Aaralaat turned abruptly toward his second in command and glared at him with is stern eye and a reprimand. "You dishonor yourself by making sport of the ritual. Many of our own have already died, and with many more still to come. You do them a disservice by underestimating this enemy. Being that you have not yet learned this lesson, I should have you lead the main attack personally." This suggestion in this young commander garnered the result he had anticipated, for he saw upon his face that same zeal that he too had once possessed. He looked onto the young warrior in dismay. He witnessing there Eldred's seething lust for glory. He realized then perhaps for the first time that he could not sense one Iota of the same fire within himself. The burdens of kingship had long ago sapped all of the mystery from the ancient religion to which he had once professed his undyingfaith.
The groveling commander dropped down on one knee in praise, "Oh great King you will not regret this honor you have bestowed upon me, I promise that I will do these things thatyou ask and more. I will bring honor to those who have fallen.And if I meet there Hector himself, I shall be victorious." Though Aaralaat was amused with these pronouncements he tried to conceal how this last bit of irony
With the defenders line now weakened significantly, Aaralaat sent down his orders to make ready for the main advance. There within their hideouts the demolition teams secured the devices beneath the primary perimeter. The teams unwound the long fuse lines back to the safety of their own line and prepared the ignition switch. As the warriors passed along to the rear the order to make ready, a palpable energy seethed within their ranks. Within mere moments of giving the order every warrior was ready for battle awaiting now only the sign to move forth. Suddenly a great explosion upon the beach shook the defenders. A great mass of earth was ejected into the air in all directions, from the point of explosion. Smoke and sand rained down as a secondary front appeared from nowhere. Until the air would clear they would not see that the ground beneath their feet had suddenly opened. It was from this crater through which Aaralaat's army would emerge from like a plague of insects within their midst. Shortly there after the mass of smoke had dissipated and the air began to clear. With the remnants of the explosion’s debris still burning, flickering shadows of the enemy were cast. The air then was again filled with musket fire. Volley after volley were fired at the enemy as sheets of lead were thrown forward, though with accuracy. This did little toward thwarting their resolve. Though their bodies were protected from mortal wounds by their armor, it could not deflect the blunt force of its kinetic energy.
As Landaus advanced, he heard the great commotion being unleashed at the front. He could not help but feel he had abandoned them. Grunhuf witnessed this hesitation in his friend. He put his hand on his shoulder to reassure him. "Landaus we have our own mission to contend with. Let Amida and Ananda do what they do best, and let us save the children. If all else fails the citadel will be intact."
"Of course you're right Grunhuf. Let's get in there and secure the place before it's over run." By now their force had reached the Citadel gate. To their surprise they found the huge heavy doors open and unguarded. Landaus gave the order, "Alright boys it looks like we'll have company tonight, so affix bayonets and assume close quarters formation." The well trained guards within ten seconds had done just that and had begun to form into clusters a smaller four man teams. The thought behind which was that within these teams if need be that at least on man could be ready to fire at a moment's notice, as well as the fact that four bayonets moving in unison were more far more formidable. It had served them well against pirates. There was no reason to suspect it might not be effective now.
The first team expecting an ambush was careful as they entered through the doorway. There upon entry they found a pair of guards killed where they stood. There was no one evidently about so the all's clear signal was given. One by one the groups came into the court yard and took up their positions. Once inside Landaus gave the orders of deployment. He sent each crew to take and hold if necessary any occupied areas they may come across. He and a select group of guardsman would personally attend to the children who he hoped were still safely ensconced within the high tower itself.
As this group made their way back into the tower, Lady Xora and Ibsen were doing their best to stay out of sight of the predators that they now imagined were all about. Their concerns were confirmed by the distant sounds of mayhem as skirmishes broke out as the invaders were discovered by the guards on watch duty.
