“Which way?” asks James when he comes abreast of him.
“There should be a road just ahead of us that runs east and west,” he explains. “It lies on that road, where a road from the north intersects with it.”
“Riders!” Miko yells.
Scanning the horizon, James sees a group coming toward them from the northeast. “Are they from Madoc?” he hollers to Fifer.
“Can’t tell,” he says, squinting in an attempt to see better.
“Should we wait to see?” asks Jiron as he watches the eight riders approaching quickly.
A moment later, Fifer exclaims, “No! They’re the Empire’s men!”
“Damn!” swears Jiron as they turn to the west and ride hard to keep ahead of them.
Riding fast, they maintain their lead but aren’t successful in widening it. “A road!” Miko cries as he sees it appear ahead of them.
“Which way to Colton?” James asks Fifer.
Pointing east he replies, “That way, I think.”
If they moved down the road to the east, the riders behind them would easily move and close with them. Giving up on that idea, they take the road to the west.
As they race westward, a river begins to come into view. A rather large army stands on this side of the river, facing to the west. Easily a thousand men strong, they stand before a bridge spanning the river.
On the other side of the bridge is another army, one from the Empire.
Horns begin sounding from both sides as the Empire’s troops move forward to claim the bridge, a hail of arrows flies from the defenders, mowing down the first line.
They slow their horses, James glances back at the riders behind them. When the riders see the army ahead of them, they come to a stop and then quickly turn around. No longer threatened from behind, they pause and take in the situation ahead of them at the bridge.
Bolts and arrows fly from one side to the other, bringing men down. The crossbowmen of the Empire outnumber their counterparts on the other side to devastating effect. Half of them appear to be targeting Madoc’s bowmen while the others are being more selective, helping to clear the bridge so their footmen can advance further across.
“I don’t think they’re going to keep them on the other side of the river for long,” Jiron says.
“They should’ve destroyed the bridge,” James adds.
“Probably didn’t have the equipment nor time before they showed up,” reasons Fifer. He glances to James and asks, “Can you do it?”
“Probably, but that would kill everyone from both sides who’re on it,” he replies.
From the rear section of the defending army, they see men begin pointing to where they’re sitting, watching the battle. A squad detaches itself and makes its way toward them.
“Recognize any of them?” James asks Fifer.
Shaking his head, he replies, “No, I don’t think so.”
Sighing, James says, “Let’s go meet them and hope they won’t immediately attack us.” He takes the lead, Fifer next to him as they move forward.
The leader of the approaching group comes close then raises a hand, indicating they should stop. “What’s your business here?” he asks.
“Busy?” asks James as the sound of the fighting by the river intensifies. The amount of arrows striking the attackers is beginning to decrease as the Empire’s crossbowmen continue taking out Madoc’s archers.
“Sort of,” the man replies. “Now, what’re you doing here?”
“We’re here to help,” Fifer explains, causing the man to gaze in his direction.
“Help?” the man laughs at them. “How can you possibly help?”
“If that bridge was gone,” Fifer asks as he points over to it, “would they be able to cross?”
Shaking his head, the man replies, “They’d not be able to ford the river for several more miles down stream.” He gives them a closer inspection and continues, “But I don’t see how that can happen.”
Fifer glances to James who resignedly nods his head and says, “You get us close and we’ll take it out.”
He points back to the bridge and says, “Look! They’re almost on this side. We would’ve pulled out long ago but we got word they’re evacuating Colton and need time to get everyone out.”
“Nevertheless,” James tells him. “You get me close and that bridge is history.”
“Do you even need to be close?” asks Jiron.
Looking surprised like the thought had never even occurred to him, he gives him a weary grin and replies, “I guess not, but the closer I am the easier it will be.”
“Then let’s move closer,” Jiron says as he starts to move forward past the squad of men.
James follows him and the squad joins them as they move toward the river. When they reach the rear guard of the defenders, a place where the bolts of the Empire can’t reach, he stops.
“Now what?” asks the squad leader.
“Just wait,” says Jiron with a smile, “and watch.”
The squad leader looks to James as he closes his eyes. A cry erupts back at the bridge, he turns his attention to the river and sees that the attackers have reached this side and more are pouring across the bridge.
The defenders are being mowed down by the bolts sailing through the air and the swords of the men. What’s left of the order and discipline the defenders had is now gone as they turn and begin to flee the battlefield.
Crumph!
Suddenly, the bridge explodes. A mass of men and stones sail through the air before landing among the soldiers on both sides.
The fighting halts momentarily as both sides stare in startled shock at what remains of the bridge. Then, the defenders who had been in a complete, panicked rout, erupt in a cheer as they see the enemy’s route cut off. The once routed defenders turn on the enemy who’d made it to this side of the river and begin attacking them with renewed determination.
Jiron looks to James and is glad to see him not slumping over or passing out as he usually does after such a display.
The squad next to them stares at James in awe and Jiron can hear “A mage!” being whispered among them.
