Stepping from his tent he finds Illan surrounded by the others, telling them in part what he’s learned. When he sees James exit, he ceases his conversation and moves toward him. “We should talk in your tent.”
Coming to a stop, James nods his head and then returns inside. He’s followed in by Delia, Jiron, Miko and Ceadric. Illan pauses a moment at the tent’s entrance and says to Devin, “See that we’re not disturbed.”
“Yes, sir,” he replies as Illan enters the tent.
They’re crammed inside the small tent which had never been intended to include so many at one time. “We’re going to have to get you a larger tent,” Jiron says with a grin.
“Feel sorry for poor Devin if we do,” jokes Miko.
“Enough of that,” Illan says. “There’s much to talk about.” When he has everyone’s attention, he continues. “From the reports gathered today, it would seem we face anywhere from fifteen to twenty thousand troops.”
James’ face falls and Delia gasps.
“Can we handle that many?” Jiron asks.
They all look to James and the doubt crossing his face tells them he doesn’t think so. “So many,” he says. “I never thought to have to face so many right away.”
As James sinks into silence, Illan says, “Their siege equipment arrived sometime today. Lord Pytherian suspects an attack either late this evening or first thing tomorrow morning. They have a dozen catapults and mobile bridges they plan to use to ford the river in different places during the assault.”
“Where are they kept?” James asks.
“The latest reports put them sitting at the rear of their lines,” he says. “A thousand or so troops are stationed in the area.”
“Is there any word whether they have a mage with them?” Miko asks.
“None have been spotted, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there,” he replies. To James he asks, “Have you felt anything?”
Shaking his head, he says, “Nothing. If there is one, he’s not doing anything that I would be able to detect.”
“Could you find out?” asks Delia.
“Not without alerting him to my presence,” he says. “And that may prompt an immediate attack.” After a moment of thought he asks, “If we took out their siege equipment, would that delay their assault?”
“It would have to,” interjects Ceadric. They all turn to gaze at him as he continues. “The catapults they could probably do without, but those bridges they’ll absolutely have to have in order to cross the river and would be integral to their battle plan.”
James nods his head and remains quiet as he considers different tactics.
“Lord Pytherian said he would keep us apprised of any change in the enemy camp,” Illan says after a few moments.
“Just blast them,” suggests Miko. “Do that thing you did outside the City of Light. From what Jiron and the others told me, it took out most of their army.”
“That would only work if they have a mage,” he replies. “It may come to that. But keep in mind, I haven’t worked on the finer points of that spell and the consequences may prove disastrous for all.”
“What do you mean?” Delia asks.
How can he explain it to them? What in their experience would compare with the detonation of an atomic bomb? From the description Jiron supplied him with of the explosion, it resembled an a-bomb more than anything else. There didn’t seem to be any radiation fallout from that blast, but he would just assume not tempt fate a second time.
“I can’t really explain it,” he tells them. “Just take it on faith that it isn’t something that I’m willing to do unless there are no other alternatives.”
“Very well,” Miko says, obviously disappointed.
After a moment’s consideration, he says, “Here’s what we do…”
Once James lays down what he plans to do. The others offer their expert advice and together they work out a strategy which should work. Ceadric selects fifty of his most battle hardened and skilled fighters for the mission. Together with Delia and the slingers, Errin and Aleya, and all the other fighters from The Ranch but Jiron, they make their way through the darkened city on horseback and exit through the north gate.
Each slinger has upon their back a pack that has been carried by pack horse all the way from The Ranch. None have yet been told what is contained within. Aleya and Errin have a dozen specially modified arrows in their quiver along with another containing regular arrows behind their saddles. Delia, after she and James spent a few minutes near one of the pack horses, returned with two small pouches secured to her belt.
Once they pass through the gates, they edge away from the river so as not to reveal their presence to the enemy sentries posted on the other side. An hour later finds them coming to the section of the river which Lord Pytherian’s people said would have the least likelihood of having patrols. Here the river runs deep and swift making any attempt to cross extremely dangerous.
“What do we do now?” Yern asks her quietly.
“We wait,” Delia replies. She turns her gaze to the glow of the enemy’s camp in the distance and hopes this works.
