“Much weaker,” she said ruefully. “I had forgotten what it was like to be normal. How about you?”
“I feel empty. Like a man living alone in a house that has become much too large for him,” I replied honestly.
She gave me a serious look, gazing steadily into my eyes. Despite what we had just done I could see incredible strength of spirit within her. Every time I looked at her it was as if I had fallen in love all over again. “Your eyes are blue again,” she said wistfully.
“I think you look better with your natural brown,” I told her in return.
“So what secrets do you have to share?” she said, changing the subject.
I opened the heavy leather pouch I wore at my belt. As I looked inside I saw the gem that had been used when we created our bond. It was no longer glowing. I ignored it and brought out two cloth sacks that had been marked with ink. “This pouch holds the stones that will destroy the dam,” I told her. “When the time comes, destroy them. I had hoped to drive the enemy back into the valley first, but you’ll have to use your own judgment since I won’t be here.”
“What about the other pouch?” she asked.
“I’ll hold onto this one for now, but if I die before using it you need to claim it quickly. It holds the keys to the bombs beneath the field out there,” I pointed to the ground before us, between the curtain wall and the palisade.
“But that’s inside our line, why?” she said, confusion in her eyes.
“The palisade is a trap. I didn’t have iron but I had the men bury large stones beneath the earth, both inside and outside the palisade. I didn’t tell them what they were for though. They extend out to about a hundred yards from our earthworks. The closest ones are about sixty yards from the walls here. I was afraid if they were any closer they might destroy our walls,” I told her.
She shook her head, “I still don’t understand. Why not put them further out?”
“We had run out of iron. The stones are much larger and heavier. I didn’t have enough time to have the men dig great holes everywhere, and haul stones to them. The further out you go the more area there is to be covered. The only place I could be sure the enemy would be is here,” I pointed down to the area below us again.
“Then why bother building the palisade at all?”
“All part of the deception. The enemy probably won’t commit his men to a head on assault until they have breached our walls. The earthworks give them the impression that we are serious about defending the castle. Once they breach them they may assault us right away. However, if they wait until they have brought down the gate or one of the walls we have to hold them before they enter the castle yard itself,” I stated carefully.
“Why?” she asked.
“I don’t want to use our trump card until they’ve committed most of their men to the attack. We have to wait until most of them are at the walls here before we use it, otherwise we waste our only advantage. So if they breach the curtain wall before that point we have to hold the line here until they commit all their men,” I said.
“You should just let me have that pouch now,” she suggested.
“I’d like the chance to spit in their faces and blow them to hell myself. If I have to die I want to go with a bang,” I smiled wickedly. “You can take them from my cold dead hands if I don’t get to use them.”
“I really wish you wouldn’t talk like that,” she complained.
My heart felt lighter than it had in months. Despite the empty place it felt as if a burden had been lifted from my shoulders. “If I can’t joke about my impending death what can I joke about? Would you rather I go moping about?”
She laughed a bit, till her tears started again and then she held me. I felt a twinge of pain for her; it was easier to be the one dying. My journey was almost over, but she still had a long lonely road ahead… without me. For the first time since Marc had first given me the idea of lying to her about her ‘condition’ I felt guilty. I hoped she would forgive me someday when the truth finally came out.
***
They began the bombardment once the sun was fully in the sky. Now that I was free of the bond I found I could sense things at a much greater distance again. When the first stones came hurtling toward us I sensed them long before they arrived. On a whim I spoke a word and swept my hand sideways, striking one of the large boulders from the sky before it reached us. I was amazed at the clarity of my senses. After months being half blind my power seemed easier than ever to use.
“Did you see that?” Marc elbowed me. “One of the stones just went flying sideways. Was that you?”
I smiled. “We’ll see how they like facing me now that I’ve got my kid gloves off,” I replied smugly.
“Your eyes are blue again… does that mean what I think?” he asked.
“Your idea worked beautifully. No matter what else, you have my thanks for that,” I told him.
“I thought so,” he said. “Did she tell you what I told her?”
“Yes, and I appreciate it. I know it must have cost you dearly to say it.”
He frowned. “It didn’t cost me a thing, anyway, congratulations.”
It struck me as odd that he would congratulate me on the day of my impending demise, but I dismissed it as another of his odd jokes. “Just promise me you will make sure she’s alright, once I’m gone.”
His face tightened, “You didn’t have to ask me, Mort. Dorian and I will do everything we can for her, you know that.”
More rocks began falling, striking the palisade and bouncing across the ground behind it. So far none of our men had been struck, but I knew our luck couldn’t hold forever. The enemy troops were advancing now, approaching to within two hundred yards. The onagers were brought up behind them, allowing them to strike the palisade more easily. Some of our archers fired, though they had been told to save their arrows. Most of their shots fell short, and those that didn’t missed their marks.
