Battle of Durrough - Forcing the North Gate

My Unrestricted entry into GC7.

 

Battle of Durrough, Forcing the North Gate

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A story of rebellion to tyranny, from Lands Of Roawia.

 

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In the predawn light, Haymar could see a thick mist floating over Durrough, obscuring his view of much of the city. Mirranda, crouched next to him, noticed it too.

“That’s going to make it harder to see, once we’re inside the city.” She whispered in his ear. He nodded. Unless the sun burned it off, the mist would quickly become a major problem.

He looked around, at the men and women all around him, concealed within the tree line.

They had been there for several hours, having moved into position in the dead of night. They were close to the North Gate of Durrough, which was their goal. When they opened at dawn, they would charge forward and flood through the gates, and into the city, coinciding with Sir Caelan’s ambush at the Black Swan.

His force was 65 strong. Not a large force, for the task we must accomplish. Haymar thought to himself. As he crouched there, concealed by a large bush, his thoughts wandered, back to early this morning.

“The sun is coming up!” Aria hissed, interrupting his thoughts. He looked up. Sure enough, the sun was peeking over the horizon. His mind sped up.

“Gather round’.” He said quietly to the people around him. They did, huddling in a uneven circle. “Right,” Haymar said, “When the gates open, Ana, Travdon, Barry, and Aria, are going to lead the charge through the gates.” They all nodded. “Mirranda, Lina, Aderyn, Ronald, two of Barry’s soldiers, and I will secure the wall. Wallace, Bern, and Rita, go down the right-hand side street, and take out any Queen’s Soldiers you find. Laven, you, Ald, Loyld, Carina, and Roy will reinforce them. Is that clear?” Everyone nodded that it was. “Excellent.” He looked at the sea of solemn faces all around him. “This is it,” he said, “You all know the risks. If any of you wishes to back out, now is your last chance.” They all shook their head no. Haymar felt a overwhelming sense of gratitude. Everyone here knew that, in all likelihood, many of them would die today, and yet none of them were backing down.

“Sir!” A Scout Sniper who been watching the road ran up. “The gates, they’re opening!”

“Thank you.” Haymar said, and stood. “Today, we are going to take back what is rightfully Lenfald’s! Today, we are going to strike back against the evil of the Queen!” Today, we fight for family, for home, and for freedom! For great Lenfald!”

“Charge!” Ana yelled, and led the way onto the road. With a roar, the army charged after her.

There were already a few peasants on the road, but they quickly scattered, as the horde of Lenfel soldiers charged towards the gate. The Queen’s Soldiers on the ramparts shouted in shock, and warning to their fellows below, until they were cut short by black-shafted arrows.

The Queen’s Soldiers below heard, and started to close the gates, but not fast enough. With a triumphant shout, the Lenfel soldiers slammed into the gates, throwing them wide, and charged through. The Queen’s Soldiers never stood a chance. The tide of Lenfels literally slammed into them and crushed them underfoot. The Queen’s Soldiers fought back, taking down several Lenfels, but were unable to stop, or even slow the tide.

Haymar, with Mirranda at his side, charged through the gates behind the vanguard of their force.

Veering left, he found the ladder to the battlements, and charged up it, Mirranda, Lina, and Aderyn at his heels. The rest of his squad followed. Reaching the top, he launched himself at the first soldier he saw. Taking him down with a single swipe, Haymar quickly cleared the way as the rest of his force came up. Quickly spreading out, they prepared to defend the wall.

“Aderyn, do you have the flag?” Haymar called to him.

“Right here lad.” The other replied, displaying the Lenfald flag he’d been carrying.

“Excellent,” Haymar said, “Let’s run it up.” They turned to a flagpole, flying the Queen’s flag, and tore the flag down. Setting it to the string, they quickly hauled aloft the Lenfald flag. Aderyn turned and waved to Lina and Ronald to take up their positions at the rear edge of the wall. They did, and began picking off Queen’s Soldiers in the street below.

Barry’s two soldiers took up a position just past the flagpole, and were immediately attacked by Queen’s Soldiers; they repelled the attack, and braced for another. Haymar and Mirranda took up positions opposite Barry’s soldiers, and waited for an attack.

There was a crash in the street below. Haymar looked down, and saw a cart had been overturned, and the remaining Queen’s Soldiers were rallying behind it. His troops, with Ana leading, were stalling as they clashed with the enemy.

“Haymar, look out!” Mirranda’s voice cried, from behind him. He spun, and saw the Queen’s soldier bearing down, almost on top of him. With a single slash, the soldier toppled off the blood-slicked battlements, into the dark horde of men fighting below.

“Thanks!” He said, breathlessly, to her. She smiled at him, the relief written on her face.

“I was almost too late. Next time, you need to be more carf-.” She stopped in mid-sentence, her eyes widening in horror. He read what was reflected there, and spun, his shield coming up, just in time to block the stroke of a huge, double-bladed pole-axe wielded by a massive outlaw. Haymar staggered, under the strength of the blow. The soldier hauled back the massive weapon, preparing to deal another blow. Haymar lunged forward, and jabbed at the other’s face. The outlaw dodged and swung the pole-axe down.

“AAHH!!” Haymar yelled, in pain, as the axe cut into his arm. His shield stopped the axe from sinking deep into his arm, but was slammed from his grasp, he was knocked off his feet, and the air was expelled from his lungs as he hit the battlement floor.

