Activity

@joelle-stone here you go!

 

 

Chapter 4

 

In the morning, a gray fog had settled over the fort and the surrounding terrain, minimizing visibility, and giving the land an eery look. Abner woke early, and patrolled the walls, straining his eyes for any sight of the enemy, but the stubborn fog kept them blind.

Lieutenant North joined him, obviously groggy from just waking.

“See anything, sir?” He asked.

Abner scanned again, and shook his head. “Nothing yet, Lieutenant, but that doesn’t mean they’re not out there.”

North nodded, and shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his fur coat. “It’s dreadfully cold out here, sire. Doesn’t feel natural.”

Abner nodded, glancing at the sullen sky, while taking a deep breath. “Just keep a sharp eye, North. All we can do now is wait for Major Maguire.”

“Yes, sir!” North said, and went a bit further down the wall to try a different view.

Abner knew the fog would be too thick for the naked eye. Even a eye-glass would be of no use. If the enemy wanted to, they could attack, and Abner wouldn’t know it until he had a knife at his throat.

He sighed, and decided to calm his nerves by checking on Breanon.

He walked down the stairs, and across the chilly courtyard, to the stables. He was greeted warmly by a  young, teenage boy, who led him to a stall where Breanon was happily chewing on freshly forked hay. Abner smiled, opened the gate, and slipped in, and stroked Breanon’s long, brown nose. The horse nickered softly, and took a step toward Abner, his longtime friend.

Abner recalled when he first saw Breanon. He was thirteen at the time, and Breanon was a green-broke colt. It took much time, and many painful falls, but over years, they grew close together, both trusting one another, and now, Abner would ride no other horse. The majestic steed stood at just over sixteen hands, a unusually large warhorse. Rippling muscles covered the horse’s frame, his color a gentle brown, with a white star on his forehead.

Abner sighed, and leaned on Breanon, closing his eyes, and running his hands through the horse’s mane. He longed for this nightmare to be over. To be back in Dallinor, where peace thrived, and war was a thing of legends. What he had found exciting as a boy was now a burden to him, especially as he knew the likely-hood of the looming massacre of the defenders of Ensteyr.

A long horn blast shook his thoughts, and both he and Breanon jumped. There was some commotion at the gate, and with a nervous shudder, Abner wondered if the enemy had finally began their attack.

He raced out of the stables, hand on his sword, and joined North on the walls again. Still hindered b the fog, at first all he saw was a large grey mass waiting outside the gate. Then, with a surge of relief he recognized the standard of Arhon on a cavalry guidon. Major Maguire had arrived.

 

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

 

 

With shouts of triumph, the fort’s defenders welcomed the reinforcements. It took the company of almost 500 men more than an hour to get inside the fort, simply because of the narrow gate, and the many wagons of supplies.

Major Maguire led the column, but broke away to salute Abner. After the courtesy, he dismounted, entrusting his steed to the stablehand that had appeared at his side.

“The journey was uneventful, sire. Although, we did have a small incident, regarding a volunteer.”

Abner looked questioningly at Maguire. “I’m not sure I understand, Major. A volunteer?”

Maguire chuckled. “Yes, a certain stable-hand from the capital somehow caught up with us, and begged to join us. I have no idea how he was able to find us that fast, let alone find us at all. He says he knows you.”

Abner’s eyes widened. “Gabriel?”

Maguire nodded. “He insisted on helping in any way he could.”

Abner couldn’t help but smile. Though it was bound to be very dangerous on the front, he was glad to have a familiar face around, if only in the stables.

“Well, I don’t think we should turn away any volunteer, Major. We’ll need every man we have.”

Maguire nodded grimly. “That’s certain, sir.”

Abner nodded, chewing his lip. “Major, report to Commander Wise. He’ll fill you in on our plan.”

Maguire nodded, saluted the king, and left the courtyard. Abner breathed in deeply, and turned towards the stables. Maybe he’d find Gabriel there, helping with the reinforcements mounts.

He decided it would not be best to rush in and greet his old friend and make a scene, so he waited till the bustle of the newcomers died down before he made his way to the barn.

The commotion had receded, leaving many busy stablehands running to and fro between stalls, forking hay here, hauling water there. A few were grooming the horses, and Abner was willing to bet that would be where he’d find Gabriel.

Sure enough, Gabriel was busy grooming a grey-white stallion, who seemed to be enjoying the attention.

“Gabriel,” Abner said with a smile, “what are you doing here?”

