Siege of Night (20 page)

“This is all my fault!” he cut her off while pointing a finger toward the wall. “They are out there because of me. Dragot has hurt people because of me. If there is anything I can do to even begin to make this right—”

“It seems you may be in the perfect position to track him down,” said Berkeni. “He has left a trail in your mind that might lead directly to him. Addel and I could monitor and support you from here if you were to seek this course of action.” But Berkeni began shaking his head before he had even finished, as if even
he
didn’t like the words coming out of his mouth. He did his best to try and quickly give Eric a backdoor. “It would be very dangerous, and of course the decision is yours…”

“He threatened to hurt Jade.” Eric voiced the calm statement as if that was all the explanation anyone could ever possibly need. The thought of that very threat sent anger surging though him.
How dare he enter my mind? Threaten to hurt the ones I love
? The anger pulsed through him like a drumbeat. He focused on it, on the subtle remnants left behind by the demon when he had made the worst mistake of his life. He unconsciously drew his sword, not even thinking about it as instinct began to take over.
I’ll kill you
!

“Berkeni and I might be able to open a gate for you,” said Addel. “If we can hurry and combine our power, we might be able to do it in—”

“DON’T BOTHER!” came the inhuman booming voice echoing off the walls. Golden light beamed from Eric’s eyes and through his gritted teeth. He reached into the air and clenched his fist around nothing, then made a diagonal tearing motion across his body. The very air around him ripped open, leaving an unnatural hole hovering in time and space. Blinding light cascaded from the living portal—the miracle that defied all known physics. He stalked through without a second glance at either of them. Once penetrated, the rip in time snapped shut with a loud, popping sound.

The two magicians gazed at the very spot Eric had just disappeared through. It now seemed quite ordinary. Addel looked to Berkeni. “I can definitely see why Dragot fears him. Come on, we have to track him as best as we can.”

* * *

Corzon was furious as he stormed back into camp. “Assemble battle formations now!” he shouted angrily.

Athel spoke for maybe the first time since they had arrived. “The men need to rest. They are not ready!” She ducked under the quick backhand meant to send her across the field.

“Don’t ever question my authority!” her father screamed while pointing an accusing finger at her. “Go assemble your precious slaves and have them ready.” She glared at him momentarily then turned to round up her men. After all, they were loyal to her and no one else.

Word spread quickly that the short wait was over and it was time to prepare. The Steel Maidens began to contort their bodies in ways that would make any normal person cringe. For them, it was just their way of loosening up, getting ready to do what they had spent their whole lives preparing to do.

Then, suddenly, one of the farmers from Corper slinked up to Corzon with shaking hands fumbling nervously about his chest and stomach. “Sir,” said the small man with dark shaggy hair in a trembling voice. “I humbly request an audience. Please, sir.”

Corzon quickly turned on the man with anger flashing in his eyes. “This had better be of utmost importance, or you
will
be dead before this battle ever starts.”

The poor man’s voice was even shakier now as the uncontrollable trembling in his hands began to transfer through his whole body. “Yes, sir, it is. I-I mean we...all the farmers...want to lead the attack against these...uh...these swine. We would be honored!”

Corzon’s smile split his face as he grinned down on the poor little man. “Well, that’s very noble and brave of you.” He leaned over and whispered in the man’s ear, “But that was always the plan.” Then he pushed the little fellow to the ground. “Be ready in five!” There was a mad scramble as all the warriors began to form ranks. Beasts were hastily hooked up to the war towers that had only been jacked up an hour ago.

The peasants began to form up at the front; one line across the field, three men deep, each one trembling while holding a tool they had never used in their lives. Swords had no place in a farmer’s hand, nor in any fifteen-year-old boy’s.

Corzon stood just behind the sacrificial recruits, snickering to himself. They could use up some of the enemy arrows as well as provide a little distraction and cover. He certainly didn’t expect any to survive.

The dark-eyed man could still remember his redheaded wife’s words.
You come back to me
... The words rattled around in his head. It gave a man strength he didn’t know he possessed to hear passionate words of love from his woman. The effects could be simply magical.
I’ll hold you again
, came the silent promise.

“Charge!” came the roaring command as the farmers went running, swinging swords that felt as awkward and heavy as tree limbs in their untrained hands.

* * *

Azek anxiously paced the top of the wall. He practically had to force Ilirra to go back to the castle after the failed peace attempt.
That woman is too tough for her own good
. Down below, he could see the men bringing up the large tree base on wheels to reinforce the front gate. Then he looked over at the field and saw the charge.

“Get ready, men!” Bowstrings drew back tight with notched arrows. They aimed high, looking to spread fury from the sky on the would-be attackers. Azek held his fist in the air, waiting to drop the signal for the wave of death to launch.

But something was off. He just couldn’t do it for some unexplained reason. The way they were holding their swords? Dragging them like heavy poles? Nobody was following the charge either. Everything seemed...
wrong
.
Just this one group of men?
The archers’ hands began to shake and tremble with the heavy tension of drawn bows, and a few even peeked at his general direction from the corners of their eyes, beads of sweat forming quickly due to strained muscles. What was he waiting for?

The men charging began to rummage through their coats as they ran. Some even dropped their swords.
They have some sort of secret weapon. I’ve waited too long
! Then, one at a time, their hands ripped free from inside their coat pockets, flashing green. Green cloth with a single gold star? They were waving replicas of Taron’s flag! Azek’s eyes went wide with shock. “Open the gate!” he screamed.

