41. A Victory Stolen

‘If this is what victory feels like, I would hate to suffer a defeat.’ Elodi stared aghast at the plain scattered with the fallen.

Wendel limped to join her, trying to avoid treading on the dead. ‘A victory all the same. How is your hand, ma’am?’

Elodi wriggled her fingers. ‘The pain is easing. And what of your ankle?’

He winced. ‘Such a foolish thing to do. Didn’t see the stairs.’

She grimaced as the acrid taste of the battle clung stubbornly to the air. Elodi stepped over the charred body of a trebuchet crewman. ‘Is it wrong, Wendel, that I… I enjoyed killing these poor devils?’

Wendel took her hand. ‘No, ma’am. It’s not wrong. Many change in the heat of battle. You did what you had to do.’

She released his hand and spun away. ‘But I’d never felt more alive. For a moment, I didn’t want it to end. That isn’t who I am, Wendel.’ She turned back. ‘Or is it?’

‘I’ve not experienced combat, ma’am, but your father spoke of it. If you’d ridden out to face the foe as your usual caring self, you wouldn’t have lasted five minutes. I don’t think for one moment you’d enjoy killing, away from the field of battle. But mortal combat is another matter entirely.’

Elodi stared with regret at the prone bodies of the horses killed by Uldrak’s spearmen. ‘But last night, we fought like wild animals with little thought of consequences.’

‘Yet this morning you’re feeling guilty. Believe me, ma’am, had we lost the city, these fellows would be enjoying putting your unfortunate people to the sword. And it would not be a swift death.’

‘I appreciate your efforts, Wendel. But I for one fear I may have to become a wild animal again before too long.’ She tore her eyes from the horses. ‘And what of the casualties?’

Wendel frowned. ‘Not good, I’m afraid, but let’s face it, the city came to the brink of falling last night, it’s a wonder any survived that onslaught.’ He glanced over his shoulder. ‘But on the bright side, we gained those bolt-throwers. They could prove useful if the enemy return.’

‘We’re finished if they return anytime soon.’ She tried unsuccessfully to hold back the tears. ‘Twenty-four, Wendel. Just twenty-four knights returned.’

He rested his hand on her shoulder. ‘But you, Aldorman and his knights saved not only the city, but secured the realm, ma’am.’

‘For now, at least.’ She turned to face the wreck of the main gate. ‘How is Aldorman?’

‘He’s strong, he’ll pull through. But Ruan may take longer.’

Elodi had regained consciousness to find the gatehouse beset by bodies, so badly burned, she could not tell friend from foe. She had stumbled into the city to find Ruan seriously injured by fragments of the inner gate, destroyed by Uldrak’s last desperate act.

Elodi turned back to Calerdorn. Smoke still billowed high into the gray morning. Wendel saw her grief. ‘We can rebuild, ma’am.’

‘And make improvements, and fast. We cannot let this happen again.’

Wendel surveyed the blackened walls. ‘The city has stood for a thousand years and I’m sure it will stand for a thousand more. And all thanks to you, ma’am.’

‘Not just me, every man and woman played their part, many paying with their lives.’

‘All except me.’ He patted his leg. ‘I could have ruined it all. If I’d had my way, I would have stopped you riding out and winning the battle.’ Wendel groaned. ‘I’m getting long in the tooth, ma’am, too old for this game. I feel it is time for me to make way for a younger mind.’

‘Nonsense, Wendel, don’t be hard on yourself. If it were not for your counsel over the years, Calerdorn would not have been in any state to defend itself.’

His eyebrows raised. ‘Kind of you to say, ma’am.’

‘Your greatest weapon is your mind, honed by many years of experience. That is why I need you by my side.’ She turned. ‘Ah yes. Before I rode out last night, there was something you wanted to tell me. Can you recall?’

‘I…’ Wendel blushed. ‘I was about to say’ — he scanned the clouds as if seeking the right words — ‘I trusted your leadership, ma’am. And how lucky Harlyn is to have you at the helm at such a time.’

