The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (32 page)

“You smell that?” Nindax asked, turning left and right to his officers. “That’s the smell of success, of victory.” The generals’ clapped.

“Prepare your legions to attack the walls. What are you waiting for? When that gate burns, we must have men on ladders on those walls to disburse the defenders. We don’t want all the defenders concentrating on the gate when we smash through. My personal palace guards shall have the honor of attacking the gate when it opens. They shall be first to enter the great fortress.”

The generals dashed for their horses and rode down the mountain slopes to their respective forces.

* * *

Shinnadda’s commanding general had seen the great crystals being hauled down the slope and around to the south of Shinnadda from his battlements. The first assault was to test the strength of the fortress. The defenders repulsed the ladders. The second attack involved the catapults trying to lob great stones and bags of burning oil into the fortress. Most fell short of the unusually high walls due to trenches surrounding the castilyernov, initially preventing the great machines from rolling close enough to affectively hit the ramparts.

“Nindax is getting desperate,” the general said. “He’s sending his men to fill in the trenches so the catapults can get closer, knowing the men will come under fire from the walls. See to it our battlements are manned at all times and that they rain arrows down on those unfortunates. It’s those crystals that worry me.”

“What are they for?” an officer close to him asked.

“If my guess is right, they’re to fire the main gate. You ever burned an ant with a prism as a kid, using the sun?”

“I see,” the officer said. His voice was more muted. “We got nothing to stop such a beam of light.”

“Go to the armory,” the general said. “Have the smiths stop work on the arrowheads, swords, and shields and make a huge, polished metal mirror. Go now, be quick.” The officer dashed down the tower stairs.

“You there, get me Pinion.”

That man saluted and disappeared as well. The general continued to watch the great crystals roll slowly back up the south slope. A brisk wind blew at those heights around the tower balustrade. The sound seemed intense in the silence as the general waited. Before long, a middle aged officer appeared, brushing smudges off his uniform and saluted.

“Pinion, you know this castilyernov like the back of your hand. You’ve been here for many years. Is there a sally port from which you can take a squad of men and sneak around through those trees? Can you get close enough to attack those crystals?”

Pinion studied the crystal’s carriages rolling up the slope and the stand of trees to the left, between the fortress and the weapons.

“I can do it.”

“Take any men you need, but you must go out tonight. Those crystals will be in a position tomorrow before noon. The angle will facilitate beaming enough energy to burn the main gate. You must destroy them before then.”

“Maybe not before dawn, but I’ll destroy them.” Pinion rushed down the tower stairs.

The general watched as the dreaded crystal mounts continued their slow climb up the slope, dragged by a hundred men each.

*

Pinion selected two volunteers and that night descended a staircase leading to a secondary well near the east wall. They turned into a subterranean tunnel off the staircase and followed it to its end, coming up in the thicket southeast of the fortress. In the moonlight, they could see a dozen yards away the two massive oak frames holding the monstrous crystals.

“How we going to get to them things?” one of his men asked. “They got guards all around.”

“We’ll knock out two guards, strip them of their uniforms, and walk right up to the caissons. One of you will have to remain here to cover our rear.”

“I’m going with you,” the questioner said.

“No, I’m going with him,” the second one said.

“Shut up, you got a wife and kids back in the fortress; you stay here and keep watch for us,” the questioner said.

“You two stop arguing. You’ll bring the whole lot down on us before we get out of the tunnel.” Pinion pointed to the first man. “You, come with me.” To the other he said, “You, keep a sharp look out.” The two men crawled across the leaf litter, relieved it had rained the day before and dampened the leaves so they didn’t crinkle. Finally, close to where the guards patrolled, they lay in wait and before long they were able to surprise two and get their uniforms. With those they walked up to the first crystal frame and propped against it, chewing straws and chatting nonchalantly. When no one else was close, Pinion plucked out a leather bag. He pulled out the stopper and drizzled oil on the great oak beams. They repeated the operation on the second crystal frame. Then, they tussled like comrades, grabbing dried grass from around the great machines and stuffing it around the mounts.

“You there,” a Senoshesvasian sergeant called. Pinion froze. “What you think you’re doing? Get back to your duties. Stay alert.”

