by Gerard Bond
Raz had a little surprise for her.
“You will be able to catch up with Nightwing and Loranda too then.”
“Night and Loranda are here?”
Dark couldn’t help but feel her spirits lift.
“Tell me where they are. I would love to see them.”
Raz immediately surmised this was a very close group.
“You will find all four overseeing the placement of catapults and other defenses at the top of the cliff along the ocean’s edge. If you see the guard outside, he will organize a guide to take you up the path that leads to the top from here.”
Dark smiled and bowed immediately leaving. She was excited to see her friends. Again Vaughn was left in her wake trying to catch up. He seemed to be doing a lot of that.
It took the guide almost an hour to show them up the steep hill to the top of the ridge but once up there it was easy going to the edge facing the ocean. As they approached, Dark and Vaughn could see a lot of stonework was going into place with evenly placed catapults placed a bit back from the edge being maneuvered into position. Vaughn calculated that with a half mile to be covered there would have to be 40 catapults up here not including ballistas.
They started moving along but it was quickly obvious that catapults or even ballistas were not going to be placed along the entire cliff face. In fact there were only ten of each. Dark wasn’t looking. She was walking along looking for familiar faces and it didn’t take long before they spotted one.
“Loranda!”
She looked up and a beaming grin immediately crossed her face,
“Dark!”
Loranda sprung up and ran to Dark, the two embracing and kissing.
“Oh my dear I have missed you so.”
Dark nodded in appreciation.
“And I have missed you, it is very good to see you. Where are the others? I want to see them.”
Loranda grinned and took Dark’s hand.
“Come with me, I’ll show you the way.”
Off they went back into the trees. A tent quickly revealed itself as they approached, Loranda swung the flap back and they entered. From outside Vaughn could hear the cheers of surprise and happiness even before he got in there. Upon entering he saw Dark in the middle of a hug between another woman and Keera all three locked together, Justin was watching on smiling and after they managed to separate he got a hug too. Everyone was delighted to see Dark back. Vaughn even got a hug from Keera which was nice.
Dark and the other two women that he didn’t know were exchanging questions and excited answers, Vaughn cleared his throat and Dark looked up.
“Oh I’m sorry my dear, please let me introduce you two to Vaughn. We picked up this scallywag in Port Cholandra and I haven’t been able to get rid of him since.” Dark winked at Vaughn, “And Vaughn this is, Nightwing and Loranda, two of our companions.”
Vaughn looked them up and down, both women were lean and athletic, he could see they were no strangers to the wild.
“Pleased to meet you both M’ladies.”
Vaughn took an immediate liking to Nightwing, ‘I wonder if she is available?’ He thought and as if to answer him Loranda gave Night a kiss full on the lips and waved to everyone.
“I’m off to get us some lunch, see you soon!”
Loranda walked out with the guide to head back down the hill. Vaughn stood staring and Dark leaned across whispering in his ear,
“Yes they are partners.”
Vaughn’s eyes widened just a little and then frowned, damn, weren’t there any single women here?
“So Night, tell us about everything that has happened. We got a bit of a shock when we arrived to see everything here, is the Kingdom already responding to the threat?”
“Not exactly.” Dark looked on with a querying look, “Let me explain, it is a long but interesting story.”
Night motioned them all to sit down and she began to go through everything she and Loranda had been up to over the last few weeks. Loranda showed up again with a basket of food and grabbed a long roll out of it, she tapped Justin on the head with it to get him to move aside. It wasn’t long before the tent was a room of noise and laughter, good friends sharing quality time.
Down in the hall, Raz was poring over his maps and deciding how to best execute a raid in the short term. They really needed more supplies and it occurred to him they were readily available, all he had to do was set a trap along the enemy supply line and wait for a juicy target to present itself. So far none of the opposing fleet had made any real attempt to protect the incoming convoys, which was very good news. He would send Captain Koberg on a hit and run mission using one of the island bases they had created as his port of encampment.
Well he liked to call it a port. It wasn’t really a base either. More like a hidden chamber of goods for immediate needs buried on the island for use whenever they lay anchor off shore. It was a perfect setup, if the Isogorrean navy ever managed to get close to the island, they would never suspect it was being used by the Kingdom. It also meant Captain Koberg could go on multiple raids without having to take any booty all the way back to Port Volarus before going out again. He simply just had to unload close by on the island. Then once a month Raz would send in a cargo ship in the dead of night to collect their ill-gotten proceeds and make off with them. There would be a risk that the cargo ship might be spotted at some time, but it was a risk worth taking.
Captain Koberg had suggested a fast cutter to travel the most likely shipping route from Isogorr. Once a fleet was spotted the cutter would return word as soon as possible to Koberg at the island base. It was a good idea he had put into action immediately and already returned results. Only two day’s sail out, a convoy was making its way to Port Cholandra with something like 70 ships in it, it was a big one indeed. It was sure to have quite a number of supply ships and a lot of troop ships.
