The Eternal Darkness (18 page)

They had struggled to undermine the supports, confronted with excellent construction and a raging river that limited their access.  He knew that if the army did not stop the invaders, then they had to have the bridge down.  While they had made some progress, it was still a day or two before they could bring even a portion of it down.

Sighing, Kena left the underside of the bridge and climbed back up the slope.  At the top, he stopped and looked around.  He stood on the east side of the river and the night sky was filled with clouds, threatening rain.  With the clouds, the night seemed darker, the light of the torches limited in their reach.  His command tent, around fifty feet away, was ringed with burning torches.  The comfort of the warm light drew him.  He had just started for it when he heard an unusual noise behind him.

He turned, uncertain what the sound was, and noticed that the soldiers on the far end of the bridge were not visible.  Concerned, he went to the bridge and looked across.  The torches were still burning at the far end, but he could not see anyone in their light.

As he began to turn to call for assistance, he suddenly felt as if he had been punched in the stomach, his breath gone, and fell to his knees.  Stunned, he looked down and saw the black haft of an arrow protruding below his ribcage.  Agony overtook his shock and he screamed as fiery pain raced through his body.  He collapsed onto his side, and then rolled to his back.

As soldiers responded to his cries, stumbling out of their tents, more arrows flew past him, followed by more screams filling the air.  With the loud clattering of hooves, he saw strange men with long hair, dressed in leather and mail, come riding across the bridge, armed with spears and bows.  He tried to move, but his body did not seem to want to work.

“Kill all of the defenders and secure this side of the bridge,” one of the men on horseback, a fierce looking man with a scarred face, told the others.  “Send scouts ahead to see if there are more soldiers.”  Several of the men nodded and rode on.

Kena was still trying to move when the man noticed him.  Their eyes met as the man hefted his spear, the spear point down.  “There is no shame to die at a warrior’s hand,” the man said almost conversationally.  Time seemed to slow as Kena watched helplessly while the man drove the spear into his chest.  There was a moment of new agony, and then his pain faded away with his life.

C
HAPTER
T
EN

Several days later, sunlight shone through the gaps in the clouds, brightening the day and highlighting the still green grass of the plains, but the cold wind held any warming at bay as Marcus slowed his horse to a stop, Daen and Nathen copying his action.  The soldiers around them halted as well, reacting to a command from Reiden.

A lone horseman was approaching from the east, riding quickly.  The man slowed when he reached the forward elements and was challenged.  After a brief discussion, the man was allowed to pass and rode over to Reiden.  He was a scout returning with a report.

Marcus recognized the man as Sergeant Werdan, the same scout that had discovered them after they had freed Keria from the demon fortress.  He had the same purposeful demeanor that Marcus remembered as he stopped and saluted Reiden.

“The enemy has taken the bridge, Commander,” Werdan reported directly.  “They left a large detachment of soldiers to guard it, probably near a thousand.  Mostly infantry, with some mounted elements.  I had to avoid their outriders and could not get close enough to get a better count.  They don’t have enough to stop us; just make things interesting.  I can’t be sure, but it appears the bulk of their forces continued to march towards the crossroads.”

“Thank you, Sergeant,” Reiden replied.  “Are you able to go back out?”

The man nodded.  “Where do you want me to go?”

“Ride to the southeast and verify that the enemy has not turned south.  I do not want to take the bridge only to find the invaders are traveling south along the river.  Once you are certain that they are not on this side of the river, circle back up the river, scouting for the edge of their lines.  We will continue to march east and prepare to take the bridge.”

“Understood,” Werdan stated.  He saluted and turned his horse, riding off.

After speaking with some of his officers, Reiden gave the signal for the army to continue its march.  With the light cavalry riding ahead and on the flanks to warn of any dangers, the knights rode around the edges of the army to respond to any threat.  The infantry, which made up the bulk of the army, marched just inside the knights.  Inside the protective ring of infantry, the lightly armored archers formed up around the supply wagons and the army commanders.  Groups of clerics were assigned to the mounted elements, while the majority marched with the soldiers.

