Siege of Pailtar

by Robyn Wideman

  Everet ducked down below the edge of the wall so that he could look into the area behind the gates. Little did the enemy soldiers know, but the men of Pailtar had built a second wall thirty feet behind the gates. The stone wall, not quite as tall as the city walls, could not be seen from outside the city, but they were built out of thick stone and would be much harder to break down than the gate had been. Even worse for the soldiers that rushed into the open yard was the trap waiting for them; the deadly trolls used to guard treasures had been placed within the walls. Everet watched in fascination as the first enemy soldiers rushed through the gates and into the path of the trolls. The trolls, vicious beasts at the best of times, had been extremely agitated by being in the large stone prison behind the city gates. Once the gates opened the trolls had a way out. The only thing standing in their way were the Meron soldiers. The trolls let out loud roars and attacked the soldiers.

  The fearsome, large beasts swatted soldiers like bugs. Terrified soldiers tried to turn and run, but the soldiers behind them were still pushing their way past the gates. The trolls were even more effective than Everet had imagined they would be. The terror they instilled into the soldiers that got close enough to view them was an incredibly effective weapon in itself. Fear surged through the once fierce Meron soldiers. Men they understood, but no one from Meron had seen a troll before, certainly not six angry and armored trolls.

  “Target the soldiers at the sides,” yelled Everet to the other archers at the front gates. “Keep their soldiers pinned to the middle as long as possible, the tighter they are bunched, the more frightened and frantic they will become as the trolls go out.”

  As the trolls terrorized and killed their way towards the gates, the archers on the wall followed Everet’s command firing at the soldiers on the outskirts, bunching them together. When the trolls broke through the gates, pandemonium broke out among the enemy soldiers. A captain seeing the trolls and the effect they were having on his troops called for a retreat. “Back, behind the pits,” yelled the captain.

  The panicking troops wanted to follow his command but were so closely bunched together that as the first soldiers turned and ran back they collided into the ones who were still moving forward. Soldiers crashed together, some fell into the deadly pits as others pushed them aside in an attempt to flee the deadly trolls. Eventually the soldiers that weren’t in the path of the trolls were able to pull back and regroup well back of the city walls as the trolls fought their way towards the desert. Meron soldiers killed two of the trolls, but the other four were relatively unscathed despite having killed hundreds of Meron soldiers.

  The sun started to set and the first day of the siege on Pailtar was over.

  “Trolls are rather impressive,” said Everet.

  Colby looked over at Everet, “You like them? You can go catch them when this is over.”

  “I’ll pass. Watching them once was enough for me. It looks like they’re going to wait until morning before attacking again. Gather your Guild leaders and the city commanders, it’s time we had a talk.”

  As Colby left him to go gather the commanders, Everet stared out over the wall, watching the sun fade over the horizon. The deep red and gold sky matched the sand and blood of the battle ground, a gruesome yet beautiful reminder of the day's events.

  …

  Kiana sat beside her mother in the Barnyard pub. They were there with senior members of the Guild and the city council and the leaders of the city guard. Colby was speaking to the group.

  “Today was a very successful day, we stopped the attack, killed hundreds if not thousands of Meron soldiers and only suffered a few dozen deaths,” said Colby.

  Roars of approval filled the pub. But not everyone cheered, Lilliana and several other Guild members sat stoically waiting for the rest of Colby’s report.

  Colby lifted his hands to silence the cheers. “We were lucky to have a week of time to prepare for the enemy and to have a few experienced soldiers add their expertise to the organizing of our defenses.”

  Kiana watched as Colby pointed out Everet the dark-haired stranger who sat with his beautiful woman. They were from Meron and Everet had been the one planning the pits and oil traps that had worked so well.

  “Now for the bad news,” continued Colby. “Tomorrow will not go so well.”

  A few voices yelled out in disagreement.

  “Silence,” yelled Colby. Once the over enthusiastic voices shut up, Colby asked Everet to speak.

  “Colby is wrong,” said Everet.

