Ruler of the Skies

Daarook

It was the middle of the night and the Head Master was back in his office. Elbert looked like he was asleep, his head drooping down on his chest. The vulture never actually slept, and he raised his head as Tahmore moved to his desk.

“All in order?” Elbert croaked.

“Yes, now the fun begins. Tomorrow morning, Tolgarn will start his attack. By nightfall, if the Gap has not fallen, Calzar will be in place to smash the defenders.”

“What then? Anastas has moved to strengthen the defences along the Sweetsprings river.”

“No matter. They cannot defend the whole length of the river. Tolgarn will find a way across.” Tahmore was confident in his young leader.

“Will you give him more Centurions?”

“No. I don’t want to arouse suspicion just yet.”

“Will you go and watch?” Elbert shifted slightly on his perch.

“No. You can bring me reports. Besides, I will be able to see the defenders retreating from my window.” Tahmore turned to look out his window. Twinkling in the distance were the dim lights of the Sweetsprings township.

Between the Well and the Gap

Calzar, had sent scouts ahead to find a suitable cave for their stopover. They would not make it all the way to the Gap. He had a place in mind for his final destination, which would put them just a few kilometres south of Bundamook. Easy striking distance to the Gap.

The Gap

Captain Diego couldn’t sleep. He had been travelling back and forth along the bulwarks doing final checks and giving his men words of encouragement. His spies had given him a warning. The enemy looked like they were preparing to attack in the morning. A few reinforcements had dribbled in over the last day, but nothing substantial. He would have to make do with the force he had. The ships sent to reinforce the North end of the Gap were welcome and he had redistributed his men accordingly. He had been in constant contact with Mayor Alexia of Bundamook and she had indicated she was as ready as her city could be. The captain had a feeling that the attack would start there. If he was leading the attack, he would test the cities defences before launching a full-scale assault.

The Maze

Cargan had led the group firstly to the entrance behind Daarook. Ambrose was disappointed when they saw the cave-in had been cleared.

“Shall I block it again?” Cargan offered.

“No. I don’t want to draw any attention to us. Besides we don’t have time let’s keep going.” Ambrose urged Cargan on. The next opening, they came to was on the East side of the mountains from Middleton, too far from the Gap. They had gone the wrong way. Cargan backtracked and led them down another tunnel.

The next opening was near Pinemarsh, which wasn’t bad, but Ambrose wanted to see if they could get closer to Bundamook. He asked Cargan to try again. The weary group set off after Cargan once again.

When they came to the next opening, Ambrose was surprised they had gone so far. Just outside the entrance, the group stood on a ledge high above the city of Aerie in the far East.

“Is that Aerie? We are further away than before.” Raum expressed his frustration.

“It’s amazing how far you can travel inside these tunnels.” Commented Fineen.

Dawn was just starting to light up the Eastern sky. Ambrose was staring out toward Council Rock when his attention was drawn upward. Two eagles were circling high above the city. His mind wandered back to when Wanda told him about the bird Animoid, Solana. He cleared his head. He didn’t have time to think about that now. Jaymar was his only concern.

“Cargan, we will try one more time.” Ambrose called out to the rock man, who was crouching just inside the tunnel. “Come.” He signalled the others to follow.

Between the Well and the Gap

The Dark Ones had all arrived and settled in their stopover cave. Sunrise was only a matter of minutes away. Calzar’s scouts had informed him that the surrounding area was clear. He still placed a guard on the entrance.

Not far behind them, Darwah and his small group had also just found a cave. It was small and cramped but it would do. Flying had been difficult for those carrying Jaymar. They were relieved when they finally landed. Jaymar was aching all over. His bindings hurt, and he had been thrown against the wall when they arrived. He was wondering if anyone was trying to find him. His parents and Ambrose would be cross with him, going flying when he had been told not to. He hoped Rosalina would not get into trouble. Tears welled in his eyes.

