Achil & The Rise Of The Mandrake
Page 11
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In the Lord Mandrakes camp preparations were all but complete. Many weeks had past since his arrival. His army was well prepared and had been massing for at least three months, prior to Findolin's intervention in Mead. And yet he still held back the attack.
He sat at the table: in his hand was the sphere holding captive the Orochi, his hold on the creature was difficult. The strain on his face as he tried to control what essentially was the essence of the creatures being was beginning to tell. Never before had anyone attempted to restrain such a creature, it would not be tamed, and manipulating it to do his bidding was proving very demanding. But he was the one who had already cheated death, even without the aid of his true people; if he could control his own mortality he certainly could command a creature such as this.
Once his legions west had dispensed with the Dragon People, and the Finns realised that no aid would arrive from that direction, then surely that would speed up their capitulation. He would soon also call into play his four Elementals, and yet before the real battle was to be fought; there was the small matter of the seed he had planted in the city of Findolin which it was hoped would help rot that realm from within.
He would let the Finns quake in their homes a little longer while starvation and pestilence took hold. Findolin in its glory, when it once had twice its population and an army worthy of the name would have been a more formidable obstacle for him to take on, but not now. He carefully placed the sphere back in its chest, and breathed a sigh of relief.
He went outside to survey the camp. The catapults were ready, as were the siege engines that the Orochi was to drag to the base of the plateau. They were tall enough so that when his men climbed the winding stairs to their summits, all under the protection of the metal panelling that covered such mighty towers. They would without much difficulty be able to cross over into the City. He had also built large ballista and catapults and with the support of thousands of Archers he would keep the defenders heads firmly hidden behind their walls. Giving enough time for his unhindered siege engines to move into place, a monumental logistical achievement, and he had done it. None other than he realised the organisational planning required for the type of assault they had undertaken. And that was why it had taken more time even than he had expected. Who could have foreseen the stubborn resistance of the Finns, any sane foe would have succumbed long before, yet they persisted with their hope of expected salvation which would come from the Dragon People. Jinn began to pace in front of his tent.
One of the Wrath generals seeing him outside came across to speak to him, “My Lord, I would like to report that all preparations are made, you only have to command us and we shall strike a blow at the heart of the enemy.”
“Any news of our army to the west?" asked Jin. “They should be approaching the Haven Mountains by now.”
“Our scouts have not reported anything as yet. But we should delay no more; all plans are laid, so strong is the stench of fear rising above the city that I can taste it.”
“Patience just a little longer,” replied Jin with a determined ominous look on his face, “Send for the Loki I wish to speak to them.”
With that the general with a swift gesture of his hand dispatched someone to send for the Elementals.