Forged in Fire (Destiny's Crucible Book 4)

by Olan Thorensen

  Yozef followed Denes, eager to see progress but also wondering how two animals classic for the Miocene epoch on Earth were living on Anyar, and what did it mean for his assumption the transplantations to Anyar happened five thousand years ago?

  War Council

  Yozef’s second good look at Orosz City astounded him. When he had been at the city two months previously for the All-Clan Conclave that established the War Council, he had seen scaffolding on the city’s main wall. Hetman Orosz had described his intent to strengthen the city’s defenses, because the city would serve as his clan’s redoubt. A large part of the city was within a cleft in the mountains, with a portion protruding into a farming plain. The ten-foot-high stone wall was anchored on both ends into the mountain slopes. South of the wall, more of the city spilled onto the plain for a quarter-mile.

  “You’ll need to clear fields of fire if the city is to be your clan’s redoubt,” Yozef had told Tomis Orosz, “or the Narthani could use structures as cover. Also, as long as you’re improving the wall, consider adding towers at intervals. They could stick out from the wall and provide fire not only straight out but, more important, along the walls to suppress attacks and attempts to plant explosive charges at the base of the walls.”

  His advice had been heeded with a vengeance. Most of the city’s structures outside the wall, houses and small shops, had been torn down, and he could see crews of men working on more buildings. More impressive was the scaffolding of three towers, placed at hundred-yard intervals, starting from the northwest end of the main wall. Stakes driven into the ground suggested the positions planned for other towers along the rest of the wall’s length south, then the wall turned ninety degrees east to anchor at a mountainside.

  “You’ve been busy, Tomis,” Yozef told Hetman Orosz when they met for evening meal. “We saw you’re clearing fields of fire, and towers are going up. Will the towers be stone like the city’s walls?”

  “No,” said Orosz. “My builders plan on using a mixture of your ‘concrete’ and stone. They say the two together are stronger than just concrete, though they worry that it will still fracture and eventually crumble under persistent cannon fire.”

  Well, shit, thought Yozef. I didn’t know they were serious about concrete when Orosz asked me how it was produced. I just told the masons working on concrete development in Caernford to send Tomis instructions. It’s a good thing I came before they got too far along.

  “I think you’ll have stronger walls with interior reinforcement,” said Yozef. “Iron bars would be best, but using split lengthwise golabar trunks and larger limbs will work.”

  “Golab . . . ?” Orosz said, puzzled. “I don’t remember my builders saying anything about this. How do golabar trees and concrete go together to make walls and towers?”

  “Oh, the people I told to send you the information must have left that part out.” Okay, I’m lying, but if I’m going to buy into the Septarsh nonsense, I don’t need to give them reason to know I can screw up—too often.

  “You build the frame where the concrete will be poured into, but inside the frame you put golabar rails. They should be about an inch-and-a-half to three inches thick, and there can be perpendicular sets. When the concrete hardens, the rails are inside the solid concrete to give it more strength, and it should be more resistant to crumbling. Of course, enough cannon rounds in the same area will eventually punch holes, but it will take longer and be less likely to collapse a wall.”

  Yozef had identified the golabar tree grown all over the island as either the ironwood tree of Earth or a close enough locally evolved species with similar characteristics. He knew from readings, including Jared Diamond’s book Collapse, that ironwood trees of New Guinea were probably the first trees to be deliberately cultivated. The tree’s wood was hard and easily split lengthwise, making the tree desirable for the construction of houses, bridges, and fences. Bamboo worked even better at reinforcing, but he hadn’t seen anything similar on Caedellium, which reminded him that his knowledge of Anyar was limited to this one island—bamboo might exist elsewhere on the planet.

