Siege of Pailtar (27 page)

Nathan had a small feeling of déjà vu as they made their way to meet the war council. His first introduction to King Verbon had happened during his first visit to the castle. Now, it was Avera who was the ruler. Nathan wondered if this meeting would involve any crazy ideas like the last one had. Entering the war room, Nathan smiled when he saw Quinton. It had been a worry of Nathan’s that Quinton would be unfairly judged for his father’s actions, but Avera was not letting anyone know what had happened and was making Quinton a part of the war council, which made Nathan happy.

“Took you three long enough,” said Quinton as they came up to the table. “What were you doing, sightseeing?”

“Oh, just scouting the enemy supply wagons,” said Verin. “I assume this meeting is in regards to King Ganus attacking Pailtar.”

“Damn, you’re good,” said Quinton. The queen had just informed the council about the possible attacks on Pailtar, that Verin already knew of them and had spotted the supply wagons was a fortuitous event.

“Yes,” said Queen Avera. “ I received a note from Pailtar. King Ganus has already attacked the Thieves’ Guild and the city guard with mercenaries and mages. Now he has troops crossing the desert and a fleet coming up the Eastern coast. What can you tell us about the supply wagons?”

“Mostly water and food supplies, one wagon of spears and shields, the wagons are headed to this watering hole.” Verin pointed out a watering hole to the east of Balta. “From there the wagons will head east. I imagine they won’t send the troops to the watering hole … too many men for any one watering hole, but there is enough water to keep the oxen going.”

“How long before the troops arrive in Pailtar?” asked Avera. She rubbed her brow as she was known to do when worried.

Nathan noticed the small indicator. He wondered if anyone else knew that she was worried? Other than the rubbing of her brow, Queen Avera appeared calm and in control.

“It depends how far back the troops are from the supply wagons. Since they are headed to the watering hole instead of straight to Pailtar, I’d say they are at least a couple of days back, so a week to ten days to arrive in Pailtar.”

“Captain Singleton, if the fleet left tomorrow when would they arrive in Pailtar?” asked Queen Avera.

“Depending on the wind, I’d say anywhere from five to ten days.”

“Verin, show me on the map how far the troops from Meron would have to go north before they couldn’t be turned to attack Balta.”

Verin studied the map. Because of the position of the watering holes between Meron and Pailtar, the troops would be heading northwest close to Balta for the first leg of their journey then would turn northeast. “They would have to go two days past the first watering hole. Depending on how many more water barrels they have with the troops.”

“How many ships are back in Balta now?” asked Queen Avera.

“Over fifty, and more should be returning soon,” said Captain Singleton. Many of the fleet were still out, either chasing Darcarion warships down or on regular patrols.

“How many of soldiers can we fit on those ships?”

“Plenty, and we can use a couple of merchant frigates for moving more. Moving troops won’t be an issue. The question is how many are you wanting to send and how many ships are coming from Southern Morthon? Our warships are superior, but if they have numbers, we might not be able to defeat them.”

“Could you block them from helping the troops crossing the desert?” asked Queen Avera.

“If we get there first, maybe.”

“What’s your plan?” asked Verin.

Queen Avera took one last look at the map then spoke. “We send as many as we can. If we start our ships sailing now they can possibly get there before Ganus. However, I want scouts watching the army from Meron. A ranger can watch the army and when they go past the point where they can change direction and attack Balta, a signal can be sent to our ships to continue on to Pailtar. Without help from us Pailtar will fall. King Ganus would not stop at Pailtar, he would just be one step closer to attacking Balta. If our troops are too late to stop the invasion, we’ll try to help any survivors.”

“I’ll keep five rangers and your knights. I will be the one to signal the ships,” said Verin.

“Okay,” said Queen Avera. “But why keep the knights?”

“Knights won’t help at sea, and taking horses would add too much weight and room. Besides, I’m going to attack the supply wagons, without water the troops will be much weaker when they arrive in Pailtar, and it reduces the chance of them trying to change directions if they know the fleet is heading to Pailtar.”

