Achil & The Rise Of The Mandrake
Page 20
Chapter XIII
Lines of Defence
The city of Findolin was unnaturally quiet. The King was lying awake in his private chambers. He could not remember the last time he had a restful night. He turned and stared out onto the balcony. A small breeze rustled the net curtains in front of the archway. For many nights now the King had found it difficult to settle; in the end he got up and went over to his desk next to the archway, as he approached it, he glanced out, all was cloaked in darkness. From his high tower he could look out over the city. The Mandrake had let plague and hunger try to wither their resolve; but the people had stood firm. It felt like an age since Agoran and the others had left for the enemy camp and still there was no news. They had seen the Siege engines being built and formidable they were too; he knew that the Mandrake would strike soon and there was nothing to stop them. The King walked out onto the balcony there he saw even at this hour people going about their business as though the worries that were currently consuming the city did not concern them, the people had learnt to disguise their fears well. Today he would have to check with his Council of Ministers; they had been developing what they referred to as a Dragon Chamber which spewed fourth fire, a living flame. The hope was that it would turn the war in their favour, if only they had time to finish it.
The sun began to rise; it lifted the dark shadow that stretched out over the enemy camp. And then the King noticed something different, the Siege engines had been moved up under cover of night by the Orochi. A gong sounded and was answered by one in a different part of the city. The day had arrived that they had all anticipated.
Riders raced throughout the city shouting and blowing their horns as they went.
“Arise Findolin, arise, the hour has come, the enemy is upon us.”
After so many false dawns this was it. The King leapt back inside, his attendants having heard the cry go out had entered his room so as to help him put his armour on. It was not long before he was leaving for the defence of his city. At his door as he made his way down the winding stair he was joined by two of his personal guard who followed quickly after him. People who had just been setting off to work were running to arm themselves. The King raced across the cobbled streets, passed alleys and avenues; he was frantically joined by other well armed men; in front of him he could see people climbing the stairs or ladders to get onto the mighty walls. When he got atop them row upon row of Archers were ready awaiting the signal to fire. The doom of his city would be decided in the next few hours; they would either break the enemy or be broken by them. The Siege towers were close but no draw bridge had been lowered onto the walls. The King ran back and forward across the wall shouting as he went.
“Men and women of Findolin the hour has arrived that we feared and yet knew would come," shouted the King, as he strode forward proudly. "Make ready your arrows. Bloody your swords, put away all goodliness and soft temper, and harden your hearts let not soft aptitude weaken our resolve, strike and strike again and let the Mandrake wither here.”
The front Archers stepped forward, as they did so they were greeted below by the firing of catapults and ballista. Large clay pots filled with oil were fired over the walls and landed on the streets below or on top of peoples houses shattering and spreading fire and wanton destruction. The city was beginning to burn. People were despairingly throwing buckets filled with water over the fires in a futile attempt to put them out. Above on the walls, the archers fired, raining down arrows on the Mandrake. The King instinctively looked up as a shadowy wisp of cloud swept over him, the sun was by now blazing in the midmorning light, the sky, appeared light blue with streaks of cloud across it, which was like the dust trail left by racing chariots. How peaceful the heavens were that day, a marked contrast to the hellish battle now raging beneath. He looked back, as a large boulder thumped against the wall, the shock of the impact causing him to lose his footing for a moment. Over the ramparts a long line of sling and catapult could be seen one behind the other, one to pummel the walls, the other to fire over the walls and into the city itself.
As the King stared in despair at this sight, something unexpected was occurring, in the distance a large plume of smoke rose from the enemy camp like some mighty swirling grey mace. The King stared down with disbelieving eyes at the scene; then remarkably as he watched, the Orochi began struggling with its captors. The King awestruck by the sight before him saw those same chains snap from the sheer might and force of the creature, it then turned on its captors. A large cheer echoed around the walls as others disbelieving gazed at the sight before them and soon a cheering echoed throughout the city. The enemy camp was aflame. The Besiegers had been stopped short of mounting the full scale offensive that they had planned; instead the Orochi free of its bonds was raging out of control, as was the fire in the enemy camp. So fearsome was the Dragon, probably the largest of all the beasts in Suberia that it held back the Mandrake Legions from their dreadful advance, crushed many of their siege engines and was now causing great mayhem and chaos among their ranks as they fought to control the situation.
Then in the distance racing across the plain could be heard the sound of a horn being answered by another and another, the Dragon People had finally arrived. They charged forward towards the city. There was nothing the massed legions of the Mandrake could do to prevent this as they were pressed back by the Orochi. They found themselves being further beaten back by the Archers of the Cashel who unleashed a storm of arrows upon their foe, which sent the Orochi into a frenzy, and drove it further into the ranks of the enemy. Although the Mandrake tried resolutely to bring the situation under control, firing a hale of arrows up and over the Orochi and into the army led by the Dragon People it was to no avail, the more they fought to get round the creature, the more they fell into its path. The Gates of the city opened, as the army wound its way up the side of the plateau. It had been a daring perilous dash across the plain, but they had managed it. The Askalons, the Cashel, and the Dragon People, had kept bravely to the task, which was to aid the Finns.