  “It’s fortunate you got here before we started pouring,” said Orosz. “If, like you say, this reinforcing solves the builders’ concerns, then the Narthani would have to evoke the Evil One to directly breach our defenses. In fact, I had a vision of sorts last sixday when I climbed to the mountain spine southeast of the city. I went there to get a view of our progress. When I thought about the strategy we’ve agreed on, getting the Narthani to chase our men to a battlefield site we’ve prepared, I thought it a shame the Orosz City walls couldn’t serve as the anvil end of the trap. Unfortunately, there’s no way to close off another end to contain them. The land is open and flat leading up to the city from the west and south, then the same all the way to Adris City. The land is only three miles wide between Orosz City and the river along the base of the cliffs on the other side, so we’d have an amazing view of the army’s passing. That’s assuming the Narthani didn’t stop to attack Orosz City.”

  “We assume they’ll stay focused on our mobile forces,” said Yozef, “but that’s only an assumption. Of course, it’s not likely the maneuvering we do to lure the Narthani army will pass this way. Orosz City is not on a route to any of the three battle sites we’re preparing.”

  The next morning, Yozef’s first activity was deciding on a house large enough for the entire Kolsko household. He didn’t want any of them separated more than necessary. Culich and Ceinwyn Keelan would stay with them. Culich would make one return trip to Keelan directly to the Dillagon redoubt in the mountains of western Keelan, where he would assure himself that his clan’s haven was ready before the Narthani struck again. He would then return to Orosz City without stopping at Caernford.

  Tomis Orosz suggested a large house a third of a mile inside the main walls and just before the mountain cleft entrance. Yozef walked to the house as soon as he finished morning meal with the Orosz family. The two-story house had outside balconies on the second floor, a small open courtyard in the center, and more than enough rooms surrounding the courtyard on both floors. The owner of the house guided him on a tour, then refused rent when Yozef inquired on the price.

  “None needed,” said the portly man, who reminded Yozef of Peter Lorre. “You and Hetman Keelan are here to help kill those damned Narthani. Consider it my privilege to let you use this house.” The man then paused with a twinkle. “If we all survive this, I’ll be able to sell the house at a much higher price than I otherwise could have gotten. After all, Yozef Kolsko lived here.” The owner laughed and left Yozef shaking his head.

  He walked to the Orosz Clan headquarters and stopped at the city’s semaphore office to send a message to Maera that he’d arranged for a house. He’d leave the details of settling in and assigning rooms to Maera and Anarynd.

  It was mid-morning when the War Council meeting began. Welman Stent had arrived late the previous night, and Feren Bakalacs was already in the city. The Adris and Bultecki hetmen were not part of the council, but their capitals were the closest to Orosz City, and the two hetmen had traveled to attend the session.

  Tomis Orosz called the meeting to begin. “A critical item is to finalize the battle sites we hope to lure the Narthani into. Later, we’ll hear updates on preparations with the three identified sites from the hetmen whose provinces those sites are in, but first I’d like to know if it’s still only those three.”

  Owill Brell, as head of the MIU, would have given the status of the surveys, but he had not yet moved to Orosz City—so Yozef rose. “I’m afraid it’s still just those three, and I’ll admit I’m disappointed. I was hoping for about six sites distributed on an arc across the island. As it is, there are two sites in the northwest and one in the southeast, with nothing in the middle of the island.”

  “And there are no other sites?” asked Teresz Bultecki. “Are your criteria too stringent? Could we ease the requirements?”

  Yozef shook his head. “I believe it would be
worse for us than engaging them in a field battle. If we dig ourselves into a defensive position that the Narthani overrun too quickly, we might find large numbers of our men isolated and destroyed in detail.” Over time, he’d explained how “in detail” meant pieces at a time.

  “I’m especially disappointed we can’t find a site within Orosz Province. It’s centrally located and one of the likely routes the new Narthani army might use, because the logic would be the same as before—attack the conclave site and push on to Adris and cut the island in half.”

  “It’s too bad the terrain doesn’t work for us,” said Klyngo Adris. “I’d hate to sacrifice Adris City, but once they were there, we would have them confined, except for the open route back to Orosz City.”

  “Confined?” asked Yozef. “How would they be confined?”