Raz had managed to dig up another two local Man O Wars from further south, mostly mercenaries but men he could rely on. They would take a percentage of any booty, but since he had no gold or currency to trade with he didn’t really have too much of a choice. With the extra two ships, it gave him a fleet of seven Man O Wars and three frigates. Three would remain in harbor, not a very powerful force but used correctly in the darkness they would prove effective. Raz turned and addressed the man standing by him,
“Have Captain Koberg ready the entire fleet less three Man O Wars and report to me once he has them mobilizing.”
The man saluted and left the room. Returning to his maps he thought about how things had changed so dramatically since Prince Alard had shown up. One minute he was simply trying to work out a way that his people would survive. The next he was not only building a major town, the largest the southern lands would see south of Port Cholandra but also looking to take the fight to Isogorr. How swiftly fortunes could change. Captain Koberg entered the room and stood to attention. Raz looked up and waved him in.
“Reporting for orders sir.”
“Hello Captain, I hope you are up for a bit of high seas shenanigans.”
Koberg smiled. He liked Raz, this was a man prepared to act at a moment’s notice and wasn’t scared of the possibility of getting a bloody nose. It was good to be working under him.
“I am always ready to do my utmost to cause the enemy real headaches sir.” Raz smiled back.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less and with that in mind I can tell you that in two days a large fleet of approximately seventy ships will be in range about here.” Raz was pointing the position out on a map, “I will want you to operate out of the island base and take minimal risks. But I need to get more supplies of anything you can acquire.”
Koberg fully understood what was being asked of him. He had a great understanding of logistics and its importance to fighting a war. Not only was he to take the battle to the enemy fleet, but he must return some booty for the efforts the captain would undertake as well as preserve as best as he could the fleet under his command. Raz continued o
n,
“From our scouts we have been able to establish there is a covering fleet of about twenty armed ships, about twelve to fifteen supply ships and the rest are troop carriers. Best I can estimate is 12,000 to 15000 men. That makes for a big influx of men going into the kingdom and if we can make any difference at all I will be a very happy man. I am sure the Kingdom will be pleased too. I know you will work out your own tactics and decide on the best plan to carry out this mission, so I won’t hold you up any longer. You may return to your ship and make sail immediately, good luck and may the gods smile upon you.”
Koberg stood to attention and saluted.
“I will do my duty to the best of my abilities.”
He turned and left. Raz watched as he departed, great tactician and dedicated officer, pity about the stick up his ass. Maybe one day he would loosen up.
Back up the hill lunch was finished and it was time to get back into it. Dark asked Nightwing for some pointers.
“Lord Raz has asked me to do a study of the ridge running inland from here. I am not sure just how long it is or how long I can expect to be away, any ideas?”
Night thought about this then walked over to a chest and removed a scroll from it, she returned to the table they had been dining on and motioned for Dark to come over. Rolling out the scroll Night was able to show Dark a map of the entire area running south of Port Cholandra to well south of Port Volarus. The two of them studying the map made mental notes of what they were seeing.
“You will see that the ridge extends right across inland to the high mountains to the east of here. In there, there is nothing but wild men and orcs, definitely no need to set defenses against Isogorreans that far inland. But from what I can see, most of it is sheer face. I would think you would only need outposts set as lookouts dotted along at regular intervals with a garrison every few lookouts for support where they might be needed. Mind you at over forty miles inland to the mountains, that could still take a lot of men.”
Dark nodded looking over the map, she was focused now on the job at hand.
“It seems to me that any Isogorreans coming down via land will scout along the ridge looking for the easiest way up. With that in mind I think it best I do a survey and find those places, hopefully there will not be many at all and we will be able to focus any resistance at those points.”
Night agreed, there was nothing for it but to take a look.
“Well then at first light we will ride out and have a gander eh? I expect we will be gone a week from what I can see.”
Dark looked up in surprise.
“You want to come?” Night nodded.
“I haven’t been here long but I already yearn for the open lands and company of close friends.” Dark smiled at that.
“So you and Loranda are in eh?”
“Yes, I’m sure Loranda will jump at the chance.”
Night could imagine Loranda doing just that, in fact a great big jump.
“So, shall we see if Keera and Justin are in on it too huh?” Dark nodded in agreement.
“Yes and we will have to organize the horses and supplies this afternoon. You go off and ask the others, I’ll return to town with Vaughn and see what I can get ready. I’ll see you in the hall say late afternoon?”
“Done.”
Night leaned over and gave Dark a kiss and they moved off.
Back in town Dark and Vaughn were able to organize horses rather quickly, but the supplies were proving tricky. Even though they had Raz’s prearranged permission for access to them, the stores men simply weren’t able to release anything as there were greater needs elsewhere. Vaughn coughed a little.
“Um, let me go off for a bit and I will take care of the stores okay?” Dark looked at him.
“What are you going to do?”
“Leave that to me, I was able to help greatly with supplying all our needs in Port Cholandra wasn’t I?”
Dark immediately knew what he meant and smiled. He was going for the five fingered discount items.
