The Accidental Archmage - Book Five Edmund Batara (classic children's novels .TXT) 📖

his hird, or personal retainers. A column was quickly created with the hird leading everybody. Tall and well-armed warriors surrounded the ruler. Following the jarl were Tyler and his companions. The dwarves then brought up the end of the queue, though in two separate files, each led by the own chieftains. Around them, Tyler could see warriors bringing their gear and running toward the walls, though some had already put on their armor and helms. He glanced at Tyndur and motioned for the man to join him.

“What was the solution you mentioned?” the mage whispered.

“Normally, each group chooses a champion, and they fight for the privilege of being the first to present whatever they wanted to say,” replied the einherjar in a low voice.

“To the death?” said the startled mage.

“Near death. Each champion fights with a maul made of hardwood. The weapons won’t kill outright, but there’s a lot of broken bones by the time the duel is over. Of course, feuds lasting centuries begin that way.”

“Can’t they just toss a coin?” said Tyler, still not believing what he heard.

“For dwarves, important occasions require gold. And it would take Ragnarok before you could get a dwarf to volunteer a gold piece for that toss.”

***

When the column reached the North Gate, the jarl, Tyler’s party, the two dwarven leaders, and members of the hird went up the tall gate bastion. On either side were similar though lower battlements. The mage saw that mangonels were mounted on top of each of the three massive stone columns.

As he walked up the stairs, the small windows also afforded him a view of the forward walls. It appeared he was mistaken as to the number of catapults. What he saw when he arrived were the ones being assembled on the ground below. Now the mage could see recessed areas along the wall, which also had mangonels.

Ingenious, he noted. Preventing attackers from seeing the heavy weapons as they assault the walls.

When they reached the open platform on top of the tower, they couldn’t see anything beyond whatever the faint moonlight graced with its beams. Even then, the illumination seemed curiously dimmed. Tyler’s enhanced eyesight was of no help beyond what he could see as the first line of defenses. But from time to time, the group could witness flashes in the far distance. The mage estimated it at five to six miles away.

Tyler released a spell to examine what the darkness kept hidden. He immediately got the impression of a chaotic battle scene – a large ring of warriors was at the periphery of his perception, surrounded by a sea of enemies. Numerous isolated groups were moving towards the fortress, some being pursued. But he couldn’t say if the entire battlescape was that of an organized withdrawal or a panic-stricken mob being routed.

“Is the scout here with us?” asked Tyler of the jarl. The torches on the parapets were understandably unlit, leaving the area dark. Otherwise, it would provide an enemy with perfect silhouettes.

“No, he’s downstairs.”

“Could I talk to him? I want to ask him a few questions,” said the mage, and the jarl immediately gave instructions to one of his guards.

Tyler turned to the two dwarves.

“You sent reinforcements to Hedmark even without knowing what the jarl would say?” he asked the two with a smile, hoping they’d see it.

“You’re smiling, High Mage. That’s an encouraging accompaniment to your question,” said Otr.

“I forgot you could see better than humans in the dark,” replied Tyler. It was an honest answer. He did forget about the depths of mountains and deep tunnels being devoid of natural sunlight.

“With all due respects to the jarl, we could have just given instructions to our forces to go back if the ruler of Hedmark refused. It’s like trading, High Mage. A wise trader knows when his offer couldn’t be refused,” said Dvalin.

“Indeed,” laughed the jarl.

A man came up the steps, accompanied by the guard.

“Ivar the scout, my lord,” introduced the guard.

“I apologize for any inconvenience, Ivar. But were you among those who saw the undead host, the one near Hedmark?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Two questions first; one, how many, and two, any sign of heavy siege equipment?” inquired the mage.

“As to numbers, it is impossible to say, my lord. They covered the entire area and we couldn’t see both ends of it, and that’s from a distance. On the siege machinery, we didn’t see any.”

“Ladders?”

“None, my lord. But it was strange watching the dead arrayed as though they were a living army. There were plenty of other creatures – bony drakes, skeleton ogres, desiccated dokkalfr, even dead dwarves. If I didn’t know they were undead, I would have sworn they were an organized force. Even the flying creatures were included in an arranged manner.”

“I assume they had scouts too?” remarked Tyler.

“Yes, my lord. That’s the reason why we couldn’t get any closer. Probably also why the movements of the dwarven hosts were discovered.”

“That’s all, Ivar. Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure to serve, High Mage.”

Huh? Word sure gets around fast.

“Now that’s a lot of undead,” noted Tyndur.

“I guess we better be prepared with the sortie. I’ll assume that those flashes in the distance are our men,” said the jarl. One of the guards again went downstairs.

“The rescue force will consist of ten pentekostyes, divided into two groups. Unfortunately, the fortress only has three baturs’ worth of cavalry. We didn’t expect any use for them and sending them out at night is ill-advised,” said the jarl.

Pentekostyes? Right. Jorund explained that to me on the road outside Maljen. Each pentekostyes will have four batur of warriors, roughly 160 men. That’s over ten percent of the trained warriors of the fortress. The jarl is risking much in this foray.

“With your permission, jarl, our men would like to join the sortie. At least ten dwarven warriors to each pentekostyes. We have better eyesight in the dark, and their presence will reassure those being rescued,” said Dvalin. The two chieftains had apparently discussed the matter, with no bickering, when the venture was announced.

“Good idea,” said the jarl. “Please arrange matters with Skarde. One