“Not my problem,” Gilbert said. “You are a Captain with all of the privileges and authority of one.”
“Fair enough,” Jonathan replied. “I will get back to work.”
Jonathan had torches made and set up all around the perimeter. His plan was to light them when it became too dark to see and give the defenders a chance. Jonathan was happy to see a gate had been put up in the front and the back and by the time he was done for the day, the secondary wall was three feet tall now with a three-foot pit. Jonathan had a little over a third of the men Felcher originally had and had them arrayed close to his tent and bedded down. Jonathan didn’t have a sergeant to help him out but thought he didn’t need one. Just as Jonathan was about to go into the big tent, he caught sight of Sergeant Bluebell who was sneering at him.
“You got a problem?” Jonathan said as he walked up to the man.
“No,” Sergeant Bluebell said as he looked past Jonathan and into the tent.
“Then why are you sneering at me?” Jonathan said. “If you want to have go, then have a go. It is just me and you here.”
“I am not scared of some Mage,” Sergeant Bluebell said. “Even if they made you a Captain.”
“Then either make your move or fix your face,” Jonathan replied.
“You would like that, wouldn’t you,” Sergeant Bluebell said. “So I can get kicked out or punished.”
“The day you try me is the day you would have more than employment to worry about,” Jonathan replied. “You set up men here to die. You aren't some stuck up noble, you are a commoner like me and you left your own to the Barbarians while you stick your nose up Felcher’s ass. You don’t deserve an ounce of my respect. The day you try me is the day I will kill you. Right now it is just me and you talking, you give me those eyes again and I will call you out in front of your men and everyone else.”
Jonathan looked at Sergeant Bluebell as the man walked away. Jonathan thought things would get a little worse before they better and turned around to go into the tent. Jonathan could hear angry words come from the tent followed by a loud smack. Jonathan ran into the tent to find Captain Felcher holding his face while Tricia had her sword on him. Jonathan walked inside and looked at Tricia and then to the smaller tent where Gertie stepped out of it, in a different robe than what Jonathan had seen her in.
“Get this sword out of my face woman!” Felcher screamed.
“You get out of here and stay out of here,” Tricia yelled.
“What is going on here?” Jonathan asked.
“He walked in on me changing,” Gertie said.
“Why are you in my tent Felcher,” Jonathan said.
“I don’t answer to you,” Felcher said.
“If you don’t get out of my tent I will beat your ass,” Jonathan replied.
“I came to see if the lady wanted something to eat since the cook has started preparing meals,” Felcher said.
“You came to be a creep,” Tricia replied.
“Get out of here,” Jonathan said. “If I see you back inside of my private tent I will assume that you are in here to steal and handle you like I would any thief or rapist. There are women in here and they are not comfortable with you around.”
“You are in here and so are most of the men you brought with you,” Felcher said.
“It is my tent,” Jonathan replied. “I can have whoever I want inside of it. You are not one of those people.”
“Lady Gertie, would you like to accompany me to dinner,” Felcher asked. “I would forget about this woman and her little sword. Right now I am thinking about drawing my sword and running her through.”
“You would be dead before you drew it,” Tricia said. “Go ahead if you think I am funning with you.”
“She does not and will not go anywhere with you,” Jonathan said. “Now get out of my tent before I get angry.”
“The lady can answer my question,” Felcher said before a fist crashed into the side of his face. Jonathan marveled at the blow, it was a solid hit and sent Felcher who was not a small man wobbling away from him. Jonathan followed that blow with a good punch that was half hook, half uppercut. The punch also landed solidly and Jonathan could feel the force travel up his arm. Felcher was dazed and on his behind from the punch, Jonathan walked over and yanked the man up by his collar and tossed him out of the tent. Alicia was on her way in along with the rest of the Mages. They didn’t say anything but instead stepped to the side as Felcher went flying.
