safely return. I’ll make sure to send him for the job,” I replied smiling.
“Just make sure it’s soon nephew. These people can’t live like this for long before they start to sicken,” she told me.
I thought for a moment. “Tonight I hope. I don’t want to send anyone to Lancaster until I’m sure that Vendraccus has committed himself against us here.”
Chapter 37
By late afternoon the last of our patrols were forced to retreat to Cameron Castle. The enemy had reached us and begun digging in for what might be a long siege. I considered sending men out to harass them as they prepared their camps but Cyhan convinced me it was an ill-advised plan. They had at least five thousand able men and a large portion of them were holding ready to repel us should we attempt to sally.
Their numbers were enough for concern, since they outnumbered us almost ten to one, but what truly had me worried were the siege engines. I could see a variety of devices at the rear of their lines; machines I had seen in books but never imagined would someday be arrayed against me. There were small onagers and ballista, mounted on wheels and drawn by teams of horses. The onagers were simple affairs, with a throwing arm and a small bucket that could be loaded with various types of ammunition, such as rocks or firebrands. The ballistae were essentially giant crossbows and appeared to be loaded with large spear type bolts.
More frightening was the taller construction near the back. Unless I missed my guess it would be a large trebuchet when completed. The trebuchet had a much longer throwing arm with a sling like cup at one end to hold a projectile. The short end near the axle would have a heavy counterweight when it was finished. It was too large to be moved easily so they had brought the parts and were assembling it as we watched. Given its large size it would probably be able to throw rocks weighing several hundred pounds over a distance of hundreds of yards. The walls would never be able to withstand the assault once they had their range.
Dorian and Marc stood with me on the wall watching their progress. “I’m starting to feel under-dressed for this party,” Marc commented.
Dorian laughed, “It’s looking more and more like we are going to be on the receiving end of a lot of nasty siege weaponry. Can’t you do something about those things Mort?”
“Not while they’re that far out. How far do you think they can shoot?” I asked.
Dorian thought for a moment. “The ballista and the trebuchet will be able to fire from five hundred yards or so, perhaps further if they don’t mind missing more often. The onagers will need to get within three hundred yards at least.”
I didn’t like his assessment. Since Penny and I had formed the bond my best range for destructive magic was close to five hundred yards. The onagers probably wouldn’t be a problem for me but I doubted I would be able to do anything to disable the trebuchet at that distance. I would have to adjust my plans. “How long before they attack?” I asked.
Dorian’s answer was immediate, “Tomorrow.”
“You’re sure?”
“They won’t advance until their position has firmed up and the siege weapons are ready. They also have to worry that the king may be sending a relief force so they won’t waste time. If I was their commander I would start as soon as possible, and that would be tomorrow at dawn.” There was little doubt in my friend’s voice.
“Marc… tonight I want you to take the women and children back to Lancaster. You remember how to use the circles right?” I asked him.
He sighed, “You’ve asked me that about a dozen times. Yes I can remember, and even if I couldn’t my Lady would provide the necessary knowledge. It’s her power I am using after all. But why me?”
“It will take a lot of trips back and forth,” I told him. “I don’t want to exhaust myself the night before the assault begins. By the way, I’m sending your father with a small force to eliminate the small group they left behind to watch your home. Your mother requests that you not bring him back with you.”
“I can see I’m about to become more popular with him,” he laughed. “You certainly picked an unpleasant task for me.”
I grimaced. “I’m afraid there are no pleasant tasks,” I said sourly.
That night things went as smoothly as could be hoped. Marc took his father and a group of about fifty men back to Lancaster. I didn’t go with them but apparently they were able to eliminate the enemy scouts without too much trouble. Five of the men were injured but Marc’s goddess healed them almost before the battle was done.
After that they sealed the gates and Marc began transporting the women and children back as quickly as he could manage. Despite the fact that his goddess provided all the energy it still exhausted him. He explained to me later that although his Lady’s energy was limitless (according to him) his body limited what she could do. The more he channeled her power the more it cost him in terms of fatigue and exhaustion. I filed the information away as being of possible future use. After all I had already faced two channelers working for Mal’goroth and there might be more.
Penny and I retired early. Neither of us was tired but I figured the more time we gave ourselves to ‘attempt’ to sleep the better our chances were of succeeding. As it was we slept fitfully but we did manage to get five or six hours of good rest. I was sure we would need it come morning.
By the time dawn arrived we had already been up for several hours. I watched the sun lighting the horizon to the east with Penny. We were standing on top of the curtain wall trying to make out the enemy’s arrangements as they became steadily more visible. Most of our warriors were positioned behind the wooden palisade which stood a full hundred yards beyond the outer curtain wall. We planned to hold the enemy there as long as we could before retreating within the more defensible stone walls. At least that is what I had told them. I hadn’t shared my true plan with anyone yet.
Penny’s eyes grew wide as the dawn sun brought greater clarity to the field laid out before us. Her eyes darted back and forth, from our earthworks to the enemy lines and their siege weapons beyond that. A gasp escaped her lips almost inaudibly. I turned to look at her face but she put her back to me to hide her expression.
“It’s today isn’t it?” I said calmly. Some inner intuition had told me what caused her to react like this.
She didn’t answer immediately. She kept her back to me and hugged herself. I didn’t press, waiting instead for her to find the words. After several long minutes she looked back at me. “Yes,” she answered simply. Her eyes were wet.
“How do you know?”
“I’ve had a feeling of deja vu since we walked out here this morning, but I wasn’t sure until I saw that,” she gestured toward the enemy encampment. “It looks almost exactly like what I saw in my vision. It can’t be more than… more than… a few hours…,” her voice broke as she spoke forcing her to leave the sentence unfinished. I gently drew her to me and she shook as I held her, crying softly into my shoulder.
I felt strangely calm as she wept. The events of the past few weeks had been a wild jumble of emotions but now I felt numb. There was nothing left for me but to finish what I had started. When she finished I held her at arm’s length gazing solemnly into her eyes. “If it is today, then I have several things to tell you. Things you will have to finish for me,” I said slowly.
Her eyes narrowed for a moment, “You’ve been keeping secrets again.”
“Just a few… Nothing dire, but you will have to play my part if I die before the time is right,” I told her.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Not yet, we have something else to take care of first,” I said meaningfully.
