Trial and Glory (44 page)

“Yes.” Cassus gestured behind him toward the narrow passageway. “The room for the mechanism should be just up ahead.”

“Good. Will it be guarded?”

“There should be a few engineers there.”

Kroke pushed him aside. “Then let me go first.”

A few steps and half a turn later, they reached another door. After a knock, two men answered. Kroke killed each before they could say a word.

They entered the room.

Kroke barred the door as best as he could manage with what little was available in the small space. Cassus looked over the mechanisms.

“You know what needs doing?” Kroke asked.

Cassus nodded, pointing to the pulleys and chains running in and out of the walls and ceiling. “It’s less complicated than it looks.”

He pulled two levers and pushed on another. Through a small window within one of the walls he watched the portcullis rise. Frantic shouting erupted all around, angry curses wanting to know what was going on. The wheel controlling the main gate was not quite as simple. It took a few moments for both of them to open it. Cassus locked the mechanism in place, rigging it in such a way that it would be nearly impossible to close the gate or lower the portcullis.

Looking out a small opening, he saw that a clear path into the city waited Elyse’s army.

And they better not be taking their time.

A crossbowman suddenly appeared in his line of sight. A bolt flitted through the opening, nearly taking off his ear. He quickly ducked away before another followed.

Clanging armor stopped outside their door. Pounding began.

Kroke waited at the entrance, a knife in each hand. One with a bone-white handle Cassus had never seen before. The other he knew well as it had once been Jonrell’s. He smiled recalling how his best friend had given away a family heirloom to befriend a cold-blooded killer. Given all that Kroke had done for the Hell Patrol, Cassus thought the trade wise.

He grabbed a sword off one of the dead engineers, and took up position next to Kroke.

“We did it,” said Kroke.

“We did.”

“I’ll be honest. I didn’t think we would.”

“Me neither.”

The doorframe shook, sending puffs of smoke into the room.

“I bet you probably didn’t think it would end like this.” Cassus said.

“I’m not sure if I ever considered how it would end. You ever thought it would be me who you’d be standing by.”

“Always thought it would be Jonrell.”

“I think a lot of people did.”

“Probably so.”

The door cracked.

Barking orders and frantic shouting from outside told them that Elyse’s army had arrived.

We just have to hold out long enough for the army to get inside.

“Loose!” someone bellowed above, signaling the archers along the wall.

“Sorry it didn’t work out that way.”

“I’m not.”

The door began to split.

Kroke cocked an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

Cassus grinned. “You’re a much better fighter than Jonrell.”

Kroke smiled. “That I am.”

The door smashed inward, bits of wood flying off in countless directions as men pushed inside. Cassus and Kroke stood side-by-side at the doorway, ready to meet them all.

Chapter 31

Soldiers huffed to either side of Yanasi, metal armor clanging with each step as she rode among the loose ranks. She had been pushing them hard through the night with dawn ready to break at any moment. Under normal circumstances she would never have dreamed of keeping such a brutal pace before battle.

But these aren’t normal circumstances.

Her black, long bow hung off one shoulder. She squeezed the wooden shaft, finding comfort in the familiar smooth surface, easing her anxiety.

Calm down. Kroke and Cassus can do this.
You
can do this.

A lone horsemen crested a nearby hill, galloping down toward the army’s front lines. Yanasi recognized Rygar immediately. He rode low and hunched in the saddle, slapping the reins with each stride, urging his mount faster. A part of her wanted to kill him for riding so recklessly at night. But then again, the other part couldn’t wait to hear the news he brought.

She spurred her mount and met Rygar ahead of the troops.

“There’s panic on the walls near the gatehouse,” he said. “I couldn’t make out all the details with just torchlight, but I saw enough to know that whatever is going on, it isn’t normal.”

“And the gate?”

“Still up when I left.”

“So we don’t know if they were successful.”

“Not yet.”

But they made it that far.

She spun her mount around, and called out orders to pick up pace. Officers relayed the message further down the lines. Her troops complied without a word.

