Holding The Line (24 page)

He would now leave a number of men here, to keep a solid defensive line. Should things go wrong in attempting to retake Bashek they would need a place to retreat to. The soldiers of Corlan based in Berston and Casham, still numbered nearly three hundred and should suffice to keep the two towns safe. He had sent word back to the King in New Easton to let him know of his intentions.

The defences he had built were substantial, and he would leave four hundred of his own men to help man them. The rest of his soldiers were now busy preparing supplies and weapons for their push forward in a couple of days. Then they would slowly move north before turning eastwards to the capital.

Chapter 19.

With summer now nearing its end, the day's getting shorter and the temperature dropping a few degrees, the work to house everyone took on a new importance. Autumn months in Corlan were not usually cold, but the nights could get a little chilly. The wharf and dock area where now completely planked, all looking nice and new. The hole in the city wall had been knocked through, and a new gatehouse was in the process of being built. This was not to be as big as the main entrance, just to be wide enough for a wagon to pass through without problems.

Inside the walls, warehouses were being erected, for storage of goods when the river port became functional. A slight problem at the moment was the fact they did not actually own any barges. That was another thing being built, and the cities first citizen owned business had been set up and was now been operating for a few weeks, to carry out that vary task.

Beside the dock, a simple wooden building had been put up, and now was home to A.S. Mason Shipbuilders. He was a man who had travelled with the group all the way from Hamalin. Having run a similar business there, it made sense to do likewise here. Employing a small handful of workers, mainly trainees, the first barge was being built. The crown had ordered it and would pay for the vessel, and if all went well would probably need many more.

Since then a few other business owners and tradesmen had done similarly. Open to the people, as well as the market, there was now a bakery, a blacksmiths, a tailors and the furniture shop manned by Hunter and Edward. The crown still saw to it those that were homeless did not go without food. Those who were fortunate to have been allocated properties were required to start looking after themselves, though families with young children were given free milk.

Caldar had already placed a number of orders with Hunter and Edward's, furniture shop. Apart from something a little more luxurious for him to sit on, he wanted some wardrobes, or at least Vanessa told him he did, some book cases for Luken and a couple of very important items. He had asked them to manufacture some eloquent office furniture for a very special young man.

Although Levin currently had a desk sharing an office with General Skalton, Caldar had decided to go one better. Since the young man organising all the paper work for Caldar it had become so much better. Now he only saw the papers he needed to deal with, and the other items were dealt with by others. Jak had told him that in a few weeks it was Levin's fifteenth birthday, and so provided Hunter and Edward could keep their hands on the furniture making and off each other, they hoped to the items ready for then. Caldar had run the idea past Luken, and the two had agreed to giving Levin his own office, on the top floor next to Caldars. Not only that, but they would also allow him to have his own assistants, paid by the crown. It was clear the youngster had taken on so much work, and though he appeared to revel in it, they wanted to help him back, by lightening the load a little.

It was hoped by the time his birthday came round, the office and all the new furniture, especially made for him would all be ready. They all thought Levin an amazing individual. In the short time, they had known him; he had been a guard to the prince, an assistant to the General, developed a new weapon to help fight the Orlacs and even helped with the Murati Prince. He had also radically overhauled the paperwork situation for Caldar and hence had made himself indispensible.

In Bashek Jared, as the slightly younger, and hence judged more agile, of the South Besemian's operating in the city was given the task of finding a way to the top of the wall. Earlier he had joined Kaden and Victor in inconspicuously walking around the inside perimeter, attempting to make a note of which bits were guarded, and which not so.

Now it was darker he was to attempt to make a practice run. He needed to climb a section of wall that looked out south and westwards. The only problem was that was exactly the same direction as the guards were probably keeping an eye on. The wall itself was accessed up stone steps paced at various intervals. The steps themselves were not problematic; it was once on top of the wall you had no cover.