Gabriel turned, surprised to see his king and close friend standing there. “Oh, I’m sorry, Your Highness.” He said sheepishly. “You see, when you told me that you were going to fight, I was scared. I knew that I should go, and help anyway I could, but the fear of not coming back, and never seeing my family again—”

He paused, the silence heavy with emotion. He chewed his lip, then continued. “You see, my father’s dead, my mother is terribly sick, my sister’s too young to work. I’m the only way we can live, and if I’m gone, I don’t know what would happen. But I knew I couldn’t just stay here while you went. So, the day after you left I took Blaze, because I knew she was the fastest horse we had. I rode south, and in two days I came upon the main company, and Major Maguire was gracious enough to let me stay.”

Abner gave a grim smile. “Well, I’ll be honest with you: the situation isn’t looking very good.” Abner paused, gazing at the thick mist beyond the walls. He heaved a sigh, then continued.

“A part of me fears that we shall be forced to make a costly decision. A very costly decision.” He glanced back at Gabriel, and smiled. “But either way, it’s good to see you. It’s good to have a friend in a time like this.”

Gabriel grinned, and nodded. Abner smiled back, then glanced back out at the courtyard.

“I have to go speak with Maguire and Wise, but I’m glad you’re here. Take care of Breanon while I’m gone.”

“I will, sir.”

Abner nodded in appreciation, and walked out of the stables, aware of the planning going on in the Commander’s Quarters. Maguire and Wise were probably formulating a plan that they would propose to Abner, and he was sure whatever it was, he wouldn’t like it. The fort seemed too vulnerable if the enemy launched any substantial siege, as it was more of a glorified outpost. The dense fog provided the attackers with cover, to sneak up on the walls, without ever having been seen. The entire situation seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. So, as Maguire and Wise were making their plans, Abner too, was thinking of a way to give them an advantage on the enemy.

 

 

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

 

As night fell, and the sun slipped beneath the horizon, the fort bustled with activity. Various measures were being taken to maximize it’s security, and breastworks were being constructed about twenty yards from the walls. No plan had been decided on, but Abner, Major Maguire, and Commander Wise were all busy providing options.

Abner paced the wooden floor of the Commander’s Quarters. The waning sunlight slipped in the window, and his steps made a rhythmic thump with every footfall.

“Charging them head on at night is too dangerous. We can’t see well in the daytime, let alone night, and we don’t know the terrain.”

Wise shook his head. “That may be, Sire, but the fact of the matter is, if we don’t do anything, they will trap us here forever, and if we try to retreat in the night, with the amount of baggage and men, we won’t make more than thirty miles a day. Perhaps your cavalry may escape, but my men are infantry, and will be slaughtered as soon as the enemy finds out where we went. If we are to die, let us die with honor, not with our backs to the foe.”

“Glory in battle is good and well, Commander,” said Maguire, “but how is King Abner to explain to the Council if an entire garrison was destroyed by an unnecessarily risky move? And that is assuming he survives the charge in the first place.”

The truth of this statement left the room in silence, until a Abner suddenly stopped pacing, turned sharply round, and hunkered over the table. He gazed at the map, and a sly smile crept over his face.

“We won’t need to be slaughtered in retreat if we can make a stand,” his finger hovered over the map, then planted on a spot just south of the Barrow’s west bridge, “here.”

But how will we make it there, King? I see no difference in the problem if we make a stand there, or have a full retreat.”

Abner’s slight smile turned into a full-faced grin, as what had seemed a hard situation moments before was now easily solved. “Commander, what if Lieutenant North and I take a handful of our best cavalrymen, and occupy the enemy long enough so that you and the infantry can make it to the fords of the Barrow. Meanwhile, I will send a messenger to Dallinor, to inform them of the situation, and ask for aid at the south fords of the Barrow River, in two days time.  That gives you ample time to travel there, and you will make defensive breastworks around these heights.” He pointed to a group of small hills. “North and I will do all we can to buy you time. Meanwhile, we also shall get an idea of the size of our enemy, and their skill, training, and purpose.”

The smile covering Abner’s face soon became mutual with the other two men. However, Wise did scrunch his brow and raise a doubt.

“A marvelous plan indeed, Sire, but how do you intend to have a messenger arrive at the Capital so swiftly? It would surely take more than a regular steed to cover over 60 miles, in under a day.”

Abner smiled. “Well, I know a certain stableboy, and his horse is anything but a regular steed.”

Wise smiled, nodding approvingly, then stood. “Well then, let us make haste. And Sire,” Wise said, his smile turning into a solemn expression, “be careful.”