Chapter 13
Veegal’s Wall, fortress carved out of the mountain itself, ancient when the Dwarves discovered it. Three four hundred feet long sixty feet tall twenty feet wide walls spaced three hundred feet apart parallel to one another stretched between twin peaks standing vigil over the only pass through the Vegar Eelton mountain range which extended north and south across the entire continent effectively divided the nation into two-thirds west, one-third east. On either side of the fortress a curved stone wall erected by men encompassed the city which had grown over time to become one of the nation’s largest trade centers. Of course trade had suffered during the course of the war, but income had been compensated by the movement of troops on their way to the front after suffering only a short siege attempt which left the eastern city walls damaged in a way mirroring the nation itself.
Now as Dredrik lead the survivors of Galnath on the road toward the city gates they had to pass through the refugee camp which had sprung up on the eastern side of town. Men stood guard in the gaping holes in the outer wall keeping the refugee’s at bay. He and Wikkid would be allowed through but his heart sunk with the thought that he may have led these people to a dead end. As they approached a familiar form stood in front of the gate, a smug look on his bearded face arms folded across his chest.
“It’s about time you lot showed up.”
“Hadrenn you filthy rat,” Wikkid bellowed. “How is it you’re here without having ever passed us?”
“Our new friends found a way to get us across the river downstream. We arrived yesterday around midday. Eertu and I told our tale to Captain Barnes who is now in charge of what is left of the defenses here.”
Dredrik cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean what’s left?”
“Seems the young prince Argile has had some of his father’s visions, believes the men here will turn on one another just as we have seen, and as the refugees have described. Going on that the Regent ordered the royal army to fall back to Calington.”
“That’s insane. The choke point here is the best place to turn the invasion. Were you and Eertu successful?”
“Indeed. Even now he and the Keeper Anja are cooking up something that he believes will protect the men. Captain Barnes sent word of our plan through the official telepath, but either he is no longer getting through or Calington is refusing to answer.”
“What’s left?”
“Perhaps you should speak to Barnes, but I am afraid they will only allow you two in.”
Eitreen started to protest but Dredrik cut her off. “Find some place for your people to rest until I can find out what is going on here. I’ll return as soon as I can. The people out here appear to be starving. Take some of the rations and see if maybe a broth can be brewed to help feed these people. It may cost us some food, but it may also buy loyalty we may need soon. Also dispatch some of the militia to hunt game. This area is usually rife with wildlife.”
“Dred, what happens if we are not allowed through?” Eitreen asked.
“I will not abandon you or these people, I promise.” He said taking Eitreen’s hand in his. “You have to trust me.”
“I do,” Eitreen answered. “Just,” she took a deep breath.
“I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
. . . . .
“A few other things you two should know,” Hadrenn said as he led them to the Wall’s war room. “How do you want it, we’ve got good news, mixed news, and bad news.”
“Let’s start with good and work our way down,” Wikkid answered.
They had to keep pressing against walls in the narrow corridors of the wooden human constructed building serving as both barracks and command center to allow people to pass by. “Eertu got his hand back. I’ll explain more later, we picked up a few allies. Anja a powerful mage of some sort, possibly even a second warlock but not sure, and four assassins. Mixed, seems we were right and your friend Mareth does have it in for Eertu. He dropped in for a visit with a few of his friends down south. He beat our collective arses handedly until I may have accidentally blown up their sanctuary so we could get away.”
“Wait,” Dredrik interrupted, “how is that mixed news?”
“Seems we have a spy implanted with him, one of the Black Rose assassins that helped nab Eertu sent word ahead to her little sister that they were about to breach the sanctuary which brings us to the bad. Last contact eight days ago said Mareth believed that their army would be at crossroads within a few days.”
“Already?” Wikkid asked. “Crazy bastards marched an entire army in the worst winter I’ve seen in many years.”
“So it seems,” agreed Hadrenn as he stopped and knocked on a heavy wooden door. A voice from the other side bid them enter.
Only one man occupied the relatively large room. A stocky individual with a grand mustache, balding head, stout arms, and a bulging belly. On his right leg attached at the knee was a solid looking peg leg. Several small tables were pushed together in the center of the room on which a large map covered most of the surfaces. A desk sat pulled out from a corner facing the door completely cluttered. Lanterns hung on each wall and from the ceiling burning brightly yet still the room felt dark and dreary.
