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The Banished Lands- The Complete Series

Page 110

by Benjamin Mester


  “Watch for ladders!” Sheabor yelled.

  But no ladders were seen anywhere. Blair rushed to the edge of the wall, narrowly dodging an incoming crossbow bolt and gazed downward.

  “They're tunneling through!” Blair shouted.

  “What!”

  But Blair sprinted away, scrambling down the stairs to the base of the inner wall.

  “Wait! Blair! Archers, continue firing!”

  Then Sheabor ran after him.

  “Omnivar stone is more for show than strength,” Blair yelled behind him as he ran. “If they have a Builder with them, they'll make it through.”

  The war of arrows continued between the riders and Forthurian archers and more and more troops were falling on both sides. Blair ran along the base of the wall, his hand skimming it until he suddenly felt something and came to a dead stop, placing both palms against the wall.

  “What is it Blair?” Sheabor asked.

  “I can feel them softening the wall.”

  “Are you sure?”

  But Blair didn't answer him, setting off again along the wall, searching for the next place they would try to tunnel through.

  “Infantry with me!” Sheabor yelled as he followed close behind.

  Soldiers began descending the stairs from the wall, forming up behind Sheabor and Blair.

  “Blair, what's happening?” Sheabor yelled.

  “I think there's more than one of them!” Blair yelled. “I can't follow their movements.”

  Just then, Sheabor caught sight of something in his peripheral vision. The wall to his left began to swirl slightly.

  “Blair!” Sheabor yelled, rushing over to the spot.

  Blair sprinted for it, but just before he arrived, the wall exploded violently, chunks of rock sailing in all directions, knocking Sheabor and Blair to the floor. After a moment, the dust cleared, revealing a malevolent form, fists outstretched in front of him.

  Forthurian soldiers rushed forward as Corcoran's warriors streamed through the tunnel. Sheabor's world spun and sounds grew dull as he shook his head and slowly stood. Just then, the doors to the southern tower opened, King Froamb's personal guard pouring out to join the battle.

  “Push them back!” Sheabor yelled.

  Corcoran's forces each shot a bolt from their crossbows as they emerged through the tunnel, dropping the weapon and drawing a sword. A dozen of them had gotten inside the wall before Sheabor and his forces could surround them and with a mighty crash, the two forces came together.

  Soldiers fell on both sides, and Sheabor's forces pinned them against the wall. Armor counted for little in such close quarters. But to his right, Sheabor saw more of Corcoran's warriors entering through a newly formed hole.

  Sheabor broke off to engage the flanking warriors, sprinting with a yell and swinging powerfully, locking swords with the head warrior for many moments. The warrior's armor was fractured heavily, with spiderweb lines surrounding tiny holes where each arrow had struck.

  Sheabor sidestepped the warrior and tripped him, sending him to the earth with a thud and Sheabor plunged his sword through the center of one of the rings of fractures, piercing him.

  Meanwhile, Blair arose, shaking the dizziness from his eyes, the sounds of battle erupting all around him. One of Corcoran's warriors was just in front of him, standing over a Forthurian soldier, sword raised to deliver a death blow. Blair reached down and grabbed a stone, liquefying it in hand and throwing it, hitting the warrior under his arm and solidified on impact, freezing the joint.

  Corcoran's warrior struggled against it, but kicked the Forthurian soldier unconscious, then turned to Blair, dropping his sword into his other hand. Then, striking the stone under his arm with the pommel of his sword until it cracked, he advanced on Blair. Blair threw more stone, locking the knee joint in the warrior's armor and striking him right in the face.

  Corcoran's warrior ripped the helmet from his head and his scarred face gazed at Blair with fury. But a Forthurian soldier engaged him and they traded blows. Blair raised another clod to help him, but couldn't get a clear shot and the Forthurian soldier soon fell but another soldier quickly took his place.

  The dead were scattered about the city, Sheabor and his warriors unable to stem the flow of Corcoran's forces through the wall. Just then, Blair saw a soldier step through the gap clad in armor more decorative than his comrades and he carried a bow in hand.

