The Powterosian War (Book 5) (24 page)

Another team rushed up with a cauldron. The beast’s good eye saw them coming and it froze. One man stumbled and the scalding oil sloshed, but the team recovered and hurled the oil on the whingtang’s head. Much of it landed in the fanged mouth caught open and hissing. The beast slashed its head from side to side. The front feet thrust up soil, breaking through; the scythe-like claws whipping out at its attackers. Then a flaming arrow stuck the beast’s jaw and the oil flared up. The creature screamed and shuffled back into the shaft. Soil and rock flew as the great tusks caught on the cobblestones. The monstrous claws scratched at the ground to free its head, then after a moment, the whingtang disappeared back down the tunnel, leaving a gaping hole.

“What now?” a soldier asked the general. “How do we block the passage?”

“No, form up, we march into the tunnel and take possession of it before the orcs can get around the beast and occupy it. Major, assemble a team to follow the whingtang back up the passageway and secure it.” As the major shouted for his best men, the general called for another officer.

“You there, captain, send all available men to bring all the bricks and stones they can find. Tear down that warehouse as quickly as you can. Put every man to work on this. We must be ready to refill that tunnel as soon as the monster retreats back out of the hole.”

The men all set to their appointed tasks. The army was able to fight off the orcs while those behind them brought rubble and mortar into the tunnel, filling it while the men at the front held off the orcs. Finally, with twenty feet filled and sealed beneath the wall, except for a narrow passage for the defenders to retreat through, those men withdrew. The men flung stones and mortar behind them as they retreated, refilling the tunnel with solid support for the wall above.

From the wall, the catapults flung baskets of rocks at the tunnel opening. Many rolled down into the cavern, partially filling that beyond the wall, making the tunnel useless to the enemy. It was midday when the army completed the last of that operation. The exhausted men, from king to the lowest ranking soldier, shuffled back to clean up, get food and some much needed rest.

* * *

General Vylvex rode round the city walls daily, looking for weak points to attack. He noted King Grekenbach watched his passage. His orcs still held the siege beyond the walls, but frontal attacks failed one after another. Vylvex waited for an opening, a weakness, some change with an advantage.

“How much longer before those legions coming from under Hador reach us?” Vylvex asked a messenger from the general leading the reinforcements. “We’ve done lost our advantage of surprise. Who knows when help will come to them inside the city? The king is impatient to break Graushdem so we can march on south to Neuyokkasin.”

“The land don’t have nothing for the troops since your army done took everything we could eat, food and animals, general. The army be moving slowly ‘cause they haves to hunt far and wide to find victuals.”

“Did your general not bring supplies when he came under the mountains?”

“The army won’t march far without food, general. The orcs, they done eat the supplies they brung wiff’em. The supply lines is attacked more and more as we move south away from Dreaddrac and down that open land tweenst Hador and here.”

“The king will suffer no more excuses.”

“The king or you, general?”

“Don’t get cocky; ogres, too, have been known to disappear in this war.”

The ogre messenger bowed only slightly and withdrew without further comment. General Vylvex’s aide entered his tent, bringing a half raw haunch of some animal in a wooden bowl.

“Fools, even our own forces wants me to fail. They hopes to snatch my place,” the general said, slobbering and drooling as he chomped down on the bloody meat. He glanced suspiciously at the aide, suddenly uncertain of him as well.

“Send for that goblin general that crushed Heggolstockin. I’ll sees what he’s got to say about this battle. And have the commanders of the 3
rd
and 9
th
legions report here too.”

The general finished gnawing on the greasy bone. He sniffed it and smashed it against the tableside, cracking the bone. He thrust his dirty finger into the hollow and sucked the marrow from under his nail. Then, smacking his lips, he threw the bone to the side of the tent, wiping his muddy claws on the nearest rag as the Goblin general entered the tent.

“What thinks you about this mess?” Vylvex asked, picking his yellow chipped fangs with a black fingernail.

