The False Prophet (Stonegate Book 2)

by Harry James Fox

  “How can they do that? They can’t mount them on the walls, can they?”

  “No, so they are raising gun platforms behind the walls. Just big earthen mounds braced on the sides by log cribbing. These should be done in a day. Ten thousand men can move a lot of soil in a short time. They will be able to see for miles.”

  “Won’t they be exposed to enemy fire?”

  “Yes, that is a risk. None of our choices are good. And when I tried to discuss it with the mayor, all he was concerned about was the money he was losing. Hmm—that reminds me…” He hesitated “I don’t know…Perhaps this is something that we should discuss privately. It concerns money.” Duncan looked meaningfully at Philip.

  “No, Philip is my aide. I have no secrets from him.”

  “Very well. Lord Wesley wanted to tell you this himself, but we spoke about it the other day, and he gave me leave to tell you.”

  “Very well. Say on.”

  “He said that he had promised you a reward for your rescue of his daughter, Amber. Do you remember that?”

  “Yes, but I had told him at the time that it was not necessary. And certainly not now that he has lost everything.”

  “Not everything. He, his wife, his daughter, and even the family maid survived. And he told me that he was able to save several bags of gold and jewels. He’s far from penniless.”

  Don looked at Philip, then back to Duncan.

  Duncan continued. “But what you did not know is that some months ago he put a very large sum of money on deposit here, to be held for you. It is yours whenever you want it.”

  “I will have to speak with him about that,” said Don, finally.

  “Yes, by all means. I doubt you will not be able to convince him otherwise, though. Of course, should the enemy win, the matter is moot.”

  †

  Don and Philip went upstairs to see Samuel. Philip was glad to see that the older man was alert and sitting at a table. Don greeted him warmly, and then Samuel turned to Philip.

  “I’m glad to see you, lad, safe and sound. You don’t know how much.” Samuel paused and swallowed. “I feared for you, to be honest. But you did your duty and did it well. I am proud of you.”

  Philip felt his ears getting warm. “God protected me,” he replied. “The enemy is vicious and cruel. I have understood one thing: all deaths, even enemy deaths, are a victory for evil.”

  “You are wise beyond your years, young man,” said Samuel, a note of surprise in his voice. Don and Samuel stared at Philip for a long moment.

  They began discussing the latest patrol. Samuel had already seen Cal’s reports and commented, “Lord Cal has stopped the enemy cavalry so far. I know that the Haven guns helped. A few minutes ago a pigeon brought the news that his scouts intercepted a force to the northeast. They were trying to get around his blocking force, so Cal sent forces to intercept them.”

  “We can block them for now,” said Don. “But we need reinforcements. The enemy will amass its cavalry together, and, when they do, we will be in trouble.”

  Samuel replied, “The reinforcements from Haven will help, and the unit from Castle Rock was sent north to join Slim. Thank God, the ammunition from Owl Hollow was saved.”

  “That brings up something we need to discuss. That ammunition needs to be used, but we need to use it to starve the enemy; to attack his supply lines. I need your support. We have to convince the council that continuing to hoard it, even here in Stonegate, is misguided.”

  †

  Philip learned from Don that Rachel and her family had moved to quarters in the lore-house basement. Thomas of Longmont had offered to take her in, as had Carla’s sister in Loveland. She could also have returned to Estes Park, for that matter. But Rachel had refused to leave Stonegate.

  They departed from Samuel’s room and descended to the basement to find Rachel’s apartment, but she was away. They returned to the inn for supper. Don explained that they had a meeting in the morning and would see Rachel there.

  They joined Boyd and Scott for a meal, which was a pleasant break from camp food. As they were eating, a familiar face appeared at their table. It was Crispin. Philip jumped to his feet, and they pounded each other’s backs as they roughly hugged.

  “Glad to see you, Crispin,” said Philip. “I didn’t get a chance to ask. Did you ever have to fire your weapon?”

