Forged in Fire (Destiny's Crucible Book 4)
Page 33
“Well . . . we can still examine it, and you said there was another egg in Stent Province.”
“Yes,” said Stent. “As I told you before, the other egg is on an islet off the Stent coast. It’s hard enough to get to that it’s only occasionally visited.”
“What about my getting that one to study?” asked Yozef.
“No, it’s still a point of pride for my clanspeople. But maybe we can say that you are borrowing it and will return it to Stent once you finish studying it. Now that I think of it, maybe when you return it, I’ll have it exhibited in Clitwyth. That way, more people can see it.”
Well, thought Yozef, if it is a device of some kind and I figure out a way to take it apart, Stent might not be pleased. Although I suspect the egg will remain uncracked, no matter how long I study it with the tools I have available.
The tourist trap turned out to be pathetic, even compared to the chintzy ones Yozef had seen on Earth. Three worn booths held handcrafted models of Flagorn Eggs carved from various rocks and woods, in addition to animal figurines, cheap jewelry, clothing, and dried fruits and meats. Stent shooed away several hawkers of goods, and they went straight to their objective set into a rock shelf a half-mile above the village. As far as Yozef could tell, the egg was identical to the one he’d seen in Hewell Province. It was egg-shaped, with the narrow end of the egg pointed up and the lower one-third apparently inside the rock, about three feet high, smoother than polished marble, and a dark blue color.
Yozef’s curiosity satisfied, they moved on quickly and spent that night in Clitwyth, then pushed on to the next potential battle site. Within an hour of viewing the terrain from a hilltop, Yozef and the others rejected the site as an option. The following day they reached the fourth candidate site and this time took half a day before deciding to eliminate it from the list.
Their next stop was on the northwest coast of Farkesh Province at a site Yozef thought had as much potential as the second Stent Province candidate.
They sat on their horses and looked north along the Farkesh coast. “Denes, Mulron, doesn’t this remind you of Dornfeld?” asked Yozef.
“Similar, yes,” said Denes.
“Maybe a little more room between the cliffs to the ocean and mountains,” said Mulron. “At Dornfeld, it was about two miles, while this looks like three miles. Cliffs are not as tall here, but at Dornfeld the waves broke right against the cliff walls. Here, there are enough rocks out a couple of hundred yards that ships couldn’t get closer. They’d have to use longboats, and the rocks and surf would play havoc.”
“It’s too bad Dornfeld can’t be a candidate,” said Denes. “The ravine dividing the town would be a perfect anvil to trap the Narthani against. Unfortunately, from what I saw when we stayed in Dornfeld and raided into Eywell, there’s no good place there to close the trap behind a Narthani army.”
“The shallow cascades we’re looking at might serve to block a retreat,” said Yozef, referring to the forty-foot-wide rush of whitewater over rocks they faced. A single one-lane bridge crossed the water, which appeared no more than one to two feet deep.
“Wouldn’t they be leery of putting their whole army across this one bridge?” worried Mulron.
“We would have to avoid giving any impression we wanted them across to the other side,” said Yozef. “We’d have to appear to fight to stop them from crossing and then burn the bridge when we withdrew. They have to have engineering units, so I imagine they could throw up several bridges in a day or two. The water isn’t that much of a barrier, as long as no one is shooting at them.”
“It would have to be a strong-enough fight to convince them we only reluctantly retreated,” said Stent, “and could cost us hundreds of lives.”
“I know it’s a hard thing to decide,” said Yozef, “but we all have to come to terms with knowing that no matter what we do, there are going to be lives lost. If we were to pick this spot as one of our battlefield candidates and managed to lure the Narthani into a trap and then destroyed them, it would be worth it, even with thousands of our dead.”
All the faces within hearing appeared solemn, but no one voiced disagreement with Yozef’s evaluation.
Stent turned in his saddle to look behind them in the direction they had come, then back at the low cascade. “This would be a good position to pen them in.” The water had eroded a channel through rocky ground. On both sides, a ten-percent slope rose to the flat plain between mountains and cliffs. “Once they cross this water, if we dig in at the top of the slope on this side, they’d have to cross the cascade under cannon and musket fire and come upslope against us. They’d have God’s own damnation trying to, unless they suppressed our cannon fire.”
“Something they might be able to do,” said Yozef. “We’re assuming they won’t bring cannon larger than 12-pounders on a campaign, but right now that makes us even. We have the three original long-12-pounders and could consider casting more. They have a farther range. Better yet would be the 30-pounders from the Fuomi. We should also consider casting a few larger cannon ourselves. They’d be too heavy for fast maneuvers, but maybe we could build special wagons to transport them.” He thought he remembered photos of U.S. armored units in Desert Storm, the first Iraq war, where tanks were transported by large trucks to launch points for attacks, the rationale being less wear on the tanks’ tracks and gears and more fuel efficient. “I imagine it would take a large wagon pulled by ten or more horses to transport a 30-pounder, but if we could bring in a half-dozen well protected 30-pounders, we might be able to prevent the Narthani from bringing their cannon within range.
