29 Single Army (1/2)

As it was a warm summer night, Riou ate, drank, cleaned his clothes and bathed. It went well and without any disturbance until the morning.

He was still laying down on the bed when he awakened noticing sun shine illuminating the room through the cracks of the window. It was time to wake up. He barely sat down on the bed when suddenly bells began to ring loudly. They seemed distant but certainly from within the city. Soon after them he could hear a commotion of people quickly passing through the streets, they seemed agitated and in a hurry to get somewhere.

He opened the windows and in the distance he saw the bells on top of the walls moving, especially the ones on the north side of the city. On the streets the townsfolk rushed towards their homes and the ones that were going inside the nearby houses were shutting themselves in, not a single window remained opened. There were also some men and soldiers running toward the nearby walls.

”Seems like the enemy had arrived, damn, I was hoping on another day at least before they got here” He thought grabbing his shirt and pants that were hang on the chairs for drying up during the night. He also put on the hooded cape and the cloth to hide his face.

”Well… time to see what's going on” he concluded jumping through the window and going towards the north walls amidst the townsfolks.

------------------------------------ Same morning Bhalrom, Lilly and Serena's view

The war room in the Brigantium castle was very wide with a big square table in its center. On top of the table a rough leather map opened showed the city and its surrounding terrain. 5 squared black pieces symbolized the enemy forces and were put down on the north side of the map, between the city and the forest.

On the walls and the furniture the details of many red colors and copper encrusted, as it symbolized the knight's color.

Bhalrom and Copperford were looking at the map while pondering on the enemy possible movements while Lilly and Serena discussed spells to protect the city.

-”They can certainly surround the most strategic parts of the city with five thousand.” Said Copperfield concerned.

-”How many are ready to defend the city?” Asked Bhalrom

-”1000 soldiers under my banner, 1000 from the first Army and 500 mercenaries… then we have the town militia as last resort, about 400 unexperienced and untrained people.” Answered the knight

-”So, it's a 2 to 1 margin. We should stand our ground, use the walls in our advantage.” Said Bhalrom pointing at strategic positions near the north gate.

Copperford frowned – ”But that way the goblin fire will set the whole city ablaze, they will destroy everything before the battle even begins”

-”What do you suggest? That we go heads on into the enemy with twice as much our numbers?”

-”At least that way we will have a chance fighting!” said the red knight loudly.

-”You have to put more faith in the mages, I agree we don't have many of them, but they will hold most of the incoming fire with their barriers.” Said Bhalrom

The red knight shook his head – ”We don't have nearly enough, they will breach their barriers and the city will burn from inside out. They will win without fighting! That's why we have to engage them outside before they position themselves besieging the city and cut us off completely.”

Serena hearing their concerns barged in representing the mages – ”Bhalrom, he is right, we only have a handful of

mages, most of them are still students of the academy, and we don't have enough to sustain a good magical defense”

-”It will have to do! We can't go heads on open field against waiting enemies with twice our numbers! You will have to do your magic, you both!” Said Bhalrom looking at Lilly and Serena that were concerned with the odds of the impending battle.

Before Bhalrom could say anything else a guard suddenly appeared by the door pulling everyone's attention to himself. He waited for the knights to allow him in.

Copperford waved for him to proceed.

-”The scouts are back with news my lord.” Said the guard signaling for the ones behind him to enter.

3 men in green cloaks and bow and arrow entered the room. Bhalrom recognized them, they were first army scouts.

-”Report!”Said the knight to his men.

-”Enemy forces are ready and on the move, not far behind us… they are coming from the hill to the north.” The scout paused very concerned before continuing

-”Captain, we saw a full contingent of goblin mages and orc shamans amongst them… And sir, we saw many high Orcs amongst them as well” Said the scout with a fearful tone - ”We estimate a force of over 8000 enemies to attack the city.

*Bang*

The sound of the red knight fist hitting the table with great force echoed in the room.

Bhalrom didn't even look at the knight and issue an order – ”Ring the bells, dispatch the main force to the north wall, set the secondary forces to the flanks close by, they must be able to quickly support the north, east and west walls as needed. Send the militia and a few guards as watchers on every wall. I want eyes on every direction! Go!” commanded the knight. The scouts and the guards left in a hurry to prepare.