Pinion nodded and the two men separated, each going to one of the crystal mounts. On an arranged signal, they set fire to the grass and shuffled backward toward the thicket, hoping not to draw attention to themselves. The fire spread and one of the great oak wheels caught fire. One of the soldiers stamped it out before it could damage the frames. Pinion and his fellows snuck back into Shinnadda.

“It was a good try, men,” the general said. “I know you did your best.”

Pinion saluted and left dejected. The general went to the armory.

“How is that great metal reflector coming?”

“It’ll be done by midday tomorrow,” the head smithy said, wiping his sooty hands on his leather apron.

“It must be done before midmorning,” the general said. “Hammer together shields or do whatever’s necessary, but it must be smooth, polished, and ready by midmorning at the latest. There must be two loops affixed at the top on either side. And find light weight chains to affix to the loops, long enough to lower it over the wall to the gate.”

Seeing the general’s demeanor, the smithy nodded his understanding and the commander departed.

*

The next morning Nindax arose and ordered the battering rams down the road to the main gate, leading the day’s assault on Shinnadda. All seemed well until one machine rolled into a ditch disguised in the road. When the great contraption rolled in and slammed to a creaking halt, a stream of flaming arrows showered down on the ditch from the citadel, setting alight the tar and pitch under the burning straw. The battering ram’s wooden wheels caught fire and the flames spread up the frame before the enemy could regroup and struggle to pull the ram out of the ditch. It burned there, five yards from the great oak gate. As it burned, the Senoshesvasian troops lost spirit and retreated from Shinnadda’s walls.

“Those crystals better work,” Nindax growled. “I’ve wasted too much time here. Call me when the sun approaches the crystals.” With that, Nindax went back to his tent.

Shortly after eleven, a messenger called Nindax to witness the great event. The crystals focused the sun’s energy on the great gates. Soon, they began to smolder. The cheering among the Senoshesvasian legions evaporated when a great concave, polished-metal disk began to descend from over the gate, suspended on chains.

“What are they up to?” Nindax asked, looking right and left to his officers, who failed to respond. The emperor and his generals watched as the disk sank lower then, when it stopped in front of the gate, it reflected the sun’s beam out into the watching troops and burned many of the invaders.

“Shoot it down!” Nindax screamed. “Archers, shoot the men atop the gate. Bring up the catapults and smash the battlements.”

“What’s happening?” an officer asked. As he watched, the men on the chains holding the mirror responded to the lookout’s commands. The huge reflector moved left and right until the beam reflected back at the crystals, setting the oily wheels and oak beams alight. The frames burned quickly and the stones toppled over and down the slope.

“Fools…Idiots!” Nindax screamed.

“Send cohorts to surround the crystals with shields. Get men started on building frames for them,” a general ordered.

“Never mind that now,” Nindax blurted out. “We can’t waste any more time here. We must march on to Engwaniria without further delay.”

“But Your Imperial Majesty, what about our supply lines?” a general asked.

“Do as you’re told. We’ll have to leave two legions here to keep the castilyernov bottled up, but the rest must march southeast to Engwaniria
now
. I’m gambling everything. If I take his capital before he can reach it, Saxthor’s forces will be too scattered to combat mine. He’ll be forced to abdicate.”

When he thought Nindax out of earshot, a general mumbled, “And our forces aren’t going to be just as scattered?”

The Senoshesvasian legions retreated to their camps, packed up, and regrouped. By sunset they had begun the march southeast to Engwaniria in the moonlight.

* * *

In the Talok Mountains, on the border between Neuyokkasin and the Graushdem-Sengenwhan Empire, the Talok-Tak forest elves grew increasingly wary of the growing garrison at Castilyernov Tossledorn. When a legion arrived and encamped on the plain outside the fortress, King Mendentak became alarmed.

“I want a volunteer to take a message to Emperor Saxthor,” Mendentak said to an assembly of his elves. “We must remain hidden here for now, but a war may be brewing close by and, should it ignite, we’ll have to abandon this forest and go into the west as so many of our race have done. The violence of men among themselves is not abating.”

