by James Wymore
"No," he said. "We have to go back."
"That's crazy," the man said. They are looking for us. And the water will freeze us in moments."
"I don't care," Elwood said. "Wait for me here, then. I won't let Macey die for nothing. I'm taking out that water jet."
He turned and began treading a new path through the snow, back toward the south edge of the meadow. Eventually the other archers followed him, rushing to catch up.
"What's the plan?" the woman asked, hoping to get Elwood's head out of revenge and thinking again.
"Just going to kill one more fish," Elwood said as he pushed through the slush. "From the side, if they aren't looking for us, we should get a shot."
"And if we can't hit the fish?" the man asked.
"Then we shoot for the tube."
Elwood slowed when he heard the Hyzoi making noise nearby. He scooted in behind a tree trunk and listened. Then he moved forward. He scoped the field one tree at a time. When he could see the water jet with freezing mist falling to the east, he crouched low and began to proceed cautiously. The others fanned out, each matching his pace.
When he inched his way close enough to peer over the side, he was relieved to see there wasn't a frenzied mob of crocodilian monsters. A couple dozen of them were soaking in the runoff or showering in the fallen drops from the jet of water. Most had moved back up the path.
Moving deliberately, instead of quickly, Elwood stood and took careful aim. He held his breath, and let the arrow fly. It zipped into the water and disappeared. Two more followed his over the rise. He rapidly nocked another and fired that as well. Hyzoi, now rested, began growling and throwing rocks. The jet turned toward them and began soaking them.
Elwood took another shot, then another. When the jet began to dwindle, he put his last arrow into the hose. A misty spray began to splutter out the hole next to the arrow's shaft.
Rocks were being heaved away from the cliff beneath him with a furious thunder. Smaller pieces of stone were flying at them. Elwood turned and followed his companions back into the trees, keeping an eye behind him to jump out of the way of several rocks heading his way.
Instantly the water on their clothes began to freeze, but they marched forward, cracking the sheets of ice off at the knees and elbows. Elwood shivered as they crossed above the cliffs overlooking the spring meadow. Wind blew through everything, leeching his life's heat from his heart. He welcomed the numbness, just to keep away the guilt and sorrow.
When he looked at the battlefield, he saw the Hyzoi rushing into the meadow. Those resting there turned and leaped into the charge as well. From this high he couldn't be sure if he saw Vince signal, but the fuses were lit on the catapults. Their carefully prepared flammables launched into a high projectile arch. All five war machines worked, but one of the bombs exploded in the air, spreading out and burning to nothing but a few trails of fiery pottery and singed wood which rained down on the wall. Elwood felt a wave of heat on the wind soon after the blast.
The other four bundles crashed to the ground in glorious pyrotechnic blasts, sending shrapnel in every direction and burning enough of the enemy to bring their furious charge to a premature halt. The chemicals spread across the ground, the low fires heating the earth and drying everything around.
The undamaged Hyzoi actually drew some strength from the momentary blast of heat warming their cold blood. However, it was short lived, as their skin rapidly dried to become uncomfortable. Two of the creatures, covered with fire, leaped off the west cliff to the soothing stream beyond.
Though nothing could quench the grief in his soul, seeing the north meadow dried and the Hyzoi charge foiled gave Elwood some relief. Macey's life had not been traded in vain.
With renewed vigor, he followed the other archers down off the peak.
He knew he needed heat and rest. Yet he resisted. He would almost prefer freezing to death above facing his Jewel, so newly bereft of so wonderful a sister. His body refused, and acting against his wishes marched straight for the fire.
When he saw Jewel's face turn to him, his lungs refused to breathe.
Then she ran to him, with tears on her face and hands out she crushed him with a hug. Her cheeks moved from one side of his face to the other while her hands rubbed his arms and back to force the blood through.
"I…" He couldn't even apologize.
"Don't," she said. "Don't take one bit away from her by saying any of it was your fault. She died for all of us. Don't ever think she wasn't a hero." She wiped away a tear and pulled him to the tent.