Lilly approached the table – ”I've heard the term before… but why are high orcs so feared?” Asked the young mage

Bhalrom sighed – ”They are stronger than Beast men warriors in sheer strength, but not as skillful. They are smarter than goblins and more vicious than ordinary orcs, when it comes to battle they are a fierce opponent.” Said Bhalrom concerned with the news. They were far outnumbered than previously estimated and the presence of high orcs demonstrated the enemy was not considering defeat.

And which was worse, they didn't have much time to prepare, the siege had begun and they all went to the north walls to help command the city's defense.

----------------------------------------- The Trio Arrival at the City

The path was clear after the small grove and the 3 finally arrived at the south gates of the city.

Strangely enough the city didn't seem to be afraid of an imminent attack, the people seemed oddly busy bringing planks, clay and stones from the south to inside the city. But there was many guards on top of the south gate with a watchful eye.

As they entered the gate the guards looked with curiosity, a group of adventurers traveling those lands with only 3 members at times of battle, made of only beautiful women, was unheard of.

Therese looked at the guards that were watching their every step – ”The enemy army, how long until it reaches the city?” she asked loudly to the guard near the gates. He used a light metallic armor and bear the red banner of the city.

The guard shook his head – ”They arrived about a day ago, we are already repairing and on the lookout for the scattered enemies that might still be lurking around.”

Leona and Eileen widened their eyes and looked at Therese.

-”This is disturbing…” Said the warrior to her companions. – ”So those orcs were survivors, not scouts”

Therese turned once again to the guard – ”I've heard that 5000 were marching against this city, a battle against such a force would take more than a single day”

The guard frowned – ”They were over 10000 strong” said the guard exaggerating the numbers to show how great the battle were.

-”With those numbers the battle would go on for many days, what happened?” She asked with curiosity.

The guard made a confused face – ”I don't know how to explain it, I was not on the north wall when it happened. But everyone were saying the elements helped us and dealt a swift blow to the enemy army.” He said overly excited.

Eileen looked at Therese and Leona – ”Do you think Riou is still in the city? We should search the inns and taverns to be sure” She said as the other 2 nodded in agreement.

They went to the first tavern they found, The Laughing Boar. As they entered Eileen saw many soldiers of the first army. As they recognized the princess going by, every single soldier there stood up in position showing their respect to her as she walked by.

Everyone stood up but a small group in the corner table. They looked at the Trio and seemed very surprised, especially the big man with dark hair and yellow shirt, he seemed as something had suddenly struck him, as if something that was bothering him had finally being removed. The Trio could notice glints of realization in his eyes, and it happened the moment he saw Eileen. His table also had a woman and 3 other men, 2 that seemed brothers.

-”The mercenary” Said Eileen walking with purpose towards his table.

Noticing the blond approaching he turned around with a bigger smirk than usual, strangely happy with something.

-”Look what the wind brought here… and judging by the soldier's reaction, you are more than just a sword student at the castle” He said mockingly looking the soldiers.

Leona and Therese just watched their interaction quietly.

-”I'm looking for Riou, have you seen him?” Eileen asked politely but without paying attention to his remarks.

Viktor smiled brighter and his eyes gleamed once again for a moment as he finally ended up looking mischievously at her, as if judging, choosing what to answer. And after a moment of pondering he finally spoke, dismissively.

-”No… I have not”

The man with a green cape and a bow to his side smiled as he grabbed his mug and brought it closer to himself.

Eileen felt deep down an anger building within her, the thought came to her mind as soon as she heard the mercenary words ”He is lying”.

-”Is he still in the city?” she insisted a bit altered but still maintaining composure..

The mercenary just shrugged.

-”I know he came here, so why you don't tell me what you know?” asked the princess not pleased with him.

Before Viktor could say anything the woman slapped his back and intervened

-”Stop teasing her Viktor” the woman looked very seriously and concerned as well –”If he is here, we didn't see him” she said with confidence and sincerity.

The princess was still not convinced despite her claiming, Eileen clearly felt that Viktor knew more than he was telling. But before she could question once again, Therese seemed to want a word with him as well.

Therese stepped in and looked at Viktor from above – ”If you know anything, please speak” she said calmly, and yet, her tone concealed a menacing threat underneath her words.

Viktor squinted his eyes – ”And what business have the lioness with an ordinary boy?” he asked very cautiously, as if choosing his words to watch the lioness reaction.