  “No, thank God,” replied Crispin, with a smile that showed his dimples. “I admit that I was clever enough to travel at night.”

  “As my father told you to do,” said a sweet voice.

  They all turned to greet Amber who looked relaxed, fresh, and beautiful. It was difficult to believe that she had come as a refugee. She wore a beautiful gown and looked as if she was the hostess of a ball.

  “Pay him no mind,” she said. “He is shameless!” She put a slim arm around his waist. Then she extended a hand to Don. “How nice to see you, Lord Donald. I can never repay you for rescuing me. Now I understand that you were the one to send Philip and Crispin to Steamboat. That makes twice you’ve come to our aid.” Her voice quavered, and her eyes rimmed with liquid.

  Don greeted her warmly and helped them find a seat. They were introduced to everyone, and Amber drew the party closer by her graciousness. Philip had thought her shy, but tonight she showed unusual self-assurance.

  There was a sudden sense of another presence within the room. Philip turned toward the door. It was Rachel. The candlelight brought out the gold of her hair and eyebrows, the blue of her eyes, and the blush on her cheeks. In a fraction of a moment, Don was at her side, and she took his hands. They stood in the hall with their heads close together and spoke for a few minutes. She gave Don a kiss, and she was gone.

  †

  The meeting was inconclusive, though they did debate the use of Owl Hollow ammunition. As expected, there was a visceral demand that it be held back to defend the city. Philip thought that Don had made a persuasive case for taking the offense and using the munitions to attack enemy supply lines.

  Samuel supported Don, as did Rachel, but it was not enough. Finally, because the top commanders of the horse troops were in the field, the matter was left undecided. Don had accepted this with good grace and excused himself. Philip was glad, because the meeting could well last all day. He was tired of hearing about the minutia of housing and feeding an army. They ate a quick lunch, then armed themselves and departed. Crispin and Rowan rode with them.

  †

  Balek Brown snarled and cast the mug with all his strength at a breastplate. Chunks of earthenware scattered around the tent. His head ached, and he could feel his pulse throbbing angrily at his temples. Curse the man! He humiliated me in front of his simpering staff! How dare he?

  He had tried to be patient, to explain to General Roundy why he had taken his entire force of heavy cavalry and most of his Raider scouts to attack Owl Hollow. Surely, the man knew that it was on the express orders of that idiot Martin Abaddon, the so-called Prophet. Yet it did look bad. He had been delayed by his instructions to build scaling ladders and attack the stone fortress at night. He had obeyed to the letter, but the assault was a fiasco. The careful plans, the silent approach, the ladders against the walls in the night—all of it had been for nothing.

  The keep was empty, their quarry had escaped, and the precious ammunition was gone.

  He had assumed that his quarry had fled to the House of Healing, and many horse tracks led that way, perhaps a hundred or more. They followed the trail and only called off the search when the walls of the hospital came into view. It was impossible to attack a fortress of this size with his cavalry alone, so he ordered his force to return. By the time they had made their way back to Steamboat, the city had fallen and hundreds of refugees had escaped.

  General Roundy had ordered them to give chase, but their horses wer
e exhausted. They had delayed a day to give the animals rest and fodder and allow sleep and food for the men. Then they set out. Instead of a fleeing rabble they met stiff resistance. Stonegate horse troops had beaten them in the race. They had attacked and, in a brief skirmish, three of his officers and thirty of his men had died. They could only attack up the old highway, where there was no way to flank them. His superior numbers did him no good, and the enemy had gunpowder weapons. He had seen the bullet wounds himself when the wounded were helped to the rear. It was not worth further effort to eliminate useless civilians. He had called off the pursuit.

  That humiliation had been nothing compared to the enemy raid on their main camp. The cavalry had not been under his command, but all the Raiders were his. So he was responsible for their failure to give warning. The final blow had been the word that a supply train coming from Steamboat had been sacked and burned as soon as his force had left the area.