Eyes still closed, James again concentrates…
Crumph! Crumph! Crumph!
…three consecutive explosions on the other side of the river rip through the ranks of crossbowmen as their deadly hail of bolts comes to a stop.
This time, he does begin to slump over. The past days of hard riding and little sleep is really taking its toll.
Calls to fall back can be heard from the other side of the river and the defending army begins to move back. An officer rides over to Jiron and the others, the squad leader salutes as he approaches. “What the hell happened?” the officer asks.
The squad leader points to James who’s sitting crooked in the saddle and replies, “He just showed up sir, and well, he blew up the bridge. He’s a mage!”
“A mage? And he just happened by when we needed one the most?” the officer asks.
“Yes sir,” the squad leader replies.
Another rider comes up and salutes the officer as he reports, “The enemy is falling back, sir. They’re regrouping west of the river and aren’t showing any signs of leaving.”
“Pull our men away from the river and have them rest,” he tells him. “With the bridge gone, there’s no reason for all the men to stay here. Have half go to Colton to aid in the evacuation, I’ll stay here with the rest and keep an eye on our friends over there.”
“Yes, sir,” the rider says as he salutes and turns back to the men as he carries out his commander’s orders.
“You might want to keep all your men here, sir,” Fifer says to him.
“Why?” replies the commander as he turns to him. “And just who are you?”
“Fifer sir, with Miller’s band,” he explains.
“Miller you say?” he says, thinking.
“Yes sir. We were with the alliance forces near Lythylla when Lord Pytherian had been taken,” he adds.
Understanding suddenly dawns on him and he states, “So, you are those guys.”
“Sir?” asks Fifer.
“Aren’t you the ones who helped Lord Pytherian to escape from the enemy?” he asks.
“Well, yes sir,” he replies.
“He said you might be coming through the lines,” he replies. “Also said to aid you in any way I could.” Breaking into a laugh, he says, “Though it seems it turned out the other way around.”
“Sir,” a man says from behind him.
Turning around, he says, “Yes?”
“All the wounded have been loaded onto wagons and are making for Colton,” the soldier explains.
“Good,” replies the commander. “Send an escort with them.”
Saluting, the man turns and begins to arrange for the escort.
“Now, why should I keep the men here?” he asks.
“To the south a force is coming around the forest, where Captain Alerin is defending,” Fifer explains. “He is currently harassing them, delaying their march. But they should be here soon.”
Nodding, he signals another soldier who comes over. “Send a rider to Captain Alerin, tell him the bridge has been taken out and the enemy will likely be coming his way. May be unable to send reinforcements, he’s to remain at his discretion.”
Saluting, the soldier says, “Yes, sir.”
As the soldier moves to carry out his order, the commander turns back to them and says, “The main battle will be for Lythylla. The men will be needed there, that’s our first priority.”
“Sir!” a soldier hollers over to him as he points across the river. “The enemy is pulling out and moving south!”
Looking over the river, they see the army beginning to move south, keeping just out of range of Madoc’s bowmen.
“Captain Alerin is soon going to have his hands full,” he comments.
“Looks like it,” James says as he watches the soldiers marching south. “What do you plan to do?” he asks the commander.
“Follow them as they go south,” he says. “At least until they reach the forest, then they’re Alerin’s problem.” He turns and signals another of his aides and says, “Get the rest ready to move, we got to keep them on that side of the river.”
The man salutes and then begins barking orders as he gets the men ready to march.
A soldier brings the commander’s horse over to him. Mounting, he turns to James and says, “When you see Lord Pytherian again, tell him Commander Eathan will hold the southern flank as long as possible. I’ll keep the bastards off them as they march to Lythylla.”
“Good luck, commander,” James says to him.
“You too, son,” replies Commander Eathan. “Ride fast, the Empire has patrols on this side of the river but no main forces north of here. So far, we’ve kept them on the west side of the river but that’s not going to last for long.”
“Move out!” he hollers to his men as they begin pacing the soldiers who are moving south on the other side of the river.
James and the others watch as the commander and his men move south, keeping the enemy from crossing over. Then they turn their horses north, following the river. They don’t get very far before they hear horns coming from the east. Answering horns sound from the army across the river.
From the east marches the army that Captain Alerin had been trying to slow down. “They’re going to catch Commander Eathan and his men against the river!” he exclaims.
“They’ll be cut to bits!” cries out Fifer.
They watch as the army moves toward the Madoc defenders. Commander Eathan forms his men to meet the charge, but from where James is sitting, he doesn’t stand a chance of surviving it. The army across the river has stopped its southern advance and its crossbowmen have come to the edge of the river where they fire a volley at the men caught between them. The bolts fall short, but if Commander Eathan is pressed backward much further, they’ll soon be in range.
“We’ve got to help them!” Fifer says to James. “They’re dead if we don’t!”
