The path from the lower valley and on the road up to the front gate offers little cover for concealment. They will have to do this at night. Probably, during the early morn when the guards are lethargic from several hours of sentry duty.
Amari’s conjuring of the courtyard inside is in vivid detail before them. It even shows where the guards will be standing at their posts.
“This is remarkable Maiden,” Gareth gestures at the vision with an open sweeping hand.
“Yes, it is exact as best our combined remembering can recall. Let’s step through the plan one last time.
Under the cover of night, which fortune smiles on us, is to be a moonless night. We will make our way to the east wall. I will levitate Natsha and her wonderful crossbow to the highest tower above and within the walls. I will need a little time to regenerate my energy. As you know, this feat takes a considerable amount of my powers. This magic is one of the few spells that requires so much force.
“Maiden is that wise?” Gareth asks. “Our sister will be inside and alone before we breach. What if she is discovered?”
“We have thought of that my friend. Remember, Holl-tu will weave one of his enchantments to create a fog that will cover the castle. It will hide our approach and the placing of Natsha above. Once my strength returns, I will send a magic created bird to our sister telling her we are ready to breach. The wizard will dispel the mist allowing Natsha to select and eliminate the sentries.”
Natsha nods her head at the task. “I will try to target my bolts selectively. The furthest guards will be first, then, I will work closer to the wall where you wait. I do not want to raise the alarm too soon. When I have eliminated all the guards, I will send a message shaft to the ground at your feet. Know then I have fulfilled my part, and the way is clear.”
“Good! Next is your task my large brother. Take Helixx when the time is nigh and speak these words with every swing of the blade against the stone wall. Rock and mortar stand aside, tis I Helixx master of the Earth wishing to enter.
Remember your Kcaj is of the earth, and the stones will obey and cleave apart at the contact of Helixx. It will take a bit of doing, but you will crash through. Once the entrance is clear, Dian, Truk, and I will join you. We must stand next to each other to face any that opposes us. The power of the Kcaj is the strongest in our linking. All the slamming of Helixx against the fortress wall will raise an alarm of those that Natsha has not dispatched.”
Amari clasps Holl-tu’s shoulder, looks at Mimna and Fin. “You three will be our rear guard, protecting our backs from those that think to sneak behind us to deliver a coward’s blow.”
“Not to vex my sister.” Mimna raises her sword to her forehead in a warrior’s salute. “None will get past our steel.”
“Aye,” shouts the Elf and wizard in unison.
“Well then my clan, we are ready. Mind you, we cannot kill all the soldiers. Some must be allowed to escape to bring word of our attack to Urel.”
Holl-tu grips his staff to rise to his full height. “We dare not wait within these walls Maiden. It could easily turn into a trap where we have no escape. It be better to face your kin and her minions in an open field, where at least my powers to confuse and confound can be utilized.”
“We will not be inside, but along the path which leads to the fortress. There is the stand of trees and bushes on both sides of the road we will pass through on our wall to the castle. I hope they will be intent on reaching the castle, and not be expecting an ambush. The only defective part of our plan is that Pyrestorm will sense its brethren, the Kcaj! Those emanations will not go unnoticed by Urel as well.”
“Can Holl-tu’s enchantment mask our presence?” Dian asks, hoping for a good answer.
“No sister! It will hide us from her slaves and others, but the witch will feel the magic spell and be prepared. Our element of surprise to decrease the number of warriors she has with her will be to no avail. There is no telling how many will be at her side.”
“Amari, would Urel dare to come alone and without her underlings?” Gareth questions his leader.
The Maiden shakes her head. “Urel is arrogant and thinks herself superior, but she is not foolish. She will want as many warriors and slaves who will follow her.”
The White Witch stares into the sky and her expression changes as if something just became clear. Wait, I have a plan. Come and lend an ear.”