For the most part they were holding their ground for they still held a numerical advantage. Xora and Ibsen for their part had somehow managed to avoid them. Though seemingly moving they found themselves now in a narrow dimly lit passage. "Ibsen, tell me does any of this look at all familiar to you?" His eyes darted about in the relative darkness.
"It's hard to tell in this light, but I think so."
"Good, could you recall then if an armory is anywhere near here? I don't feel comfortable unarmed out here in the open." Ibsen scanned the environment and his memory carefully before he answered; "I do believe there is an armory that services the high guards further down along this hall."
"Alright then let's get there quickly before they catch us." Further down along the hall they came upon the crumpled figure of a guard. "Look there." Ibsen called out; "It looks like an injured guard." They rushed down the hall and rolled the unlucky guard over so they might offer assistance. "Oh dear lord it's corporal Lex." Xora exclaimed excitedly. "Quickly let's pull him out from the open into that doorway." With both Ibsen and Xora securing a leg they easily pulled him along the smooth marble floor to the alcove. Ibsen looked up to take note of the sign above the door. There he noted what appeared to be what they were looking for. He pointed up to the door frame to the sign that read arsenal. "I think this is what you were looking for isn't it?" She turned to look and as she did a broad grin appeared upon her face. "It most certainly is Ibsen that was some good work. We must hurry though. Help me check his person he must have a set keys on him." Ibsen knew the guard uniform had a pocket sewn into the left side of the jacket and so quickly went to work at finding it. "I've got it" he yelled.
"Ibsen keep your voice down they're bound to hear."Instead of wasting time explaining he gave her the key. It was a skeleton key and so it took a bit of work to turn the tumblers. Soon however she had it. They swung the door open and pulled the unconscious guard with them into the relative safety of the armory. As quietly as they could they closed the heavy wooden door behind them. Before they could catch their breath Xora set themto action. "Ibsen perhaps you could try to revive corporal Lex while I look for something we can use?"
"OK" While Xora searched up and down the darkened aisles Ibsen tried to gently wake the unconscious soldier. Both were acutely aware of the danger of being discovered so theytried to keep their sound to a minimum.
Gently Ibsen slapped Lex while softly calling his name. "Lex, wake up. You have to wake up." He did this several times to no avail. He then began to lightly shake him, but soon was shaking him violently. He gave him one last slap and his eyes began to open ever so slightly. Again he slapped him with increased force and before he could go again Lex's hand rose up in time to intercept the next blow. His eyes open wide and with a slurred tongue spoke to his young assailant. "Ibsen is that you, Where am I?" Ibsen helped him sit up as he winced from the pain. "It looks like you got hit pretty hard on the head. We found you out there in hall unconscious."
"The last thing that I remember was that I was returning to my post. When I turned the corner I met up quite suddenly with a couple of old acquaintances. Before I could unstrap my weapon, they were on me. I felt a sharp thud and that was it, lights out. Ibsen this is turning out to possibly be the worst day ever."
Just then Xora returned. Seeing him there again awake she lowered down at Lex's feet a pair of burlap bags. Lex looked up at her and asked, "What have we got here then?"
She responded with a broad smile then said, "Have a look for yourself, you're the
expert." Though still shaken from his ordeal he was intrigued. He looked in the bag and the expression on his face had changed suddenly from one of defeat to hope. "It looks as though you've managed to secure a number of rather odd looking pistols." He lifted one out from the bag and gave it a close inspection. It was different from anything he had before seen. Between the barrel and the trigger mechanism was a cylinder. He instinctually hit the button on the stock and the cylinder rolled out of alignment and clear from the barrel. The cylinder itself had six identical shafts that ran through its form. There loose in the bottom of the bag were hundreds of metallic cylinders all exactly uniform in dimension. Their form seemed to correspond with the shafts bore into the large cylinder. "I've never seen anything like it. You say you found this in here?"
"Yes that's right."
