"Mistress Cali told me the story once I had told her that General Kehar had mentioned the earthquake spell to me. She told me that she swore to keep the story secret, but like myself, believes that a spell like that could save this city."
"It could also bring about the city's doom a lot swifter, captain. Mis-tress Cali has betrayed my confidence, and I shall have to have a stern word with her. I did nothing but shake the ground that day. A few orcs falling over because of the ground moving underfoot would not go very far to saving this city. A misfire of the spell, causing the ground to move below the city walls, however, would surely doom the city. I fail to see any justification of this action, captain," explained Master Pilk, anger edging his voice.
"The same spell, cast by an orc, opened up the ground and almost stopped any dwarf from reaching Arthea, master wizard. I have heard that your power has significantly increased of late. Don't you think it possible that you may now cast this spell successfully?" asked Captain Hillsworth firmly.
"Power and control of such are two different things. Perhaps I could open up the ground, but how accurately, only the gods know," replied Master Pilk, controlling his anger a little more.
"As I said earlier, Master Pilk, Arthea will be overrun by these orcs without a desperate act from us. I'd sooner know that we tried everything to prevent that scenario than to die not knowing what could have been," said Captain Hillsworth. "And another thing," he began as an idea came to his mind, "should the ground open up beneath this wall, it will still make it hard for the orcs to attack, if not more so. We can have a minimum of men on the wall while you make the attempt, with quick retreat options should they see it going badly. Look around you, Master Pilk. These men are giving everything for Arthea's survival, can you say the same?"
"You dare question my loyalty to this city, captain," yelled Master Pilk, releasing his anger in full now. "I have dedicated my life to the defence of Arthea. Without my efforts, wizards would still not be allowed to serve in the army. How long would you have been able to defend these walls without the help of wizards?"
"I do not question your loyalty, Master Pilk. I know of your past achievements more than most, but every man on this wall has also dedicated their lives to this city, and they now need your help more than ever."
With the raised voices, and the lull in the orc attacks, every soldier within earshot stopped what they were doing and stared at the two men. Captain Hillsworth towered over the small wizard, but failed to intimidate him at all. But Captain Hillsworth watched as Master Pilk calmed himself.
Normally a master of emotional control, as was necessary for an ex-pert spell caster, Pilk rarely lost his temper, and when he did, was quick to regain it. He knew the captain was right, some desperate attempt was needed, and he could think of little else with the same potential benefits, but he was scared, a very rare feeling for the steely wizard. He was scared of the spell failing, crushing the hopes of all these men. He was scared of the spell backfiring, crushing the very city he was trying to defend, and for the first time in his life, he was scared to unleash a power potentially beyond his control. He laughed out loud at that last thought, remembering his days as a young apprentice, always testing his boundaries and often going beyond them. Captain Hillsworth and all the surrounding soldiers looked on with confused expressions painted on their faces.
"Very well, captain. I will try, but don't say you weren't warned," said Master Pilk, finally regaining his composure. "I will need Master Tayer, and Mistress Cali to help, but for now, I must go and prepare. Set up your escape routes, captain, and tell the men to be ready for anything when I attempt this."
"It will be done, Master Pilk, and thank you," replied Captain Hills-worth.
"Don't thank me yet."
Captain Hillsworth instantly turned to the soldier by his side. "Go fetch Master Tayer and Mistress Cali immediately."
The soldier saluted and hurried off. To the rest he ordered ropes to be fixed along the length of the wall and long wooden planks as time permitted. The soldiers instantly scurried off.
Master Pilk hurried off back to his house to fish out his spell book containing the powerful spell. He hadn't looked at the spell since his near disaster, but still remembered most of it. He just needed to refresh his memory and get the spell fixed firmly in his mind. He also needed just a bit of time to relax himself, and meditate on what it was that he needed to achieve.
His mind wandered back to that day when the spell had nearly killed him. He thought of all the things that could have caused the spell to be misplaced. He came up with one scary realisation; perhaps it was the shield he had cast around himself for protection, preventing the powerful spell from working as it should.
