The Olvion Reality (The Chronicles of Olvion Book 1)

by Larry Robbins

  “If you’ll look there,” he pointed to the Hound’s Teeth side of the valley, “You will see dozens of their fighters doubling over. The water was distributed to their lines three hours ago and the poison is just now beginning to take hold. You’ve done it, Tag-Gar. Your people were successful.” He put an arm around my shoulder and hugged me. I hoped Layann and Crain were watching us from somewhere. I peered through the king’s telescope. It was of excellent quality, certainly the equivalent of anything I’d used back in my previous life. As the king had said I could now make out many of the grey-skinned monsters doubled over, some on hands and knees. They were retching and holding their stomachs. I noticed some were being attended to by others by unknowingly offering them more water, the source of their misery. I panned around the entire camp and saw that most of the activity was at the one end of the deployment. There was another, smaller outbreak taking place just off the middle of their formation. That meant that there were two locations in which the poisonous water had been consumed. I could see most of the other beasts totally ignoring their comrades. They were eating, drinking, and sharpening their weapons.

  “The question now,” Zander continued, “Is when to actually attack. We must not do so too early or the poison will not yet be maximally effective. Right now it appears that their entire flank on that side is affected.” He pointed. “Tactically that is an enormous advantage for us. But if we wait so late that they see what is happening they may shift their numbers to reinforce that side.”

  Ruguer approached us. He couldn’t resist tickling Tinker under the chin. She was in my left arm now, eyes taking in everything that was transpiring. I felt a small glimmer of excitement from her. Ruguer spoke to the king.

  “The cavalry has been called up and is ready. Infantry units are at the gates. The healers have told me that the maximum result from the ingestion of the calimph seed should take place thirty minutes after the effects first appear. It isn’t certain, there are many variables, not all of the Greys will have drank at the same time and some will have taken more than others. But that is their best guess. With your permission I am going to accept that and act on it.”

  Zander looked to the windows again. I could see the grim expression on his face. At this time I had an insight into the enormous responsibility a king or any other commander has on their shoulders. Men and women will live or die according to a decision as simple as the timing of an action. A minute either way could and would determine the fate of so many people. But along with that enormous weight of responsibility I could also feel his strength. I knew, without a doubt that this was the man for the job. Muscles in his jaw twitched. He turned back to Ruguer.

  “Of course, Commander.” He took Ruguer’s hand in the Olvion version of a handshake, grasping his arm near the wrist. “For Olvion!”

  “For Olvion,” Ruguer responded. He backed away a pace then executed a salute which Zander returned. Ruguer and two of his sub-commanders left the room.

  Somewhere in the back of my mind I felt a primitive impulse to run after and join them. The heroism of men walking calmly to battle filled me with admiration and sadness. Courage like that is simply wasted when such men sacrifice their lives fighting the evil of others. But without them the evil triumphs. The light dies.

  I could tell that everyone left in the room was feeling the same as I. I heard a sound from Dwan and looked around to see her quietly crying. My leg wounds were starting to ache more now and I sagged a little. Dwan forced herself out of her sadness and insisted that I return to my wheel chair. She pushed me back over to the viewing window. It had grown terribly quiet within the room. It was as if words were not appropriate. We simply watched. And waited.

  CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

  Cavalry

  Ten minutes after Ruguer left I could hear a deafening sound accompanied by a rumbling through the castle walls. I correctly guessed it was the chains that held up the two largest gates to the walls of Olvion. They were lowering, opening the bigger twin doors of the city. We couldn’t see what was happening because we were located almost directly on top of the gates.

  In the enemy camp activity increased. Some Greys stood, trying to see what was happening. It seemed that none really expected an attack. Through a telescope I watched the horde. Some were casually starting to retrieve their weapons. Most merely shaded their eyes and looked toward the city gates. I noticed there were considerably more of them now holding their abdomens or doubled over in pain.

  We could hear a hollow drumming below us as hundreds of our warriors emerged into our sight from both sides of the castle in formation. The drumming was from their feet as they jogged across the bridges. We could see them now that they had traveled far enough away from the gates. On both bridges I could see our men making their way toward the enemy, fast enough to surprise them but slowly enough to stay in orderly formation.

  From talking with Ruguer and Zander I knew that we had sixty thousand warriors at arms but only fifteen hundred cavalry troops. That number was a recent adjustment that resulted from adding five hundred additional mounted troops to their numbers. I didn’t know how many of our warriors were being committed to this action but it was obviously enough to do the job. As I watched, streams of our infantry fighters poured forth from beneath us.

  The enemy camp finally figured out that something was afoot. I could see Greys running now, shouting and arming themselves. I also saw even more of the beasts suffering horribly from the effects of the calimph seed, especially in the ranks of Greys located on the Hound’s Teeth side of the valley. Entire blocks of the monsters were now either vomiting their breakfasts or lying prostrate on the grounds as their commanders tried in vain to rouse them. Greys were running back and forth, some were actually striking the sickened fighters with clubs and whips trying to move them into defensive positions. As I watched even some of those wielding the bludgeons began to stop and expel the contents of their stomachs.