Darwah’s leading scout was the last to enter the cave. Returning from flying ahead.

“Our Lord is not far ahead.” He reported after seeing Calzar’s stragglers from a distance.

“We will be with them tonight.” Darwah commented. He turned to gaze towards Jaymar and hoped Calzar would be pleased.

The Gap

The sun was rising in the East, making it hard to look towards the Animoid army camp without squinting. Captain Diego was surprised there had been no major movements yet and there was certainly no sign of any attack.

In Prince Tolgarn’s tent, there was a major argument ensuing. Centurions Santina and Santos had arrived a few hours ago and were remonstrating with the Prince.

“You have lost the advantage of the rising sun in the defender’s eyes.” Santina had given the Prince clear orders when to attack.

“Don’t yell at me. I’ve already told you. The Animoids are your problem. Ask Loktah?” Tolgarn angrily gestured toward the Animoid General.

Santina glared at Loktah. “Well?”

The large ape headed Animoid blinked and shifted his stance.

“Some of my lieutenants are refusing to take their position for the attack. Many of them want to be on the left flank attacking Bundamook.” His eye shifted back and forward between Tolgarn and the Centurion.

“Why does it matter? There will be plenty of spoils to go around. Pull them into line.” Santina ordered.

“The city is the bigger prize. Those on the centre and right flank believe they will miss out. The spoils will be gone.” Loktah countered.

“Take me to the lieutenant who is protesting the most. I will make an example of them.” Santina was prepared to use force.

Loktah bared his substantial teeth and roared. “You will not.”

“Enough.” Tolgarn interrupted. “I’ve made up my mind. None of your Animoids will attack the city. My militia will take up a position on the left flank and that’s final. Now go tell your men to get into position and prepare for the attack. We will hold off the attack now until midday.” He signalled for Loktah to leave. Loktah half nodded and then marched angrily out of the tent.

“Don’t let this happen again. The Head Master will not be pleased.” Santina was making a point.

Tolgarn ignored her. “When will the Dark Ones be ready?”

“They will be in position sometime tonight.” Santos responded.

“You shouldn’t need them. The Gap is weak. They don’t have the numbers to stop a full assault.” Santina was always confident.

“I imagine you are right. You can leave now. Report back just before midday.” He was dismissive and Santina didn’t like that, but she signalled to Santos and they left the Prince to himself.

Aerie

Prince Levan had called for Commander Roxy to meet him at dawn. He was waiting with his wife Princess Pipa.

“Your Highness.” Roxy came to attention in front of him.

“I’ve changed my mind. You can mount your rescue.” He issued the order.

“Please bring them back to me safely.” Pipa added.

Roxy bowed to the couple and headed straight for her barracks. All the plans were in place, all she needed to do was call her lieutenants and issue the order.

All was ready, and she joined the main group that would rescue the children. Other groups of her Aerie Eagles had moved into positions ready to take out the Animoid guards. This operation had to be quick and decisive. Roxy had also arranged for messages to be sent to all the militia, in the city below, to block any attempt by Animoids trying to flee the city.

She gave the signal to move. She led the group along a back alley and then they turned a corner. They were right next to a house used to keep the children. The four Animoid guards were taken by surprise and despatched quickly. They broke through the door only to find one Animoid inside. He was confused and offered little resistance. Roxy gave the order to four of her Eagles to move the children quickly to the palace. The rest remained with her. She was now ready to go hunting for the Animoid, Tussah.

The sounds of commotion was coming from several parts of the city. Her Eagles had engaged with the Animoids. Roxy’s group travelled fast through the city. Occasionally they came across an Animoid or two, but they were no match for her Eagles. They turned a corner and found a couple of her Eagles being hard pressed by a group of six Animoids. They were also no match for her larger group.

A messenger came running up to Roxy. The Animoid leader and the remainder of the Animoids are heading for the main North West gate on the lowest level.

“How many are with him?” She asked as they quickened their stride.

