Vynn looked for Gallan and saw him on the opposite side of the Olvioni lines. The sun was still coming up over his shoulder. The older soldier was fearless and known to be a ferocious warrior. His division could not be in better hands. But Vynn still yearned to have Tag-Gar at his side. The huge warrior inspired confidence just by his size and strength and many believed him to be the Legend as well. Some felt that victory and the Legend were intertwined. They took courage at his presence. His absence on the battlefield was not a good turn of events.
Not that their commander had been wrong to relieve him of his command. Ruguer had done the only thing he could have done short of throwing him into chains. Tag-Gar’s division had been hastily split into two groups and put under the command of the remaining Division Commanders. Since this was to be an all-or-nothing gamble only a few warriors had been left to help man the walls as archers in case they were needed to support a retreat back to the city. Vynn looked at the warriors arrayed before him and felt overwhelming pride. Should he fall this day he couldn’t have chosen better men to be among if it happened. They were here outside of the walls because the civilians within needed protection. Every Olvioni warrior would fall before any grey bastard got past them and into their city. That was their way, the Warrior way.
***
Gallan acknowledged Vynn’s nod from his location across the sea of warriors. He looked around himself and saw the unusual formations that had been decided upon. He was not so certain that the new tricks would be successful. But he was willing to do all he could to make them work. He thought of the two sons who had already given their lives to Olvion in earlier skirmishes. If today was to be his last and he found an afterlife it would be a wonderful reunion. His wife had been lost in childbirth years before along with the daughter that he’d long wanted but was not to have. He would kiss his wife and finally meet his girl child.
He turned to observe the Grey beasts as they finished forming their lines and formations. Yes, he might die today. But he would take many enemy fighters with him first if such was to be the case.
***
Ruguer stood in the war room watching the thousands of warriors below scrambling to form up into the pre-established positions. He would soon have to leave and take the elevator quickly to the ground floor but he had deemed it imperative to first watch the reactions of the Grey Ones to the initial deployment of troops. The first volley from the crossbow cannon had struck. The effect was what they expected and what they needed. Along with the death and destruction they caused came terror and a desire for some to flee. Those had been turned back by their superiors but more volleys meant more impending deserters. The new weapons were brutally effective and they could have used a few hundred more. But there was only so much iron in the kingdom that could be spared from other war preparations and their time had run out after the food stores had been burned.
From his vantage point high above the field of battle he examined the scene before him. The enemy was deployed all throughout the eastern edge of the valley as close to the bluffs as they could get. Many of them had actually climbed up into the hills and were too high up to be any real use until they could descend into the valley. Ruguer, military genius that he was, thanked the stars that the Greys had not put all of their army up there, keeping them safe from any form of swift attack. By keeping his raiders in the valley the enemy king had left them vulnerable to the crossbow cannon attack. They were now in the position of scrambling to climb the bluffs, with the crossbow weapons merrily cutting them down, or attacking. Ruguer’s instincts told him this king would be emotionally incapable of fleeing.
The main force of Greys, owing to their large numbers, were stretched from the bluffs out to a point about an eighth of a mile from the defense troughs and bridges. The crossbow cannon were engaging the points closest to the city where the enemy were most clustered together.
The sub-human grey beasts were proceeding as expected to form up into their “blocks” of five hundred fighters, each one shepherded by four or five officers wielding bullwhips and bludgeons to enforce discipline. The blocks were taking shape and materializing into one long and formidable wall of grey raiders. This wall stretched unbroken for hundreds of yards from north to south. The Greys were pushing as far to the east as they could in order to minimize the effectiveness of the crossbow bolts. The cannon fire was playing hell with their formations but the Greys were keeping it together despite the near-constant rain of deadly iron spikes.
