Stranded Mage (34 page)

“That is the big question,” Thad replied gravely.

“I am going to meet with the rear of the column and see if I can offer any assistance,” Thad told Monique, darting off before she could complain.

When he reached the end of the caravan Thad found Roger along with nearly forty other mages casting spells every few feet. Most of the mages faces looked ragged and tired and to Thad it was obvious that they were pushing themselves in hopes of delaying the brotherhood for even a moment longer.

“Thad, I can’t believe you’re awake let alone walking,” Roger said as soon as he noticed Thad approaching.

“I know, we can worry about me later,” Thad replied hastily. “What is the situation?

“We are throwing everything we got at them but unless a miracle happens they will be on us inside of two hours,” Roger said, his voice betraying his lack of strength.

“You might just get your miracle. We should be able to clearly see the Farlan force in less than a half hour and should reach the border about an hour later. Even without more traps I think we can hold out that long.”

“That’s good to know,” Roger said happily. “Honestly, I don’t know how much more we really had in us.”

Thad and Roger convinced the remaining mages to save their strength should it be needed later. It wasn’t a hard task as most the mages were already close to dropping where they stood.

Thad stayed at the rear of the caravan watching the army behind them slowly gain ground. Thad heard as the first round of cheers went up when the Farlan soldiers were spotted in the distance. The sight of a defending force gave the travelers hope, putting a little extra vigor in their steps.

By time the front of the caravan crossed the border the Brotherhood had gotten close enough to fire a volley of arrows at the caravan. Thad as well as a few other mages put up shields knocking the bolts aside as the cries from the Farlan soldiers urged the caravan onward.

Two more volleys were fired and each was knocked aside before the last of the caravan crossed into Farlan territory. A loud cry of victory rose up from the escaping people of Sanctuary when the last of their people were safe behind the line of Farlan soldiers. Thad added his voice to the cheers.

The Farlan solders urged the tired travelers to continue on, telling them that tents and food had been prepared for them only a few miles down the road. The people of Sanctuary needed little urging to want to get as far away from the Brotherhood as possible, so tired and road weary, the caravan pushed on.

Thad watched as the caravan departed with a broad smile on his face. His smile got even larger when he heard the rumbling growl coming from the distance shortly followed by the sound of rocks thumping against solid ground as Avalanche bound toward him. The rock hound wasn’t alone as Arianna, Crusher, Tuck, Reeve, and Parson followed closely behind.

Avalanche ran into Thad bearing him to the ground like a puppy at play. Thad felt the blow down to his core and found himself gasping for breath as he tried to wiggle out from under the heavy animal. Even though he wasn’t concentrating Thad could hear Avalanche’s excited thoughts. “There you are, I found you.” Despite his aching body and sore feet Thad couldn’t help but to laugh.

“Good ta see ya again lad,” Crusher said, reaching down his hand.

“Same to you brother,” Thad replied as he was pulled to his feet.

“You look bad. Are you tired? Your face looks funny. Where did you go? Who were all your friends?” Arianna spouted so fast Thad couldn’t keep up.

“Doesn’t look like its over yet,” Reeve said, his eyes focused on the large army that was now forming up on the border between the two countries. “I think it is time you met with Captain Orben.”

Reeve led Thad to the center of the Farlan forces where an older woman with light blond hair sat astride an intimidating palomino horse. The female soldier watched Reeve and Tad closely as they approached, her eyes cold and calculating. “Thaddeus Torin I would like to introduce you to Captain Orben.”

“Captain,” Thad said, bowing his head slightly.

“I take it you’re the mage who has had me out here waiting for the past ten-day,” Orben said tartly. “Let’s get you two horses. I am not going out to settle terms with them on my own.”

Orben called for two horses. Neither was as grand as the horse the captain rode but they were suitable mounts. Once they were stalled the captain issued a few short orders to her men. “Shall we get this farce over with?” She asked Reeve before spurring her horse toward the enemy line.

Orben stopped her horse less than a hundred yards from the enemy force and waited. Within a few moments four riders from then enemy’s side galloped out to where they waited.

“Soldiers of Rane, I am Captain Orben of the Farlan Army. We ask that you remove your forces from our borders,” Orben said as soon as the men were well within earshot.

“Captain Orben, I am General Luddite and we would be more than happy to return to our homes but we have been chasing fugitives who attacked a city, killing hundreds of innocent civilians. If you would hand over these men and women we shall leave without causing you further trouble,” a large balding soldier declared as he pulled his horse to a stop a few short paces from them.

“General, I know nothing about fugitives nor do I have any authority in that area. You should send diplomats to Her Majesty for such a request. All I have been instructed to do is to make sure you and your men do not step a single foot on Farlan soil.”

“What do you mean you know nothing about the fugitives?” The general yelled his face turning red. “You just let them pass your men and have two of them in your presence as we speak. I demand you hand them over to us this instant.”

“I don’t know what you mean General?” Orben replied coldly. “One of the men as you can clearly see by his marking is a personal slave of the queen. The other has been at my side long before the caravan pass through beyond your border.”

“I can see I will get nowhere with you. If you do not hand the criminals over within the hour we shall take them by force of arms,” the general declared before turning and riding back to his troops.

“That went about as well as I expected,” Orben said sighing. "Well, let’s head back to our own lines and prepare. As tired as that bunch seems we might even win.”

Once they were back in camp Orben called her advisors and started going over their situation. “We have a little more than eight hundred troops, so we are outnumbered five to three at my best count. Fortunately they have been force marched over a length of days and looked as if they have faced other opposition as well. Among our forces we have slightly over a hundred archers who can thin their ranks but they have archers as well. We can’t fight a battle of attrition here so anyone have an idea that might keep us out of the funeral pyre?”