If that was the case, though, it would mean he would need to cast the spell without any protection in the middle of a throng of orcs. That didn't appeal to him one little bit, but 'what must be done, must be done' — a well-known saying of his to all who knew him. With one last look around his house, he closed the door and started off back toward the northern city limits.
* * *
"I'm taking a breather, boys," said Cressida. "You should do the same, then return and help Jaz."
As exhausted as Vik was, he liked the sound of being around the at-tractive young girl. Observing her work had increased his respect for her, as well as his longing for her. She proved to be as skilful in clerical abilities as some of the lesser adult clerics. As she aged she would no doubt come to equal her mother's powers or even, perhaps, exceed them. But what concerned Vik right now was where Cressida may be heading.
She had not often taken breaks, and when she did, would not leave the infirmary. She had all but exhausted her magic on saving General Kehar, who the other clerics had deemed beyond healing. Yet he still lived, albeit just barely, but was now at a point where other clerics could heal him further. If he survived, it would be some time before he was at full health again, and it would be because of Cressida's power, persistence and stubbornness.
"Where are you going, Cressy?" asked Vik, her nickname coming more naturally to him now.
"Too many are dying because of the time it takes to transport them here. We need a cleric out there stabilising those ones first," she replied, pointing northward.
"But clerics have been ordered to keep their distance from the fighting. We can't afford to lose any healers," begged Vik.
"And those orders are costing lives that could otherwise be saved, just as the orders regarding General Kehar would have seen him dead. I'm not without fighting ability," she said with a smile, as she picked up her impressive looking staff.
Vik didn't doubt her words, and knew that arguing with her was as pointless as arguing with Master Pilk, so he let it go at that. Women in the Arthean army were rare, but certainly not unheard of. Few though became officers, but Vik didn't doubt that Cressy could easily become an officer. Among the clerics she was listened to without question as they realised her experience and healing prowess, and she did not hold back her thoughts or opinions. He and Trent looked at each other, and then watched her walk out the door. When she was out of view, the two boys turned toward the kitchen and scampered off.
* * *
Captain Hillsworth saw the female cleric from his vantage point on the wall. She held a long staff in her right hand and hurried over to help a seriously wounded soldier that was being stretchered away. He could tell that the soldiers had been ordered by her to lower the stretcher to the ground so she could tend to him. The soldiers looked at each other briefly with confused looks but did what they were told.
The captain recognised her from his earlier visit to the infirmary; she was the one looking after the general. He hoped that she had not come out here to tell him of the general's death, but figured she would have ordered a soldier to do that if it were the case. Giving people orders seemed to come naturally to her, which was very unusual for a cleric.
The orcs had attacked the wall again, and the line of injured men grew. A cleric n
earby could be a good thing, but he knew they had been ordered to stay away from the battle from Duke Angus himself. He knew the duke's reasoning, that if something went wrong and clerics were killed, others would die from not receiving treatment. This cleric was disobeying a direct order from the duke, a crime that could result in imprisonment or death. He would have to go and have a talk with her.
She did not even acknowledge his approach, being intent upon the injured soldier. Captain Hillsworth saw a light yellow glow beneath her hands, above the wound on the unconscious man. A moment later that wound sealed up and the soldier stirred.
"The duke has ordered all clerics to remain in the infirmary and away from the battle," said Captain Hillsworth sternly.
"I am no cleric, just a soldier with some knowledge in healing," replied Cressida without turning.
"Some knowledge in healing?" asked the captain sceptically. "The only one powerful enough to save General Kehar's life I hear." A soldier had reported that information to him earlier.
"The general's life is still in the balance, captain, so whether I was powerful enough is yet to be seen. I am reporting to you, Captain Hillsworth, as a soldier with some healing abilities. Will you accept my services?" asked Cressida, still not facing Captain Hillsworth but tending the wounded soldier.