“Gartherid, how does the other end of this site look?” asked Yozef. Pedr Kennrick’s son had personally visited this site and helped on its first survey.
“The land is still flat, but six miles from here is a small stream that’s cut deep into a section of sandy ground. The ravine it’s created is about twenty feet deep and thirty feet across. When it gets near the cliffs, the ground is harder and the stream bed less than five feet wide. If the only information the Narthani have is what they see from ships, then the stream bed doesn’t look like much of an obstacle. We’d have to provide extra fortifications and defenses that last two hundred yards, but the bigger section of the ravine would be almost impossible to assault across until you reach where the land rises sharply to the mountains. There, too, would require work to make it as defensible as behind the ravine.
“The biggest problem I see is that there are several places where the Narthani might be able to force their way into the mountains, so we’d need to survey more closely to be sure they remained trapped between here and the other end with the ravine.”
They crossed the bridge over the rushing, shallow stream and followed the road along the coast. As Gartherid and the maps had described, the land ran flat for three to four miles between the cliff edges to where the land rose quickly a half mile from slopes too steep for an army to climb over. Three times they turned off the road to investigate potential escape routes into the mountains. Two turned into dead-end canyons within a third of a mile, and the other potential route narrowed to less than twenty yards.
“I think this could be blocked and defended to prevent any sizable force from escaping, but I’d want to look closer,” said Stent. “For one thing, we could throw Yozef’s grenades, mortar bombs, and napalm down on them. The route is narrow, there’s limited shelter, and there’s no room to bring more than a hundred men at a time into a fight.”
When they reached the ravine described by Gartherid, all of the men agreed that with extensive-enough fortifications, this end of the trap would be impregnable.
Yozef had the most reservations. “I see three problems. One is that there is enough space that a large Narthani army could stay in the middle and out of range of our cannon from either end. Then they could let their navy work on a way to resupply, even with the rock, surf, and ships. Hell, if they had enough time, they might be able to dig and blow a road down to the water and build
a causeway to where their men and cannon could be taken aboard ships.”
“Even if that happened, at some point the remaining Narthani would be vulnerable to us attacking them,” said Mulron.
“No,” said Balwis, “before there were few enough of them to tempt us to attack, most would have escaped, and we would have to lose too many men attacking strong positions the Narthani would certainly have had time to prepare. That would turn the whole plan around—us attacking defensive positions, instead of them doing it.”
“The second problem I see,” said Yozef, “is that with enough time they could find, or force, a route into the mountains to bypass our two blockades. The mountain slopes here are not as steep as the ones in the moraine site in Stent Province. The effort would cost them dearly, but most of the army might escape.”
“Then we would be back to the original status,” said Denes. “They would still have to try to force battles, but they would have been weakened here.”
“I don’t see these two issues as critical,” said Stent. “At worst, we wouldn’t have lost many men ourselves, and they might be weakened. And as you said, Yozef, these are only possibilities. What’s your third doubt about this site?”
“It’s the opposite side of the island from Preddi, where we expect them to launch the next invasion from. We would have to get them to push us across the entire breadth of the island. To keep them focused on us, we would have to take casualties the entire way.
“Also, I suppose there is a final reservation. If this didn’t work in our favor, our forces would be constrained in maneuvering options by the more rugged terrain, and the Narthani might stop chasing us. They might also try to use their ships to land more men behind us to cut us off, instead of we, them. Ideally, the battle will be too far from the coast for their navy to be a factor. We’d have to carefully consider the worst scenarios before deciding whether this will be one of our final battlefield options.”
“Then, Yozef, you don’t believe this is a good candidate site?” asked Gartherid.
“No, I think it’s the second-best one we’ve seen so far. I’m just pointing out issues we need to study further before deciding to put the effort into preparing this site.”
“I take it, then, you believe this site is a reasonable candidate?” Stent asked Yozef.
“I do, but what do the rest of you think?”
The Caedelli leaders all agreed, with different degrees of enthusiasm. The Fuomi continued to be reticent to give opinions, but Yozef figured he’d pressure them to speak up once he had them alone.
“I’d like to hear what our two Fuomi traveling companions think of this site or, for that matter, anything,” Balwis said in Caedelli, unaware of Yozef’s thinking, then he turned to the Fuomi and asked his question in Narthani.
Kivalian glanced at his commander, not sure how honest he should be. Rintala answered for them both. “I think it qualifies for the criteria Ser Kolsko has laid out, with the same qualifications. As with any military operation, the uncertainties multiply once enemies are in contact.”
Tactful, thought Yozef. I need to divert Balwis and the others before the Fuomi are forced to admit we’re all out of our goddam minds.
“What our new Fuomi friends observe reminds me of sayings I read. One is that no battle plan survives the first shot. That simply means we must plan for as many contingencies as possible and make detailed plans for all of them.” Yozef’s second saying that came to mind was the “fog of war” quote of Clausewitz, but he decided not to use that one. It would only foster more uncertainty about any plan they came up with.