The Gates slammed shut behind them. The Orochi crashed into the rows of massed catapults and ran head long into the sides of the siege engines sending them tumbling and toppling, before it was finally free and beyond the reach of the army that had held it captive. The King of Findolin stood, his heart pounding excitedly, his eyes gleaming like stars as he realised that his city might yet be saved. At the City gates he could not help but marvel as column after column entered, at their head the Queen of Askalon, and the Prefect of the Dragon People. Soon news spread across the city, through every store and every household, Achil had returned home to his people at their time of need.
As the dust began to settle on that day the leaders met in council in the great hall of Findolin. For the first time the battle had turned in their favour, but everyone knew that the Mandrake were not defeated, they had suffered a blow, but only time would tell how decisive it was. The King of all the Finns was addressing the assembly. Holding the hilt of his sword tightly at his side, pride had revitalised his tired limbs.
“I would like to thank the Dragon People of Osgaroth, the Askalons of the Haven Mountains and the Cashel of Wormwood for answering our call for aid. Today we have a great victory in defence of this city, but this is only one battle and from what I have been informed our lands have been ravaged, many settlements burned our second city fallen, our people dragged off to be enslaved. This is not a day for celebration, not with the Mandrake still at our gates. They will be more ravenous than ever. More determined to inflict upon us a defeat. More unwavering than before, we must ready ourselves for what is to come. Prefect what can you tell us of the outside.”
The Prefect stood up, he paused a moment his eyes studying the assembly.
“As you are now aware,” he began. “We encountered a Wrath army on the Plain of Mount Rock. There were many legions, which we heavily defeated. The Lord of the Mandrake will not now wish to move against Osgaroth in fact he cannot afford to, his supply lines
are too short. Nor can he do so, lest he leave himself vulnerable to an attack from the rear. As we are all aware he no longer has the Orochi. He now knows that he has to destroy us behind these walls, before he can contemplate any other machinations. I believe he will try to crush us here, and may see this as an opportunity to wipe out the armies of the alliance in one full on assault. That’s why I suggest that we go out from behind these walls and strike at him hard, while he is still vulnerable.”
The Prefect sat back down; next to make an address was the Queen of the Askalons, who had also desired to speak.
“Today we have won a brief victory but our celebrations must be tempered with the knowledge that we are still in terrible danger. I know this of Jin; he has never yielded, and though we may throw him back for a while, he will return more resolute than before,” said the Queen. “And I understand the Dragon Peoples desire to confront the Mandrake. It is well understood that their city has no manmade barriers and that their warriors serve as their walls. But in this case we are fighting a foe considerably larger and more menacing than any we have fought before. I do not wish to stand defiantly against the surge only to be swept away by it, especially when I know that I've built a dam that can protect me from the wash. I say let them come at us behind these walls and when the time is right; let us then go out and meet them.”
The walls of his city had always frustrated those that had opposed his people in the past and had proven to be its greatest defence against destruction. So what the Queen of Askalon said made perfect sense to him. But neither could he ignore the words or needs of the Dragon People. How long would they all be able to remain behind his city walls before hunger persuaded them that they had to go out and meet the enemy?
The King listened intently to what was being proposed, and slowly one by one each member of the council offered up the best solution as to the best way to defend Findolin. As he was mulling over the different arguments an attendant came in with an important message. The King stood and requested a small recess.
He hurried off to one of the small private rooms to the rear of the Great Hall. There seated waiting for him were Agoran, Victor, Kranz and the Seer. They were arguing amongst themselves. When the King entered the room they all stopped and stood to attention. The King, a broad smile on his face, embraced Agoran.
“It is good to see you safely returned to us my old friend,” he said relieved that they were all unhurt. “When I saw the smoke rise in the enemy camp I knew it had to be you, and when the Orochi broke free, I knew then you had succeeded in your mission. I would like to hear your news, have you been able to find out the plans of our enemy.”
“I think you should hear from the Seer first,” said Agoran. “She had the chance to end this conflict once and for all.”
The Seer gave Agoran a withering stare before beginning her story.
“Victor and I had made it into Jin’s tent as planned,” she said. “The diversion worked perfectly Jin in his haste to leave had left the sphere unguarded. So there we were. After a brief search of his tent we found the orb and were preparing to smash it, when who should return but the Lord of the Mandrake.”
The King sat down in a chair near to Agoran, and gestured for everyone to be seated. He put his hand up to the Seer to stop her from continuing and then turned to one of his attendants to bring them something to drink. He then gestured for her to resume.