Captain Hillsworth smiled as he understood the truth of her formal request. A request that, should he accept, would place some blame on him for the breach in orders.
"I have witnessed your healing abilities, but not your fighting; perhaps a little demonstration?"
"As you wish, captain," replied Cressida, then looking at the two soldiers said, "this man is now stable. You can transport him to the infirmary now." Seeing the two men on their way, Cressida stood and finally faced Captain Hillsworth.
"A short sparring match then is it, captain?"
Captain Hillsworth drew out his two long swords and nodded. Cressida gripped her staff tightly and stalked in, giving it a few impressive twirls as she approached. It wasn't until he parried her first attack, that Captain Hillsworth realised the staff was made of metal. He almost lost the grip of his sword at that instant, but being a seasoned soldier, recovered well.
He wasn't sure when it happened exactly, but at some point the ends of her stave became flat and as sharp as a sword edge. He had started off slowly, not wanting to injure the woman, but she had begun in a wild battle rage, catching the captain off his guard. His speed enchanted sword was the only thing that helped him keep the pace as this cleric spun her stave this way and that, attacking from all angles and with alternating ends of her impressive weapon. After a gruelling five minutes, and regaining his footing, Captain Hillsworth called a halt to the sparring match.
"Let's preserve our energy for the orcs, Priestess ..."
"Cressida, just Cressida will be fine, Cressy if you feel comfortable with it."
"Cressida? Not ..."
"Yes, my sister, captain," said Master Pilk approaching the captain from behind.
"Well that explains a lot," replied Captain Hillsworth, receiving a warning look from both Master Pilk and Cressida.
"You remained in the infirmary far longer than I expected," said Master Pilk, turning toward his sister. "And the boys?"
"Are fine and will be a huge help to Jaz. They learn quickly, both of them," remarked Cressida.
"Fine blood runs through both their veins. Now, captain, has every-thing been arranged?"
"We are ready whenever you are, Master Pilk," replied Captain Hills-worth.
Cressida looked at her brother curiously.
"What madness are you planning?" she asked of her brother.
"An end to the war," replied Master Pilk, then more quietly, "One way or another."
"And my services, Captain Hillsworth?" asked Cressida.
"Are accepted; I almost pity any orc that comes near you, Pries... I mean, Cressida." With that he walked off, Master Pilk in tow, knowing it would be a waste of breath giving Cressida any orders, and now he understood why this was. He had heard about Cressida from Pilk, but had never met her before. Stubbornness certainly ran in that family.
* * *
"Vik, that cleric you have been helping, do you know where she has gone?" asked Decker. He had continued fighting along the western wall all afternoon and well into the evening and was now totally exhausted. The orcs were harassing the western wall but making no serious attempts. Seldom did an orc manage to storm the wall before the retreat sounded. Their plan was simple to see — keep the humans on guard and fighting, allowing them little time to rest.
The orcs still held a vastly greater number of fighters, and so had the luxury of resting them in between assaults. Many orcs were dying as a result of this, but exhaustion could now be seen on the faces of every soldier. The orcs plan would eventually work, and they cared little for their losses.
"I think she has made her way to the northern wall," replied Vik. "She told me that she was tired of soldiers dying that could have been saved had they been treated earlier. Since she left, a few soldiers have come in here who had already received some healing."
"Weren't clerics ordered to stay in the infirmary?" asked Decker.
"Ha, Cressy's not too good at taking orders. Great at giving them though." Vik chuckled.
"Cressy?" asked Decker.
"Yeah, Cressida. Master Pilk's sister." The shock almost knocked Decker off his feet. He had known Master Pilk for years, and had heard the odd story about his sister, but by all accounts, she had never visited Arthea before.
"You didn't know she was Master Pilk's sister, did you, Decker?" asked Vik.
Decker just shook his head in the negative.
"And you didn't know her name either," said Vik slowly and thoughtfully. "So why may I ask, Decker, are you seeking her?" he continued with a smile on his face.
