Marhyn’s army had only burned the cornfields to the north, they had not actually attacked the town itself yet, and this was a blessing indeed. Now, Cilio’s forces had Marhyn trapped between a weak force and a strong force. Garseon was soon at the perimeter of the town, and he quickly found the building he was looking for. It was an easy task for one who was required to know every building in Daranor, who built it, with what materials, secret exits, location, and purpose. Garseon opened the door to the iron forge and then quickly descended the steps to the basement. It was here that he found Baron Koy’s son, Verg. Verg was busy presiding over plans for the city’s defense when the invading hordes came.
The Guard noiselessly descended the steps to the basement, going over everything in his head to make sure he got it right the first time. Baron Koy was with General Cilio’s army, and so Garseon would have to take over from Koy’s son. As he entered the fire-lit room, he cleared his throat. This was a necessary step, no one had seen, heard, or felt him enter. Four figures whom Garseon immediately recognized turned to look at him. There was not a little bit of surprise on their faces, most town business was conducted in the town hall, and the blacksmith’s office was only used for matters of great importance and secrecy. Garseon nodded, and then greeted each one by name. There was Verg, of course, and then Gwerth, Baron Koy’s chief advisor. Next, he shook hands with Kevin, the blacksmith who was leader of one of the most powerful industries in Ruf, and Jeq, the leader of the farmers, the other important member of the town council. All were bewildered at this new stranger, whom none knew. The Guard were, of course, required to learn by face the most influential people in the realm, their histories and any hidden sympathies. Garseon knew from their records that these were all good men.
Garseon lost no time in beginning. “Hello,” he greeted, “my name is Johnston, and I’m a military scout with King Garkin’s army. I have been sent to help coordinate the defense of this city, as we have no time to lose. Where have you sent those not willing or able to fight?”
“As a matter of fact,” Verg broke in, “We were just discussing that very point. They have been ordered to get ready, and should be ready shortly. We were thinking about sending them west.”
“You will send them west,” Garseon replied, with a little too much authority. He should let the others make the decisions, as long as they chose correctly. A Guard was never allowed to betray his position. “Send them to Synthy. General Cilio has observed that there are no enemy forces in that area and the people of Synthy have been preparing for an influx of refugees since he sent them a messenger. They will have plenty of extra food and shelter available.”
Verg nodded. Garseon had to be careful, he knew, because Verg was a little impatient. Eighteen years, that age of fire and yearnings to be a man, that was Verg’s age. He was hungry for power, and Garseon didn’t want to spoil his turn at command.
The meeting proceeded for another half hour, and Garseon revealed that two hundred men from Cilio’s command would join them later that evening, if they managed to elude Marhyn’s army. Then they made plans to defend the city only as long as possible without losing the superior position, and then the men should fall back into hiding and let Cilio’s larger and better trained army take over and win, thus sparing their lives. This much said, they went to work designing barricades, erecting ramparts, and positioning men for the battle they knew was coming with the dawn.
The day dawned calm, not a voice shattered the solemn silence. Garseon had been awake for a few hours, going over the final preparations for the defense of the town. The reinforcements from General Cilio’s army had arrived shortly after midnight, and had been trying furtively to secure whatever sleep they could before the long day they had in front of them. Baron Koy had come back with the reinforcements, and had taken control of the force defending the town. He had been up with Garseon, making sure everything would work out right. As he looked over the smoldering remains of the once immense grain fields that he had worked his entire life to build up, the elder noble looked ragged, yet ready.
They hoped that Marhyn’s horde would ignore their little town and instead concentrate their strength on Cilio’s much larger force. That way the town would be saved and the Koy’s force could attack the back of Marhyn’s army. Their hope was a faint one, however, and soon was shattered, just as the evil harsh sounds of the goblin battle horns shattered the early morning stillness.