  The voices the had jeered Colby gave Everet a cheer.

  “Colby is wrong to tell you it won’t go as well. That’s too rosy of an assessment. Tomorrow we’ll be slaughtered like sheep,” said Everet.

  This time no one said a word.

  “Today we had traps set, and the enemy underestimated us. It cost them greatly, but they still outnumber us by a large number and we no longer have tricks and traps up our sleeves. Nor do we have trolls lined up to break up their attack. Tomorrow they will do what they should have done today. Attack the walls until they can create a wedge. Once they have a number of troops inside our walls it will only be a matter of time before we are all dead.”

  “So what do you suggest?” asked one of the city council.

  “Load all your elderly, woman, and children onto ships tonight, sail to Venecia or Balta. The remaining men can try escape across the desert to Balta.”

  “You want to abandon Pailtar?”

  “I want to survive,” replied Everet. “We haven’t even discussed the fleet of Morthon ships that’s coming. If they had arrived today we would already be dead.”

  “How many ships are still in the harbor?” asked Colby.

  “A couple merchant ships and a fishing vessel are still in port. They could carry a few hundred,” said one of the city guard captains.

  “Load oldest and youngest and anyone who can’t stand a long walk, have the ships leave as soon as possible. Load without light, we don’t want them knowing the ships are leaving.”

  “What about the rest of us?” asked the city councilor.

  “A small group will stay behind and keep up the fight as long as possible. The rest will head along the coast towards Balta. We can’t use the watering holes so take as much water as you can carry. With luck, you can get to Balta. Once they have the city, they may not pursue.”

  “It’s risky,” said the city councilor.

  “Does anyone have a better idea?” asked Colby.

  The room went silent.

  “Okay,” said Colby. “Let’s get started. City councilors and city guard captains start organizing the ships. Find the ship captains and explain the plan. Have them sail to Balta, but don’t follow the coast line. If Morthon ships try following our ships we don’t want them spotting the refugees walking.” To the city guard leaders Colby said, “I want a half dozen scouts, the ones the most familiar with the desert, and a dozen of your best archers. The rest go with the main group to Balta. No wagons, but every horse in the city can carry a pack. Everyone walks, horse are for supplies only. If someone can’t do a week’s worth of walking they need to be on one of those ships.”

  As the city councilors and guards left the pub to start organizing the exodus of Pailtar, Colby went around the room, talking individually to several of the Guild members, after each conversation that member got up and left the room until only a handful were left.

  “Those of you remaining have been chosen to stay and hold the city while our people escape. If you don’t feel up to the task speak now.”

  One of the Guild members that Kiana didn’t know spoke up, “Are we using children to defend the city?” The man was looking at Kiana as he spoke.

  “Randolf, let me assure you that Kiana Clairmont is not your average child,” said Colby.

  “I was on the wall beside Kiana, she didn’t flinch under pressure and more than held her own. I would gladly stand beside her in battle,” said another Guild member that Kiana didn’t k
now, but she did recognize him from the wall. He used illusions and a spear to protect his area.

  “I’m not suggesting she isn’t brave enough. She just seems young.”

  “She is old enough to join the Guild, which means she is old enough to be here,” said Colby.

  Kiana turned to her mother, “Can I say something?”

  Lilliana nodded.

  Kiana got up and spoke, “I want you all to know that I’m honored to be accepted as one of the Guild members to stay and defend Pailtar. Not all of you know me, I am Kiana Clairmont, daughter of Spencer and Lilliana Clairmont. My father, Spencer, was killed during the first mercenary attacks. Keyon Upton was my teacher and a family friend, also killed during the first mercenary attacks. I have lost much, and will be losing my home as will the rest of you, but I will not lose my mother. I know my mother is one of the most powerful magic users in Pailtar and it is vital that she stay and protect the walls while the rest escape. However, if she stays I stay, and if anyone tries to send me away from her tonight, they will end up with a magical dagger between their ears.”

  Everyone in the room stared at Kiana. Finally, Randolf, the man who questioned her being there spoke up. “I guess that settles that. My apologies, Kiana.”

