Too many of the younger men were still overly excited. He understood. A few short years ago he would have probably behaved the same way.
They rode as quietly as they could, away from the Halfen encampment. They would assemble further up the Well Road, aptly named for the well at the end of it. They were almost to the well now. It was just over two leagues from Azmark. They were far enough from the Halfen now that they could risk leaving the forest. Still he kept his men within the trees, paralleling the road, just in case.
A rider galloped towards him. This wasn’t the first messenger Kole had sent him this morning. He recognized the young boy, but did not know his name. He couldn’t have been older than thirteen or fourteen winters.
He reigned in beside Flenn and spoke. “The Halfen are active. It looks like they are going to assault Azmark again.”
Flenn couldn’t keep himself from smiling. That was the news he wanted to hear. Why they were doing it he did not know. He thought about many of the possibilities before. Finding out the defenses, locating weaknesses, possibly trying to weaken the defenses for the final larger assault, or even making Baiden think there was no way to break free and escape to safety. That latter seemed to be the most reasonable. Baiden was a large prize for the Halfen. If they could capture or kill him, it would be a great blow to the Kailfen and maybe even pave the way for Ky to be named Lord of the North. Whatever their reasons, they played right into his hands.
“Good, you have done well,” Flenn told the boy.
He grinned at Flenn, happy to receive the praise.
“You may join with us or return to Kole, whatever you wish. Just don’t get caught.”
“I’ll remain with you if you don’t mind,” he said, still grinning. “I wouldn’t want to arrive late and miss all the fun.”
Flenn shook his head. “Fun,” he thought. He could think of hundreds of things he would rather be doing right about now. All of them quite a bit more fun than this was. “That’s fine. We could use an extra bow.”
The boy smiled as if he was anticipating mid summer solstice. Flenn hoped there was still a reason to grin after today. He wasn’t sure if that thought was for himself or for the boy.
Flenn could see the men ahead gathering near the old well. Why someone bothered to dig a well at that location so many long years ago he had no idea. He was sure no one else did either. Maybe there was a small settlement here at one time.
The well still had its uses. Travelers and hunters often used this spot as a way point on their way to and from Azmark. Shepherds often used it too. Flenn had fond memories of the times he stopped there with friends or his father.
He wished his father was here now. A fever took him at a young age, leaving Flenn to fend for himself. He had done quite well. Many said he possessed his father’s strength. Wishing his father were here now so he could rely on that strength did no good. At least he wasn’t alone. Oded and Tostig were here, and Berkler too. They would be enough. They would have to be.
Flenn rode out of the trees onto the Well Road. There were still a few paving stones here and there, but this far from Azmark the road was mostly dirt and mud. Not much of a road really. He plodded along on his horse, no need for haste yet. Men followed behind him like a long shadow, men just like those ahead, gathering around the well. Artisans and farmers, tradesmen and herdsmen, thatchers and more than just a few blacksmiths. Flenn would be surprised if most of the men, if not all of them, did not know at least something of that last trade.
The well was chosen as the gathering place for two reasons. They could do so in relative ease without being seen from Azmark and they could travel quickly along the road once they put the plan into motion.
By gathering here he was sure the Halfen would soon learn of them, but that could not be helped. He was sure the Halfen had left at least some of their men in the woods as scouts. Flenn was no longer safe from detection, and word would reach the Halfen soon. Hopefully not so soon as to ruin the surprise.
Flenn arrived at the well and sought out the leaders of the other groups. Oded called them divisions. The divisions, he might as well call them that, were assembling around the well. Most were already here, each led by able bodied, capable men. They greeted Flenn informally. There was Blane with his dark eyes and red hair that was well on its way to gray. Fideon, who was taller than Flenn remembered. Jebb, quiet and reserved, but if any thought him weak they were mistaken. Jebb’s oldest son Regnar who was much like his father in personality and looks. Clode, who resembled the enormous battle ax he carried. Vidowen, a man as broad as an ax handle with muscles from years of swinging a hammer at the forge. Agren, the dark haired stone cutter. Toel, a fair haired man nearly as wiry as Soren and some said just as dangerous. Lamner, a man as old as the hills, but still with enough mead and vinegar to do for two men. Rasten and Glegg Flenn could see coming from the east, riding in front of their men. They were only missing Petran and moments later Flenn saw him coming into view, riding out of the trees to the south.
All these men rode horses. Those on foot were with Kole. Flenn needed to move with speed in order to surprise the Halfen and even more speed if they needed to run. Flenn hoped it did not come to that.
Rasten, Glegg, and Petran quickly maneuvered into position. Everything was coming together. Flenn felt like he should say something, but had no idea what. He gave up worrying about it. Everyone knew why they were here and what was expected of them. They didn’t need any flowery speeches. There was only one thing they were waiting for and here it came. Hal, galloping for all he was worth, up the Well Road. He stopped short of Flenn and made some sort of salute with is fist to his chest. Flenn hoped that didn’t catch on.
“The Halfen are pressing the walls again,” Hal said in a breathless voice. “A little harder than before I think.”
Flenn nodded. This was what he wanted. Why did he suddenly feel so sick to his stomach? Flenn raised his right hand then brought it down quickly and shouted.
