[Vfw-times] MK Winter assault part 69 - plans

[COkane8116 at aol.com]

Battle Lines

Metamor Keep

   "What do you have to report, Misha?"

   The battle-scarred fox rose and walked to the far end of the table, 
opposite Lord Thomas, his eyes hard and determined. Between the Long Scout 
and the Duke sat Father Hough, Raven, Rickkter, and Daria, on either side of 
the table in Hough's study. Daria was frankly feeling a little out of place 
among such important leaders, but the Duke had requested her presence 
personally.

   "After interrogating our prisoners from the fight with the Shadow 
Bringers, we've learned the location of the enemy's command center," Misha 
said, gripping the edge of the table and leaning over the map that lay atop 
it. "There is a group of five high-ranking mages operating out of Barracks 
One, here.  According to our sources, these mages are acting as the 
commanding officers for the entire assault. They're led by General Selig, one 
of Nasoj's old veterans. The mages are an unknown quantity, but the lutin I 
know. He's a very dangerous enemy."

   "And now that Kyia has been freed, they are cut off from most of their 
forces," Raven added. "All of the gates and doors have been sealed. Nothing 
can get in or out."

   "How many troops does the enemy still have in the Keep itself?" Thomas 
asked.

   "We aren't entirely sure," Misha admitted. "Our best estimates indicate 
perhaps four hundred human troops, eight or nine hundred Lutins, and a small 
number of support units." He gestured at the map. "Of those troops, a mixed 
force of about three hundred is assaulting the Long House. The rest have 
withdrawn to the barracks itself, probably expecting an attack."

   "Why are they only attacking Long House?" Rickkter asked interrupting the 
fox.

   "Evidently Nasoj thinks that Long house is important enough to expend so 
much effort to take," Misha replied.

   "Why?" Hough asked. "What could be so valuable?"

   "Metamor holds many treasures," Raven answered enigmatically. "Some more 
valuable then others."

   Misha nodded in agreement but said nothing.

   "If they are expecting an attack, then let us be sure we don't disappoint 
them," the Duke said evenly, changing the subject. He folded his hoof-like 
hands above the table and looked at the fox. "How many of our soldiers can 
you rally for this assault, Misha?"

   The fox looked pensive for a moment. "Based on what we've seen while 
scouting ... perhaps two hundred regulars, another three hundred reserves and 
militia. The dire wolves may or may not help us, but I'll be satisfied as 
long as they aren't helping Nasoj. In terms of manpower, we have enough 
people to make it a decent fight. Our chain of command is in shambles, 
though, Sire -- I can't guarantee that we'll be able to pull off anything 
elaborate."

     The stallion twitched his ears in an expression of mild amusement. 
"Close-quarters combat in a confined area is seldom elaborate, Misha. Just do 
the best you can. I want every able-bodied soldier available to be a part of 
this."

     "Aye, sir. They'll be there."

     "Good. What's your plan of attack?"

   Misha pointed on the map to a small room adjacent to Barracks One. "This 
guard room provides the most direct access to the barracks. It will be 
heavily guarded, but because of its size they won't be able to fit very many 
troops inside. There is another door at the other end of the barracks, but it 
usually leads to a small, narrow corridor that connects the barracks to the 
officers' quarters. It also leads to one of the small access doors to the 
outside of the Keep -- a bolt-hole for the officers -- but as Raven said, 
that door is sealed. Effectively, the enemy has shut itself into a den it 
can't get out of. He has nowhere to retreat to. That's good and bad. The 
enemy can't escape but it also means they have no choice but to stand and 
fight to the death."

   "Messy work," Daria murmured.

   The fox nodded soberly. "This will be knife work, close and bloody. Very 
bloody, especially with wizards involved. Fortunately, the close quarters 
will keep them from using any large area-effect spells."

   "What concerns me is that the troops attacking Long House could come back 
and attack us from behind," Thomas gave Raven a serious look. "Lightbringer, 
can you assure us that Lady Kyia will keep that from happening?"

   "She will," the wolf-woman said, eyes glittering coldly. "Kyia hates these 
intruders as much as we do, my liege. She can keep them running in circles 
forever, if need be."

   "That will help," Misha nodded. "Once we kill the leaders, the rest will 
panic and
 we can kill them at our leisure."

   "What about the enemy forces outside the Keep?" Daria asked. "I realize 
they can't get in, but they could set up a siege and wait for reinforcements 
to arrive."

   "What's the status of our own reinforcements?" Thomas asked.

   "They could be here at any moment," Raven answered. "Now that the storm 
has lifted, they should be making good time. Once they arrive any attempt at 
a siege will be impossible."

   "I still haven't seen any sign of help from the Mages' Guild," Misha 
added, "but that doesn't mean they aren't here."

   The duke nodded. "We shall just have to hope they can take care of the 
forces outside, while we deal with those within. Continue, Misha."

