Vilos stood atop the flat roof of a two-story building and observed the initial attack and retreat of his brother’s forces with grim pleasure. The ballistae had given them a real shock.
When the main rush came he knew that playtime had ended. Abin was flying, invisible, over the battle keeping an eye out for Nord’s wizard. It was time for Vilos to join his men.
He climbed down from the roof and hurried toward the two thousand men waiting for him. His guards fell in silently beside him.
The main group of soldiers had taken up position in an evacuated bakery. Nearby, along the main avenue of approach, fifteen men armed with special weapons waited atop a building. When those weapons went off, Vilos’s men would prepare for the attack.
As they milled around waiting for the signal Vilos heard one of them mutter, “How are we supposed to scare them when we all smell like fresh baklava?”
Vilos grinned. The initial attack had done wonders for morale. After weeks of running the men had needed to take out their frustrations. He was about to say something when the back door swung open.
Everyone drew their weapons thinking they’d been discovered. When nothing appeared they all relaxed.
When Abin spoke Vilos almost jumped out of his boots. “I’ve neutralized their wizard, Majesty. Both your brother and the wizard march at the head of the army.”
“Very good,” Vilos said. “That should make the ambush more effective. Keep watch on them, I’ll handle things here.”
“Yes, Majesty,” Abin’s disembodied voice said. A moment later the bakery door shut and the wizard was gone.
Abin hadn’t been gone long when Vilos heard the first explosion. The screams came soon after.