* * *

“Traitors!” screamed Corzon as he watched them funnel through the open gate. “They’ll pay for that!” He turned toward the assembled flanks of true warriors. “Charge!” Thousands of soldiers began running toward the wall. Many of the frontline men ran carrying thick siege ladders. If any were to fall, the men behind them were to pick up the ladders and keep going. Once they were able to breach the walls, there would be no stopping them.

Corzon looked to Athel. “Take your slaves down the right flank while most of the resistance is on the front wall.” She nodded and ran off to get her men, who were patiently waiting for her to join them. They had already devised a plan amongst themselves that was at least similar to his.

Arrows rained from the sky as wave after wave of impaled Dronin soldiers fell to the ground, but due to sheer numbers alone they were working their way closer and closer to the wall. The living ocean of black had almost touched the stone when a loud whistle blew from somewhere.

Suddenly the very ground beneath their feet seemed to erupt. Jacob, along with his new mercenaries, whipped the camouflaged green tarps away from their bodies as they jumped up in front of a wave of shocked soldiers.

Jacob unleashed a furious whirlwind attack against the surprised Dronin around him, dropping men left and right with hard, skilled shots from his twirling staff. The other mercenaries each took out three to four apiece just from catching them completely off guard. But even with the sneak attack, they were ridiculously outnumbered as they slashed away at the enemy with their swords and shields.

Another whistle blew from the top of the wall in three short bursts. All the leathers knew exactly what to do. They rolled toward each other with all the skill and speed ever seen by any of the warriors. The first to arrive at their predestinated spot held their shields high in the air. The following arrivals that rolled in held their shields up as well, interlocking with the first. Then the next, then the next, as their shields became one.

This exact pattern was repeated in five separate locations throughout the battlefield, so on and so on until five perfect silver domes formed from shields stood like indestructible huts. They resembled the shells of turtles and were completely impenetrable. The tactic had been completed in seconds.

The Dronin quickly surrounded them, banging away at the assembled domes with axes and swords, trying to get at the living insides. Another whistle blew from the wall: two short bursts with one long. Then all the lowest shields raised outward in perfect unison as slashing swords fired out, cutting deep into the shins of surrounding warriors.

The nearest soldiers crumpled to the ground as yet another whistle blew: one long, short, then long again. The upper layer of shields folded inward as swords pierced straight out, cutting deep into faces and eyes before retracting back into the safe turtle shells.

Azek screamed for the archers to cover them as flimsy rope ladders were thrown over the side of the wall. The final whistle was one long blast as the living domes collapsed in on themselves, disassembling back into a mob of mercenaries now running straight for the wall. They scrambled up the ladders as archers darkened the sky with cover fire that was so heavily concentrated it drove the surrounding enemy away from the leathers. The mercenaries had more than done their part. So far, so good!

Chapter 14

Briggits scattered across the black marble floor, running for their very lives it would seem, as the air ripped wide open before them. Eric came dashing through the tunnel of light with his sword in hand. He pointed it left and right as the little creatures with brown hoods darted in all directions, clicking away nervously.

Never lowering his sword, he began to stalk through the long hallway. The inside of the tower was not at all what he had expected. Through his forced magical journey at the hands of Berkeni he had been given a glimpse of it once before, but that had been the dungeon area where all the savage humans were being kept. Here, beautiful ornate tapestries hung from the spotless walls. The hall was well lit by hanging lanterns flickering away, causing his stalking shadow to bounce off several areas all at once.

Each and every footstep was slow and deliberate as the enraged killer silently placed one foot in front of the other. Determination burned in him like a raging forest fire. His pure hate for this demon coursed through his veins as he stalked the very thing that once stalked him.
You cannot hide from me
!

* * *

Lookers marched up and down the great wall as they flashed their silent hand signals to the men manning the catapults. They would quickly turn them a notch one way or the other before sending the blunt missiles soaring just over the archers’ heads. The men hardly noticed, as they were busy pushing back siege ladders and fighting the handful of warriors who had made it up onto the wall.

Another heavy stone struck one of the moving towers as Dronin soldiers scattered into airborne cartwheels before the tower collapsed in on itself, crumbling to the ground. Many of the wall soldiers were still firing their bows, although now they were just firing blindly into the enemy flanks. It didn’t matter now; the Dronin were up against the wall, and any arrow released was bound to hit something.

Two more towers came crashing into the wall. Metal doors slammed down on the stone as a fresh flood of warriors gushed onto the walls. They were making a hard push now as men wielding double swords and axes began to carve into the archers, who were unprepared and nowhere near as adept at melee combat. One of the archers backed up urgently as three warriors bore down on him. He raised his bow defensively in the hopes of trying to buy a few more seconds of life.

The man would live another day, as a black streak flashed across the three. They all looked the same direction for an instant, wondering if they had even seen anything at all. Dead men don’t always know they are dead immediately. All three grabbed for their throats at the same time. Warm blood sprayed through their fingers and onto the poor archer as they dropped to their knees, gurgling the whole way down. The lucky soldier mumbled a silent prayer before drawing his short-sword and rushing back into the battle.

The black flash continued her path of death, eyeing enemies through tunnel vision created by unmatched speed. She streaked across the wall as if sliding across ice with bladed feet. Lighting-fast slashes opened arteries. Well-placed silver missiles found new homes in eyes and throats. Any invader who caught the slightest glimpse of the streaking phantom never saw anything else again. Jade was a killing machine as she dashed across the walls, every slash and throw made with frightening precision.