Esra (37 page)

XXXI

       With Fynn as their guide they made it to Wilspry as the orange light was barely peeking over the horizon.  The sight of the small town made Esra wince in homesickness and she touched the bread beater tucked in Roja’s sidesaddle. 

       “Good people of Wilspry, we bring news of a danger that comes to yer town!” Arland cried loudly as they rode past the farms and small houses. “Awake from yer sleep, leave yer plows in the fields.  Come meet with us at the town center!”   

Women and children came onto their porches to see who was making such a fuss, and the men raced towards their families with the threat of danger ringing in their ears.  When the people of Wilspry saw that it was not just a man who had called to them but a group of Humans, dark skinned Elves and large hairy Beasts upon larger Horses, they thought it a dream.  But it could not be a dream, for there was their neighbor and his Dog, and there was old man Jaspar.  So they followed each other, whispering and wondering what these strangers meant by such a peculiar, dramatic entrance.

          They rode past the low wooden gate that bordered the town, the Skycatcher’s hooves beating loudly on the dry ground.  Wilspry was smaller than Sorley, with only a general store, feed mill, small smithing area, and an old alehouse that included a few small boarding rooms.   Upon reaching the stables, Esra dismounted and thrust Roja’s fake reins into the hands of the only stable boy in the town, who stood open mouthed at the Skycatchers and four towering Unnis.  The young lad took note of the various weapons that hung from the saddle and asked no questions as he took the Horses away immediately to be Watered and fed.  As the crowd gathered, Esra worried about their reaction to such news, especially from such an odd seeming group. 

“What if they don’t believe us?”  She asked nervously.  “Would we have to continue forward and try to stop the Elites before they reach the town?  Or maybe at least a few of the townspeople will join us.” 

       “Don’t worry, Arland is very convincing.” Nadia assured her. “He is the Keeper of Charm, after all, and speaking to crowds is one of his skills.” 

The murmurs gained in volume as the crowd swelled and curiosity rose to an uncomfortable tension.  Looking around, Esra could see that people seemed just as unnerved by the race of their visitors as they were with anticipation of this unexpected news.  The youngest children were crying at the sight of the Unni and some of the men had even brought weapons.  Esra hoped they were for use against the professed danger and not her new friends.

       “Good people of Wilspry!  I bring news that yer town is in danger.” Arland announced from the porch of the boarding house. “I know that we must appear to be a strange lot, but we mean ye no harm.  We are Keepers of LeVara and these are the Unni of Fira Nadim Forest.  Many of ye have heard tell of us, whispers passed down from yer mothers and fathers from their mothers and fathers.  Stories about the mystical Unni warriors who live far to the south of our realm.  Of sorcerers that can bend elements to their will, do strange and magnificent things using only a few words.  Or perhaps ye’ve even seen Keepers passing through here, sensed briefly the strength of magick that surrounds them.  Well, we appear in front of ye now, as true as the light of day, as allies in yer hearts.  If word has not yet reached yer town, our Kingdom is under attack from a foul sorcerer named Tallen.  The great city of Kiran Brae has already fallen under his control.”

Esra had expected the crowd to erupt in panic at the news, but instead, they stood silently, waiting for him to continue.  It was as if they were completely mesmerized.  Arland was taking every care to sound and appear as calm as possible, but she had not realized the full extent of his skills until then.  He truly was a powerful Keeper. 

       “Tallen’s army of Elites is slaughtering people throughout the Kingdom and there are a hundred of them headed right here.  They will be upon this town within a few hours, so we will need yer help in defending it.  Any person who is able to fight, please join us.  If ye cannot fight but wish to help, we will see that ye are put to use.  There will be barricades to build and traps to be set.  Children and anyone else unable to aid in our resistance will be concealed in the safest place possible.  We promise to do what we can to defend ye and yer families.” 

       Listening to him oddly gave her a sense of hope, and looking around she knew the townspeople felt the same way.  It was a complete contradiction of Human nature.  To be able to deliver such news without causing a riot was truly amazing.  Even in the face of such absurdity, such imminent danger, you couldn’t help but believe him with a confident fervor. 