“Ready?” Jiron asks him.
“No,” he replies. “I never will be for this sort of thing.” Hanging from his belt are several small pouches. When Jiron glances at them in question he says, “Just in case.” Jiron nods his head and they get going.
He and James are making their way through the streets of Lythylla toward the gate which faces across the river to the enemy camp. In Jiron’s hand is a ten foot pole with a white flag. Lord Pytherian assured him that this is the accepted custom when one wishes to speak with an enemy without fear of attack. To be honest, James about laughed when they told him that. He couldn’t believe that on two different worlds, the same method would be used to initiate a parley.
Illan walks beside them as they approach the gates. When they reach them, he says, “We’ll stand by to open them quickly should the need arise.” Henri, Lord Pytherian’s aide is there to facilitate the opening of the gate should it become necessary.
Behind them, the remainder of Ceadric’s men ride. James didn’t feel they were necessary, but Illan insisted saying it was best to be prepared for all contingencies.
At the gates James nods to Henri who shouts to a man stationed along the wall above the gates, “Is it clear?”
“Yes, sir!” the man replies.
“Open the gates!” he hollers to those in the gatehouse.
With a clack and a creak, the gates begin opening. They part just enough to allow the two men to walk through. “Good luck,” Illan says before they begin moving out to face the enemy.
“Thanks,” replies Jiron. James is frankly too nervous to make much of a reply.
“Let’s go,” he says and steps through the gate. Jiron follows a half step behind with the flag raised high.
As they make their way the short distance to the edge of the bridge, the gate swings closed behind them, shutting with a deep thud. Before them, they see activity arising from the enemy encampment.
The gate of the palisade is open and troops are beginning to spill forth. Soldiers, crossbowmen and a company of Parvati’s take their position on either side of the gate, leaving an avenue through which James and Jiron can pass.
Crossing the bridge takes a large amount of will to force his legs to make the journey across to the other side. “What idiot came up with this idea?” he exclaims under his breath. “He should be shot.”
Jiron chuckles as he says, “You did.”
Once past the bridge, they have to cross several hundred feet before reaching the enemy’s lines. When they reach the halfway point, a single individual exits the palisade’s gate and moves to intercept them.
“Doesn’t look like anyone of much importance,” observes Jiron.
“Maybe not,” he says. “Probably wants to see what we want before deciding if it’s worth being taken before the commander of their army.”
The man is undeniably a soldier, and by the looks of his armor and the insignia upon it, one of high rank. When the two parties are five feet apart, both sides come to a halt. As the bearer of the white flag, it’s customary for James to make the first declaration.
“We wish to parley with the leader of the host,” he states.
“Are you giving your surrender?” the soldier asks.
“No,” James replies. When the man looks questioningly at him, he adds, “Rather to discuss the removal of the Empire’s forces from within Madoc’s borders and the cessation of hostilities between the two nations.”
The man looks in absolute disbelief at him. “Take your foolish notions away before we kill you!” he exclaims, his disbelief turning into annoyance at being bothered by such stupidity.
“You would violate the sanctity of the Flag of Truce?” he asks.
“The Flag does not grant you immunity indefinitely,” the man explains. “Only so long as the talk is in progress and a short time afterward to allow you to return to your side.”
“I am not leaving until I speak with the leader of the Empire’s forces,” James insists.
“Go back,” the man says. “This talk is at an end.” Turning his back on James and Jiron, he begins walking back to his line.
“What should we do now?” Jiron asks quietly once the man has passed beyond where he could overhear the question.
James glances to him and says, “We wait.”
“But they’ll attack shortly,” he tells him. “He as much as promised that.”
“I know,” he replies. “We need them to.”
He and Jiron stay standing there before the assembled soldiers of the Empire. The man who had talked with them stops when he reaches their ranks and turns to observe James and Jiron still standing there.
“How long do you expect them to give us?” James asks.
“Don’t know,” he replies. “But the longer it takes, the more time Delia and the others will have to get into position.
Five minutes go by before the man runs out of patience. A command is given and the crossbowmen move to the fore and take aim on the two men standing alone before them. “I guess time has run out,” observes Jiron.
