He informed the two about what was going to happen or what he expected to happen. The two kept close, keeping a distance of around ten to twelve feet from him. He knew the space between them will constrict as they follow their plan. Habrok was again to lead the withdrawal. Then they crouched back to the original position. Tyler first intended to lob ordinary fireballs in a tight formation but as many as he could comfortably manage. Once the proper range was determined, then he could launch successive fireball waves with stronger explosive levels. Until the enemy host detects them and rush their position.
Dear God, I’m scared right now, I don’t know if I am peeing in my pants. Please, please, let us survive. And let things go as planned.
Estimating the impact points, Tyler let fly the first wave. When they exploded, he could see the bright explosions through the fog and knew most missed the siege towers. He whispered Habrok’s name as loudly as he dared. Then released another volley of the same kind, adjusting his trajectory. He had to change his fusillade plan. Habrok arrived as the second volley hit, this time among the siege towers. He could see a few of the belfries, the enclosed top of the towers, starting to burn. He must have directly hit those towers. One thing about magical fire, they tend to stick around for a while, he thought, a bit like napalm. Not as terrifyingly gluey though.
“Yes, Sire?”
“Tell me how I am doing with the attacks. Can’t do casting and checking at the same time. I need to unload fire as fast as I can. Towers first and then wagons as well as the catapults!”
“Towers. Concentrate on your last area, Sire. From my recollection, the others are behind and in front of them.”
Tyler strengthened the power of his next detonations. When they hit, he was rewarded with the sight of several towers tottering and then falling into the ground, amid thunderous crashes and a whirlwind of fire and flying embers. Hope that got some wagons and catapults. And more of the enemy too.
“A lot have been hit, Sire. Some may be standing but I am sure they are on fire. The enemy is still disoriented. No movement towards us yet.”
He fired another volley again. And two weaker ones further out, trying to catch the fog-covered wagons and catapults. He was conscious about over-exerting himself. He found that as he had not exerted himself fully in the casting of the spells and in alternating their power, he was not as drained as he anticipated. He stopped casting and tried to let his body recover. He was still trying to determine how effective his attacks had been. But the fog and the smoke, not to mention his lack of experience, made it impossible for him to do so. The damage appeared great but he could be mistaken.
“Habrok, what do you see? Did we do as much damage as we intended?”
“For the towers, Sire. Most have been damaged for sure and a lot have fallen to the ground. But damage can be repaired if the tower is still strong enough to stand. The wagons and catapults in front must have sustained some damage. The ones at the back of the towers have barely been touched. I suggest we hit the wagons for now. Then the towers. Burning wagons may help burn the towers and frustrate salvage efforts.”
Tyler did as Habrok suggested. Two weak waves against the wagons behind the tower, taking care to distribute the shower of fire. Then a stronger one against the towers. Hopefully, some of the barrage reached the catapults and wagons in front. He did find it strange that no movement towards them have been initiated by the enemy so far.
“Sire, movement towards us from the rear encampments. I suggest we move now to the third position and deal with them first. At least delay them, before we continue with our attacks.”
Battle plans really do not survive the first encounter with the enemy.
Tyler didn’t respond but moved immediately to the last prepared position. He dissolved the prepared shapes in front of them. It seemed they won’t serve any purpose anymore. Better not leave any magical trace out of the ordinary. The enemy in front will be too busy with the fires and the reaction of the ones further up front will take time.
Reaching the last position, Tyler turned to Habrok.
“I see far off shapes but I can’t determine how far they are.”
“About a mile and a half, Sire. It’s just unfortunate the jotunn in charge had quick wits about him. But you have time to give the encampment in front of us a rainy day.”
Tyler smiled. He released two quick volleys and then a third after a while. Bright lights of flashing red and yellow flashed through the fog. Amid the booming detonations, he could dimly hear shouts of alarm, injury, and death. Turning to face where the field of wagons should be. He fired off another volley.
“Sire, they’re nearer. About a mile out. They’re fast. Very fast. Jotnar on vargar.”
He examined the incoming band. A reaction group, around fifty in the lead, more following. He quickly created shapes half a mile out. Again in two successive lines divided by what he trusted was fifty feet, the shapes spread enough to cover the frontage of the onrushing enemy. Some shapes he distributed between the two lines. He forced himself from the temptation of firing another barrage against the encampment and the wagons. He needed to conserve his strength.