“Jin realised something was amiss when he found his stores ablaze,” she continued. “He immediately rushed back to his tent where he found us. As he entered I smashed the sphere, a great light seemed to leap from it, as the essence of the Orochi was freed. The Lord of the Mandrake was enraged. I with the power of illusion copied his appearance. So before he could do anything, I called in some guards who had been waiting outside and told them that he was an impostor who had smashed the sphere, I then got them to arrest him. They did this without hesitation. He struggled to break free. I drew my sword and placed it at his throat and I was about to run him through when the shout went up that they were being attacked. I told the guards to leave us and ready themselves for battle. When they had gone, I said to Jin if he was to depart these lands and never return I would let him live. He looked at me, he said that we should join with him and if we did so our reward would be great indeed. He said that we could not hope to defeat him. Whilst this was going on Victor was shouting in my ear to run him through. I raised my sword and brought it down hard, but not into the Jin, instead I tore a hole into the back of his tent which the two of us fled through, leaving the Lord of the Mandrake tied up and very much alive. There was something about him: when I looked into his eyes I could not bring myself to kill him.”
“Perhaps he placed some spell on you,” said the King. "Or it was your own compassion, but whatever the reason it is a shame, that is something you may live to regret.”
“My King before this war is over that is something we all may live to regret,” said the Seer sadly. “Victor and I left and in all the confusion and managed to make our way back here, I didn‘t think we would make it back, but with the Orochi unleashed, their camp on fire and the Dragon people racing across the plain; there was so much chaos all around the camp it was a simple matter for us to escape and get through their lines.”
The King listened keenly to her tale and asked if she would not mind repeating it to the entire assembly once it had reconvened. The Seer did just that. There was many a sharp intake of breath when she got to the part about not killing Jin. But the Queen of Askalon did inform the assembly that Jin’s powers were such that the Seer and Victor were lucky indeed that they had escaped at all. And the only reason they had not been overcome by his influence was that they now had within them Elemental powers. The council went on in an animated manner throughout the long day and night. When the debate turned to the Dragon chambers the Alchemist of the Dragon people asked many searching questions regarding the device, and offered to help better develop it. By the time they had finished, and though many had their reservations, they did agree that for the time being, the best way to defeat the Mandrake was now to wait them out.
Achil had listened in silence careful not to offer a word as to the planning going on around him. As they retired for the night, and made their way through the shadowed corridors to their chambers, the Queen who had noticed Achil's disquiet, asked him what was amiss.
“Everyone believes and perhaps rightly so that the Lord of the Mandrake will now throw all the weight of his army at our walls,” said Achil. “And that we can hold out. But we do not know his full strength nor his mind. You did say he was the most calculating of individuals: his lands, in the east are vast; he probably has an inexhaustible resource of manpower at his disposal. I can't help but feel that we've played into his hands and that his machinations run deeper than any can tell: if he does decide to leave it is only because it is part of his planning and not because he has been defeated. In his calculations he would have known that the Dragon People would have ridden to the aid of Findolin, since his spies know this, surely so does he. He also knew that Askalon would have reacted the way it did toward a hostile army raiding so close to its borders. Which makes me wonder whether or not we are all part of some greater scheme of his?"
The Queen nodded sullenly. Ever since the battle at the Plain of Mount Rok a deep responsibility had grown inside her for the events that were now unravelling. She had developed a deep respect for Achil; he had shown on numerous occasions that he was willing to sacrifice his own safety for those around him and it did not matter whether he knew them or not.
“It was so long ago that Jin left my people,” replied the Queen. “It is difficult to contemplate his next move. There is only one thing we know for sure, his appetite for power has grown and with that burning desire I can only see one solution, and for all his scheming, our answer is a simple one, we will have to destroy him or be destroyed by him.”
The Queen stopped at the door to her bed chambers, and wished him a restful night. Achi
l stood a moment in the corridor contemplating her last words, drawing his sword he stared at the blade; it needed the grinder's wheel. Since he had left Osgaroth years before he had fought his way across what were once peaceful lands, he had fought against the Furies and Wraith, against a Dragon and now there was this new menace The Mandrake, which was something quite different to any other he had faced. He remembered the words of the bard, “So short this life, so long these winding paths, and just when I thought I’d reached the end, they went and set me other tasks.” Why is it they lived in a time when the smallest action, or indeed inaction could have such desperate and dire consequences. And it was with those thoughts that he also retired for the night and as his head sunk into the pillow, his eyes closed and tiredness took him. He was startled awake by the sound of a loud gong, it was the alarm. They were under attack. Achil ran to the walls, when he got there the Archers were staring over the battlements but they were not firing at the Marauders below. Achil looked over at the Siege engines, some were on fire others had been destroyed by the Orochi, and others had collapsed under fire of missiles catapulted from their walls. There before him was the new menace that had heralded the alarm, an army of Mandrake engineers were building an earthen ramp, wooden trusses were busily being laid to give it structural support. Achil shook his head in disbelief. The Mandrake Imperium were not wasting any time in reacting to the set back of losing so many of their siege engines. Jin was without doubt putting into operation his plan B. Achil watched in awe, they had to look for a weakness in its design before it was too late. He needed to inform the council of this new hazard.