A Paradox in Retrograde (42 page)

Nowhere were these symptoms of internal decay more plainly
evident than within the ranks of its decadent ruling class. The so
called first families of Baldur, who had for generations held tightly onto the political reigns they had inherited, were now no more
than a morally weak ennobled caste. It was from these ranks that
the upper echelons of Baldur's government were primarily constituted. These citizens having long focused only on the maneuverings required to maintain the status quo, were left deeply isolated
from the subjects that they claimed to serve. Now within the
depths of their current crisis, the people would find that these
men, having remained entrenched in their own selfish pursuits,
were conspicuously absent. These men then would have good
reason to fear that what was left of their way of life could come
suddenly crashing down.

Men like Landaus who throughout the current crisis had maintained their unflagging loyalty to their nation would then be
called by circumstance to action. Landaus then by virtue and default was duly charged to lead the defense of the citadel and by
extension the island nation. This mantle of responsibility would
seem to rest easily upon his shoulders. During his years of duty in
the service of protecting the citadel he had logged many an hour
in contemplation of its defenses. He had walked every square
inch of its walls and there was none more qualified. From the moment he realized an invasion was an inevitable fact, he had begun
to prepare for the worst.

Though the time that remained for their preparations was at a
minimum, he possessed the unquestioned loyalty of his men.
Therefore in short order their limited resources would be marshaled with a keen machinelike precision. Morale of the defenders was high and as the time of their enemy's coming drew nearer,
their confidence remained unwavering. He however held close
his private doubts. For as he worked out the possible scenarios
there remained some troubling facts. In his mind's eye the offensive parties had always assailed them from the sea never from the
air. He came to the conclusion that on paper these differences
were mere subtleties. How these events would ultimately unfold
however, was at this stage unanswerable.

As the morning sun reached toward its high point in the sky the
work of bolstering the already formidable defenses was well underway. From his vantage upon the hills that stood above the city
he observed the lay of the land with great scrutiny. From here
final adjustments were being made. This was being carried out by
use of a relay of runners through which his orders were quickly
brought to his lieutenants on the ground.

Looking through the lens of his spyglass out across the city he
saw there on the edge of the horizon a dark band of forming
cloud. He lowered the spyglass from his eyes and was met there
with a cool breeze racing in advance of the storm. This was just
another factor that he could not account for. Grunhuf who was at
his side took note of his troubled expression. "Landaus the time is
drawing nearer. There is perhaps an hour remaining before those
ships are upon us. Should we not now retreat within the perimeter
of our defenses?"

He did his best to clear these thoughts from his mind before he
responded. "Yes, of course you're right." He turned to the waiting
guardsman and gave him a command. "Runner, return now to the
citadel and tell those you see on your way to do the same. Now
run and make haste."

The unkempt runner already panting from his previous run said,
"Aye Colonel." He quickly saluted then turned tofollow his orders.

As the guardsman ran out of sight, Landaus spoke, "Grunhuf
we've done all we can do. Let's hope it'll be enough."

"I'm sure it will be. The city is bristling with arms and the spirits
of the men are high. I would imagine they could hold off a thousand ships."
"Thankfully that's not the case."

Following the path that the runners had taken down a high mountain trail that leads to an open field they walked toward their waiting motor carriage. For the few moments it had taken to cross this
distance Landaus's mind was in a whirl of questions. Sensing
such uncharacteristic unease Grunhuf offered his assistance.
"Landaus what is it that is troubling you? I would be more than
happy to act as a sounding board."

"Well my dear friend, the problem I have is not one of spirit or
arms but rather mathematics." Grunhuf naturally gave him a rather puzzled look in response to this statement. Sensing his confusion Landaus tried to explain.

"It's rather simple really. We have well over a hundred cannon.
Some long range some significantly less so. I've set the long
range cannon, twenty in all to focus on the ships. We must make
sure they are all rendered inoperable. Beyond this their use is rather limited in close quarters. Use of the remaining cannon arrayed against the enemy are similarly ill equipped not by capacity
but rather by the type of available projectiles. We'll pack them
with small caliber steel balls, nails and even stone, basically anything we can fit down the barrel. This as devastating as it may
sound, may however be no match for our enemy's personal armor. In the end it may be down to muskets and sabers. Between
you and I it is there I fear that as a whole our side may not be
quite up for the challenge. Oh their brave enough,too brave. I
fear we will endure heavy losses and that nothing that we do will
be enough. "His face had grown pale as he had unburdened himself. Grunhuf for a brief moment hesitated, carefully weighing his
options before responding He did not wish to alienate him unnecessarily, despite his apparent inability to see what he thought to
be a prime option. "Landaus it would seem that either pride or
arrogance are preventing you from seeing what others might see
as obvious." Stopping cold in his tracks he turned. Regarding
with a stern eye toward his friend he asked, "Exactly what are
you trying to say?"

"With all due respect, it would appear that something other than
sound judgment is dictating your reaction to the presence of these
strangers among us."

By now they had reached the carriage. Without saying a word
Landaus open the door and started the engine. Both men found
their seats within. Grunhuf did not remove his gaze from Landaus. Staring into his face, he patiently waited for a response.
When one did not readily come he pushed him further and more
insistently "Will you not even consider that by allowing these
strangers to fight at our side that you will deny us an immeasurable resource. You know as well as I do how well suited they are
for war. It has been their only existence throughout all their many
incarnations. It is my opinion that such an action borders on foolhardiness."

Landaus closed his eyes and spoke. "I know it may seem foolish
of me. My intention is I think a noble one. I desire only independence from this tyranny of circumstance from which we find
ourselves in. In these final hours to earn a victory that is rightfully ours to win would be invaluable. By what right do I deny them
this honor?"