The elf that first led Saxthor and his band to seek the jewels of the Crown of Yensupov and had formerly fought alongside Saxthor volunteered to take the warning to him. The elf hurried through Neuyokkasin, keeping out of sight of men until he reached Konnotan where he went to the palace, seeking an audience with Viceroy Vicksnak.

“His honor the viceroy is away,” Chatra Lemnos told the honored visitor.

“When will he return?” the elf asked.

“He took a legion to Olnak to sail west at Saxthor’s request. I don’t know how long he’ll be away.”

The elf thanked the chatra and departed for the west and Engwaniria.

I wonder if I can get there before war breaks out here, the elf thought as he rushed west, avoiding men.

* * *

Saxthor traveled down the weedy backwoods trail toward Engwaniria that, within a week, turned into a footpath with small trees encroaching on the crooked, narrow way. One day, as the trail descended, he began to smell sulfur. Soon the wooded landscape gave way to lichen covered scrub trees then a great concave expanse of swampy marshes. The swamp gave way to bubbling pools of hot, sulfurous water and small, periodic geysers. The barren, baked high ground was spotted here, and there with clumps of tough but sickly yellow-green sedges and brown marsh grasses. Bleached white skeletons of animals with gaping mouths dotted the fetid landscape.

As Saxthor traveled through the ailing area, the pools grew larger and things moved in them. Toward the bottom-center of the landscape, he came upon a small lake where the algae covered shallows descended into dark depths. Looking out over the lake, Saxthor noticed the waters churned here and there, which he attributed to the upwelling of springs below, but then he thought he saw a hump rise and descend into the deep.

“What is this place?” Saxthor asked his stallion, patting the fidgety horse and talking to himself to calm his disquietude. “No one mentioned a lake along this route. I may regret sending my aide back with a message to spare him this danger.”

It was late afternoon and the sun was setting faster than seemed usual. Twilight followed the receding sun’s aura and an unnatural chill crossed the trail when the sun fled. Saxthor had prodded his horse to move on around the lake when he noticed the remains of a larger animal, a deer he decided, just at the water’s edge.

“That’s not rot; something has eaten half the carcass. We need to get away from this place before nightfall.”

They rode on, but the footpath broke up more and more. The ground gave way to marshier conditions until the horse had to pick his way through the treacherous clumps of brown sedges. They were only half way around the lake when nightfall descended, and Saxthor sought refuge on a small rise beside the lake. He tied his stallion to a scrub oak whose twisted, gnarled trunk reflected a tortured existence. Not having eaten since a meager breakfast, he lit a fire with the dried grasses, but could find no wood to sustain it, and it died out before he could cook any food. As the last wisp of smoke dissolved above the fire, a sudden cold wind surrounded Saxthor. Clouds engulfed the moon, and darkness shrouded him again. He had rolled up in his blanket to get some sleep when he heard a splash in the water just out from the shoreline.

“What was that?” Saxthor asked aloud. He got up and walked to the water’s edge but saw only ripples spreading out across the water. The moon reappeared as the ripples rolled up by his boots. A dark silhouette of some huge segmented thing with two long antennae shot up from the water, turned toward Saxthor, and fell back with a great splash into the lake’s silvery, moonlit sheen.

Behind him, his stallion whinnied and rose up on his hind legs, stabbing his front legs in the air at some unexpected and unseen threat. Before Saxthor could get to him, the horse jerked his tether free. He kicked up his hind legs as if attacked and raced off into the darkness, leaving Saxthor alone.

Another splash from the lake made Saxthor turn back to it just as a massive mantis shrimp broke the water’s surface. The monstrous thing rushed toward the emperor. Before he could react, the shrimp’s spiked front legs pinned his arms against his sides. He couldn’t reach Sorblade. A surge of pain shot through him where the six inch long spines stabbed into his arms. Only his armor protecting his chest saved his life. Unable to move other than to kick, Saxthor struggled as the creature dragged him backward toward the lake.

If this thing is anything like an insect mantis, it’ll try to chew off my head first to stop my struggling, Saxthor thought. Terror washed over him at the thought. I must get free before this monster decapitates me.