“No more than thirty.” The messenger was finding it hard to keep up with the Eagle leader.

“Return to your post. Come on.” She urged her followers. It was now a race. Who would get to the gate first?

Tussah was informed as soon as the Aerie Eagles made their move. He cursed and regretted not having more of his troops guarding the children. The problem, in the end, was the size of the city. He didn’t have enough troops to properly keep control of everything. He was down on the first level of the city when he received the news. He was too far away to try and mount a counter-attack and snatch the children back. So, he was going to cut his losses and run for it.

Tussah immediately sent word for any Animoids that could be found to rendezvous on the lowest level near the North-West gate. He set off himself and wouldn’t wait any longer.

More and more militia banded together and confronted any Animoid they could find. Fierce fighting erupted in pockets around the city. As Commander Roxy and her group came upon any of these fights, her Eagles quickly turned the tide. They were taking no prisoners.

By the time Tussah got to the North-West gate, he had collected nearly forty of his Animoid troops. The gate was closed and about the same number of militiamen had assembled to block them. He didn’t hesitate. He charged into the assembled group. The fighting was fierce, but the Animoids were battle-hardened and in the main larger than the defenders. They soon had clear access to the gate.

“Get it open.” Tussah roared.

Some archers had positioned themselves on the wall above the gate. They managed to pick off a couple of Animoids before the gate was eventually opened. Tussah raced through leading the remainder of his Animoids out of the city. Commander Roxy and her group arrived just as the last Animoid disappeared through the gate. She paused for a moment to assess the situation. She ordered several of her followers to get horses and bring some spares. The rest she ordered to follow her after the Animoids. The riders would catch up to them later.

Tussah and his Animoids had put about three hundred metres between them and the gate before Roxy and her group raced out after them. The chase was on. A couple of eagles were soaring high over Aerie. They spotted the Animoids leaving and decided to follow.

The Maze

Finally, Cargan had found a tunnel that led to a cave less than a kilometre south of Bundamook. It was exactly what Ambrose had been hoping for. The cave was in some low-lying hills in front of the main mountain range. Ambrose called everyone together.

“We need to search the mountains above us for caves. It will be dangerous because Calzar will have his Dark Ones sheltered in one waiting for nightfall. We need to find both Calzar and where Demarco is hiding.” Ambrose paused and looked at the position of the sun. “It’s nearly midday. We have the afternoon to search. Jalen, please search from above, but be back here before dark. The rest of us will go in pairs. Raum, you go with Fineen. Udolf with me.”

“What if we find something?” Asked Udolf.

“We all meet back here before it gets dark. We will assess the situation then. Good luck.”

Ambrose walked back into the tunnel, where Cargan was sitting. “Thank you for your assistance. Can you wait here until we return later? I may need you.”

“I want to see the boy is safe. I will wait.”

“Thank you.” Ambrose marched back to the cave entrance. Only Udolf was waiting, the others had already started their search.

The Gap

All was ready. General Loktah had resolved the dispute within the Animoid ranks. They had formed up in the centre and on the right flank. Prince Tolgarn’s militia was positioned on the left. Tolgarn had no siege engines and the majority of his army were on foot. He had a small cavalry but they would not be used in the initial assault. The troops had built crude ladders which they would use to scale the walls or the bulwarks protecting Bundamook and the Gap.

Tolgarn, Loktah and Centurion Santina were positioned between the militia and the centre. Centurion Santos and his Elementals had left to rendezvous with Calzar somewhere in the mountains. That left Tolgarn with only two other Elementals, besides Santina. One was a Fire Elemental and the other was an Air Elemental. They stood nearby ready to respond to Santina’s orders.

On the opposing side, Captain Diego had five Elementals. A Fire and Air Elemental were located in the lookout tower above Bundamook. A Fire and Earth Elemental were with him in the centre of the Gap. The remaining Water Elemental was located at the guard post at the ocean end of the Gap. Diego knew he didn’t have enough but he was thankful for any Elemental assistance. One thing he was happy about was the archery training and preparedness of his troops. Everyone was armed with a bow and plenty of arrows. He hoped this would give them a strategic advantage.

