“You will support Third Regiment, as necessary.”
“You have two quints. Form up Fifth Battalion on the approachway with Third Regiment. You and the imager undercaptains will be on the bridge where you can open the wall. Once that’s done, rejoin Fifth Battalion.”
“Yes, sir.” After the slightest pause, Quaeryt went on. “Where are we headed once we cross the river?”
“The marshal sent maps … and directions. Besides whatever forces are guarding the bridge, the largest numbers appear to be stationed behind and near the revetments to the north of the city. Our task is to strike from behind and not to allow them to escape.”
Quaeryt just nodded.
“The main avenue from the bridge splits into two roads at a square a half mille from the river. Fifth Regiment will take the eastern road, Third the western. Fifth Battalion will accompany Third Regiment…”
Skarpa finished outlining the plan of attack in less than a third of a quint, then departed with Meinyt, leaving Quaeryt to ready his own battalion. That was not difficult, since when Quaeryt left the inn, with the first low golden-white light of dawn spreading across the sky, he found Zhelan had already issued the orders and the battalion was largely ready to move out.
“Have the battalion form up with Third Regiment, wherever the commander orders. The imagers and I will rejoin you after we open the bridge wall.”
“Yes, sir.”
Quaeryt nodded acknowledgment and crossed the courtyard of the Bluff Point to where the imager undercaptains waited. Once there, he studied each with care. Threkhyl, unsurprisingly, looked hale and healthy, as did Voltyr and Shaelyt. Desyrk looked tired and slightly wan. Baelthm had deep circles under his eyes, and his face was grayish.
“Late yesterday,” Quaeryt began, “the northern army encircled north Villerive. The Bovarians attempted to break out. Casualties were very heavy on both sides. In order to prevent more heavy losses to our forces, Marshal Deucalon has ordered Commander Skarpa to attack the Bovarians from the rear by using the bridge. Fifth Regiment will lead the attack, followed by Third Regiment and Fifth Battalion. The first evolution of the attack will require us to clear the wall from the far end of bridge. That means removing the section now blocking access to the north. After that has been accomplished, we will rejoin the battalion in support of Third Regiment.” Quaeryt paused. “Any questions?”
Head shakes were the only replies.
“Mount up, then.”
When Quaeryt rode out of the courtyard and down the side street to the main avenue, the imagers behind him, Fifth Regiment was riding onto the bridge, but there was enough space for Quaeryt to guide the undercaptains along the railing, until they moved ahead of Meinyt and his vanguard, then through the gates on the south side and across the span to the north gates on the far side, still guarded by a squad from Fifth Battalion.
The squad leader rode over to meet Quaeryt. “Sir.”
“Are there any Bovarians on the bridge between these gates and the wall?”
“No, sir. Leastwise, there weren’t just a bit ago, less than a third of a quint ago.”
“Good. Once Fifth Regiment is in position, you can return to the battalion. Major Zhelan has it formed up with Third Regiment behind Fifth Regiment.”
“Yes, sir.”
In just a few moments, Meinyt rode up with his vanguard, then eased his mount up beside Quaeryt’s. “How do you suggest we handle this?”
“According to the squad leader who’s been guarding this gate, there aren’t any Bovarians on the bridge between the wall and the gate. I’d venture that any forces they have will be beyond the wall. So … we’ll have one of your men ride up to the gates, climb up, and make sure. If it’s still clear, they open the gates, and we ride to the wall. We do the same thing there to see what’s beyond. Then the imagers remove that section of the wall. If there are pikemen beyond the wall and waiting, I’ll lead the charge far enough to break the pikes, and then…” Quaeryt looked to Meinyt.
“We’ll take over from there. If there aren’t any pikes, we’ll lead.”
“They might have a pike emplacement at the foot of the approach, instead,” said Quaeryt. “We’ll stay with the van until we know.”
Meinyt nodded, then motioned.
In moments, a trooper mounted the gates and peered to the north. “The bridge is clear to the wall, sir.”
“Open the gates!”
Once the gates were open, Quaeryt and the imagers rode through them and forward the thirty yards to the gray stone wall. Quaeryt couldn’t be certain, but he thought he heard footsteps beyond the wall.
Once again, a trooper scaled the wall, but it took three men to help him because of the height and the smooth stone face. From the top, after looking northward, he reported, “There’s no one right near on the other side of the wall, sir, but looks like they’ve built a barrier of stones and stuff at the foot of the approach to the bridge. It’s got spears and spikes and pikes pointed our way in it, and pikemen waiting behind that.”
“How far away is the barrier?”
“Fifty yards, I’d say.”
“How many troopers can you see beyond the pikemen?”
“Hard to say, sir, but looks like a battalion or so. Might be more. Still a lot of shadows there.”
Meinyt motioned for the scout to descend, then looked at Quaeryt.
“We’ll take out the wall. Have at least a squad move forward, to shield the imagers once it’s down. Then we’ll do what we can to destroy the barrier with the spears and spikes. After that … we’ll still do what we can, but I don’t yet know how much that will be.”
“Do what you can.” Meinyt turned in the saddle. “Once the wall’s gone, first squad escorts the imagers forward on the right, the rest move forward into a five-man front, measured pace. Pass it back.”
Quaeryt waited until the orders echoed back, then looked to the undercaptains. “Threkhyl, I’d like you to remove the wall from one side of the road to the other. If you can’t do that, then take out as much as you can from the center of the roadbed outward. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then image, now!”
For a moment nothing happened. Then there was a flash of light, and a gust of chill air. The wall vanished, but a cascade of ice droplets clattered to the paving stones.
Quaeryt was impressed, in spite of himself. “Excellent!” He looked at Threkhyl, who swayed slightly in the saddle and who appeared pale. “Drink something, and eat a biscuit or bread. Right now!”
The ginger-bearded imager reached for his water bottle, lifted it, and slowly drank.
“First squad! Forward!”
The first ranks of the vanguard rode through the wide gap in the wall.
“Shaelyt, Voltyr…” Quaeryt motioned for the two to ride behind him as he eased the mare to the right side of the roadbed and moved forward. Then he looked forward, noting that two lines of pikemen, perhaps three or more, had angled the long weapons toward the Telaryn riders, the tips of the forward-most pikes even with the spears and sharpened poles protruding from the rubble barrier at the end of the approach to the bridge.
Voltyr and Shaelyt exchanged glances.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then, when I give the command, do so … but wait until I do.”
Meinyt eased his mount beside Quaeryt. “We don’t have much room here.”
“We can take out the barrier, and maybe some of the pikes. If we can’t do that, I can still break part of the center. Are you ready?”
“We’re ready.”