       Arland began shouting out instructions and there was a flurry of motion and sound as the people of Wilspry scattered into groups.  There were no questions, no objections, just organized movement. 

“This is unbelievable,” Esra marveled.  Those who wanted to fight came to the front of the crowd while the children and elderly made their way to the back.  Many of the women and children too young to fight gathered to the side, willing to help set the traps.  Out of a few hundred townspeople, it appeared that more than half were able and willing to assist in the defense in some way, which greatly relieved Esra.  The more people helping the better everyone’s chances.

Esra had to steer a few young children, probably only five or six, away from the group of those willing to fight.  They held up their small sticks and pocket knives like brave swords, poised to prove that they were indeed battle ready.  She smiled inwardly at their earnest protests.

“It’s Arland’s special request that ye be the warriors dedicated to taking care of the women and children.  It’s yer job to protect them, and a great responsibility,” she convinced them with a serious gaze.  Satisfied with that response, the young ones bounded back to their families with renewed vigor.

A master of communication and efficiency, Arland spoke briefly with Zakai and began to assign tasks to all of the groups present.  The farmers retreated to their houses to gather all the supplies and arms they could.  Esra watched as Baelin ducked behind the general store to head for the small blacksmith shop, hoping to fashion at least a few spears and shields in the limited time before the Elites arrived.  Nadia disappeared, attempting to use her stealth to locate a place where the small children and elders could hide undetected.  Shouts rang through the crowded streets as people darted about, trying to prepare for a battle too soon coming.

       As some of the townsfolk arrived with their arms, it was clear that virtually none of them owned a real weapon besides a bow for hunting.  Most stood ready with hammers, shovels, and other various farming tools. 

       “These
weapons
are better suited fer barns and fields,” Mox grumbled. 

       “It’s all they have,” Shova countered fiercely.  “At least so many are willing te fight.  Besides, I use a hammer and it crushes skulls jest as well as yer fancy mace.”

       Fynn was able to seek out the few woodworkers in the group and took them to Baelin, who had set up shop in the smithing area, to begin making as many bows and arrows as possible.  Since Shova, Hadvi and Mox were commanders back in Shadow Glenn, they quickly took on the task of teaching the men and women who arrived with weapons.  Pairing townsfolk up for some practice sparring, they began to give basic instructions on offensive and defensive maneuvers.  Esra looked to Arland, feeling useless in the scattered chaos of preparations.

       “Esra, I want ye to go help Zakai with planning the defense and setting the traps,” he instructed, gesturing towards the alehouse.  She nodded and took off towards the building, taking the entry stairs two at a time.  Bursting through the front door, the room was packed full of people whispering low and passionately about the defense of their town.  The center of focus appeared to be towards a towering frame at one of the large round tables.  Esra began to push her way through the people to the Unni-se until Zakai caught sight of her and motioned to let her pass.  A townsperson was tracing his hands about on the table, trying frantically to describe the layout of the town and surrounding landscape. 

       “Wait, I can help with this.”  She put both her arms on the table palm up and called upon the Tur to show her a map of the town.  “
Orro Wey Sim LeVara Wilspry
.”

       Loud gasps erupted in the room as the dark lines began to take their illuminated form.  Zakai picked up a smudge of charcoal and began to trace a basic outline of the town on the face of the table, mirroring the image on Esra’s arms.  In usual Tur style, the map replicated the different elevations of the rocky town, like a perfect miniature version.

       “Thank ye, that was very useful.  Forgot ye Keepers could do that,” he gruffly admitted, finishing his sketch.  “It seems that the town is set atop a long sloping hill, which is good fer us.  We will be on the higher ground which is easier te defend.  There are very few Trees surrounding the area, which will mean that we should be able te see the Elites coming, depending on what kinds of magick they decide te use.  It also means we have te be more creative in setting traps.  Now, is there any town north of here that we need te warn?”

