The Eternal Darkness (33 page)

In a blast that stunned the air, Halana was struck by the demons’ power.  The explosion sent her flying back, her robes smoking, and staggered the rest of the soldiers.  Disoriented, they could not respond as more arrows and demon fire swept over the edge of the overhang.  Men fell screaming.

Beneath him, Moshanna felt the first blow of the ram against the Keep’s doors, which shook the overhang.  A hollow boom echoed inside the Keep from the ram’s blow.

With his men down, Moshanna crawled towards the barrels of pitch.  He was able to tip the first barrel, the pitch raining down on the men below.  He heard their cries and shouts as he moved to the next barrel.

While the ram continued to pound, more arrows flew over the edge as he tipped the barrel.  Pain erupted as an arrow pierced his left arm.  Gritting his teeth, he slid over the last barrel of pitch, trying to avoid the additional arrows that raked the overhang.  Grimacing, he was able to finally tip the barrel.  Reaching into the fire, ignoring the pain, he pulled out a burning piece of wood and went to the edge of the overhang.

Even as he hurled the lit brand off the ledge and the pitch exploded in flame, sending men fleeing from the rams, he saw a demon point at him and an inky bolt of demon fire leapt from its hands.  He could not move in time, but simply braced for the pain that would release him. 
Sharin.

Just before the demon’s power reached him, a brilliant streak of golden-white fire intercepted it.  The shock wave from the conflagration of the power sent Moshanna tumbling back, snapping the arrow shafts and sending agony into his wounds.  He stopped his tumbling with a low groan of pain.

Through the billows of black smoke, he saw Tomaris on the balcony of his study, his power brightly glowing in his hands.  Tomaris unleashed another blinding blast of power at the demons.  As Moshanna tried to pull himself up, he heard the thunder of the magic colliding with the demons.

A tidal wave of black fire flew up and enveloped Tomaris and his balcony.  With a deafening roar and blinding light, the powers exploded, shaking the Keep itself.  Moshanna held his breath as he searched for Tomaris.  At first, there was nothing, but then he saw movement.  Tomaris stood unsteadily, his robe tattered and smoking.  Moshanna saw blood on his face as his power reawakened, twin globes of light surrounding his hands.  In that light, Moshanna saw Tomaris look directly at him and nod.

With surprising strength, Tomaris ran towards the ruined railing of his balcony and threw himself off.  Moshanna heard the demons laugh and cry out with pleasure.

“TOMARIS!” Moshanna screamed.  The pain from his injuries temporarily forgotten, he crawled to the ledge and watched him fall.

As the old man descended, his hands stretched before him, the power surrounding his hands grew brighter and brighter until it was incandescent.  The demons, their laughter dying, launched their dark power against him.  Moshanna saw him buffeted by that assault, but his power turned most of it.

Moshanna lifted his head and saw the demons desperately trying to stop Tomaris and begin to move apart.  Before the demons could react further, Tomaris plunged into their midst like a falling star.  With a concussion that took Moshanna’s breath away and flung him back, a huge explosion of golden-white fire erupted, sweeping over the demons.  In that conflagration, demons exploded into ash, sending pieces of their armor flying as shrapnel, tearing into other demons and their soldiers.  Winds whipped the burning pitch, flinging globs of fire in all directions, coating the closest enemy soldiers and demons.  Screams and cries roses as the enemy suddenly broke and ran.

Tomaris
.  Moshanna crawled and looked over the edge to see only a dozen of the demons had survived that explosion, some showing injuries as they fled.  The rest were consumed, including their leader.  All of their siege equipment was burning.  Moshanna tried to push himself up when his strength failed and darkness closed in on him.

…

With a start, Moshanna woke to find himself in his bed, his clothes gone and his wounds cleaned and bandaged.  Sunlight was streaming through the windows.  Grimacing from the aches of his wounds, he pushed up into a sitting position.  He thought of what happened and felt his heart heavy with grief. 
Tomaris is gone
.

“You need your rest, husband,” Sharin’s voice said from the corner.  He saw her rise from her chair and come over to the bed.  She sat down next to him and rested a hand on his arm.  “Both of the clerics survived, but they were also badly injured, so we cleaned and dressed your wounds as best we could.  When the clerics recover, they will come and heal you.”