When no one spoke Orben ran her fingers through her hair. “I didn’t think so. Our only real chance is to leave the archers back to fire as fast as they can while the rest of us charge their forces. It will be a bloody and long battle but we will not let another Rane soldier step foot upon our soil without a fight.”

A chorus of cheers went up at the captain’s declaration. Thad had heard that Rane had kept a large force in Farlan while he was gone. He was still unsure of why and for how long the soldiers had been in Farlan but it seemed to sit badly in the mouths of the soldiers that they were once again trying to cross into their land.

Reeve pulled Thad aside from the rest of the soldiers. “Can you do anything about the enemy archers?” he asked keeping his voice low.

“I might be able to block some of the arrows but covering near to a thousand men is beyond my skill,” Thad replied.

“How many men could you cover?” Reeve asked insistently.

Thad stuck the tip of his stick in the ground and walked until he had made a nice sized circle. “However many can fit within.”

“What if you stretched the shield to only cover them from the front and above. I doubt that an arrow will curve to hit someone from the rear.”

Thad made another set of lines in the dirt this time it looked like an open box. “That’s a much as I can stretch it anymore and I would burn myself out,” Thad said, starting to understand what Reeve was getting at.

Reeve called for Captain Orben to join them who reluctantly stomped over, her face clearly showing her displeasure. “What is it now? If you didn’t notice I am fairly busy at the moment.”

Reeve started going through the plan. At best Thad could protect near to two hundred tightly packed soldiers. If they marched that number straight at the enemy line while the archers hung back then they could get inside their lines before taking causalities. Once the first group was engaged Thad could return and escort the next group down to the battlefield.

“It would be better if he could march them all down at once but I understand the meaning of limitation. It’s not the best plan but it’s far better than what we had before. Thad after you escort the second group to the front I want you to focus on taking down their commanders and archers in the rear of their formation. Should we have to retreat we don’t want it to rain death from above.”

“It shall be done Captain,” Thad replied hastily.

The rest of the hour was spent in preparation now that the battle plan was decided. It was simple, the first group would march with Thad while the rest hung out behind, out of the archers range. Once the first group was delivered to the battle front Thad would return for the second group. Though it would be slightly more men than he could completely protect. Once the battle was fully engaged Thad would attempt to take out their archers while the rest of the troops cut through their lines. The whole time this was going on their archers would be steadily firing at any open target taking care not to strike their comrades.

The Farlan soldiers had taken position up on a small hill so when the horns sounded and the Rane army began their march Thad ran down its slope at full speed with three hundred soldiers at his back.

The first volley of arrows came when they had covered nearly half the ground between the two forces. Thad quickly put up the shield making sure that none of the soldiers were left uncovered. The arrows raced in hitting the invisible line that hung only inches over their heads and fell to the ground harmlessly. Thad heard the gasps from the soldiers behind him as the arrows neared and barely suppressed a laugh when more than a few shouted to raise shield.

Three more volleys of arrows flew towards the group only to be turned aside harmlessly before they reached the front lines. Thad had feared they would send their cavalry but it seemed that the many traps had reduced their number to less than a dozen, making them useless as an attacking unit.

As soon as the two forces clashed Thuraman let loose a bolt of energy that struck down four of the lead soldiers. “We were supposed to save out energy for after we bring the next group,” Thad said to his staff as he ran back toward the Farlan line.

I thought the enemy might need a reminder of whom and what they faced.
Thuraman replied, laughing.

The second group of soldiers met Thad at the bottom of the hill just outside of the enemy archers range. Thad didn’t waste time talking instead he turned around and rushed back the way he came. His legs were already growing tired and he started to wish he had requested a horse, but it was too late for regrets. When a flood of energy swept through him Thad was more than a little surprised.

Thought you might be able to use a little help.

“Thanks,” was all the gratitude Thad was able to show before he was forced to put up the first shield as a wave of arrows rolled in. Thad heard a few cries from behind him as soldiers who stood outside of his protective line were stuck but he had little time to concern himself with that as another volley came rushing in. Seeing that some of their arrows had found their mark the archers continued to fire getting off another four volleys before Thad and the soldiers were within the reach of the main force of the army.

Once again, as soon as they neared the first line of soldiers Thuraman let loose a bolt of energy, striking two unfortunate souls down before they knew their doom was upon them. Thad left his own shield in place as he forced his way through the throng of soldiers in an effort to make it through the ranks to the archers.

Thanks to his staff’s warnings Thad was always prepared before one of the white swords drew near. With the added sense of security Thad attacked anything within reach with impunity cutting a wide path through his enemies. Many of the enemy soldiers, seeing Thad’s destructive march, shied away from the young man.

“Don’t keep all tha fun ta yerself lad,” Thad heard Crusher say from behind him.

With his friends at his back Thad pushed on with new vigor, his sword and staff weaving impossibly fast, bringing death to anyone who crossed his path. Before long Thad had broken through the main force and rushed towards the line of archers. From the corner of his eye Thad spotted the general who sat mounted on his war horse along with the other officers watching the battle from a safe distance away.

Seeing the deadly mage and dwarf rushing towards them the archers started firing their bows desperately. Many of the archer’s arrows flew wide while a few struck their own troops in the back. Thad laughed as he extended his shield making sure that not only he but Crusher was protected as well. He didn’t plan to make the same mistake as he had aboard the Rose Runner.