Shades of the Past_ Book Six of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [59]
By this time the catapults are in position, a wagon of large stones stands ready by each. He has Jiron and the fighters from The Ranch station themselves just behind the line of staves. Delia and her slingers are placed just behind them. Brother Willim with his brethren move to stand near James. The Black Hawk banner bearer moves to the fore and stands just past the line of staves. At that a cheer erupts from the Black Hawk Raiders who are arrayed to either side at the rear.
James glances back to the walls of Lythylla. The gate stands open and he knows Lord Pytherian has riders and fighters ready to come to their aid should he require it.
“Cowards!” he hears Stig exclaim when the enemy remains behind their palisade.
“It’s not cowardice to remain behind a fortification,” Illan says loudly. “Why should they meet us in battle when they can defend from a point of strength? It’s obvious we’re going to attack.”
All of the strategies James worked on had one element in common, the enemy was to attack. He’s not sure if what he plans will be as effective going up against a foe that is entrenched behind a protective wall.
An idea comes to him and he has Devin ride back into Lythylla. When Illan raises an eyebrow in question he just grins and shrugs. Shortly after he enters the gates, Devin reappears again followed by several wagons full of barrels.
The wagons roll forward and come to a stop by the catapults. “Oil and pitch,” James finally says to Illan.
“Going to burn the palisade down?” he asks.
“Doubt if it will do that,” he says. “But it will annoy them and give us a smoke screen.” He moves to the officer in charge of the catapults and asks, “Can you hit the wall with the barrels?”
The officer turns and gauges the distance to the palisade and replies, “Might. Not sure how they’ll fly once released.”
“If you can at least get close it will be worthwhile,” he tells him.
“Close for sure,” he says and then has his men begin loading one barrel at a time into each catapult’s cup.
“Fire when you’re ready,” James tells him.
Once all the catapults have a barrel in their cup, the officer yells, “Loose!”
The lever on each is pulled and the arm launches the barrels toward the palisade. Four fall short while one containing tar manages to hit the wall near the gate. A cheer goes up from the men as the arms of the catapults are once again pulled back in place. Another barrel is placed within the cup and let loose.
James watches the second volley fly overhead when all of a sudden he feels the familiar tingling of magic. Atop the palisade, he spies the warrior priest with arms upraised. When the tingling spikes, a fireball materializes as it flies toward the catapults. About to cast a counter spell, he feels another tingle, this one closer.
Brother Willim throws a small, green object into the air and says a few unintelligible words. The object begins to grow as it races toward the oncoming fireball. It grows at an astounding rate and when it encounters the fireball, engulfs it and drags it to the ground.
“Nice,” he hears Jiron say from his position in the front of the group.
The catapults continue their barrage of pitch and oil. James moves to Hedry and asks, “Can one of your archers send a flaming arrow out there?”
“Not a problem,” he replies. Turning to his men, he hollers, “Erik, Jorn, send them a present if you would.”
Having overheard what James had asked Hedry, they remove a piece of cloth. Tearing off four strips, they tie them tightly just behind the arrowheads of four arrows. With a third person bearing a lit torch, they move forward past the line of staves to get within arrow range.
Another fireball flies from the palisade wall, this time aimed at the archers moving forward, and again Brother Willim brings it down.
The archers finally reach the appropriate distance