“We ride!”
Five hundred horseman thundered forward.
* * *
Von crested the last hill in the early morning and surveyed the valley below. Mist floated through the trees, blanketing the forests and meadows. Azmark was only an hour or so away now. Von half expected to see smoke rising in the distance. Relief washed over him when he did not. Azmark had not yet been put to the flame.
He rode near Kaiden and Soren. Each of them were able to procure horses along the way. Jak drove the work sled now, which now held ten riders. Everyone wondered at the craftsmanship of the thing and even more at how the horses pulling it never tired even with all the weight in it.
Yaris trailed a little behind. Von wondered what Yaris was thinking at the prospect of fighting his own kinsmen. His oath would hold. Von was sure of it.
The foot of the long hill and the forest below were completely shrouded in fog and mist. Further up, close to the Well Road he could see men on horses. They were too far away to make out who they were, but they appeared to be gathering around the old well.
“Do you see that?” Kaiden asked.
Von nodded. There were not many of them. Certainly not enough to take Azmark, not even enough to lay a proper siege. If the Halfen were dividing themselves like this, maybe he and his companions had a better chance against them.
“Who do you think they are?” Kaiden must be wondering the same thing he was.
“I don’t know. I can’t tell from here.” The men looked like dark shapes from here, he couldn’t make out details, only that they were all mounted on horses. The mist made it hard to tell exactly how many there were. Four hundred, five hundred maybe?
“If it is a group of Halfen, maybe we can take them by surprise.”
Soren shook his head. “We can run headlong down this hill and maybe get ambushed ourselves. We’ll need to put scouts out. Make sure the forest is safe.”
“So we take even longer to get to Azmark.” Von said. He knew it was good advice, he just didn’t lik
e it.
“I’m afraid so. Unless you have a better idea.”
The horsemen at the well broke into a sudden gallop down the Well Road.
“Wether they are friendly or not,” Soren said, “they will reach Azmark long before we do. Either way, Baiden will need our help soon I am sure.”
“We need to risk it. If there is an ambush we will fight through it, but I don’t think there will be. Baiden is down there, and he needs our help.” Anora as well, he thought. “As fast as we can ride.”
Murmurs ran through the ranks behind him, speculation as to whether or when Azmark had been attacked. Von did not care about speculation. He needed to get down there. He spurred his horse forward. The others followed.
* * *
Flenn could see Azmark now. Its walls swarmed with Halfen on ladders or grappling hooks. Thousands of them. Four thousand if the reports were correct. It was hard to estimate the numbers in the melee. Flenn wondered why they did not bother to build any siege towers. The Halfen did have a battering ram, and were putting it to full use, but thankfully the gates still held.
Men at the gate towers rained arrows down on the Halfen below. There were men at the top of the wall as well, fighting to push the ladders off and cut the grappling hooks. If the Halfen pushed harder they might break through. It was a blood bath at the gates, but if the Halfen were losing numbers, the defenses of Azmark were weakening as well. If the Halfen did not break through now, they would easily do so when the main body of their army arrived. Maybe they were hoping to reduce morale enough so when the larger army arrived Azmark would surrender in despair. Or maybe whoever commanded this force sought to gain status by winning here on his own. Either way, they had played into Flenn’s hands.
Flenn and his men stopped well short of the field of battle. The Halfen were still so occupied in the fight that they did not notice the danger from behind. Flenn’s men spread into a wide formation. The men in front dismounted. Those men were armed with spears and shields, but all of his men had bows.
Some of the Halfen finally saw them. They pointed and shouted, but it was too late. Even if their companions could hear them over the din, they could not have convinced them to turn in time. Flenn gave the command to loose and five hundred arrows shot through the sky. Before the first volley hit a second was on its way.
Men fell among the Halfen from what they thought was an unseen enemy. Every arrow did not find a target, but many did. The Halfen turned to see who was attacking them and were met by another volley, then another. Their shields went up to protect them, but that left their backs vulnerable to arrows from the defenders of Azmark. They knew their attack had failed, but they still out numbered Flenn and his men by more than five to one, though each volley of arrows cut that margin significantly.
The Halfen were aware they could not stand and fight at the walls. They turned and mounted a disorganized charge against Flenn. Flenn expected this, hoped for it. The men in front dropped their bows and closed ranks behind their shields. They were two rows deep and armed with spears. They formed a great shield wall with the archers, still mounted, safely within. They readied themselves to meet the charge of Halfen horse as well as the men who ran behind.
Kole and his men appeared from within the trees at the opposite side of the field. Nearly three hundred men loosed their arrows into the backs of the charging Halfen. Again and again. The Halfen fell in confusion, but most still charged on. They fought for their lives now, running past their clansmen who lay bleeding on the field.
Flenn fired twice more then drew his sword. The Halfen crashed into the wall of shields and spears. Men and horses screamed. Flenn saw the gates of Azmark open. The men who had been defending the city were sallying forth. He thought he could see Baiden at the front, with Dell at his side. Flenn charged forward to meet the Halfen.
