Delver Magic III: Balance of Fate, Jeff Inlo [most popular ebook readers .txt] 📗

we don’t have time to try and convince these people what is best for them. By doing that, you risk the lives of others that are willing to leave. It is not fair to them. If there is time, we can return later, but we deal with that situation after we get as many as we can to safety.”

Ryson didn’t like how that sounded, but deep in his heart, he knew she was right.

“Once the evacuation is progressing and I am confident in the people I have assisting in the tunnels, I will also come to the surface. I will use this passage.” She pointed to a spot at the center of the map. “While you two work inward, I can work from the center out. When we meet, we can then move to points closer to the outer edges of the city. This will be the most dangerous areas and at that point we should move together.”

Ryson heaved a heavy sigh. “I guess that covers everything. We should probably start moving to our positions under the city. We’ll have to separate and be ready to surface when we hear Sy attack the outskirts of the city.”

#

It was late afternoon six days after Sy Fenden left for Fort Nebran when the full force of Nebran’s extended cavalry struck the outlying farms within sight of Connel. Small bands of goblins patrolled the outer fields. As they turned to the east to view what sounded like thunder, they beheld a large dark mass low on the horizon. It stretched across the hilly fields and extended beyond their sight. One thing was very clear, it was moving fast and moving directly toward them.

The echoing thunder grew in intensity and soon it became clear that this storm was the force of soldiers on horseback. The rhythmic galloping of the horses pounded fear into the black hearts of those goblins unfortunate enough to be patrolling the far eastern limits of Connel’s farmlands. Knowing there was no possible way to outrun or outflank the angry mass of soldiers that rushed toward them like a flood during the great thaw, most goblins dropped to the ground in balled up heaps hoping to somehow miraculously avoid the fate before them. Miracles, however, would not belong to these goblins on this day. They were saved for others more deserving, and these creatures had earned their death.

If it wasn’t the tip of the spear that skewered them, it was a mighty hoof that trampled them. Death was sudden and instant, the goblins unable to even scream for mercy. Every goblin in the field that could not retreat to Connel’s safer borders was annihilated in that massive, angry rush.

The soldiers made no shouts of joy, no cries of victory. They knew this was only the first and easiest part of their task ahead. Instead they wore grim expressions of determination, blinking back the wind, dust, and debris that battered their faces as they rushed onward with Connel clear in their sights.

In Connel’s north side within a large elegant home, Chal stumbled into his master’s quarters. He moved hesitantly to the serp that stood near a window that faced west. Chal stole a quick glimpse out that window and could only see the fading red and orange of a brilliant sunset as the sun dropped below the peaks of the vast western mountain ranges.

“I’m quite aware of the attack from the east,” Sazar stated before his lackey could speak. “Do not look so concerned.”

“But there is a great number,” Chal blurted out.

“Of course there is, did you think they would return with five soldiers in a wagon drawn but a three-legged horse? I can see what the hook hawks see, never forget that, thus I know their numbers. None of this is unexpected, actually. When I allowed the cavalry to flee to the east, I knew this was a distinct possibility. Why do you think my first act was to have the supplies in the farms moved into the city? The humans don’t want us here and they’re going to try and make us leave, but I have no intention of leaving.”

Even in the face of Sazar’s calm, Chal could not contain his growing apprehension.

“What will happen when they reach the city?”

Sazar sighed. “I assume all goblins are probably reacting like you, that’s why I am receiving so much fear. Your passions are sometimes very tiring. I supposed it is time to reassure you all.”

Sazar concentrated deeply and grasped every link within his mind to literally thousands of goblins within the city and beyond. He sent one blanket message to them all.

Every goblin outside the city must return at once if possible. Those to the west, flee to the forest and wait my command. Those inside the city, take your posts behind the webs. Disregard the number of humans, they can not break through into the city. When they come within range, fire upon them.

“Does that make you feel better?” Sazar asked.

Chal nodded but Sazar already felt the wave of relief flushing into his mind from goblins throughout the city, and thus, he knew the answer before Chal replied.

“We have some fortune in this,” Sazar continued to Chal. “We did not send the humans to the mines today and so every shag is here in the city as opposed to guarding miners in the hills. I am impressed with the contingent of soldiers the humans raised, but it will not avail them. The shags will guard the few unblocked entrances into the city and the humans will not be able to enter. It is surprising, however, that their timing is so poor. The sun sets and the darkness is ours, not theirs. Still…”

Sazar stopped in the middle of his thought. He said nothing further as he grasped tightly to the links of several special minions. He opened his being to their senses and took hold of new knowledge.

“Something is below the city,” Sazar stated with an angry edge to his voice.

#

Sy could see the goblins closer to the city scrambling toward the structures that made up the outer edges of Connel. They darted quickly out of sight, and at that distance, he could not make out where they entered the city. Still, he watched intently waiting for any sign of the enemy creatures, wondering if they would rush out of the city to repel them. He saw nothing to indicate such a strategy.

Sy yelled to Colonel Haravin as they raced closer toward Connel. “They’re doing exactly what you said they would! They’re staying put, they’re not going to meet us out here. They’re going to stick to their positions. Shame, we would have decimated them.”

“Aye, I think the bastard serp figured that out when he saw us. Regardless, our initial attack has been successful. It is time to institute the next phase.” With that, the colonel raised his hand with two fingers held upward.

A rider to Haravin’s left raised a green and white flag. As he did, the long line of galloping horses broke at the center. More and more horses dropped back away from the middle of the line, increasing the size of the gap. As these horses moved away both to the right and the left in an angled direction, the once unbroken line began to form two separate and distinct V-shaped formations that pointed at each other. These formations began to spread apart even further as the soldiers closed on Connel. The break between the two formations widened to the point that the whole of Connel could fit through the gap. As the riders continued forward, one formation moved to the north of the city and the other to the south, and neither would come close enough to be in crossbow range of any goblins waiting at Connel’s edge.

Both Sy and Colonel Harkin remained together at the formation that would cross past the south of Connel.

“That probably surprised him,” Sy grinned.

“Aye, at the very least, he has something to think about.” With the formation now passing beyond Connel, the colonel raised three fingers to the flag bearer. “Time to begin phase three.”

The soldier to the colonel’s left now raised a green and red flag. Those riders that pulled back and formed the back shaft of the V-formations now raced back to their original positions to reform one unbroken line.

“Let us now clear the western fields and let the serp wonder if we are bypassing him to take a flanking position at Pinesway.”

The thundering line of riders romped through the western lands just as they did the farmlands to the east. They cleared the area of all goblins and even those that had attempted to reach the trees of the forest were caught by the speeding horses. Before the last glowing strands of the red and orange sunset died away below the mountains, the western lands were cleansed of any dark creatures.

The cavalry line slowed and pulled to a halt. After turning completely about, the long stretch of soldiers on horseback paused for long moments to give their mounts a momentary rest. They cleaned their weapons, readjusted their armor and checked their equipment. Connel now stood before them to the east as darkness now came to rest upon the land.

Sy nodded his head toward the city. “His hook hawks are still in the air. If what I’ve been told about him is true, he can see whatever the creatures he controls see. That means he knows we haven’t left.”

“Aye, let’s make it clear we’re not going away.” The colonel then gave an order to his flag bearer. “A steady trot to the city. Surround it out of crossbow range.”

The soldier replied by first holding a solid green flag that he waved twice toward the city. He then raised a yellow flag that he twirled about like a pinwheel. The long formed line of cavalry now moved steadily back toward Connel.