“It would seem so,” he replies. “I hope this works.”
“So do I,” admits Jiron quietly.
Another command and the crossbowmen release their volley of bolts toward the pair. The soldiers watch in amazement as the two men stand their ground despite the bolts flying toward them. Just before the bolts connect, a shimmering shield springs to life surrounding them. The bolts are deflected to the side.
A gasp ensues from the gathered soldiers as they realize a mage stands before them. Another command and a second volley speeds toward them. Just as the first had, the second volley strikes the shield and is deflected away.
From the defenders manning Lythylla’s wall behind them, a cheer erupts and James glances backward to see the battlement from one end to the other packed tight with observers. Seems the entire garrison and most of the civilians are up there to observe the encounter.
“My turn,” James says, more to himself than anything else. He brings his hands close together and then slowly brings them apart. A myriad of small red orbs flow outwards from between his hands toward the enemy soldiers. The orbs dance and zoom all the while emitting white sparks that sizzle through the air.
Moving quickly, the orbs soon near the assembled Empire soldiers. Before the orbs have a chance to reach them, panic erupts within their ranks and the men begin moving quickly back through the gate to avoid the oncoming orbs. Another cheer erupts from the defenders atop the walls, as well as a little bit of laughter.
As the orbs reach the fleeing men, they begin zinging them with small shocks. Each one doing little harm, but extremely irritating. “Are they going to kill them?” asks Jiron.
“Hardly,” James says with a grin. “It’s just to get their attention.”
“I think it did that,” he agrees.
Suddenly, James causes a starburst of immense proportions to spring into being overhead, bathing the entire countryside in light. It begins descending toward the enemy camp and before it has a chance to descend very far, James feels the tingling sensation which always accompanies another doing magic. Then just as quickly as the glowing orb appears, it winks out.
He turns to Jiron and says, “I guess that ends the question of whether or not they have a mage with them. They do.”
Jiron nods his head in understanding. The orbs don’t last very long once they encounter the soldiers and quickly dissipate.
Then, from within the palisade, the man who had greeted them before once more makes an appearance. James maintains his shield around himself and Jiron as they await his approach.
The man stops several feet from the edge of the shimmering field and says, “The commander has agreed to your proposal for a meeting.”
“Thought he might,” James tells the man.
“Are we to be granted safe passage?” asks Jiron.
“Of course,” he replies. “Feel free to lower your shield at any time should you so desire.”
Jiron snorts at the idea and James says, “If it’s all the same, I would just as soon not.”
Shrugging the man says, “Suit yourself. If you’ll follow me?”
As they move to follow the man, Jiron lets go the pole bearing the white flag letting it fall to the ground. No point in carrying that any longer, both he and James know they’ll not be let go so easily. The man pauses but a moment when the pole hits the ground, then casts a quick glance at the flag lying in the dirt before he resumes his progress toward the palisade.
James follows along behind, Jiron at his side. When at last they pass through the gate, it shuts behind them.
“That’s the signal,” Delia says when the starburst lights the sky. She sees Ceadric nod and then opens one of the pouches hanging at her belt. Taking out a round object, she places it in her sling and moves to the edge of the river.
The moonlight overhead gives her barely enough light to see the far bank as she takes position. Winding the sling over her head for a second, she let’s the object go and it’s soon lost in the darkness. Holding her breath, as does everyone else there for if it goes into the water their plans are ruined, she silently prays there isn’t a splash.
A second and then two passes without the telltale splash indicating the object went into the water. “Good job,” Shorty says from his position further back.
Everyone visibly relaxes, the success of what they do here at the river is paramount if they are to accomplish their mission. She reaches in and takes out another crystal which had been in with the object she just sent to the other side.
‘ You only have a count of one hundred before they lose power,’ James told her when he gave her the pouch. ‘Fifty for the way across and fifty for the way back.’
With James’ words on her mind, she takes the crystal to the river’s edge. She sets it down three feet from the water and then returns to the others. Mounting her horse, she says quietly to the others gathered there, “We must cross swiftly if we are to be able to return this way.”
“We understand,” Ceadric says. The other’s nods are barely perceptible in the moonlight.