"We'll they're weapons alright, but I can only guess as to how to work them." A small voice from behind them sounded. It was Ibsen and what he had to say surprised them. "I know how to work them." He stepped forward and reached into the sack removing on of the smaller cylinders. They watched as he placed it into the empty shaft on the larger cylinder. He gave it a turn and filled the next. Before long he filled all six and secured the cylinder back into the frame of the gun. "Now you cock the hammer, aim and pull the trigger. The next round then rotates into the firing position." They were both amazed at the knowledge possessed by one so young. They looked at each other perplexed. They agreed by some form of non-verbal communication that Xora should ask him how he knew so much. "Well Ibsen, that some good news. I'd like to know however how you came to know these things. "
"Well I've spent a lot of time wandering these halls. As my father is The Colonel of the Guard I have spent many an hour exploring among these rooms. The guards are used to having me around. It would be nothing at all for me to follow someone into a room and disappear. It was like a game to me. These guns I've seen before. My father says they are experimental and not yet inproduction. He said they'll cost too much."
Xora helped Lex to his feet. He was a bit wobbly at first, but soon regained his steady composure. The blood from the injury to his head had stopped flowing and he was ready for a little payback. "These little things should even up the playing field a bit. Come on let's load up on these bullets and grab a few guns we'll go get them before they get us."
As they each began to gather the weapons together .Lex took note of Ibsen doing the same and did not approve. "Oh no you don't young man, you've gotten me into enough trouble today; you're going to stay right here out of sight till this thing blows over. Do you hear me?"
Ibsen stopped momentarily and said, "No I don't think I'm going to do that. As soon as you leave I'll be following you. I'm not going to stay here all alone. I won't let you."
Xora and Ibsen looked at each other. They knew there was probably nothing they could do to stop him. Xora said tentatively, "Alright Ibsen you win this one. But I' going to need you to stay close to me. Your father would never forgive us if anything were to happen to you. Is that a deal?"
"Yes, I promise." By now the two teams led by Landaus and Grunhuf were making their way up one of the stairwells when they came upon a group of perhaps ten warriors. They turned to the humans like wolf to its prey and descended upon them with swords and axes raised in carnal intent. Just as they had drilled so many times before the guardsmen instinctively formed a line on the platform where the impromptu skirmish had developed. It now would form their fortress to defend with their lives if necessary. The action had unfolded so quickly that there had been no time for orders. Within meters of their human prey the warrior encountered a withering rain of musket fire. Their aim was true and the armor was no match for steel shot at such proximity. The bulletstore flesh and broke bone in a tremendous flash of flame and smoke. A mist of blood tainted the air mixing with the notes of sulfur let loose by the staccato of gun fire. The dead and mortally wounded fell forward of their own momentum, while still others pushed forward to face the long steel blades before them. Time seemed to stop as with each thrust and parry of their weapons as therush of adrenaline coursing through their bodies spurred them on. By the time the warriors were among them on the platform, only two of them remained alive. In hand to hand combat however they were formidable. They took two guards along with them to the beyond before they too were dispatched, cut down most brutally with steel blades. Barely half a minute had elapsed and their enemy to a man was killed. They still stood hyperventilating drenched in their own and their enemy's blood. There would be no time to recoup; they then by necessity would push forward. They reached the top of the stairwell and a large hall way lay before them. There at the far end the billowing of smoke began to gather. Landaus knew there was no other means of entrance they would have to take their chances. He gave the men their orders. "Beyond that hall the children had been kept safe we must do what we can to rescue them. Let's go." In a quick march they waded through the thick smoke, reloading their weapons as they went.
Since Xora, Lex and Ibsen had left the armory they too had begun to notice the tell-tale signs of fire. These signs grew more intense the closer they drew to where the children were being kept. Well before the battle the children of Breideblic for safe keeping had been gathered from their homes and brought into one of the many large rooms built into the sturdy walls of the citadel. It was beginning to seem they had perhaps been a target of treachery. So as they moved, they did so with an increasing anxiety and sense of dread. They dared not speak what horrors their minds had conjured.