“Very well I have to see Raz anyway, I will see you later,”
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and left Vaughn to his own devices. She went off to the hall and saw Raz who she noted seemed to be in a perpetual state of distress.
“Lord Raz.”
Raz looked up and waved her in, berating his latest victim and sending him on his way.
“Come in Dark, have you worked out when you will be leaving and for how long?”
“I will be leaving on the morn and shall be gone for up to a week. It is only forty miles to ride but we will be taking it slow to survey the ridge line properly.”
“Good, good, it is important work, but I simply don’t have the confidence in any of the men here who are inexperienced with anything to do with combat. With your Nightclan heritage, it would be something right up your road. Having you here now is lucky indeed. So, is there anything else I can do for you?” Dark thought a moment.
“No I think that is it. I thank you for making the effort with Wollfen. In hindsight it was more than I could have hoped.”
“That is alright my dear. You remind me of my wife you know? She was Nightclan too. A great woman who I miss now that she has passed away.”
Dark looked on, surprised to hear this.
“I’m sorry Raz, I had no idea, what was her name?”
“It was Starlight, Star for short.”
Dark’s eyes widened.
“I know of her. She was from the third clan of the eastern steppes.”
“Yes that is right. She left the clan to be with me. It was many years ago, almost fifteen years to be exact, about when we met too, we had a good ten years together before she died.”
Dark watched him and could see the memories were flooding back. He was feeling the tug of her spirit.
“It is time for me to go I’m afraid. I have to meet up with the others to see who is going. I may be taking all of my companions if that is okay with you.”
Raz brought himself back to reality.
“Yes, I can’t spare anyone but at the same time I have to. So it's not really necessary to ask me, after all, you are all my guests here and are helping more than I could ask.”
Dark moved forward to Raz and offered her hand. Raz tentatively took it and gave it a kiss.
“I thank you.”
“And I thank you Raz.”
Dark turned and left. Later that afternoon saw Night and Loranda approaching. Keera and Justin were not to be seen.
“Keera and Justin are staying?” Night rolled her eyes.
“Keera made excuses about wanting to do right by Raz here in town and keep training the men that are arriving from inland. I can tell you though. I do know she has taken up her drinking habits again and she has been at a tavern each night that I have been here. She wouldn’t usually show up until morning either. Justin, well he is losing himself in the work. I think one of us is going to have to have a talk with her.”
Loranda shot her hand up and made an oooh sound.
“No Loranda, you will end up staying out with her.” Loranda blew a soft raspberry at that.
Dark remarked,
“I will go and have a chat.”
Vaughn came from a side street and without hesitation Dark gave him some orders when he was in earshot.
“Vaughn you can accompany the girls back to our private quarters if you like.”
Vaughn was actually curious about the town.
“I think I will stay out this evening and have a look around. I find this place terribly interesting.”
“Very well, I will go catch Keera and see what the story is. I will be back in a little while girls, see you then.”
With a smile Dark was off to go back up the hill. Keera was obviously slipping back into her old ways and with so many men present, Dark guessed the temptation was proving too great.
It didn’t take long to find her, she was instructing three men and was in a jovial mood, the men too were enjoying her company.
“Keera, can we speak?”
They all turned and looked at her.
“Another wild woman from the bar Keera?” smiled a man.
Dark gave the man a hard look and addressed him.
“Hardly.”
The tone was hard and uncompromising. They all pulled up quickly, they realized this woman was not like Keera.
“Um you men practice what I was showing you. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Keera led Dark off into the trees. Pulling up, Keera turned, half expecting what came next.
“Well I can’t say I’m surprised, but I am a bit disappointed. What are you doing Keera?”
Keera looked at her, not really in the mood for explaining herself.
“This place is boring and sometimes it's just plain hard work. I need to let my hair down sometimes is all.”
Dark looked on. She wasn’t buying it.
“Every night? Justin and you were so close only two weeks ago, what is going on?”
Keera let out a deep sigh,
“He is such a boy, I just get so frustrated with him and well, he doesn’t drink much either.”
Dark was losing her patience,
“And you shouldn’t be drinking so much either! Tell me Keera, have you bedded any of these men?”
Keera stared back now with a jaded eye.
“All of them actually, oh and damn they are good.”
Dark lashed out angrily at her. She slapped Keera’s face and in an instant Keera had her dagger out and at Dark’s neck. Dark didn’t flinch. She stared back with a hard steely gaze. Keera then spoke in a low and menacing tone.
“This is MY life and I will live it as I see fit. You are not my bloody mother so just piss off!”
Dark was just as menacing.
“Take that dagger from my throat or you shall regret ever unsheathing it.”
Keera pulled back,
“I can see there is no point in continuing this discussion. I am going to be gone for a week. I will be picking up from where we are leaving off then.”
Dark left Keera to her own devices. She was so angry, so frustrated with what was going on; ‘Patience my love, temperance.’ Wollfen’s words popped up in her head, he was always advising that shit. Right now she just wanted to grab Keera and give her a good smack in the chops to wake her up.