“Very well,” she says and then edges her horse toward the water. When she gets there, she recalls the words James told her would activate the spell embedded within the two crystals. The object she had sent to the other side was a clay encased crystal, so encased to have enough weight to make the journey to the other side. Without the clay, the crystal would have been too light to make it.
“Golden Gate,” she whispers. The crystal on the ground before them flares briefly, an answering one can be seen on the opposite side of the river. Then, a shimmering ‘bridge’ forms between the two sides, ten feet wide and reminiscent of the shields she has seen James use to protect himself from arrows.
“Let’s hurry,” she says as she kicks her horse into motion. She begins silently counting, one…two…three… as her horse steps upon the shimmering surface. Worried that her horse’s hoof might sink through, she braces herself. But her horse steps upon the bridge and quickly passes across to the other side.
Thirteen…fourteen…fifteen… she sits there as the others hurry across, two at a time. As the last one reaches the far shore, she reaches forty-five and says the word to cancel the spell to save its power for their return crossing, “Earthquake.” When James had told her the words of command she commented about how they didn’t relate to a bridge at all. He had chuckled and said they referred to a city back home, San Francisco. That a famous bridge there was called the Golden Gate and the place was prone to earthquakes which destroy bridges.
With the utterance of ‘Earthquake’, the shimmering bridge disappears and the crystals grow dark. Getting down from her horse, she removes another crystal from one of the pouches and places it in roughly the spot where the bridge crystal lies on this side of the river. This crystal will light the way when the word ‘Beacon’ is uttered in its vicinity. Without it, they would be hard pressed to find the exact spot where the bridge lies in the dark.
Mounting back onto her horse, she turns to Ceadric and says, “Now for the catapults.”
He gives her a nod and they quietly make their way to the lights of the enemy camp in the distance. The rear of the encampment is a couple miles away and they ride quickly toward it in silence.
As they near, they’re able to see the makeup of the enemy’s forces as well as the layout of the camp. Behind the palisade is a large open area, currently crammed with soldiers, most likely congregating there because of James. Delia worries for him but sees that his plan is working.
The massive light explosion in the sky earlier has drawn most of the forces away from the rear of the encampment where the siege engines lie. There is still a presence there, but they should be able to handle them.
Twenty catapults and ten long bridges sit at the rear of the encampment. Each of the bridges has a protective covering built over them that will shield the attackers from any arrows fired from the walls by the defenders. The top of the covering is reinforced with leather that looks as if it may have been treated to withstand fire.
When they’ve ridden as close as they dare, Delia and the slingers dismount from their horses as well as Errin and Aleya. Ten of Ceadric’s men, those who had brought bows, dismount as well. Ceadric and the rest wait there with the horses. Should problems arise, they’ll come quickly to the rescue.
Campfires dot the area around the catapults, giving Delia and her group ample light for targeting. From behind her, she hears Moyil quip, “Nice to light the area for us.”
“You know it,” answers Terrance.
“Quiet! Both of you!” she whispers firmly.
If it was broad daylight there would be no way in which they could possibly get away with this. No cover with which to speak of, all of the trees in the area have been cut down either for the palisade wall or the soldier’s campfires. They feel rather exposed there in the moonlight, and if the soldier’s attention wasn’t riveted on the events transpiring by the main encampment, they most likely would have already been discovered.
They make their way quickly and quietly toward the siege equipment, stepping lightly to remain unheard. As shadows in the night, they close the distance until they are within range of their slings. Delia brings them to a halt and gathers them in a close huddle as she talks to them. Ceadric’s archers keep watch around them.
She takes out one of the glass spheres contained within her pack and holds it up before them. “These are filled with oil,” she explains. “Hit each of the catapults with three.” Then glancing to Aleya and Errin she says, “Once they’re covered in oil, light those arrows James gave you and set the oil afire.”
They nod their heads in understanding.
“Start with the bridges,” she says. “Just as we practiced, space yourselves and begin with the one at the far right and work to the left. Be quick, we won’t have much time.” When she sees they understand her, she says, “Get in position.” Then she moves to Hedry, the man in charge of the archers. “You ready?” she asks.
In the moonlight, she can see him give her a grin as he says, “Whenever you are.”