  “Now let’s move on to planning for tomorrow. Everet, what do you expect them to do?”

  “I expect that tomorrow the southern fleet will arrive,” said Everet. “ I would think that they will now know that the main gates will have been sealed off. Since they don’t have heavy siege equipment or the ability to use magic, they will focus their efforts on the walls. Without a full complement of archers the walls will be taken fairly quickly. Once the walls are taken, they will use their battering ram to create a new opening, likely through the new walls built around the gate. Once they have a new opening, the main forces will enter the city.”

  “How do we slow them down?” asked Randolf.

  “We abandon defending the walls. We place archers and those with magic where they can fire on soldiers as they come over the wall, but we don’t worry about them once they are over. We retreat further into the city, if any of the soldiers follow, we fight them, but we avoid any main forces. We harass and retreat, harass and retreat. The idea is that they never know how many are truly left defending the city. At the first sign of the southern fleet we leave the city, and head into the desert. Make our way to Balta.”

  “So we just leave Pailtar to Meron? King Ganus wins?” asked Randolf with disdain.

  “No,” replied Everet. “Why is Pailtar even a city?

  “Because it is the closest bay to Venecia,” said a Guild member.

  “What else?” asked Everet.

  “Water,” said Lilliana. “Pailtar is the only place within three days with enough water to support a city. It’s wells are the reason Pailtar is a city.”

  “Exactly. The harbor and the wells are why King Ganus wants Pailtar. From here he can launch his armies against Balta and Venecia. However, if something happened to the water.…”

  “You want to poison the wells?” asked Randolf.

  “Pailtar is already lost to us. Now we need to hope our next home can survive as well. Contaminating the wells makes sense, as does burning the docks. Don’t give King Ganus what he came for,” said Colby.

  37

  Pailtar

  NATHAN COULD SEE THE BLACK smoke before they could Pailtar, the sun was barely rising and as it did the contrast between the dark smoke and the sky increased. As the Baltan fleet sailed into the bay, he realized that the army from Meron had reached Pailtar first. The battle for Pailtar was already underway.

  “Sail ho,” came the yell from the crow’s nest.

  Nathan moved to the bow of the ship to take a look. He couldn’t see anything, but the sailor up in the nest had a better vantage point, could see farther. Nathan walked back to where the Captain and Quinton stood. “How far away are they? I couldn’t see anything from the bow.”

  “Peter has the best eyes on the ship, it’s why he’s in the nest this morning,” said Quinton. “What do you think, Captain, two hours?”

  “Two perhaps less,” replied the captain. “But from the looks of the smoke, the troops crossing the desert have been here at least a day.

  Nathan nodded, poor winds had cost them a day and it looked like that day had been spent in battle by Pailtar.

  “Most of the smoke seems to be coming from around the main gates. Perhaps they have not breached the walls yet,” said Quinton.

  “If they haven’t they will. The army from Meron is too big for them to stop, and depending on how many ships are coming right now, we won’t be able to fortify Pailtar. Nathan, you and Sharon take a dozen of my sailors and board the Wandering Mistress. Take her into port and rescue as many as you can. I’ll leave the Wounded Dog and the other merchant ship in the harbor to defend the Wandering Mistress while you’re ashore. We’ll sail out and block off the Morthon fleet for as long as we can. You’ll have a couple of hours to find as many as you can. When you’re back on the Wandering Mistress, have the captain fly a red flag. We’ll know you’re done and we’ll disengage from the Morthon fleet.”

  Nathan nodded, and left the captain and Quinton to go find Sharon. She was sitting with a small group of sailors sharpening swords. “Sharon, you and I are leading a party ashore to find out what’s happened, and get any survivors away. You know this crew better than I do, pick a dozen men.”

  Sharon knew a dozen men couldn’t change the course of battle in Pailtar, so this was strictly a rescue mission. She turned to Valentine, “We’ll need fighters, but men with foot speed. We’ll be moving quick.”