Saxthor wriggled and dug his heels into the mud, but it was useless. The shrimp dragged him into the water and out deeper into the lake. He took a big gulp of air before the crustacean flicked its tail and the two plunged down into dark water. Just before he blacked out, they popped up inside an underwater cave. Momentarily, the shrimp released him and Saxthor swam to the slimy rocks at the water’s edge. His hand slid off something slick and he realized it was the shell of another shrimp and jerked back.

This is no way to die, he thought. No one will ever know what happened to me. Without my leadership and direction, the empire will fragment, descending into chaos in the struggles for dominance over the succession. Nindax will take advantage of the chaos to seize the throne and rule the world. He’ll kill my children and kill or exile Tottiana.

Adrenaline shot through the emperor at that thought. He snatched Sorblade from its sheath and swung it about him. The blade wasn’t glowing. The creatures might have been bred by an evil sorcerer, but they didn’t have evil intent. They killed for limited food. Without fish to feed on them, these things grew to enormous size as top predators in this isolated environment, like some island populations. They’ve outgrown the lake’s resources and now must eat land creatures that come to drink. Saxthor backed up to the cave wall, waiting for the fatal attack. I must keep my wits about me.

He bumped into something. His fright spurred the ring to glow a muted blue light from the celestial blue crystal. He shuddered, discovering scattered bones of deer, a bear, and human bones and skulls.

A splash at the other end of the small cave made him jerk back around. Across from him the reason for his release unfolded. Two great mantis shrimp were tugging on a dead animal, each trying to take it from the other. One shrimp released the carcass with one claw and bit down on its opponent’s clawed arm that held the carcass. Releasing the body, the two combatants grappled with each other over the then floating deer.

This is my chance, Saxthor thought. I’ll not get another. He looked for the slightest light in the water that might come from moonlight through the cave opening.

* * *

At Shinnadda, the commanding general looked out over the terrain, watching the Senoshesvasian legions as they marched in formation, one after another, to the east southeast toward Engwaniria. The two legions that remained encamped at the main gate and, encircling the fortress, dared the defenders to come out and fight.

“They taunt us,” the general said.

“What can we do?” a subordinate asked.

“Nothing for the present. We’re outnumbered; we can’t go on the offensive. They know they have us bottled up here. If we were to challenge them and lose, we’d free up two more legions to aid Nindax in his assault on Engwaniria. The most we can hope to do is make occasional sorties to attack his supply lines before they discover and block our sally ports.

Our supplies, though we secured everything available, will soon run out with all the local population now hold up in here with the troops. Without additional forces, they’ll wait us out and force us to surrender when the civilian population demands food. Let’s hope Saxthor can come to break the siege in time,” the general said. 

The commander looked southeast. “They’re rebuilding the caissons for those crystals.”

“Yes, within days they’ll be able to use them again. They’ll burn the gate and then invade the castilyernov, neutralizing us for good.”

“Time’s running out, isn’t it, General.”

The general didn’t respond but just watched the construction progressing on the crystal’s caissons.

* * *

At the imperial palace in Graushdemheimer, Emperor Grekenbach and Empress Dagmar quarreled.

“I can’t waste this opportunity, Dagmar. This is a chance to expand our empire I might not have again. Saxthor is tied up with the Senoshesvasian War. He can’t react to my seizing Talok before I have it and secure the border. I must do this for our son and heir you’re carrying.”

“You moved troops to Tossledorn without even telling me. Saxthor will never forgive you for this treachery.”

“Don’t upset yourself, Dagmar. This’ll all be over before you know it.”

“You must not proceed with this invasion.”

“You’re my wife and empress. Where are your loyalties? Will you sacrifice this gain because of your misguided love for Saxthor? Will you not see that this is for our child?”

Dagmar rubbed her swollen abdomen and withdrew. The next morning, without saying goodbye to Grekenbach, she climbed into her carriage and, accompanied by her personal guards, left for Sengenwhapolis.

*

Emperor Grekenbach gave the order and a messenger rode south. At Castilyernov Tossledorn, the commanding general responded to the emperor’s order to begin the attack. Two legions marched south around the Talok Mountains’ eastern tip into the Neuyokkasinian province of Talok. This province was the origin of the ancient Tulak Kingdom and home of Saxthor’s great-grandfather, King Henri Tulak.