Turning back to her slingers, she sees they’ve already moved into position with a gap of five feet between them. Each slinger’s sack containing the glass oil bombs as James calls them sits before them on the ground. Coming up behind Terrance, she lays her hand on his shoulder and says, “Take your time and aim for the center. They’re big, so if you’re off a little, you should still be able to hit it.”
Terrance glances over his shoulder and says, “I hope so.”
Behind them, three of Hedry’s men place their shields together upright on the ground to form a small wall. Behind that wall, one of Hedry’s men gets a fire going. Next to it, Aleya and Errin remove the specially prepared arrows and place them on the ground next to them. After a moment, a small glow can be seen coming from behind the shields, the majority of the light is being blocked.
Seeing that all is in readiness, she whispers, “Ready!” Taking an oil bomb out of the sack before her, she sets it into the cup of her sling. “Fire at will,” she says and then begins to twirl her sling over her head. Beside her up and down the line, the others take an oil bomb and set it in their sling.
Hedry’s men take position behind the slingers, alert for any enemy soldier that may be in the area. When Hedry was told what they planned to do, he thought it was madness. Surely the catapults and bridges would have guards and scouts in the area in case Madoc’s forces tried just this sort of maneuver. Illan had told him the likelihood of there being enemy sentries behind their lines would be remote. The part of the stream they crossed is impassable except by boat so the chances were good they would be able to sneak right up to them before any knew they were there. And so far, he’d been right.
Delia lets the oil bomb fly and watches as it flies into the opening of one of the bridges, striking the interior. As the bomb shatters, oil is splayed all over the sides and the floor. Before the first bomb shatters, the second is already in her sling.
Next to her, Terrance has loosed his first bomb and out of the corner of her eye, she sees it strike the bridge next to the one she’s working on. A satisfied, “Yes!” is heard and she grins.
The first couple of bombs strike the bridges before the enemy even realizes something is amiss. Hedry watches as one soldier who stands near a bridge under attack turns as the second bomb strikes. The man calls out to another soldier nearby as he moves closer just as the third bomb strikes.
When the bomb shatters right before him, he staggers backward in shock, oil splattering his armor. Just then, an arrow from one of Hedry’s archers flies from the dark and takes him through the chest. The soldier stumbles backward and collapses. Several enemy soldiers see him fall and the arrow sticking out of his chest.
A cry erupts and at that, arrows start flying out of the dark as Hedry’s archers begin taking out the enemy soldiers quickly. Their cry raises the alarm and soon the entire rear flank turns from where they’ve been watching the area near the palisade and rushes to the defense of their siege equipment.
“Now, Errin!” Delia cries.
Behind her, Errin and Aleya each take up one of the specially treated arrows and dip the tip in the fire behind the shields. Each arrow has an oil soaked rag tied just behind the arrowhead which ignites quickly. Taking but a moment to aim, they fire at the oil coated bridges.
Two arcs of fire soar through the air, each striking adjacent bridges. When the flaming arrows sink into the oil soaked wood, the oil bursts into flames. Using one arrow per bridge, they soon have all the bridges aflame and begin on the catapults.
Delia has moved onto her first catapult by the time the first bridge erupts in flame. The slingers continue peppering the remainder of the catapults as bridge after bridge begins to burn.
The enemy soldiers at first didn’t see from which direction the attack had originated. But when the flaming arrows began to appear, one soldier gives out with a cry and they surge forward.
Arrows fly from Hedry’s archers as the soldiers race past the fires to close with them. Some stop and attempt to put out the fires, those that do are the first to be targeted by the archers. The bridges must burn.
Ceadric draws his sword and says to the men mounted behind him, “For Madoc and Black Hawk!”
With battle cries filling the night, the horsemen charge forward and close with the enemy foot soldiers before they have a chance to reach Delia and her group. Riding them down, the battle hardened men lay about them with their swords, felling men left and right.
More soldiers stream into the area, racing to put out the fires consuming the siege equipment, but arrows continuously knock them backward.
Before the last few catapults have been struck by the bombs, a not so distant horn sounds from out of the darkness to the right and another answers from the left. It’s a trap!