Ruguer could see the probable end result of the enemy’s planned battle formation. They had a front line of twenty thousand skirmishers backed up by five lines of equal number. That would total about a hundred thousand which was less than he had expected. The military commander knew that the Greys were suffering attrition from deserters but he had not expected so many. His warrior’s senses tingled with suspicion. But when he searched the valley all the way out to the bluffs with his telescope he could see no traces of hidden enemy forces. He shrugged to himself. Maybe they’d gotten lucky after all. If one could consider facing a hundred thousand raving sub-human cannibals as being lucky. At any rate, they were committed. The only option they had, other than to attack, was to slowly watch their people starve. To Ruguer a quick death in battle was far preferable. He closed his eyes and cursed the sniveling politicians in charge of the Coastal Kingdoms for their stupidity. Many Olvionis would needlessly die this day because of their lack of courage.
With no more time to spare the Olvioni Military Commander gave a few instructions to the War Room officers and headed for the elevator.
***
On the battlefield Vynn and Gallan were using hand signals to inform the mounted flag signal officers to adjust the points of aim of the crossbow cannon to their farthest reach. The large enemy block formations made enticing targets with grey bodies packed so densely together. Another volley of iron missiles fell in amongst a group of them, most finding a mark. Old Geord was now climbing onto the back of one of the cannon, slathering grease on gears and other wear points. Several Olvioni civilians who had been trained by the old craftsman were doing the same on other raised platforms. Dust from the sandy valley floor surged up and covered everyone with a fine coat.
Another cannon volley streaked out over the human ranks headed toward the enemy. Those warriors who had been trained to aim and fire the weapons were now getting accustomed to the way they handled and their aim was improving. They were now concentrating their fire on the middle of the enemy lines. Some of the Greys in that location were already abandoning their positions, seeking safety from the terrible black missiles.
***
I paused briefly at the entry to the black tent and looked around me. The brewing battle was keeping everyone’s attention. I slowly pulled back a flap and stepped inside.
At first I could see only darkness. My eyes slowly began to adjust to the gloom and I could make out the edges of larger objects in the dim interior. I reached behind me and pulled the tent flap open a little, spilling more light inside. The air in the tent was warm, stifling. There was dust everywhere and I smelled sweat and spirits and urine. A small wind ruffled the leather walls. I listened for sounds of someone or something moving inside. There was nothing.
I hunkered down a little and crept around the darkened room. I saw dust motes swimming in the lone shaft of sunlight from the entryway. I stopped and listened again. I wondered if I should call for Tinker. Then my heart froze for an instant. Across the room, in a corner lit by the sunbeam I saw a smear of blood. A large one.
I came back up to my full height, no longer worried about being careful. Three long steps took me to the far side of the tent and next to a large cot made of rope, wood and animal pelts. Tinker lay there, covered with blood.
KARR
Karr tore through his battle lines like a tornado, kicking, slapping and shouting for order. He pointed at one of his fighters who was running away from the falling iron missiles. Seeing the gesture one of his officers that happened
to be close to the absconder threw a battle axe, catching the runner on the side of his head. The beast dropped, spewing blood. Others around him who were close to deserting saw what happened and steeled themselves anew.
Karr could see that his people were nearly three quarters of the way into formation. He screamed and cursed at the other officers, spurring them to greater speed and promising mayhem if he didn’t get it. The Olvionis were now totally deployed and their damnable arrow-throwing weapons were continuing to cut into his numerical advantage. He would have to get his people organized and formed up quickly to stop the hemorrhage of manpower and stem the rising tide of terror among his people. But he was not going to again make the mistake of attacking before he had the entire force assembled. He would do as he had been instructed.
Karr wondered at the unusual formation that had been taken up by the humans. The huge battle line looked like a blunt arrowhead. Karr had never seen another one like it being employed by his enemies. Why did they always have to do things differently? It mattered little. Victory was near.
Karr searched the knot of people around him for his chief spy. Spotting him he waved him over.
“Are there any signs of reinforcements from the other kingdoms?”
“None, Lord King. I left the foothills to the west before it was light enough to see anything but I saw no torchlights or moon reflections. But understand Lord King, there was little moonlight last night. Hardly any in the time just before the sun rose.”