Marhyn opened the day by striking southward into Ruf. They apparently hoped to wipe the baron’s men off the map as soon as possible so that they would not have to fight long on two fronts. Cilio for his part quickly attacked Marhyn’s rear. The back half of her army then turned to face him.
The hordes of goblins and mercenary men that streamed into the town soon met the first barricade. Perched atop it were archers and men who hurled boulders and hot oil down upon the goblins. Their sheer numbers soon overcame the heroic efforts of the defenders, who then fell back and set fire to the hastily constructed obstruction. The heat of the flames stalled Marhyn’s army, who were forced to wait until they died down before continuing. The men of Ruf had no scruples about destroying their property. Not a man among them had any illusions about what this day would bring; their town would be annihilated. That much had been certain as soon as Marhyn had decided to attack. The only question was how long they could hold out for and force Marhyn to fight on two fronts.
The next charge into the town brought men on horseback. Marhyn now wanted to take the town as quickly as possible. These mounted riders were just what Garseon had hoped for, however. When they charged into the town center, he released the second defense; with the cutting of a rope, hundreds of spiked logs rose from the ground diagonally right in front of the horsemen. Screaming as they saw the certainty of their own death, the riders and their beasts could not stop before slamming into the spikes and impaling themselves.
The confusion in the town had wiped out the organization of the defenders, however, and now it was just a free for all. Bodies were flying everywhere, and Garseon knew it was only a short time before Baron Koy gave the ultimate retreat order. Until then, he held his ground. A goblin swung a long broadsword at him, and Garseon ducked under the blade, then came up and threw a cloud of dust into the goblin’s face. The dust sparkled for a moment, and then exploded into a vicious ball of fire.
Garseon saw Verg on his right, insanely battling three goblins and two men. He was fighting like a madman, and enemies kept falling around him. Behind him, a burly man lifted his sword…
“Tat tat tat” Garseon fired three quick shots from his blowgun and that man and two others died standing up. Verg didn’t even notice, he just kept on fighting.
Garseon was wondering why Baron Koy did not sound his horn and give the order to retreat. It was obviously past time. Garseon engaged two more goblins and a troll, who had now come forward to join the fray. Soon all three were dead.
Garseon heard a feeble voice call his name. “Johnston…” He whirled and saw Baron Koy, lying in a pool of his own blood. He had lost a leg and had a gaping wound in his chest. Even the Guard had no medical skills to combat something like this. Garseon hurried over and took the dying baron in his arms. Koy looked right into his eyes, and at that moment of death his eyes unnerved Garseon more that anything he had ever seen. The hardened Guard took a step back in shock. When he looked again, the baron was dead. Garseon picked up the horn and falteringly blew it. The horn cracked at first, but soon gave forth a clear, strong note.
The overdue order for retreat being called, the men lost no time carrying it out. They hurried away and massed in the grassland outside of the town.
“Wait,” Verg cried to Garseon. “I have to go back for my father. I can’t just leave him in there…”
“Your father is dead,” the Guard responded. “I saw it.”
“I know he is dead,” the boy spat back, grabbing onto his arm. “I need the body! It is our honor that has been taken.”
“It’
s all over now,” Garseon said quietly, ripping free his arm and setting off the third defense. He flicked the edge of his flint with his dagger, sending a spark into the kerosene soaked wick that led into the town that had been drenched with fuel and sprinkled with Garseon’s exploding powder. Verg had tears in his eyes as the town exploded, incinerating those from Marhyn’s army who were still inside, sending waves of heat onto the faces of the surviving defenders, and burning away his memories.
* * *
The battle raged on past midday and into the afternoon without much changing of positions by either side. Cilio had observed Lithar Lifehater on his horse behind the lines of Marhyn’s army. Indeed, if she was not commanding it, as now looked to be the case, Cilio was sure that he must be the leader. Although, the fact that he still did not see the Dark Lady disturbed him immensely.