  By now thousands of Olvioni troops had crossed the bridges and were melding into one massive formation on the far side. Signal-riders on horses circulated around the edges. They carried multiple flags in quivers attached to their saddles. Almost as one they drew red flags and waved them back and forth over their heads while standing high in their stirrups. Upon seeing the signal the single huge group of warriors split once, then once again into four evenly numbered groups of fighters. The groups were shaped like rectangles containing twenty rows of five hundred fighters. The enemy, seeing their deployments, would not be able to discern any particular area in their lines that was going to be attacked. Not, that is, until the actual action had begun and our troops were committed.

  I felt Dwan’s hands fold around my neck from behind as I sat in my wheelchair. I took them in my own. Tinker, no longer cradled in my arms, stepped daintily forward to stand on my thighs. She watched the action below with rapt attention. Her tail swished slowly from side to side. I was not picking up any emotion from her.

  I passed the telescope that I had been given to use to Dwan. A moment later she gave it back and pointed to the enemy flank that was suffering the most from the employment of the calimph seed. I focused the lens to see that the poison had now begun to unleash its lethal effects on a larger scale. A full six blocks of the Greys, some three thousand fighters, were now heavily reacting to the effect of the substance on their bodies. I could see some screaming in pain. Others were reaching toward their brethren, begging for help or any kind of relief. None would be forthcoming.

  I panned over to the center of their ranks where I observed the smaller group of Greys that had also been affected by the poison. Two more blocks of the beasts there in the center were now showing signs of the lethal poison. I could see the confused faces of the other Greys, wondering what was happening as they prepared themselves for the imminent attack on their positions. The surprise of the attack, abetted by the sickness that was overtaking so many was starting to unnerve them. These were not disciplined soldiers like the Olvionis. They we
re barely more than a cooperating mob.

  Watching the action from an elevated position such as the War Room allowed me to compare the differences in numbers between our committed forces and those of the Greys. My best guess was that we had committed at least twice as many fighters to the looming battle than the enemy had. That meant each of the four rectangular formations of our infantry held roughly ten thousand warriors. They were positioned so that two of the formations were in front, followed by the two remaining rectangles. Forty thousand trained and eager warriors, each one determined to protect their families and kingdom by killing as many of the flesh-hungry monsters as they could.

  Action below drew my attention. All four of the rectangular formations of Olvion’s warriors were moving again. I saw them turn as one toward the most-affected North flank of Greys. Their jog was not the fastest way to move but it deceptively effective. Thousands of our warriors swiftly ate up the distance between the outer battlements and the sickened enemy flank.

  On the other side I saw Grey commanders rallying their troops, now seeing what they believed was a plan to attack their poison-weakened flank. They were screaming, yelling and battering their slowly moving fighters with whips and clubs, trying to get an effective reinforcement to the weakened flank. I saw the neat formations of the blocks in which the Greys had arranged themselves begin to dissolve. Some were running to reinforce their sickened comrades. Others were arguing with their commanders. Some even began fighting with them. The six enemy blocks to the North that had suffered the worst of the poisoning were now almost totally debilitated. Most were off their feet and lying prostrate on the ground in obvious agony. Others were crawling away on hands and knees, trying to escape the oncoming ranks of Olvioni warriors. The remaining separate blocks of Greys which had each contained five hundred fighters were now morphing into a large and barely controlled mob.

  But there were enough fighters still there to be dangerous. I noted that this was all occurring without us even having struck the first blow. Tinker shot me a jolt of optimism. I stroked her back.

  As the attacking Olvioni ranks of infantry appeared to be on the verge of hitting the north flank of Greys, the signal-riders surrounding the infantry suddenly raised bright blue flags.

  The warriors responded immediately. Instead of continuing toward the North flank the entire human formation turned as one and steered for the middle of the Greys position. In a brilliant tactical move, Ruguer had directed the foot soldiers to feint as if to attack the sickened north enemy flank. As soon as the Greys moved reinforcements to the north, the attack was redirected to the weakened mid-section of the enemy formations. The Grey’s were caught unprepared with their previously fortified positions now vulnerable.

  There was another loud clatter from below us then and a cheer rose up us in the war room. The clatter was from hundreds of mounted cavalry flowing rapidly across the two main bridges. They were all holding deadly lances which were pointed up to allow them to maneuver without endangering their fellow riders. The speed with which the horses moved was impressive. Almost before we registered their presence they were over the bridges and galloping across the battlefield.

  The Olvioni infantry formations now separated themselves, creating spaces between their ranks that spanned some twenty yards. Through these spaces our lethal cavalry now charged.

