“I will take care of the machines. Gather the best bowmen we have.”
***
Tayan stood atop the command shack, shielding his eyes from the late-afternoon sun. In the distance, he saw a dragon flying low. It dropped to the ground miles ahead. Searching the sky, he found another one heading for the same area. They were landing on this side of the lake, apparently summoned to help the retreating enemy.
General Cooper called up to him. “M’lord, all the wagons that still operate have full water tanks. We’re using the wood from the disabled ones to fill the bins. We will be ready to go tomorrow morning.”
He looked down at the general, who was leaning out one of the windows. “How many did we lose?”
“Captain Nyles’s battlewagon is stuck in that fort, wedged on a mound. One tractor is on its side, and another has been too badly damaged to repair. The damage to the others is minimal--bent plates and broken track belts.”
Tayan had seen the one tractor go up--a spear had gone through a window, exploding inside. The steel plating had been ripped apart, killing the men inside instantly. Considering all the spears that had been thrown at them, they had come through the battle very well. Today’s fight was over, though, and he was thinking about the one to come.
“There are dragons to the north, so keep a boiler hot on each wagon. Pass the word to sleep in shifts and maintain a good watch. They’ll probably come at us after dark.”
“Yes, M’lord,” the general said, and disappeared inside.
On the wagon below him, Ellie stood beside one gun barrel with her head laid against it. Tracks in the black scorch marks left by spears’ landing on the casing showed where she had walked on her inspection of the cannons. She called into the command shack, “Captain Angler, the right cannon is bent. I don’t think it will be much good past three hundred yards.”
“Very well,” he called back. “Note it and use it accordingly.”
The turret hatch opened, and Bart stuck his head out. “Ellie! We have two good sighting units, where do you want them?”
“Left and middle,” she told him. “Hang on, I’m coming down.”
Although Tayan waved to her, Ellie pretended not to see him. She kept her gaze fixed on the hatch. After she was in, she slammed it shut.
“Lord Tayan! Governor Stazor and Lord Zodiac are here!” someone yelled from the ground.
He climbed down from the roof onto the main body. Walking to the edge, he swung onto the ladder and joined the knot of men waiting for him.
Stazor was first to shake his hand. “Lord Tayan, I must say you proved me wrong about these wagons. I was never so glad to see such ugly piles of metal.”
“I’m sure General Cooper appreciates that.” He smiled back then, offering his hand to Zodiac, said, “Good to see you. Tell Odif I have my bent stick up in the command shack.”
Zodiac’s grin faded. “We’re glad to see you. I’m afraid Odif isn’t here.”
“She’s gone scouting?”
Zodiac took a deep breath. “She split from our army weeks ago, took half the Company with her. She was heading straight for the city. I tried to stop her, but you know how she gets.”
“Why would she do a dumb thing like that?”
Zodiac shook his head sadly. “She insisted that she had to fight the demon herself. Gloredaniel came by to let us know they had already made contact. She also told us you were dead. If I know Odif, she’s going right into the demon’s lair.”
He knew Odif, too--when she got an idea in her head there was no changing her mind. A sick feeling began to rise in his stomach. “She’s keeping it busy for us,” he suggested hopefully.
“Until it kills her,” Zodiac finished. “She told me she knows it will. She believes that’s the only way to stop it.”
“By getting herself killed. Please tell me why she thinks that.”
Zodiac leaned against the side of the wagon, propping his crutch in front of him. He blew out a tired breath. “Our wizards had a vision. Odif took it to mean you and her would try to kill the demon, and fail. Once that happened then it would be destroyed by the third hammer.”
Tayan’s legs felt weak. Because of a vision, she was running out to commit suicide. He gripped the ladder with one hand. He wanted to scream, he wanted to find her and beat the daylights out of her for even thinking she needed to die just to fulfill some damned vision. “When was the last time you heard from them?”
“Gloredaniel visited us two days ago. The demon came, and they beat it off. Best I can figure, they’re ahead of us, off to the west.”
He knew Odif could be pigheaded at times. Hopefully, she hadn’t walked off by herself. “Who’s with her?”
“My brother,” Zodiac snorted. “He was the first to follow her. Jo-Jo, Entaurus, Gloredaniel with a half-dozen elves, Theo, Hutch, Shilo and Mother Frieda. They have a decent group, but if they run into things like we have...” He let Tayan pick up on the rest of that thought.
Tayan did. “They’re in deep shit,” he sighed. “Who do we have left?”
“You, me, Duncan, Glier and Pynlee. Zit is off getting more help, if he’s still alive.”
“Damn,” he breathed. He was thinking of a way to get them together, but by what Zodiac told him there weren’t that many of them left. For the first time in a long while, the Company was too weak to be an effective fighting force. All he had was General Cooper and his machines.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cooper come down and stand beside him. “General, get every machine you can ready to move at midnight. I want to be in that city in the morning.”
General Cooper gave him a wry smile, “M’lord, we need daylight to travel by.”
“We’ll make light. Every wagon that can’t travel will stay back with everyone we don’t bring,” Tayan commanded. “As soon as you can tomorrow attack those defenses they’re putting up.”