No one wants to waste the energy.

They reached the hill moments later. Yanasi crested the rise first and paused. Her stomach clenched as the walls of Lyrosene came into view just as the night sky began to lighten.

Please be down.

Sure enough, the gate to the city stood open, the portcullis raised.

One Above, they did it.

Her eyes drifted to the walls where hundreds waited to welcome them. She saw soldiers disappearing near the gatehouse.

Crap. They’re forming ranks to plug up the gate. We need to get there before they dig in.

She wheeled in the saddle, yelling orders to attack.

Cassus and Kroke can’t hold forever.

“One Above, move it! I want that gatehouse taken,” she yelled as men sprinted past her, tired faces finding life with their goal in sight.

* * *

Elyse had ridden at the back of her army, silently marveling at the pace her men kept. She felt tired just watching them break into a run at their general’s commands.

Yanasi disappeared over the hill with a tide of infantry.

Elyse kicked her mount forward. Her personal guards followed.

The last of her army cleared the rise just before Elyse reached the top. What she saw brought her relief.

Thank the One Above, they did it.

Lyrosene’s gate stood open and her army swarmed inside. Many of those waiting to enter the city, loosed arrows at the defenders on the wall. Others held shields overhead for protection.

Elyse marveled at the comparative discipline of her army to those of the city’s defenders. Both sides took losses, but it quickly became apparent whose troops were the more seasoned. With dawn approaching, she raised a spyglass and squinted. Despite their tiredness and the seemingly chaotic state, her army maintained discipline while the defenders on the wall rushed around in panic.

Elyse ignored the din of battle, metal crashing, stone scraping, and voices cursing. Instead, she watched her army flow up onto the battlements. She expected the defenders to dig in like her army did so many times when guarding the High Pass. However, the soldiers at Lyrosene did nothing of the sort. Men fought furiously at first, but within a matter of moments were overwhelmed. Defenders already engaged died swiftly while those in the rear threw down weapons and raised hands.

Her officers accepted each man’s surrender without hesitation.

No sign of Gauge. Or the scepter.

Elyse moved the spyglass away from the walls and down to the gate. She couldn’t believe the walls had been taken with half of her army still outside the city. Yanasi was amongst those still clamoring inside. Rygar, on the other hand, rode back toward Elyse.

She lowered the spyglass and trotted forward until she met him.

“I never thought it would happen so fast,” Elyse called.

Rygar slowed his approach. “We have better numbers, more experience, and better leadership. With the gates open, they lost one of their few advantages.”

“Is Yanasi ready to take the palace?”

“Not right away. She wants to secure the wall and regroup before pursuing Gauge.”

“No. Tell her to split her forces. Keep half at the wall under someone she trusts. She is to lead the rest to the palace immediately.”

“But the power of the scepter—?” began Rygar.

“Is likely a bluff.”

“What?”

“If Gauge or someone he trusted could tap into the power of the scepter, they wouldn’t have let our army enter the city. In truth, they would never have let the gatehouse be taken. The fact that we not only won, but did so with ease, makes me think that Gauge hoped to do nothing more than play on my fears of the scepter while he marshaled his own forces.” She paused. “We got here before he was able to fully consolidate an army. He’d be a fool not to run. Now, go! He can’t get away.”

* * *

Yanasi finally made it into the city, shouting orders to her captains as she dismounted and entered the gatehouse. She ran up the stairs, stopped on the second landing, and hugged a nearby wall to get out of the way as her men dragged bodies outside a doorway leading to the gate’s mechanism.

“What in the name of the One Above happened?” she asked.

A private looked up, out of breath and startled by her voice. “There’s dozens of them, General. Bodies stacked almost chest high in front of the door that controls the gate. We had to move these just to get to it.”

“Is either Kroke or Cassus in there?”

The private smiled. “Yes, Ma’am. A few cuts and bruises, but they’re alive.”

Thank the One Above.
A thought struck her.

“What about Niken or Geran?”