“I brought extra bowls for chow but it looks like the good Captain ate an ass whipping for dinner,” Elijah said. “Gurtis is on his way with his men as well.”
“This idiot wanted to have a go and he had one,” Jonathan said. “I expect to be called in to face the man for this. I might as well eat. Gurtis already knows to have at least one of his men who is pulling watch set up their gear inside. The rest plan on making an area right outside of our tent.”
Jonathan was already walking up to Senior Commander Goodnight when Felcher came to his senses. Many soldiers had seen Felcher get tossed out on his behind and the fat lip he was sporting let many people know he just got punched. Jonathan found Senior Commander Goodnight as the man was looking over some wooden pikes he had made. John admired the man, he came with less than twenty people and would have been within his right to just leave instead of staying for the night and a fight that was probably coming.
“Sir,” Jonathan replied.
“What is it Thunder?” Gilbert said as he held a pike.
“I had a disagreement with Captain Felcher that I am sure he is going to tell you about.”
“What was this disagreement?” Gilbert asked.
“This man struck me!” Felcher screamed.
“He walked into my tent and was watching a young lady undress despite being told to leave,” Jonathan replied. “He then all but dared me to put him out.”
“You hit him?” Gilbert asked.
“I did,” Jonathan replied.
“And you were in his tent?” Gilbert asked Felcher.
“Well I wanted to see if Lady Gertie was hungry,” Felcher asked.
“Were you in his tent?” Gilbert asked. “Stop using double talk and answer my question.”
“I was,” Felcher replied.
“Did he give you permission to be in there and did he ask you to leave?” Gilbert asked.
“He tried to embarrass me by demanding I leave like he was a father talking to a son,” Felcher replied. “I wasn’t going to let some Mage have the satisfaction of tossing me out.”
“You were in the wrong and it looks like you were dealt with,” Gilbert said. “You both are too old to be fighting. You both are also too old not to respect each other’s things and authority. Felcher I want in my tent a schedule of the rotation of your guards and your schedule of when you plan on checking on them to make sure your instructions are being followed.”
“Me?” Felcher asked. “I do not need baby sitting Sir.”
“Then why in the pit did I come here and find someone other than you in charge?” Gilbert asked. “You do need baby sitting. One more thing that I forgot to say earlier. You have promised these men all sorts of coin for making sure this place is built. Coin you do not have the authority to hand out. I will make sure your contract with them is honored and the coin is going to come out of your pay until you repay the crown.”
“You can't do that!” Felcher said.
“I can and if you say another word I will push for separation under insubordination,” Gilbert replied. “Those cases are heard by the Queen and always come with lashes and years of hard labor. Go ahead and try me.”
“So you aren't going to do anything about him striking me?” Felcher asked. “He is jealous of me. He isn't a noble and Lady Gertie wants me.”
“Lady Gertie was sent here by Earl Gillespie according to her,” Gilbert said. “Captain Thunder was paid to be her protector. It is simple, you don’t want any conflict then stay away from her. Her father would be wi
thin his rights to demand your head in a trial by combat for what you pulled. I don’t think it was an accident that you caught her changing. You and Captain Thunder can handle things yourselves. You are both dismissed.”
Jonathan gave Felcher a wink and turned around to go about his business. Felcher was a decent size but Jonathan had him in height and he had his magic. He smiled thinking about how he caught the man with a punch. He owed Russell for showing him that punching out an idiot was the way to go. Jonathan could still remember when Russell punched him out, after he threatened to bed Farrah. Jonathan laughed thinking of the memory as he walked closer to his tent. His soldiers were still awake and whispering to each other as they shot him glances. Jonathan walked into the tent to see Tricia giving a reenactment of him punching Felcher.
“There he is!” Elijah said. “Your food is still warm. So you came all the way out here to punch out an officer?”
“He went crying to our superior,” Jonathan replied. “I caught that knobber flush with two good hits. Sent him right on his way.”