As the van of the enemy neared the first line of shapes, he readied himself. He let them pass. When they came close to the second line, the rest were already within the first line. He swiftly infused the shapes and ignited them. All the shapes detonated at the same time. Another morbidly fascinating scene greeted Tyler, even for the short moments it played itself out. Illuminated by the detonations, carcasses and pieces of bodies were flying through the air even before the sound of the blasts reached him. The sound of the explosions was like the continued rolling of a drum. One could not separate one detonation from another. The slaughter was complete. Fifty or so beings gone in a heartbeat. For some reason, he was thankful for their quick demise. He didn’t know if he could bear hearing the agonized cries of the wounded and dying. He wasn’t that much of a veteran yet.
The suddenness of the carnage, complete in its death-dealing efficiency, clearly shocked Habrok. He was tongue-tied, unable to give the summary he was supposed to state after every action. Then Jorund came up.
“Sire, a lot of troops moving from the front-line encampments. About more than a mile out, quick movement but still spreading their formation. Vargar in front. Searching for us.”
Shit! That was frighteningly fast reaction. No time to use the second position. Good thing the head and the tail could not communicate. Otherwise, we would be up shit creek.
“We withdraw. While we have time. Now!”
Habrok took the lead as agreed. Tyler made sure to dissolve all the unused shapes. The three followed the trench back to their starting position and the fog closed behind them. As they moved through the ditch, Tyler could smell himself. He did pee in his pants.
CHAPTER LORE:
Talf – Old Norse. A Nordic board game similar to chess. A lot of variations exist.
Belfry - Clarification. Siege towers, or breaching towers as some call them, are also referred to as belfries. The term describes the enclosed and protected housing at the top of the siege equipment.
CHAPTER XVI
When Mountains Talk
Finally, they reached the cover of the forest on the other side of the stream. Catching their breath, they drank water and crammed what food they could in their mouths. In the adrenaline of the situation, it was tasteless. But only fools will not take advantage of a break in the middle of a battle.
Keeping prone, Tyler looked at the fog-covered area in front of them. No sight or sounds yet of pursuit. But the fog would have dampened any noise. He doubted if the dokkalfr would use torches. His two companions were quiet, though they moved to his sides. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded behind them.
“Well, lads. You’re a nice sight for trolls. Dirty, smelly and on your stomachs. Legs spread even.”
They could feel the silent laughter accompanying the lewd comment. Turning, Tyler did see Rumpr doubled up, keeping his mirth in c
heck. Oh, a joker.
“Did you see what they are doing?
“You’ve made a mess for them, that much is clear. Couldn’t get close enough, if that’s what you mean. Been busy closing those ditches. Wouldn’t be good if they found them. But most of them are still busy with the wrecks you left. A band is keeping watch near the burned area. Anyway, what are you still doing here?”
“Nowhere to run. If we try to escape through the forest, we’ll die tired and scared. The dokkalfr and jotnar will definitely overtake us. They’re faster and have better eyesight at night. Those wolves will never lose our scent once they start on this side. Better to stand and fight here.”
“With you smelling like that, even a blind vargyr could find you. But I never thought the three of you would be so eager to die. There’s still a buffet of enemies out there. Some from the front encampments are arriving. Stupid humans. With all this death for glory nonsense. Go straight back until you find the mountain before you. Wait for me there. Have to make sure the fog doesn’t lift so soon. And little ditches here and there. Hopefully, I get to maim some of them.”
Man, he may be a gnome. But a bloodthirsty one when it comes to the jotnar.
Tyler stood up and went on a fast jog in the direction pointed out by Rumpr. Habrok took the lead. He let him. His enhanced eyesight may be better than that of the ranger but the man’s woodlore was on a totally different level. The forest they were passing through was dark. Occasionally illuminated by the dim light of the waning moons whenever they passed through a clearing or the tops of the trees allow light to pass. But despite the darkness, he never felt any wariness about his surroundings, unlike the time they were approaching Bildsfell. It was as if the forest was allowing them passage.
Tyler was not keeping track of time anymore, all he cared about was reaching the base of the mountain. All he remembered was the number of breaks they had to take. Four in all. Good thing Jorund took with him the food and water they had left in their starting area. No discussions. No questions from anybody. No wisecracks from Habrok. Only a grunt now and then when one stumbled on something in the ground.
Finally, they reached the mountainside. True to form, trees formed a carpet of green beneath the mountain. Habrok picked his way among the trees until he found a spot where they could see the stone of the peak. The three stopped and rested, waiting for their host. The water was nearly gone, only a single waterskin remained. Each was quiet but watchful. Tyler for his part was feeling lost.
Another plan gone bust. Though I guess Rumpr’s idea is better. But I do wish I know where we’re going and what his plans are. Trusting him for now is a settled question. He did help us. The fact he wanted us to escape the enemy is a point in his favor. But going in blind into something new is an idea which is difficult to accept. And the jotnar with the dokkalfr. I wonder what damage did we cause? Will it give them pause? Give time for reinforcements to reach Scarburg? Is Scarburg still standing? Will it stand tomorrow’s battle if the enemy presses on?
