Gesturing to Miko he says, “The Star can deal with those creatures readily enough if they should make another appearance. What I’m concerned with is the sheer numbers we’ll be facing. If we can’t get help from Madoc, the items I brought along for this campaign may be completely consumed before we’re through here.”
“You can make more can’t you?” Illan asks.
“Sure, if I have a supply of crystals and time,” he explains. “But keep in mind it took me all winter to ready what we have. Anything I do on the run will not be as effective.”
“So what are we to do?” Jiron asks. “After this, we are going to have many more battles before we’re through.”
“I know,” he says. “I’m not figuring on facing any army head on after this.” He looks around at the reaction his words may cause. Illan and Jiron know pretty much what he plans to do so they fail to show any reaction. Ceadric though, he looks confused.
“How can we possibly drive them out if we don’t destroy their armies?” he asks.
“By making it difficult for them to keep their troops in Madoc,” he explains. “Where I come from, war has been going on for a long time. There are two main things which have to be in place for a nation to send troops into the field.”
“The first thing is internal security. If their kingdom has turmoil, then they’ll need their troops to maintain order. Also if the people feel the war is harmful that can add to the general unrest. But with the way the Empire’s run, the will of the people will probably have minimal effect.”
Ceadric nods his head as he begins to understand where this is leading.
“Secondly, you need to be able to support and supply your army. A hungry army, or one whose basic needs are not being met, will be ineffective in combat. Our band isn’t big so we can forage for what we need for the most part. As we head into the Empire, we take from the towns we pass.”
“What I plan is simply this,” he says and then pauses for effect. “When the battle here is over, we immediately head for the Empire. Destroy any and all forces we come across, providing they are no larger than our own. Those we meet as we move into the Empire should be those coming to reinforce the men on the border. With any luck, they’ll be smaller bands of a thousand men or less.”
Ceadric chuckles at that. When James glances to him he grins and says, “A thousand men being a small band. You sure are confident of yourself.”
“With what we have already with us,” he replies, “a thousand men shouldn’t be too much for us to handle.”
“We took out that many earlier this evening,” Jiron states.
“Anyway,” continues James, “as we progress into the Empire we destroy bridges, war factories, caravans, and anything that may be used to take supplies to the men in Madoc. At some point, they’re going to begin pulling forces from elsewhere to come after us. They’ll not let us wander at will within their borders.”
“Just like the old days,” Ceadric says to Illan.
“Only this time, we’re not killing civilians,” he explains.
“Good,” Ceadric states. “Never cared much for that part.”
“But they could bring forces from the south to hunt us down,” suggests Delia. “They wouldn’t necessarily take the soldiers out of Madoc to do that.”
“True,” agrees James. “But if they do, that leaves them open to rebellion from their less than complacent subject territories not to mention the time it will take for them to travel that far. From what we’ve gathered, many are itching for the chance to throw off the shackles of the Empire. I’m counting on the Empire not willing to take that risk.”
“In short, we make it extremely difficult for them to keep their forces in Madoc by whatever means available.” The others nod and Ceadric is actually wearing a grin.
“I like your plan,” he states.
“Our key to success is to stay mobile,” James continues. “Keep their armies on the move while we take out their infrastructure.”
Delia is staring at him in an odd way. “Yes?” he asks.
“You’re doing all this simply to have a temple built in the City of Light?” she asks.
“For the most part, yes,” he replies. “Also to free Madoc from a fate it doesn’t deserve.” He nods at Miko and says, “Not to mention payback for what they’ve already done to us and others. I’d take down the entire place if I could. Slavery is an abomination and I would like nothing better than to see every slaver put to the sword.”
“I’m with you on that one,” says Jiron.
James glances to Miko, expecting some reaction to that as he was only one present to be subjected to the hell of being a slave, but he remains quiet.
“What I’ve said here remains just between us. Agreed?” he asks. When everyone gives their agreement, he says, “We’ve got a hard day ahead of us. I suggest you get what rest you can before morning.” To Illan he says, “We better get the meeting with Lord Pytherian over with so we can get a few hours of sleep.”
Standing up, Illan nods his head. To Ceadric he says, “Get the men bedded down. We’re up with the dawn.”
“Yes, sir,” he says and then leaves the tent. From outside they can hear his voice shouting orders as he does Illan’s bidding.
“We’ll be back soon,” James says as he gets to his feet. To Delia he says, “Have Devin hit the sack too. I won’t need him when I return.”
“Okay,” she tells him.
He glances over to Jiron and says, “Get everyone to sleep. I want everyone up by dawn.”
“You got it,” he says.
Illan moves to leave his tent and James follows. Outside they find an exhausted Devin and James nods to him as he and Illan head for the castle.
Despite the lateness of the hour, the streets are still full of people. All are simply agog with the latest rumors about the events that transpired earlier in the evening. Few recognize them as they move through the dark streets and they arrive at the castle in short order.
At the gate, a page is waiting for them and takes them to the same conference room they met in earlier. Surprisingly, only Lord Pytherian is there, the other leaders are absent.
