More of his men came down the ridge from the north, and Harper reported, ‘We’re rolling them south, sir.’
‘Good,’ said Erik. ‘Keep the pressure on. If we can collapse them down around Darkmoor, we can win this fight.’
Erik waited until his bandages were finished, then stood and returned to his observation point, a large rock that gave him a good view of the immediate battlefield.
Below the ridge line, the enemy was dug in behind some sheltering rocks. The elven bowmen had turned the twenty yards of open space above them into a killing ground, and none ventured from behind the rocks.
Erik looked around, and saw a boy holding his horse, and signaled for him to be brought over. He told Jadow, ‘Send a patrol up the line and make sure they’re not trying to climb back up there. I’m riding to Darkmoor to inform Patrick of the dwarves’ and elves’ arrival.’
As he mounted his horse, he said, ‘King Dolgan -’
‘Just Dolgan will do,’ interrupted Dolgan. ‘No need for titles.’
‘Dolgan, how many men are with you?’
‘Three hundred dwarves and two hundred elves. Enough for a right grand fight.’
Erik smiled. ‘Fine.’ To Harper, Erik said, ‘Hold here until I return.’
Harper said, ‘Right, sir!’
Erik rode south, and as he did he saw that the assault on the enemy’s northern flank by the elves and dwarves had sent ripples down the line, stalling the assault. A stable line was established, and while the exchange of arrows was constant, the fighting was now sporadic.
He reached Darkmoor in an hour’s time, and only a reinforced barricade from the northern gate to the foothills north of the city kept the route open. The enemy had burned every building in the foulburg to the west, and the buildings to the north were abandoned.
Erik rode with an escort he had picked up at the outer limit of the city’s defense, men wearing the tabard of Darkmoor. The big northern gate was barred, while the small sally port cut within the gate was left open. Erik rode through, and on to the castle.
He went straight to the Prince’s conference chamber, and reported. After he told Patrick of the arrival of the dwarves and elves, the Prince said, ‘Now it makes sense. We’ve been facing steady pressure all day.’ He pointed to a map. ‘While you’ve freed up the northern flank, we’ve had reports from the south that the same withdrawal along the ride is taking place -’
Erik said, ‘The dwarves from Dorgin.’
‘We can assume that much,’ said the Prince, ignoring the breach of protocol. ‘That’s putting inordinate pressure on the center.’ He stuck a finger on the city of Darkmoor. ‘We have mounting attacks here, and we are close to losing the outer wall.’
Erik looked around the room. He was the only other officer present, the rest of the room being staffed by runners and scribes. Erik volunteered, ‘The Army of the East?’
Patrick said, ‘I sent word to bring up the bulk of the army, but they won’t be here until tomorrow morning.’ He pointed to another map, one of the city. ‘Here we have three potential weaknesses.’ He outlined the overall defense of the city and the areas of concern. Erik calculated. ‘Let me bring down a squad from the northern flank, and plug this breach here.’ He pointed to the center of the three potential breaches. ‘If we plug that, we can move to either flank as needed.’
‘Can you get a squad down here in time?’
Erik motioned to a runner. ‘With Your Highness’s permission?’
Prince Patrick nodded.
Erik said to the runner, ‘Head north, on the fastest horse you can find, and tell Sergeant Jadow Shati to come here with as many mother-murderers as Harper can spare. He’ll know what I mean.’
The runner glanced at the Prince, who nodded, and the messenger ran from the room. Patrick said, ‘Your wounds?’
Erik looked at his bandaged lower left arm and ribs and said, ‘I got sloppy. I’m fine.’
Patrick smiled. ‘You don’t look fine. Captain, but I’ll take your word for it.’
Just then Greylock entered the room, dirty, sweating, and bloody. He said, ‘I need the reserves now. Highness.’
Patrick shrugged. ‘Take them. We have nothing left to lose.’
Erik glanced at the Prince and said, ‘I’ll go with the General. I think we need every sword at the wall.’
Patrick drew his sword and said, ‘Very well.’