Trial and Glory (46 page)

“Of course there are.” She smiled. “That’s why I’ve had the entire council rounded up and imprisoned. Their trials start tomorrow. Whether found guilty or not, none will hold a seat again.”

“You’re purging the council?”

“Disbanding it. The scepter is a prime example that Aurnon the First was not perfect. His form of government is another.” Her smile grew wider. “By the way, your death will start tomorrow.”

He blinked. “Start?”

“You don’t think I’d offer you a quick beheading after all that you’ve done, did you?” She clicked her tongue. “No. Such treachery deserves a drawn out punishment. And of course it will be made very public. I think it’s vitally important to set a precedent.” She went to the door. “Try to get some sleep. I plan to start bright and early.”

Her former advisor let out a pathetic whimper as she left.

I finally have my kingdom back,
she thought while walking the corridor.

Perhaps I should celebrate by actually going to bed early for once.

But a list of things that needed doing rolled in her head. She let out a sigh.

Maybe tomorrow.

Chapter 33

Durahn barged into Mawkuk’s tent, interrupting the conversation between him and Larnak.

“You still plan on going through with this nonsense?” the big Kifzo boomed.

“Yes.”

“It’s a mistake.”

“No,” said Mawkuk. “A mistake would be repeating a strategy that has failed before and expecting it to suddenly work now.”

“Wars are won by warriors, not shamans,” grumbled Durahn.

Mawkuk tired of repeating himself. “And ultimately this one will be once we’re inside.” Durahn started to open his mouth again, but Mawkuk cut him off. “The shamans will be ready to begin within the hour. I suggest you ensure your men are prepared for their signal to advance.”

Durahn seethed. “
If
the shamans are successful.” He stormed out of the tent.

When the tent flapped closed, Larnak cleared his throat. “I wish you would reconsider leaving Durahn in charge of the assault. He’ll try to stab us in the back the first chance he gets.”

“No doubt. But he’s right, wars are won with warriors, and those still loyal to him are needed if we’re to take the city. Most of our shamans will be weakened after breaking through the main gate. Besides, if everything goes as planned, by the time Durahn gains hold of the city’s center, the men you’ll be leading in the second wave will have circled around to stand against him if necessary.”

“The strategy is sound.”

All strategy is sound in theory.

Larnak and Mawkuk parted a few moments later with the Yellow Plain Clan leader eager to look over his men. The two had remained on good terms. Mawkuk wondered how that relationship would change if he too failed to penetrate Juanoq’s stout defenses.

Following Durahn’s last defeat, Mawkuk had stayed up the entire night reviewing their resources, past tactics, and everything Tobin’s defense had shown them. During the process, he realized that he had placed too much confidence in the big Kifzo, assuming that due to his background the man would be a better strategist.

Being able to kill a man with ease does not make one a strategist.

Mawkuk began to see the flaws in each of Durahn’s assaults. Like many of the Blue Island Clan, the Kifzo had an adverse reaction to those skilled in sorcery, and had not made the best use of their shamans.

He sent many of the Yellow Clan shapeshifters to their deaths, thinking only of their physical skills. He should have focused on their long-range attacks, especially when used collectively. All evidence shows that Tobin is lacking in shamans since Nachun is no longer in Hesh and the others are with the Blue Island Clan’s southern forces.

He smiled after reviewing his new plan.
Not bad for an old man everyone underestimated.
He thought of his children.
I wonder if they would be proud of me.

* * *

Tobin’s eyes burned from the plumes of gray smoke rising to hide the evening sky. His nostrils flared as he inhaled the sulfur-scented air. Warriors around him coughed on the pungent aroma while preparing to face the coming enemy.

Several dozen of the enemy’s shamans had formed up outside of bow range where they spent the better part of an hour working a spell. Tobin’s shamans had grown more nervous as each moment passed, warning him of the power being collectively spun.

When the blast came, the Blue Island Clan shamans did their best to deflect the attack, but failed in every way. Several died from the concussive surge of sorcery as the city’s thick, wooden gates exploded into thousands of pieces. Arrow-like splinters flew up and out, piercing the flesh of many on impact.