Jiron watches as James ties himself to his saddle as he’s done several times before. That can only mean what he’s got in mind is going to be rough. “Stay close to James,” he tells the other two. “We’ve got to protect him and get him out of here once he’s done.”
They begin moving toward the advancing force. At first, they’re not noticed, so intent is the army on the trapped men at the river. When they get within a mile, a force of twenty men break off and head in their direction.
James glances to Jiron and says, “I’m already very tired.”
“I know,” he replies. “Do what you have to, we’ll get you out.”
Nodding, James tightens the rope binding him to his saddle before closing his eyes.
Crumph!
The ground under the men explodes upward in the biggest explosion James has done so far. When the dust clears, none of the attackers are moving.
Fifer gasps as five translucent floating balls appear before James. As if propelled by a strong wind, they fly toward the Empire’s men. Barely seen, they reach the army and begin moving among them before they’re even noticed.
Arrows from Commander Eathan’s men begin felling the attackers as they come within range. Their longbows have a greater range and force than their counterpart’s crossbows.
As the enemy notices the orbs floating among them, they begin stirring and move away from them as best they can. The tightly packed formation doesn’t give them room enough to avoid them.
Suddenly, the enemy force is lit up as red lines flare between the orbs. The men begin crying out, all thoughts of attack forgotten. They see one soldier run and accidentally run across one of the lines. After he passes the line, he stumbles for a moment and then the top half of his body slides off the lower. The red line had cut him in two. Unable to move, caught within the boundaries of the lines, the bulk of the army comes to a standstill.
The arrows from Commander Eathan’s men begin taking a terrible toll.
As the balls move, so too do the lines. Jiron watches in fascination as two lines come together and the men trapped between them are agonizingly cut in half before his eyes.
James is slumped over his horse as he tries to hold onto consciousness long enough to complete what he’s got to do. He gives one last surge of power as he brings the balls together in the middle of the group of men. Every last one of them is cut in half, their cries abruptly silenced. Then he passes out and the balls disappear.
A cry goes up from Commander Eathan’s men as they surge forward to attack the remaining enemy soldiers who hadn’t been caught between James’ lines of death. Arrows fall as they rush forward to close with them.
The enemy turns tail and retreats, but is soon overtaken by a hundred horsemen that strike them down as they run. Some stand and fight, but don’t last long.
Jiron sees the commander waving at them. He waves back and then says, “Let’s go. We’ve got to get him someplace safe for a while.”
“What’s wrong with him?” asks Fifer as he comes over to the unconscious James.
“It’s what happens when he does too much magic,” he explains. “If he uses too much, he passes out and it takes some time before he can even do simple things again.”
“Oh,” he says.
They move down the road and quickly catch up with the wagons bearing the wounded and the men escorting them. “How far to Colton?” Jiron asks one of the soldiers.
“About an hour,” he replies. “It’s not too far.”
“Thanks,” he replies as they pull away, leaving the wounded behind.
Chapter Twenty Four
By the time the town of Colton appears ahead of them, James has regained consciousness, although the dilly of a headache makes him wish he was still out cold. The scene before them reminds James of an anthill he’d stuck a stick into long ago, people are swarming everywhere.
Carts and wagons, along with a multitude of people are making their
way to the north along the road. As they approach the town, a rider comes out to meet them.
“Is Lord Pytherian still here?” James asks when the rider nears.
“Who are you?” the man replies.
“Name’s James,” he says. “These are my companions, we’ve just come from Commander Eathan.”
Shaking his head, the man says, “He left some time ago for Lythylla. Captain Kurk is in charge of the evacuation.”
James laughs in spite of his headache, and says “Where can I find ‘Captain Kirk’?” His friends exchange glances, thinking maybe he’s getting a little too light headed.
“You can find the Captain over at the Seasoned Ham,” the man replies, slightly annoyed at the way James is acting. He points into town, “You’ll find it further in.”
Still grinning, James holds up his right hand, spreads his fingers and says, “Live long and prosper.”
“Uh, you too,” the man replies. As James and the others ride away, the man continues watching them, and just shakes his head.
Once past the first buildings, Jiron says to James, “What was all that about?”
James glances over at him and begins to grin, “I couldn’t even begin to explain it to you.” And then he starts laughing once more. His friends look at him, worried.
Down the street they find several soldiers who are helping a store owner with packing a wagon. James pauses a moment as he asks one of the soldiers, “Where’s the Seasoned Ham?”
The soldier points further down the road and says, “Go down two more streets, then turn right. It’ll be the fourth building on your right.”
“Thanks,” says James as he gets his horse moving in the right direction. They continue down two streets and then turn to the right. Sure enough, four buildings down on the right they find a sign depicting a ham with steam radiating off of it.
They stop in front and he leaves Jiron and Miko with the horses as he and Fifer enter the building. Inside the main room, they find several soldiers there gathered around a map laid out on a table before them. A soldier stationed by the door stops them and says, “No one’s allowed in.”
Warrior priest of Dmon-Li ms-3 Page 33