  He had been called before the commanding general to receive the worst tongue-lashing of his life. The general had reminded him that the Raiders had done nothing to stop supplies from getting to Stonegate. They had failed to protect the supply train, and they had failed to warn of the attack on the main camp. The Stonegate cavalry had come within four hundred yards of the general’s headquarters.

  General Roundy concluded, “Your performance is so inept that I should relieve you, rivet manacles on your wrists, and have you dragged back to Prophet City behind a wagon.”

  “But sir,” Balek said. “None of this was my personal fault…”

  General Roundy swore like a common trooper. Then he concluded, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “Maybe it is that lore-man that frightens you so much.

  “Now combine your Raiders and cavalry and wipe out those annoying horse troopers,” Roundy ordered. “I have something that should make it easy. But don’t fail me again.”

  Balek departed and headed back to his tent. Angry thoughts rushed through his mind. Finally, some clear direction. I’ll flay the hide off those who failed me. The head of Donald of Goldstone will be in a bag within a week.

  Chapter 30

  †

  The Vise Closes

  You are My battle club, My weapons of war. With you I will smash nations; with you I will bring kingdoms to ruin. With you I will smash the horse and its rider. Jeremiah 51: 20-21 HCSB

  The headquarters was in confusion. Don arrived to find all of the horse troops had been sent east to intercept a body of enemy cavalry. The Castle Rock Riders were still there, armed and ready for action. Don saw Jenkins near the command tent, and his missile force was also on the alert. Horses were hitched to the three guns, and the gunners were standing by.

  Don handed his reins to Philip, just as he heard a greeting.

  “Hello, Lore-man!”

  He turned to see Harley and Jarrad walking towards them. They were both wearing breastplates over mail with conical helms. Harley moved with a stiff-legged gait as though his knees were sore. But Jarrad walked with the grace of a great cat. They both tossed him salutes which Don returned, and Jarrad also gave a mocking smile.

  “What’s going on?” asked Don. “Who is in command?”

  “Nice to see ye, too,” said Harley. “Glad to know we were missed.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t have time for pleasantries, Harley,” snapped Don. “We can catch up around the campfire, later. Now answer my question.”

  “Best I can figger, no one is,” answered Harley. “Or maybe everyone is. Jenkins commands his force, and I command our little unit. The pikemen have their commander. We were all told by Lord Cal to hold up here and wait for orders.”

  Don nodded and strode toward the command tent. He saw Hamway, the assistant troop commander of the Red Axe troop. He was talking to two young scouts and was handing a message to the pigeon keeper. Don greeted him and got a quick salute and a relieved look.

  “Who is in command?” asked Don.

  “I suppose you are, Lord Donald.”

  “Very well, I assume command. Now tell me what is going on.”

  “Scouts reported Raiders and heavy cavalry moving south, about thirty miles to the east. That was yesterday. We sent three troops, the Red Dragon, the Red Horse, and the Reapers. They blocked their advance, and we thought that the enemy had withdrawn.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “Our troops held their position to the east. Then, this morning they reported that a large force of enemy was coming again. Lord Cal took the Blades, Red Axe, and Black Eagle troops to reinforce. He left the missile troops and the Castle Rock troop here as reserve.”

  “Where are the scouts?”

  “Thirty are with Lord Cal, and the other thirty are screening to the north, between here and the enemy camp. These lads are just reporting back.”

  “What have they seen?”

  “Raiders moving south. You can ask them for a report.”

  Don turned to the young men, who somewhat excitedly told of seeing perhaps one hundred Raiders moving south in a screening maneuver and possibly heavy cavalry behind them, about eight miles north of the headquarters.

  “What are your orders?” asked Hamway.

  Don thought for a moment. Too dangerous to take the guns with us. The Castle Rock Riders are inexperienced. But the pikemen can defend the headquarters, and they have a few crossbows. Crispin and Rowan have their rifles. We will need them with us.

