Song of Echoes

by R. E. Palmer

  Elodi watched the line. ‘Now that’s a gathering I would happily decline an invitation to attend.’

  Gundrul laughed. ‘There you go, ma’am, you’re getting into the spirit.’

  Ruan scoffed under his breath. ‘Almost.’

  In the gatehouse, men surged to the wall. The shout went up. ‘Scout!’ A horse rode at speed through the main gate and trotted up the cobbled pathway to the inner gate. Elodi heaved a sigh, relieved another scout had returned, but she doubted they carried anything other than bad news. The city grew silent as the hinges creaked and groaned as the heavy gates swung shut. In the years since the building of the Caerwal Gate, the city welcomed traders, visitors and the odd stranger. But for the first time in living memory, a rumble echoed through the streets as the main gate was closed and thick beams dropped into their brackets.

  Gundrul gestured to the defenders. ‘Would you like to address them, ma’am? Just a few words of encouragement for those about to fight in your name.’

  Elodi stuttered. ‘Oh, I haven’t prepared a speech, I wasn’t aware I should—’

  ‘Then may I, ma’am?’ He glanced to Ruan and laughed. ‘I’m pretty confident I can do a better job than this old lug. His morale-raising words may be a little too… shall we say, flowery for your ladyship’s ears.’

  She grinned. ‘I’m sure it wouldn’t be anything I haven’t heard before.’

  Gundrul smirked. ‘I wouldn’t be so sure, ma’am.’ He turned to face the outer wall. ‘But we don’t have time for a full address as such. Shall I rouse them with a quick speech?’

  ‘Yes, yes, of course.’ She held out her hand. ‘Please, be my guest, Captain.’

  Gundrul stepped up and bellowed. ‘Stand firm! Let’s show these bastards they can’t stroll into the Five Realms at will. Show no mercy. Spare no force. Strike them down so even their ugly mothers won’t recognize them.’ Elodi watched the upturned faces of the soldiers about to do battle under her command. While a few nodded their approval of Gundrul’s words, others looked too scared to move, but Elodi did not, for one moment, doubt their spirit and loyalty. She hoped she could justify their trust.

  Gundrul thrust his sword into the night sky. ‘For Calerdorn! And for Lady Harlyn!’ He turned back as the defenders cheered and yelled her name. Gundrul nodded to himself. ‘That should do it, ma’am.’

  Elodi smiled. ‘That was… quite poetic, Gundrul.’

  He saluted. ‘Thank you, ma’am.’

  Ruan grunted. ‘Worthy of a song, Gunny.’

  Elodi fidgeted with her sword belt. ‘Perhaps a victory will be the stuff of songs for years to come.’

  ‘Well, now’s our time, ma’am.’ Ruan pointed. ‘They’re stopping and setting up camp.’ More torches burst into flame, shedding a flickering yellow light far across the plain.

  Gundrul clicked his tongue. ‘Like I said, complacent. He’s trying to intimidate by letting us see his full force.’

  Elodi gaped as dozens of Ruuk scrambled over the large wagons and threw back the covers. Thick, tall beams of Uldrak’s monstrous engines reared up in the torchlight and assembled with frightening speed. She could not keep still. ‘Remind me. What is the range of our trebuchets?’

  Gundrul pointed. ‘See the dip in the plain, ma’am? That’s where the trial rounds landed yesterday.’

  She clenched her fist. ‘Ah, then Uldrak appears to know exactly where to set up camp. How long before he’ll be ready to attack.’

  ‘An hour, possibly two. It depends on the skill of his crews.’

  Elodi scanned the walls. ‘Is there anything we can do? A pre-emptive strike before they can set up?’

  Gundrul eyed the enemy torches. ‘If we send out every defender, they would still outnumber us, ma’am. He’s placed spears and archers close to the engines, and foot soldiers ready to rush in and finish those they unhorse. I’m afraid all we can do is sit tight behind our walls and wait. As the battle progresses there may be a time to strike out, but for now’ — he turned and leaned on the wall — ‘I suggest you sit, ma’am and drink plenty of water. It’s surprising how quickly you work up a thirst in battle.’