* * *

A soldier from the small garrison at Talok Tower in northeastern Talok was in the hills hunting. He looked up to see the approaching legions marching in formation toward the tower. The Graushdem-Sengenwhan imperial uniforms shocked the trooper. He ran back to the tower where soldiers were hanging out their laundry in the relaxed atmosphere of the token fortress.

“Colonel!” the soldier yelled. “Colonel, they’re only a few miles beyond the rise.” The young man doubled over, trying to catch his breath.

“Who’s coming, son,” the middle-aged colonel asked.

“The whole Graushdem-Sengenwhan army, sir.”

The colonel laughed. “Get this man out of the sun and some water.”

The soldier shook off his comrade’s hand and faced the colonel. “Sir, there must be two legions of imperial soldiers coming this way. They’ve crossed the border and are heading for Talok Tower. If you don’t believe me, send this man to verify what I tell you. But colonel, you can’t waste a minute. They’ll be here in an hour, maybe less.”

The paternal smile melted off the colonel’s face staring at the sweating soldier. He looked around at his men who were lying in the sun, doing laundry, none doing anything relating to military preparedness. He turned back to the panicked man.

“Stay here with me. You, trooper, reconnoiter where he said the legions are. Go now!” He grabbed a third soldier. “Get to the tower bell and sound the alarm. Sergeant! Assemble the men and have them get their weapons. Bring spares from the cellars. We may be coming under attack.”

When the bell clanged, incredulous soldiers everywhere first looked to the tower then, recovering from the surprise, they raced back in to learn what the bell’s alarm signified.

“Two legions…” the colonel said. “I’ve only cohorts manning this tower.”

“What can I do, sir?” the original soldier asked, having recovered from his sprint to the tower.

“What’re your orders, sir?” the unshaven, balding sergeant asked, standing at attention.

“See to the placement of the men and supplies in case an army is approaching. Then…” The colonel saw the soldier sent to verify the initial report racing through tall grass to the tower. His face from afar verified the nightmare report.

“Young man,” the colonel said to the soldier standing by who first reported the oncoming legions. “Ride to Hoya at once. Find General Sekkarian. Tell him what you saw and that we’re under attack here. We haven’t the men or resources to stop two legions. The general won’t be able to reach us in time to prevent seizure. Tell him we’ll hold out as long as we can but when we’re overrun, they’ll march on Hoya without doubt. It’s the only other defensive position in the province. General Sekkarian must prepare.

If Emperor Grekenbach is indeed invading Talok, he’ll need to subdue Hoya before he can secure the province. Tell Sekkarian he must hold Hoya at all costs if we’re to save Neuyokkasin. Now, grab some food and take a horse from the yard there. Ride west to Hoya as fast as you can, and stop for nothing and no one.”

The young man stared at the colonel for a moment then looked around. I’ll probably never see him or my friends alive again, he thought.

“What are you waiting for?” the colonel asked.

The young soldier bolted down the tower stairs to the kitchen and stuffed bread and some cheese in a saddlebag. He raced to the yard where he grabbed the only horse with a saddle and galloped out through the tower gate, heading west to Hoya.

* * *

No more than an hour later, with the alerted garrison manning the walls, the first imperial legion marched over the rise and started down the slope toward Talok Tower. When the two legions had encircled the token fortress, their commanding general from Tossledorn summoned his aide.

“Ride to the tower gate under a flag of truce. Deliver this message to the tower’s commander,” the general said. “Let us hope the man surrenders. If this escalates to bloodshed, Emperor Saxthor will be relentless in his revenge.”

At the tower, the go-between repeated the message. “In the name of Emperor Grekenbach of the Graushdem-Sengenwhan Empire, I command you to lay down your arms and surrender Talok Tower. If you will do so, you’ll be granted leniency and allowed to take your possessions, except your weapons, and vacate the premises. If you refuse to surrender, you’ll be granted no mercy subsequent to our assault.”

The general watched as the colonel at the tower’s top battlement took aim with his bow and arrow and shot the plume off the messenger’s helmet. As the messenger rode hard back to the general, the general ordered his men to begin chopping trees to build ladders and a battering ram. The remaining soldiers set up siege camps around the tower.