The Devastation (Unexpected Circumstances 7)

The bolt pierced the man through the neck, and he dropped to the ground. The bearded man immediately turned from his ally toward our direction, and I allowed Romero to take a few steps forward as my gaze met with the mercenary leader’s eyes from across the battlefield. His eyes grew wide as he called out to his men to begin retreating.

Without

looking away from him, I brought up another bolt and placed it in its spot. I steadied the weapon in my hands after pulling back the bolt with the crank. The tension in the line was perfect, and my finger barely touched the trigger before it let loose.

The bolt hit him square in the back as he tried to turn and run.

Rylan laughed.

“That ought to disorganize the lot of them!” he cried out. I placed another bolt in the shaft and held the weapon again to my shoulder. A moment later, another soldier dropped to the ground. I pierced a fourth man as he reached the young boys in my ranks though the bolt only went through his leg. The boys immediately seized the opportunity as he lost his footing, and they were upon him.

I handed Rylan the crossbow, and he took a few shots himself before we rode off with the rest of the cavalry toward the main group of fighters. Parnell was at the lead, his sword swooping down to the unhorsed soldiers as two other horsemen surrounded Hadebrand’s men and jabbed at them with spears.

We continued to press forward.

Hours later, with the sun deserting us below the horizon, the clash of steel on steel could still be heard outside the gates of Edgar’s castle. We had fallen back somewhat—regrouping and planning the next stage of attack. This was where I hoped to truly take advantage and push the battle-weary men of Silverhelm just one step closer to their queen.

I found my thoughts invaded by images of her face, but I pushed them aside. I turned Romero around and rode back to where the archers were collected, preparing for the next offensive. Benjamin was there with the Master Archer from my own army.

“Is it time?” I asked Benjamin, and I was met with his gleeful smile.

“Almost,” he replied.

I watched as over fifty archers each took a mug containing a glob of the black, sticky substance. Benjamin said there was enough pitch to coat ten arrows each. The archers knelt behind us and readied their arrow tips. Benjamin took up two torches and handed one to Erik and one to Sir Rylan’s page. The two boys ran behind the line of archers with torches extended, and one by one, the archers’ arrows began to glow.

“Now we are ready,” Benjamin said with a grin.

He nodded at the Master Archer, who drew back his bow and called to his men.

“Ready!” the Master Archer yelled loudly. Each of the flame-tipped arrows rose to point at the sky. “Loose!”

My eyes widened in awe as the arrows remained lit and soared up into the sky in perfect, glowing arcs. They left a trail of light through the clouds before disappearing behind the walls of the castle. We could hear shouts from inside the castle walls, and I saw several places where firelight began to burn more brightly. One man—still in flames—fell from the castle wall.

“Ready! Loose!”

Fifty more arrows lit up the night sky as they sailed over the heads of the knights battling in the open field, over the walls of the castle, and inside again. I could then hear the screaming of those who fought for Edgar as they burned. The glow behind the castle walls became brighter as the sun set, and the battle continued. Benjamin and his pitch-covered arrows continued to rain fire upon our enemy.

With the sun below the horizon, the bright fires from behind the walls were even more evident. The battle in front of the castle was slowing both because all the men were tired and because the sheer number of bodies lying in the field were in the way. They hindered the cavalry’s movement though it also meant the serfs and peasants who had survived thus far were better armed. Each of them grabbed a mace or sword from the fallen enemies’ hands.

Still, there weren’t many of the common folk left. As I looked around and quickly counted those still standing—both for Silverhelm and for Hadebrand—I knew the people of Silverhelm had indeed been willing to die for their queen. There was no way we would have survived without them.

Parnell approached on foot with Rylan close behind him and called up to me.

“My king, many of Hadebrand’s soldiers and their mercenaries have surrendered. The fires inside the castle are reported to be reaching the inside walls.”

“We have to move inside,” I said, “and quickly. We do not know where they are keeping Alexandra.”

“What of the prisoners, my king?” Parnell asked.

“No prisoners,” I replied. “Any man who has fought for Hadebrand will die.”

“Yes, my king.”

I turned to Rylan as he mounted another horse and rode up beside me.

“Where are the engineers?” I asked.

Rylan motioned behind us, and I could see Lord William’s men with their machines.