Well, some of it had.
Tovak had strange dreams of a growing darkness. He couldn’t fully remember the dreams, but they had kept him restless. That was odd, because Tovak rarely had nightmares.
He yawned as he looked about. The entire detachment had been rousted a short while before. Around him, everyone was preparing for the day’s march. The sound of it filled the air.
“You can’t keep secrets,” Dagmar said to Bettoth, “everyone knows that. Had you heard such a thing, you’d have surely dished on it.”
“Look who’s talking,” Bettoth said, “mister rumor mill. I don’t know anyone who loves to gossip more than you.”
“Prophecy or not, the warband is headed into a fight.” Karn secured his own bedroll to his pack. “And I don’t envy Captain Struugar or the boys who will be making a frontal assault on that wall. It’s going to be an ugly and bloody business.”
“I was with the captain at Adorana,” Torimar said, leaning back from placing his things in his pack. “We sieged that human city for months, trying to starve them out. In the end, I think they were reduced to eating each other. When the order came for a final assault on the city’s walls, I tell you freely, I was scared witless. The thought of going up those scaling ladders made my knees weak.”
“Was it really that bad?” Gorabor asked. “I mean, when the attack was made?”
“Worse,” Torimar said, “much worse. The enemy did not give up without a fight. We lost a lot of good warriors that day.”
“That was before I joined,” Bettoth said. “The captain was a lieutenant back then, wasn’t he?”
“Yes,” Karn said, “that’s right. Dozerg was in command. Struugar had Benthok’s position.”
“Dozerg was a tough bastard,” Torimar said. “When he fell, Struugar stepped up and led us forward. He set the example and gave us the courage to keep on going up those cursed ladders to force the walls. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so fearless an officer as our captain that day. He earned much Legend.” Torimar paused, and his gaze became distant, as if reliving the past. “Karn, you were there, too. Tell them.”
Gorabor looked to the corporal expectantly, as did Tovak.
Karn had been packing up his kit. He stopped and looked up at Torimar, a haunted expression in his eyes. He said nothing.
“Sturm fell in that battle,” Torimar said, filling the silence. “Though we were in different squads, if I recall, you two were close, Karn. He died with the captain.”
“He did,” Karn said quietly, “and he was my friend, nearly a brother to me.”
Tovak saw the look of anguish in Karn’s eyes and recalled his corporal had just lost his real brother too. The memory had clearly brought up old wounds to mingle with the new.
Returning to his packing, Karn cleared his throat. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
There was an uncomfortable moment of silence after that.
“My father stormed several Syrulian fortresses during the war,” Bettoth said, a few moments later. “When he got into his cups, he talked about watching comrades on the scaling ladders, pushed back and off the walls, falling to their deaths. He spoke of boiling oil, baked sand, clouds of arrows, and getting skewered by the enemy as he and his buddies worked to get over the enemy’s walls. Growing up, I’d thought he was exaggerating. But, having seen combat, I imagine it is as he said.”
“An assault on a fortified position is nasty business.” Torimar stood up and began putting on his armor.
A heavy silence fell over the squad for several moments.
As he began tying the straps, he added, “I’m just glad we’re not the ones who’ve been asked to storm that wall from the front side.”
“Agreed,” Karn said. “I’ve seen my share of such actions. I don’t need any more. If we need to hit it, we will be attacking it from the rear, which will make our job much easier.”
“The rear? I thought we were talking about the wall,” Bettoth said, “not Dagmar.”
That caused a chuckle and a lightening of the mood.
“Very funny,” Dagmar said. “Ha ha.”
“Is anyone else wondering why Captain Struugar was cut out of this operation and the company split up?” Gorabor asked. He had already put on his armor and was tying his bedroll to his pack. “Yeah, he’s leading the attack on the wall, but it sort of feels like punishment somehow, for the Baelix Guard getting so beat up.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Karn said, with a bit of an edge. It caused Gorabor to freeze in his work and look at his corporal in alarm. “I don’t want to hear any of that kind of talk. Rumors like that cause nothing but no end of trouble. Understand?”
