Rise of the Darekian's, The (24 page)

Further down were the living quarters, these were of what he thought
, could be called adequate size. Each had a small sitting room, with a master bedroom running off it, which in turn had a smaller nursery off that, which could be used as a dressing room. Luken and Sarena nodded approval that the children had been well catered for in the planning. Darak told them, that four of these suites had been fitted in, and hopefully two of them would be ready for furnishing within the next week. Though sourcing suitable items to put in the rooms may well prove slightly problematic, and with all likelihood, most of the furniture would probably have to be handmade. "Even though the rooms would be liveable, it may well be prudent to wait until the others floors are complete. Unless of course you don't mind living with all the noise," Darak laughed, completing the tour.

After making their
way back down the stairs, Sarena took the two children back outside, while Luken and Darak decided to have look below ground. Squeezing through a smaller doorway, with lamps in hand they gingerly made their way down the slippery stone steps. There was only one level below ground, and Luken could sense the dankness to the air. Holding aloft his lamp, the light flickering off the damp walls, he could see a thin corridor running left to right. "Father tells me all these small rooms were cells for prisoners, but of course all the doors have long since gone. We thought this would make a good secure area for the treasury. Of course, we would need to get rid of the damp, and tidy it up a little. Put some secure locking doors on a few of the cells, the others could be guard quarters. Father assumes you do not wish to keep prisoners down here?" Luken shook his head, "I'd rather not have need to keep any, anywhere, but no, not with using the keep as a home." Being as there was not much to see, the viewing below ground took just a few minutes.

The day passed without further incident from the enemy soldiers on the opposite side of the river. Aside from a few approaching some twenty to thirty paces closer, probably
just for a clearer look, which was as far as any of them came. Levin had been asked his opinion by the General on the lack of activity. The youngster once more had shown his ability in logical thinking, giving his thoughts on the reasoning. The General was once more impressed, and agreed with his ideas. Levin had surmised that the Darekians appeared to be waiting, but for what he was not sure. The only thing he could imagine they would wait for was reinforcements, probably infantry. This he told General Skalton would give them over whelming numbers, and the ability to attack the gatehouse at the bridge.

The days ride west, was rather uneventful compared to everything that had gone on of late.
Caldar having spent most of the day looking googly eyed, at the young woman on the horse beside him, much to the amusement of her brothers. Once more, they had made good progress, the weather being good, and the track they travelled level and firm. The scenery of the local area was stunning, with the towering, snow capped mountain range to the north, and lush green fields to the south. If all went well they hoped to make Easton late the following afternoon.

They stopped beside one of the many streams that made its way down from the higher northern grounds
, and as with the previous evening, they sat in the same group. Vanessa and Caldar seated themselves closely together, as did Edward and Hunter. The others just seemed happy to be on something other than a saddle. The evenings meal was, stew, only it did not have the benefit of Arthur adding his stolen beef, or Mitch supplying the biscuits for afters. There was however, a drop of brandy still left from the previous night, and the elderly man shared it amongst them.

"Suppose you lot are going to be sneaking off again?" Arthur grumbled, aiming his words at his daughter and the young prince. The others sniggered, "well I wish they would find somewhere else, their smooching is already making me feel like my dinner is wanting to come back up," Mitch laughed, "and while you're at it, take that pair with you," he signalled over to Edward and Hunter. Everyone joined in the laughing, though Caldar did not quite follow the remark about Vanessa's twin and his friend. That was at least until she whispered an explanation in his ear, which was certainly a revelation for him.

Chapter 21.

Luken awoke to the faint sound of bells tolling in the far distance. It took him a few moments to get his bearings and realise the source of the noise. Taylor, as usual, was already ahead of him, already out of bed and dressing himself. "That sounds like trouble" he uttered to his young son, who paid little attention. He had just about gotten his pants on, when there was a knock and the door opened, "
General Skalton to see you, your highness" spoke a guard, poking his head around the door. "Send him in please," he asked buttoning up his fly, before moving onto his shirt.