“What about support?” Cooper asked. “Surely you don’t plan to leave the smiths behind.”
“Get all the towed wagons behind the tractors that can move. Fill them with bowmen. Anyone of elven heritage who can drive, does.”
“Do you mean to take cavalry?” Stazor asked.
“No, just wagons and men. We’ll be pushing these wagons as fast as they’ll go.” Seeing the looks of disbelief, he explained his tactic. “The army just north of us is expecting a standard head-to-head battle. After we punch though, they’ll be chasing after us. That will break them up as well as draw off the dragons.”
“Makes sense,” Zodiac agreed. “You are thinking of the fight and not trying to find Odif? I know what kind of relationship you have with her.”
He knew Zodiac was trying not to give away the fact Odif was his sister. Although she made him so angry he could rip her head off from time to time, she needed his help. He felt that at least he could admit who she was.
“My sister,” he stressed, “has gotten herself into a mess, and only she can pull herself out. I am going to wreak havoc on that city and bring it to the ground. If what I do helps her, so much the better.”
Zodiac looked satisfied with his explanation. “All right. We’ll follow through in the morning. The priests should be done by then, and we now have this fort to hold any who have to stay behind.”
“Excuse me, M’lords,” General Cooper said carefully. “We can’t see well, we are not fully prepared and everyone is tired from the day’s fighting. No one follows an all-day battle with another the very same night. This is a terrible time to launch an attack”
Tayan eyed him. “That is exactly why we must.”
It had been dark for hours when Tayan addressed the wagon crews. Sitting on the bank by the road with a long line of machines behind them, the crews looked worn. Their faces, however, showed excitement.
The moon was out, and the sky was clear--not the best conditions for a surprise attack, but it would help them see. He noted Amber sat beside Ellie with Captain Angler’s crew. They talked, as did many others, until
he climbed up onto the buckboard used for a speaking platform. Waiting for the conversations to die out, he scanned the line of machines. Three battlewagons led a line of six tractors. Behind each tractor were three towed wagons filled with men waiting for him to speak.
“I want everyone to know what we’re doing so there will be no misunderstanding once we start out,” he called loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Each wagon that can move will stay on the road. If your wagon becomes disabled, get off to the side so others may pass. If your wagon is too badly damaged to shut yourselves in, get out and wait for the last tractor--it will slow down so you can get on.
“The flag system will not work at night, so keep a close eye on the wagon in front of you. The first two lead wagons have bottles of lamp oil that will be thrown to help light the way when they are needed. We will be moving fast and loud. When we hit the enemy’s defenses, we keep going. Cannon crews, use maximum spread to your barrels and use bucket shot only. Shoot at will--if you see something in the dark, blast it. Side cannon men and tractor cannon men, get as many shots as you can into the enemy as we go by. They have dragons; but unless they are close, just shoot at groups and dark areas where groups may be hiding.
“Once we’re past their lines, all steam will be used to move faster. There will be another short briefing for the Wagon Captains before we go into the city.”
He looked over the group then yelled, “Mount up!”
He jumped down and started towards the lead wagon. The crew hesitated, letting him catch up. To his surprise, Ellie walked over to him with Amber by her side.
“I’m counting on you,” he told her as she continued beside him.
She nodded stiffly, rubbing her hand over the stump of her wrist. “I am sorry for being angry with you. All I saw was you didn’t want me anymore. Sister Amber told me that if you didn’t care about me you would not want me to have a better life.”
He glanced at Amber and gave her a smile. “She’s right. That’s what friends do for each other.”
“I have many friends now, and I am important,” she continued. “I would never have that, if it wasn’t for you.”
He put an arm around her and gave her a hug. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
Ellie hugged him back. “If you ever need anything, let me know.”
“Right now, just have good aim,” he told her.
She cast him a smile and started to move off. “I have to get back to my crew.”
He waved to her, and she waved back, all smiles. Amber, who was walking slightly behind him, caught up and grinned. “Felt good, didn’t it?”
“Very good.” He was glad to have Amber here--then it hit him. “What are you doing here?”
“Each wagon has a priest. I am yours.”
He hadn’t thought about risking her life. She had decided to go, so he knew trying to send her back was pointless.
“Keep your head down,” he told her firmly. Wracking his brains, he figured out the safest place in the wagon. Boilers could be split open, the command shack could be hit, as could the turret; and the front where the bowmen sat was an invitation to be killed. “If no one is hurt, stay in between the water tanks. It’s small and warm, but safe,” Anticipating her reaction, he quickly added, “If you get hurt then who will heal the others?”
The way her eyes bored into him, she didn’t like the idea of being down below when he was up in the command shack. Thankfully, she didn’t argue. “Yes, M’lord,” she sighed.
They climbed aboard. Besides the five men with crossbows who shot through small slits in the front, six more climbed up. Two walked along the top, settling down behind the turret, and the other four took up window positions in the corners of the command shack. With Tayan, Captain Angler, the driver, the signalman and four extra men, there was barely room to swing elbows.
The signalman watched out a rear window. When he saw the wagon behind him wave a flag out the door, he announced, “Column is ready to move, Captain.”