General Lifehater had been playing it rather conservatively, and since Cilio had the superior numbers, he was willing to let him play that game. Cilio knew that he probably could send his army in one huge rush and decimate Marhyn’s force, but instead he bided his time. A straight charge would lose him men, since Marhyn would only have to defend her position. So he contented himself with waiting and slowly destroying their army with tit for tat tactics. Cilio had about three times as many men as Lithar and with luck the battle would be over by a few hours after dark. He preferred to fight in the light—Cilio didn’t want any surprises. Besides, his men were tired from a long day of battle. So he decided that if he saw a break, then he would go for it. If not, then he would order the men to withdraw for the day and attack again the next morning. That way, if Lithar wanted to pursue, Cilio would be on the defensive and Lithar would be at a disadvantage.
Atop his horse, Cilio’s eagle eyes scanned the battlefield, looking for any sign of the break in Marhyn’s lines that would allow him to send his army in and separate her line in half. A surrounded army was as good as destroyed if it did not break free. Cilio had enough men to easily surround Marhyn if he could only split her line into two.
Suddenly a great ogre that had been holding a particularly stubborn section of her line fell, with swords sticking out all over his body. That was all Cilio needed to see. Lightning quick, he dug his heels into his horse and galloped forward, calling for the men to charge in the direction he was pointing his sword. The weary army was a little surprised at the suddenness of the order after hours of waiting for it, but they quickly regained composure and rushed forward into the gap.
General Lithar’s army was also surprised at the abruptness of the charge. In that second, all their iron determination and fear of the Dark Lady melted away, and they broke and ran like cowards. Cilio’s army cheered loudly and rushed into the void. Cilio reigned in his horse and let the soldiers rush past him.
As the original confusion died down, Cilio surveyed the scene. In what appeared to be an anarchical retreat, Cilio now saw that some had run backward and formed a new line two hundred meters away, and some had instead ran to the left or right. Cilio saw it now. They had been lured into a pinchers move and now Marhyn’s army was forming a V and Cilio was trapped inside. Marhyn’s army could now attack both of their exposed sides. Cilio whirled his horse and began to call for his army to get out of there. They still had time before the trap closed.
The cry for retreat died in his throat. Coming at them from the north was a hideous army of beasts from nightmares. There was every kind of terror: black serpents, ogres, trolls, fish with legs, things too horrible to mention and impossible to describe. They effectively sealed off the mouth of the V and enclosed General Cilio and his army in a triangle. At their head, perched upon a massive black dragon, was Queen Marhyn herself.
A BATTLE AT NIGHT
General Cilio lost no time wondering neither how he had been lured into check nor how Marhyn had concealed her army from him in the goblin caves of the Tabletop Plateau. Those things had already happened, it was not important how, only that they did. Now was the time for action, there was no time to lose. “Right! All men veer to the right and charge! We must break through!” Cilio screamed as he thrust his sword into the air to the right. He knew that one of the sides of the V would be the weakest, since the mouth that had just appeared was fresh and filled with formidable monsters and Queen Marhyn herself. Right was better than left because it was also west, and if they controlled the west they could send their wounded back to the refugee camp in Synthy.
Cilio did not anticipate any problems breaking through Marhyn’s line. Once his commanders had reorganized his force and he had sent his best units to the front, it was only a short matter of time before he broke through. Cilio also sent his wild cards, Yan and Yonathan. Since the destruction of his hometown, Yonathan had grown more eager than ever to repay the enemy. Cilio usually did not trust fanatics with his most valuable possessions, but his gut feeling told him to go with this one. So he decided to arm Yonathan with the Light Sword. Now that they must break through the lines with all speed, Cilio was at least glad that somebody had it.
Breaking through took more time than Cilio would have wanted. Marhyn had anticipated that he would turn right, and she had stacked her line. But the line had never been intended to stop him, only to hold him long enough so she could attack from all sides long enough to cause serious and irreversible damage. It did not work. Cilio brought his army onto the plain with only minimal losses.