He knew it would be pointless to send Habrok on another scouting mission. Once the enemy starts looking for them in earnest, nothing will be able to escape their attentive eyes. Rumpr appears to be an experienced warrior. And a very powerful being. He tried hard to hide it but Tyler could sense an immense aura of power from him. Not as powerful as that of Odin but nearly there. The only equal he could think of was Loki’s power. As to battle skills, he didn’t doubt the being had his own share of fighting in the past. The way he thought, given the circumstances, gave it away. Even the configuration of the ditches, the way they were laid out, showed the being’s competence.
Tyler looked around. He took in the dark surroundings. Their bedraggled and dirty appearance.
Back home, I would either be playing a game, surfing the net or reading by this time of the night. Getting ready for bed. Eating and drinking something. I miss Earth food. Junk food! I wonder how Aunt Emily is doing? I do hope, no, pray, that she’s okay. The only positive things I can think of by being in this world instead of Earth are I never have to pay taxes again or worry about credit card bills. Though I think I yet have to see this world’s butcher’s bill.
They must have been waiting for a while as Tyler saw Habrok stand up and explore their surroundings. Jorund went back to his battle-ready mode. Even Tyler felt rested though something awful was itching in his buttocks.
“Hello, ladies! Sorry took me a while. Had to cover your scent and tracks.”
Rumpr dropped into their midst from a tree branch.
“They're scouring the burned forest now. A lot of them. With mages too. Saw one step into a narrow ditch. Broke his leg I assume,” gleefully reported Rumpr. This miniature Tarzan must really hate them.
“Now to hide you lot.” Rumpr moved to the stone face of the mountain and placed both hands on it. A narrow opening appeared. Not enough for them to enter standing.
“Move inside. Sorry about the size but it would be enough for you to crawl in. Yes, you can use a light spell, mage,” said the being, preempting Tyler’s question.
“Move along. There’s a small cave at the end. I will meet you there. And DON’T ATTACK ANYTHING! That’s very important!
Tyler created a lamp and passed it on to Habrok. Not too bright an illumination, otherwise they’ll be blinded while crawling. Habrok fashioned something around the lamp to make it cast its light forward. With that, the three crawled inside, Tyler again in the middle. Poor Jorund. He gets to smell pee, thought Tyler, a bit embarrassed. He did notice Jorund keeping some distance behind him.
As they crawled, Jorund whispered that he could see the opening and the crawl space closing as they progressed deeper into the cave. A slight bit of fear amid the wonderment marked Jorund’s tone. Though Tyler noticed that the floor was smooth. No buried rocks, stone ridges, or jagged pebbles hindered them. In contrast, the sides felt roughly made. Though their armor protected them from any cuts and bruises from it. Eventually, they reached a small cave. With Habrok removing the lamp’s cover, Tyler could now see that it was more of a hollow than a cave. Enough for five to six men to stand up straight and walk around in comfort but that’s all. No exits could be seen. Tyler started to worry about the available air.
After the three explored the hollow, they sat down and waited. Though they started to clean themselves up as best as they could, removing dried mud and stuck leaves from their bodies and armor. In a short while, Rumpr appeared from another opening. Tyler could have sworn there was solid rock there before.
“They haven’t moved across the stream yet, a little birdie told me. So now what’s your plan?” asked Rumpr, looking at Tyler. The landvaetter had already sat down on his own rock, fashioned like a tree stump. He noticed the two also looking at him.
“I need to see what the enemy is doing. What damage we have done, their mode of approach, an idea of their numbers, what siege equipment are left. Only after that can I have an idea of what to do.” As if I have an idea now. This is really winging it.
“You don’t have that “standing and dying” idea anymore, I hope?”
“As long as an alternative presents itself, Rumpr. I had hoped to disrupt their initial attack on Scarburg. I believe we have done that. Then damage or destroy as much as possible their rations, other equipment, and siege weapons to delay or make more difficult their attempt to take the town. And give time for reinforcements to arrive. I don’t know how effective our night visitation was. I don’t also know if the aid from Ahrensburg and other settlements have arrived. But one thing I do know. I need information about the enemy as they stand now.”
“No plans to attack the twelve to fourteen thousand enemies all by your threesome, with all that death and glory drivel?”
“Heh. Not if I can help it.”
“Good! Then let’s get you your information! Could you two warriors kindly move over here?”
The two obeyed and found places to sit beside Tyler. Rumpr moved to the front.
The Accidental Archmage: Book One - Ragnarok Rising (MOBI EDITION) Page 33