The Grand Crusade (68 page)

“We’re here. This was once my home; now it is the lair of my enemy.” Isaura rose from a crouch and looked at Force. “I do believe, Force Norrington, that you and I have a prophecy to fulfill.”

Erlestoke’s day began well before dawn as he reviewed the latest information and orders being sent by Alexia, then relayed the same to his commanders. His troops had been given the honor of holding the right wing of the army. Alexia’s force held the center and left, with Pandiculia’s army acting as a reserve force that still watched for intervention from the rear. Seventeen thousand troops spread out over the hills facing the Aurolani position, ready to cross through the riverbed and march up the hills into dragonel and draconette shots, Aurolani magick, and, finally, into combat with the enemy.

The army set up camp a half mile from the Aurolani fortress, with forward positions overlooking the valley to give warning of any sudden attacks. The Army of the South occupied the whole of a valley, with his people taking the easternmost reaches. That meant they got the freshest water from the stream running through the valley. His men also liked the willingness of the urZrethi to dig trenching, and happily traded food for the digging. Under normal circumstances Erlestoke would have forbidden that sort of laziness, but the experience allowed the two groups to bond, and his own men did not complain when he had them take guard watches while the urZrethi slept.

Erlestoke reorganized his staff, making Colonels Sallitt Hawkins and his wife, Jancis, his direct subcommanders. Jullagh-tse Seegg, an urZrethi who had been with Erlestoke at Fortress Draconis, had survived both the escape run from the Fortress and the battling in Sarengul. She became his liaison with the urZrethi forces in his command. Counts Storton and Wightman, as well as Baron Malviston, commanded their own troops, while Wheatly, the leader of the Oriosan Freemen, took charge of the irregulars. No one expected much out of them; but Wheatly seemed able to inspire them to work hard, so much of the support work that needed doing fell to them.

Linchmere had abandoned his identity as Lindenmere, but still spent most of his time with the Freemen working on getting the irregulars to function. Erlestoke had learned that his brother had been a good organizer within the Freemen, and his skill supplemented Wheatly’s leadership to get supplies delivered and things prepared for the final assault. Kenleigh Norrington, Will’s half brother, remained anonymous, but his natural abilities had the name North on everyone’s lips. Linchmere had confided Kenleigh’s identity to his brother, but Erlestoke had agreed not to call any attention to him.

With his staff gathered in a large tent, Erlestoke went over the map. “Our responsibility is the eastern end of the battlefield. We have this odd jog of the trenching. It leaves about a hundred-yard gap between it and the dam that’s holding that lake. The top of the dam does not have enough space for dragonels, but putting a battalion of draconetteers up there would hurt anyone moving between the dam and the trench. Taking the dam won’t help, since we assume they have tunnels that will let them explode the dam, much as we were able to explode the exterior batteries at Fortress Draconis.”

Jullagh-tse tapped the map right at the point he was talking about. “I have assembled a legion of fast diggers. If we can get close, we can get down there and perhaps cut those tunnels.”

“Noted. Thank you.”

Sambell Malviston crossed his arms over his skinny chest. “Clearly you are aware of this, but I must make certain. If we enter that dry riverbed, they can open the dam at any time and just sweep us all out to sea.”

The prince nodded. “Very true. Alexia assumes that would be a tactic of last resort since the waters would run fast and high enough to flood the trenches. If Nefrai-kesh has very few people and we press hard, that’s when we can expect to get wet. If the battle is even, there is no reason for him to flood the place.”

Sallitt Hawkins traced a metal finger along the northern bank of the river. “The bank rises about five feet here. We will have trouble scrambling over it.”

Linchmere smiled. “I have three hundred ramps to put in place, and Jullagh-tse has two other legions of diggers who will collapse the bank. Even cavalry should be able to make that ride.”

Themeckanshüofficer looked at the urZrethi. “Do you have people prepared to tunnel into the hills through the bank?”

“I do, and will assign teams to do that, but asking them to go at least a hundred yards, perhaps more, before they might reach the warrens on the other side is tough. The tunnels would not be big enough to allow a lot of troops to head in fast. I would expect, if we were successful, Nefrai-kesh would just destroy the dam and flood everything.”

