for you! For our families!”he said urgently.

  “What is your name?”Gerald stepped closer to the bars, within grasping distance.

  “Raul, my lord,”came the response, defiant and proud.

  “You’ve got children, Raul?”

  “Aye, and a wife too.”Gerald scratched his chin. He knew he would be taking a risk, a potentially fatal one. Twenty-five armed men could do a lot of damage. They could hand Redstone over the clansmen. Or they could save us.

  “What about the rest of you?”A chorus of assent answered him. It seemed as though half had family, though there was little way for him to verify it. He had to make his choice now. Gerald stuck his hand out. “Well then. Welcome to his majesty’s service.”Raul grasped his hand, smiling toothily.

  Gerald turned and walked out of the prison. Kayl stood outside, arms crossed, a familiar scowl on his face.

  “We’re doing it then?”he asked, peering into the darkness within the building.

  “Aye. Release them,”Gerald said to the two men standing guard.

  “Release them, sir?”one of them asked, gawping up at him. A stony glance from Gerald sent him running inside.

  “See to it that they’re given weapons and allowed to see their families. Then go get some sleep,”Gerald said, turning to leave.

  “Where are you going?”Kayl asked.

  “Figure I better see Lucan before he finds out about this. Not likely he’s going to be too pleased when this lot show up at the church’s doorstep.”

  *

  “You released them? Have you gone mad? We’ll wake up with our throats slit tomorrow! And it’ll be your fault!”Lucan said shrilly. The priest’s face had gone a particularly robust shade of red, and he was practically glowing in the moonlight.

  “Calm down. Now. You’re scaring everyone,”Gerald said through gritted teeth.

  “They should be scared! You’ve just let loose a band of heathen murderers in their midst!”Lucan said just as loudly.

  “There was no choice! We need them. We won’t be able to hold the town without their help,”Gerald grabbed the priest and pulled him close, whispering. “You think today was bad? How many made it to the church? Half a dozen? More than likely they’ll overrun us tomorrow. Even if they don’t take the gates, the walls will be undefended without Raul and his men.”At the mention of the man’s name, Lucan glanced backward into the church. Looking past the priest, Gerald could see a woman sitting with two children. She had a fearful, haggard look, clutching two children to her chest.

  “His wife?”Gerald ask
ed. Reluctantly, Lucan nodded. “And the other ones. They have family here as well?”Again a nod. “They have been given an opportunity to fight for their family. It was my decision, and I will take responsibility for the consequences,”Gerald said, releasing his grip on Lucan’s robe. The priest took a step back, glaring reproachfully at him.

  “Why are you here? Surely you must have other tasks, or have you run out of ways to put our lives in danger?”Gerald bit his tongue. He needed Lucan’s help, as much as he hated the man.

  “Tomorrow might go poorly for us. I’ll do what I can, we all will, but it might not be enough. There’s no telling how many are out there or how hard they’ll fight to get in. If we fall, they’ll come here. You know these tribes better than anyone. What do you think they’ll do to the women and children and wounded?”Gerald asked. Lucan looked away, lips pursed. “What will they do, Lucan?”Gerald pressed quietly.

  “They’ll slaughter most. The rest they’ll take back with them as spoils. Those who are taken will soon wish they’d been amongst the dead.”Lucan turned back to him, his eyes piercing. “There’s generations of blood in these woods, boy, and we’re going to drown in it. Years and years of killing, enslaving, raping. On both sides. Every attempt at peace has failed, been broken beneath the burden of the anger and hate. I expect no mercy tomorrow, nor will I look for any,”Lucan finished with an odd strangled note to his voice.

  “Those within these walls look out to the forests and see savages. Nightmares here only to kill them, beings bred only of hate and anger. I can’t believe that. They are just men and women, like us.”Gerald shook his head. “I wonder what they think when they look this way. Do they hate us? Could that hate lead them to this? To death? I don’t think so. There must be some other reason. Something driving them to rush into our swords. Something we don’t know.”