"I... I have been asked to find a skilful healer and bring them to a soldier too injured to be carried here," he lied. "She healed some wounds of mine a few days back and appeared to be very skilful," he continued, building confidence as his fabricated story came to him.
"Oh well, we have many skilful healers here, Cressy's daughter among them. You will have to acquire the services of one of them, for Priestess Cressida is not here," said Vik slyly.
Knowing his story was not believed in the slightest by the overly bright lad, Decker took a different tact. "What will it take to keep you quiet, young Vik?"
Without hesitation, Vik replied, "Sword fighting lessons, for Trent and myself, on a daily basis for a year."
"Do I have any bargaining room in this deal?" asked Decker.
Vik just folded his arms across his chest, and shook his head emphatically.
"All right then. But not a word to anyone, including Trent," said Decker, trying to regain some dignity but failing miserably. Then, although still exhausted, Decker hurried out of the infirmary and headed for the northern wall.
* * *
The top of the wall was severely breached. The orcs were not relenting even though it was well past midnight. They knew the human defenders must be dead on their feet, and so they were throwing everything they had at them. A number of shamans had returned and were doing a good job of keeping the human wizards distracted, while orcs climbed the walls in whatever way they could.
Cressida was now doing a lot more fighting than healing. She had no idea where her brother or Captain Hillsworth were and was too busy fighting to find out. As her weapon required a lot of room to wield effectively, Cressida had stationed herself on the widest section of wall, near a wall-mounted catapult. The orcs seemed pretty intent on destroying that catapult as they swarmed the area.
The nearby soldiers had seen Cressida in action and were more than willing to give her the room she needed. The orcs had apparently also seen her in motion as they approached her cautiously and in large groups. With a battle cry the orcs charged forwards. Cressida spun her staff horizontally over her head and then with practiced ease, began to spin it aro
und vertically to one side. In the blink of an eye, she shot the staff straight out to its full length in front of her, holding the rounded end of her staff firmly with two hands, as the now swordlike end of the staff plunged into and through the stomach of a charging orc. Cressida had her staff spinning in front of her in a defensive motion before the orc had fully collapsed to the ground.
Two orcs with spears tried to jab through her defence, only to have their spears knocked aside so furiously that they almost lost their grip on them. An orc wielding a large broad sword sought to take advantage of the apparent opening this left, only to end up with the pointy end of the magical staff through his throat. One of the spear-wielding orcs had seen enough and threw his spear as hard as he could at her before turning to run. Cressida swiftly batted the flying spear down to the ground to stop it from injuring any soldiers behind her as she turned to face the last of the four who had charged her.
The cowardly orc's knees visibly shook as she stalked toward him, once again putting the staff into a steady spin, and with a thought, making both ends of the staff into long blades. The orc was backed up against the lower internal parapet and knew full well that he had nowhere to run. He clumsily jabbed forward with his spear, only to have the end chopped off by the sharp blade of Cressida's magical stave, then in a blur of motion, Cressida swung first one end of her staff, then the other in a horizontal motion at the orc. Dropping his useless spear and clutching at his slashed neck and stomach, the orc collapsed to the ground and saw nothing more. A warning cry from behind her followed instantly by a speeding arrow, originating from inside the city walls, alerted Cressida to the danger she was in. With a swift low spin, holding her staff out to its full length, she finally saw what the panicked voices had warned her of.
An ogre had somehow managed to gain the wall and had instantly charged her while she had her back to him. The ogre now had an arrow imbedded deep in his throat, and his shins slashed open as he collapsed backwards and to the ground. The archer below had either been extremely lucky or extremely skilled to have hit that mark from that distance. She took a brief glance over the parapet to thank the unknown archer and her heart fluttered. This man seemed to be skilful in a number of areas. She had insulted him while she tended his wounds, then observed as he had used his own healing craft on others, now he had saved her life with an accuracy rivalling the elves. With a quick nod of her head in thanks, she turned back to the battle raging behind her.
The Gate - A New Breed of Orc (The Gate Series Book 1) Page 31
