A Darkness at Sethanon (Riftware Sage Book 3)

Arutha nodded and watched as Murmandamus’s first wave breasted the wall to the citadel. As soon as they stepped upon the wall, the field about them vanished and they spread out, ducking for cover as the archers upon the balcony opened fire. The catapults were useless, for the range was too short, but a dozen ballistae, looking like giant crossbows, hurled huge spearlike missiles at the foemen. Guy ordered the ballista crews to quit the balcony.

 

Guy watched as his bowmen held the invaders at bay. Arutha knew he counted every minute, for as each passed, another dozen of his people were leaving the city.

 

Behind the advancing goblins, more could be heard scaling the walls. Murmandamus’s soldiers overran the gatehouse, extended the bridge, and opened the gate and an army came flooding in. The fires in the city were dying, so more companies of invaders were rapidly approaching the citadel. At the last, Guy shouted, “It’s over! Everyone to the tunnel!”

 

Each bowman took one last shot, then all turned and fled inside. At his word, Guy waited until everyone was inside before he came in, bolting the last door behind.

 

Shutters covered every window on the balcony. The sound of pounding came from below as the invaders struggled with the bolted doors to the courtyard.

 

“The lift is rigged,” shouted Amos. “We’ll have to take the stairs.”

 

They rounded a corner into another corridor, slammed and barred a door, then ran down a narrow flight of stairs. At the bottom they reached the huge cavern. Every one of the special lanterns had been lit, illuminating the cavern with ghostly light. Arutha’s eyes smarted from the sting of fumes, stirred up by the breeze from the bolt-hole tunnel, where the last of the reserve company was entering. Guy and the others ran toward the door and had to halt, for the tunnel could accommodate only two abreast. From above came the sound of shouting and pounding on the door at the top of the stairs.

 

Again Guy insisted on being the last to enter, and he closed the door behind, placing a huge iron bar across it. “This should take them a few minutes to get past.” As he turned to flee up the tunnel, he said to Arutha, “Pray none of those bastards brings a torch into that cavern before we clear the tunnel.”

 

They hurried along, closing several intervening doors, each being locked by the Protector. At last they reached the end of the tunnel, and Arutha entered a large cavern. A short way off, the yawning mouth of the cave revealed night. As Guy bolted this door a dozen bowmen of the rear guard remained ready against the possibility of the Protector’s having been overtaken. Another three or four dozen soldiers were moving off, attempting to wait a minute or so before leaving, so that each group of men might not stumble upon the heels of those before. From the odd noises in the night, it was clear that a few of those fleeing had encountered units of the enemy. Arutha knew it was likely that most of those leaving the city would be spread throughout the hills by sundown tomorrow.

 

Guy waved the bowmen out of the cave, and soon the last of those not with the rear guard were off, and only they, Locklear, Jimmy, Arutha, and Amos stood with Guy. Guy then ordered the rear guard away, and soon only the five were in the cave. Another figure came out of the gloom, and Arutha could see it was the redheaded warrior who had brought news of Murmandamus’s approach through the flames. “Get away!” ordered Guy.

 

The soldier shrugged, seeming unconcerned with the order. “You said every man for himself, Protector, I might as well stay.”

 

Guy nodded. “Your name?”

 

“Shigga.”

 

Amos said, “I’ve heard of you, Shigga the Spear. Won the Midsummer’s games last year.” The man shrugged.

 

Guy said, “Did you see de Sevigny?”

 

Shigga pointed toward the cave entrance with his chin. “He and some others left just before you came out, as you ordered. They should be well past the highest redoubt, about a hundred yards down from here.”

 

The sound of wood tearing came faintly through the tunnel.

 

Guy said, “They have reached the last door.” He grabbed a chain that ran from under the footing below the door, saying, “Help me with this.” They all picked up the chain and helped him pull it taut, until he could attach it to a ballista pointing away from the door. The ballista had been fastened to the rock floor of the cavern. There was no bolt set in the war engine, but as soon as the chain was attached, Arutha saw its purpose.

 

“You fire the ballista and collapse the tunnel behind?”

 

Amos said, “The chain runs under the supports of the tunnel, all the way back to the cavern, connecting them. It should all come down with several hundred of the scum covered rats inside. But there’s more.”

 

Guy nodded. “Start running from the cave, and when you reach the mouth, I’m going to pull this.”

 

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