“What are your orders?” General Loktah was getting impatient.

“Well, general, I think we will test their firepower and range. Send a small group of archers forward. Let them exchange fire, so we can mark their range.”

Loktah marched off to issue the orders. Tolgarn called to one of his lieutenants. “Send twenty archers forward and test their range on the East gate.”

Tolgarn was mounted on a horse and had a commanding view from his position on a small hillock. He looked across his troops and at the city. There seemed to be only a lite wind blowing from the ocean. It would favour neither side.

About fifty Animoids marched forward from the centre. They advanced to a position deemed by their leader to be the maximum arrow range. A hand full of his group drew their bows and sent their arrows towards the closest bulwark. The arrows fell well short. The leader ordered them all to advance ten metres and they repeated the process.

Captain Diego realised what they were up to and passed his orders along the bulwarks. His troops were to hold fire until the enemy were well within range and then only every second person was to return fire. They were ordered to watch for his signal.

The Animoids edged their way forward. Their arrows were getting closer to the target. At the same time, a group of militiamen were advancing on the East gate of Bundamook. Their leader had the advantage of watching the Animoid advance, so he ordered his archers not to fire. He wanted to be much closer before wasting arrows.

The Bundamook defenders were the first to respond. From their elevated positions on the wall, they judged the militia were within their range. They were right. The militia leader had miscalculated, and his men were hit with devastating effect. Many were killed including the leader. The survivors retreated to their line. Tolgarn was not amused.

The Animoids had more success. They were now within range and their arrows occasionally hit a target. Captain Diego waited. Would the enemy come that little bit closer? They did. The Animoid leader wanted better results and ordered one more advance and all his men to fire on the defenders. Diego gave the signal. A volley of arrows sailed out from the bulwarks. The Animoids were well trained and their leader ordered shields up. Losses were minimal. They had achieved their purpose and the leader ordered a retreat. Some, however, got caught in the second volley. The defenders were ordered to cease firing.

General Loktah march back to Tolgarn’s position. He snarled. “Can we get on with the attack now?”

Tolgarn smirked. “It achieved its purpose. Advance to the range line and ready for an all-out assault.” Loktah turned and marched off again.

Captain Diego watched with interest as the Animoid ranks marched forward to within the range of his archers. He made his troops wait. He wanted his enemy to be tightly packed in their rows. Tolgarn’s militiamen also moved forward but they kept back from the perceived range from the wall. This meant the advancing line had a kink in it. Tolgarn issued orders to straighten his line. He waited as he wanted to have the militia in proper formation with the Animoids.

Captain Diego deemed the moment was right. “Fire!” He yelled out his order. A chorus of commands travelled along the length of the Gap and the archers sent a volley of arrows at their enemy. The results were devastating on the tightly packed Animoids. General Loktah wasn’t going to wait any longer and gave the order to charge. Tolgarns’ militia didn’t react and stood still waiting for their orders. This allowed the archers on the walls of Bundamook to swing their attack to the advancing Animoids. The defending archers managed to send several waves of arrows at the advancing line before the enemy reached their defences. The ladders were thrown up and Animoids attempted to scale the bulwarks. Fighting was fierce but many of the ladders were pushed away or set on fire by the defenders. Some managed to stay in place long enough for attackers to get on or over the bulwarks. Hand to hand fighting ensued.

Tolgarn was furious with his militia commanders and rode his horse across to berate them personally. “Attack the city, you cowards.” He yelled as he approached. The order to attack finally reached the front line and they charged at the walls. The Bundamook archers swung their attention back to the advancing militiamen. Bringing down most of the front line of attackers in the first volley.