“Where’s everyone else?” James asks as the page closes the door behind him. Moving to the table, he sits down in a chair across from Lord Pytherian, Illan takes a seat the chair next to his.
“Thought it would be best to meet here in private,” he explains.
“There’s no trouble is there?” Illan asks.
“I don’t know,” he replies. “There’s been rumors going around of an agent for the Empire within the walls, but so far nothing definite has been uncovered.”
“Could just be rumors,” says Illan. “Such always happens during a siege.”
“Possibly,” Lord Pytherian replies, though his expression tells he doesn’t believe that.
James then begins to relate the layout of the enemy forces as had been seen by himself and Delia’s group. He also tells him of the warrior priest he encountered during his parley. When he tells of the subsequent battle and the killing of the mage, Lord Pytherian strikes the table and with a grin exclaims, “Good!”
“But the warrior priest is still out there,” he explains. “Not sure how that will affect tomorrow’s battle.”
“What do you plan to do?” he asks.
James then gives a brief rundown on what he plans. When he’s done, he asks, “Will you and your men be willing to back us up?”
“Plans are already being set in motion to do just that,” he answers.
“Excellent,” says Illan.
“Once the battle is over,” James tells him, “we’re going to push into Madoc.”
“With any luck we’ll draw elements of the various armies currently occupying Madoc into following,” Illan says. “If they do, you must be prepared to take advantage of that and press those that remain hard.” James and Illan then begin to give him a rundown of their plan once they begin moving into the Empire.
Throughou
t their narration Lord Pytherian sits and listens occasionally nodding his head at one point or another. When they’re finished laying it down, he says, “I may be able to help you with what you plan.”
“How?” James asks.
“By the time you’re ready to leave, I’ll give you a map detailing where various weapon storehouses and other vital complexes to their war effort are located.”
“That would prove most beneficial milord,” Illan says.
“Any mines located in their northern territory would be helpful too,” adds James. When Lord Pytherian glances at him questioningly, he explains. “May be able to collapse them and render them useless for years.”
“I’ll see what we can do,” he says.
“Whatever happened with Councilman Rillian?” asks James.
“He stepped down from the council,” Lord Pytherian replies. “Seems those he represents felt that with all the controversy surrounding him it would be best for another to lead.” He gives them a grin, “He wasn’t too happy about the situation let me tell you. The man who replaced him has so far conducted himself properly. We do have agents on him just in case though.”
“That would be a reasonable precaution,” agrees James.
“You needn’t worry about the former Councilman Rillian,” he tells them. “He left when most of the population fled Lythylla some time ago, as did the Council. It would be bad enough to lose Lythylla, but to lose the Council would be disastrous. The people need something to rally around in times such as these.”
“So the civilians who are left…?” prompts James.
“Are here to take care of the military,” he explains. “Or those just too stubborn to leave despite what may happen. Others are family members of the soldiers who chose to stay rather than be separated.”
“I see,” James says.
For the next hour they work out the finer points of the battle plan for the morning. Once all is in readiness, Illan and James take their leave. With only a few hours before dawn, they’re not going to get much sleep.
On the way back, they find the streets much more deserted than they were before, the people having finally returned to their homes. At the plaza which currently houses their people, James and Illan say their goodnights and each head to their tents. There are a couple of Ceadric’s men on guard duty stationed about the area and they nod or salute when they take notice of James or Illan.
His tent stands dark and lonely, Devin having long since turned in as he told Delia to have him do. Opening the tent flap, he enters and lets the flap swing closed behind him. Exhausted beyond measure, he doesn’t even undress just collapses on his cot. No sooner does his head hit the pillow than he falls asleep.
Chapter Ten
“Sir?” When no answer is forthcoming, Devin pokes his head in the tent and finds James lying there on his cot sound asleep. “Sir?” he says again, this time a little louder hoping to wake him without startling him. It’s said that to startle a mage out of sleep is fraught with perils.
When he still doesn’t respond, Devin moves inside and comes over next to his cot. Placing his hand on James’ chest, he says softly while giving a small shake, “James, wake up.”
James sits up abruptly and Devin jumps backward in shock at the unexpected movement.
Bloodshot eyes opening, he glances around the tent and sees Devin off to one side, staring at him. “What?” he asks in a voice still sluggish from sleep.
“Illan says sunrise is approaching,” he tells him.
Groaning, James lies back down on his cot and places an arm across his face. “Go away,” he says. It feels like he just closed his eyes after he returned from the meeting with Lord Pytherian.
“Yes, sir,” Devin says and backs out of the tent.
He lies there in silence for several minutes and is about ready to slip back to sleep when the tent flap opens again. “Go away Devin,” he says, arm still over his face.
When Devin doesn’t answer he turns his head toward the tent flap and opens an eye just in time to see a bucket’s worth of water come flying through the air toward him. Eyes flying open, he freezes in startlement as the cold water hits him.
“Ahhh!” he cries as he sits up, drenched with water.
“Time to wake up sleepyhead,” Jiron says with a chuckle.
