A Paradox in Retrograde

by Faherty, John

  "Yes, but only once. Let us pledge that none including ourselves get out alive."

  Amida rose up his sword and said, "On this I do affirm and pledge." "It will be glorious."

  The men of their cavalry brigade looked on anxiously awaiting orders as the horses beneath them chomped at the bit in anticipation. Ananda turned toward the sergeant. Pointing at a position on the line and gave the order, "Give the order; let the line break to the secondary defenses. I want them all out in the open. So have them move in a slow and orderly retreat."

  "Yes Sir." The order went down and a horn gave the signal. Sounded loudly all along the line the men instantly understood the nature of this strategic retreat. In a quite deliberate and orderly fashion they gathered their mortars and muskets together and scrambled away toward the rear.

  Chief among the men of Nibaru, Eldred was secure in his abilities so he was not inclined to immediately make pursuit despite his king's orders. Instead then he and his men chose to revel in this apparent rout of the enemy.

  Chapter 20

  Once again the defenders of Breideblic had managed by luck and fortitude to put an end to the incursion; it had come however at a great cost. Though most had survived with their lives, their fortress itself had not fared as well. In less time than would have seemed possible, the whole of the citadel had come under threat of destruction by the raging fires set there within by their enemies. But for the heavily falling sheets of rain pouring down from the leaden sky, all by now may have been fully engulfed in the inferno. From the safety of the court yards the survivors watched as the flickering orange glow and the pillar of billowing black smoke, rose up to mingle in the morning twilight sky.

  Though still full with the exhilaration of having escaped with their lives, a silent rage began to take its place in their hearts. They watched helplessly as the landmark of their forefathers seemed to consume itself. Landaus was incensed, yet due to their current circumstances that they found themselves in, he could do nothing to stop it. Despite forcing himself to look away so to dampen his anger, this image had been burned there into his mind's eyes. He knew though that if they were to survive he must look past this and pour his full attention back into the task at hand. He turned toward his men to see that they were all looking now to him for some sign of to how to move forward. They were waiting for his commands. It became crystal clear in that moment that to fail them at this moment was not an option. He would first need to find his bearings. He called out to his sergeant major, "Sergeant, have reports returned of any continuing incursion within the fortress?"

  "No Sir all reports indicate that we got them all."

  "That's good Sergeant. Have we evacuated all of the survivors?"

  "Yes Sir, our casualties however appear significant. Eight guardsmen and two civilians reported dead outright. We also have a total of fifteen severe injuries and two missing." Landaus held upon his face a stoic expression as he accepted the report.

  "Thank you for the update Sergeant but I'm going to need you to make these men ready. We'll be making an incursion of our momentarily. See corporal Lex he has something that may help us in these wet conditions. Hand as many of those weapons out as are available."

  "Aye Colonel"

  The sergeant saluted him and then swiftly made off to see corporal Lex. The Colonel called out “Captain Whelks” Whelks whohad not strayed far from his commander’s side, and so answered immediately.

  "Aye Colonel" "Captain, gather the men together. I mean to use these tunnels to strike back at our enemy. Many of your men including yourself shall carry a new weapon that may even things out some what. So Ill need you to make the men ready we will most likely descend in single file fashion and so be vulnerable as we escape on the other side. Prepare the Men Captain."

  "Aye Colonel" His orders bellowed out in rapid fire and the men responded in kind. He watched the men who were as if of one mind, made their weapons again ready for a fight. Satisfied for the moment with their progress Landaus turned back to Xora and Grunhuf. With a gesture he drew them just out of ear shot and spoke, "Lady Xora I can't thank you enough for saving my son and the other as you did. I will be forever grateful to you. There is one more service I would have you do for me. Down along the waters edge there are vessels. I would like Grunhuf and yourself to take the children there and cast off from these shores if necessary. We should know shortly if we are to be victorious. If we are not then you should escape from this place and never return."

  Xora wished with all her heart to offer an alternative but the situation did feel justifiably grim. So with tears in her eyes she just nodded and said, "Yes sir" Ibsen ran forth from the crowd and grasped tightly his arms around his father's waist. "Father, don't leave me. I need you to stay with me." Tears rolled down his cheek as the thought of not seeing him again forced the emotions to the surface. Landaus kneeled down and made his face level with Ibsen's and embraced him. As he held him tight he whispered into his ear. If anything should happen to me, remember my son how much I love you. You like I before you, may one day have need to defend this place and perhaps lay downyour life in doing so. Remember this day, for if there was anything more that I would have taught you, it would be that sacrificeis the greatest measure of love." He stood up and ran his hand over his son's hair for perhaps the last time. With a big smile he now said "Ok Ibsen I'm putting you in command of this column. You knowthe way down to the boats better than anybody. Will you do it?"

  "Yes Sir. Dad, please be careful?"

  Grunhuf and Xora gathered up the children as well as any wounded who could walk. With Ibsen in the front they then began to make their way down to the beaches where the ships were moored. Landaus felt a sigh of relief as they disappeared off into the distance. As the children had made ready their exit the guardsmen had prepared for an incursion of their own. Dozens of them including Landaus himself were now brandished this new repeating pistol. As Landaus stood examining its mechanism Lex looked on. "What is it corporal? Out with it."