"It is exactly this tyranny of which you speak that gives you the
right. There have been many disadvantages placed at your feet in
this coming battle by circumstance. Why not also embrace the
advantages as well? Those two alone as you well know could
save many a life and even perhaps turn the tide ofbattle. Why
would you lose the battle and perhaps all our lives, including
young Ibsen over some notion of nobility or honor? That my
friend is madness."

Landaus as if delivered upon a realization this time opened his
eyes as he responded. "What you say is hard to hear, yet it is even
harder to admit. Some of what you say may be trueand it's hard
to argue against such logic laid out in such a way."He grew silent for a moment as he appeared to again mull over his options.
Again he spoke deliberately. "It would seem that you have corrected my faulty mathematics. For that I thank you. I will consider it." He then depressed the carriage gear shifter and engaged the
motor. Soon they were rolling swiftly down toward the defensive
perimeter.

By now all the runners had delivered their orders to the officers
on the ground and upon the gunnery positions. Landaus had
called upon all the gunnery commanders to rendezvous in the
great hall. It having appeared that all were present and accounted
for he called for them to gather around the long table. There on a
large sheet of paper a hastily drawn map representing the citadel
and its environs was represented. "I wish to thank you all for
coming. This will be the final meeting you will have with your
commander before the battle. All arrangements have been finalized and you will receive no further direct orders from me. As
you can all see on this crude map is an image of the field before
us as seen from the air." Using a pointer he circled a point on the
map that was shaded with crosshatching. "Indicated here from the
air one would see where obstacles have been deployed along the
ground around the citadel. It is these obstacles that should prevent
landings in all but three pre-determined positions. The ships
themselves due to these constraints will be forcedto land in a
three point vertical configuration. In this position the ships therefore will prove to be easier targets. So it will beto there that the
concentrated cannon fire would from on high be arrayed." Using
a graphite pen attached to a pointer he demonstrated the angle of
attack by drawing lines of fire. "To those commanders of the long
range cannon, this will be your primary kill zone.Your Job is to
destroy those ships hopefully before their warriors can disembark. However accuracy rather than speed will win the day. All of
you have trained for this so let's make those shots count. Remember all cannon are to harass the same ships simultaneously. Only
when the first is destroyed should the focus of your fire be shifted
to the second, and then the third." From there he moved the pointer farther up still. "Here along the outer wall marksmen with
heavy musket and mortar will be aligned. A continuous volley of
fire will lie down from these positions. If the enemy can survive
this it will be here that they will be allowed to breach the wall.
Upon the sound of the horn your musketeers and mortar bearers
will beat a planned retreat and set up the secondary defensive
line. It will be here where the enemy will then be trapped into the
secondary kill zone. They then will be assailed from all sides by
all manner of armament. Dug into shallow earthen redoubts small
mobile cannon will be deployed." This time when he used the
pointer he did so with extra emphasis. "It will be there that the
front lines must be held at all cost. Beyond there only the high
walls of the citadel itself would hold the enemy back. Under any
other circumstances these defenses would be unassailable. This
enemy however is unlike any tribe of pirates or wayward barbarian horde we have ever faced. There will be no hit and run tactics.
This will be a fight to the death. Many of you I have known your
entire lives and have trained by my side. Some of you are raw
volunteers and have never before held a weapon. All of you however will prove that you are up to the challenge. You will do what
must be done. Ok then let's take our positions and good luck to us
all." With only the sound of chairs being moved the men in double time filed out of the hall and began to hurriedly make it back
their way to their positions.

Landaus and Grunhuf seemingly found themselves alone as the
men vacated the hall. There in the doorway two silhouettes stood,
cast against the pre noon sky. It was Ananda and Amida, they
entered uninvited. They approached and as the two sets of men
squared sights on each other. Ananda drew within five paces and
began to speak. "Good day gentlemen. There is something I must
say before the battle begins. Firstly it is only because of the respect that my brother has in you that have put me into this position. I once again must ask you with all humility to allow us into
this fight for I would much rather join now as an ally. For once
the battle is joined; I will be there among you. To that you can be
assured."

"Ananda there is no reason to be so vexed. To the issue of the
coming battle I have had thanks to Grunhuf, a change of heart. I
am no longer opposed to both of you joining the battle under certain circumstance."

Ananda was not used to following orders so he paused and carefully gathered his thoughts before delivering his deliberately
worded response. Mocking humility his words came grudgingly.
"Under what conditions shall we be so constrained?"

"Quite to the contrary you and your brother shall be given free
range over the field of battle. Tell me, have you ever ridden a
horse in battle?" His mind for an instance shunted to the memory
of a faraway day. He saw himself resplendent at the head of a
charging line of stallion. There in his mind's eye he saw the
mighty beasts fully laden in battle armor as they rushed forward.
A thousand thundering hooves converged toward a weak spot on
the enemy flank. A great maelstrom of dust whipped up into the
sky as the line moved as one mass. The sound of a great crash
filled the air as the two lines collided. In an instant the resounding
roar was soon replaced by the din of battle. The furious sounds of
flailing limbs and slashing weapons were matched only by the
desperate cry of the dead and dying. His steed had run headlong
into a pike piercing his armor. In startled panic and in pain it
reared up with such force as to throw Ananda from his saddle.
There the memory drew black.

"Yes, it is not unknown to me."

"Good it will be there then." Their attention was drawn back to
the makeshift map where Landaus again had deployedhis pointer. In a circular arch that represented the battlefield the pointer
ranged about the whole of the secondary kill zone. Here on horseback you will engage the enemy, join the fray where ever your
experience dictates that our defensive lines may be faltering.
When they stumble I'll need you there to prop them up."
Amida who had not yet spoken now felt compelled to ask a
pointed question. "Landaus you don't seriously expect only the
two of us to act as a strategic reserve?"