The seasoned soldier made his entrance, and sat himself down on one of the chairs in Lukens room. "Sit down
General" Luken said sarcastically. Ignoring the remark, General Skalton also poured himself a glass of water, from the jug on the table at which he was sat. "Just thought I would let you know, we have more guests across the river. That was if you had been wandering why the bells have been ringing for the last half hour or more." Luken was not sure how true that was, had he and Taylor only just heard them? Deciding to turn to his son for confirmation, he asked "Have they going that long Taylor?" The young boy looked up with a grimace, and nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?" he said a little more sternly than he probably should have done. Taylor dropped his head in admonishment, "sorry father."

General
Skalton spoke next, "Come Luken, you cannot blame the boy. It is not his fault you are as deaf as a post." Luken gave a wry smile, "yes very droll Thomas. So did you come all the way to the keep yard, to question my hearing ability, or are you actually going to tell me more details?" The General clearly was not in the best of moods, and it appeared the prince was little better, but reported as asked. He told Luken that a large infantry formation, probably in the region of a thousand or more men, flying the colours of Besemia had joined the Darekians across the river. "Bloody hell, a thousand more, so we are now looking at fifteen, sixteen hundred in total, with the two combined?" The General just nodded, as Luken continued his questions, "All proper soldiers?"

General
Skalton stood up, "I am getting your horse saddled as we speak your highness. May I suggest you leave the boy with the Lady Sarena, and then you can join me by the bridge to try and figure out what actions to take." It suddenly hit Luken how serious this situation was becoming. He had always known they would have to make a stand at some point, and hoped that they would have enough time to make good their defences. It appeared this moment had now reached them. Taylor quickly noticed his father's unease, "come on, I think the General is right", and where as normally he would oblige in taking his father's hand when offered, he did so with far more reluctance. Luken bent down and picked the youngster up, and carried him. Speaking softly to him as they left the room, "everything will be fine Taylor, I promise."

After reluctantly leaving his son and future wife, the young prince t
rotted his horse alongside the Generals, listening to his thoughts on the situation ahead of them. He told Luken, that it was now only a question of when, not if, they attacked. "I also fear we do not have sufficient professional soldiers to hold them there," the General said, adding to Lukens already increasing worry. As he neared the city wall, the entire place was a hive of activity. A long line of wagons piled high with all sorts of random clutter, were being readied to block the gateway, probably a futile effort to hold up the attackers, should it come to it. Archers lined the walls, farmers, artisans, old men and boys; and although the walls gave them some security, he doubted such a force could withstand any substantial attack. He did not doubt their courage, for he knew if that failed, all was lost.

The last remnants of Corlan's army were lining up a few hundred yards away from the bridge gatehouse, alongside a number of Elite Guards on horseback. Alongside the
riverbank stood probably a further hundred or more young men, all holding bows. Luken was told these had been split in to smaller groups, each commanded by a corporal, a professional soldier. It was hoped having a proper soldier with each would help with the understanding of commands, when they were given. It would be pointless, General Skalton waving his arms, and sounding three blasts of a horn, if the people fighting did not know what it meant; he hoped this would help appease any such problem.

The ringing bell finally stopped, much to Lukens relief. For the first time he witnessed for himself the size of the army opposing them. The short distance away, across the river, soldiers, wearing armour and holding shields emblazoned with the crest of Besemia, were already lining up. He knew then
, that today was going to be a defining one. If they failed here, then the hordes from the north would pour across the bridge. They could then attack the city, and after, they would be free to roam southwards, with nothing or no one to oppose them. That most sobering of thoughts scared him, and despite everything that had gone on before, he had never felt so afraid.

The prince and his General
joined a small group of riders, amongst them, Jak Corley and Lord Galliss. These were the men who would have to come up with the plans and ideas, to stop what was inevitably going to be coming their way very soon. Levin was with Jak, and by the looks of things, being told in no uncertain terms to get back to the city walls. The young lad, who had impressed everyone with his ideas and thinking, pleaded his case in vain, and ultimately, teary eyed, slowly turned and trudged his way back. Luken turned back from watching Levin go, to listen to his commanding officers report. He knew they would not expect him to come up with any great master plan, but they would seek his approval. He paid attention, now was not a good idea to only catch half an instruction, because he had been distracted.