Elodi felt her cheeks flush. ‘Oh, I see. From your expression I thought it was important.’ She took his arm. ‘I’m so sorry, that came out all wrong. What I meant—’

‘Morning!’ They turned to see Gundrul’s broken, white teeth grinning from his soot-caked face. He strode to greet them. ‘And if I may say so, ma’am, your heroics at the gate will be the stuff of song and legend before the day is out.’ She extended her hand. Gundrul took her forearm in the manner of a guard greeting a colleague. He squeezed. ‘No man I know could stare a shreek in the eyes, let alone take it down.’

Elodi looked away. ‘It was merely an apparition, Captain.’

‘All the same, ma’am, must have been real enough to scare the wits out of the men and horses.’

She noticed blood seeping through his shirt at the shoulder. ‘You’re wounded.’

Gundrul shrugged. ‘I’ve had worse. I’ll have it checked later.’

‘Let’s hope Ruan recovers. I’m informed it’s serious.’

He laughed. ‘It will take more than a six-foot plank in the gut to stop that old dog. He’ll pull through.’

Elodi turned back to the scene of devastation. ‘Fortune favored us. The enemy had the numbers and equipment to make matters far worse had they been patient.’

‘As I said before the battle, Uldrak is a complacent commander, ma’am. He committed his men too early to the wall, and didn’t use all his resources.’ Gundrul smirked. ‘Ha! Too keen to take the prize for himself.’

‘Hmmm.’

She turned. ‘What troubles you, Wendel?’

He stared out to the road. ‘How many war machines did our scouts count?’

‘I believe dozens, certainly close to thirty.’

Wendel frowned. ‘We know Ruan’s men accounted for the destruction of four at the pass.’ He turned back to the city. ‘I can see four ballistae and the burned carcasses of eight trebuchets.’

Elodi scanned the smoking skeletons of the weapons her knights had destroyed. ‘Then where are the rest? There should be at least ten more.’ She turned to Gundrul. ‘Wendel tells me you witnessed the enemy flee.’

‘That I did, ma’am. And they didn’t stop to recover the engines left on the plain, or heavy wagons for that matter.’

She strode towards the line of the smoking remains. ‘Did he bring them this far?’ She turned. ‘Wendel, have our scouts check the tracks immediately.’

‘Already on the task, ma’am. We should see them return within the hour.’ He peered up to the sky. ‘There’s rain in those clouds. I suggest we make our way to the hall. The Council will be eager for updates on what immediate action we must take.’

Elodi let out a long sigh. Gundrul smiled. ‘And you thought the battle was the hard part, ma'am.’

◆◆◆

Reports from around the city did little to ease Elodi’s pain. She ached to her bones and wanted nothing more than to retire to her quarters and sleep for a week. But parts of the city still burned, bodies needed to be removed and buried, and hundreds more injured required urgent attention. Elodi grieved to hear many had lost their lives when Uldrak’s apparition had erupted, right at the moment the battle was won. The Ruuk had eventually overrun Gundrul’s young guards on the outer wall, but the Archonians had reformed and successfully defended the inner parapet. Once Uldrak had collapsed, exhausted by his summoning, they had quickly routed his demoralized force. But to Elodi’s regret, they had failed to snatch Uldrak from those carrying him from the city.

Elodi slumped back in her seat as the last of the council members filed out. She turned to Gundrul. ‘Where is Wendel? I thought I’d asked him to stay.’

He grinned. ‘Allow him some slack, ma’am. He needed to take a… short break. Four hours is a long time for a man of his age to go without, well, you know.’

‘I see. Well I trust he can stay the course for the coming months.’ The door opened. Wendel hobbled in.

He blustered. ‘Ma’am. A message from the scouts.’

Elodi's heart sank. ‘Your face says it all. Will I live long enough to see the day when you bring good news?’

Wendel arrived at the table and regained his breath. ‘Alas, ma’am, it is not to be this day.’ He grimaced as he sat. ‘It transpires half the force crossing the border did not commit to the attack.’