In a few nights time, Jared would have to find a spot, where he could not only remain oblivious to see the signal, but he also had to be able to give them a signal back, to tell the incoming troops he had received it. If he managed to get away with that, they then had two days to make final preparations, for the impending attack.

He stood in the dark alley, looking up at a slowly pacing guard. He himself was covered in the shadows, and the long dark hooded cloak he had taken from a Darekian covered his face. He stood and counted, before the guard returned stepping the other way. On the night in question, his plan would be to take the place of this guard. For now, he just needed to dart up the steps to ensure the area he was looking out on was good enough from which to be seen.

Once the guard had passed once more, he quietly as possible dashed across to the base of the steps. Taking two at a time he peered his head up to check the coast was still clear. Looking left and right he then dashed up and ducked down behind the battlements. That bit was easy enough, and looking out and beyond the wall, he could see, absolutely nothing. The entire area, to whichever direction he was looking, he hoped it was southwestern, was complete darkness.

He did not have reason to ponder, so started his decent back down the stone steps, and back into his shadowy hiding spot. Just in time as well, as the guard up on the wall, paced across the exact spot he had been crouching twenty seconds earlier. On the night in question, he would have to kill that guard, and then become him. The only drawback with that was he needed to make it look like the guard was drunk and fell off the top. Otherwise, the Darekians would be suspicious and even worse slaughtering the city folk in revenge.

With the complete blackness looking out beyond the wall, he did not foresee any problem spotting a signal. The only dilemma was other people on the wall would also spot it. This was going to be a chance they would have to take. Perhaps the Darekians might think nothing of it, he guessed only time would tell. It was no good him making assumptions on what might or might not happen on the night. He was experienced enough to deal with whatever scenario was thrown at him. With that thought of renewed positivity in mind, he slowly drifted amongst the dark alleyways to the house they called base.

In New Easton, it was an overcast but warm morning, and the people working on the new dock entrance to the city got a surprise. The wall had been removed from a section some twenty paces wide and the two reveals were being smoothed over with render. Being built were another large pair of wooden gates, similar to the bridge gatehouse ones. These when ready would be fitted to ensure the city could still be proficiently sealed up and defended.

A timber-structured building would contain the offices needed for noting the comings and goings. A wooden barrier had been built, that lifted up and down, and that would act as a stopping point for people bringing goods in to the city. The docking area and wharf were now complete, and the surprise to those working there was the massive flat-bottomed barge coming up the river towards them.

Being, as they were not yet expecting any such deliveries, the workers had no option other than to raise an alarm. It was unlikely the barge posed any threat but chances in the current climate could not be taken. Hence, the workers now stood off to one side, looking as a line of Infantry was forming across the wooden wharf.

The barge moved very slowly, being as it was being propelled by six men using poles and going against the current. Only as it got nearer did the workers and guards notice the small flag at the vessels rear. It was the lion's heads of Murati, fluttering briskly in the breeze. On noticing who was coming, one of the soldiers was quickly sent back across the city to the keep, to notify those in command.

Lord Galliss was the man most intrigued by what was being delivered, and so volunteered to make the trip to the dock. As he was arriving, the vessel was just being moored up, as men onboard threw large thick ropes to those on the wharf. These were then manned and pulled, tugging the vessel sideward until the barges deck came to a halt tightly alongside the timber planks.

A familiar face smiled as he emerged from below deck, and waved as he in turn recognised Lord Galliss. "What the bloody hell does he want," he uttered to one of the guards stood beside him. The young Murati, known as Prince Issac vaulted over the barges side and onto the wharf, in quite acrobatic fashion. "Lord Galliss wasn't it?" came the shout. "Ah! Good morning highness. It is so good of you to come, unannounced again. With a barge we are not really ready for..." he trailed off, as he could not really think of anything else to say.

