like he just closed his eyes after he returned from the meeting with Lord Pytherian.
“Yes, sir,” Devin says and backs out of the tent.
He lies there in silence for several minutes and is about ready to slip back to sleep when the tent flap opens again. “Go away Devin,” he says, arm still over his face.
When Devin doesn’t answer he turns his head toward the tent flap and opens an eye just in time to see a bucket’s worth of water come flying through the air toward him. Eyes flying open, he freezes in startlement as the cold water hits him.
“Ahhh!” he cries as he sits up, drenched with water.
“Time to wake up sleepyhead,” Jiron says with a chuckle.
James glances toward the flap and sees him there with an empty bucket in his hand. “What did you do that for?” he says accusingly.
“You did tell me to make sure everyone was up by dawn,” he explains.
“I did not!” he replies.
“Yes, you did. Now get changed,” he insists before leaving the tent.
Clothes soaked and beginning to shiver from the cold water, he gets up and changes into a dry set of clothes. Once he’s changed, he takes out his shaving kit and removes what stubble has grown since the last time he shaved. Leaving the old wet clothes on the floor of the tent, he makes his way outside.
The plaza is a flurry of activity as everyone hurries to make ready for the upcoming battle. Food is being prepared, swords sharpened and armor is mended as best it can. Devin comes to him with a bowl of food and a mug of water.
“Thanks,” he says with a yawn as he takes it.
“You’re welcome,” he replies. Off to one side he sees Illan in his full Black Hawk regalia talking to Henri. Eating his food while he walks, James makes his way over.
“…as if they’re fortifying their position,” Henri is saying.
Illan turns at his approach and says, “The enemy is digging in. Scouts report that more troops have arrived during the night.”
“Possibly another couple thousand,” Henri interjects. “Lord Pytherian thinks they may have already been on the way before your attack last night and not a response to it.”
He looks to Illan and asks, “Will this change our plans any?”
Shaking his head, he replies, “I doubt it. Just make things more interesting.”
Henri glances to James and says, “Hope you can pull this off.”
“Me too,” he agrees. “How far away is dawn?”
“An hour or so,” he replies.
“Have Delia meet me over by the baggage once everyone’s done eating,” he says.
“Very well,” replies Illan. Then to Henri he says, “Tell Lord Pytherian we’ll be ready at the appointed time.”
“Yes, sir, Black Hawk,” Henri replies. Giving Illan a salute, he turns and makes his way from the plaza back toward the castle.
James runs through in his mind the various preparations he’s done in anticipation of the upcoming battle. He fervently hopes the items he brought from The Ranch will work the way he anticipates.
After everyone’s finished eating, he meets with the slingers by the tent where his ‘special’ baggage is being stored during their stay. Usually there’s a guard standing out front to keep everyone away, it wouldn’t do to have someone meddle in an area that could kill everyone. Today Terrance has that duty.
He steps inside and leaves with a large sack, the contents bulging the sides. Reaching in, he pulls out a small pouch and begins handing one to each. “Don’t open it now,” he tells them. Each pouch is bound closed with a red twine, all the various pouches and sacks containing his magically imbued crystals are color coated in this manner for easy identification.
When each is holding their pouch, he says, “This will be your initial ammunition. Inside each pouch are three balls of hardened clay. Inside the clay is something, that once it leaves the confines of the sack it is currently within, becomes activated. Once it does, you haven’t much time before it goes off.”
Caleb holds up his pouch and gives it an apprehensive look. The others’ expressions range from worry to excitement.
“So remove one at a time, get it launched toward the enemy, then remove the next and so forth.” He returns within the tent. When he exits again, he hands a long bundle to Devin. “Hold onto this until we get out there. I’ll need you and Moyil to give me a hand setting it up. It’s imperative we get this in position before the enemy launches their attack.”
“I thought we were to attack them?” Terrance asks.
James glances at him and replies, “When they see us march out of the gates, I doubt if they’ll simply allow us all the time in the world to get ready.”
“Yeah, Terry,” Jace says as he elbows him in the ribs.
“Alright, sorry,” Terrance says.
Holding up her pouch to James Delia asks, “Will these be enough to destroy the enemy?”
“Let’s hope so,” he says. “I have a few other surprises as well, but I’ll be in charge of those.” He glances around the assembled group. “When you’ve exhausted the contents of your pouch, start using the slugs. I trust you’ve given each an extra supply?”
Delia nods her head and says, “After this they’ll each be given three score slugs.”
“Good.” He glances over to where Illan and the men-at-arms are gathering and sees that they have already mounted and are waiting for them. “Time to go. Get your slugs and let’s be on our way.”
“Yes, sir,” Delia says and then takes her slingers over to another area where the slugs are stored and gives each their supply.
As they leave, James turns back to the tent and goes inside. Many sacks are still contained within, both magical and non. He removes a crystal from one of the sacks and places it on the floor just inside the entrance. Stepping back out of the tent, he says, “Shield.” A shimmering barrier springs up around the tent, effectively preventing anyone from gaining access to the items contained within. It will last half a day and unless the battle rages longer than that, they should be back in time to post a guard before it fails.
Satisfied, he turns toward where Devin is waiting with his horse. On Devin’s belt, he sees the pouch he gave him already secured there. Slung across his back is a pack, bulging at the bottom from the weight of the slugs Delia gave him.
Taking the reins, James mounts and turns to gaze over the assembled force. Illan’s Black Hawk Raiders all but fill the courtyard. Jiron and his fighters are close, as are Delia and her slingers. Errin and Aleya have been assigned to Hedry and his archers for the duration of the battle.
Miko rides forward and comes to a stop next to him.
“Stay close,” James tells him. Miko nods in reply.
Glancing at his companion since the beginning of this whole adventure, he can’t believe the changes he’s gone through. First, losing his youth to the Fire, and now his demeanor is changing yet again. The Star he carries appears to be mellowing him, he’s become more serious and confident. His playfulness resurfaces every now and then, but those occurrences are growing less frequent.
“Ready?” he asks Miko.
He gives James a grin and says, “Like you always say, ‘No, but I never will be for something like this.’”
James returns his grin and then nods to Illan.
“Move out!” Illan hollers and with James next to him, they leave the plaza. Just behind them comes the rider bearing the flag with the Black Hawk insignia. The sight of the flag gives the men a sense of pride and esprit de corps.
Word must have spread through the night despite their best attempts at secrecy that something was planned for this morning. The streets are lined with people, both soldiers and civilians. Cheers follow them as they progress toward the western gate.
They find the courtyard before the gate crammed with men, the walls are packed tightly with archers. Lord Pytherian stands in the only clear area among the sea of men. Next to him are five men, all five are dressed in matching brown jerkins and pants, each holding a wooden staff. Upon the breast of each is a symbol of a plant