Elwood nodded, and fell inside. He pulled the frozen things off and curled up under all the blankets. All he could do was force himself to breathe between sobs.
It was growing dark when Elwood emerged. He ate quietly. Then he kissed his wife good-bye yet again. It was a strong kiss, full of all the fear he never spoke. She gave him a smile and kept her tears back until he was walking back to the wall.
When he arrived, Vince's eyes were underscored by dark circles of fatigue. Elwood just nodded to start the report. "The fire worked," Vince said. "They've been leaving to go back much sooner since. The cold of night seems to be slowing them down as well. I ordered several more goats out, which helped us bring down at least two dozen of them. We've had a few casualties and more than a few injuries, but the wall held."
"Well done, soldier," Elwood said. "You're relieved. Head back and sleep."
Vince nodded and climbed down the ladder with heavy footsteps.
Drake stepped up next. "Vince's son was among the wounded," he said quietly. Then, with gusto, he added, "We're low on bombs. But we managed to keep them from building up a real presence on our side." He indicated a pile of Hyzoi bodies behind the west end of the wall they'd dragged out of the way.
"Very good." Elwood saw there was nothing happening along the wall. Dozens of Hyzoi were facing the other way, resting outside of catapult range. There were no goat carcasses on their side. They ate them, of course.
"Should we light some lamps?" Drake asked. His last question was breathy.
"No," Elwood said. "When the moon is up, their eyes will glow like cats. Lamplight will just make us night blind. I need you to go get some sleep. I'll take the night watch. Tell the catapult crews to go eat and sleep, too. Make sure Bowen and Jewel get some sleep, as well. We don't need martyrs."
"Okay," Drake nodded. Before he left he said, "I wasn't sure before, but I think we can win this now."
Elwood nodded. Drake went down the ladder, meeting his wife who climbed down from the east end. Elwood marched up and down the platform, assessing every person on the wall. He sent back any with injuries or obvious exhaustion. The last twenty he gathered as well as he could in the middle.
"I know most of you have been here all day," he said. "I don't think the Hyzoi will attack during the night. They are sluggish in the cold. However, we can't afford to have less than twenty, in case they try something sneaky. I'm asking you to endure a cold night after fighting all day. I want groups of two at ten posts along the wall. Keep each other awake. If you see any movement in the Hyzoi ranks, call out to alert the rest of the wall."
Everybody nodded.
"It will be well after morning light before our enemy warms up. Before that happens, I will make sure all of you get some rest."
They all nodded and turned, spreading back out along the wall. Elwood paced, searching the enemy for any sign of movement.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Deep in the night, Elwood saw a couple of Hyzoi sneaking across the burned out ground in front of the wall. He quickly rushed up and down the platform, ordering everyone not to speak or sound the alarm. Confused, they all stayed still and watched. The monsters began moving the bodies near the wall. This time they didn't pile them up. Instead, they made an arc and hid themselves under it. From this relative position of protection, they started to dig.
Elwood quietly descended the ladder, signaling for four of the others to follow him. The digging stopped a
s he descended. Once nobody was on the ladders, the sound of digging and moving frozen mud resumed.
Elwood whispered, "They are trying to surprise us with a tunnel."
"We should sound the alarm and call everybody back," one man said.
"No. I think we can use this," Elwood said. "I counted about seventy in their ranks. We have almost that many. If we let them burrow under, we can let two dozen through before we surprise them." Everybody nodded.
Elwood pointed at the one who'd spoken and whispered, "You go up and tell the guards on the wall not to react or make noise." Then he looked at the other. "You three gather everybody we have. Wake them quietly and get them back here within twenty minutes, ready to fight. Tell them to be silent, above everything."
They all nodded and split up into the darkness.
When Drake arrived, Elwood had him divide the remaining explosives and move half of the cache back up the path toward Aunt Lanny's homestead. The other half he wanted up on the wall and ready.
