Darkwalker on Moonshae - Douglas Niles [126]
The remnants of the two companies, led by their esteemed lords, streamed chaotically toward the town. The northmen gathered threateningly behind them, prodding the retreat,
The prince looked around and saw that Lord Mayor Dinsmore had caught up with him. Tristan dropped quickly to the ground, holding Avalon’s reins, and confronted the pudgy mayor.
“My Lord Mayor, we must evacuate the town! Within the palisade of the castle we stand a much better chance of stalling the attack!”
“Impossible!” the mayor wailed. “We cannot give them the town!”
“They will take it, regardless,” snapped Tristan. “Do you see how many of them are out there? Do you think that low wall is going to slow them up?”
“I will die here, even if you choose to leave!” The mayor’s brass helmet bobbed frantically as he made his pronouncement, which seemed to startle even him.
“And how many of our people will your vanity drag down?” Tristan resisted the urge to grab the man’s shoulders and shake him. “Don’t be a fool! You will doom everyone within these walls to certain death! Can you die with that on your conscience?”
The stout mayor sighed, as he appeared to deflate. Even the helmet seemed to rest more solidly upon his bald crown. “I cannot. Very well, what must we do?”
“We must make a plan. Where can we meet the lords?”
Tristan had Koart and Dynnatt summoned to the mayor’s small cottage, where together they leaned over the mayor’s dinner table to study a map the prince had rendered on parchment. The two burly competitive lords clumped into the room, leather armor creaking. Neither of them had suffered a wound, though their companies had fought hard.
“We’ve got a dangerous situation here, with the number of people in the town,” the prince began. “We will move these people, as fast as possible, to the greater security of the castle. Therefore, it is imperative that we keep the castle road, from the north gate of town to the castle’s gatehouse, secure!” He looked around. Gruff Lord Koart seemed about to argue, but then changed his mind.
“We should have the services of a company of horse, and of dwarven axemen, within another day at the most, as well as a company of militia from the Eastern Cantrevs. Until then, my lords, I ask you to place your companies along the road. Lord Mayor, your militia and any recruits we can muster within these walls should continue to hold the town.”
“My prince!” called a swordsman, pounding on the door. “Someone to see you – a knight! A female knight!”
Tristan sprang to the door, quickly pulling it open.
“Brigit! Thank the goddess you have arrived.”
The slender knight stepped through the door, nodding curtly to the men gathered in the cottage.
Her gelding was still blowing from the ride, and the dust of the trail coated the knight’s armor.
“The company has remained outside the town walls, to the north. The dwarves,” she added, managing to say the word without distaste, “should be here within two or three hours.”
“Excellent!” cried the prince, pounding his right fist into his left palm. “Lord Mayor, let’s get these people moving to the castle as fast as possible!”
*****
Kazgoroth viewed the collection of life within the castle and town of Corwell, and drooled at the prospects. Forcefully, the Beast brought these hot bursts of emotion under control. The plan needed to be a careful one.
The Beast knew better than to try and reduce both pockets of resistance – the town and the castle – at the same time. Instead, they must be divided, and then destroyed one at a time. Not only would the defenders suffer the misery of watching their comrades’ deaths, but the attackers could concentrate most of their strength against a single position.
The Beast focused the eyes of Thelgaar Ironhand upon the castle road – the slender thread connecting the town to the castle. Immediately beyond the road glittered the blue waters of the firth. If he could sever