Sallitt nodded, then looked at the other commanders. “You’re going to have to make sure your officers do not let their men huddle beneath the bank here. If

they do, they leave the men behind them exposed to the dragonels. The only way we succeed is to move fast and move up.“

Count Storton, who was by far the shortest of the warriors, wore only leather armor. “I agree. I have two battalions of my infantry stripped down to leather armor, spears, and longknives. I expect us to move fast and hit the junction between the east hill and the trenching. If we can get into their trench, I think we can get into the warrens.”

“You’ve told me your plan, my lord, and I have relayed it to Princess Alexia.” Erlestoke sighed. “I’ve given it my highest recommendation and I believe she will approve it. When the timing is right, I want you to go in behind a screening force and see if you can succeed.”

“We shall, my prince. We shall.”

Erlestoke raised a hand to his mask and settled it. “I know—and Princess Alexia knows—that we are facing a fierce enemy and we are at a disadvantage. We are going to ask you and your people for everything you have, and even that might not be enough. We just have to keep going until we win the day.

“Now, get to your people and let them know that by the time the sun sets, we will know victory, and their days of fear will be at an end.”

He shook hands with each of his commanders, then embraced Jullagh-tse and his brother. “I will see you after the battle and we will rejoice.”

“As always, Prince Erlestoke.” The urZrethi bowed, then slipped from the tent.

Linchmere beamed. “Wearegoing to win, you know. You wait and see.”

“I know.” He gave his brother a light cuff, then followed him from the tent. Erlestoke accepted his quadnel, a pouch of shot, and a horn of firedirt from ameckanshüand nodded a salute. “Thank you, Verum.”

“A pleasure to serve you again, sir. Took the liberty of giving my old quad to that Gyrkyme who liked yours so much.”

“Good thinking.” Shouldering the draconette, he walked to his horse, then slid the weapon in the saddle scabbard. He mounted up, then nudged his horse into a canter up the far side of the valley. Trailing discreetly came his bodyguard. Borell Carver rode with them, smiling broadly, and weathering the jests of the other soldiers.

Erlestoke dismounted at the crest of the hill and again studied Nefrai-kesh’s fortress. As much as the models and maps had prepared him, the sight of it curdled his stomach. The mounds of earth marking the trenches had been fixed with wooden spikes, providing one more obstacle for Storton’s sprinters. Activity was apparent in the dragonel batteries, and he estimated as many as fifteen per station. That put ninety of the weapons facing the line, with a half-dozen more from each trench cap.

The forest west of the fortress had surrendered a hundred yards of trees for its building, but looked dark and brooding beyond. That hundred yards

appeared to be a tempting gap, but shifting out past the trench and back in would give the other side plenty of time to move the dragonels around Moreover, any army driven into the woods would simply disintegrate, as the trees and land forced them to separate.And the gods alone know what he has hidden in there.

A shiver ran through Erlestoke. If Nefrai-kesh had hidden more dragonels in there, any force making that loop would be blown to pieces. The woods would make a counterattack all but impossible. Every one of the tree stumps would have a dead or dying man huddled behind it.

Behind him the army came up. From his position high on the hill he had the chance to thrill at their advance. Cavalrymen in shining silver armor rode forth, carrying lances with bright pennants. Warriors marched in orderly ranks, with drums beating out cadence and trumpets blaring orders and unit identifiers. Small knots of warmages strode forward, staves in hand, and his own Bloodadders rode up with enthusiasm.

At the head of the Army of the South came Princess Alexia. The dawning sun made her golden mail gleam. She rode without a helmet, so her long braid was easy to see. Tall in the saddle, with her shoulders squarely set, there was no questioning that she was about grim business.

And every one of us will follow her into the fire and flood to come.

As the army crested the hill and flowed halfway down, activity began to the north. Drums boomed, and on the southern hill three figures appeared. One was obviously Nefrai-kesh. The other two were female, one crouching catlike for a moment before bounding off to the west hill. The other made her way to the east hill in a slow gait, then passed over the edge, descending behind the line of the trench. Troops filed from within the hills to fill the trenches on both sides, and some sprinted to the top of the dam. All of them looked to be draconetteers and spearmen, so taking the trenches would be very costly.