Wave on wave of arrows hit the militia and halted their advance. They didn’t reach the walls and a retreat was sounded. Tolgarn watched on in disbelief. By the time they had retreated to his position more than half had been killed. It was a disaster. He turned his horse and headed back to the centre. He hoped the Animoids were faring better.

General Loktah and a small group which followed him had climbed on to a bulwark and were having success in clearing away defenders. His problem was he didn’t have enough support. Captain Diego and the Fire Elemental had come down from the guard post and were heading for General Loktah. The Fire Elemental was sending fireballs into the attackers and setting ladders alight as they went. The two groups came face to face but Loktah knew he was outnumbered. Too many archers and the Elemental was the deciding factor, so he called a retreat. His group found a couple of ladders and made a hasty retreat, losing many as they fled. Loktah was the last down. He had two arrows in his back, but his thick leather tunic and chainmail had prevented any major damage. He and his followers now ran for cover and out of arrow range.

Captain Diego ordered a ceasefire on his section of the bulwark. He scanned along the line and saw many attackers were now in retreat. They had successfully repulsed the first attack.

South of Bundamook

Udolf and Ambrose had made their way up to a ridge, as they checked for any sign of caves. At the top, they had stopped for a moment, because they had a view of Bundamook and out over the Gap. Ambrose watched the Animoids retreating in disarray.

“Looks like round one has gone to the defenders.” Ambrose commented. Udolf didn’t respond as he was surveying the surrounding range. “We are exposed here. We must keep moving.” He urged Ambrose. Ambrose nodded and reluctantly pulled himself away. They only had a short time left before they would need to head back.

Fineen and Raum had been more successful. They were further south and had found a large cave. It was unoccupied but Fineen suggested that it would be a good candidate for Calzar and his Dark Ones. They turned back and would report its location to Ambrose.

The Gap

The Earth Elemental was tending to the wounded as Captain Diego watched on. A medical centre had been set up behind the central guard post. Casualties were moderate. They had fared well and reports from along the bulwarks were positive. The worst damage was along a section of the bulwarks between the two guard posts. Closer to the northern guard post. Captain Diego decided he would position himself there for the next assault.

The Fire Elemental approached. “Night will be on us soon. What are your orders?”

“I want you to stay on the central guard post. The men are to light braziers at every five metres. I am going to position myself further along.” He pointed towards the other guard post.

“Will the Dark Terror attack tonight?”

“If they do, we will at least have a full moon. That should even the odds a bit.” Captain Diego turned and set off for his position along the bulwarks.

The mood in Tolgarns’ tent was hostile. His militia lieutenants had been summoned to report on their failure. General Loktah was fuming about losing so many of his troops on his left flank.

“Your useless militia was too slow. It exposed my left flank to the Bundamook archers.” He complained.

“You were too eager to attack.” Tolgarn countered.

Centurion Santina interrupted. “Arguing about it is not going to change anything. What’s your next move?”

“We wait. I want the Dark Ones here and supporting our next attack.” Tolgarn slumped down in to his chair.

“We’ll know once it gets dark. Centurion Santos will send me word.” Santina advised.

“I want their leader to come here first. I want to make sure we coordinate our forces.” Tolgarn was tired and waved his hand signalling everyone to clear out of his tent.

South of Bundamook

The sun was setting, and Ambrose’s small group had all returned to the tunnel entrance.

“We found a sizeable cave, but it was unoccupied. No other signs of the Dark Ones.” Fineen reported.

“Aark. Nothing from above.” Jalen added his report.

“We found nothing either.” Ambrose added. “Our best hope is for Demarco to find us. Fineen, do you mind being lookout? Your eyes are the best. Udolf can relieve you through the night.”

Cargan stuck his head out of the entrance. “I can help. I have good eyesight and against the mountains, no one will recognise me.”

Ambrose smiled. “Your assistance is most welcome, Cargan. Fineen can show you the cave they found. Perhaps you can position yourself somewhere close to it.”

Cargan managed to squeeze his large frame out of the entrance. Fineen set off with him close behind.