“Yes, Corporal,” Gorabor said, sounding chastened.
“We just had some bad luck is all. It happens.” Karn softened his tone. “You’re still new here. Companies like ours get split up all the time for specialized duties and tasks. We’re not like the line companies, the heavy infantry who train and fight together. They are the backbone of the warband and the muscle. Like the pioneers, we are different. We don’t fight the way they do. We’re irregulars, and as such, we get stuck with all the shit assignments.” Karn sucked in a breath. “As to the captain, he has a lot of hard-won experience when it comes to assaults against fortified positions. He’s proved that over and over again, especially”—Karn paused and glanced over at Torimar—“at Adorana. He knows his business when it comes to forcing a wall. Where he’s being sent might seem like a punishment to someone who doesn’t know any better, but he’s where he needs to be for the good of the warband. And here”—Karn held his hands out—“is where we need to be, in the field. Understand?”
“Yes, Corporal.” Gorabor gave a nod as several pioneers passed them by. All wore packs and were headed for the gap in the wall. Envious, Tovak eyed them. They were clearly on their way to scout.
“Now, all of you, back to work,” Karn said, in a near snarl. “It won’t be long before they call for the march to resume.”
The squad fell into another silence after that. Tovak worked at making sure his gear and personal possessions were securely and neatly put away. Around him, the entire detachment was doing the same. Tovak put on his armor and went to the latrine, which had been dug just outside of the camp. He relieved himself and returned.
He found Karn and Gorabor had finished securing their gear. They were both sitting down and eating a dodder. Tovak pulled out his haversack and retrieved a dodder himself. He had not realized how hungry he was and, barely pausing to chew, quickly wolfed it down.
“Packs on,” Lieutenant Brund called over the din of the camp. “Second Pioneers and Baelix, form up outside the walls by squads.”
“My company,” Greng called. “Assemble outside the camp. Sergeant Greneck, kindly have the squad leaders perform a roll call.”
“Yes, sir,” the sergeant replied from the other side of the camp. “Get a move on, you maggots. Let’s not keep the captain waiting.”
With the rest of his squad, Tovak heaved his pack onto his shoulders, secured it, and started moving towards the camp’s entrance. They filed through the gap in the wall and began falling into formation, dressing themselves next to one another.
After a quick roll call, and a brief wait while the officers conferred, the march was resumed. Once again, they moved in a northeasterly direction. The march was difficult, and Tovak quickly grew warm, though the day was not as hot as the previous one had been. Dagon pushed them hard and they covered many miles, with only two half-hour breaks during the entirety of the morning.
They were allowed another break for lunch and then, once again, they pushed onward. By mid-afternoon, they found a team of pioneers waiting for them in a small heavily forested valley. It was here that Dagon called a halt for the day. The lake had clean water. Everyone was ordered to refill their waterskins.
Tovak eyed the lake, thinking, if the opportunity presented itself, a dip to bathe would be good. He felt sticky and dirty
. Orders were soon passed down for a wall to be built.
“Another cold night without a fire,” Dagmar said unhappily as he took his entrenchment tool from his pack.
“You’d rather make it easy for the enemy to find us?” Karn asked, looking up after he’d set his pack down on the ground. “I think I can do without a fire for a few days, if I get to keep my skin in return.”
“When you put it that way,” Dagmar said, “I guess we don’t really need a fire.”
“I kind of figured you’d see it my way,” Karn said.
“Karn, Tovak,” Benthok said, approaching the squad. Though his head was still bandaged, the lieutenant looked fresh, as if the march had hardly affected him. “Both of you are with me. We’re going into the field. Bring your packs. We’ll likely be out all night.”
The rest of their squad stopped what they were doing to look over curiously.
“I’ve spoken to Sergeant Thegdol,” Benthok added. “He’ll look after your squad while we are gone.”
“Yes, sir.” Karn picked his pack up and swung it back onto his shoulders. He looked over at Tovak with eagerness in his eyes. “No rest for us, it seems.”