For the first time since the siege began, Tobin truly missed the power Nachun had wielded. He took some solace in knowing that the enemy’s shamans would take time to recover from their collective assault of the main gate.

He ordered his men to form ranks on the inside of the gatehouse. They waited just outside the worst of the lingering smoke.

When the air began to clear, the enemy surged over the wreckage in the great moat left from the previous assault. He cursed himself for not making it a higher priority to clear the mess. Some of the invading warriors rushed forward with swords drawn. Others carried timber, working to solidify the makeshift bridge.

Arrows from Juanoq’s walls peppered the enemy, but with a clear path into the city, they seemed to care little about the dangers above.

Hot oil poured through murder holes closer to the exterior walls of the gatehouse. Screeching wails echoed beneath the stone. The sound of sizzling flesh hissed.

With the enemy weakened, Tobin ordered his men forward. However, the invaders recovered quickly. The bubbling skin of the brethren they climbed over seemed to ignite a greater fire in their bellies. They pushed against Tobin’s lines like men possessed, slowly but steadily driving his army back.

Fighting in the middle of the melee, Tobin jumped in and out of the ranks. His efforts helped shore up the defense along the main thoroughfare of Juanoq.

We’re holding, but I can’t regain what we’ve already lost.

Tobin longed to have Walor and Ufer at his disposal, men he knew could not only fight, but also lead their units.

The fifteen thousand Blue Island Clan warriors under their command would also be nice.

His sword plunged through a Gray Clan warrior and raked across the torso of another. He stepped back while ordering others to take his place.

Teznak waited for him farther back among the ranks.

“Warleader. I just received a report that a second wave of men have taken a portion of the eastern wall. They’re starting to descend into the city. Some have broken off and are headed toward the palace. I believe the rest will try to flank us.”

Who cares about the palace? A waste of resources my father never should have built.

A thought struck him.

He grabbed Teznak by the arm. The man yelped in pain. “Go to the palace, find Lucia, and get her to safety.”

“What about the flanking?”

Tobin threw him backward. “Go!”

Teznak hurriedly saluted and took off.

An arrow zipped by Tobin’s face. He ignored it, moving through his back lines toward his extreme left where Kerek fought. Tobin hated to reassign the veteran Kifzo, as his position had been one of the few Tobin had not needed to concern himself with.

“Kerek!”

“Warleader?”

“Take two companies of men and head east. There’s a second wave trying to flank us.”

He saluted, grabbed his men, and took off. Tobin watched him briefly until he felt a shift in his lines. His men stepped back.

Tobin tightened his grip on his sword and rejoined the fray.

* * *

“Larnak’s men have gained a foothold on the eastern wall. He’s moving troops down into the city.”

Mawkuk dismissed the messenger before breathing a sigh of relief. With Larnak’s success, bowmen from the wall had to abandon their positions in order to fight man-to-man with the Yellow Clan warriors.

He fought the grin pulling at the corners of his mouth, imagining Tobin begging him to spare his life.

Chapter 34

Illuminated by the purple and pink glow of the setting sun, Kaz frowned as he looked upon Juanoq’s empty harbor through the captain’s spyglass. Since completion of the city’s massive wall, he had never seen the gate facing the bay closed, nor the harbor void of life.

It always stayed open because no other clan had ships capable of attacking us there.

“Strange, isn’t it?” asked Itken who had made Kaz aware of the situation.

“Could Tobin know of our arrival?”

“Not without great sorcery aiding him. No shaman in Hesh has that power.”

“Then why else would the gates be closed?”

Itken shrugged. “It’s been six months since we left. Perhaps it relates to some new law your brother declared.”

“Could the city can be under siege?”

“By whom?”

“I don’t know. As you said, it’s been six months.”

“Orders?”

“Show whoever is guarding the gate that you’re in command. We need to find out what’s going on before I reveal myself.”

“Then we move toward the palace and confront Tobin?”

“Yes.”
Though I still have no idea what to say to him.