“He just walked in and stared at me,” Gertie said. “I wasn’t completely naked but all I had on was my small clothes and just the bottom. I yelled at him to get out of here and he told me he liked the view before I started screaming and slapped him. I used a wind spell to push him out when Tricia woke up and had him pinned with her sword.”
“Well I hope it was worth it for him,” Jonathan said. “I have also had to threaten that Sergeant Bluebell. Bluebell’s was private, Felcher’s though is probably all over by now.”
“Your men outside will not stop talking about it,” Gurtis said. “You watch yourselves if there is an attack. It is easy to say that you were mistaken for an enemy or the Barbarians did it.”
“I will,” Jonathan replied. “We should eat and get some sleep. If the attack comes I want to be ready.”
“Fox will be watch along with Coe,” Gurtis said. “Sleep easily this night.”
CHAPTER 9
The Final Straw
Jonathan could hear men yelling as he woke up. Fox had just ran inside the tent and now he was screaming about an attack. Jonathan had forgotten about lighting the torches he wanted and wondered if Felcher had even used them. Jonathan got out of his bedroll and went outside. Jonathan saw his men waking up and grabbing their weapons.
“Form up on me right now!” Jonathan screamed. “Form up!”
Jonathan watched his men fall into formation as the mages from his tent as well as the sisters came out.
“Albie, Gertie, I want you in the air and scouting,” Jonathan replied. “Use mage light if you have to but stay high enough that you are out of arrow range. I know the enemy doesn’t use them but you can never be too sure. Give me a status report on either where the most enemy is or if they are trying to sneak around. Lucius, Elijah, I want each of you to be with a squad of my men. Your job is to lob spells from up high, out of enemy range. Tricia, Alicia, Gurtis and your men, you are on me. Your job is to turn back anyone trying to get a lucky hit. Now let’s move.”
Jonathan looked up at Albie and Gertie. Both mages pointed out the same direction. Jonathan thought the fighting must be heaviest there and ran his men over. The enemy had gotten over the first wall but were being pinned down by pikemen who were manning the second wall. The pikemen had killed their share but were in danger of being overran when a stream of fire bathed the enemy as they tried to get up and over the second wall.
“Good job Elijah,” Jonathan said. “First squad I want you to be along this front right here, pick up any pikes from our killed comrades and use them. Second squad I want you alongside of them.”
Jonathan saw his men form up and started using his flames to clear anyone he saw crest the first wall. He could hear the Barbarians screaming as his men held their position. Jonathan was busy but had his attention snapped by the sound of fighting behind him. Jonathan turned to see Gurtis gut a Barbarian. Another Barbarian had a dagger held high and intended on stabbing Gurtis when Jonathan grabbed the arm and blasted fire into the face of the Barbarian. Jonathan was able to wrench the dagger free and could see nothing but Barbarians around him, they had overran the defense.
“Mages take to the sky and give me air support!” Jonathan screamed. “First and second squad, form up on me with your pikes in a circle. Tricia and Alicia I want you in the center of this circle along with Gurtis, Coe, Takeya and Fox. Let’s make this happen. This place is overran and there are pockets of fighting, we can help.”
Jonathan watched as his orders were followed. Once everyone was formed up, Jonathan led them to the center of the defense where he could make out Senior Commander Goodnight fighting for his life alongside of the men he brought. Jonathan bathed the backs of the attackers in flame as his men stabbed all who came near. Those that tried to stay out of the pike circle’s range found themselves attacked from up high. Jonathan ordered his men to surround Goodnight and his remaining men.
“This is going to be our casualty area!” Jonathan screamed so he could be heard over battle. Defend it with your lives, this place is already overran. Sir you are in charge, I am going to get a piece of these Barbarians.”
