FreeHolds Adventure, Cycle 3 Part 6e
Tipper had talked with Adwin after the encounter with Hidge. She had told him of the message that had been found on Kite Hollen. Adwin had been sullenly thoughtful, she hoped he would rethink his alliance with Roburn’s Trading Company.
Tipper suggested, “I think it’d be best if I kept clear of Hidge for a while. Her experience is desperately needed right now and the fact that she’s under orders to protect you means I should be elsewhere.”
“Tipper, you just returned. What about the battle? We should be fighting alongside each other.”
“Well, Andisal might need me as her second in command. Does she have anything specific planned for you?”
“Not that I know of. Let’s head over to the keep, lunch should be ready soon. Hopefully Andisal will fill us in on any expectations she has of us.”
She agreed. They returned to the keep. Andisal was at the table with her books, she gave them a nod but kept her attention on her planning. When Del shouted down that food would be ready momentarily, Andisal put her paperwork away. Before the food was served Lef, Mila, Mokha and Sefla all came up into the keep, they exchanged pleasantries then helped set up the table for the meal.
Andisal was quick to ask, “Who’s with the girl?”
Lef replied, “Chance Delight. We haven’t left her alone. As per your instructions.”
Tipper had a brief opportunity to reunite with Mokha and Sefla, both were happy that she was back on her feet and with them again. She complimented Sefla’s theatrics previous to the raid and let Mokha know that the next time she was planning on burning something down she would bring him along.
Mokha smiled mischievously, “This time last year you never would have said something so nice. I recall you being more than capable of burning things to the ground yourself.”
Del and Calathy came down with the meal, they all gathered around the table and ate. Tipper made a point of letting Andisal know what had happened with Hidge and the fact that she planned to give the woman some space. When they were done eating, Calathy and Del cleared the table.
Andisal waited until everyone was sitting again, “Alright. If anyone here is not planning on fighting, speak up.” She looked to each of them. No one said a word.
“Good. Lef, you are my second, you will be on the west embankment with overall command of the situation, Mila and Teller will command the north and south embankments.
“The dwarves will command the trebuchets, both the one they brought and the two smaller ones we built. The dwarves also have the eastern gap.
“Adwin, you and the crew you raided with will form a reserve group, mostly to support the dwarves at the gap. Ideally you should be able to respond to the first area that is breached, save the arrows you have for such an occasion.
“Del, you and the folks you selected will deal with the wounded, I expect you here at the keep dealing with the medical side of things. There are plenty of others who will get the wounded to you.
“Calathy, you will have command of the communal kitchen. Keep us in food and if things get really bloody some of your people will reposition to help Del.
“Tipper, there is a group from Predost and a handful of others who follow the OldWays. They have requested to be placed at the entrance on the west end of the village, the area most likely to come under heavy assault. I am under the impression that a number of them are not expecting to live past the encounter, I would like you to try and ensure their sacrifice serve a useful purpose. The hostage will also be kept there, mostly to further entice the enemy to attack our weakest point.
“Any questions?”
There was a long silence before Lef asked, “Where will you be?”
“Well, assuming the parley goes well, and I survive any challenges for personal combat that may happen, I intent to be right beside you my friend. If I am not, I have absolute faith in all of you to be able to do what needs to be done.”
Sombre expressions greeted her last statement. Calathy, who appeared to be on the verge of crying, asked, “When?”
“They will be here tomorrow or the day after. Given the loss of supplies the raiders were able to inflict on them, I am not expecting a protracted engagement. They will attempt to overwhelm us as quickly as they can.”
Tipper asked, “Will you offer the hostage in exchange for them leaving?”
“Yes. But, from what you have told me, I am not sure they will value the girl’s life as much as you are hoping.”
She nodded.
Andisal dismissed them. Tipper was not in the mood for emotional demonstrations, she was already emotional enough as it was. She needed to talk to the folks from Predost.
She found some of the women where they had set up camp at the eastern edge of the commons, it took most of the afternoon to gather all who followed the OldWays. They shared a simple meal and then gathered on the western embankment well ahead of sunset. Tipper had a bit of time to get to know them, when the sun was low on the horizon they all sang the passing of the day.
They retired to their camp and nearly everyone turned in early. They would be up before the sun to prepare for the DeathMarch. Tipper had not managed to find the time to talk to any of the dwarves, but she was not going to need her armour now. She slept intermittently. She was not overly tired, her mind was focused on the coming battle. She had done what she could to prevent this little war, if that was not enough then she would kill as many of the enemy as she could.
With the first grey light of the morning the followers of the OldWays gathered, naked, on the southeastern corner of the embankment. As they sang the dawning of the new day, one of the Predost women went from person to person, made a small incision on their breast bone and gathered blood from everyone in a copper bowl.
