by Sam Barone
Esk kar found Corio checking the ropes on the parapets that stretched across the gate, Alcinor at his side. The upper, smaller one sagged in the middle under its load of stones. The lower, wider and better supported, held an even greater weight of men and stones. Corio looked ready to collapse from the strain. Fear showed on the faces of both father and son in the torchlight. Today the master builder’s wall and gate would face their greatest challenge.
As Esk kar watched, a line of villagers passed buckets of water up to the top of the gate, where others gently upended them in a slow stream designed to soak its outer face. That process would continue all day, to keep the wood as wet as possible.
“The night before a battle is always a long one, Corio,” Esk kar said reassuringly.
“We’re nearly ready, Captain,” Corio answered, his voice pitched higher than normal. “Only a few more tasks…”
“You’ve plenty of time.” These men needed calming more than anything else. “Try and rest, or you’ll be useless when you are most needed.
Once the battle begins, you’ll be too busy to worry about anything.”
Before they could reply he walked past them to enter the north tower.
As he climbed the still — dark steps, he called out greetings, letting the men know he’d arrived, sensing rather than seeing the relief on their faces.
When he reached the top, the sentries cleared a place for him at the wall.
Esk kar had spent much of yesterday at this same spot, watching for any hint of the barbarians’ plans. He’d stared at the enemy camp until midnight, when Gatus demanded he get some rest. Esk kar left the wall, but only when they promised to awaken him three hours before sunrise.
He didn’t expect to sleep, but his body surprised him and he fell asleep moments after lying down, an arm thrown over his eyes as if to keep the dawn away as long as possible.
Now the time for sleep had passed. Esk kar looked toward the eastern sky. He thought he could detect a lighter shade of blackness. Lowering his eyes, he saw the line of the hills etched sharply against the glow of Alur Meriki fires. Nothing moved atop those hills. In front of the hills, darkness still covered the plain.
Leaning against the wall, Esk kar waited for the fi rst glimmer of dawn.
He closed his eyes and concentrated on his hearing. Though the hills lay more than a mile away, he could hear faint sounds of activity and knew preparations would have continued throughout the night. He recognized the rumble of wagons mixed with the occasional neighing of a skittish horse, frightened as it moved through the darkness, uncertain of its step or startled by torches that snapped and hissed. There would be plenty of fire to light their preparations, but only behind the hills, giving the defenders no glimpse of what lay hidden.
Behind him he heard the tread of feet on the steps. Men moved beside and behind him as the soldiers filled their positions on the wall. The archers said little, as if they feared words would hasten the dawn or disturb the enemy.
“Well, Captain of the Guard, it sounds like barbarians are on the move out there.” Gatus had returned, his loud voice breaking the spell. “They’ll come early today, I think. We’ve been hearing movement from behind the hills all night.”
Esk kar turned to face his second in command. In the torchlight, he saw most of his subcommanders. Sisuthros, Maldar, Grond, Totomes, even Myandro and a few others. Bantor remained at the courtyard, too weak to do much more than sit at a table and help coordinate the reserves.
Along the wall everyone watched and waited. Each wanted to be first to learn what the day had in store for them. The soldiers remained silent as the false dawn ebbed in the east, but they pressed forward as the stars began to disappear.
The noise coming from the plain increased, more horses moving about, the faint clink of sword and lance, the deeper groaning of cart wheels.
The hilltops seemed to move and waver in the dim glow. The sky began to lighten, with tiny fingers of red and gold reaching up into the darkness, then a broad stream of sunlight flowed into the heavens as the first rays of true dawn swept into the sky.
The edge of the sun appeared over the hills and bathed the plain with soft, reddish light that revealed the enemy’s movements at last. Esk kar saw wagons everywhere along the top of the hills, all moving slowly but purposefully down toward the plain, fi nding their positions and gathering themselves for the long journey toward Orak’s walls. Hundreds of men pulled and pushed at the carts, assigned to make sure each wagon reached its destination. Warriors walked alongside the wagons.