“I’ll take care of final preparations.” Itken turned and left.

Kaz focused on the looming walls of his home. His insides ached, stomach knotting from the prospect of speaking with his brother, heart fluttering in anticipation of seeing Lucia once more.

* * *

A blanket of darkness fell over the harbor, pierced only by lanterns hung from the ships as they maneuvered to the docks.

Kaz’s army poured over the sides of each vessel as the crews tied the ships down. The Kifzo formed ranks quickly, filling the docks and the patch of land leading to the gate.

He and other members of the Hell Patrol stood behind the first few rows of Kifzo as Itken approached the gate. After much shouting, a panel slid open thirty feet above ground. The guard looked out at the thousands of Kifzo and quickly exchanged a hurried conversation with Itken before disappearing back inside.

Itken dashed toward Kaz. “Warleader! The city is under attack as you suspected!”

Murmurs sprang up among the ranks, quieting as they strained to hear more of the exchange.

“Who?”

“The Gray Marsh Clan as well as remnants of the Yellow Plain Clan and Orange Desert Clan. Mawkuk leads them, but Durahn is in charge of their forces.”

Kaz’s mouth twisted into a sneer.
I should have killed him long ago.

Gears shifted and groaned behind the massive wooden gate.

Itken continued. “The guard said the siege has been going on for some time. Today, Mawkuk managed to break through the main gate with his shamans.”

The gates parted, and Kaz sprinted from the ranks through the crack, stopping inside the gate. The rest followed close behind.

The guard reappeared, out of breath. “I’m sorry for the delay, but I’m all that’s left to—” his voice cut off as he eyed Kaz. “Warleader? You’ve returned!” Awe filled the man’s voice, eyes running up and down Kaz’s beastly armor.

“Quick, tell me what’s going on?”

The man’s mouth gaped, still gripped by shock.

Kaz took him by the arm. “Now!”

The guard sputtered. “Last I heard, most of the fighting is still near the main gate. However, there are reports of other breaches and that the invaders are spreading throughout the city. Some are circling back to envelop those defending the gate while others are trying to reach the palace.”

The palace? Lucia.

Kaz wanted to leave everyone behind in order to reach his wife, but managed to clear his head and remember his promise to Itken.

“What of Tobin?”

“He’s leading the fight at the gate. He is calling in reinforcements along other areas of the wall where he can. Most of the army is still south with Walor though. Tobin had to enlist the city watch to fill out his ranks.”

“How long since they breached the main gate?”

“Over an hour.”

He’s done well to hold out for so long then,
Kaz admitted.

“Warleader, what do we do?” asked Itken.

Kaz wanted to run off to find his wife. However, he knew that even if he managed to save her, he’d likely lose the rest of the city in the process.

She would never forgive me if I went back on my promise to the Kifzo, even if it was for her.

He pointed. “Take seven hundred men and lead them through the High District toward the main gate. Clear each street one at a time. Keep anyone from circling back toward the center. Before you go, place someone else in charge of another seven hundred and have them do the same, starting on the opposite side of the main thoroughfare, near the market. I’ll lead the rest down the center.”

Itken saluted and ran off shouting orders.

Kaz wheeled, ready to call out to the Hell Patrol, except they all stood there waiting.

“What do you need?” asked Krytien.

“Are you at full strength?”

“Close enough.”

“Alright. I saw what you can do at the High Pass with teleportation. Take to the rooftops, and follow the main road. It will take you to the worst of the fighting. You’ll get there ahead of me. Find their shamans and eliminate them first. Then help out wherever else you can.”

Krytien nodded, looked up at a tall building, closed his eyes, and disappeared.

Kaz blinked and turned to Raker. “Follow behind Itken’s group with the ballista Drake mounted on wheels. Support him where needed. But again, the main goal is to clear the streets. Stop anyone not wearing blue from getting to the city’s center.”

“On it.” Raker left, barking at his men.

“Crusher, you’re with me.”

The Ghal smiled, spinning the warhammer in his hand. “Good.”

“I’m guessing you want me with Raker,” said Drake.