Their initial plan would be to hold the attack at the bridge. However, with heavily armoured infantry, carrying heavy shields attacking them, it would only be a matter of time. They doubted the door
s would be broken down, it was adjudged more likely, that the enemy would eventually get a foothold atop the battlement. Once that had happened, it would only be a matter of time before they made the short steps down to open the gates. The sheer numbers would then surge through, and pour out into the open spaces beyond. General Skalton actually said something a little strange, "I hope when they do, they keep after us toward the city walls." Luken thought a moment, he had never thought of that scenario. If the attackers surged across, what was to stop them destroying everything to the south, while they sat watching behind the walls. If that did happen, they had no force that could pursue and engage them; they had always assumed a defensive stand would be made here. "Then we encourage them to do so" Luken added to the conversation, getting a few approving nods from the others.

As far as numbers of armed personnel went, there was probably little difference between the two opposing forces. The
General spoke plainly, as he saw things; the enemy had the advantage of more professional and heavy armoured soldiers, whilst they held the better defensive positions. Whether having those could swing the balance, he told them honestly, was doubtful, but not impossible. He continued that as long as there was a chance of success, in ending this madness, they should pursue it, "there is no more running, no more fleeing, nowhere else to hide. We have no other option here today, than to be victorious." Luken was hung on the words, spoken with such clarity and passion, and he realised the General was building them up, just as he would the other soldiers under his command. He was giving them belief, without making empty promises, he was focusing their minds on the task ahead, and making sure they all understood the circumstances that would follow should they fail.

Archers stood positioned across the top of the battlements of the bridge gatehouse, watching in anticipation. The enemy was still forming its own lines, making its own plans, for what it thought would bring them the success it sought. It appeared the Besemian infantry would be making any initial attack as they stood to the front. The Darekians, all on horseback, would no doubt be the ones to burst through once the gates were opened. The riders would be tasked
with chasing down any fleeing men, before they could make it to the city walls. Luken wondered whether the men on the far side of the river, stood waiting as anxiously and nervous as the ones on his side.

The sun was making its way higher in the sky. A lovely blue one, with but a few wispy clouds.
General Skalton had positioned his troops, had given them their orders. The plans were simple enough, firstly, hold the bridge and inflict as many casualties as possible. When the bridge was lost, they were to make an organised retreat back towards the city, getting some cover form the archers on its walls. Once inside the gateway, it was to be blocked up, with anything and everything at hand. Stand and fight, destroy the enemy from atop the relative safety of the battlements, and all being well, sit round a fire that evening toasting the hard fought victory.

Luken was asked if he wished to return to the city, to be with his son and the Lady Sarena. If this was to be his last day on this earth, he would not want to spend it anywhere else, but he knew, his place was to be seen. His presence on the battlefield would show his soldiers he was one of them. If he were going to ask them to risk their lives, then he had to do likewise. Despite all the times the
General had guarded and protected him since leaving Hamalin, scalded him when he had put his own life in danger, moaned at every occasion he had not had a guard with him, he knew it had been for one purpose. That purpose was now; it was to be here amongst his men, showing a defiant, united front. Here, today Corlan would finally say, enough is enough; no more will it be pushed around. Today it would make its final stand.

In the city, the final preparations were now complete. It was hoped the enemy would not get this far, yet all standing across the top  of the wall, watching their comrades at the bridge, knew it
would likely come to them. As much precaution as possible had been given to the safety of the non-combatants, as a result they were all now sat upon the top floor of the keep. Darak was given charge, he was not really in any fit state for fighting, yet he was the last armed man between the people huddled in the rooms and their slaughter. He knew if it got to the point of him being engaged in combat, everything had already been lost, the bridge, the city and the keep. He would of course do his duty, needlessly giving his life, to give those he was with a few more seconds of theirs.

He stood at the window of the study, the smell of freshly sawn timbers still lingered around the room. Atte
mpting to look through the glass, he could not make anything out. The panes were not of particular quality, full of bubbles and defects. They were useful as far as letting in daylight, though not much in allowing a clear view. He sighed, returning his gaze to the occupants of the room. Most in the study with him were children, huddled together, with a few elderly women to help keep them calm. All the rooms that had been repaired on the top floor were now crammed with similar groups, all placed as far from danger as possible.