Many in the front ranks carried no weapons and Esk kar realized that slaves and captives would be human shields to protect the warriors. Huge shields appeared everywhere, each large enough to protect three or four men, carried at each end by warriors or slaves. Not many rode their horses today, and those on horseback moved toward the flanks of the village, away from the main gate.
Esk kar stared in wonder at the number of men coming toward them.
They’d killed hundreds of warriors and yet the enemy still had so many to send into battle. “And so it begins,” he said, more to himself than to those standing beside him.
Only Gatus heard the odd remark and the old soldier turned toward him. “I care not how it begins, only how it ends. And we’ll know that soon enough.”
“They fight on foot today,” Sisuthros commented. “No more wild charges. They’ll be easy targets and our archers will cut them to shreds.”
“It looks like every wagon in their camp is coming our way,” Gatus said.
“They intend to bring them to the very edge of the ditch and fight from behind them.”
“And the sun will be in our eyes the whole time.” Totomes’s accent still sounded strange after all these weeks. “A long morning for our archers.”
“They’re coming right toward the gate.” Sisuthros shaded his eyes with his hands. “And smoke is coming from the wagons. They carry fire.”
Esk kar watched the Alur Meriki as they deployed their men in a slow but orderly fashion. No signs of confusion today, no aimless galloping back and forth, no loud boasting from the riders, only a few warriors on horseback directing men who pulled or pushed their loads. Thutmose — sin had prepared well. They’d had enough weeks to get ready.
Esk kar worried about the number of wagons and their wooden burdens. He’d burned an enormous amount of wood two nights ago, yet it all appeared to have been replaced.
“Look at the size of those shields,” Gatus marveled. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
Just crossing the distant hilltops, ten or twelve men appeared carrying a huge wooden shield, maybe six paces wide and twice as long. They looked like those he and Grond had burned.
Esk kar studied them for a long moment. “I think they’re platforms to lay across the mud. They plan to cross the ditch on those. There’s more of them on the wagons.”
Nobody spoke for a moment, as each commander contemplated what these unusual implements would mean. It seemed that today the attackers would be the ones with new tactics.
“Totomes,” Esk kar said, “do your archers have any fire arrows?”
“No, Captain, we didn’t think they’d be necessary.”
“Better start making them. A lot of them.”
“Yes, Captain.” Totomes started down the tower’s steps.
“Good hunting today, Totomes.” If the man heard him, he didn’t bother to reply. Esk kar turned back to his men.
“Sisuthros, get Nicar and anyone else you can find. Have them gather torches and as much of the oil that burns, if we’ve any left. Bring everything to the gate. We may have to burn these wagons and platforms ourselves.”
He looked intently at each man for any sign of panic or fear, but saw only determination. “Everyone get to your positions and tell your men what’s coming. The more they know what to expect, the less likely they’ll be to panic.”
As Gatus started down the steps, he grabbed one of Esk kar’s bodyguar
ds. “Make sure he puts on his helmet and wears as much leather as you can find, or I’ll personally have your head.”
Esk kar smiled at the old man’s worries. It was a waste of time to argue with him. Turning back to the wall, he studied the advancement before him, shading his eyes. Horses, men, and wagons now covered the plain, all moving slowly, the leading edge already halfway to Orak. Before long the foremost barbarians would be in range and today the arrows would start as soon as possible.
Behind him men began shouting and moving about. He heard Totomes giving orders to his archers, including those who would target only clan leaders. His two sons would target little else. Well, Totomes, this is your day for taking your revenge on the Alur Meriki. By sunset, no matter how it ended, the master archer and his sons would slay more than enough of their foes to satisfy their blood feud.
Esk kar scanned the plains. Two streams of riders, backed by archers and men carrying ladders, moved toward the north and south walls. They’d try and draw soldiers away from the gate and towers. The bulk of the Alur Meriki came straight at the gate. They meant to bridge the ditch by pushing wagons and wooden platforms into place until they could attack the gate itself. Wagons and shields would provide protection for their archers.