Then something else happened. Thesullancirion the east hill did something and her right arm changed, flashing brightly in the sunlight as it did so. She raised it to her mouth and apparently blew, for a clarion call sounded loudly, even piercingly. Dogs that had trotted along with their masters howled and a few ran from the sound.

At her call, troops began to pour from the hills and assemble behind the crooked trenching. Legion upon legion—mostly of gibberers, but with enoughturekadineandkryalnirito make Erlestoke grimace. Legions grouped into battalions and then regiments. On the hills more troops appeared, again in thick ranks. Erlestoke started counting regimental standards, then stopped when he reached twenty.

Sallitt Hawkins rode up beside him. “Their numbers and ours are almost equal.”

“That they are.” The prince pointed toward the dam. “They can bring the

troOps assembled behind that trench over or around it, then just hit us from the flank and drive us into the woods, blasting us every step of the way.“

Themeckanshünodded. “And if we send anyone down to plug that gap andsto p them? They won’t last long enough for someone to blow retreat.” ‘ “Agreed. This is bad, very bad.” Erlestoke shook his head. “In fact, I can’t see how it could get any worse.”

And as those words left his mouth, the dragonels hidden in the woods spat

fire and metal.

hipping himself into a column of storm, Drolda lifted the party, one at a time, down to the basin. Only Hlucri eschewed his service and leaped from the cliffside. His flesh flashed jet and green as he descended. He landed in a huge puff of snow, which slowly settled again as thesullanciridashed forward. For a heartbeat Resolute thought this might be the final betrayal, that thesullanciriwould rally Aurolani forces to trap them.

But Hlucri’s ploy soon made itself apparent as gibberers began to emerge from both the caverns and the fortress itself.Kryalniriand some humans also poured from the Conservatory edifice—though their distance from where Drolda had deposited the group eliminated them as an immediate threat. The gibberers focused on Hlucri, but there were enough of them that the party would be bottled up in their drive toward the fortress, and the magickers would then be able to move into range and destroy them.

Nine against an empire. Resolute shivered, recalling a long-ago conversation he’d had with Kerrigan. Then, it was only supposed to be eight against an empire.If you were here, Kerrigan, I’d pay those magickers no mind at all. The Vorquelf drew Syverce and tossed a salute off toward the south.Best of luck to you.

Sayce landed and drew the twin longknives they’d taken from dead gibberers in the field. She’d long since donned the winter clothing she and Isaura had discarded on their trip south and since recovered, supplementing it with bits and pieces of armor and mail from dead gibberers. “We have to move fast, Resolute.”

“I know.”Nine against an empire, and only two of them are critical. “Trawyn, Sayce, you guard Isaura. Isaura, any spells you have that will help, we need them now. Bok, thekryalniri…”

The urZrethi nodded and began to move in that direction, but Drolda

swirled around him, nudged him back, and sailed off. As he moved closer to the Conservatory, he grew into an icy cyclone of towering proportions Shocked shouts drifted past the howl of the wind that formed his core.

“Bok, keep your eye on them. Let’s move. Force

”

Resolute stopped, for Force had already begun to trudge in Hlucri’s wake. Each step left yard-deep holes in the snow—which was packed hard enough that the rest of them ran over the top of it with ease. Ahead, Hlucri had already torn into the front ranks of a gibberer legion; bodies or their bleeding parts were flying high in the air.

A hoargoun emerged from the fortress at the head of some gibberkings. He wielded a huge ax with a blade large enough to split a bullock in one stroke. The frost giant, with his flesh tinged blue and his hair and beard snow-white, shifted his course to head directly for Force. But if Force noticed him, he gave no sign.

With Qwc flying before him and Bok coming up on his right side, Resolute sprinted into battle. Anomalous thoughts coursed through his mind. The sound of the snow crunching beneath his feet and the burning of the cold air in his lungs, the contrast of Bok’s green flesh with the stark white of the snow, the distant scream of Drolda’s storm and the piercing screams of the gibberers Hlucri was flensing alive; all of those things came to him and he cataloged them.As I would have when I was a child.

For the blink of an eye he wondered if this was the first step in his reviewing his life before he died. He thought about that for just a moment longer, then laughed aloud in a cloud of steam. “No, I’m nowhere near dead.”