  As hard as she found it, Elodi turned her back on the unfolding doom out on the plain, and sat on the low ledge. She looked up to Gundrul and Ruan. ‘Can you make your last checks on our preparations, please?’ They nodded, reading her desire to be alone. Elodi stared at the clouds flecked with the torchlight of her city and the army desiring its fall. She wondered what her father would have done in her situation. Had she made the right decisions? She accepted a drink from a young girl assigned to the wall. Her fingers gripped the cup as her dry throat welcomed the cool water. Her body tried to recall the moves taught by her sword-master, but her tight muscles made the swiftness and freedom of her limbs from those lessons a distant memory.

  Footsteps on the stairs. Elodi stirred to see Gundrul and Ruan return. She stood as Gundrul nodded to the plain. ‘They’re moving, ma’am. Just under an hour. His crews are skilled.’

  ‘An hour? Already?’ Below, her own artillery burst into action. Ropes creaked as they took the strain to bring down the beams of eight trebuchets into place. The revolving bases groaned as they lined up their first shots, predicting the approaching paths of the enemy weapons.

  Elodi’s heart quickened as Uldrak’s force formed into dark columns behind his machines. She willed the ground to open up and swallow them, but the lines rumbled on, eating up the plain as if whetting their appetite to feast on her city. The black, heavy weaponry gleamed in the torchlight. Elodi’s dry mouth refused her attempt to swallow. She counted. ‘I can only see six, the scouts reported at least two dozen.’

  Gundrul checked. ‘Don’t raise your hopes yet, ma’am. Uldrak won’t put them all in range yet. He’ll want to take ours out of the reckoning before bringing up the rest.’

  ‘Then I pray our aim is true and better than theirs.’ Bright flames lit up the walls as the fire balls ignited, hurling their heat into Elodi’s face. Her heart pounded faster, remembering the sight of the Archon’s retaliation at the Caerwal Gate. Suddenly, it felt very real, as if until now, it did not seem possible. Harlyn teetered on the brink of war, and she was about to unleash the first shot.

  Gundrul read her mind. ‘This isn’t your doing, ma’am. You didn’t invite these marauders into your realm. We’ll give them what they deserve. And don’t be under any illusion they’ll show mercy should they capture the city.’

  Ruan exclaimed. ‘They’ve reached the outer range markers, ma'am.’ He raised his eyebrows.

  Gundrul cleared his throat. ‘Ma’am? They’re awaiting your command to let loose. Do I have permission to give it?’

  Elodi’s tongue clicked. ‘Yes, please do.’ Gundrul turned, picked up a torch and waved it over his head. Immediately, the walls shuddered as the counterweights dropped and the long beams launched eight flaming orbs streaking into the night. Elodi’s fingers dug into the wall as perfect arcs of yellow fire tore up the sky. She held her breath as they reached the top of their trajectory, before plunging earthbound towards their intended targets. As one, they exploded, spraying globules of fire in all directions. Elodi flinched as the sudden brightness lit up more rows of Uldrak’s army. Seconds later, the boom thundered over their heads. Her chest swelled, proud of her city’s show of power vibrating through her bones. Elodi scanned the line of impact for signs of destruction.

  ‘There, ma’am.’ Gundrul pointed to the center. ‘One burns.’

  ‘One?’ She found the spot. Fire engulfed a black skeleton of an enormous machine, wrapping its flames around the wood and snatching at the crew desperately jumping from the condemned engine. Elodi searched for more victims. ‘Just the one?’

  ‘One is a magnificent effort, ma’am. Your men only had a few days to practice.’ The surviving engines crept closer like large, terrifying beasts ready to tear its prey to pieces.

  Elodi shuddered. ‘How long before they can retaliate?’

  ‘We have t
he advantage of height, ma’am. We should have time for two more volleys before they can reply.’

  ‘Reply? Such a casual expression for such a daunting prospect.’ Again, Calerdorn’s defenses spat forth its fire, but Elodi counted only seven arcs. She checked the outer wall. Two men clambered up the frame of an inactive trebuchet to her right. She glanced back to the plain, waiting for her sight to recover from the bright salvo.

  Gundrul beat her to it. ‘One more, ma’am! We’re hurting them.’

  But Ruan remained unmoved. ‘We make a big target. They still have enough in reserve to hurt us back.’

  Elodi groaned. ‘Plenty more if the scouts guessed the number correct.’ She peered over the wall of flame on the plain. ‘Where are their reserve engines? If they incapacitate ours and bring them forward…’

  ‘We have other means, ma’am. Uldrak has committed all his force to the attack, leaving his weapons undefended at the rear. I see no sign of horses, meaning your knights can counter-strike. Aldorman could launch hit-and-run raids. A sharp blade can damage a rope, cut down the crews, or a well-placed torch can easily disable an engine doused in spilled fuel.’