Looking at the hills, he saw men still coming from the camp, but fewer of them. Almost all those in the front ranks were weaponless slaves, many of them women. They pushed wagons, or carried wood or pots of fire.
The Alur Meriki considered the slaves expendable, since a new supply could be obtained once they captured the village. So nothing would be held back today-every slave that could walk and every man that could hold a weapon. Esk kar signaled to one of the messengers kneeling against the wall. “Find one of the scribes and try to get a count of their fighting men.”
How many men did Thutmose — sin have left? At least a thousand, Eskkar guessed. The horde in front of the village slowed, stopping just out of bowshot as they found their stations and took up their shields, preparing to face the arrows they knew awaited them.
Only silence came from the enemy. There would be little shouting or taunting, no eager war cries. They’d learned their lessons and knew they faced hardened soldiers who would not easily yield. They’d miss the joy of battle, Esk kar decided, no quick slaughter of men on foot, no feats of horsemanship, just moving forward into the rain of arrows.
Esk kar understood why they didn’t use the horses. They’d lose too many, more than they could replace. He smiled at that thought. Thutmose — sin must be worried about how big a price he’d pay today, even in victory.
The Alur Meriki leader must have a victory, and it must be cheap enough to satisfy those who hoped for his failure.
We just have to give them a reason to turn back, and some will take it.
Calls for silence moved up and down the walls as Totomes and his men finished testing their bows. The master archer had no more instructions for his men and needed no orders from Esk kar to tell him when and what to shoot. Huge stocks of arrows stood ready and the archers would begin loosing shafts as soon as they could, for as long as they could bend a bow, until every last arrow was gone.
Esk kar nodded in approval. He’d done all he could, and now the arms of his archers would determine whether Orak stood or fell.
He felt a gentle tap on his arm and turned, surprised to find one of the women standing there. At first he didn’t comprehend her words, then he saw the water jug in her hand. An elderly matron, she had long gray hair that blew around her shoulders in the light breeze. The jug’s weight made her hands tremble. She’d carried her burden first to him, bypassing others on her way.
Esk kar took the jug and lifted it to his lips. He didn’t feel particularly thirsty yet, but the sun already warmed the wall and the full heat of the day would be on them soon enough. So he took a long drink and returned a much lighter vessel to the woman.
“Thank you, elder,” he said, not knowing her name, as he wiped his mouth with his hand.
“Good fortune,” she answered soberly. “My sons fight with you this day. So bring us victory.” She didn’t wait to hear his reply, moving down the wall with her water, a task she would perform throughout the long day or until an arrow took her down.
Behind her stepped Grond, newly promoted leader of the captain’s personal guard, carrying Esk kar’s copper helmet, now painted brown to look similar to the leather ones. He handed it to his captain, as well as a leather vest and gauntlets for his arms. Esk kar fastened them on his body, taking care to lace them properly, letting Grond help him. The other bodyguard handed Grond a thick leather collar.
“I’ll not wear that.” Esk kar shook his head. “It itches, and I feel like I’m in a noose.”
“I’m sorry, Captain, but Gatus and Lady Trella insisted.” Grond stared at him. “Or we’ll have to carry you from the wall. The enemy will be targeting you and we don’t want you to take an arrow in the throat.”
Esk kar could have browbeaten the bodyguards, who looked nervous.
But so long as Grond stood firm, they’d obey orders to carry off their captain. For a moment Esk kar’s annoyance flashed, but Grond waited patiently, meeting his eyes, still offering up the collar. Esk kar felt tempted to take it and pitch it over the wall, but that would be childish. Besides, Grond would probably climb down into the ditch to retrieve it.
Esk kar ground his teeth and jerked the collar out of Grond’s hand, then wrapped it around his neck. Immediately it began to chafe. Grond stepped around him to fasten the laces. “Make it loose, damn you. I don’t want to choke to death.”