“That can wait.  I need to check on my men and evaluate the enemy’s position, my love,” he said, shifting to the edge of the bed.  He saw her frown as he slowly stood, favoring his injured leg.  “Please, Sharin, I need to be seen, so the people know that someone is still in charge after Tomaris’ death.”

“I will accompany you then,” she said as she rose.  She looked at him with a firm expression on her beautiful face.  “If I feel you are pushing yourself too much, you will agree to return until the clerics can see you.”

“It will be as you say, my love,” he told her.  “Can you help me dress?”

After Sharin had assisted him into his armor, he belted on his sword and limped towards the door.  She lightly rested a hand on his arm, ready to help him if he stumbled.  They slowly made their way down to the main hall, where he saw his soldiers resting, caring for equipment, and gathering weapons.  He made his way down the stairs to them.  When some saw him, a cheer went up, “Captain Deepwood and the Lady Sharin!”  More soldiers picked up the cheer as he slowly went amongst them, checking on their health and morale.

He spent an hour rallying his soldiers and then, with the assistance of Sharin and Hansa, he made his way back to the overhang.  There was a burnt oil smell to everything as they exited the Keep onto that stone slab.  The sun, shining brightly in a nearly cloudless sky, warmed his skin, despite the cool air.  His soldiers had cleared the overhang of the debris from the night before.  He greeted the troops on duty and went to the edge to look towards the enemy.

He saw them assembled beyond bowshot, the soldiers milling about in several clusters while the surviving demons were gathered together, separated from the soldiers.  They seemed to be arguing over something.

As they watched, riders appeared through the gates, followed by foot soldiers.  Moshanna saw several demons come in as well, joining their fellows.  More and more enemy gathered inside the walls, adding at least several thousand troops to the enemy forces.

Moshanna shook his head in disbelief.  Even if the demons were neutralized, he did not have the forces to break the siege.  The enemy outnumbered his men at least two to one.  Unless the enemy retreated, they would have to rely on a slow war of attrition.

His wounds throbbing, he was about to turn back inside when he noticed something unusual.  He saw the enemy soldiers begin to gather in two separate groups, with the newcomers making up most of the larger group.  He heard some faint shouts echoing off the walls.

Suddenly, the two groups began to form ranks, facing each other.  As he watched, spears came down and the two forces began to close with each other.  The demons, gathered behind the smaller group, surged forward.  He saw demon fire streak across the gap, burning into the ranks of the larger group.  Sheets of arrows flew in response, hitting the demons and the front ranks of the smaller group.

“Call the men to order, Commander,” Moshanna told Hansa.  “Get my horse and prepare to open the Keep’s doors.”

“What are we doing?” Hansa asked.

“We are going to take advantage of this,” he said.  “The enemy is fighting amongst themselves for some reason.  While they are divided and occupied with each other, we will attack and try to break them.”

“As you say, Captain,” Hansa said with a salute and ran back inside.

“Are you sure, Moshanna?” Sharin asked, concerned.  “Shouldn’t we just let them fight each other?”

“I want to take the advantage and maybe lift this siege,” he stated.  “I may be wrong, but I sense that this may be the only opportunity we will have to do so.”

“Just be careful and let your soldiers do the fighting,” she said.  “They need their captain alive and well.”

“I will, my love,” he told her.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Hansa, mounted on his own horse, was waiting with Moshanna’s.  With Sharin’s help, he climbed into the saddle.  He leaned down and kissed her, and then straightened.

Before him, the soldiers of Tomaris’ Guard were lined up in tight rows.  He called out to them, voice carrying across the wide hall, “Soldiers of the Keep!  Our enemy has turned upon themselves and we will use that to our advantage.  We will attack and drive the enemy from the Keep.  Remember your training and watch over your brothers.  May the Creator grant us victory!”

His soldiers let out huge cheer that echoed throughout the Keep.  “Open the doors!” he shouted.

Men ran and removed the buttresses on the door.  When they were done, with the cranking of pulleys and creaking of rope, the inner doors swung open.  The tunnel beyond was dark as they waited.  Then, with a loud metallic boom, the outer doors opened.

“Forward” Moshanna commanded.  His men began to move forward.  The leading elements ran ahead and began to clear the debris of the burnt battering rams to make way for the rest.