   "Aye, sir. Once the guard room is clear we will place the reserves and 
militia forces just outside it and muster our regulars here and here" -- he 
pointed to two spots along the left side of the barracks -- "along with most 
of our spell casters and archers. The remaining mages and archers will form a 
line at the main entrance, inside the guard room.

    "When the signal is given, we'll open the front doors and the spell 
casters and archers will begin firing at the enemy. At the same time, Daria 
will use her Key to open holes in the wall at these points, and our ranged 
attackers there will set up a crossfire to eliminate as many of the enemy as 
quickly as possible."

    "Will they be targeting the mages or the regular troops?" Daria asked.

    "Primarily the regulars. For one thing, there are a lot more of them, and 
a dozen trained men with swords are as good as one mage in this sort of 
close-in fighting. For another thing, the mages will probably have shield 
spells to protect them from any direct attacks. We'll be better off using the 
mana where it will count. Plus I have a plan to get rid of the mages."

    "All right," Thomas said. "How long do you plan to use the mages like 
this before pulling them back?"

    "As long as they can keep the enemy at bay," Misha said. "Once they start 
getting drained, we'll pull them back and send in our foot soldiers. The 
archers will stay by the entrance points and scout for targets of 
opportunity.

"What about the Mages?" Rickkter asked. "They need to be removed quickly." 

   "I intend to take out the general and most of the mages at the start."

   "How?"

   "If they stay true to form," fox explained. "We'll find General Selig and 
the five commanding mages together in one, very well protected spot in the 
center. It won't be hard for the Longs to get in and kill them."

   "How?" Daria asked. "They'll be in the surrounded by all those Lutins."

   "I have a plan," Misha said confidently but without explaining. "We'll 
take him by surprise and kill them all before they can put up any 
resistance." 

   Thomas nodded. "You make it sound easy."

   "It won't be," the fox said quietly sitting down in a chair. He leaned 
back and closed his eyes. As Daria watched the energy seemed to drain out of 
Misha. He looked very tired and haggard.

   "Are you all right?" The Duke asked.

  "Just tired," the vulpine said the weariness in his voice confirming the 
words.

   "We're all tired Misha," the stallion commented.

  "Llyn dead, Lisa - crippled, Ralls, injured and now Kershaw down. I'm 
running short of people. I need some help. More people. I wish George was 
here."

   "How many do you need?" The stallion asked.

   "I could use one person, very good with a bow and sword."

   "I know of someone," Raven said. "He just came to the temple a few hours 
ago. A fine hunter by the name of Padraic."

   Misha opened his eyes and seemed to perk up. "A brown rabbit from 
Ellingham?" he asked.

   "You know him?"

   "George and I have had our eyes on him for a while. Having him would be 
perfect," the fox explained.

   "I'll inform him as soon as I return to the temple," Raven answered.

   "Thank you. It would greatly help us if she could do that."

   "What about you, Madam Lightbringer? What are your plans for this battle?" 
Thomas asked.

    "Sister Merai and I shall deal with the two remaining Moranasi," the 
priestess replied smoothly. "I expect them to be in the barracks with the 
commanders, but if they should try to escape we will be ready for them."

    Father Hough gave her a quizzical look. "I thought you said the Keep was 
sealed. How could they escape?"

    Raven flicked one of her ears. "The old texts say that the Moranasi are 
extremely resourceful. They have spells that will enable them to escape 
almost any prison, though they are quite draining and used only in dire 
circumstances. They could escape through even a sealed door, though they 
could not take anyone with them."

    The seeming-boy frowned. "Then why haven't they escaped already?"

    The Lightbringer smiled thinly. "Most likely because they still suspect 
they can win. If they retreat now and Nasoj's forces still manage to achieve 
victory, they will be disgraced before their master -- both for their 
cowardice and for allowing their four apprentices to die without retribution. 
If they wait until the Enemy is conclusively defeated, then they live to 
fight another day and lose nothing."

    "But if they can escape so easily, how will you stop them?" Hough 
persisted.

    Raven's smile grew wider and more mysterious. "We have our ways," she 
replied cryptically.

"Our key advantage in all of this," Misha said, "is the enemy's 
overconfidence. They didn't expect us to be able to do half of what we have 
already done. They certainly didn't expect Daria's Key -- and thank Eli that 
Kee brought it here in the first place -- and they probably aren't expecting 
whatever the Lightbringers have in store for them, either. I think that we 
should strike now -- tonight, if possible -- so that we can end this before 
they have a chance to come up with a new plan."

    Thomas sat in silence for a few moments, then nodded. "Agreed. We shall 
not get a better opportunity than this." He looked up at the others. "Do what 
you have to do ... and may all the gods smile on us tonight."

    "One thing," Misha said interrupting the duke. There was a cold light in 
his eyes that made Daria shiver. "I need to make this perfectly clear. We are 
dealing with the leaders of this attack. Some of the most foul, vile and evil 
people alive. This is a battle of no quarter. No quarter asked, and none 
given. When the fighting starts, kill everything that lives," the fox said in 
a cold, heartless tone. "Take no prisoners."