Having received his information, Karr shoved the spy away. The unfortunate beast stumbled and fell on his face into the dust. Karr felt no pity for him. He had asked for a report, not an excuse.
The Grey blocks to the right of where Karr was standing were now, finally, taking shape. His battle formations were very nearly complete. He checked the sun. It was completely over the horizon now. Karr looked back over his head to the bluffs behind him. He saw nothing. He checked his tent. The Grey King thought he may have seen someone just disappearing inside. He stifled his urge to rush over there and see who it was. There would be plenty of time later to punish hiding deserters and cowards. The real battle was now minutes away. Mere minutes which separated him from his glory. His destiny. Tonight they would feast inside the walls of Olvion.
***
I went to my knees. The cot was soaked in blood. I started to tremble. This little white animal had been my friend from the day I woke up in this world and into this new reality. She had been my close companion, almost as close as Dwan and, in some ways, closer. She was my guide in this world. My first connection to it. And now she lay here covered in blood. As I looked on I heard tiny plops as the blood slowly dripped from the cot to the dirt floor. I felt hot tears gathering and spilling from my eyes.
She was on her side. Her head was stretched way back to the point where it appeared that she was looking straight up. Her little jaw was slightly open and her pink tongue protruded. One upper limb was oddly bent. Her beautiful tail on which she had lavished so much attention was sticky with drying blood. I could see several wounds that looked like bite marks on her back and sides. There was an especially ugly-looking one near her throat.
As gentle as I had ever been in my entire life, I reached out with my hand and my mind. Our mental connection, which I had relied upon for months was no longer working. I tried over and over with nothing back from her. I touched my hand lightly to her side. Did I feel a movement? A slight rise of the chest? It was difficult to tell. The amount of blood made it seem unlikely.
I heard a loud noise from outside. The battle was beginning. I should be there. I was needed there. Every Grey monster that I could kill was one that would not hurt my people. One that would not reach Dwan. But I could not leave Tinker. I stroked her little side and whispered her name. She didn’t respond.
I heard a slight noise and sprang up to my full height, drawing my dagger. I looked around in the gloom, searching for the origin of the sound. I knew I had not imagined it.
I could just make out a gasping noise. More like a ragged breathing but very slight. I reluctantly stepped away from Tinker and deeper into a small anteroom that appeared to have been the quarters of an aide or attendant. I couldn’t see anyone from the entrance and moved further inside.
The faint sounds kept coming. I knelt again as they appeared to be originating from a point nearer to the floor. I saw a glow coming from under a pelt on the floor. When I moved the pelt I uncovered a glow globe. The thing was old and almost spent but it still emitted a fair amount of light. I raised it over my head with one hand, the other still holding my dagger. The globe illuminated the little anteroom. I searched it from my position and saw movement. I crept closer to a quivering object in one corner of the room. I drew closer and was astounded to see another animal, much like Tinker, but twice as large and oddly colored. It, too, bore bite marks and was streaked with blood but this creature also had large patches of skin and fur missing. The long black tail had been torn completely away and was lying on the earthen floor to the side.
The fur on this creature was a beautiful silver and black combination, reminding me of a Siamese cat. As I watched I saw that the noises I was hearing was this animal struggling for breath. Just when I drew nearer to stand over it, the silver body began to convulse. I looked on, unsure of what to do. I suspected that this creature was responsible for Tinker’s injuries but I couldn’t be certain. What if this new Mountain Child was an ally who had received its wounds while defending my little friend?
I was relieved of my indecision a moment later when the thing expelled a final rattling breath and lay still. I could see that one eye was slightly open and the other closed. I knew without a doubt that it was now beyond help.
The sounds of battle grew louder outside. I could make out the unmistakable sound of thousands marching in lock step with each other. Weapons rattled and men shouted and screamed. I returned my dagger to my belt and reached behind me to draw my sword. I would find a safe place to leave the body of my little animal friend. If I survived this day I would come back to find her. I would take her back to the Grey Mountains from whence she had come to be my guide. There, I would bury her and say prayers over her grave. But first, I would take myself outside of this stifling and smelly tent and I would make every grey bastard I saw pay for my loss.