In two-day’s time, they have traveled back to the castle and dungeon that once held them prisoners. The warriors catch sight of the fortress off in the distance. It is lit by dozens of torches set on top and along its walls. Night has fallen, so they make a fireless camp in the woods nearby waiting for the early-morning hour. They rest, but no one sleeps. Gareth as always, stands guard while the others sit or lie on the cold ground.
Amari rises. “It is time my friends. The hour is on high and morning is drawing near.”
Moving silently, the small band of warriors creep toward the castle wall. Holl-tu brings his fog conjuring to life. The thick smog descends quickly and envelopes the King’s palace. Under the cover of the enchanted mist, they move closer until the east wall is reached.
They can hear the guards talking to each other on the parapet. It seems the discussions are about the fog. “Never seen it this thick or come up this fast,” one says to another.
Amari touches Natsha’s shoulder. “Are you ready sister?”
“Yes Amari.”
Gareth asks before Amari levitates Natsha. “Why can you not put those inside the fortress under the freeze spell? It worked well the last time we were here.”
“That particular spell only lasts a short amount of time. It cannot be used again until a full moon has passed. That is the way of some magic spells and enchantments. Magic in itself is against the nature of things, but there are still certain rules on its use. Those frozen would be free before we found and subdued all of them. No it must be this way.”
“You as always are right sister. “I would rather not keep fighting the same soldiers again. It is far better to send them on to the next dimension.”
A wave of the Maiden’s hand and a few magic words and Natsha is lifted into the air. Amari knows that an enchanted fog is there, but her magic shows a clear night for her. Natsha is levitated high into the air.
Amari lowers her to the tallest tower which oversees the courtyard.
Natsha can see the dark form of a sentry leaning against the ramparts—sleeping. While she floats toward the guard, a crossbow bolt silences him quickly. His body slumps to the stone floor.
As her feet touch the rough stone, Amari releases her hold. Natsha can see the Maiden below being helped to sit down by Gareth and Truk. Now she must wait. Off to the east there is a faint light of a new day.
A small bird’s throaty call breaks the silence. Natsha stands and looks over the wall to her companions below. Amari is waving.
Natsha takes several crossbow arrows from her packed quiver and sets them in a row on the stone parapet for easy grabbing. Raising her head a little higher, she finds all her targets. A full dozen are positioned on the walls and down in the courtyard.
In quick calculations, she picks the targets in order to be eliminated. Starting with the sentry furthest away, a soldier with his head bobbing on his chest as he sleeps. She looks at the ones closest to him dutifully manning their posts—wide awake. Inserting a steel bolt, she takes aim, but waits for the other to look away.
The sleeping form drops to the floor without making a sound; the arrow through his neck. Quickly, Natsha dispatches the others. Working her way down the line of sentries, she silences each one.
There are only two left walking together in the courtyard. This will be tricky she thinks. Loading her bow, she puts another arrow between her teeth. Taking aim, Natsha centers on the walking man’s chest, allowing for distance and pace, she fires. No sooner has the shaft left the crossbow, she cocks the device and another is loaded and sent on its way to the other sentry. However, impatience makes her
jerk the second shot. She knows it will not meet the intended target. Loading quickly, she fires a third bolt.
The first arrow finds its mark in the guard’s chest, and he drops to the ground. Her second shot bounces off the stone wall behind the guard. Before the other watchman can react, a steel shaft protrudes from his skull. He too drops silently to the ground.
Natsha takes a few precious moments to make sure all she can see below are dead. Removing a multi-colored arrow from the quiver, she takes aim outside the wall and shoots it at the ground near her companions.
A thump on the ground causes Gareth to jump as an arrow has struck the dirt almost between his feet. He looks up and scowls. “I know she did that on purpose.”
Dian retrieves the arrow from the ground. “It is a good thing our sister is an effective shot, else you will be as a woman.”
Gareth can feel a phantom pain in his groin, but dismisses it. “It is time for my part, as the ex-sailor moves close to the wall.