“That’s good,” said Queen Avera. “Destroying the supply wagons will help. We’re going to need all the help we can get.”

“What about Venecia? Will they send ships?”

“I’ve sent messages. I believe they will, but they don’t have a powerful Navy, and don’t have many troop moving vessels. I don’t know how much help they will provide.”

“Anything is better than nothing,” said Captain Cooke.

“”I agree,” said Queen Avera. “Everyone get a good sleep, you sail at dawn. Nathan, you and Sharon talk to Quinton before you head home. I have a special mission for you.”

Verin smiled and slapped Nathan on the back, “You know what that means right?”

“Yep,” said Nathan. “It means we are going to do something stupid and dangerous.”

33

Pailtar

KIANA WATCHED WITH CARE as her mother finished the rune. When she finished, Kiana wanted to know more about the rune. “Tell me again, why does this rune help us? If you have magic, and we have some mages, why would we want magic to not work?”

“If we had two fire mages and they had a hundred would we want rain or a dry day?”

“Rain,”

“Well, we have a few magic users and Morthon has plenty of powerful mages. If they can’t use their magic, it gives us a fighting chance. Besides, I’m not making it so we can’t use magic. Only  people within the radius of a hundred yards of the rune will be affected.”

That Kiana understood. “Can I help?”

“No, you just keep watch. I have to cast the spell on each rune around the city walls. I’m vulnerable to attack while I’m casting. You are my protection.”

Kiana did not feel like protection. She felt woefully inadequate as a protector. Weak magic skills, barely passable weapons skills. Being a skilled thief did not make one a warrior, but with war on the way, everyone had to do their part. And if her mother wanted her to watch her back, that is what Kiana would do. And she was getting better at casting spells, ever since she received the magical ring that gave her extra magic to practice with. When the armies of Morthon arrived she would need to be at least proficient in a couple of useful spells. Something she worked on with her mother every night. Since her father had died, Kiana had focused all her attention on magic. Magic, and weapons practice. Lilliana also was focusing on magic, pulling out old spell books and bartering with the local mages for more. When war arrived the Clairmont family would be ready.

Lilliana Clairmont wiped her brow, standing outside of the city walls building magical runes was hot work. She was almost done with them all, but was running low on energy. “Okay, Kiana, I need to take a break. Let’s work on your magic knives.”

Magic throwing knives, Kiana was still having difficulty with this despite the intense practicing she had done the last few days. “I suck at this,” said Kiana.

“Yes, but you’re excellent with a real throwing knife. It will take time, but once you get it down, it will be your best weapon. You can throw a dozen magical knives in the time an archer can launch three arrows. When we are defending the wall, it will be crucial that you are fast and accurate with your magic.”

“How can I be that fast? It takes time to throw a knife.”

“Not a magical one. You can throw as fast as your hand can move. You have to be focused on visualizing the magic knife leaving your hand and hitting your target.” Lilliana picked up a large rock and set it on top of another one. “That is your target.”

Kiana took a deep breath and focused her thoughts on her hand. It tingled with magical energy as she prepared to throw the blade. With a whip of her hand, Kiana sent the magical blade flying. It struck the hand-sized rock off of the other rock.” Kiana smiled, it was a good throw. She surprised herself.

“Again, and this time try throwing a second magical blade right away.” Arian put the rock back on top of the bigger boulder and added another small rock.

Kiana focused on her hand and let the magical blade fire, this time she immediately fired a second blade. The first hit the rock she aimed for, while the second magical blade just missed its target.

“You’re getting better,” said Arian in encouragement. “Now do it again.”

Kiana did it again and again until her shoulder ached.

…

Everet looked at his bloody hands, the broken blisters brought back memories of when he had been a young man first learning weapons trainings. His soft hands had bled every day until his hands had formed the calluses they needed. Now, years later, he was bleeding as his too-soft hands adjusted to the new demands he was placing on them. Picking up his shovel, Evert got back to digging.