When Vince arrived, Elwood put him to getting a group of strong men under the platform behind the boulder nearest to where the tunnel would break through.
The rest he lined up along the inside of the wall under the platform. He backed up to the corral, where the last two dozen "attack" goats grazed and slept.
All of Winigh waited as the reptile talons scraped at frozen dirt and loose rock. It seemed like an hour before the claws broke through the ground under the wall. The guards on the platform stayed still as the rested Hyzoi silently crept toward the tunnel in pairs. Most of them realized if Elwood hadn't warned them, they might not notice the slow and quiet movement.
Staying still until the freezing cold and sore muscles almost made them mad, the Selene defenders waited until dark forms began moving out from beneath their precious wall. Fear threatened to take them, Elwood knew. Yet he held the call, counting enemies infiltrating their land.
When he saw twenty-four, Elwood cried with his might, "Charge! Charge now! Take them down! Roll the boulder! Drop the bombs!"
Vince and his crew heaved the massive rock into the tunnel, crushing two enemies. Bombs on the front of the wall lit up the line of creeping Hyzoi, and began scattering their hulking bodies in every direction. Elwood opened the gate, kicking and poking goats until they darted out into the open, bleating. Somehow less frightened in the dark, half of the goats lined up for a full charge.
Archers beneath the platform stepped out, tracking the goats with their bows, and shooting into the moonlit eyes of any Hyzoi tempted to leap at the approaching rams. Guards along the wall moved to the west end with spears, where frenzied monsters began leaping off the arch of fallen Hyzoi bodies and leaping up to the parapet. They used tall spears to redirect the leaping monster bodies over to the ground, where the beasts crashed into unsuspecting comrades.
Running with all his might, Elwood charged into the Hyzoi still standing behind the wall. Like a man possessed with a demon, he hacked and slashed, slicing hands that dared assault him and gutting every reptilian torso in reach. The archers on the ground rushed to his aid.
When two Hyzoi charged him at once, Elwood dove beneath them, letting both crash together and fly past him. One kicked with a clawed foot, knocking the air out of him and slashing into his heavy coat.
Recovering first, Elwood chopped into the monster's chest with his sword and twisted the knife in until he felt the heart collapse. The last one fell after being dispatched by soldiers behind him.
Elwood scanned the area once again to be sure before he rushed up the ladder and began counting heads. "Catapults!" he cried, when he saw several dozen enemy troops mulling about in front of the wall. Four huge rocks crashed into the group, bringing down another half dozen.
Elwood stood on a box of equipment and raised his sword high. "Bombs!" he yelled, emptying his lungs as a challenge to every reflective eye now facing him. "Give them everything!" Drake's crew lit up the last four fuses and tossed the clay pots into the crowd.
Watching with raised sword, Elwood stared at any who did not die or flinch after the last round of incendiaries. Then in one last war cry he called, "Sel!"
The soldiers near him echoed, almost matching his volume, "Sel!"
Before he could say it again, the last two dozen Hyzoi turned and bolted. Ten went over the side of the cliff into the stream. The rest ran for their lives down the north path.
Something deep inside him would not let Elwood rejoice with the survivors of Winigh. He smiled. He threw rocks. He joined in mocking and jeering at their fleeing enemy. They clapped each other on the back. They laughed. And, eventually, they all cried.
"Send word to everybody!" Elwood ordered through a smile. Vince's son, limping from an earlier injury, though he'd decided to keep fighting anyway, turned and hobbled back toward the tents.
Hollering and shaking hands, giving these victors their due glory, Elwood once again ignored the dark feelings of dread in his heart. As the adrenaline slowly drained from them, Elwood saw the soldiers remained on and near the platform where they had gathered. The volume and enthusiasm of their celebrations waned, but they would not leave until he dismissed them.
Realizing they all still carried heavy weapons, Elwood put his sword down. He waited as the group slowly noticed and followed his lead. Then he put one arm around Drake and the other around Vince, pulling them in close. He nodded to Bowen and waited for the group with him to join those on the ground.