“NO!” Mirranda screamed. Nocking an arrow, she drew it back, aiming for the outlaw, and released. The outlaw turned, and deflected it off his axe. He swung the axe, and hit her with the flat of the blade, sending her sprawling. The brute turned back to the still-winded Haymar, and raised the axe above his head, preparing to bring it down, on Haymar. As Haymar lay there, he suddenly experienced an overwhelming sense of deja vu. I’ve been in this predicament before, he realized, In my dream. It wasn’t a dream, it was a vision, which means… realizing what was about to happen, Haymar rolled to his left, as the Outlaw brought his axe down. It sparked off the stones, throwing the brute off-balance.

Haymar struggled to his feet, groaning in pain. The Outlaw, seeing the blood running down his arm, grinned evilly. Then, his grin turned into a look of shock, as an armored figure launched himself off the ladder and on top of the Outlaw, slamming him to the ground. With a shock, Haymar saw it was Carndan Hale, come to his rescue.

The Outlaw threw Carndan off, and got to his feet. Carndan sprang to his feet, and the two squared off. The Outlaw swung first, and Carndan nimbly dodged and cut the brute across the leg.

Haymar staggering out of their way, remembered Mirranda, and turned to see her up and moving, watching her brother’s duel, bow in hand, arrow nocked. He slid down against the wall.

The brute swung again, and Carndan ducked, whipping his axe up, and into the Outlaw’s chest. The brute staggered, but swung his own weapon. Carndan didn’t dodge in time, and the blade nicked his arm. Ignoring the wound, Carndan deflected the next blow off his shield, and swung his axe straight for the brute’s throat. It bit deep into the throat, and Carndan yanked the axe out. The Outlaw stood there for second, and then toppled off the battlement. The two soldiers behind the brute were shot by Mirranda.

 

Inside the circle of Queen’s Soldiers, Captain Cabrak turned to his assassin, Nissa. “They’re going to break through any moment.” He said. She looked around, and nodded.

“We’ve got to escape. One of us has to warn Lord Oslet.” She said. Cabrak nodded.

“I’ll flee through the building behind us, you kill their leaders, then follow me.”

“Agreed.” Nissa said, already turning away from him to search for the rebel leaders.

Cabrak motioned to his bodyguard to follow him, and, yanking the building door open, dashed in side.

Nissa, scanning the chaotic street, spotted a group of figures on the battlement. “There you are.” She muttered. Raising her crossbow, she took aim at the tall armored one that had just killed the Queen’s Soldier, and pulled the trigger.

 

Upon the wall, Carndan watched the body fall, then turned to Haymar and Mirranda. “Well,” he said, “I was just in the nick of time, wasn’t I?” He said, grinning. Haymar nodded painfully. Mirranda saw his injury, and a look of horror crossed her face.

“Haymar!” She said, rushing over to him. she knelt next to him, and rolled up his sleeve. “Healer! We need a Healer up here!” She called down, then turned back to Haymar, trying to stem the flow of blood with a strip of cloth. All around them the battle continued. At that moment, disaster struck. Carndan, standing watch over them, suddenly staggered, and slumped to the ground. “Carndan!” Mirranda screamed, and rushed to her brother’s side. There was a bolt sticking out of his side. “Carndan,” she sobbed.

“Mirranda,” he started, but she cut him off.

“You’re not going to die.” She insisted, tears streaming down her face.

The Healer rushed up to Haymar, but he pointed to Carndan instead. “He needs you more.”

The Healer knelt beside Carndan, and started to get out his kit, but Carndan stopped him.

“It was poisoned.” He whispered. “I can feel it working through my blood. It’s too late for me.”

“NO!” Mirranda refused to believe it. “It can’t be! I can’t lose you!”

He gripped his sister’s hand.

“It’s my time. If that bolt didn’t hit me now, it would have hit me later. It was just waiting for me. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I enjoyed the time I had with you. You know what happened to me now. Just remember me.” He drew in a shuddering breath, and looked at Haymar. “Take care of her, would you?”

Haymar nodded. “I promise.” He said, fighting back tears of his own. He moved painfully over to where Carndan lay.

“Thank you.” Carndan smiled. He lay back, his eyes closed, and he drew in one last breath. Then he was gone. Mirranda sobbed. Haymar took her in his arms, and held her as she cried.

The Healer drew a blanket over Carndan, and turned to Haymar. “Let’s see that arm of yours.”

Mirranda disentangled herself from Haymar, as the Healer began to treat him, and rose to her feet, a murderous look in her eyes.

“Mirranda, where are you going?” Haymar called after her.

“To get revenge!” She yelled back, and charged down the ladder.

 

Nissa watched the drama on the wall unfold for a moment, then turned and disappeared into the building. Behind her, the Queen’s Soldiers finally gave way, some surrendering, and the Lenfels charged past, killing any armed Dragons they found.

 

Wallace was in an alley between the bakery and the apothecary, sniping Queen’s Soldiers, when he spotted a high-ranking Dragon fleeing from the stables across the way.

“Oh no you don’t.” He muttered, and, motioning for Bern and Rita to hold their position, charged after him.

 

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To be continued in End of the Line/Redemption.

 

 

 

 

 

Done