Free Trials by Pedro Urvi Page B

a desperate strategy and in my humble opinion won’t lead us to victory.”
    “The situation is serious, desperate even, if Silanda is in such a delicate position,” Gerart reflected.
    “The reports I’ve received from the capital confirm it,” Urien explained. “They’ve abandoned the outer wall and left it to the enemy. They’ve been forced to fall back to the second wall, the one which protects the Duke’s Palace. I don’t think they’ll be able to hold out, even with the intervention of Mirkos the Erudite.”
    “Let’s trust they do, trust in the Mage’s power as well,” Gerart said. “We have no option. If Silanda falls, the Noceans will lay waste the Kingdom from the south, and they’ll reach Rilentor.”
    Another huge wooden missile hit the wall, which took the impact undaunted.
    “How many men do we have left?” Gerart asked. There was worry in his voice.
    “Some four thousand who can still fight, just enough to defend the wall,” Longor said. “We’ve suffered great losses during these last weeks. If we lose a thousand men more we won’t be able to defend the whole length, and they’ll overrun us.”
    “We should evacuate the wounded,” Urien said. “If they can’t use a weapon, they should be taken to the capital.”
    “That would be the most sensible thing. Let it be done. You take charge of the logistics, Urien, and make them leave as soon as possible.”
    “Very well, your Highness,” the old man replied, and went slowly down the stairs, indifferent to the devastating missiles falling around him.
    Lomar raised his head to take a good look at the siege machines. Catapults and ballistae had been punishing the fortress from the first day and they had not been moved. On the walls the four guards on watch crouched behind the ruined battlements, alert, praying they were not hit by any of the gigantic missiles. The enemy army was lined up behind the machines; Lomar calculated that there were more than eighteen thousand men.
    “Soon it’ll be the turn of those vain damsels, the Invincibles of the Ice,” Longor said.
    “I see them,” said Gerart. “They’re unmistakable. Ten thousand men dressed all in white: winged helmet, breast-plate and cape. Even their shields are white.”
    “They’re said to be invincible, never defeated in battle,” Longor joked. “The best heavy infantry of the continent, but I think they’re no more than ugly albino walruses, nothing there to fear.”
    Gerart smiled. “It might be so. I’ve heard rumors of their feats too, but here the situation is different; this isn’t combat in the open field, man to man. In this case there’s a high wall to climb and take, and they still haven’t done it. I don’t doubt they’re great fighters, but first they have to get up here and then we’ll defeat them, as we’ve defeated all the tides of soldiers they’ve sent us so far.” There was a flash of self-confidence in his eyes.
    “The men are scared, your Highness,” Lomar said. “They don’t trust their strength in the face of the Invincibles of the Ice. Despair and uncertainty are infecting their spirits like a contagious illness.”
    “Our good soldiers worry too much,” Longor joked. “I still maintain that they’re no more than a bunch of ugly tavern wenches of dubious reputation, nothing to worry about.”
    “Let no-one lose hope!” cried the Prince. “We’re still here! They haven’t defeated us yet and nor will they! We’ll defeat them for Rogdon!”
    Lomar turned back to the enemy, and something caught his attention.
    “Your Highness, look, the two siege towers… they’re moving, advancing…” he muttered.
    “It can’t be,” Gerart said, his eyes wide with surprise. “They haven’t used them since the first day for fear of our burning oil.”
    “I can see them too,” Longor said.” They’re moving.”
    “The catapults and ballistae have stopped and the two towers are moving closer. What are they scheming now?”