“Dredrik,” the man cried happily, “you scoundrel. Good to see you all things considered.”
Dredrik stretched out his hand and Barnes clasped it at the wrist. “You too, Captain. I wondered where they shipped you off after the battle of Halthorn.”
“Yes, to a terribly boring station command until of late. What in the name of all that’s good is going on out there?”
“In short we are being invaded,” Dredrik said retracting his hand. “Though that I’m sure you already know.”
“Yes, and I know your friend Eertu believes he has found a way to protect us from the magic everybody has been buzzing about.”
“Well the mind control or whatever it truly is anyway. Either way we should not have to worry about being overrun from within.”
“We?” Barnes smiled. “That may be the best news I’ve gotten today.”
“And the worst I’ve gotten,” Hadrenn muttered.
“Sorry Had, I meant to break it to all of you at once.”
“Think we all already knew,” Hadrenn confessed. Just feels different to have it voiced.
“Captain, what do we have left in the way of manpower and equipment,” Wikkid asked.
Barnes pulled a chair away from the map tables and sat down hard. “Equipment is not a problem. The armory is full of old weapons and armor, most of it even usable. Manpower however, maybe three hundred full time militia, a few hundred part time volunteers, and two hundred aging relics the royal army considered expendable. That is of course including me.”
“So between six and seven hundred men to defend the third largest city in Eebrook,” Hadrenn shrugged, “should be fun.”
“How about the refugees outside the eastern city wall, is an awful lot of people out there?” Dredrik asked.
Barnes shook his head. “I’m sorry Dredrik. Last communications from Calington ordered us to keep all unknowns out. Only reason we allowed Hadrenn and Eertu’s friends in is because they personally vouched for them. It seems Calington is afraid of infiltrators.”
“Barnes,” Wikkid said. “Everybody out there is as good as dead including the villagers within the eastern city. That wall would not turn a herd of sheep in its current state.”
“It’s more than just infiltration. The war has taken its toll on food production. Farmers away fighting in the war, a very dry growing season, the demands of the army, nobody in the west has the resources to take in refugees and feed their own.”
“That’s cold,” Hadrenn growled.
“That’s logistics,” Barnes countered.
Dredrik pulled out a parchment from his satchel and handed it over to Barnes. “That is my last standing orders from King Argile. In it you will find that it states I will be given whatever support is needed to complete that task.”
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Barns quickly read through the document surprise crossing his face several times until he handed the document back. “King Airasmau?”
“And protector of the Argile blood line,” Dredrik added. “From this point forward I take full responsibilities for what happens next, you cannot be held responsible for the decisions I’m about to make.”
“You seriously plan to overturn orders of the Regent and the prince?”
“Technically I out rank both in military matters as it concerns to carrying out King Argile’s last demands upon me.”
“On what grounds, not that I object. I know you. You think in strange ways sometimes but it is always effective.”
“I have no intention of taking command from you, merely relieving you of the possibility of being prosecuted if we live through this. As for what grounds, if I remove the prince and princess while leaving an army standing to pursue us I am only delaying their deaths if they truly want to destroy the blood line.”
“Good enough for me old friend,” Barnes said. “I never was a huge fan of Lord, now Regent Dravok. Your highness I hereby relinquish command of this outpost to you.”
“Great,” Hadrenn said. “Now he’s gonna expect us to call him sire, bow, it’ll all go straight to his head.”
“I’ll try to keep my ego in check,” Dredrik said as he paced over to the map. “Wikkid are the Galnathians good enough to use as a training cadre?”
“Aye they’ll do, but perhaps Barnes’ veterans would be better suited.”
“Considered that, but we need them leading the defensive preparations. The people we are about to recruit might respond better to their own. Besides the Galnathians respond very well to you as their captain. Maybe that mindset will spread to the recruits.”
“Fair enough, you get us some volunteers we’ll do what we can.”
“Where do we find people willing to volunteer,” Hadrenn ask.
“We use leverage,” Wikkid said.
“As much as I hate it yes,” Dredrik replied. “Captain Barnes, if you would ready your men to work over our defenses as soon as I clear out the east side.”
“Consider it done, Milord.”
“Dredrik will do. Hadrenn, get with Eertu. Protect and help him any way you can. Ask Vessa and her minions to help as well. We lose Eertu we won’t last long. Wikkid lets go recruit an army.”