Another woman had lit a ritual fire when the first sunlight blazed over the eastern horizon, the smoke was fragrant from both the variety of wood that had been used and the herbs that were subsequently sprinkled over the flames. Half the blood was poured into a pot that was set above the fire, different pieces of wood were added to the flames as the concoction was brought to a boil. The other half of the blood was passed to one of the old women who began to mix in the plant paste they would ingest to raise their battle spirits.
A small commotions passed through the village, the enemy had been spotted.
The youngest of the women took up a brush and small spatula, then one by one, starting with the ladies that did not plan on returning from the battle, they were painted. Limbs, torso and face. Tipper enjoyed the burning sensation as the hot goo was applied.
Weapons were gathered, some of the women chose to bind their breasts and the few men that were among them girded their loins. Tipper was not so amply breasted, nor so saggy with age or childbearing that she need to wrap herself.
Unanimously they elected Tipper as their battle leader. She was given the pot of battle spirits to carry and guard until it was needed. Two others carried the larger pot between them. They all marched sombrely through Lekas to their assigned position near the eastern passage into town. The embankment was tall here with a good overlook of the approach, a post had been placed. Manacles dangled, waiting for the hostage.
Sharlok’s army moved into position. There were three main groups of about seventy soldiers each, comprised of about thirty heavy infantry, the same number of skirmishers and a half-score of crossbows. They came to a stop a bit over two hundred paces from the embankment. One of the groups clearly intended to come up the road, straight towards them.
Three men on horses, one carrying Sharlok’s standard, headed towards the village.
“What do you see Tipper?” Andisal called out from behind their position, Tipper moved back so they could talk. Andisal was in full armour, mounted on her horse. Mila was with her, overseeing the hostage while a couple of youth stood ready to run messages.
Tipper gave her report, “About two-thirds of their force, divided into three roughly equal groups, spread out to attack the eastern embankment at either end and the middle. No sign of the horses, nor a large number of their skirmishers, likely that force is heading to the eastern approach, or being held back as a reserve. Three men approach under Sharlok’s banner, it appears they intend to parley.”
“Very good. Mila take the hostage up. Tipper make a show of it for us. Lads, time to pass the word about the enemy’s disposition. Make sure you talk to Adwin before speaking to the dwarves. Try not to be too long about it.” She nudged her mount forward and started around the first of the earthen barricades that would hopefully slow the enemy from a direct approach.
Tipper called down, “You’re going alone?”
She looked to Tipper and smiled, “Of course, it is my duty.”
Mila made it up the bank, Ethie was struggling. Tipper slapped the girl and roughly passed her to the other women, “Chain her up, keep her robes on, but open them up, maybe put some paint on her, make it showy.”
Mila was halfway down the bank when Tipper turned back to her, “Mila! Fight well!”
Mila laughed, “You too, Tipper.”
One of the old women said, “Give us the battle spirits.”
She did so. Large portions were given to all the women who were here for the DeathMarch and lesser portions for everyone else. She took only a small amount for herself. The youngest woman and one of the men were the only others with bows. Tipper kept three arrows for herself and passed the rest she had to them, “You two will stay by the hostage and shoot from up here. Make sure we don’t lose her, better she die if we are forced to fight.”
The followers of the OldWays started to chant a battle dirge as they watched Andisal close with the men who had come to parley. These folks had come for a battle. There was no fear in them, they were flushed, they stomped their feet and sang. Despite feeling the first rush of the battle drugs Tipper still hoped that it would not happen. She moved forward. The DeathMarch surrounded her, her pulse quickened. When she reached the forward edge of the embankment she scanned the land.
Andisal was slowing, raising an arm in greeting.
There was movement to the north, a small group of archers rose up out of the grass. She bellowed as loudly as she could, “Enemy spotted!” She brought her bow up, notched and drew, “Enemy spotted! One-seventy paces northwest!”
She watched the ten archers step forward, raise their longbows as they all sighted, they fired at Andisal. Tipper did not release her arrow, the range was too far. A horn blared from the soldiers opposite of her position, the ones that would come up the road.
Andisal and her horse were hit by seven long shafted arrows, the horse screamed and fell, the rider pinned and likely dead. The followers of the OldWays roared and screamed, the old women rushing forward down the embankment.
Tipper watched in disbelief as the horsemen rode past Andisal, they were charging towards the passage below her. There was a great shout from Sharlok’s army, many horns sounded and the force along the road began to advance at speed.
Tipper sighted in on the leading horseman. He was crouched low in the saddle, a long spear held for the charge. Most of the other folks from Predost rushed down the hill. Tipper took the shot, following it up with two more, each spaced two breaths apart. She hit the man in the shoulder, the helmet, then the face, he partially fell from his saddle and was dragged along.
Tipper glanced around as she tossed her bow aside, she readied her hatchets. The young archer from Predost had just finished gutting Lady Sharlok. The lad was shooting at the charging riders, he took an enemy shaft through his chest and toppled over, rolling awkwardly down the embankment. Tipper screamed. She leapt down to the nearest earthen barricade along the road.
Leave a Reply