Calling upon the magic which lies within the Earth Saber, he repeats the words Amari taught him. “Rock and mortar stand aside, tis I Helixx master of the Earth wishing to enter.” He can feel the power growing in his two-handed grip upon the hilt. Bringing the blade over his right shoulder, he smashes at the wall.
Stone and bolster splinter as dust and fine pebbles explode outward showering the warriors. Through the dust, Gareth can see a sizable chunk of the wall is gone. He repeats the magic words with every swing of the sword.
Stopping for a moment to catch his breath, he asks. “Maiden, would it not be far easier to penetrate the front gate. It is only wood and I could win through in a shorter time than this?”
“Yes you could brother, but this egress you are making is more of a statement than just breaking down the gates. Those soldiers left defending the castle should flee at the sounds of the thick wall crumbling.”
Swishing sounds from above draws their attention upward. “It would seem our sister in the tower is finding more targets for her sharp arrows.” Dian says, itching to get inside and fight.
Gareth goes back to swing and uttering the power phrase that cleaves the stone, as well as a fire heated knife parting the soft flesh of an animal. Two more muscled strikes and a whole section of the east wall crumbles inward. One at a time the Kcaj Warriors pass into the courtyard, now strewn with bodies and rubble.
In front of them are two squads of lance holding soldiers advancing on them. Some still dressed in night clothes or half-naked.
“Did not take them long to put together a defense.” Gareth mutters to Amari standing next to him.
With an unspoken command, the Warriors for the Light point their swords before them. Behind is, Holl-tu, Mimna and Fin.
An arrow speeds by Dian’s head. It is so close her hair moves from the sudden wind. The shaft misses everyone, passes between Fin and the wizard. It disappears into the woods behind them.
A yell from another tower as a hidden archer drops to the ground with one of Natsha’s bolts lodged in his throat.
Their sister high above goes back to shooting at the advancing soldiers until her arrows stop. She goes for another arrow, but finds her quiver empty. Slinging the crossbow over her shoulder, she draws her sword and goes through the tower door and down the long winding stairs.
The power from the Kcaj builds like a wall and pushes the soldiers back as the warriors advance.
Meanwhile Natsha comes bursting from the tower door and attacks the rear of the soldiers. Swinging her fine-balanced blade like a scythe, she wades into the ranks of the castle guards.
The soldiers are unaware their numbers are diminishing. Amari and the others rush forward. In a blinking of a moment, all who opposed them are wounded, dead or dying.
“Let’s find that unworthy king,” says Gareth. “I bet my tunic, he is hiding beneath his sleeping pallet.”
The search turns up several more soldiers cowering in the grand room, but no king. “According to one of the survivors,” mouths Dian. “He is away in seclusion with his brother planning an invasion o’re the mountains.”
Amari surveys the line of ten soldiers kneeling on the ground with their hands bound behind their backs. She pulls the helmet from the head of the nearest. “Do you know of us?”
He stares with fear and is visibly shaking. Cowering he answers. “Yes, you are the White Witch. Are we to be put to the sword?”
Amari drops the helmet in the dirt in front of the soldier. “We do not kill prisoners or unarmed men; even though we know we may face you again in some distant battle. Our enemies may do otherwise and cleave our heads from our necks.”
“What of us then?” He asks with a calmer voice knowing he and his men may live.
“You are free to go, but know this. We are making this captured castle our keep. Tell all you meet not to venture here. We will not be so lenient with the king or any who followed him or the evil witch Urel if they try to storm this fortress.”
The bound castle guards nod their collective heads.
“Mimna,” says the Maiden. “Cut their bonds and send them out of the gate and away from my eyes.”
Once freed, the last of the castle’s defenders did not walk, but run from the fortress. The defeated guards are so scared; they do not help the wounded who have stumbled and fallen. With great effort, those injured get to their feet and hobble away unaided.
“They will have a tale to tell all who will listen.” remarks Dian.
“Yes, that is what we want. Once they are out of sight, we need to prepare for Urel and her followers to come. To gain any victory and retrieve the Pyrestorm, we must dispense with her hoard first. Then the fight will be between her and I.”