  Elodi envisaged her knights outside the safety of the wall. ‘They number barely sixty. I hope it doesn’t come to that.’

  Gundrul yelled over the next volley bursting from the wall. ‘But it’s a decision you may have to make, ma’am. They will not make it easy.’

  Elodi groaned. The engines had moved faster than her artillery had calculated, causing the shots to land long. ‘None, we didn’t hit one!’ The opening exchanges reminded her of a game she had played as a young girl with skittles and a ball. She had beaten every child in the city, knocking down all of their skittles while her pieces still stood. But back then, only her childish pride had been at stake, and now she thought of it, had they let her win? Being the only offspring of the lord and without a mother, had they taken pity on her?

  Ruan leaned over the wall. ‘They’re setting up positions, ma’am.’ Elodi shrank back.

  Gundrul bellowed. ‘Take them out! Take them out!’ Frantic men readied their machines for one more unanswered volley. But another trebuchet had become inoperable — just six flaming orbs roared into the sky.

  ‘Ma’am!’ Elodi turned to the new arrival as the shots exploded; the shocked face of a scout surveyed the scene below as the sky lit up.

  ‘None hit, ma’am.’ Ruan announced.

  The man accompanying the scout spoke. ‘He’s just returned, ma’am, through the postern gate on the north wall.’

  Her heart sank at the sight of his gaunt face. She dared to ask. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Boats, ma’am.’ He struggled to catch his breath. ‘I saw them, dozens of rowing boats, packed with Ruuk preparing to leave Inverdorn Bay.’

  Her mind raced. ‘When was this?’

  ‘I spied them late yesterday evening, ma’am. They left at first light this morning. I tracked them along the coast before taking the mountain pass here. Should the current favor them, they’ll be fast approaching our dock.’

  Elodi glanced to Gundrul. ‘This is a concern. I’ve never known them to sail.’ She turned to the west, longing to see a storm brewing. ‘If there were any justice in this world, the sea would dash them to pieces on the rocks.’ But she saw no sign. ‘Gundrul? Do we have enough archers stationed at the dock?’

  ‘Not nearly enough to defend a full-scale assault, ma’am. And should they land, we don’t have the numbers to prevent them gaining a foothold.’

  ‘Can we spare archers from the main gate?’

  Her captain thought for a moment. ‘Possibly. It could be half an hour before they commit infantry to the attack the gates. Uldrak will be in no hurry, and from what the guards rescued from the wood say, he’ll be relishing the encounter, and imagine he’ll want to be first through the gate. But he’ll wait until he’s silenced our heavy weapons, and possibly has a breach in our wall to exploit.’

  ‘Then give the order for every other archer at the gate to deploy to the docks immediately.’ Gundrul summoned his messenger and issued the order. Elodi addressed the young scout as he stared wide-eyed at the enemy. ‘Please go and rest. You have done your city and Harlyn a great service.’ She turned to Ruan and made the calculations in her head. ‘How many of your spearmen could defend the docks?’

  With no hesitation he answered. ‘Thirty. It’s narrow.’

  ‘Is that sufficient? If the Ruuk establish a foothold on the quayside, we’re vulnerable to more landing, not to mention the loss of supplies from Seransea.’

  Ruan nodded. ‘It's more than enough. My spearmen will soon run them through.’

  ‘Excellent. Move them now. And please lead them for me, Captain. We cannot afford to surrender the dock. I’d be happier knowing you’re at the head.’ Ruan saluted and left.

  Elodi glanced back to the plain as the enemy weapons delivered their first reply. She watched helpless as the fiery spheres grew larger as they hurtled towards her precious city.

  Calerdorn shook as the shots slammed home. Elodi recovered her feet and jumped up to survey the damage. Two had fallen short but sent burning fragments over the wall, starting several fires. Another hit the wall to the left of the main gate, but despite dislodging a few stones, the ancient rock held firm. But to Elodi’s dismay, the last scored a direct hit on one of her heavy weapons. Splinters of burning wood lay in all directions, having taken down archers and damaging the next trebuchet along the wall.

  She spluttered. ‘We have only a few left!’ The last of her weapons let fly. Elodi feared Uldrak would count their trails with relish, ready to hurl his destruction into the city unanswered. But just as she despaired, one of the missiles found its target. She punched the air. ‘And another! They’ve only three remaining.’ But her joy was short-lived, remembering Uldrak had more weapons in reserve.