Knowing their ears still rang from the thunder of explosions, Elwood addressed the crowd slowly and clearly. "Today, my friends, you are veterans. You have placed your bodies between death and your families, and won the day. Your lives are new this day. Never will you see the world the same way again. Never will you doubt yourselves.
"Our cuts and bruises will mend, but never our hearts. Every time you wake with nightmares, remember those you love. When you mourn the fallen heroes, the only ones who paid more for your lives than you did, celebrate their courage. They have risen to glory.
"We have yet to pay. Having failed to sacrifice as much as those heroes, we continue to honor them with our work. We will take this dedication and turn it to our houses, our children, and our friends. This hard won battle is only a victory if it makes us better people. The murder and hate of these horrible days will either lift us to become truly great and wise, or drown us in the mud of despair.
"We have sheathed our hearts in a hard armor, in order to do what had to be done. Now it is time to shed all our armor, outside and in. Victory, my wonderful soldiers, only comes if we let go of the pain and darkness and ascend to higher levels of love and peace.
"I have never seen stronger hearts, or braver warriors. Take those strong hearts back to the city and use your bravery to love more. Give more. Serve with your new strength. Thus the sacrifice of our comrades is honored."
Tears fell now. With gnarled and blood-stained hands, the soldiers embraced. Vince and Drake followed Elwood down the ladder. A new round of hugging ensued.
When Elwood saw Jewel holding Bowen, he broke off and rushed through. She put out her arm and Elwood swept them both up off the ground with last of his strength. He shared their pain. He saw Macey, nursing him back to health. He felt the deep cavern of emptiness in Bowen's heart. He tasted the tears on Jewel's cheek.
"She was the best of us," Bowen said softly. Then, suddenly having enough of their empathy, he stepped back. He gave them a forced smile and turned to congratulate the rest of his catapult crew.
Elwood wiped his hands on what he hoped was a clean patch of his clothes before gently rubbing his thumbs through Jewel's tears. The touch of her soft cheeks on his skin was a kind of healing all its own. Her eyes widened and stared deep into his. He knew she saw his soul, the dark red color impenetrable to magic. He knew she was trying to reach in and offer comfort again. Having done it once, he emptied his mind and let her in. Then she smiled and he kissed her.
With the last of his energy, he kissed her. With passion b
orn of fear and desperation, he kissed her to vent everything he'd been keeping in through the battle. Through the strong clutch of his embrace he released all the pain and worry packed away his mind where it could not interfere with the duties of war. Now it was set free.
Once the dam broke, Elwood felt so much more rushing out of him. This one battle had been just the tip of the iceberg. A decade of hard fought war and pent up frustration seemed to drain away.
In that moment, Elwood felt true rest. He fell to his knees, only able to stay up that much because she was still strong enough to stand. He laid his head against her stomach. Exhaustion filled in the void.
Eventually, Jewel helped him up. As he stumbled away from the wall, he only managed to say, "Make sure somebody stays on lookout."
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Elwood didn't emerge from his tent for two days.
Jewel brought him food and spent plenty of time holding his head against her body and combing through his hair with her fingers. They talked about everything. Sometimes she listened to him analyze the battle, trying to think of what they could have done better. Other times, he heard her give long stories of summers she spent at Macey's house before he ever came to Winigh.
Now that Elwood had learned to suppress the dark red shield for short periods of time, Jewel connected with him and shared moments of peace. Elwood was beginning to suspect it came at a cost to her, though.
Once, when she began staring into his eyes, he closed his and kissed her. "I'm fine, thanks to you. You should save your magic for yourself."
"I can't," she said. "It only works on other people."
"Then for the baby."
"Do you think it's time to start choosing a name?" When she said it, Elwood saw a world of hope in her face that finally made him realize the world was moving on. All his fancy words about the soldiers growing from this battle would be wasted if he didn't get out of bed and start living again.