At one point the smoke grew thick and as they turned the next corner Xora spied one of the offending creatures setting drapery ablaze with a torch. She stopped dead in her trackshoping she had not been spotted. It took her a second to realize she had not. She stepped back around the corner and stopped the others before they could be seen. "I've seen them! They're just beyond the turn." She said low tone but with forceful intent. After ordering Ibsen to stay back, Lex and Xora carefully checked their weaponsand began to edge their way along the wall out of sight. They each cocked the hammer and were ready. Ibsen dropped down on his hands and knees and craned his neck around the corner. He watched as Lex ran across the hall way with his gun extended out from his shoulder toward the creature. When he felt he was in range he pulled the trigger once. The hammer came down and the sound of a deep bang echoed though out the hall. His proximity ensuring success he fell immediately. The torch that now lay on the ground beside him began to set fire to his garments, He did stir. Lex gestured to the others to move forward. As he did a sword wielding figure lurched out of the shadows towards his blind spot. Xora was there and saw first-hand as what was about to happen. She raised her gun toward the moving target. She let out a scream and pulled on the trigger as fast as she could. Before she knew it she had found herself on her knees shaking. There was a ringing in her ears and the smell of burnt cordite had suffused the air. Having fired all her rounds in the chamber, she was alive and the creature was dead.
Lex's voiced sounded through the fog. "Xora, shake it off we must move, remember the children?" This thought again crystallized in her mind, driving her forward. She blinked her eyes as if to reset her action and rose to her feet. "Come now, we're almost there." She acknowledged with a nod and stumbled forward through the smoke and flame. An instant later they came to the source of their agitated cries. "It would seem that our enemies have retained from their human origins some level of morality for the kids were left unharmed and alone." announced Lex as he crossed the threshold. "Perhaps they just could not do it by their own hand, hence the fire." responded Xora.
"Either way we're wasting time. Alright children we're going to need you all follow us slowly through the hall. I need you all to form a line starting here and stay together. If youdo as I say I promise we'll all make it out of here. Ibsen searchround for any stragglers." Ibsen was glad to be of service and quickly made the rounds of all the likely hiding places. Under one of the beds he found a little girl there hiding. He called out
to her, "Come on now, it's safe to come out. Those scary men are gone we're here to take you home." He reached his hand out to her and the girl did obediently as he said without a word being said. Within a moment that had joined the cue out from the room and into the hall way. Having made sure none had been left behind they pressed on in unison toward the stair well. As the reached near the end of the hallway they were suddenly greeted by the sounds of many footsteps beating the floor before them. The space however had grown so dark from smoke that they could only wait to see what would visit upon them. Xora, Lex and even Ibsen sensing and end were resigned to it. They raised their pistols then up toward the oncoming sound and prepared for the worst. Just then Ibsen spied the familiar uniform of the guard emerge from the smoke. A second later the details became clear that it was in fact his father. He call out, "Wait don't fire its father." He dropped his gun and ran to him. Never were two so glad to see the other.
By now the earliest tendrils of morning had appeared in the night sky. To this backdrop, Aaralaat through his spyglass watched as his enemies defenses were broken in two. With the Citadel aflame and the imminent collapse of the primary defensive line, he could sense now that victory was within easy reach. What he could not see was even as these things unfolded, the tide was already imperceptivity changing.
From behind the defensive barricades the humans observed as an effluence of their enemy emerged into the light of day from the great hole that had been created in the earth. Dressed in full battle armor, the image they presented rising from the ground was a truly fearsome sight for the human defenders. For Ananda and his brother however, their pulses were barely present.For them the image instilled only a deep fortifying sense of calm. They had witnessed scenes unfold much like this one countless times before. This time they were resigned that it would be their last. "What say you, my brother? Once more shall we join the fray?"
A Paradox in Retrograde Page 34