The private lowered his eyes. “Not here. Kroke said they were likely dead.”

Yanasi sighed.

A familiar voice caught her attention.

“If you make me fall, I’m going to kill you next, Cassus.”

“Don’t get mad at me. This is mostly your handy work.”

“You killed your share. The problem is you’ve let your boots go to crap while you were off with them Byzernians. You’re too cheap to get a better pair. You don’t see me losing my footing.”

Yanasi’s heart warmed at the familiar sound of friends bickering. She stepped by the private and looked inside the doorway. Cassus had Kroke by the arm to steady himself as they walked over the blood-slicked stone.

She rushed in and grabbed both, hugging them before either had a chance to notice her.

“One Above, I’m glad you’re both alright.”

“The same goes for you,” said Kroke. “Where’s Rygar?”

Yanasi noticed the concern in his voice. “I sent him back to Elyse until we gave the signal that it was safe for her to enter the city. The last thing I want is for her to get struck by some idiot with a crossbow.”

“Good call,” said Cassus.

“Yanasi!” Rygar appeared in the doorway.

“What are you doing here? I wanted you to stay with Elyse.”

“She sent me back. She wants you to leave someone in charge here and then push on with half the army to the palace. She’s worried Gauge will flee in all the excitement.”

“Flee? When he has the scepter?” asked Cassus.

“Elyse thinks Gauge was bluffing. She said that if he was going to use it, he likely would have by now.”

Yanasi released Kroke and Cassus. “I need to go.”

“Wait,” said Kroke. “Do you have mounts outside?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Me and Cassus will need them.”

“What for?” asked Cassus.

“Elyse is probably right,” said Kroke. “I was around Gauge enough to know that he liked having whatever power he could grab. He might not even have the scepter for all we know. It will take the army too long to organize for a push to the palace. You and I need to ride ahead before he escapes.”

“No,” said Yanasi. “I have other plans for you.”

* * *

Yanasi rushed down the stairs, yelling orders. She put one of her captains in charge of the wall and quickly formed up ranks to lead into the city.

She assigned a cavalry unit to Cassus, Kroke, and Rygar and sent them to the city’s other gates. Yanasi hated separating them from her, but she worried that Gauge had already evacuated the palace and was looking for a way out the city.

Heavy breathing and heavier footsteps filled her ears as soldiers sped down Lyrosene’s main thoroughfare. Yanasi had been in such a rush to get moving that she hadn’t had a chance to consider what she would do once she reached the palace. She thought about all she knew of Gauge.

He’s smart and obviously deceptive to have fooled so many for so long. Kroke and Elyse think he might not be able to use the scepter, but I can’t count on that. He might be hesitant, but the more time I give him to think about using it, the more likely he will. Better to get in fast and keep him off balance.

Yanasi started working out the details of how to assault the palace walls as she passed a local brewery still closed from the night before. She made several turns, passing unlit forges, a silent marketplace, and smokeless chimneys. If she didn’t know any better, she might have thought Lyrosene abandoned.

No one wants to draw attention to themselves at a time like this.

After another quick turn which brought her to the palace’s gates, Yanasi came to a halt, signaling her troops to do the same. The gates stood open. Three men blocked her path.

Two wore the attire of Royal Guards and were armed with long spears. They flanked the third man, a short, trollish figure dressed in rich reds and vibrant yellows. Thick black curls bounced atop the noble’s head as he raised his hands in peace.

She recognized Illyan immediately.

He smiled. “I take it from that look, you remember me. It's General Yanasi now, isn’t it?”

“How would you know that?

The man’s smile grew wider. “I’m well informed. It’s what I do. For instance, I’ve already received word that you now control the city’s walls. I also know that the queen is remaining outside of the city until given the signal that all is clear. A wise move, I might add.” He paused. “Now, I presume that you are here to capture Gauge before he escapes, correct?”

A moment of silence passed as Yanasi reminded herself that Elyse’s opinion of Illyan had changed during last year’s campaign.

“Yes,” said Yanasi.