Chapter 21
“When did this come up?” Dredrik asked as he reached the platform above the main gate.
“Maybe ten minutes ago,” Wikkid replied. “Did not roll in so much as simply materialize just outside the wall.”
“A blind,” Hadrenn muttered.
“Eertu, Anja, anything you can do about this?”
“Not that I can think of,” Eertu replied. “The wind blows through here now yet the fog does not even quiver at its passing so there is no way I can move it along nor do I know how to dispel elemental magic.”
“Same for me,” Anja added.
“Then what happened that night in the Black Rose sanctuary?” Hadrenn whispered to Eertu.
“That was an uncontrollable release of energies. While aware of what was happening and what we were doing when they happened it was completely unfocused and unintended,” Eertu whispered back.
“How about mind jumping?” Dredrik asked. “Can we see what they are up to that way?”
Eertu shook his head. “No, I must have line of sight to jump. Only does not apply when jumping back to myself.”
“Send us,” Vessa volunteered. “Stealth is what we do best.”
Dredrik considered the four assassins for a moment painfully aware they had lost one of theirs last night. Two if what he knew about telepaths were true. The woman in Mareth’s custody should be dead as well. “Alright, but just recon, if it is revenge you want there will be time enough for that later.”
“We know our duty, Milord.”
Vessa made a slight hand gesture, and then both she and Lesley bowed slightly and left leaving Erica and Nichole behind looking obviously displeased.
“If I may?” Hadrenn asked.
“Go,” Dredrik said motioning the way Vessa had just gone with his eyes and head gesture. “And try not to do anything… irresponsible.”
Hadrenn shot Dredrik a mischievous grin followed by a mock right first to heart salute. “Sire,” Then hurried after the assassins.
“It is dangerous to send them,” Dredrik said after a few moments.
“They are very good at what they do, you must have faith,” Anja counseled. “I doubt even Hadrenn will distract Vessa too much.”
“It is not their skill that concerns me, it’s the fact we still, as far as I know, have an enemy telepath in this fortress. If he or she is watching then the enemy will know they are coming.”
“The sisters and I have searched the fortress from one end to the other without finding any trace of a telepath.”
Wikkid made a puzzled expression. “Did that include yourselves?”
Anja and Erica exchanged worried glances before Anja said, “Well this is embarrassing.”
. . . . .
Mareth was pleased. The preparations were going much faster than he had anticipated. Much of the assembly work on the trebuchets had been completed overnight leaving only final assembly once it was clear to set up. Now thousands worked to clear a path to get the siege weapons within firing range while protected from the keen eyes of enemy archers by the thick fog conjured by the shaman. Engineers were already promising the ability to open fire within the next two hours. With siege weapons bombarding the fortress from pre-determined positions the legion will sneak its way to the edge of the fog. Mages would destroy the last line of palisades while slaves filled in paths for the troops to pass through. When enough are in position the assault would finally begin. Good, he was itching for blood.
. . . . .
So far it had been painfully slow going belly crawling at a snail’s pace through the remnants of a once prosperous town. Once inside the fog visibility dropped to arm’s length further hampering progress. Several times either she, Hadrenn or Lesley had found themselves crawling head first into objects they simply could not see. At the same time the fog offered exactly what they needed, invisibility. A few times voices had given them pause and they would wait. On one occasion all but silent footsteps passed so closely they could hear them breathing, the forms that made them never becoming visible.
After what must have been well over an hour they reached a northeast section of the city wall. There they crossed through a nearby breach and used the wall to shield their movements further until they passed from the fog.
“Hoist me up,” Vessa ordered.
Hadrenn put his back against the wall then intertwined his fingers making a step for Vessa. Vessa complied climbing up on Hadrenn’s shoulders. Her head just barely cleared the wall. The view was not great but she could make out four towering trebuchets and soldiers marching into the fog.
“It won’t be long, men move in and out of the fog, siege weapons are being readied. That is about all I can make out from here. Let me down.”
Hadrenn squatted down allowing Vessa to dismount then made a show of stretching after she was clear. Vessa rolled her eyes. “I’m not that heavy.”
Hadrenn just shrugged and smiled. “Must be your gear, the rations have not been that good lately.”
“That’s better. Lesley are you able to link with Nichole?”
“Yes, and she says that it is unwise to try and make it back. It seems they have had a few scouts stick their heads out periodically for a peek.”
“If we don’t make it back before the assault we’ll be cut off from the west,” Vessa said.
Hadrenn sat down leaning against the wall. “That’s not entirely true, as we’ve said before the lost tribes are not often welcome in many places. In fact the aristocrats in the eastern kingdom eventually put a bounty on any tribesman caught this side of the border. There are paths through the mountains mostly used by smugglers, arms dealers, and hungry people trying to trade for food and basic necessities.”
“What’s the catch?”
“It’s not easy going. We are going to need supplies, and by the looks of things our friends out there have plenty to spare. I think we should visit for super.”
Vessa plopped down next to Hadrenn and rested her head on his shoulder. “Promise me we can cause a little trouble while where there.”
“Baby, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”