Therese without delay showed the sword on her waist – ”I just want to deliver this to him”

Viktor had looked to her weapons already and recognized the sword, it was indeed the one the boy was carrying the last time he saw him in the capital. But to go all that way just to deliver a sword, he knew she was also holding something back.

He leaned back on the chair and took a sip from his mug then putting it down again on the table.

-”Do you know who he really is?” Said the mercenary very calmly, throwing such words at them as if to judge their reaction. Most of his table seemed confused as Eileen by that remark. But it was on Therese and her other companion that the mercenary leader attention was, their reaction were the ones he was interested.

Therese and Leona didn't even flinched, no doubt in their minds could be seen and even more, they seemed to doubt Viktor himself knew the true answer to that question.

Seeing such reaction the mercenary smiled and laughed at himself for testing them.

-”Truly impressive, it seems the story about the famous beasts are true.” He said grabbing his mug once again and sighing before continuing in a more serious tone.

-”Very well, I don't know what happened between you and him, but if he is missing it is probably for a good reason… given you know who his master is, I mean… he is certainly up to something” said the mercenary opening up.

Eileen was lost, ”Master? Does he have master? He never mentioned one before…” She thought to herself

-”Do you know where he is?” Asked Therese without losing time

-”No, I was not certain he was on this city until I saw her coming in just now” Said the mercenary pointing to Eileen.

Therese nodded she seemed to believe his words and continued – ”I have another question, have you participated in the battle?”

Viktor laughed – ”Battle?! Hah, that was no battle… before a single soldier stepped outside the gates it was already over.” The members of his table nodded in agreement, hints of awe could be seen in their eyes as they remembered the scene.

Therese insisted – ”What happened?”

-”A damn one man army happened, a mage… a mage appeared from nowhere and laid waste on the whole enemy army in an instant, over 8000 enemies dead, like that” He said plainly, a bit angered for some reason, snapping his fingers.

The eyes of the three widened as they heard the story.

Eileen eagerly asked – ”Was it the Magus? Maximilian was here?” She said thinking the possibility that the Magus was alive, free and well.

Viktor smiled from ear to ear – ”That's what most think… but nobody could find the mage afterwards, so his identity is still a mystery. The best guess so far is that the Magus himself appeared to lend some help… but if you ask me, I think it was someone else” he said finding it strangely funny.

Therese just nodded, bowing slightly her head in appreciation for his words. She turned around and began to walk followed by Eileen and Leona. She leaned slightly towards Eileen and whispered – ”Who is this master he is spoke of?”

Eileen shaking her head answered – ”Never heard of any master… he actually never told me how he learned the sword.”

Leona found it strange – ”You never asked him that?” she said in a judgmental tone.

-”I asked, but he didn't mentioned anyone specifically” replied defensively the princess.

-”Let's go” Said Therese moving to the door – ”I want to see for myself what happened at the north wall”

The trio moved out and followed the repairs on the city. They could see many houses changing roofs, some small burnt pieces of wood near the houses, those marks indicated that small fires were started but put out not too long after it began. Clearly the city was able to control the fire very rapidly as no house have lost its entire roof or even a single wall.

Most houses affected were like that, just minor damages. And it became more and more evident as more frequent as they approached the north gate.

When they finally reached the north wall, they took the stairs to the top for a better look.

As they reached the top and approached the wall limits, their eyes widened and their breath stopped for a moment as their mouth opened slightly when they finally gazed upon the land beneath them.

---------------------------------------------- Riou's View at the Morning of the Battle

Riou rushed through the streets amidst the chaotic population that were running for their homes.

When his attention was caught by something in the skies. He looked up to see a fireball incoming towards a house nearby. Without thinking he pointed his arm towards it and closed his fist, the very moment he did so the fireball imploded leaving no trace of fire behind.

He continued advancing to the wall which was in sight in the distance. He noticed a small translucent barrier in a yellow shade that was formed on top of the walls. It was an attempt of protection against the incoming barrage of fireballs that were incoming incessantly. Riou saw many of them hitting the barrier, while some passed through. This ones faced another layer of mages that tried desperately to stop them with on the spot smaller barriers.

The big barrier was being mercilessly attacked and already were showing signs of breaking apart, it would certainly not hold for much long. And despite all the mages effort a few fireballs threatened to reach the city as Riou saw earlier.