  Gundrul guessed her question. ‘It will take time to bring the others forward, ma’am.’ Elodi ducked as the remaining Ruuk weapons launched another assault. She straightened as they exploded harmlessly on the ground in front of the walls. Defenders rushed to extinguish the fires taking hold. She turned, looking for signs of the attack at the docks. But she had no direct line of sight, and it lay hundreds of yards from her position. She took encouragement from the sky above which remained free of smoke and flame.

  Another volley flew from her walls, landing amongst Uldrak’s forces behind the machines. Gundrul glanced back to the city. ‘I’ll send a man to the docks, ma’am. We’ll be needing the archers back here before long.’ He caught her eye. ‘You are aware, ma’am, our trebuchets will be useless against the raiders once they’re closer to the walls.’ He whistled as his finger traced an arc through the air. ‘They can only shoot up and over, and not in a direct line. If they try to shorten the range, they’re more of a danger to us.’

  ‘Ah yes, I suppose that would be the case. Then I trust our archers are up to the task and able to take out the ballistae.’

  ‘If they’re using fuel to ignite the bolts, a flaming arrow from our walls will do the same.’

  Her jaw clenched. ‘That’s reassuring.’

  ‘But all depends on how long the archers get a free shot. They’ll have their hands full once those brutes deploy their ladders. And if they reach the battlements, they’ll overwhelm us all too soon if we can’t stem the flow.’

  Elodi slapped the wall. ‘There must be something more we can do.’

  ‘Your knights could yet save the day, and with the support of Ruan’s spears, we may still hold the upper hand.’

  Below, her weapons launched another attack, including two of the malfunctioning trebuchets brought back into action. Volleys flew back and forth and, as Gundrul predicted, Uldrak brought two more units up to his front line. Both sides took hits until the macabre game eventually ran out of players.

  Calerdorn’s walls had performed their duty and held, but now the attack would focus on the entrance. The enemy edged ever nearer, bringing the g
ate into the range of the ballistae. Uldrak’s feared weapons glistened in the fires still burning on the plain like sweating beasts cornering their prey. Elodi’s thinned-out archers joined the fray, but their flaming arrows failed to strike home, bouncing harmlessly off walls of shields. Four ballistae came to a halt, forming a bristling arc opposite the main gate. Behind the shields, dark figures bustled, bringing forward wagons carrying what Elodi suspected was their foul concoction to ignite the bolts.

  ‘Ma’am!’ She spun around. An out of breath Ruan stood before her. ‘The dock is safe. The threat seen off.’ He gasped for air and pointed to the wall. She turned to see lines of archers streaming back to their positions. ‘Most are fit for duty.’

  She grasped his shoulder. ‘Excellent, and not a moment too soon. The gate is about to come under—’

  ‘Ladders!’ The shout from the parapet stopped her dead. A dozen archers staggered back, tumbling from the ledge, peppered by black darts.

  Gundrul stared. ‘Crossbows! They have crossbows? Only our elite forces carry such weapons.’ But Elodi had no time to take in the implication. The four bolts pointing at the gate burst into flame.

  Ruan bellowed to his men behind the gate. ‘Stand clear!’ A gap opened as the projectiles unleashed and slammed home. The beams bolstering the gate buckled but held firm. Of the four, one head pierced the old wood, spraying fire into Ruan’s spearman and Aldorman’s knights. The horses reared up, Elodi’s heart broke as they squealed in anguish.

  Ruan yelled above the roar. ‘It won’t hold long, ma’am. There’s mischief in those flames, it don’t burn right.’

  ‘Get them back, Ruan. They don’t stand a chance against this devilry. Withdraw them behind the inner gate, we’ll have to surrender the main entrance and hit them from the gatehouse parapets.’ Ruan yelled his command. His men withdrew in formation, still facing the gate to protect the knights as their horses were happy to retreat from the crackling flames.

  The chains rang out as the heavy portcullis of the inner gate dropped shut. Back at the walls, the first ladders clattered against the stone. Archers shouldered their bows and rushed to heave the already laden ladders back with some success. But others gained the top and swarmed through the battlements. The reserves of Dorn and Noor ran forward, but were no match against the battle-hardened Ruuk. Elodi’s heart went out to her soldiers as they fell back with mounting losses. She cried out. ‘We have to save them!’