With a soft groan caused by aching shoulders, Tovak did the same and settled his pack in place. Still, he wasn’t disappointed. In fact, his heart was racing with excitement and he sensed the same in Karn. They were off to scout. Though he dared not ask, he wondered with no little bit of excitement where they were going. Tovak knew he would learn soon enough.
Karn and Tovak followed Benthok a short distance to Lieutenant Brund, who was talking with Dagon and Greng.
“Yes, sir,” Brund said. “I will get it done and before dawn. I’ll see that word is sent back on what we learn.”
“I’ll see you in a few hours then,” Dagon said. “Be safe.”
“Yes, sir,” Brund said.
“Good luck,” Greng said.
With that, both Dagon and Greng turned away. Dagon hesitated when he spotted Tovak. An unhappy look, filled with displeasure, washed across the pioneer captain’s face. Dagon’s gaze shifted rapidly to Benthok, as if in blame, and then he turned away and followed after Greng. Benthok appeared not to have noticed, or if he did, he ignored it, which Tovak thought more likely.
“Tovak,” Benthok said, “do you know Corporal Taboth?”
Tovak had not noticed the corporal standing a few feet off from Brund, with a squad of six behind him, all pioneers. Tovak knew none of them, except Iger, who inclined his head ever so slightly in Tovak’s direction. Taboth was a little older than Tovak, fit and rugged, with piercing eyes, a brown beard, and brown hair. There was a natural confidence and enthusiasm about him that Tovak could not help but envy.
“No, sir,” Tovak said. “I do not.”
“Well,” Benthok said, “now you do. His squad will be going with us.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Taboth,” Karn greeted. “I see Lieutenant Brund will let just anyone out into the field these days.”
“Karn,” Taboth said, with a trace of a grin, “good to be working with you again.”
“Alright,” Brund said, having stepped over and up to Benthok. “Gather ‘round.” He motioned with his hands. “Come on, gather around.”
They made a half circle around the two lieutenants.
“We’ve got a bit of a hike ahead of us,” Brund said. “We’re headed for the ridge a few miles from here, where Taboth and I will make an ascent, which will require some scrambling and perhaps even a little climbing.”
“Sounds exciting,” Taboth said. “It’s been a while since we’ve climbed anything even remotely challenging.”
“True.” Brund paused, running his eyes around the small group. “Our job is simple. Get some eyes to the top of the ridge. The crest should provide a good vantage of the Keelbooth Valley and the canyon that leads into it from the plateau. From its summit, we will be able to get eyes on the wall the enemy holds that blocks the canyon and, when darkness settles in, be able to spot the enemy if they have an army in the valley. We don’t think they do, but this will tell us for sure. The warband needs that information.”
Tovak understood the campfires from such an army would be a dead giveaway.
“Speaking of the enemy, we are to avoid contact with them,” Benthok added. “However, we can expect patrols in the area we are moving into. Our advance scouts have seen them, so we need to keep an eye out. If we’re discovered, we need to kill them all so word about the detachment does not get out. The enemy can’t learn that we intend to move a force around behind the wall guarding the pass. If they do, it could spell disaster and make the warband’s job of getting into the valley that much more difficult.”
“That is correct,” Brund said. “We cannot afford to have them become wise to our presence. Part of our mission will be to find an easy route up, over the ridge, and down the other side for the entire detachment to move into position behind the enemy’s wall. Understand?”
“Yes, sir,” they all replied.
Brund looked to Benthok. “Do you wish to add anything more?”
“No,” Benthok said. “I’m good.”
“Any questions?” Brund asked, once again running his gaze around the small group.
No one said anything.
“Alright, we’re gonna move straight for the ridge in question,” Brund said. “Iger’s on point. Corporal Taboth, your boys will be on the right. Benthok, you and yours are on the left. Let’s get moving. Once we’re back into the forest, remain silent, finger speak only, keep your eyes open, and most important, stay alert. I don’t want to bump into any enemy patrols along the way. And make no mistake, the enemy is out there. If we do see a patrol, try to be ghosts and let them pass. Let’s go.”