I raised my staff and with a word I focused energy through it, a line of fire lanced outward and struck one of the onagers. It went up in flames. Repeating the process I began systematically destroying them until none were left. I considered doing the same to the men on the field but I knew I would exhaust myself long before I had made a dent in their numbers. I thought of the other pouch on my belt, the one I hadn’t told Penny about, but I quickly dismissed the idea. It wasn’t time for that yet.
The enemy withdrew to four hundred yards once the onagers were gone. I could still reach them at that range but I didn’t feel the need to tip my hand yet. Things settled into a dull rhythm as both sides waited. I had hoped they might try a premature rush but they seemed content to wait while trebuchet did its work. The only other activity in the interim was the occasional ballista shot. Their crews were disturbingly accurate. Once they had gotten used to the range they began picking their targets carefully. At five hundred yards they missed as often as they hit their mark but when they were successful the result was gruesome. Several of our men were impaled before they learned to stay out of sight.
A deadly stalemate ensued, punctuated only by the thrumming sound of their trebuchet every few minutes. Each time it fired a rock weighing several hundred pounds would come hurtling overhead. The first shots fell short, but they methodically adjusted the machine until the stones were consistently striking the stone curtain wall that surrounded Castle Cameron.
Dorian found me watching the steady destruction from the ground outside wall but within our palisade. “Can’t you do something about that damn machine?” he said.
“It’s too far away,” I answered calmly. “I might be able to misdirect the stones it throws but that would defeat my purpose.”
“You want them to knock the wall down?” he asked incredulously.
“Actually yes, they won’t try a full assault until they have a clear way in,” I replied.
He gave me a suspicious look, “What are you planning?”
“Something big,” I said. “Make sure the men ar
e ready to withdraw after a token resistance at the palisade. Also… is there any way to stop them getting through the gap in the wall if they knock part of it down?”
He grunted, “Yeah, but it involves a lot of dying. I’ve already got them preparing a temporary barricade behind the section that infernal machine is pounding on.”
Another giant boulder struck the wall, sending chips of stone flying. “When they finally charge, I want the archers to keep firing until they’re almost to the earthworks. Once they’re within fifty yards or so they should run for the gate,” I told him.
“The palisade will hold longer than that,” he argued. “We should make them pay for it. Once we’re inside we won’t be able to hold that gap in the wall more than a few hours.”
I gave him a serious look, “Would it seem suspicious if we ran for the gate sooner?” I had wanted to preserve as many lives as possible but now I was rethinking my plan.
“Suspicious?” he said, “Well of course! If we just surrender our outer defense and let them head straight to the breach it would be strange. If it were me commanding them I’d think we had either a fool for a leader or a trap planned.”
I drew a deep breath and replied, “Very well. Do as you see best, just try to keep as many men alive as possible.” It didn’t sit well with me that men would die defending ground I had no intention of holding.
Dorian gave me a strange look, “What is it that you haven’t told me?”
“Trust me,” I said smiling.
“Oh no! Absolutely not, you’ve said that before. If you expect me to defend this castle I need to know what the hell you are planning to do.” Dorian set his hands on his hips in a stance that told me he was feeling stubborn.
“We need to concentrate as many of the enemy outside the walls as possible. I think I can eliminate most of them if we can get them to commit to a full assault,” I replied.
“How?”
“Something similar to what we did to them on the road,” I answered.
“You’re telling me that my men are standing on top of more of your bombs?” he yelled.
I tried to quiet him down, “Yes, keep your voice down. If you spook the men we’re done for.”
He closed his mouth suddenly as he realized how loud he had been. After a moment he spoke again, “I’m going out there Mort. If anyone gets blown up I’ll be among them. Understand?”
I nodded. “Just make it look real. Everything is riding on this Dorian. If they don’t fall for this we’ve lost. I don’t have any other tricks up my sleeve.”
“Don’t you worry; it will be so damn real you might think we’re dying out there. The blood that flows won’t just be theirs,” and so saying he turned and left.
Chapter 38
The morning went slowly onward. The trebuchet had reduced the upper section of the curtain wall near the bailey to rubble. What remained there was sagging inward and looked as if one or two more good hits would bring it crumbling down. Ordinarily we might have tried to brace it from the inside but we ignored the damage. The sooner it came down the better.
The men behind the wooden palisade looked increasingly nervous. They could sense the impending rush that would come once our defense was breached. Dorian and Cyhan walked among them constantly, doing their best to bolster their confidence.
Penny followed me constantly, refusing to get more than twenty foot away. She’s starting to remind me of a vulture, I thought uncharitably. I could hardly meet her eyes anymore; every knowing glance brought her near to tears.
Through it all the one thing that worried me most was the lack of any sort of magical attack from the enemy. I had already faced two of Mal’goroth’s channelers, so I had a good idea he probably had more. I searched among the enemy constantly with my mind, seeking the dark aura’s that might alert me to their presence, but I found nothing. Even with their limited abilities they should have been able to pick off some of our men if they tried, yet none had. That made me anxious because it meant the enemy might be planning something.
Another great stone went whistling overhead. This one struck solidly at the base of the weakened portion of the curtain wall. For a second nothing happened, and then the wall collapsed inward. An area more than twenty foot wide was open now, with nothing more than a pile of stone rubble to prevent a man from entering. “That should be it,” I said to myself.