  "Well sir, it's not my place. But since you asked, I am curious as to why these weapons were never put into active service?" "Well son it's simple really. You've seen how devastating these weapons could be. What if these weapons had ever made it into the hands of pirates, or worse? They would be turned on our own people. Despite the weapon's obvious advantages, I chose to depend rather on skill and discipline than on brute force and mayhem. Today however we could use a bit of mayhem. What do you have to say about that corporal?"

  "Like I said sir it is not my place, but since you're asking we're going to need something to even out our chances." By now the men grew anxious as adrenaline coursed through their veins. Many could feel their throbbing heartsbeating in their ears. They approached the man made tunnel through which the enemy had gained access. No lights illuminatedthe three meter wide hole in the earth, though they could feel the cool air whistling through from the other side. There about the ground before them the dead and dying of both sides gave gruesome testimony of the struggle that had unfolded there a mere hour before. Landaus removed his sword from his scabbard and held it up right hand. He cocked the hammer back on the pistol with his right. He turned to the men assembled there and said, "Down into the hole boys, and let's take it to them!"

  Through his spy glass Aaralaat looked out onto the field and was incensed by what he saw there. His forces led by commander Eldred had stalled as if to gloat or socialize. Their momentum had been lost for they had not pressed their advantage. It became clear to him that Eldred had taken his eye off the enemy. Aaralaat had watched the enemy camp. What he saw there surprised him, for what had been mistaken for a wholesale retreat by the defenders had not quite been as it had seemed. What was now obvious was that they had quickly taken up position within the safety of a third unseen defensive position. It became suddenly apparent to him that these defenses had been made ready well in advance. There was a slight rise that hid from view the corresponding depression. It wasn't much but it was enough for the defender
s to avoid the direct line of fire of their archers while they prepared a counter attack. With the advantage lost, it would appear that Eldred had fallen it their trap. He called out in desperation, "Attack now you fool."

  Eldred had his back to the battlefield as he and his company commanders leisurely prepared their armor. One of Eldred's runners approached breathlessly and interrupted the conversation. "Lord Eldred, the enemy has not retreated from the field as we had assumed. They have assumed another position!" Eldred turned and pushed the runner to the ground. "How dare you interrupt your field commander?" He gestured to one of his captains, "Tyron lend me your glass?" He trained the field piece onthe far side of the field some thousand hundred meters away from their position. There he could just barely see the line of defenders digging in to there new position. "By Hector they have not given up the fight. There is a shrewd commander in there midst. I should hope to meet him." He turned again to his captains and said "Make ready to advance. They have decided to fight after all. We shall not disappoint them." He turned again and placed his helmet up upon his head.

  Young Captain Kline a fine officer in his own right, patiently awaited the signal from Ananda from across the battlefield. He was given the task upon receiving the signal to begin again the bombardment. His nerves were strained but he managed to keep a close watch on his targets. He silently swore that he would personally rain hell down upon them. The mortars and the men who worked them, having been placed in that position in advance were ready and eager. Ananda from a place hidden in the woods on the far right flank was waiting for the enemy force to move forward out into the open. Ananda frustrated by the delay ordered Kline by means of a horn relay signal to begin the harassment. The significance of the noise emanating for the tinny sounding bugle was lost on these aliens. The sound however set off a chain of activity among the ranks of the highly trained guardsmen. Like the synchronized gears of a clock, in unison a line of sharp shooters stood up from their crouching position behind the rise. They took only seconds to find their targets and to fire. The hammers flew down though most of them misfired due to the dampened conditions. Many muskets with a subdued crash and a puff of smoke however did fire. Those shots fired by these expert marksmen easily found their targets. Those on the receiving end heard first the sound of the musket balls whizzing past through the air, then the telltale crack. A mere second later Eldredwas on the ground and his head was ringing like a bell. He opened his eyes surprised to find that he was not dead. He removed his helmet to find that it now a deep divot from where the bullet had ricocheted. Though his head still was ringing he took a moment and closed his eyes in an effort to shake it off. Though when he opened his eyes he would receive one more shock. He turned his head to the right; there he saw that Captain Tyronhad not fared so well. A bullet had found the gap in his armor right where the chest plate meets the neck. He struggled to breathas he lay there clutching desperately at his throat. Eldred witnessed this cruel suffering dispassionately as a grotesque gurgling sound issued forth from Tyron's mouth. He was drowning in his own blood issuing freely from his wound and into his lung.

  The sight of his friend's final suffering had brought Eldred back to the task at hand. He picked up his shield and stumbled to his got feet. With a renewed vigor he then urged them forward. "Come now men we shall meet Hector on the other side. Who is with me?" A great manly roar rose from their side as each man raised his sword high. On mass they started to move at first they moved at a double time pace, but soon they were in a full run. Again the marksmen laid down a barrage of fire. A mere moment later after the mortar men having readjusted for range and windage had unleashed their own synchronized barrage. Three seconds later the hail exploding projectiles was rained down upon them. The ground and air around them erupted to a storm of earth, fire, steel and smoke. Though their armor protected their bodies from most projectiles it could not protect them from the shock of concussion. They were left shaken and disoriented. Though they tried to summon their will to move again forward soon their charge had begun to stall, and then halt entirely.