       “There’s a small village about an hour’s walk from here,”  a young farmer said as he approached the table.  “About fifty people live there.”

       “Alright.  Well then take a few others and some Horses te go warn them.  Bring them back here as soon as ye can.”

“Couldn’t we try and hide them?”  Esra asked.

“I wouldn’t take the chance, the Elite sorcerer’s will feel strange coming upon an empty village and use magick te find them.  It’s just as good te get them back here, we can protect them or they can join the fight.  And make sure they don’t try te bring anything with them,” he said to the young man. “They need te travel as fast as possible back here.  Put the old and young on the Horses ye arrived on, and the rest will have to run.  We cannot spare any more Steeds, unfortunately.”

“I’ll take my sisters.  We’ll go now.”  The farmer grabbed a couple of women next to him and they made their way quickly out of the tavern.

“The first thing we need te address is making this place defendable,” Zakai asserted.  “The farther the houses get from the center of town the more open space between them.  I say we begin by barricading off just a small portion of the buildings in the center.  It will be better te have a small area fully protected than a large area that is only halfway secure.” 

       Esra nodded as Zakai pointed towards a few of the young men near the table.  “I need ye te find a few more Humans te help barricade the town center.  Focus only on filling in the gaps between these buildings here, here, and here.  We want te create a circle that is impenetrable fer their soldiers, or at least something that will make it very difficult fer them te get past.  Gather whatever heavy items ye can, bags of grain, furniture, bales of hay, and stack them in the gaps between the houses and buildings.  This will also give our archers some places te safely shoot from.  Once yer finished with that, make a second blockade here and here, in case we need te fall back.”

       The three men nodded vigorously and swept out of the room to complete their mission.  Zakai leaned forward and ran his hand down the long, dark braid on his chin.  “Now, we need te find ways te stop some of them before they reach the town.”

       “What about digging trenches?  We could disguise the ground so that the Horses would not be able to see the holes and they would charge right into them,” Esra suggested.

       “I’m glad ye’ve been listening during our lessons,” he nodded approvingly.  “However, there is not enough time te dig trenches, at least proper ones.  They will be riding in from the north, approaching here.  We can dig some shallow holes scattered around the back of the town where most of them will hopefully come.  At least the holes will slow them, perhaps break the legs on some of their Horses.  That will shake them up a bit, make em’ nervous.  And it will give our archers an easier time te pick off some of the Elites.  Make sure the archers go here and here, I want them protected and at a good vantage fer shooting.”

       Esra felt a familiar tingle on her arm that meant someone was trying to send her a message in Tur.  “
Alor Etta
,” she whispered, lowering her arm under the table to view the script in private.  Fynn’s name appeared in the top left corner. 
Spoke with Meshok.  Three hours left.

       Esra looked up at Zakai. “Three hours.”

He nodded and pointed at some other people near the table. “Ye two, get together with some others, find shovels and start digging.  The holes should be scattered about this area, and as wide and deep as ye can make them in the couple of hours before they arrive.  Dig like yer life depends upon it, because it does.  Have a few people set as many snares and foothold traps as ye can around the field.  I assume people have plenty of those here fer catching Rabbits fer their soup pots.”

       The Unni-se bent over the table, brow furrowed in concentration.  “This isn’t nearly enough.  What else am I missing…what else can we do?  Well, there is much we could do if there was more time.  Think, Zakai.  There has te be more.”

       Cane had said that the chief was a master strategist, so if anyone could pull this together, Esra believed he could.  She was touched by his frustration, his drive to defend the Human town.  Suddenly the shimmering shape of Nadia appeared brightly next to Esra, causing her to jump completely out of her seat. 

       “Nadia!  Are ye trying to kill me?”  She scolded, readjusting in her chair.  The Elf woman let out a trickling laugh, placing her hand on Esra’s shoulder in apology.

       “I’ve come to help.  The children and others that could not fight are hidden as safely as possible.  As long as we can keep out most of the Elite sorcerers they should stay undetected.”