In little more than moments, Lerial and the fourth squad of Eighth Company ride through the south gate and then east toward the river. He can sense that there are more than twenty flatboats in the second Heldyan contingent. By the time he and Fourth Squad reach the southeast corner of the walls, where the graveled lane continues north at the foot of the east wall, and a similar lane continues southward between the hedgerow at the east edge of the hunting park and the marshes, the first rays of sunlight appear, almost directly in Lerial’s eyes. Lerial has to squint to make out the dark shapes of the flatboats against the low light. Still, from what he can tell from eyes and senses, the flatboats appear to be too close to the center of the river to land south of Lubana proper.
Even as he is thinking that, he can sense and see, if barely, that the lead boats are angling nearer to the shore. While Lerial has his doubts as to whether the approaching flatboats will actually attack Lubana itself, it is clear that they will at the very least pass close to the walls. He turns in the saddle. “Gherst, here are my orders to Fheldar and the undercaptains. All archers on the wall, on each side of the midwall tower. All other company elements to join us here immediately. All companies with lances, except for the archers.”
“Yes, ser.”
Another quarter glass passes, and Lerial’s archers are in position on the walls. Kusyl’s Twenty-third Company is riding north along the lane under the wall to take a position near the northeast corner of the walls. Lerial watches as the flatboats reach a point no more than two hundred yards south of him. They remain barely within accurate range of his archers, if definitely nearer the Afritan shore, clearly aiming for a landfall somewhere near Luba, most likely on the northern edge of the city, Lerial would guess. He can sense continuing activity on the Vyada piers, suggesting another force to come, but little beyond that.
The flatboats continue down the Swarth past Lubana.
“Now, what, ser?” asks Fheldar.
“We do what all good lancers have to do,” Lerial replies dryly. “We wait.”
He continues to monitor the pending attack to the south, because, from what he can tell, the flatboats have not actually landed, but appear to be standing offshore. From the occasional flash of muted silver he senses, it appears as though the Afritans and Heldyans are exchanging volleys of arrows. It could even be that the Heldyans are using heavy crossbows mounted on the flatboats.
Another and larger group of flatboats pulls away from the piers at Vyada, moving across the river more swiftly than the previous grouping. Within a fraction of a glass, it is clear to Lerial that the third group of flatboats is aimed at Lubana, or if not, at a point very close.
Lerial thinks about positioning Eighth Company along the midsection of the wall, then shakes his head. Too easy to be trapped with nowhere to go. At the same time, the ramparts at the top of the wall are barely wide enough for a single lancer, and there are only a few sets of steps to the top of the wall, those few on the inner side. At three yards in height, the walls were clearly built for privacy and to deter casual intruders, not to withstand any prolonged armed assault.
“Undercaptain Strauxyn!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Take Eleventh Company back inside the wall. Take a position at least fifty yards back of the wall. Your task will be to deal with any intruders who might scale the wall and enter Lubana. Wait for them to clear the wall and then attack with lances.”
“Yes, ser.”
“It may not come to that,” Lerial adds after seeing a hint of puzzlement on the undercaptain’s face, “but I won’t put a company between a wall and the river with archers on flatboats approaching. If they have five or ten companies on those boats and ladders as well, some will likely get over the wall.”
Strauxyn nods. “Yes, ser.” He turns his mount.
Lerial continues to watch the oncoming flatboats, as well to sense what is happening at the southern end of the hunting park and farther downstream, where the flatboats that had passed Lubana are massing somewhere just offshore beyond the third canal. To the south, four or five flatboats have landed, and a Heldyan shield wall, with pikes protruding, has formed on a narrower spit of firm land that apparently mitigates against attacks from the side as it advances. You’ll definitely need lances against a shield wall.
The flatboats nearing Lubana are far closer to the shore, almost as if some plan to land in the marshes south of the walls. Of course they do. They’ve got archers that we can’t attack easily. While Lerial’s personal shields, those close to his body, will protect him against most weapons, at least those made of iron or iron-tipped, he has never been able to project that type of barrier shield more than a few yards—except momentarily, and that will not suffice against continuous volleys of arrows.
“Fheldar, pull the squads back to where the hedgerow and those trees provide some cover. I’m thinking the Heldyans will stop in the reeds and try to clear the area with archers. I’ll stay here.” Lerial is glad he doesn’t have to explain to the grizzled senior squad leader, who has politely suggested that he has no interest in being an undercaptain, even though he handles many of those duties.
“Yes, ser.”