As Cilio turned his army to face Marhyn’s, which had now massed together, he saw that he was only slightly outnumbered, by about five thousand for her to his three thousand five hundred. But many of her force were monsters and this rendered his estimation meaningless, because he didn’t know how many monsters would be equal to one man. Cilio turned and saw Yan, Yonathan and the Duke of Walis come up to stand by him. At least all his commanders were there to help him decide what to do next. “Are our chains of command still intact?” Cilio asked the first question, and nods greeted him from all three leaders. He feared the answer to the next question more, however. “What is the condition of the men?”
“Their morale is high, but they are fatigued and have not eaten all day.” Walis replied. “We need to rest, but can fight if there is no other way. They hope that the next developments will wait until morning.” Yan and Yonathan nodded that their men were in much the same condition, although Yonathan himself had a look that said he was eagerly anticipating the next rush.
Cilio made his decision quickly. “Send one third of the force into the front with orders to wait and repulse the enemy if they attack. Of course, we will much prefer if they wait to attack, but I seriously doubt it. She knows that we are fatigued. The other two thirds should be sent to the back and given food and rest for one hour. After that, they will switch for one more hour. When they have all had their rest, we will see about attacking. During the first two hours, we must feel out her army and see what these beasts can do. Go, quickly.” With these words, the three commanders went to carry out his orders.
The line held for the first hour without much incident. It appeared Marhyn was trying to let Cilio think that she had finished for the day, only to explode when he let his guard down and set up camp for the night. Either that or she was planning something. Cilio vainly hoped the Dark Lady herself and her massive dragon would not be able to make a large difference in the fight.
The second hour was much the same, with Marhyn sending out small thrusts and charges that included both monsters and men, but they were all repulsed by Cilio and his men. It was at the beginning of the third hour that Marhyn realized that she must send a powerful attack or her advantage of night and fatigue would soon dissolve.
Cilio had ordered the lesser magicians to light balls of fire that hovered over the army, thus giving them just enough light to see by. He had to be cautious, however, or they would expend themselves, and they might need magic in the coming battle.
Cilio wished Zelin and the rest of the army were still with him. Then he would be able to easily rout Marhyn’s force. He inwa
rdly cursed himself for not bringing more men.
Marhyn and Cilio had positioned their armies in lines that went roughly north-south, with Marhyn’s army on the east side and Cilio’s on the west. At the south side of Cilio’s line was a small grassy knoll, which rose to less then thirty feet in height, but was nevertheless the highest ground on the otherwise flat battlefield. It was on this small hill that Marhyn first attacked.
It wasn’t a particularly strong thrust, only about two thousand men or so, but it was the largest so far. Cilio sent Walis’s and Yonathan’s thirds to deal with it. The two sides flew into each other, a mass of swords and men, monsters and blood. Using his trained eye, Cilio could tell the fight was about even. Marhyn and her minions were more rested, and they had the use of horrible monsters, but the men of the kingdom had superior numbers and organization. After a tense fifteen minutes, Cilio could tell that they were about to repulse the attack, but before they could, Marhyn sent about another thousand into Cilio’s left side. Cilio was about to rush troops there, but he had the feeling that it was just a diversion. So he left Yan and his third to handle it.
Soon he saw that he was right. The remaining two thousand of Marhyn’s army charged into the original attack point on his right. He left Yan to handle the left side and spurred his horse on to the knoll, which was luckily still controlled by his men, although they were losing ground every minute.
The battles on the front lines were fierce. But that night, the king’s men fought with uncommon inspiration. They hammered and hacked at all sorts of monsters, making Marhyn earn every inch of territory she got. By the end of the hour, it was about three thousand to four thousand. The odds had closed. If the king’s men lost the hill, however, the battle could shift. The forces were evenly matched; Lithar Lifehater was a skilled commander as well. Cilio’s army could not match the magic of the Dark Lady’s minions.
Lands of Daranor: Book 01 - DreamQuest Page 26