Pailtar was not a well-protected city. The city walls were a respectable height, but not tall enough to dissuade attack, and not thick enough to prevent a battering ram from eventually breaking through. But the walls could be defended. It was the wide road leading into Pailtar that needed work, So the men of Pailtar took turns on the shovels, digging trenches and large holes. If the armies from Meron tried to attack the front gates they would have to get through a maze of holes and trenches. The dangerous holes, filled with wooden spikes would not stop the invading army, but it would slow them down. If they could keep the walls and gates clear they could hold Pailtar. How long they could hold off the invaders was the question. If they could keep the Morthon armies out for long enough, the desert would weaken their foe. Pailtar had been built around a couple of deep fresh water wells. The only ones within miles that could sustain life. The wells were well within the city walls. So all they had to do was keep the invading armies out.

“I brought you some water,” said Serena. She handed Everet a waterskin.

“Thank you,” said Everet. He sipped the refreshing water. Serena must have come right from the well. The water was still cool. Sweat dripped from Everet’s body. They had been digging for days.

“When will they be here?” asked Serena. The armies of Meron had been all anyone was talking or thinking about. The question filled the air in her lungs and gave her a heavy feeling.

“They’ll be here soon enough,” replied Everet. “But don’t you worry, love, I’m going to dig this hole so deep that the entire Morthon army will fall into it.”

Serena smiled, “You tell the best lies.”

34

At Sea

“TELL ME AGAIN,” SAID Sharon to Quinton.

The three friends were on the Lady Hawk. Captain Singleton was at the helm and they were making their way to Pailtar. The previous night, after the war council, Quinton had explained the special mission Queen Avera had mentioned. But the plan was so strange Sharon needed to hear it again.

“It’s not that complicated,” said Quinton. “If we get to Pailtar before Ganus, you help stop the ground invasion while our ships hold off the Morthon ships. If we don’t make it in time, you sneak into Pailtar and rescue a bunch of thieves.”

“Why the heck would we save thieves?”

“Because the Thieves’ Guild is now our ally against King Ganus, and Queen Avera has allies among them.”

“So how are we supposed to find this Lilliana Clairmont in the middle of a war?” asked Sharon.

“Get lucky, I suppose. Hopefully, we arrive first and you can walk right in.”

“Ya, walk right into a war,” replied Sharon.

“Why are you bitching?  You’ve been itching to fight for days now?”

“Fighting I’m ready for, it’s the variables that this mission has, to find these thieves, that makes me grumpy.”

“We’re all a little edgy right now,” said Nathan.

“When are you going to make me some armor, Nathan?” asked Quinton. “You have your Vraber skin armor and Sharon has her spider-silk armor, what about poor ol’ Quinton.

“Poor ol’ Quinton is a powerful mage, he doesn’t need armor,” said Nathan.

“Oh, yes, I forgot.”

“I did bring you this,” said Nathan as he handed Quinton a necklace. It was black steel and silver weaved together with a large emerald in the middle.

Quinton took the gift, admiring the craftsmanship and the gem. “It’s beautiful, but I thought you said you were getting low on gems.”

“I am, but I don’t have many magic spells. I’m much better using my bow and sword. You’re the magic user. I’ve put as much energy as I could into it. You’ll be able to cast quite a lot more than normal.”

Quinton put the necklace on and turned to Sharon, “How do I look?”

“Very kissable,” said Sharon. She pulled Quinton in by his new chain and planted one on him.

“What was that for?” asked Quinton. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“Just a reminder of why you are going to come back for us. I don’t want you getting all caught up in battling their ships that you forget about us.”

“Like I could ever forget about you,” said Quinton. “Besides we have no idea what’s going to happen yet. We still haven’t gotten the signal from Verin that the troops from Meron are far enough across the desert. We could end up sailing back to Balta.”

“What are the odds of that?” asked Sharon.

“Oh, probably about one in a million, but a guy can always hope.”

“We’ll know soon enough.…”

…

Verin hid behind the sand dune. Earlier, he had scouted the Meron army headed across the desert. Thousands of warriors walking and riding with a purpose, bent on the destruction of Pailtar. But before they could achieve that goal, they had to cross the desert, a task easier said than done. Verin intended to make that task much more difficult.