Chapter 43

Year 163 – Fall – Quintus Mensis – 14th day

Avem, town of House Valmai, land of the Vale

The night had long fallen. The Kalator had waited and were awake in the depth of the night.

Egmond – “Amund, you stay north with the militia and make sure they are ready for tomorrow.”

Amund – “Good luck in your raid.”

Egmond – “Trygve, Bjarne, don’t die out there. If you fail, retreat. Your lives matter more than these boats.”

Bjarne – “We’ll succeed. Focus on your assault.”

Egmond – “Mundric, Atilos, Lanaya, Varok, come with me. Stay as quiet as possible. Our target is the southern gate. If we take it, they’ll retreat into the town.”

The night was silent. The moon was hidden. Carrying wooden rafts, the soldiers were walking. As they arrived at the river shore, Lanaya noticed the silhouette of two vessels floating within the river. Quickly, she joined Egmond and whispered in his ear.

Lanaya – “There are two boats from House Valmai.”

Egmond – “I don’t see them. Why would they be here?”

Lanaya – “Believe me.”

Egmond – “You want us to cancel the attack?”

Lanaya – “No, but let’s go around through there. Believe me.”

Egmond – “Fine, let’s go around.”

Lanaya – “Let me lead the first raft. I have far better eyes.”

Egmond – “Not a sound.”

Lanaya – “Follow me.”

The low tide had made the current weaker. Using long wooden shafts, they pushed their raft through the river in a large arc to avoid being seen by the two vessels.

As they were about halfway across the river, they heard screams coming from the east of Avem. As they looked at the two vessels, a light appeared from within one of them. A small candle was enlightening the soldiers of House Krain when three arrows were lit on fire. Three House Krain soldiers aimed north and released the arrows. The light passed over the river, yet through the most miraculous luck, the Kalator soldiers remained within the shadows, west from the travel path of the signal arrows.

General Thorkel – “They aren’t here. They must be all east.”

Hidden by the night, the Kalator kept advancing towards the shore as the ship from House Krain went northeast to join forces with House Valmai.

Following their long detour as they heard screams from the east, the Kalator finally reached the shoreline. Hidden by the night, they advanced toward the southern gate, killing the civilians in their path with crossbows and arrows.

As they got closer, screams were heard across the southern district.

A civilian – “THE KALATOR!”

Another civilian – “TO THE BRIDGE!”

Egmond – “TAKE THE GATE! DON’T LET THEM ESCAPE!”

As they were running toward the southern gate, they heard a war horn and saw a large militia coming their way.

Egmond – “ARCHERS!”

Kalator forces were about 600, and each of them had either a crossbow or a bow. The conscripts of Avem riposted with a wave of arrows of their own, yet they were ill-equipped and their armour was lacking. Seeing their numbers fall as a wave of arrows fell upon them, the conscript quickly lost their morale and ran toward the bridge.

Atilos – “Do we chase them?”

Egmond – “No. The sun will rise soon. Varok, Mundric, Atilos. The three of you will stay here with your men. Tomorrow, we besiege the fort.”

Varok – “We don’t even know if Bjarne succeeded. What if they attack us with their army?”

Egmond – “If they do, blow your war horn, and we’ll assault the north with all of our forces. If you get pushed, retreat out of town and raid the peasants living in the farmlands. If you don’t, besiege the south and cut their escape.”

Lanaya – “So, we are returning north?”

Egmond – “We are, with all the wounded as well.”

Lanaya – “It was fairly easy then.”

Atilos – “They shouldn’t have seen us coming.”

Varok – “I hope Bjarne is fine.”

Egmond – “So do I. Lanaya, did your sorcerer reach the precision he wanted with the trebuchet?”

Lanaya – “It’s not perfect yet, but he should by the end of tomorrow.”

Egmond – “We are not waiting until the end of tomorrow with this many of our men in the south. We will attack at the first light of dawn in two hours.”

Lanaya – “I can’t assure you it will work.”

Egmond – “You don’t have the choice.”

Atilos – “Tomorrow, we’ll take Avem.”

Egmond – “That’s the spirit!”

It was still too early for the sun to rise, but the shade of the moon slowly lurked toward the horizon when the Silver Lining finally came back to the north of the Oluja River.

Lanaya – “Leo, Elgan. You won’t take part in the battle.”

Leo – “What? But I can fight.”

Elgan – “I’m glad to hear it.”

Jurren – “You’re wounded; you’d be a hindrance.”

Elgan – “Don’t be sad. Both of us wouldn’t be of much help anyway.”

Leo – “I feel like I’m missing the most important thing.”

Lanaya – “We attack at dawn. Sleep as much as you can. I’ll wake you up in half an hour.”

Nelis – “You’re not resting?”

Lanaya – “No, and sadly, you aren’t either. Egmond reunited the war council, and he wants you to be part of it. Come with me.”

Nelis – “Owen. You’re not sleeping either. Prepare some strong tea. I’ll need it.”

Owen – “What? Well, then . . . Leo, Elgan . . .”

Elgan – “Don’t you dare! We’re wounded.”

Owen – “But you’re not fighting tomorrow.”

Elgan – “No.”

Owen – “Alright.”

Aberfa – “I’ll stay up with you.”

Owen – “No, you should sleep.”

Aberfa – “It’s not my first night shift. I know the drill.”

Owen – “You’re too kind, as always.”