  He turned to Jenkins and Harley. “We will move north to investigate. Jenkins, stay here with the guns. You will be in command of the camp. I will take the mounted crossbowmen and grenadiers. Harley, you and your men come with me.”

  Then he looked around. “Who commands the pikemen?”

  Hamway answered, “Collins and Stevens, here, are the company commanders.” The two men saluted.

  “I see,” said Don. “You take orders from Jenkins. You may have to hold the camp against a horse attack.”

  Collins answered, “They can’t run over our pikemen, sir. We have also put up spiked log barricades on the easiest approaches.”

  Don nodded. “Very well. Hamway, send a message to Lord Cal and another to Stonegate. Report on our actions.” Then he took Jenkins by the arm and walked with him out of the tent.

  “You may have to cover our withdrawal with the guns,” said Don in Jenkins’ ear. “Understood?” Jenkins nodded.

  Philip, Colin, and Rowan walked to their horses with Don. “How much ammunition do you have?” he asked. Boyd and Scott were already mounted.

  “A total of eighty rounds,” answered Philip. “Crispin divided his with Rowan.”

  “Now listen to me. Fire only at the greatest threats. Probably not Raiders—concentrate on the heavy armor. Let them get close and take out their leaders. Don’t waste your fire.”

  “Yes, sir,” they said in unison.

  “Philip, Crispin, stay close to me. I will direct your fire. Rowan, stay close to Harley.”

  As soon as Don was satisfied that everyone understood, they mounted and moved forward. A half-dozen scouts led the way. They rode north for several miles. The sky was blue and cloudless, and the air was still, hushed.

  They met the rest of the scouts as they were exchanging arrows with a line of Raiders. Behind them came the heavy cavalry, spears rising over the rolling grassland like a steel-tipped hedge. The armored men bore black shields with white lightning bolts, and they were all in perfect alignment, as if on parade. These are disciplined troops! He looked at the loose formation of Castle Rock Riders and felt his stomach sink. We are outnumbered and outclassed. This is not a fight we can win!

  Don scanned the enemy with his binoculars and noted that some of the riders with the cavalry had neither shields nor lances. Strange.

  Don’s small force took up position on a small knoll and waited for the enemy t
o make their first move. The Raiders drove back their scouts and the enemy cavalry charged forward. Don saw that they had extended their wings and intended to encircle them.

  He had to pull back. As he gave the order, he saw the shield-less riders whirl slings and black dots rose in the sky. “Grenades,” bellowed Scott. Everyone knew what they meant and whirled to the rear to avoid them. Jenkin’s grenadiers threw their own missiles and retreated. At the same time, Don heard rifles firing. “Get the grenadiers,” he shouted at Crispin.

  They avoided the enemy grenades, which fell short. The crossbowmen loosed a volley to thin the enemy ranks, though it was not enough. They fell back in good order and were able to avoid being cut off, but had to retreat all the way back to the headquarters.

  As Don’s forces retreated behind the barricades and the pikemen, the enemy succeeded in encircling the entire camp, forming a ring on all sides. One enemy commander massed his men to try to force their way through the pikes; that was a mistake. Jenkins had been waiting for a good target, and the guns shredded them.

  Don called his two riflemen together. They still had about twenty-five shots apiece. “Stay near the guns. Shoot any enemy grenadier that comes close. If they land a grenade in our gunpowder, it will flatten the camp.”

  †

  The situation was a stalemate. The enemy fell back from the guns and beyond crossbow range. Don ordered the guns to hold fire and wait for a good target. Finally, a trio approached under a flag of truce. Don rode out to meet them with Colin and Philip by his side. They exchanged courtesies.

  “We have you trapped,” the enemy commander said. He was mounted on a large black, and his armor had gold trim. “If you surrender, we will treat you honorably.”

  “We can move whenever we want,” Don said. “Our pikemen are not stationary.”