  A Forthurian archer on the wall took aim at his back and loosed an arrow, which struck the warrior in the back of the shoulder. With a roar of rage he turned and fired back, sending the Forthurian archer from the wall. Then, pulling the arrow free, he placed his hand over the area as though repairing it. Blair hadn't noticed till now, but this warrior wasn't wearing gauntlets on his hands. This must have been their Builder!

  The warrior's eyes fell on Blair and seemed to recognize him, and he raised his bow in Blair's direction. Panicking, for he wasn't armored in one of his own suits, he darted to one side, smashing into the back of a Forthurian soldier. Blair had nowhere to go. Raising his hands above his head to shield himself, he heard the arrow loose.

  The arrow didn't strike him, but rather a man who had darted right in front of him. Sheabor had stepped in front of the arrow's path and now stood sword poised against the aggressor, beckoning him to approach. But the archer shrank back and out of sight among his troops and Sheabor turned to Blair.

  “Are you okay?”

  “We have to stop him.”

  “Who?” Sheabor asked.

  “That was their Builder,” Blair replied. “He's the one who was able to burrow through the Omnivar Stone.”

  “Blair, we have to fall back!”

  A warrior of Corcoran approached the pair and took a broad swing at Sheabor, which he blocked with a sidestep, carrying the momentum of the blow to the ground. Sheabor hit the warrior on the helmet with the pommel of his sword, knocking him down and then kicking him with his boot, rendering him unconscious.

  “Blair, come on!”

  Sheabor, Blair and the Forthurian soldiers sank back into the streets of the city while far on the southern wall, King Froamb and a few of his personal guard had left the tower and were running along the wall toward the inner city. Sheabor couldn't believe what was happening. Only a few dozen of Corcoran's warriors and already they had taken the outer wall.

  Sheabor glanced behind him to the circular pavilion overlooking the city where Ariadra and the two Windbearers still stood watching the battle. Could Aravas and Faigean do something to change the course of this battle?

  Sheabor and his soldiers sped through the streets of Eulsiphion, the sounds of battle waning. As they passed between two tall and narrow buildings, Blair stopped and turned, waiting for the last of their warriors to run through. Then, striking the building with his palms, he sent a crack through the base of it, hitting it repeatedly until the whole building buckled and fell toward the oncoming troops of Corcoran.

  “That should hold them awhile.”

  “Come on!” Sheabor yelled.

  The gates of the inner keep were open, waiting for as many of their soldiers to enter as possible before buttoning up tight. Sheabor stopped short and turned round, taking his bow in hand. Blair ran inside and quickly ascended the steps, scooping out parts of the wall in each hand and holding the liquid rock in hand.

  The last of King Froamb's men emptied the streets, two of them hotly pursued by the enemy warriors. Sheabor took aim, firing just before the enemy reached the soldier, the arrow sailing toward him and knocking him down. But he arose, breaking the arrow shaft with a roar.

  A another arrow was quickly let loose at another enemy warrior pursuing the second soldier, striking him squarely in the chest. But more came and their lighter armor made them faster than the Forthurian soldiers. Sheabor unsheathed his sword and sprinted for them. One of Corcoran's warriors raised his sword to strike the Forthurian soldier from behind, but Sheabor leaped toward him with a yell.

  Locking swords
with the warrior, King Froamb's two soldiers ran past him into the inner keep. Dozens of the enemy's warriors were only paces away. Locked blade in blade, Sheabor pushed away and turned. But the enemy was fast behind him, sword poised to strike.

  Just then, something flew over Sheabor's head, hitting the warrior behind him, followed by a second. Glancing behind him, he saw that the man's arm seemed frozen above his head, with stone of a different color splattered and hardened across his upper torso.

  Then Sheabor darted inside the keep just as the doors swung closed. The archers on the wall took aim and fired a handful of arrows. But the warriors in dark armor shrank back into the shadows of the buildings. Sheabor turned finding only a few dozen warriors – less than fifty soldiers. King Froamb soon joined him.

  “They came right through the walls!” King Froamb yelled.

  “They have a Builder with them.”

  “What are we supposed to do against that?”