  “Well,” said Adris, “the land around Adris City is flat, but the mountain passes north and east are so narrow, it wouldn’t take large forces to block them. There’s also the escarpment between the Holdorn and Aklacs mountains. You remember, Yozef. You passed through there after visiting inspection sites along the north coast.”

  Yozef did remember. The three-hundred-foot sheer drop had only three roads along the thirty-six-mile length of the unusual geological feature.

  “Yes,” said Yozef, “I remember, but I don’t understand how the Narthani would be confined when their navy could either take them aboard ships or resupply them from the gulf.”

  “Well, yes, there is that,” said Adris. “We’d also have to block the Normot Cut.”

  “Not an easy task,” stated Orosz. Several other men observing the meeting nodded in agreement.

  What am I missing here? Yozef thought. There’s something they know that I don’t?

  “Sorry,” said Yozef, “but I don’t understand. What are we talking about?”

  “The Gulf of Normot,” said Adris, puzzled that there was something Yozef Kolsko didn’t already know. “It can only be entered through a quarter-mile-wide open water channel. The rest of the thirty-three-mile-wide entrance to the gulf is studded with reefs and rocks. Nothing bigger than a shallow-bottomed skiff or rowboat can get through anywhere but at the Cut.”

  Yozef didn’t initially respond, digesting Hetman Adris’s description. After almost a minute, he asked, “And this ‘Cut’ is a channel that allows—what? Large ships through? How large?”

  “We used to see an occasional trading ship come to Adris Harbor, though not since the Narthani blockaded the island. We do most of our fishing inside the gulf, but our fishing boats pass easily through the Cut. We’ve seen an occasional Narthani sloop in the gulf, and once what you call a frigate came in briefly and then left.”

  “I need to see a map of provinces around Adris!” Yozef blurted out. The men in the room looked around at one another, and several shrugged, especially those more familiar with Kolsko.

  Orosz left the room and returned a minute later with a map showing Orosz and Adris provinces, along with portions of adjacent provinces. Yozef looked at the map briefly, then went to a blackboard and drew a rough copy of the clan borders.

  “Let me see if I understand correctly. Here’s Orosz City backed up into the mountains. The approaching land from the south and west is flat and wide, except directly in front of the city, where there’s only three miles between the city and the river running along cliffs. Going east, the land broadens out and is flat on past Adris City. However, once at Adris City, the only easy land route out is back past Orosz City. Otherwise, the land is surrounded by mountains with passes supposedly easy to defend, and the long escarpment is probably even easier to defend. The sea route is open, but ships have to pass through a quarter-mile-wide gap in reefs and rocks to get into the gulf.”

  Yozef addressed Adris. “Where exactly is this line of reefs and rocks?”

  Adris rose, took the chalk from Yozef, and drew a line east to west across the closest pieces of land halfway down the gulf’s length. “The Cut is about forty miles from Adris City.”

  “And the passes?” asked Yozef. “How many are there leading to and from central Adris, and exactly how many could be defended to stop a Narthani army?”

  “There are four main passes through which roads run to other provinces. There are also a few lesser-used passes, but they either have no roads through them, or the roads are steep and never in good condition.”

  Yozef took another few minutes to look at the drawn map and think. When he turned to the waiting men, he apologized. “Sorry. It’s just that I’m now thinking that we may have a fourth potential battle site.”

  “Around Adris City?” asked Culich, shaking his head. “I don’t see how we can trap them there. There’s too much room. The open land around Adris City must be ten miles in all directions. Where is the trap?”

  “Not at Adris City,” said Yozef. “It’s here.” His finger pointed to the location of Orosz City.

  “Here!?” Hetman Orosz spluttered. “I don’t understand.”

  “I’ll grant that there are major problems with the idea, but here’s how it might go. We lure the Narthani army here. They’ll think we intend to make a stand at Orosz City, because it’s the closest to an island capital that exists. However, we don’t stand; we keep withdrawing toward Adris. Once they’re well past here, we block any patrols, scouts, or other contact back to Preddi Province. We continue withdrawing and pull back into the passes if necessary. The Narthani can’t be taking more than two sixdays of supplies with them. If they get to Adris City, they’ll expect to be resupplied by sea. If they can’t be, they’ll have to either try to cross the mountains or return on the same route past Orosz City, and that’s where we stand to fight.”

