The main body of the Sthan army had shrunk alarmingly, but the encircling ring of vertaga warriors was also thinner, and arrows were still decimating their rear ranks. The tunnels lining the walls of the canyon had disappeared, buried under mounds of rubble. But vertaga still poured from the gate.
On the slopes above the canyon, the archers had been left entirely to their own devices. Only a few were still firing though, and several were guarding their flank with short swords held loosely at their sides. But there were no lutags or vertaga trying to take advantage of the vulnerable forces.
The catapults fired another volley, tearing loose more rock and dirt. Stone cracked loudly, and Khollo frowned for a moment, looking at Dun Carryl and the mountain above. If they caused too much more damage, the canyon could become a death trap for anybody that was there.
We need to get everybody ready to move, and quick, Khollo said to Kanin, looking around frantically.
How? They are surrounded by vertaga. I do not think I can break them out.
You won’t have to, Khollo assured the dragon. The lancers will take care of that. The rest can follow in a standard wedge. The siege equipment will have to be abandoned, but we won’t need it once the mountain is coming down.
Is the mountain going to come down? Kanin asked, sounding surprised.
Another pair of projectiles smashed into the cliff face, and with a CRACK! a large boulder peeled away, crushing a pair of vertaga when it landed in a cloud of dust on the floor of the canyon. Several small waterfalls of stones and dirt were racing downward as well. The mountain was rapidly becoming unstable.
Oh yes, the mountain is coming down, Khollo said, smiling grimly. And we’re going to help finish the job.
Chapter 57
At Khollo’s urging, Kanin landed beside the catapults one more time. A rudimentary command post had been set up, centered by a trio of lords arguing with each other vehemently. The heavy lancers sat astride their horses to one side, watching and waiting. They were blood-stained and weary-looking, but appeared largely unhurt.
“We must retreat, now!” the green hawk lord shouted, slapping a clenched fist into his other hand. “We have lost enough men today.”
Khollo noticed critically that the great lord’s armor was spotless and he was free of sweat, dirt, and grime. Obviously, he had not seen fit to lend a hand. Controlling his anger with a considerable effort, the young Keeper dismounted and strode quickly to where the lords were gathered.
“Ah, Khollo,” the lord with the red boar on his chest said airily, noticing his approach. “Just the man we wanted to see. We need to retreat immediately. The enemy is overpowering our forces and we are no nearer to breaching the gate then when we began this foolish fight.”
“Really?” Khollo said slowly. “So, what do you need me for, my lords?”
“We need you and your dragon – ”
“His name is Kanin.”
“Yes, whatever,” Lord Garenes said irritably. “We need the two of you to blast a path through the vertaga between us and the way out.”
“Interesting idea,” Khollo replied. “However, I would have thought that any discussion of retreat should include his majesty, King Relam. After all, the final decision is his, is it not?”
“That is what got us into this mess,” Garenes growled fiercely. The other two lords mumbled agreement, but Khollo noticed that they looked uncertain. The lord of the silver stag in particular seemed to disagree, a look of intense distaste on his face as he watched Garenes.
“Those are dangerous words,” Khollo warned. “Some might even consider them . . . rebellious.”
“We are great lords,” Garenes growled. “We will not be ordered about, our counsel ignored – ”
“As I recall, the king asked for a vote among the three of you before committing to this battle,” Khollo reminded them, casually toying with the blade of his Sen-teel.
“I will not be threatened, boy!” the green hawk lord shouted. “I will not be intimidated by you or any – ”
Kanin lowered his head to the ground behind Khollo and roared with enormous force, spittle flying in great gobs and spattering over the great lord’s armor. Garenes gave an undignified whimper of fear, then stood stock still, looking down at the mess Kanin had made of his armor.
We are wasting time! Kanin growled to Khollo. What is your plan, we need to move, now!
More boulders launched from the catapults, headed for the already fragile cliff face above the Dun Carryl gate. Khollo frowned, calculating.
We have a little more time. We need Relam here to control these three.
Khollo grabbed the nearest soldier spinning him around so that they were eye to eye. “Find his majesty, the king. He should be fighting in the front line facing the Dun Carryl gate. Tell him that Khollo Kurkan and three of the great lords request an immediate meeting.”
“At once, sir!” the soldier replied, shambling off towards the fighting. Khollo watched him go, frowning, hoping that the messenger would get there before he collapsed from exhaustion.
He will make it, Kanin promised, watching the man over the heads of the other soldiers. I will let you know if he falls before he reaches the king.
Thanks, Khollo replied. He looked up at the cliff face again, frowning. There were half a dozen places where boulders had struck and knocked huge holes in the solid stone. Continuous streams of scree were tumbling downward now, heralding something much worse if the bombardment continued.
They come, Kanin announced sharply. The king is limping.
He’s injured?
Not badly.
Khollo turned his attention back to his surroundings and saw Relam moving towards them as fast