  Once the commencement of the bombardment had begun, the horsemen hidden in the woods on either side of the field began their mad dash out to meet the enemy. Ananda had jumped off first in an attempt strike first and draw them off balance. Next Amida set out right on cue a moment later. Now from both sides of the field the horses' hooves thundered out across the plain toward their bewildered enemy. In their crosshairs now was the mad conglomeration of smoke and dust. As suddenly as the bombardment had begun it had stopped. To Eldred sensitive ears through settling dust he could make out in the relative silence the sound of beating hooves. It grew loader in his ears. He looked around franticly yet could see nothing but shadows and the whirl wind of dust.

  Landaus's crew by now had reached the far end of the tunnel. They emerged from the darkness suddenly in their midst. The entrance there was lightly guarded. Without any plan to speak of, Landaus leaped out and captured the lone guard by surprise. With one quiet stroke of his sword the guard was undone. The others, quick on his heels erupted from the ground. Silently and en mass they were following Landaus. They roved on without question through the maze of earthworks. Though they did know what they were looking for, it would seem logical to cut the head from the snake. It could be no one other than Aaralaat who he was searching for.

  After what seemed like an eternity of fighting their way through a meandering system of trenches they came upon the enemy's forward position. The outpost was sunken dugout reinforced with sad bag walls six feet high that formed a large arch in the shape of horseshoe. They were immediately spotted there within the perimeter. Aaralaat's stalwart and formidable personal guards sensing a threat there formed a cordon around their king. The position was lightly manned so the numbers were uneven. Though as they entered within range of there weapons there would soon be no doubt that what they lacked in number they more than made up for in armor and skill at arms. Those not engaged directly with the defense of the king leapt upon the attackers with a ferocious counter attack. As the warrior drew near Landaus and the other men stood steady with their weapons extended cast their first volley of lead upon them. At this range their armor was simply no match for this new weapon. One after another wave after wave of warriors came forth. Each time the ranks of the men stood their ground. Each time however they had managed to get a little closer. Landaus feared that soon their rounds would run out and they would be forced to fight hand to hand. Many of the warriors who had fallen were wounded but not dead. They too would be equally dangerous. The final counter attack again had nearly floundered when the warriors had at last found a breach in their line. Landaus could only watch and hold his side while men were being cut down with swords. The swordsman after killing three men was himself killed by a bayonet thrust. Landaus called out to the rear to bring the bayonet forward. Though the fire from the muskets was virtually useless against their armor, the cold steel of the bayonet was another thing entirely. Beyond its ability to puncture with ease their composite armor; this fearsome weapon could also be utilized as a pike. With these deadly blades bristling outward like the quills of a great porcupine it was a formidable deterrent to their brute force style of attack. Instilling in their enemy this bit hesitancy had bought them just enough leverage to maintain their position. There was now a virtual stalemate as the two opposing forces pressed forth testing each others resolve. On the next go round Landaus gave the order to move forward with the pikes. The men rushed forth pushing the invaders back. They repeated this several times until they came within a dozen meters of the king himself. It was at just about here where the rounds of their pistols had run out. From here on out they would be fighting within an arms distance.

  Back in the field before the citadel amongst the flying grit and smoke Eldred tried to settle his men's resolve. They had been injured and blinded, but the shelling had stopped. But the tell tale sound of pounding hooves grew like thunder in his ears. Like a vision from a dream, the smoke began
to clear as the wind rushed before the line. There he saw through the mist the image of Hector astride a gallant beast. He stood transfixed as a great sword crashed down upon him, cleaving his helmet in two. He had not even had time to lift his blade to defend himself. Others did not give up so easily. After having delivered many a fatal blow from their horses, they then became the target. With each passing attack, more of the horses were cut down or injured forcing them from their mounts. There now was a full out melee as metal crashed against metal. In every direction sword and ax flew cutting swaths of flesh as easily as they cut through the air. Screams from men and creature alike rose up from the bloodchocked grass. In a haze of blood lust delirium Ananda and his brother roved about slashing their blades through a sea of enemy finding their mark with each attempt.

  Captain Martz with coolness uncharacteristic of his age stood up atop the dugout and raised is sword high into the air the hundred or so musket bearers followed suit. Martz let out in a holler his order for all to hear, "Alright boys we'll only get this opportunity once lets show them whose country this is". The side erupted in a chorus of blood lust as the human defenders rose from behind their barricades. In a mad rush they set forth across the field with bayonets affixed towards the maelstrom. It seemed to those so engaged that this charge could not fail as it advanced across the crater marred field. As they drew within fifty paces the holler of their battle cry reached a thunderous crescendo. With all the bravado they could muster, like a hammer their charge ran headlong into the body of the demoralized enemy's forces. Mayhem ruled as the battle degenerated into melee of bloody thrusts and desperate parries. The enemy's skill at arms had never been tested under such circumstances. Within moments of the onset of this action, the invaders resolve seemed to crumble along with their fortunes.