He nodded to Iger, who turned and strode off, leading the way along the lake’s edge. Once they were around the side, Tovak moved out onto the left wing, along with Karn. Karn glanced behind them at the detachment on the other side of the lake, who were working at constructing the fortified camp. He looked back over at Tovak.
“Whenever officers say something is simple,” Karn said to him in a tone only the two of them could hear, “it never is.”
Tovak sucked in a breath at that. He had an uncomfortable feeling Karn was right. Then they plunged back into the forest. Setting a good pace, they moved as silently as possible as they worked their way deeper into the forest, which was filled with thick hardwoods.
Within a short time, they were soon climbing hills or working their way along the tops of ridges. Tovak searched, as he moved forward, for any sign of tracks, be they orc, goblin, or gnome. He saw none. The farther they went, the more excited he became at what they were doing. This was what he had trained for, and despite being tired from the day’s march, he found himself reinvigorated with a second wind and loving every moment of it.
Then, after several miles, Tovak almost stumbled to a stop as something occurred to him. He felt the pull. It was back. Once again, it was tugging him inexorably forward in the direction they were going. He wasn’t imagining the feeling. It was tangible and real. There was no doubt in his mind.
Was the pull coming from Thulla? For some strange reason he could not put his finger on, he suspected it was. What was going on with him? Why was his god taking such an interest in him? The last time it had drawn him to confront evil. Was such attention from his god a blessing or a curse? Tovak hoped and prayed it was the former. And yet, with every step, the anticipation grew into a feeling of worry and deep concern that there was something terrible out there, waiting for them.
Or was it waiting for him?
Chapter Ten
They moved through the forest like wraiths, silent and wary for any sign of the enemy. Lieutenant Brund led them four miles before they saw their destination in the distance. Through a gap in the trees at least another mile away was a high, steep ridge that rose before them. It was nearly a mountain in its own right. Tovak felt a thrill of exhilaration run through him as
he took in the ridge.
Brund led them on an unerring course forward through the forest, down one hill and up the next. When they came upon a swift-flowing river running between two hills, Brund paused and motioned Iger over. The two conferred for a moment before Iger emphatically pointed upstream.
With that, Brund started moving again and led them upstream more than a hundred yards to where a thick, fallen tree spanned the river. It lay a few feet above the rushing water. The river was five yards across and looked deep enough to swallow any one of them. Tovak eyed it warily, as did several of the others.
Brund paused at the tree, eyes scanning and listening to the sounds of the forest for several heartbeats. He scanned the far side of the river, then moved carefully across the log. Brund paused at the other side and took a knee. He flashed a hold sign back at them. Then, carefully, he moved ahead, disappearing from view. Tovak began counting in his head. When he reached two hundred, the lieutenant stepped back into view and gave a thumbs-up. Tovak felt a wave of relief.
Benthok crossed next, moving easily over the log. Tovak watched, like the rest of them. One slip and there would likely be no hope of saving oneself. The water was moving too fast and was strewn with rocks and boulders. Each of the other warriors crossed in turn. Karn and Tovak were last.
The corporal looked behind them. He scanned the forest for a long moment. Karn glanced at the rushing water and then back at Tovak.
“Don’t fall in the water.” The corporal flashed Tovak a grin and then started across himself.
A wave of nervousness hit Tovak. He wasn’t overly fond of water, especially as encumbered as he was with armor, a sword, and a heavy pack. He took a deep breath, stepped up onto the log, and crossed slowly, placing his feet carefully, one step after another. Halfway across, his right foot slipped as some of the bark fell away. Tovak’s heart almost stopped as he wobbled uncertainly, waving his arms out for balance. After a moment, he was able to recover. Once again steady, he glanced down at the water rushing by underneath the log and let out a relieved breath. He resumed his trek and made his way over the rest of the log. He hopped off the log and exhaled another relieved breath, as his feet were once again on solid ground.
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