* * *
Von could hear the sounds of battle. He raced forward, leaving most of the men who followed trailing behind. He knew that riding his horse this hard would probably kill it, but at that moment he did not care. Kaiden and Soren called something to him, but he could not hear what it was. He left them behind as well and unless they were as willing to ride their horses to death they were not going to catch him.
Von could see the battle now. The Halfen were about to overrun a small group of men pinned in the center of the fighting. Probably the horsemen that were at the well. The men from Azmark were charging out onto the field now too. The Halfen did not see them coming, but they would arrive too late to save more than just a few of the men who fought in a cluster at the center.
Von could see someone coming up on his side. So, someone else was willing to risk his horse. No, it was Soren, running on foot. That amazed Von, but he could accept it more readily now, after the events of the last few days. He looked behind and saw some of the men were at least not much further back, but most of them trailed behind like a drawn out snake, making its way down the road.
Soren called to him, “Von, wait, we must attack in force. One man fighting alone will not accomplish much.”
Von yelled back to him. “You of all people know that is not true.”
Soren was at his side now, easily keeping pace with the horse. He leveled his gaze at Von, then nodded. Von did not think it possible, but Soren let out a burst of speed, sprinting out ahead. Von spurred his horse again, the lather from it’s sweat created a mist as the horse struggled forward, trying to please it’s master. The horse’s chest heaved with the effort. Von did not see Soren enter the fray.
Suddenly he was hurling through the air as he heard his horse scream in pain. Von tucked and rolled, but still he hit the ground hard. Rocked with pain, yet unwilling to stop, he bounced to his feet. He looked to his horse. It lay motionless, its right front leg twisted with an obvious fracture. The horse would need to be put down, if it did not die of exhaustion first. Von felt a pang of sorrow and regret. The horse did not deserve that. He didn’t even know the horse’s name.
Von was given only an instant for remorse. A man with a wicked axe swung murderously at his head. The man had no chance. Von moved like lightning.
* * *
The Halfen pressed hard. Flenn and the men who followed him were pinned inside a circle of angry enemies. He prayed for Baiden to arrive soon. He did not know how much longer they could hold on. The circle was fast becoming smaller and smaller. Men fought back to back hopelessly trying to keep the Halfen at bay.
Flenn fought next to Oded, desperate to keep from being unhorsed. The Halfen clawed and stabbed at him. Oded had already saved his life more than once. He would die happy, knowing it had been to save Azmark. Baiden could cut the rest of the Halfen down with ease. Only he would not arrive in time to save Flenn and his men.
Flenn realized his plan was flawed. He resigned himself to his fate. But not yet, there was still some fight left in him. His coat was drenched in sweat and blood. He swung his sword again and again, not even knowing if it was effective at all. He blocked another blow aimed at his head. The shock of the impact was numbing. His arms ached with exhaustion, only he dare not stop for a second. It would mean certain death.
The Halfen swarmed all around him now. Somehow they had broken through. It would be over soon. At least for him. Still he fought on, unwilling to give up what the Halfen wanted to take.
Then he saw it. A pocket of death. It moved through the Halfen like a whirlwind, speeding through the enemy ranks, cutting down everything in its path. He had no time to decide what it was when he saw a second disturbance within the Halfen forces. The second did not move as fast as the first, but soon the Halfen fled from it in terror. The first, a man he thought, but that could not be, cut a path toward where he and Oded fought. The second... a demon... it must be... destroyed everything that did not flee before it. The Halfen turned and ran.
What could stand against this?
Some of Flenn’s men showed terror reflecting in their eyes. They saw what Flenn saw. Demons cutting their way through the Ha
lfen. The horror might soon turn on them.
The Halfen on the west did not yet know why those on the east fled. They only knew they no longer could rely on their companion’s support. They pressed even harder. Then Baiden hit them from behind. It was a hammer hitting an anvil. The Halfen broke.
Flenn nearly fell from his horse in exhaustion. He dropped his shield to the ground. The men from Azmark chased the routed Halfen, but Flenn was content to let them go. Out of the east came more riders, who joined the chase. Flenn did not know where they came from, and didn’t care. He had survived, and so had Azmark.
The first whirlwind of death stopped. Flenn saw it indeed was a man. He wore some kind fur lined animal skin and no armor except a shiny helm, with mail that hung down the sides and neck. The helmet covered the top two thirds of his face and hid his features, but there was something familiar about him. Could it be?
The man removed the helm and confirmed Flenn’s suspicion. Soren,...or his ghost. Kaiden said Soren was dead. Maybe he was, and this was an apparition. What else could explain what had just occurred?
Flenn could not speak. If he was not so tired, so exhausted, he would have been filled with fear.
Soren smiled at him. “We have won the day,” he said, greeting Flenn as if he had not been the sole reason most of the men here still lived. Well, half the reason.
“I thought you were dead,” Flenn finally managed to say.
“Tales of my demise were much exaggerated.”
The second man responsible for their victory abandoned his pursuit and trotted to Soren. He wore a helm, much like Soren’s only decorated to resemble a menacing beast of some kind. Unlike Soren he wore armor, plate and mail, not the fur. Others started to gather around them.
Haven Keep (Book 1) Page 47