Natsha comes through the large open doors which lead from the great hall. In her hands is Amari’s helmet and breast plate. “I believe these are yours my sister.”
Amari takes the silver armor from Natsha and gently caresses her long-lost property. Her fingers trace down a long scratch on the front of the metal corslet. “This was made by a Druid with a long sword just before Katana ran him through.”
Gareth touches the scar on the breastplate and looks at Amari and where the strike would have hit if she did not have this bit of armor. “He was going for your heart sister!”
Amari retells the fight. “After striking here,” as she fingers the scar, “I was able to deflect the sword and get inside of his reach and strike my own blow. This tactic I taught to my followers whenever they confronted an enemy with such a long weapon. The acquired skill even works against lances.”
The wizard signals to Amari. “Maiden, we must be off or caught here with no retreat. We do not know who else may be coming here?”
“Yes, that would be indeed unfortunate.” She gestures to all. “Gather what you need and let us be on our way.”
Natsha restocks her quiver from the armory. It was from the same storehouse of weapons and armor they escaped those many days ago with Roarken.
Holl-tu is seen coming down the stairs from the great hall with bulky bags slung over both shoulders. “I found an apothecary room while searching chambers along a corridor. I have much which can be used for healing. I have also gained an assortment of powders and vials I can use to create other enchantments.”
Dian and Mimna each take a crossbow and several quivers of steel bolts.
After raiding the lauder of food and water, they leave the castle by way of the hole Gareth opened in the eastern wall. They closed the gates so that it looks like it did before they attacked. The hole in the wall cannot be seen unless one is inside the courtyard or comes around the side.
The way traveling down the long and winding road from the castle is slow. They all agreed to charge unprepared into any patrols of soldiers will end their proposed trap—and the quest.
When they come to a stand of lush trees on both sides of the road, Gareth says. “This should make an ideal place to surprise our enemy. Natsha and Holl-tu can stay to the right hidden, while Mimna is with
me to the left. Dian can be held in reserve in the dire event one of us falls. With our cover and crossbows, we should be able to reduce their number before going to sword.”
“You speak in tactical moves Gareth,” Holl-tu says while stringing his long bow and examining one of the steel tipped arrows. “If only the ends to our battle could be so easy. We do not know if and when the evil witch will come, and how many will be at her side?”
“True wizard, but with the skill the four of us have with these crossbows and your increasing proficiency with the long bow, we should be able to tip the scales in our favor.”
Amari offers her role. “Truk and I will stand to the fore in the middle of the path to face my kin. If the gods smile, they will not expect an attack at their flanks.”
“And I,” comes a small voice standing next to Gareth. “What is my place in this?”
Gareth kneels before the Elf. “You my friend can do what you do well. Hide among the brush at the edges of the road and attack their knees. Your swiftness at attack and maiming should weaken the enemy’s resolve. I would not want you hurt in open confrontation.”
The Elf touches the big man’s shoulder. “With all your gruffness and bravado, you are a true warrior brother to me.”
“You are not going to hug me are you little man?”
“Would not think of it; and I am an elf, not a man. To say so is an insult.”
“Ok you two,” says the Maiden. “Let us prepare ourselves. The wait may be long.”
Dian speaks to Amari. “Sister, must we do this? We are four of the fabled Kcaj. Can we not fulfill our quest to destroy evil with just four-fifths of the Pentadiene? I fear this may end badly for us. Last eve a sudden chill came to me on a warm night heralding more than the dark; it speaks of evil.
“Dian, strengthen your resolve,” Amari’s calm voice comes across the road. “We will have to meet Urel in battle sometime during this quest. It might as well be when we initiate the fight. Too many times have we been caught unprepared and almost put to a battle, or were captured.”
The holder of Hydrosin answers. “The circumstances have been unique each time. Think about it; we have Urel and her minions, the King and his soldiers, and now the Druids have resurfaced and want to do us great harm.”
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