Jonathan took to the sky and made sure he had four shields surrounding him as he flew. He took the dragons technique of strafing a crowd with fire and was outside of the walls giving the Barbarians all they could handle. Jonathan went at thick knots of men and made sure to pump whatever fire he could into the crowd, the Barbarians carried no armor and were susceptible to the technique. This was the largest Barbarian attack he had heard of on the Army at this location. The Barbarians must have seen how advanced the building was going and sent enough to send a message. Currently though they were fleeing from the strange glowing man, Jonathan’s shields were amber and let off a slight glow which made it easy for the enemy to identify him in the night sky. Identify and defeat meant two different things, Jonathan was able to land telling blow after telling blow on the Barbarians and soon a horn was sounded.
The Barbarians started retreating immediately, Jonathan followed to harass them and the fled across the burned field. Jonathan let them get a few hundred paces away before he flew back to his men. Jonathan could see his mages had landed and were trying to care for the sick and wounded. Gurtis himself was down trying to wrap bleeding wounds when Jonathan landed.
“First and Second squads I want you to form up,” Jonathan screamed out. “Every man needs to be accounted for right now.”
Jonathan watched them form up and was missing a man. One of his soldier pointed to his left and Jonathan could see the soldier was helping Gurtis stop a puncture would from bleeding. Jonathan was happy it wasn’t one of his that had the wound and was silently thankful that he hadn’t lost anyone. Once Jonathan was satisfied, he started handing out more orders.
“First squad I want you on our outer wall spread across the north and east end,” Jonathan began. “Second squad I want you spread out across the south and west end. Your job is to give warning, not fight. If there is a second rush of Barbarians I want you back here to await my orders. You will stay on the wall for about an hour while I find Captain Felcher and see how his men are doing. Once I get a status report, his men will relieve you if they are able.”
“Good job Captain Thunder,” Gilbert said. “I could hear your voice shouting orders all over this place, even through the battle. I thought I was a goner for a moment, until you showed up. Your magic I expected, I could see you outside of the walls with your fire. What I didn’t expect was the leadership ability you showed your men. If I didn’t know better I would say that you have always been a soldier.”
“Thank you Sir,” Jonathan replied.
“No, thank you,” Gilbert said. “Go see about your business. I can see you still have all of your men with you. Without you or yours here, I think we would have been wiped out this day.”
Jonathan went searching and found Felcher and Bluebell in an argument. Jonathan could tell they were playing the blame ga
me and passing it around. Felcher eventually told Bluebell to shut up and that it was an order. Bluebell complied and Jonathan thought that was a perfect time to intercede.
“I have my men on the wall,” Jonathan began. “You can call yours in to get a situation report of how many you have dead and get accountability. I have a wanna be aid station set up around the middle of this place, you can bring your wounded there. Me, you and Bluebell should probably meet with Senior Commander Goodnight to discuss this battle and a way forward.”
“You don’t run things here!” Felcher said.
“I am just giving you a suggestion,” Jonathan replied. “I can pull my men and let you handle the defense anyway you want. With any luck, you would be demoted for incompetence and then these men could have an actual leader. The choice is yours, I am sure Goodnight would like to hear all about my suggestions to you and how you ignored them.”
“Gather the men together,” Felcher said looking at Bluebell. “I don’t know where they are, all around I suppose. Find out who we are missing.”
Jonathan went back to where the wounded was being tended to and found the group he arrived with. Jonathan had them go to sleep and stayed up with Goodnight giving his account of the battle and making sure it was written down. Jonathan thought the pikes were good, a suggestion for the trenches that were dug was that some type of wooden spikes line the bottom. That would stop the Barbarians from jumping and would give the defenders more time. He also talked about the torches and how he was unsure of if they were placed and lit. Jonathan thought they could give the night time soldiers on watch the ability to see the enemy more clearly. Jonathan thought he had been there for well over an hour and was about to get his men when Felcher finally walked in.
“How many men do you have?” Jonathan asked. “My men are tired from working all day and need relief. If another fight starts we will be in the thick of it but they need their rest.”
“You expect my men to hold watch while yours sleeps?” Felcher asked.
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