  “We have to find a way to flee.”

  “I won't abandon my city again! What about the Windbearers? Why aren't they doing anything?”

  Sheabor thought carefully. Once they called upon the Windbearers for help, Corcoran would know he had been tricked. But what other choice did they have? Corcoran had them trapped and outmaneuvered. If they didn't do something soon, the city would fall.

  The Jedra

  Estrien battled the infantry and pikemen coming in wave after wave against her. She'd already killed more than two dozen and was growing weary. Corcoran's forces numbered in the thousands. They would keep coming, no matter how long she fought.

  But she heard something to her right that caught her attention. It was the sound of battle but more intensified, as though something different were happening there. The forces of Corcoran heard it too, for some of their number broke ranks to aid their comrades on the northern lines.

  Estrien made for that direction, engaging a pikeman and striking him dead. But the Dungeon Core warriors rushing to the north had stopped as though hitting a wall. Something was breaking through their lines. She hesitated for the moment, not knowing what lie beyond.

  But suddenly, a mass of riders broke through the ranks. It was Jaithur and the Jedra! Estrien was overjoyed but turned on her heels in the other direction toward the siege works. Though the general at Cormak would undoubtedly still fire at will, this might be their only chance of destroying the enemy siege works.

  Three of the four towers still stood, firing continuously on Castle Cormak. And though a pair of catapults still fired in return, the siege works of Corcoran had already decimated most of the frontal battlements and structures. If they couldn't stop them soon, they would turn the rest of the castle to dust.

  Estrien glanced backward as she ran, surprised to see that Sorren, and not Jaithur, was leading the band of Jedra into the enemy lines. He fought with fury, killing many of the enemy. Sheabor had told her of the meeting they'd had with him in the Maelstrom, when Sorren and Jaithur had taken their stand alone against a band of marauders.

  Estrien ran toward a nearby horse, standing riderless in the fray, jumping atop it and riding over to Sorren, who still rode forward, treading down the enemy. His band of warriors had greater success wedging toward the siege works amid the now scattered ranks of Corcoran.

  With a yell she joined him, as did many of the coalition still fighting. Estrien looked for Straiah among them without success. But many in the field still battled roundabout. They pushed forward, losing momentum, but they were so close to the siege works.

  Then Estrien noticed something frightening. Large forms lurked around the siege works, operating or else protecting them. Estrien clenched her sword tightly in hand. Then, with a final push forward, they broke into the small open circle surrounding the siege works.

  Immediately the creatures turned with deafening roars at the invaders. Estrien and Sorren led the group out wide, scanning the siege works for parts that could easily be crippled. Some of the Jedra warriors had lit arrows coated in pitch, firing them into the siege works and lighting them ablaze.

  But the fires would take minutes to burn and only the exposed portions were vulnerable. The majority of each tower was plated in iron that the fires probably wouldn't penetrate.

  A half dozen creatures rushed at them, some upright like Arathama, and others like armored cats of prey. Estrien drew her dagger and flung it at the lead creature, striking him in the shoulder just before it reached one of the Jedra. The creature stopped, shooting a look of rage toward Estrien and grabbing for the dagger. But Estrien called it back to her, and it flew into her outstretched hand, now red with blood.

  Sorren's eyes went wide and just then, two more chunks of rock from Cormak Castle landed in their midst, narrowly missing them. The creatures roared, returning to their positions on the siege works and pulling the large wheels that raised the counterweights. Then, loading three more stones, they let them fly toward the castle.

  The warriors of Corcoran flooded in from all around, enveloping the siege works and hampering their use but unwilling to stand idle while the Jedra fired flaming arrows into them. Some worked to put out the growing fires, but most came against their attackers.

  Fighting for long minutes, the siege works of Corcoran managed to load another volley amid the fray and fire on the castle. Estrien watched between swings as the rocks sailed toward Cormak. None of the castle's catapults had fired back for quite some time. The platforms they rested on were all broken down and destroyed. Cormak Castle was defenseless.