It took several more hours of travel before the river and bridge came into view.  Marcus saw the tall trees that lined the river stretch away from the cleared space around the bridge itself.  In that open area, he saw that the enemy had formed up in front of the bridge in staggered rows of infantry, spears bristling.  Their cavalry had formed up on either side of their line, spears and short bows ready.  He could just make out more riders on the other side of the bridge.

Reiden halted the army and began to deploy the different forces to take the bridge.  He tasked his cavalry units to intercept and destroy the mounted enemy while the infantry would march forward under the cover of the archers. The knights were to be held in reserve to exploit any gaps in the enemy’s lines.

While the various units were forming up for battle, Werdan reappeared, his horse looking lathered.  He immediately rode over to Reiden.

“Commander, I found no sign that the enemy went south, at least on this side of the river,” he reported.  “There were signs that some of the enemy are hiding in the tree line, waiting to attack our flanks.  We should send some forces at least a mile north and south of the bridge, sweeping the trees.”

“Thank you, Sergeant,” Reiden stated, his eyes studying the tree line.  “You have done your duty for the day.  Fall in with the wagons, get something to eat, and rest your horse.  We will need your skills again, once we have crossed the river.”

Orders were sent, tasking units of cavalry and knights, to ride out and clear the trees.  Once they departed, Reiden gave the command for the main force to attack the bridge.

While Marcus sat on his horse with the other commanders and nobles, the shouted commands of the officers rang in the air.  With a sudden lurch, the infantry began its march forward.  The soldiers marched in step, spears out, their units tightly formed.  Once the infantry units had moved away from the rest of the army, rows of archers formed up and followed.  They were armed with long bows that had the greatest reach.  The armored knights covered the archers, riding in columns on either side, with some forming up behind the archers to protect their rear.

The tension mounted as Marcus watched the gap between the opposing forces close.  He knew that they had the numerical superiority, but also understood that once battle was joined, things could go wrong.

As soon as they were within range, new orders were given and the archers halted while the infantry continued to close with the enemy.  The archers raised their bows and released, a dark cloud of arrows arcing into the sky.  The arrows rained down on the enemy, who raised wooden shields to absorb the attack.  Not all of the enemy were successful; Marcus saw men fall along the enemy line.  Arrows seemed to fall continuously as the archers launched wave after wave of attacks.

The enemy cavalry rode out, closing with the infantry units.  Arrows flew from their bows, striking soldiers.  Marcus saw the injured collapse, while other soldiers helped them to the rear where the clerics waited.  To answer this challenge, his cavalry raced forward to meet the enemy horsemen.  In a fast-moving swirl of horses and men, the opposing cavalries closed with each other.  Marcus saw the flashes of swords and spears as men and horses began to fall.

Once the infantry was close enough, orders were shouted and the archers ceased firing.  As the last arrows landed, the infantry units charged ahead.  In clash of steel and blood, the soldiers engaged the enemy infantry.  The enemy lines bent as Marcus’ forces drove into their foes, forcing them back.  Spears and swords ruled as men battled in close-quarters.  Even at this distance, Marcus could hear the cries and curses of the men as they fought and died.

Just as it appeared that the enemy lines would break, groups of demons ran out from the cover of the trees on both sides of the bridge.  They sent their dark power into the soldiers, killing scores.  Golden light surrounded the clerics assigned to the cavalry as they raced forward to engage the demons.  The sound of conflicting power echoed across the plains as streaks of black and golden fire flashed between the groups.  More mounted clerics rushed forward to support the others.  The demons began to fall back as the extra clerics joined the fight.

At Reiden’s signal and with a blaring of horns, the knights charged forward, their armor reflecting the sunlight as they broke into smaller units, breaking to either side of the men fighting.  They lowered their spears and swept into the flanks of the enemy infantry.  The enemy lines seemed to shudder as the knights made contact, and then collapsed under the weight of the attack.  The infantry surged into the breakdown, pushing the enemy back.