  Valentino nodded and stood up, he tapped two of the other men sharpening swords on the shoulder to let them know they were chosen, he then went to find more soldiers.

  “Valentino is the best swordsmen on the ship and he is the first mate, he knows the crew far better than I. He’ll hand pick the best-suited men for the job,” explained Sharon.

  Nathan trusted Sharon’s judgment and if she trusted Valentino to pick the men then so did Nathan. Nathan made sure his weapons were secure while he waited for Valentino to return with the landing party. He had his bow, a full quiver of arrows, a sword and dagger. He was well-equipped for battle. The rest of the landing party would have less weapons. Running with a sword or axe was much quicker than carrying as many weapons as Nathan had on him, but with his bow Nathan could provide cover for the other men and hold off anyone chasing them.

  Captain Singleton had slowed down their ship so that the Wandering Mistress could come up aside them. The two ships were only a few yards apart.

  Valentino and the landing party joined Nathan and Sharon at the side of the ship.

  “Captain Singleton will bring the two ships together until they are almost touching,” said Valentino. “We will walk the plank and jump aboard the Wandering Mistress.”

  Normally, Nathan might think this a crazy idea, but the morning seas were fairly calm and Captain Singleton was closing slowly enough that walking the plank wouldn’t be difficult. And with the limited time they had, getting aboard the Wandering Mistress as quickly as possible was important.

  Nathan watched as Valentino sprinted across the plank and jumped onto the Mistress. Sharon went next. When she deftly landed on the Mistress, Nathan followed. His landing was not as soft as Sharon’s, but still he stayed on his feet. The rest of the landing party followed.

  Captain Browne greeted them “Ahoy, there. Going ashore are we?”

  “Yes. We’ll be looking for survivors. We’ll be filling the Mistress with any luck,” said Nathan.

  “That’s what we’re here for. The Mistress has more cargo room than any other merchant ship in Balta. We’ll load as many as you find. If we’re not enough, the Fair lady is waiting in the bay.”

  “Be ready, this might have to be a very quick load up.”

  “Don’t worry, lad, I know what war is like. I’ll have us sails up the moment everyon
e’s on board.”

  As they sailed closer to the docks, they could see no one. The area around the docks had been abandoned.

  Nathan turned to Sharon. “We’ll split into two groups, and make our way through the middle of the city towards the gates. But stick to the middle streets, I want our groups close enough to yell at each other if we run into enemy troops.”

  When the Wandering Mistress landed at the ports of Pailtar, the silence was strange and foreboding. Nathan and Sharon led their groups up the streets looking for signs of life, nothing could be found until they got closer to the walls. They could see Morthon soldiers climbing over the top of the walls.

  “If they’re coming over the walls, they haven’t breached the gates yet,” said Nathan. “Someone is still fighting.”

  Joel, one of the Baltan sailors with Nathan replied, “Maybe, but if they’re coming over the walls it won’t take long before the gates go. We better move quick.”

  As they ran around the corner of a building the group ran into a group of Morthon soldiers. A dozen soldiers breaking into houses looking for loot or survivors, most of the soldiers seems content with looting as they had handfuls of jewelry or other prizes in their hands.

  Nathan, lifted his bow and calmly fired into the closest soldier. The enemy soldiers caught in the open with their hands full of the possessions of Pailtar’s citizens were easy pickings for Nathan. By the time they dropped their prizes and prepared to fight, half were dead, the remaining soldiers were struck down by the Baltan sailors and Nathan’s bow. When the battle was over, Nathan and the sailors kept moving, time was against them.

  Moving closer to the gates, Nathan and the sailors finally found residents of Pailtar. Members of the city guard were stationed behind a building, firing arrows at anyone that came over the wall. The city guards noticed Nathan and the sailors and waved at them. Nathan joined the city guards.

  “Where is everyone?” asked Nathan.

  A civilian standing with the guards answered, “Most are gone. A few remain to hold the Morthon army off as long as possible while everyone else escapes. Are you from Balta or Venecia?”