I tossed the glow globe onto the cot and stole one last look at Tinker’s body before throwing myself into battle. The globe shone faintly on her. She was still not moving. I wiped my eyes roughly with the backs of my fists and turned to leave.
“Tag-Gar?”
***
Ruguer accepted the reigns that were offered by one of his aides. He swung up and onto the back of a stomping black stallion. Two thousand mounted warriors were lined up far back into the cobbled city streets. Ruguer smelled the sweat from his mount and felt the beast dance from foot to foot, anxious to be allowed to streak forward and perform the task for which it was bred. With a wave of his hand the cavalry started forward. Warriors manning the walls cheered them on as did the civilian citizens of Olvion. Word had gotten out to all in the city, this was to be an all or nothing offensive. If the warrior commanders were not successful in employing the new tactics and maneuvers to confuse the enemy and negate their numerical superiority then the city would be lost. And all of the citizens of Olvion would die.
The lines of mounted troops moved forward until they were just inside the four main gates.
KARR
With his battle lines now fully formed, the Grey King turned his full attention to the Olvioni battle lines. The most obvious disadvantage of the humans, other than sheer numbers, was the fact that the Olvioni battle configuration had a front line that was only half the width of his army. Even Karr’s limited mental abilities told him this gave him the advantage of being able to wrap his battle formations around the flanks of the humans and force them to defend on three fronts. However, the missiles that were still falling from the sky continued to cut down large numbers of his
own army. Every volley that struck his lines took down an astounding five hundred or so fighters. If he was going to have any chance at maintaining order he had to close with their lines quickly, then penetrate them and silence those weapons.
Karr grabbed an aide by the shoulder and yanked him roughly closer to him. The aide ignored the foul breath wafting over him from his ruler and nodded his understanding of the orders he had received. When he was released he shouted to the officers nearest where he stood. The relayed instructions were further distributed out into the larger formation.
With what appeared to be agonizing slowness due to the constant rain of bolts, the two hundred blocks of Greys, each containing five hundred fighters began to move and rearrange themselves. The wider front line began to melt into a narrower configuration. Eventually the twenty thousand man front line re-formed into one that was now only fifteen thousand strong. The new arrangement was still wider than that of the humans but now had the ability to strike more deeply into the Olvioni lines and reach their new crossbow machines.
***
Vynn nodded to himself as he watched the morphing shape of the enemy lines. He’d have preferred that the enemy had made their front lines even narrower but this new arrangement would still work. Hopefully. He recalled Tag-Gar telling him weeks ago that most battle plans only lasted until the first contact with the enemy. But he was heartened by the fact that, so far, the Greys seemed to be following the script that the Warrior Commanders had written.
Vynn gestured to one of the mounted flag messengers. Soon orange flags were waving all through the Olvioni formations. The infantry officers saw the signals and made certain that the foot soldiers were aware of what they meant and were prepared for it.
***
Within the city gates Ruguer patted his stallion’s muscular neck. The beast smelled the impending fight. He pawed the cobbles beneath his hooves, anxious to enter the fray. The steed had light armor on his head and chest and lighter mail hanging over his barrel. His rear hooves had been encased in steel, adding more lethality to an already dangerous animal. Ruguer held an eight-foot lance. The base of the weapon was riding in a leather sock attached to the saddle. The device was made especially for holding the lance upright with little effort by the bearer. The tip of the weapon was two feet of thin, sharp and nearly indestructible steel. On his opposite hip a long horseman’s mace was shoved into his belt. The commander wore full battle armor which covered even his legs. Ruguer peered out of the gate and willed the enemy forces to react the way he’d planned. So far, so good- but there were many ways that this battle could go. Only a few of them would result in a victory against so many.
The Olvion Reality (The Chronicles of Olvion Book 1) Page 43