“One way or the other, we must overrun the city soon or the king will have both of us tortured, or killed,” the goblin said. He eyed the bone on the hide at the tent wall. “I think we might have a chance at the south wall. The defenders are concentrated at the north and western gates, expecting us to renew the attacks there. I’m thinking we can build a quick siege tower shell to appear to attack the west gate again. Meanwhile, we move legions around to the south in the night and attack at dawn before Grekenbach discovers the shuffle.”

“We’ll wait for a moonless night and keep the campfires burning on the western slopes to fool him,” Vylvex said. “That might work. Maybe them sorry, creeping legions will get here by then. As they’ll be coming from the north they’ll also draw defenders to the north gate.”

“You think we have that much time to wait for the reinforcements?”

“We got to. Grekenbach is no fool. With them other legions, we can attack both the north and south gates at the same time, too.”

The tent flap opened and the commanders of the third and ninth legions entered and saluted General Vylvex, then nodded to the goblin general, whom they watched. General Vylvex rolled out a greasy hide map of Graushdemheimer and the land surrounding it. The commanders came round to look at it. The goblin general stood to the side but watched Vylvex point out the plan.

“The reinforcements better be here in two weeks,” Vylvex said, looking at each of the commanders and then the goblin. “I’ll find out the next night with no moon about that time. At the first moonless night you’re going to move your legions to the south gate in the dark, just beyond sight of the walls. I’ll have a diversion at the western gate. The fresh legions will attack the north gate to draw attention away from the south gate.”

The old ogre scrunched his whole face, squeezing one eye to focus through the other. The commanders stood more erect, leaning backwards, squirming.

“Your legions will attack the south gate just before dawn with the forces already there. You will take the gate, break through, and hold it. Is that clear?”

“Understood, general,” one commander said; the other nodded.

“So the plans set,” Vylvex said. He summoned a messenger, sending him to their king to make him aware of the plan. “You know the king’s growing madder by the day until Graushdem falls to us. No more failures, delays, or excuses. If he kills me, I’ll take you before I die.” The two commanders bumped into each other turning for the tent exit.

“Perhaps we can weaken the defenders’ resolve,” the goblin general suggested when the commanders had left.

“How so?” Vylvex asked, scratching a hairy mole on his forearm.

“We might send in a wraith with some plague to spread among the people clustered within the city.”

“Good idea, but I ain’t got no wraith with the army.”

“Let me see what I can find. Perhaps we could save some festering bodies to hurl over the wall. That might spread some plague”

“You goblins is a clever lot,” Vylvex said, pouring the goblin general a cup of sour wine and offering him some rancid meat. The goblin declined both.

* * *

King Saxthor tossed his traveling valise over his stallion’s rump and jumped up into the saddle, joining Bodrin, Tonelia, Tournak, Belnik, two aides, and Delia, who panted keeping up with them. In the predawn light of the Hoyahof’s courtyard, the king addressed his companions.

“I thought you were going home, Tonelia,” Saxthor said, knowing no power on the continent could separate her from Bodrin now.

“We go where your majesty goes,” Tonelia said. She nodded to Bodrin who shrugged his shoulders and looked sheepish when Saxthor glanced at him.

“We ride night and day for Heedra to pick up the army there,” Saxthor said. “There can be no delays. We eat as we ride and break only to change horses. No delays. Anyone falling behind will have to be left behind. Is that clear?” All the company nodded agreement. “Anyone want to remain here? I’ll not hold it against you, but we ride into possible death. Take your leave now if you feel you must.” No one budged. And with that, the company rode out of Hoya heading south.

The company rode at full gallop south down the river. They left the exhausted horses and took a boat under full sail down the eastern side of Lake Pundar, only stopping at Favriana to pick up half the troops at the new fortress.

“General, take your men and march straight south to Konnotan. Leave at once. I’ll rendezvous with you there shortly. Broach no delays; leave any stragglers.”

That done and the defense of Favriana reconfirmed with the general in charge of the fortress, Saxthor’s band took ship again and sped under full sail for Heedra. The wind blew with them. Saxthor stood on the bow looking ever south to the horizon. He’d look down at the dragon ring he twirled on his finger but said nothing to his companions. He heard them whispering behind him, but he remained silent.

