mistake somewhere, but then I saw the light flashing on her face. Penny’s mouth opened slightly as she drew a sharp breath and then the sound washed over us. It was as if lightning had struck a thousand times, at close range, a tremendous crashing roar that swept everything before it.
Looking up I saw devastation on a scale that I could scarcely comprehend. Fire and smoke were blossoming outward from a thousand places along the road, stretching away from us for almost four miles in one direction. I had spaced my devices thirty to forty feet apart, buried along the road. From what I could see that had been overkill. The sound of it was gone within seconds, and in the silence it left behind all that could be heard were the screams of dying horses and men. Those that hadn’t been killed outright were horribly maimed, missing arms and legs. Most of them would be dead within minutes. Only those lucky enough to have been more than forty or fifty feet from the road survived, and many of those were badly burned or otherwise injured.
Smoke and dust obscured our view now, but I could see many of the survivors running away from the road, toward us. I assumed others would be running the other direction, so I set the second bag on the stone and repeated my action. Another roaring wave of sound, almost as great as the first, rolled over us as more explosions destroyed the other side of the road. Only those who ran toward the river would be spared. I took out the third bag, but Penny laid her hand on my arm.
“Enough Mort, no more, please…” she said and I could see her eyes were wet. I should have felt the same, but my own heart had gone missing, replaced by a cold void. Pushing her hand aside I smashed the third bag. It was too far to see, but Arundel was swept by a storm of explosions just as the road had been. I couldn’t be certain the enemy had left men there, but it paid to be sure. After a span of seconds we could hear the booms echoing across the valley.
It was time to go, I could see the survivors stumbling across the grassy plain toward us, but I realized that some of the glass stones in the first bag had survived. Not willing to leave the job undone I put it back on the rock and began methodically crushing them all. A few scattered explosions sprang up at distant points along the road. After several swings I had probably shattered all the glass jewels but I kept hammering, pounding the rock until fragments of stone began to fly away. I could hear someone shouting but I ignored them until finally Penny grabbed my wrist, halting the hammer in mid-swing.
It was proof of her strength, the hammer weighed more than ten pounds and she had stopped my swing cold. With her other hand she took it gently from me while I stared at her. Finally I closed my mouth, I had been screaming without realizing it. “We have to go. They’re almost here,” she told me calmly.
I nodded and stood up. A few steps and a moment’s concentration took us home. The castle yard was strangely silent as we walked among the people milling there. Everyone watched me carefully as I made my way among them to the main door. I could see the same question in every face, until at last one man dared to ask, “How did it go, milord?”
I drew myself up. It would not do to show them the pain I held inside. They needed hope, not a man torn by guilt and self-doubt. Taking a deep breath I spoke loudly that all could hear me, “It went even better than I expected. Most of them are dead; those that remain will be mourning their dead during the short time that remains to them.”
I paused and a shout went up. I waited for it to die down but they only got louder. Every man in the yard as well as those within the keep began to gather around me. The cheering swelled and became a chant as they repeated my name again and again. I was drowning in admiration. They cheered for a butcher. A hard lump formed in my throat and I knew I would lose control of my emotions if it didn’t stop.
Raising my hands for silence I stared at them until they finally wound down. Once the noise was such that they could hear me again I shouted for quiet. Eventually I got it. “We have taken the first step, but there is much you must do this day, and it will not be easy. Lord Dorian and Master Cyhan will be here in a moment to give you your assignments. Most of you will be sent out to watch the enemy. There are bodies strewn along the road for over four miles. Among them are wounded, men who will take a long time dying. Your job will be to show them mercy. You will also ensure that the enemy withdraws to the valley to regroup. Do not thank me until you see the bloody work that lies before you.”
I turned and left them there. I needed privacy as a man dying of thirst needs water. I never made it to my quarters however, Dorian caught up to me in the corridor. “Mordecai! Wait up! We need to talk.”
Looking back I saw Penny mouthing something silently to him. Probably a warning concerning my mental state, I pretended not to see it. “We talked about this yesterday,” I said wearily.
His face was worried, “That was yesterday. You haven’t given us the specifics yet. Plans change in the face of the present.”
I sighed, “It went better than we expected. Four miles of road will need to be rebuilt once this is over. Arundel is in ruins.”
“But what of their army? How many survived?” he asked insistently.
It was a struggle not to shout, but I kept my voice even, “Less than a quarter, beyond that I can’t be sure. Those that camped on the valley side of the road were largely unscathed. Make sure you don’t engage them. If you see any groups that still remain organized avoid them. Just harass them and finish what wounded you find.” I finished and turned away.
“But Mort…” he began.
I kept my back to him, “Just do it Dorian. Go clean up my damn mess! I don’t want to see you or anyone else until it’s time for me to kill the rest.” I left him there without looking back but with my mage-sight I could feel him looking after me in shock. I couldn’t have cared less. I found my rooms and locked the outer door. Penny was still outside but she had a key, not that I really wanted to see her either.
A bottle of wine sat on a table in the front room. Now that’s an excellent idea, I thought to myself. A moment later I had uncorked it and sitting down I began to drink. The rest of the world could go hang. I glanced at my hands, at some point they had developed a tremor. I wondered how many glasses it would take before the shaking stopped.
Chapter 35
Two hours later I had finished the bottle. I might have gone for another but I didn’t want to risk leaving my rooms. A knock at the door took the choice from me.
“Go away!” I shouted.
A key turned in the lock and Penny entered, “There’s someone here to see you.” She had a serious tone in her voice.
“Such as?” I said, taking care to slur the words eloquently.
“An emissary from Vendraccus, he came under a white flag,” she answered with a tone of disapproval in her voice. “Have you been drinking?”
“Perhaps,” I said carelessly. “I find it to be invigorating. Tell Dorian to accept his surrender and send them packing.”
“He hasn’t come to surrender and he won’t speak to anyone but you,” she replied, her frown deepening.
“Fine,” I growled. “Clear the hall and have him brought to the high table. I’ll meet him there. Tell Dorian to wear his sword, I don’t want anyone there besides the two of you.”
She gave me a look that spoke volumes. I ignored it and played with the empty bottle. “Are you coming?” she asked.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” I replied casually.
“What sort of minute?” she asked, “The kind that is just a minute, or the sort where we sit around waiting for you to sober up for half an hour?”
I gave her a look of offended innocence. “If you must know… the sort of minute where I empty my overworked bladder, this bottle didn’t just empty itself by magic.” I twirled the bottle in my hands but the effect was spoiled when I dropped it. She slammed the door as she left.
Once the door closed I stood and assessed my balance. It seemed good… at least I was able to walk without needing support. I considered my options and decided the balcony was a bad idea, someone might be below. I didn’t relish a trip to the privies so with a sigh I found the chamber pot. I chuckled when I thought of what Penny