Prince Issac took the tongue in cheek comments, and just laughed, "Yes I probably should have let you know I was coming. No matter I am here now. Shall we go see the king?" he ushered his way past Lord Galliss and stopped briefly admiring the new entrance in to the city. After nodding his approval, he carried on walking at a brisk pace, heading for the keep. "I'll have my men start unloading," he said turning back to where Galliss and two of the guards were struggling to keep pace.

Galliss shook his head with a certain amount of disbelief, "unload what your highness?" There was a silence as the Murati prince had to side step a wagon heading his way down the street, "Oh you know, a bit of this and that. I'll explain it further a little later."

As they approached the keep gates, the guards stepped across blocking any further progress. This at least allowed Galliss to catch up. Prince Issac smiled, "I see they remember me he joked. Probably trying to keep me out eh?" Galliss faked a laugh, and thought that statement was probably truer than you think. He gave a nod to the guards and they stepped aside allowing them all entry. Before Issac stopped again on the yard, looking at the new barracks and stables, that were now nearing completion.

After another brief stop at the keep entrance, the party waited in the entrance hall while word was sent to the king that his favourite, most recent ally was here to see him, again. When the message reached him, Caldar was going through his morning ritual of listening to Levin, telling him which set of papers needed his most urgent attention and which less so. "Oh bloody hell that man is becoming a pain in the ass. Does he never give warning he is turning up. Oh well Levin, you can come too, he likes you."

Caldar and Levin surrounded by guards slowly made their way down the stairs and to the entrance hall. Prince Issac watched as they approached and smiled, before bowing, "Your majesty, it is good to see you again." He then turned to Levin, "and you young Levin, it is always good to see." Levin bowed his head, "Thank you your highness. King Caldar was just saying how pleased he was you are back." He looked up to Caldar with a slight grin on his face. "Oh! Yes Issac I was saying just that. Welcome to Corlan, now what surprises do you have for us this time?" Caldar said gesturing they go upstairs.

They went up a few floors and found a less formal room that was furnished with a couple of couches and a low table. A number of bookcases lined the walls, though many were empty. This room when finished would be the library or reading room."Come on in here, we can get some drinks and be comfortably seated."

There was one thing Levin loved about being assistant to General Skalton and more so, to the King, you always got to have drinks and food bought to you. This time was no different, and Issac sat himself down beside Levin, while Caldar seated himself beside Lord Galliss. A maid bought in a silver tray, with glasses and a decanter upon it, which she placed on the table. Normally Levin would now be the one pouring, but the maid did the honours and Levin was allowed to remain seated, looking and feeling all-important.

Levin was enjoying himself, at least that was until he tasted the sherry they were all drinking. It was so vile he could have spat it out, but smiled and swallowed it down as the others did. That was one drink he would not be in a hurry to drink again. Once they were all comfortably settled sipping their glasses, Prince Issac gave the reasons for his one more uninvited appearance.

"My Father was pleased your majesty, with the deals we brokered between us. As a show of good will on our behalf he wanted to send the first shipment of goods early." Caldar nodded, thinking they would only do that to be paid sooner. His theory was soon proved wrong, and he did feel a little ashamed at always thinking the worst of this man. It was true the intentions of the Murati had certainly not originally been good ones. However, afterwards Issac and he had appeared to bury the hatchet, and become more honest and open.

The reason for them sending the goods early, "so my father wishes for you to keep the barge, as a gift." Issac explained he had noticed on his previous visit that they had none. Payments for the goods would need not to be paid until due, which would be three months down the line. "I did not think you would want the same items, so I have sent a whole mix of stuff," he said digging into his tunic and handing a heap of papers to Lord Galliss. "It's all listed on there," he said.

Caldar was a little confused on how he had even gotten a barge from Murati to New Easton. Prince Issac explained that as well, telling them he had come by ship. The ship had tugged the barge, and being the seas were still quite calm, they had slowly moved up the coast to the Fivan estuary. The ship had docked there, and he left it to unload workers and materials for the promised new port being built at that location. They had then made their own way up river and finally docked at the new river port of New Easton.