Elodi’s hand went to her mouth. ‘Half? Where are the rest?’

‘Heading east, ma’am. And…’

Elodi slumped. ‘And? And what?’

‘News from Captain Cubric at Drunsberg. It's dated three days ago. He sighted large wagons entering Drunsberg’ — he took a deep breath — ‘from the south.’

Elodi sprang up. ‘From the south! How is that possible?’

‘He believes the wagons were too large to enter via the Drunshead Gate. They must have traveled through central Dorn, then onto the Northwest Road.’

Elodi ran her hands down her face. ‘And all the while we were occupied with our so-called siege.’ She strode to the window and looked out across the smoldering town. ‘Was all this a ruse, Wendel? We focus all our strength here and allow them to march straight through the middle of our realm.’ She leaned on the stone and rested her head in her hands. ‘Twice! Twice when I thought I had a victory, they pull the rug from under my feet.’ Her jaw clenched. ‘All of those deaths, and for what? Such a hollow victory, and one dearly bought.’ She sat on the wide sill. ‘But if the attack intended to deceive, I don’t understand why Uldrak didn’t sit back and keep us holed up behind our walls.’

Gundrul walked to the window. ‘I’d also add arrogance to Uldrak’s growing list of shortcomings, ma’am. I don’t doubt he was under orders to keep us occupied, but I suspect he had the desire to take the city for himself. He brought ladders which leads me to think he had every intention to seize Calerdorn.’ He grunted. ‘I expect this Uleva creature will be angry with him for wasting so many for no gain.’ He patted her shoulder. ‘So that makes it a victory by my reckoning, ma’am.’

Elodi sighed. ‘Thank you, Captain.’ She turned to Wendel. ‘Does Cubric elaborate on the content of these wagons?’

‘He does, ma’am.’ Wendel held her gaze.

‘And?’

‘Shortly after their arrival, he states the ground beneath their feet shook.’ Wendel limped over to the window. ‘Captain Cubric is situated half a league from the mines. The rumblings can only mean activity in the deep seams.’ He groaned and rubbed his shoulders. ‘It appears the attack on Drunsberg was not just to deny us the ore. They obviously have grander plans and intend to execute them using our resources.’

Elodi slapped the wall. ‘We cannot let that happen! They’re already better equipped than we are. If they gain access to the ore and, we can assume they have the smithies and expertise to build, that puts us in a very precarious position.’ A cry went up outside as a smoldering roof collapsed. ‘Can you smell the smoke, Wendel? Captain?’

‘Ma’am?’

‘I can’t, not anymore. It’s been only two days and already I’m accustomed to the stench of death and ruin. And from what we've learned, this is only the prelude.’ She turned her back on the town and leaned against the cold stone. ‘I trust there's no news of Lord Broon’s fleet sailing yet?’

‘Not as yet, ma’am. According to his last dispatch, it may be another week.’

Elodi pursed her lips. ‘And, I assume, we’ve heard nothing more from him?’

‘We cannot be sure if he’s attempted to send another message, ma’am. If the Ruuk hold positions south of here, their hawks could have brought down Lord Broon’s birds, and also those from Archonholm.’

‘We have to know what’s happening, Wendel. If the Archon opens the Caerwal Gate, where does that leave us? If he’s successful, he can spare us reinforcements, but should he fail’ — the blood drained from her face — ‘how long before we have a war on all fronts? The current foe we face is bringing us to our knees, but what seeks to break through the gate? The primary threat has always been from the south. What force will they bring to the field of battle?’

Elodi watched the people bustling below, sorting and removing rubble. Were they merely clearing the way for more dead to line the streets? She faced the room. ‘Captain Gundrul, please go to the main gate and enquire on the progress of the repairs. Then go to the infirmary and check on Ruan and Aldorman, and whether they need more supplies.’ Gundrul saluted and left.

Elodi walked to the table. She waited for the door to close behind Gundrul, but still lowered her voice. ‘I haven’t mentioned this to anyone, Wendel, and I would appreciate… insist you keep this to yourself.’