Penny tugged at my sleeve, “Don’t expose yourself.”
“I don’t plan to,” I replied. “Do you think it will save me?”
“Just don’t do it, maybe I was wrong, maybe…,” her eyes were wide with fear.
“I’ll do my best, but I’ve learned to trust your visions. Whatever happens… happens,” I told her.
A shout went up from the men along the palisade. The enemy had begun their advance. I left her there and went to stand beside them, watching the approach of the men of Gododdin. “Hold your fire damnit!” screamed Dorian. Some of the men had begun shooting early. “Wait till I give the order!”
The footmen were running toward us across the field, growing closer with each step. The tension in the men around me was nearly unbearable. They held their bows with arrows nocked, waiting for the order to fire. After what seemed an impossibly long time Dorian finally gave the command, “Fire at will!”
Five hundred men rose up and began loosing their shafts. The enemy was only a hundred yards distant now and the steel headed arrows fell among them with deadly effect. Men fell only to be trampled by their companions. More arrows flew and more fell, but the men of Gododdin came on anyway. At fifty yards few missed and now we could hear the cries of the fallen. Still they came on and after one more volley they reached the palisade.
Running down into the ditch men stumbled and struggled to rise. Our arrows were still striking them with lethal effect. Within moments those behind them were climbing up, struggling to get past the sharpened stakes that guarded the mound of earth we stood behind. Their ballistae began firing again, sending deadly bolts three feet in length into the defenders.
The enemy was pressing against the short palisade walls now, the sheer weight of their numbers beginning to push it over in places. The defenders of Washbrook had switched to spears, stabbing at those trying to get past our defense. In the end it was a futile effort. Desperate fights broke out at various points as the flimsy wall collapsed and the enemy began streaming in among us.
“Fall back! Into the castle!” Dorian yelled above noise of the fighting men.
I brought up my staff and began sweeping the enemy near where I stood with lines of fire, clearing the area for twenty feet near where I stood. Stepping up to the top of the earthen mound I looked over the field of men. I reached into my pouch brought out a handful of small iron spheres. Each one was no larger than the end of a grown man’s thumb. With a word and a puff of air I began sending them out to strike various points along the outside of what remained of the palisade. As each reached its destination I spoke again, releasing the energy held within it. Each one blossomed into a small explosion of fire, killing everyone within ten feet of it. I hoped to give the men enough time to retreat.
Arrows fell around me, and some struck my shield, but to no effect. There was little they could do to stop me. I felt an evil laugh bubbling up from somewhere inside as I killed men by tens and twenties. I hardly noticed the flare of purple as the channelers among the enemy suddenly became active.
***
Penelope Illeniel watched the men streaming past her as the defense began to fall apart. She only had eyes for one man, the one standing madly atop the earthen mound, sending fire and death out to greet the enemy. You idiot! she thought to herself, I told you not to expose yourself. She started to run towards him, to pull him down when a new vision blinded her.
She stood transfixed for a minute, unable to move as her gift showed her the future. It was much the same as before, but now it held a choice, where before there had been nothing but unstoppable fate she could see a new path; one that w
ould lead to a different outcome. She made her choice without hesitation. Blinking she took in the scene around her and began running toward Mordecai once again. I have to hurry! she thought. A hand on her arm stopped her.
“You’re going the wrong way!” Cyhan yelled at her. His grip seemed impossibly strong, especially now that she no longer had the bond.
She shook her head, “No! I have to tell him something! Let go!” She struggled to break the big man’s grip. As she did she met his gaze, and as she looked on his face his eyes widened.
“Your eyes,” he said suddenly. “What have you done?”
“What I had to do!” she screamed at him. With a twist she broke free and backed away, trying to get closer to where Mordecai still stood.
Cyhan’s sword was out and there was a dangerous look in his eyes, “You’ve betrayed your oath girl.” He took a step toward her and his sword flicked out, seeking her head.
Penelope’s old sword was gone, but she had taken a new one, and she met his blade with her own. Though she no longer had the strength and speed the bond had given her she still had learned much about swordplay. “What are you doing?” she demanded.
“What you should have done,” Cyhan answered tonelessly. His sword struck again, almost beating her frantic block aside, and before she could recover his foot snaked forward to sweep her from her feet. Leaping past her he ran for Mordecai’s unsuspecting back.
With a strength born of desperation Penny reached out and caught his ankle, causing him to tumble and fall. As he fell she pulled herself up and struck him solidly in one kidney. Cyhan gasped and twisted catching her across the jaw with a poorly aimed swing. She flung herself at him like a madwoman fighting with all the strength she still possessed.
The fight was over in seconds. The larger warrior caught her by the hair and planted a fist in her belly, doubling her over with pain as the air was forced from her lungs. He rose while she struggled to breathe and spat at the ground, “I taught you better than that.” Before he could strike again, a voice from behind stopped him cold.
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