     "Misha, we are not cruel monsters," the duke countered.

    "We aren't, but our enemies are," the fox replied. "We have to destroy 
them utterly, wipe them out of existence." He held up a dagger its steel 
blade blackened to show no reflection. "To do that we have to be as hard and 
cold as steel. We won't get another chance. We win or loose with this 
battle."

~0~

    A solemn air filled the temple as a long procession emerged from the 
Archives and filed out into the hallway outside. It was all very different 
from before. There were no speeches this time, no ceremonies -- just the 
business of war, being carried out with quiet efficiency for the first time 
since the battle began. The Longs and the remaining members of Daria's 
otrinca squad had searched as much of the castle as time allowed, and dozens 
of ranking officers had been brought back to the temple to lead the mustering 
army. As Merai walked quietly with the rest of the group, she observed that 
there would be few people left in the temple when they departed. Lord Thomas 
was calling every able-bodied man and woman in Metamor to battle.
    She looked up at her father, Dana, who was wearing his studded leather 
armor and carrying a long sword along with his expander bow. The man's gray 
eyes were serious and determined. She thought back to the time several days 
ago when Misha had turned him down for a place on Daria's team, saying that 
he was needed more as a father than a fighter. Now, it seemed, he would be 
called upon to fight anyway.
    "Da?" she said softly.
    He looked down at her, smiling gently. "Aye, honey?"
    Merai grimaced, clenching her teeth and trying to force back the rush of 
fear that ran through her. "Be careful. Please?"
    Dana reached out and hugged his daughter tightly. "I shall," he said.
    Wordlessly, they drew out of the embrace and continued walking. In the 
flood of people, no one noticed the gray wolf slinking out the door behind 
them.

~0~


~0~

    Adept Mistress Thryza prowled the edges of the barracks hall like a caged 
animal, nurturing her hatred into a quiet, simmering rage. The target of her 
anger was virtually irrelevant, and shifted with each passing step: The 
Horse-King who had dared to defy Lord Ba'al's chosen servant. Nasoj himself, 
for his idiotic misjudgment of the Keepers' abilities. Grand Master Polteen, 
for bringing her and her apprentices with him on this fool's errand. Rankin 
and Stenger, for allowing themselves to be killed by mundane warriors -- and 
most of all, the Keepers who had slain them, putting to waste the years of 
training she had invested in them. The hatred churned and writhed inside her 
like a living thing, and with each passing moment it drew more of the Dark 
Prince's power into herself.
    She would need every ounce of power she could get, Thryza thought 
bitterly, as she pushed aside an ogre who had gotten in her way. The towering 
brute reeled under the impact and fell to the floor, but it did not dare to 
make a sound in protest. In a way, Thryza found that a little disappointing. 
She would have liked the excuse to torture something right about now.
    The door at the back of the hall opened and General Selig walked in, his 
little band of pet wizards following close behind. Thryza immediately veered 
to intercept them.
    "Hail, General Selig! I trust the cowering is proceeding to your 
satisfaction?" she sneered.
    Selig glared daggers at her. He was big for a lutin, nearly as tall as 
she, and lately he had started refusing to bow his head before her. Maybe 
someone had finally told him that _he_ was the one in charge of this debacle. 
Then again, maybe it was just that he didn't find her so imposing after she 
and her fellow Moranasi had been humiliated by a motley band of Keepers.
"This 'cowering', as you call it, is our best chance of preserving our 
foothold in the castle, _Mistress,"_ Selig said, his voice making clear how 
little value he placed on her title. "The Keepers must now make a choice: 
death now, or death later. If they attack us here, with our forces 
concentrated in one place, they will be crushed. If they postpone their 
attack, we will hold their castle under siege until the Dark Lord himself 
arrives."
    Thryza frowned. "Nasoj is coming here?"
    "We received word yesterday evening that another three thousand troops 
are coming to reinforce us," the mage Thorne said, standing impassively 
behind Selig.
    The Moranasi scoffed. "And you didn't tell him what's happened? We're 
_losing,_ you idiots!"
    "Do not take the failure of your mission to mean the failure of ours," 
Selig retorted. "We still hold every inch of ground we held before."
    "But now that ground can slip through your fingers like sand!"
    The lutin smiled thinly. "The Keep cannot take us anywhere if we do not 
choose to move. When the Dark Lord arrives, he will penetrate Metamor's 
defenses and the rest of our troops will storm the castle. Nothing will save 
the Keepers then."
    Thryza shook her head. "You're a bunch of damned fools, all of you. Once 
I take care of the ones that killed my pupils, I'm going to sit back and 
enjoy watching you die."
    "We shall see, Mistress," Selig said, walking past her toward his chair 
in the middle of the room. The mages followed him, single file, all of them 
pointedly ignoring her murderous gaze.
    Thryza turned her perceptions outward, sensing the hostile, swirling 
thoughts of the Keep itself -- and somewhere, not far away, the minds of 
approaching Keepers, ready to fight.
    "We certainly shall," she whispered.

****


End part 69
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