Captain Angler looked at Tayan, who nodded. He leaned over the sound tube to the engine man. “Full ahead, low gear. Shift to high when we reach speed.”
A heavy chug sounded from below then another. The wagon inched forward then began to pick up speed as the chugging increased in frequency. The signalman lit a lantern and lowered it out a back window as the driver watched the road in front of them intently.
Tayan could see just fine. To his part-elven eyes, the landscape stood out as clear as day. He inched closer to the driver. “Can you see where you’re going?”
Not taking his eyes off the road, the driver nodded. “Not far, M’lord, I should be fine as long as the moon stays out.”
“I’ll be right here if you need help.”
“Thanks, M’lord.”
“Captain!” the signalman called out, “There are boats on the lake headed for the camp.”
“They will have to deal with it,” Tayan told him.
Captain Angler nodded. “I’m sure the camp sees them, also.”
Tayan turned and watched, fearing that maybe the enemy had the same idea he had. There were a dozen boats spread out, small ones at that. “A raid, on a moonlit night. They must be desperate.”
As he watched, a tractor that had been left behind billowed out two clouds of steam. The booming report came to him as the shots sent columns of water up near one of the boats. The other boats began paddling faster and turning.
He returned his attention to the road. “It’s nothing, watch ahead.”
The cannons in the turret moved as Ellie trained them flat for short range and spread the outside ones to their limit. She then moved them back in then out again.
Captain Angler went to the speaking tube. “Sighter, what are you doing?”
Ellie‘s voice came out. “Captain, the gear sets are a bit rusty, I was having Jacob oil them up.”
“Very well,” Angler said. Glancing at Tayan, he said, “She does an excellent job.”
Picking up speed, they traveled through the moonlit night. The driver was doing well at staying on the road. The ground became flatter, almost tabletop flat. The distance in height between the rises and shallows couldn’t be more than a few feet. Tayan watched ahead for signs of the enemy. The wind was blowing through the command shack now as the engine man announced, “Captain, we are in high gear.”
“Very well, make best speed.”
In the distance, Tayan made out a group of dark lines. “Captain, are the cannon chambers pressurized?”
“Yes, standard half-pressure, M‘lord.”
“Fill them up, tell Ellie to stand by to shoot.” He pointed to where the lines were growing into figures with feet. “Out there, about six hundred yards. Have her aim and shoot at four hundred.”
Captain Angler squinted. “I don’t see them.”
“May I?” he asked, moving over to the tube to the turret.
Captain Angler moved to the side. “Please, M’lord.”
Tayan watched the shadows as he called down the tube. “Ellie, put full pressure in your cannons. Aim for four hundred yards.”
“Yes, M’lord,” she called back. “What am I shooting at?”
“Do you see those dark lines ahead?”
“Wait...yes, the ones ahead that look like humps?”
“Right. Use all three cannons. After you shoot, bleed the pressure back up so you don’t slow us down.”
The barrels moved up then close together, the right one a bit closer than the left.
“Lord Tayan, I cannot be sure about the right barrel.”
“Don’t matter, just get it close,” He watched the figures ahead start to move towards the road. Others disappeared as they dropped into depressions.
“Ready,” Ellie called.
He waited until he was sure they were at four hundred yards distance. “Shoot!”
The wagon shook as all three barrels blasted out steam with a boom. Vapor flowed back through the command shack as they ran through their own discharge.
The driver squinted. “I can’t see!”
“Just go straight!” Tayan told him, trying to see through the cloud himself.
The vapor parted. Ahead, the ground lit up into fireballs as spears planted there exploded. In the brief light, he saw a barrier of standing logs across the road and piles of dirt to the sides. Figures flew as the explosions ripped them apart.
“Damn! I really can’t see now!” the driver complained.
Tayan pointed. “See the burning logs? Go straight for them.”
They had been trying to trap the road. He wasn’t going to let them try again. “Ellie! Next volley, stagger your shots. Flat, one and two hundred yards.”
“We’re going too fast!” she called back.
“All right, flat and straight!”
The burning barrier was clearly visible as they raced at it. He noted the outline of a few more figures planting things in the road. The barrels moved painfully slow as they were trained. He was waiting to hear she was ready when the barrels blasted out another load. Water vapor was still billowing out as it was backlit by more explosions. Through the haze, he was sure he saw the barrier fly apart.
“Reloading!” Ellie cried.
They were almost on it as they cleared the haze. Behind them, the second wagon shot its cannons to the sides. The road was well lit now by grass fires. Logs were scattered in a semicircle beyond the pitted road. A flash of brightness arcing through the air caught his attention.
“Spears! Get down!” he yelled and crouched below the windows.
More cannons spoke behind them then ear-splitting explosions made the wagon shudder. Light filled the shack as at least two spears hit the wagon. They bounced as they ran over the pits then cries of pain arose as fire blew into the command shack. The driver was on the floor, holding his face and screaming.
Getting up, Tayan grabbed the steering levers and looked out the front. Smoke rolled over the top of the wagon, obscuring his sight. He could see flatness ahead, but the road was lost to him. Stealing a look to the side, he noted others were getting up. One bowman was trying to help the driver.
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