‘Ma’am?’

‘Lord Broon and I witnessed’ — she drew up — ‘witnessed an unsettling incident while in Archonholm.’ Wendel raised an eyebrow. ‘We saw what I can only describe as the Archon suffering a… for want of a better word, breakdown.’

Wendel frowned. ‘Is he unwell?’

She sat at his side. ‘We saw, what I would call a waking nightmare, reliving the last moments on the Gormadon Plain. Then, he tried to throw himself off the balcony of his tower.’ Wendel gasped. Elodi continued before he could speak. ‘Thankfully, Bardon reached him first, and I helped to pull him back.’

‘But this is… what would have happened if you’d…?’ He turned away. ‘Is he recovered?’

‘The Archon insisted we need not be concerned, but I’m not so sure. A Palace Guard informed us he spends most nights in a state of turmoil, as if fighting demons within.’

Wendel closed his eyes and sighed. ‘He is under a great deal of strain with the responsibilities of the position, ma’am.’

‘That was Bardon’s opinion, and one, I can only now appreciate. But if our forces take Elmarand in the south, and’ — a shiver ran up her spine — ‘the Archon chooses to open the gate. What if he is too weak to face the Golesh?’ She clutched Wendel’s arm. ‘What if he devised the whole plan while in a state of confusion?’

Wendel sat in silence for a moment. ‘I trust his advisors and General Kragan would have scrutinized the details.’

‘And how many people in Archonholm have the backbone to question his strategy? From what I’ve seen, even the vice-Archon is reluctant to confront him.’

Wendel brushed at a mark on his robe. ‘You may have a point there, ma’am.’

‘And we have yet to receive a reply from my last dispatch. We don’t know if the Archon is aware of our plight.’

He groaned as he straightened. ‘I shall dispatch another bird, ma’am. Only this time I’ll send it on the Celestra to be released from Seransea, she’s due out this evening. Hopefully, our feathered messenger will avoid the enemy hawks. I shall take the precaution of requesting dispatches are sent to the old port, ma’am.’

‘Thank you, Wendel. Ah! Those poor reserves. What are they to think of me? I bring them all the way to Calerdorn, only to send them back. But I cannot abide to think of vast swathes of the realm left so perilously under-defended.’

Wendel smiled. ‘I don’t think you need have any concerns about what your people think of you after your exploits last night, ma’am. Already they’re saying you single-handedly defeated half the Ruuk, sent the shreek scurrying back to the underworld, and then chased their commander out of Calerdorn.’

Elodi sighed. ‘Are all our beloved legends such a poor representation of the truth?’

He nodded. ‘I should imagine, but there’s value in the legends, ma’am. People take heart from such stories.’

‘We shall need more than stories to survive these dark times. I feel every decision I’ve made has done little to secure our survival. Have I put the future of our realm at risk, Wendel? Is our thousand-year history about to come to an end under my watch?’

‘Nonsense, ma’am. You’ve done everything you can. You did the right thing by concentrating our forces here. Had you tried to spread them across the realm, the enemy would have picked us off one-by-one. Who knows, perhaps they did plan to take the city. They came with the numbers and weapons to do so. I think you can take the praise for holding Calerdorn. Imagine our position should we have lost the city and the port?’

‘I know, but it doesn’t prevent the nagging doubts. What if I’d done this, or what if I’d done that, would we be in a better state? Is our current predicament an improvement on last week? They may yet still pick us off one-by-one.’

‘You must stay strong, ma’am. I know you’ve only had the title for a short while, but the people love and trust you. Your intervention at the gatehouse has elevated your status, and not only with us. I’m pretty sure the Ruuk will be more wary of you now, ma’am. But this is just the beginning. Show them why you continue to deserve it.’

‘I must, indeed.’ She clenched her fists. ‘Now I have to decide whether to commit our depleted and tired forces to re-taking the fort at Draegnor, or to head east and extract the enemy from our mines.’

‘That will not be an easy decision to make, ma’am.’