James glances toward the flap and sees him there with an empty bucket in his hand. “What did you do that for?” he says accusingly.
“You did tell me to make sure everyone was up by dawn,” he explains.
“I did not!” he replies.
“Yes, you did. Now get changed,” he insists before leaving the tent.
Clothes soaked and beginning to shiver from the cold water, he gets up and changes into a dry set of clothes. Once he’s changed, he takes out his shaving kit and removes what stubble has grown since the last time he shaved. Leaving the old wet clothes on the floor of the tent, he makes his way outside.
The plaza is a flurry of activity as everyone hurries to make ready for the upcoming battle. Food is being prepared, swords sharpened and armor is mended as best it can. Devin comes to him with a bowl of food and a mug of water.
“Thanks,” he says with a yawn as he takes it.
“You’re welcome,” he replies. Off to one side he sees Illan in his full Black Hawk regalia talking to Henri. Eating his food while he walks, James makes his way over.
“…as if they’re fortifying their position,” Henri is saying.
Illan turns at his approach and says, “The enemy is digging in. Scouts report that more troops have arrived during the night.”
“Possibly another couple thousand,” Henri interjects. “Lord Pytherian thinks they may have already been on the way before your attack last night and not a response to it.”
He looks to Illan and asks, “Will this change our plans any?”
Shaking his head, he replies, “I doubt it. Just make things more interesting.”
Henri glances to James and says, “Hope you can pull this off.”
“Me too,” he agrees. “How far away is dawn?”
“An hour or so,” he replies.
“Have Delia meet me over by the baggage once everyone’s done eating,” he says.
“Very well,” replies Illan. Then to Henri he says, “Tell Lord Pytherian we’ll be ready at the appointed time.”
“Yes, sir, Black Hawk,” Henri replies. Giving Illan a salute, he turns and makes his way from the plaza back toward the castle.
James runs through in his mind the various preparations he’s done in anticipation of the upcoming battle. He fervently hopes the items he brought from The Ranch will work the way he anticipates.
After everyone’s finished eating, he meets with the slingers by the tent where his ‘special’ baggage is being stored during their stay. Usually there’s a guard standing out front to keep everyone away, it wouldn’t do to have someone meddle in an area that could kill everyone. Today Terrance has that duty.
He steps inside and leaves with a large sack, the contents bulging the sides. Reaching in, he pulls out a small pouch and begins handing one to each. “Don’t open it now,” he tells them. Each pouch is bound closed with a red twine, all the various pouches and sacks containing his magically imbued crystals are color coated in this manner for easy identification.
When each is holding their pouch, he says, “This will be your initial ammunition. Inside each pouch are three balls of hardened clay. Inside the clay is something, that once it leaves the confines of the sack it is currently within, becomes activated. Once it does, you haven’t much time before it goes off.”
Caleb holds up his pouch and gives it an apprehensive look. The others’ expressions range from worry to excitement.
“So remove one at a time, get it launched toward the enemy, then remove the next and so forth.” He returns within the tent. When he exits again, he hands a long bundle to Devin. “Hold onto this until we get out there. I’ll need you and Moyil to give me a hand setting it up
. It’s imperative we get this in position before the enemy launches their attack.”
“I thought we were to attack them?” Terrance asks.
James glances at him and replies, “When they see us march out of the gates, I doubt if they’ll simply allow us all the time in the world to get ready.”
“Yeah, Terry,” Jace says as he elbows him in the ribs.
“Alright, sorry,” Terrance says.
Holding up her pouch to James Delia asks, “Will these be enough to destroy the enemy?”
“Let’s hope so,” he says. “I have a few other surprises as well, but I’ll be in charge of those.” He glances around the assembled group. “When you’ve exhausted the contents of your pouch, start using the slugs. I trust you’ve given each an extra supply?”
Delia nods her head and says, “After this they’ll each be given three score slugs.”
“Good.” He glances over to where Illan and the men-at-arms are gathering and sees that they have already mounted and are waiting for them. “Time to go. Get your slugs and let’s be on our way.”
“Yes, sir,” Delia says and then takes her slingers over to another area where the slugs are stored and gives each their supply.
As they leave, James turns back to the tent and goes inside. Many sacks are still contained within, both magical and non. He removes a crystal from one of the sacks and places it on the floor just inside the entrance. Stepping back out of the tent, he says, “Shield.” A shimmering barrier springs up around the tent, effectively preventing anyone from gaining access to the items contained within. It will last half a day and unless the battle rages longer than that, they should be back in time to post a guard before it fails.
Satisfied, he turns toward where Devin is waiting with his horse. On Devin’s belt, he sees the pouch he gave him already secured there. Slung across his back is a pack, bulging at the bottom from the weight of the slugs Delia gave him.
Taking the reins, James mounts and turns to gaze over the assembled force. Illan’s Black Hawk Raiders all but fill the courtyard. Jiron and his fighters are close, as are Delia and her slingers. Errin and Aleya have been assigned to Hedry and his archers for the duration of the battle.
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