Shades of the Past_ Book Six of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [56]
The plaza is a flurry of activity as everyone hurries to make ready for the upcoming battle. Food is being prepared, swords sharpened and armor is mended as best it can. Devin comes to him with a bowl of food and a mug of water.
“Thanks,” he says with a yawn as he takes it.
“You’re welcome,” he replies. Off to one side he sees Illan in his full Black Hawk regalia talking to Henri. Eating his food while he walks, James makes his way over.
“…as if they’re fortifying their position,” Henri is saying.
Illan turns at his approach and says, “The enemy is digging in. Scouts report that more troops have arrived during the night.”
“Possibly another couple thousand,” Henri interjects. “Lord Pytherian thinks they may have already been on the way before your attack last night and not a response to it.”
He looks to Illan and asks, “Will this change our plans any?”
Shaking his head, he replies, “I doubt it. Just make things more interesting.”
Henri glances to James and says, “Hope you can pull this off.”
“Me too,” he agrees. “How far away is dawn?”
“An hour or so,” he replies.
“Have Delia meet me over by the baggage once everyone’s done eating,” he says.
“Very well,” replies Illan. Then to Henri he says, “Tell Lord Pytherian we’ll be ready at the appointed time.”
“Yes, sir, Black Hawk,” Henri replies. Giving Illan a salute, he turns and makes his way from the plaza back toward the castle.
James runs through in his mind the various preparations he’s done in anticipation of the upcoming battle. He fervently hopes the items he brought from The Ranch will work the way he anticipates.
After everyone’s finished eating, he meets with the slingers by the tent where his ‘special’ baggage is being stored during their stay. Usually there’s a guard standing out front to keep everyone away, it wouldn’t do to have someone meddle in an area that could kill everyone. Today Terrance has that duty.
He steps inside and leaves with a large sack, the contents bulging the sides. Reaching in, he pulls out a small pouch and begins handing one to each. “Don’t open it now,” he tells them. Each pouch is bound closed with a red twine, all the various pouches and sacks containing his magically imbued crystals are color coated in this manner for easy identification.
When each is holding their pouch, he says, “This will be your initial ammunition. Inside each pouch are three balls of hardened clay. Inside the clay is something, that once it leaves the confines of the sack it is currently within, becomes activated. Once it does, you haven’t much time before it goes off.”
Caleb holds up his pouch and gives it an apprehensive look. The others’ expressions range from worry to excitement.
“So remove one at a time, get it launched toward the enemy, then remove the next and so forth.” He returns within the tent. When he exits again, he hands a long bundle to Devin. “Hold onto this until we get out there. I’ll need you and Moyil to give me a hand setting it up. It’s imperative we get this in position before the enemy launches their attack.”
“I thought we were to attack them?” Terrance asks.
James glances at him and replies, “When they see us march out of the gates, I doubt if they’ll simply allow us all the time in the world to get ready.”
“Yeah, Terry,” Jace says as he elbows him in the ribs.
“Alright, sorry,” Terrance says.
Holding up her pouch to James Delia asks, “Will these be enough to destroy the enemy?”
“Let’s hope so,” he says. “I have a few other surprises as well, but I’ll be in charge of those.” He glances around the assembled group. “When you’ve exhausted the contents of your pouch, start using the slugs. I trust you’ve given each an extra supply?”
Delia nods her head and says, “After this they’ll each be given three score slugs.”
“Good.” He glances over to where Illan and the men-at-arms are