They followed the same road to a sixth potential battlefield farther north into Farkesh. Yozef was already convinced it was too far north, too distant from other clans, and the land too rough and constraining for clan forces to use their mobility. They stopped at the final site of their inspection only to eat a midday meal and then continued. Instead of retracing their steps, Yozef wanted to see more of the island he hadn’t seen before, and they continued along the north side of Caedellium, stopping for nights in the capitals of Farkesh and Skouks provinces. They continued along the northern coast until just past the Skouks/Pawell border and turned south into Adris Province over flat to gently rolling terrain. Halfway from the coast to Adris City, they came onto the top of a three-hundred-foot escarpment that ran west to east as far as they could see.
“This is the only place like this on Caedellium,” said Klyngo Adris. The hetman had returned home after the inspection party departed Orosz City. He then had ridden to meet them and escort them to Adris City, when he got a semaphore message from Skouks Province on their location and expected crossing into Adris Province. “It runs from the Holdorn Mountains west to the Aklacs Mountains in Pawell Province, about thirty-six miles. Originally, there was only one way down on horseback, right where we stand. My great-great-grandfather had two more roads cut into the slope—one twelve miles west and another fifteen miles east.”
“How steep are the roads?” asked Balwis. “I’d imagine wagons have a hard time with the grade up and danger from runaway wagons on the way down.”
“You’re right. The first roads were too steep and were cut only partway up when they realized it wouldn’t work. They then recut the lower part and continued to the top. They also improved the road we’re on. All three roads take a mile to cover the three hundred feet.”
Yozef did a quick mental calculation. That’s about a six-percent grade. Doable, but it must limit the size of wagons and loads.
Klyngo Adris read his mind. “Of course, even then there were limits. Commonly, multiple wagons and teams are used to keep the loads manageable. Sometimes a load will be redistributed to an empty wagon. I don’t know if you noticed, but a mile back we passed a ranch with several wagons lined up near the side of the house. Someone with a load too large to get safely down the grade will pay the rancher to bring an empty wagon to put off some of the load. At the bottom is another source of wagons. I’m not sure what the owner does most of the time, but he’ll help bring loads up if he’s paid.”
“You certainly have a great view from here.” Yozef estimated they could see at least ten miles, with farm fields beginning about a mile from the escarpment. He could make out several villages, with one structure he suspected was a small abbey.
“Not here,” said Hetman Adris, “but a mile east there’s a promontory another five hundred feet high, where, from the top and if the air is clear, you can just make out waters of the Gulf of Normot and the tallest buildings in Adris City.”
“Will we make it to Adris City by nightfall?” asked Yozef.
“We will if we start down now,” said Adris. “It’s about twenty miles, so a moderate pace should get us there about sundown. I’d be pleased, Yozef, if you could stay a day so we could show you the city and give us a chance to talk. I wasn’t able to come to the meeting in Orosz City, so I’d like to know more details on what decisions were made.”
Yozef sympathized with Hetman Adris wanting to know more about decisions he would be obliged to acknowledge, but Yozef wanted to get back to Orosz City. Unfortunately, he didn’t see a graceful way to ignore the request.
“Klyngo, I’m afraid we can’t stay another whole day. I’m sure you understand how much has to be done as soon as possible. We can ride together the rest of the way to Adris City, and I’ll tell you what I know from the meeting and how our inspection has gone this last sixday. Then we can continue at evening meal, and I’d be pleased to meet with you for morning meal and answer any more questions. After that, we need to be off back to Caernford.”
Adris was mollified, and in the next two hours the two men kept up a moving consultation until they reached within sight of Adris City. The hetman then rode ahead to be sure accommodations were ready for the party of clan leaders and their escorts, with the agreement to have a man come for Yozef at first light to lead him to the hetman’s home.
CHAPTER 24: ISOLATE PREDDI
Orosz City
Tomis Orosz struck the ceremonial gong. “The Caedellium War Council is now in session. All attending should be clear that the four members of the council and Yozef Kolsko have already decided on a course of action. All other attendees can ask questions or give comments, but you are here to witness and give input, not to make decisions.” Not all hetmen gracefully accepted the proviso, but even the more disgruntled, such as Hetman Vandinke, had agreed to comply.
“There is only one item on the agenda,” said Orosz. “After the War Council meeting finishes, we will hear a summary of the group that left Orosz City to inspect potential battlefields in west and north Caedellium.
During the last sixday, discussions have continued among three members of the War Council and advisers. Hetman Stent and Yozef Kolsko were apprised of the results of these discussions last evening after they returned, and a short council session was held last night. The topic we address today is to announce and discuss a firm date for our effort to cut off the two clans allied with the Narthani. The War Council has already decided on a plan for how to accomplish this.
“As you remember, or for those not in the last meeting, two clan forces will cross into Eywell. The Northern Force, led by Hetman Stent, will cross near Hanslow, bypass the city, and move rapidly to reach the sea south of Sellmor, the Selfcell capital, thereby cutting them off from Preddi Province. The Southern Force, commanded by Denes Vegga, will cross into southern Eywell from Keelan and move directly along the coast to threaten Preddi City and link up with the Northern Force to finish isolating both the Selfcell and the Eywell clan.