“What’s his plan?” Tonelia asked Bodrin.

“I don’t know,” Bodrin said, “He’s got a plan; he’ll share it when he’s ready. Surely you remember how he is about that.”

“You know anything, Tournak?” Tonelia asked.

“No more than you.”

“Don’t look at me,” Belnik said, handing a washed cloth.

Saxthor smiled to himself, not looking around at his companions.

“Tighten the sail,” Saxthor commanded, and with that they cruised on down the river with the current.

At Heedra, Saxthor found General Socockensmek standing on the wharf with his aides, waiting for the king to dock. Saxthor jumped off the ship before the ropes could secure it and, taking the general by the arm, led him ahead of the others where they could talk privately.

“Are the enemy forces of sufficient numbers to attack across the river yet?” Saxthor asked Socockensmek.

“I think not. Per your orders, I sent a raiding party over there last night. They should disrupt the buildup for a while. How long, I can’t tell. We don’t know how many are massing there.”

“Is the army ready to leave?” Saxthor asked.

“As you ordered, my king.”

“Can the garrison left here withstand an attack should the enemy cross the river? How long could they hold out?”

“I can’t know that, Your Majesty. It depends on the size of the force attacking. I’ve assembled most of the legions here at Heedra, anticipating a major attack, but how large an army it is, how bold or under what pressure they are, I don’t know. This new castilyernov should be able to hold out for at least a month I should hope.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. I’ve no choice. I must take the legions south immediately. You remain here to hold the river and Heedra. The enemy must not get past you or Konnotan is lost.”

“I understand, Majesty. May I ask what your intentions are, taking such a large army south?”

“I’ve not shared that even with Bodrin, but I’ll tell you that the Grand Imperial Army is marching on Neuyokkasin and is expected to reach the mountains before we do. I must demand a forced march and hope to intercept them at the border or they will sack Konnotan and seize the kingdom under the princess imperial’s claim to the throne.”

“You can’t mean it, Your Majesty,” Socockensmek said, staggering. “The emperor, your cousin is attacking you and Konnotan? Are you certain his army is not coming to our aid?”

“No time to explain, general, but I’m sure. I must leave immediately with the legions asked for. Legions are joining me at Konnotan from Hoya and Favriana.”

“But even with the combined legions your army can’t stop the Grand Imperial Army. No force on the continent can stop that.”

Saxthor stared into Socockensmek’s eyes. “Well, we’re lost if I can’t.”

General Socockensmek stood gawking at Saxthor, analyzing the situation, the probabilities, then shook his head. He jerked straight up, his old chest sticking out behind a brace of medals. He saluted his king with pursed lips. “I should go in your place, Majesty.”

Saxthor slapped his hand on the general’s shoulder. “Wish us luck, old friend. If we’re overrun, disband the army and tell the men to save their families as best they can.” Saxthor looked down at the ground.

“You will be victorious, Majesty. I know your family and you. You will be victorious, somehow.” With that, Socockensmek saluted his king again and marched off to the castilyernov in Heedra to further his defense plans under his seriously diminished garrison.

“Come gentlemen, Tonelia, we must take to horse and ride ahead of the army to Konnotan,” Saxthor said. With that, he strode off south of the city where saddled horses were waiting for them. The army had already set out for Konnotan. Saxthor and his band galloped around them for the capital.

*

As the party rode up the river road and broke through the forest opening at Konnotan the warm familiar capital blazed in the sun. The newly raised city walls stood defiant, the stone facing gleaming. The neat high-pitched slate roofs protruded above the ramparts. Warm brick and fresh coats of sparkling whitewash stood between them. Helshian Court Palace shone over all, its towers resplendent in delicate spires of white marble with blue tile roofs. Saxthor saw people were scurrying in and out of the gates. Many small ships waited in line to load and unload supplies at the crowded docks below the city walls. Troops were moving everywhere. It was a bitter sweet homecoming for the king.