  But the general still hadn't ordered his men forward. What was he waiting for? Undoubtedly, he still hoped that the coalition and Jedra forces would somehow destroy the siege works. But that hope was vain and the longer the general waited, the worse their chances would become.

  Another volley of stone flew toward the now helpless castle, striking the already destroyed battlements and structures. But as the dust settled, suddenly, with a roar, the gates swung open, soldiers and horsemen now pouring out of the castle. Kester had joined the battle at last.

  But Corcoran's forces worked frantically to fire their weapons as the army of Kester flooded from the city. Chunks of stone flew toward the newly unveiled army, causing heavy casualties as they came to meet Corcoran's forces in the field.

  Estrien clenched her jaw. It all could've been avoided had the general listened to them. Now that Corcoran had dug in and fortified his position, the battle was tipped in his favor. But she fought with the Jedra to push the infantry of Corcoran close to the siege works, hoping to crowd them and keep them from firing.

  But the counterweights rose upward, the creatures pulling the mechanical wheels with all their might. Estrien rushed her horse forward, rearing up and kicking the Dungeon Core warrior in the chest, knocking him into a group of others.

  The counterweights reached their zenith and for a moment, they hesitated. Then the loud sound of the release lever echoed over the battle and the arms of the catapults swung, sending their own troops flying into the air. If they were to keep firing, they'd pay just as much as the oncoming forces of Kester.

  But the creatures manning the siege works roared and Estrien saw at least one of them dart from its position into the fray. Forces were rushing in from all sides. For now that the castle had ceased firing, nothing kept the rest of Corcoran's army at bay. Estrien blocked and dodged a myriad of blows. But in her peripheral vision, she thought she saw a form here and there darting amongst the warriors.

  The shouts of Kester's army grew louder as their cavalry galloped forward. The forces of Corcoran tried forming a line of archers and pikemen against the coming horsemen, but everything was too much of a jumble. Scattered arrows sailed through the air as the cavalry joined the fight, the foot-soldiers of Kester not far behind.

  Then, with a thunderous crash of armor, sword and spear, the two forces came together. In the turmoil, Estrien again caught sight of a large form, this time closer. The beast was stalking her, hoping to go unnoticed. But she
could hear its low growl and hear its stomping.

  Estrien's gaze darted wildly about. Suddenly, she caught sight of a form crouched low only paces away. Muscular and powerful, its shoulder was stained red with blood. Estrien turned to face it, but it leaped for her, catching her in the shoulder and knocking her from her horse, her sword flying out of her hand as she fell.

  Estrien's world spun as she hit the ground and she thought she heard someone yelling her name. Just then, a large foot fell just beside her and a pair of powerful hands grabbed her by the armor, lifting her into the air.

  But Estrien unsheathed her dagger, stabbing the creature's leg. He let out a roar and kicked her with his other foot, sending her flying into a pair of warring soldiers, knocking them down. Estrien struggled to her feet as the creature pulled her dagger from his leg with another roar.

  Estrien called for Drune and saw the dagger pull in the monster's hand. But with a snarl, he kept his grip on the weapon. Then, after a moment's struggle, he threw the dagger with all his might at Estrien. Unable to react, the dagger hit her in the chestpiece, sending her back to the ground and knocking the wind from her lungs.

  Estrien lay there breathless, feeling the chestpiece, half thinking the blow was fatal. A large crack ran through the stone, but the blade had bounced free. The creature stomped toward her. Estrien felt about on the ground for anything to defend herself.

  Her hand felt the familiar hilt of her dagger and she took it, arising slowly. But as she raised it to throw it at the creature, she saw that the blade had broken in two. Estrien froze. Her sword lay on the ground only paces away.

  The creature roared and came at her. Estrien let out a yell and rushed forward to meet it. But as it swung, Estrien dove low, grabbing her sword and rolling to spring back on her feet. But the creature was quick. It pinned her sword arm with its foot before she could rise.

  Estrien's eyes went wide. There was nothing she could do. But she saw a rider approach from behind the creature and she heard him yell her name. It was Straiah. The creature raised his fist above his head. Straiah stood low on his saddle as the horse rode, leaping from it with a shout and tackling the creature from behind.

 

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