Grond knew his business and the nearly three inches of stiff leather sat on the base of Esk kar’s neck, loose but capable of deflecting, with luck, an arrow. That duty done, Grond nodded to the two bodyguards and they moved in front of Esk kar, bringing their wooden shields up to rest on the wall.
Esk kar would be able to peer between and over them, but the thick wood would shield most of his body. More men moved into position, including two special marksmen assigned by Totomes. These archers looked grim as they glanced at their captain. Their job was to kill anyone targeting Esk kar.
A messenger arrived, breathing hard, eyes wide as he reported to Eskkar. “Captain, Corio says there are at least eleven hundred armed men coming toward us, with about five hundred slaves.”
“Send word to the command post.” Esk kar spoke calmly, though he swore to himself at the number. He hadn’t thought they had that many warriors left. They must have recalled every outrider and pressed into service all the old men and young boys. Or perhaps another raiding party had joined them. Wherever they came from, it would be a lot of men to stop.
“Already done, Captain,” the boy answered.
Esk kar thanked the boy who moved aside, wedging himself out of the way in an empty space near the back of the tower. Out on the plain, a drum began to beat. Everyone turned toward the sound. The Orak bowmen looked nervous, almost anxious to get on with the battle. Their day had come and they’d be put to the test in the next few hours.
The barbarian horsemen moved to the flanks, staying just out of range.
They’d try to keep as much pressure on the other walls as possible. They’d probe for any weak points, and they had enough men to mount a rush. But their primary task was to draw off as many defenders from the main gate as possible.
Meanwhile the main force of Alur Meriki paused, crowded together, carts ready, and wooden shields lifted on high. Suddenly the drum changed its rhythm. With a few shouts the mass of slaves, warriors, horsemen, and carts began to move. Esk kar glanced up at the sun, well above the horizon.
An hour had passed since dawn.
The men on the wall fell silent. All eyes focused ahead as they took their stances and put arrows to the string, waiting for Totomes’s order. The tall archer took his time. He waited until the thick block of men reached the range of even the weakest of his archers before giving the command.
That order echoed along th
e rest of the wall, as the first flight of arrows told everyone the battle for Orak had begun.
The main wall held just two hundred and twenty archers, with the rest spread thinly along the other three walls. They faced at least seven hundred warriors heading straight for the gate, plus the mass of slaves used as shields and beasts of burden, well over a thousand men.
Arrows rattled up into the sky, flight after flight. His men were loosing between fifteen and eighteen arrows a minute. Out on the plain barbarians fell to the earth but the wagons kept coming, slowed for a moment as one or two men went down, but moving steadily forward.
So far no one fired back, but that would soon change. The enemy advanced, stoically absorbing the losses. War cries sounded on all sides now, as warriors raced their animals along the north and south walls.
The drumbeat quickened. The barbarians broke into a run, driving their slaves in front of them by the flat of their swords. Before long the leading edge of Alur Meriki knelt in the dirt and planted their shields about fifty paces from the ditch, as archers moved up behind the protection and began to return fire.
For their shorter bows it was still long range, and the advantage lay with the defenders, aided by their stronger bows and the height of the wall. But already more than three hundred enemy warriors plied their bows and began to score hits, even at that distance. The wagons still advanced.
An arrow whistled past Esk kar’s head. Totomes directed his men to target the men advancing the wagons. Men went down again and again, but others took their places.
Esk kar grimaced. Most of these were slaves, not even warriors, forced to labor until an arrow took them. To turn away meant facing the swords and lances of warriors behind them. At last the first of the wagons, one piled high with planks nailed together and showing scorch marks on its high sides, reached the edge of the ditch. The attack would begin in earnest now.
An arrow glanced off Esk kar’s copper helmet and a moment later another brushed his right arm, gouging the stiff leather. Grond pulled him down behind the shield, then ordered the archers to kill those who aimed at their captain. Esk kar saw a sudden flurry of activity behind the first wagon, already sprouting a thicket of arrows as defenders shot at every barbarian around it.