Moshanna rode out behind his men as they reformed their ranks.  He could hear the sounds of fighting in the distance.  “We will maneuver and come behind the demons and their forces,” he told Hansa.  “Tell the archers that their primary targets are the demons.  If I do not see at least ten arrows in each one, I will be disappointed.  We will then push the enemy into the larger group, allowing them to do some of our work.”

Hansa rode forward and gave the orders.  Moshanna heard the Keep’s doors close behind them. 
We are committed
.  His soldiers began to march forward, the infantry leading, spears and shields ready.

They marched to the far building, and then circled around them to approach the enemy from their rear.  As they cleared the last building, the tall wall of the Keep’s gate to their right, Moshanna saw the enemy battle raging in front of him.

His archers released a volley of arrows into the smaller group of enemies.  He saw the arrows wreak damage, cutting into their ranks.  Realizing their danger, the enemy force split in two, with half turning to meet his men.

Several demons stepped forward, their dark power ready.  Before they could strike, a hail of arrows flew into them, sending them tumbling back, dead.  The arrows continued to strike the enemy ranks, sowing confusion and chaos.

With a savage cry, the enemy charged, trying to close the gap.  Moshanna’s infantry lowered their spears and brought their shields forward.  With a loud crash, the two forces came together.  “Push!” Hansa’s voice rang out.  With shouts and curses, the Keep’s soldiers drove forward, striking with their spears.  The archers continued to loose arrows, picking individual targets.

After several bloody minutes of fighting, the enemy’s front began to collapse.  Moshanna’s forces moved forward, gaining ground.  Slowly, the enemy was pushed back.  Before long, the smaller element of the enemy had been crushed between the Keep’s defenders and the larger group of the enemy.

As his forces reformed to meet the larger element, which had not moved, only kept their weapons at the ready, Moshanna saw a single man step forward from the enemy lines.  He dropped his spear, sword and knife and walked forward.

“Make way,” Moshanna called out.  His soldiers made an opening, which Moshanna rode through.  He went forward and met the man.  The man as short and clean-shaven, with his long hair pulled behind his head.  He had on leather armor, covered in chainmail.

“Are you the commander of this place?” the man asked.

“I am,” Moshanna replied.  “Captain Moshanna Deepwood of Tomaris’ Guard.”

“I am Dwain, son of Glan, the clan chief of the Wuno clan,” the man said with a nod.  He gestured behind him.  “We are of the western clans of Karnath.  We came with the Dark Ones on the promise of conquest and rewards.  They have led us only to ruin and death.  While, as warriors, we disapprove of surrender, the other clans have agreed to allow you to capture us.  You may seek ransom with our clans at a time of your choosing.”

“What about your fellows?” Moshanna asked, pointing to the dead around them.  “Did they not want to surrender?”

Dwain spat, “They are of the eastern clans and thralls of the Dark Ones.  We could not approach you without finishing them first.”

“Then, Dwain of the Wuno clan, you may consider yourselves captured,” Moshanna replied.  “Have your men stack their weapons and we will place you in the buildings for now.”

“It will be done.”  Dwain looked at him with a slight smile.  “Know that, as the warrior that captured us, we will obey your orders until we are ransomed.”

After the enemy was secured in the buildings, Moshanna began to ride back to the Keep when horns sounded in the distance.  He called on Hansa to prepare to withdraw to the Keep and rode out of the broken gates to see what approached.  Sitting on his horse before the gates, he waited.

He heard the sound of horses approaching.  Gripping his sword and trying to ignore his injuries, he prepared to ride back inside.  Appearing around the edge of the walls was a group of men in full armor, carrying long spears.  Seeing him, they stopped.  One man rode slowly forward, a notched battle-axe hanging from his saddle, and raised the guard on his helm.  He stopped a few feet away.

“I am Sir Alleon of Sanduas,” he said in greeting.  “We have pursued a force of demons and their followers here to the Keep.”

“Greetings, Sir Alleon,” Moshanna said with a nod of his head.  “I am Moshanna Deepwood, Captain of Tomaris’ Guard and defender of the Keep.”

“I take it that the enemy is defeated?” Alleon asked.  “Please tell me that I do not have to ride up into the mountains,” he added with a grin.