  The Grey command staff just had time to notice their mistake when the first rank of mounted lancers struck. The cavalry made their assault in rows, the front ranks lowering their lances to skewer and scatter any who fell into their path. They then dropped those weapons and drew spiked maces while they redirected their mounts off to the sides, giving room to the lancers behind them to penetrate further into the Grey formations. As wave after wave of lance-wielding cavalry smashed into the center of the enemy formations our infantry joined the fray.

  Ruguer had aimed the insertion of his cavalry troops at the smaller group of beasts in the center of their ranks that had suffered calimph poisoning. That weakened body of raiders collapsed in short order with riders penetrating all the way through to the other side of the Grey’s positions.

  With the enemy formations now separated into two groups, and with one side seriously weakened by poisoning, the mounted troops dashed through the scattering Greys raining death down upon them from horseback. The elongated versions of the battle maces our riders carried were devastating spiked bludgeons which fractured skulls and shattered limbs. The trained battle horses also did their part, slashing with hooves and caving in ribs with kicks from their hind legs. The cavalry, now having effectively performed their duty as shock troops, joined the infantry in the coordinated chaos of slaughter.

  The flag-bearing signal-riders now lifted yellow pennants.

  The Olvionis shifted from the center of the enemy positions and the entire compliment of Olvion warriors now smashed their way deep into the enemy positions on the South side. The fighting was fierce on both sides. The enemy had been caught out of position but they still displayed their reluctance to retreat regardless of the decimation of their troops. Just like I had discovered in single combat with them, the only direction they knew was forward. The officers commanding the blocks of enemy fighters that were still mostly organized tried to rouse their fighters into a counter attack. Time after time the beasts would rise and charge our infantry only to be beaten back by our superior numbers.

  Every time the Greys’ commanders would get a sufficient number of fighters together to form an effective defense against our infantry the cavalry would regroup and swoop in to destroy any semblance of order.

  But it was not all good news. Through the dust and confusion I could see cavalry riders being dragged off of their mounts and torn to pieces by the enemy. Pockets of our infantry were surrounded and hacked down. I lowered the telescope I’d been using, preferring not to see the destruction in such detail. Dwan was now sitting in a chair beside me. Her nails were unconsciously digging welts into my arms.

  But then I finally detected a change in the battle taking place below. The Army of Olvion was pushing the enemy, rolling over them and culling their fighters as they went. The bulk of the Grey forces were being forced to give ground. Most of their leaders were now either dead or fleeing alongside their fighters. Thousands of grey corpses littered the field of battle.

  And still we pushed them back.

  Trapped now between the advancing infantry warriors and the bluffs at their backs the Greys broke. Any resemblance to an effective military force was wholly abandoned. Grey commanders who tried to stop the retreat of their troops were killed by Olvionis or by their own fighters.

  But even though they were in full rout there were still thousands of the inhuman beasts left. At this point our people had only disposed of about half of their number. The battle had now been going on for a half hour or more. I wondered about the stamina of the warriors. They had obviously been well-trained but few people could sustain the energy needed for this type of physical exertion for very long.

  I recalled a demonstration we had sat through at the prison. I volunteered when the instructor asked for assistance. He gave me a baton and directed me to repeatedly strike a hanging heavy bag until he told me to stop. After five minutes or so my shoulders burned and my breath was coming in ragged gulps. The instructor kept telling me to go faster, yelling that enraged inmates were coming at me and I had to fight for my life. I lasted twelve minutes before he took pity on me. Sweat dripped from my face and pooled under my arms. Compared to the other Corrections Officers I was in great shape at the time. That was probably the reason he asked for my help. The sight of me bent over, wheezing and barely able to stand was designed to encourage the other officers to engage in aerobic training. I don’t know about the other guards but I took the demonstration seriously. I doubled up on my running and began training for long distance events.

  As if in answer to my concerns we heard the drumming from beneath us which signaled the emergence of more infantry. These warriors mov
ed more quickly than the ones used in the initial conflict, running forward at top speed to help their fellow combatants. They were followed immediately by another rank of horsemen. These reinforcements swept through the now-exhausted groups of Greys. I watched as the warriors from the original attack slowed their advance allowing their fresh brethren to continue the pressure against the exhausted enemy. The original attacking Olvionis didn’t stop fighting altogether but they would pause in groups to catch their breath then advance on areas of combat that required assistance. The fresh cavalry reinforcements cut large bloody swaths through the bigger groups of Greys, slicing their numbers into more easily conquered clusters.

  The infusion of fresh troops sounded the final death knell for the Greys that had been tasked with putting the city into siege mode. There was little resistance now. Most of the bests were fleeing, being ridden down and dispatched. The only resistance came when collections of the raiders were caught against the bluffs and had no place to run.

  It became a massacre. The remaining Greys had no chance. Most of our warriors were walking slowly among them now, putting them down with javelins. A troop of archers crossed the bridges and joined in the effort. None were spared. These were inhuman monsters who killed people for food. There was no reason for compassion. Any who did escape would certainly join the main body of raiders which was making its way to us now. It may appear callous but our warriors knew that killing one of them now might save the life of a fellow warrior tomorrow.