  “Where is the defensive position they have to attack that’s favorable to us?” asked Culich. His tone didn’t sound doubting as much as expectant—waiting for an explanation he assumed existed.

  “From the walls of Orosz City to the river. We would build fortifications to cover the three miles. And I know the next question. How? How are we to build such fortifications over three miles of flat land with no natural terrain advantages? The difference between here and the other three sites is people. Tomis, how many people do you expect to be within the walls on into the mountains through the cleft?”

  “Currently, we’re planning on ninety thousand, our own clanspeople and many from Adris, Hewell, Moreland, and Stent. The natural position of the city, with its walls and the mountains, makes this one of the most secure and defendable redoubts.”

  “Could you hold more?” asked Yozef.

  “More? How many more?”

  “You tell me. If you crammed in as many people as possible and had food for them, how many could Orosz City hold?”

  Tomis Orosz stroked his beard as he thought. “Well . . . I suppose if the people didn’t mind sleeping wall to wall or maybe outdoors in tents or other shelters, and if we moved enough food . . . maybe double the ninety thousand.”

  “So,” said Yozef, “with 180,000 people, that would be at least twenty thousand who could dig. That many people could move a hell of a lot of soil in only a few days. If the Narthani moved on to Adris City, then decided to withdraw back by Orosz City, that would probably take at least a sixday—maybe more if we harassed them and forced them to deploy numerous times. But at even a sixday, imagine twenty thousand people digging for their lives? Think about it. If one person moves three cubic yards of dirt in one day, twelve thousand workers can do more than one hundred thousand cubic yards in three days. We could plan a ditch four feet deep, twelve feet wide, and three miles long. That’s less than thirty thousand cubic yards, so it can be done. And that’s not counting using the graders we’re making for use at the Gap Site. Of course, that means the planning would have to be extensive and everything in place.”

  “Still too many ifs,” said Culich, “but I suppose everything we do is full of ifs.”

  Yozef held up both hands. “I’m not saying we add Orosz City to the list of battlefields,
but it’s worth thinking about. When Owill and Maera get here with the rest of the MIU, we can sit down and go over the possibilities in detail. Tomis, until they get here, it will help if you can tell us exactly how many people the Orosz City redoubt can handle and what would be required.”

  “I can do that,” said Orosz, “but we still have the question of the final set of battle sites to be prepared. If I’m hearing correctly, it will be the three already underway and possibly a fourth, if we decide to add Orosz City.” Orosz looked at the other three War Council members and Yozef.

  Bakalacs shrugged, Stent grunted, Culich nodded, and only Yozef spoke. “I think we’re in agreement.”

  Putting aside the Orosz City issue, the council proceeded to hear updates on preparations at the three definite sites being prepared: Moraine, Coast, and Gap. Then the hetmen overseeing the four areas of responsibility each updated his area: logistics, Orosz; personnel, Farkesh; intelligence, Keelan; and operations, Stent.

  After the session, Culich put a hand on Yozef’s arm to stop him from leaving the room. “What do you really think about the idea of adding Orosz City? Was that just talking ‘off the top of your head,’ as you use the expression, or were you serious?”

  Yozef laughed. “I’m afraid it was both. We certainly need more sites, and with none in central Caedellium, Orosz City is ideally placed. Yet all your reservations are justified. We won’t know more until we’ve had time to think this through more thoroughly. I still think the Moraine Site is our best chance.”

  “The one issue we didn’t talk more about,” said Culich, “was how to prevent the Narthani Navy from getting to Adris City through the Normot Cut. How do you propose to do that?”

  “Right. If we can’t do that, then the whole idea falls through, and we’re back to the three sites. As for how to block the Cut, here’s where our new Fuomi friends need to play a role—if they really are our friends.”