Honoring his promise to sit there and watch was harder than Marcus had believed.  He had always fought his own battles, so he had to resist the urge to ride forward and help.  He tried to stay dispassionate as the soldiers drove forward, leaving the enemy dead and dying lying on the ground behind them.  The archers followed behind the infantry and began to attack the enemy on the far side of the bridge.  As those enemy forces began to fall, groups of knights broke away from the main battle and charged across the bridge.  Infantry units that reached the bridge followed.  He saw the clerics finish off the remaining demons, and then head to the fighting to heal the wounded.

“It is done, I believe, Highness,” Reiden said quietly, pointing at the knights and cavalry that came riding out of the trees.  “We will have our forces finish mopping up any resistance, and then we will cross the bridge and set up camp.”

Marcus nodded and motioned to Daen and Nathen.  With them at his side, he turned and rode back to the supply wagons, unable to watch anymore.

…

After the army had cleared the enemy dead, they crossed the river and set up camp.  As night fell, with Daen and Nathen trailing him, Marcus went amongst the soldiers, sharing a meal with one group and stopping to speak with others, praising their courage and skill.  He felt that it was his obligation to reach out to as many soldiers as possible.  His voice hoarse from all of the talking, it was after midnight before he went to his tent to sleep.

The next morning, he joined Reiden and Helgrant, along with Brother Trence and the nobles, in the command tent.  Maps of the area were spread out on the makeshift table in the center of the room.

“Highness,” Reiden said as he greeted him with a bow.  “I have sent out our scouts to seek out the main enemy force.  While I cannot be certain that they did not turn south towards Sanduas, their pattern indicates that they are headed to the Keep of Tomaris.  Once the scouts return, we should know for sure.”

“Thank you, Commander,” Marcus replied.  “What did yesterday’s engagement cost us?”

“We lost around three hundred soldiers and twenty clerics, but we destroyed a thousand or so of the enemy, as well as fifty demons,” Reiden stated calmly, his tone matter-of-fact.

Marcus nodded grimly at the cruel math of war.  “What is our next move?”

“If the enemy’s goal is the Keep, we have two options,” Reiden stated.  “We must follow, of course, but we have a choice once we know where they are.  We can allow them to march into mountains to the Keep, and then attempt to block them from leaving until our reinforcements arrive or we can find decent ground and force them to turn and fight.”

“Why would we risk our forces in an attack?” Genela demanded.  “We know that we are outnumbered.  Let this Tomaris defend his Keep.  We should wait for our reinforcements.”

“And if the enemy takes the Keep, my lord?” Reiden asked.  “We would then face the prospect of having to besiege it ourselves.  Surely, you are not suggesting that we allow this enemy to gain such a stronghold?”

“Why should that matter to us?” Genela argued.  “As you say, we can simply lay a siege and let them starve.  Let hunger and deprivation do the hard work.”

“What about the demons?” Trence demanded.  His face was firm and disapproving.  “I cannot abandon the people of the Keep to become their slaves.  They are children of the One, as we are.  We have an obligation to oppose the dark might of the demons in the One’s name.  For that sacred purpose, the clerics will continue on, without the army if needed, even if it means certain death.”

Reiden frowned at that, while Genela’s face took on a stubborn look.  The other nobles started talking at once, the tent filled with sudden nervous chatter.  The noise was cut off by a sudden clap as Marcus slammed his hand down on the table.

“We will never leave the clerics to face the demons and their forces alone!” he stated sharply.  He let that sink in for a moment.  “I share Lord Genela’s concern regarding the size of the enemy, but I am also concerned with the prospect of letting the demons gain a foothold so close to Sanduas.  Even if we were to leave the people of the Keep to their fates, something that I do not believe that the queen would have us do, we do not know if there are ways out of the Keep that would allow the enemy to be resupplied or escape.  That would render any siege pointless.”

Marcus held up a hand when Genela started to object.  “In this, I speak with the authority as Prince of the Realm,” Marcus said, standing straight and squaring his shoulders.  He faced Reiden.  “Commander, prepare your plans to engage the enemy.”