VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 16:44:32 01/11/00 Tue
Author: Belamore
Subject: Belamore VII

"Jax, I have to see the hordes for myself but first fly down close to
Arelle." When Jax circled and flew close to Arelle I called to her.
"Arelle, you have the only horse fast enough to catch Magan. You must
stop him. He'll be killed or over-powered by the castle guard if he
goes after Justin now. I need him alive. Go, no time for questions,
just go." As she urged Pax ahead at full gallop I signaled for Jax to
move quickly to the north east.

Flying high above the marching horde I count 20 banners that meant
1,000 man regiments. Tankan was splitting his army as I thought. The
northern flank would move against Sir Pallaus and Troyellen at Castle
Drice but they would first have to march through the narrow beach below
Mount Cree between the cliffs and the Northern Sea.

"Jax, can you carry a fishnet sling with 25 or 30 archers inside?" I
leaned close to his eagle ears and shouted above the wind.

"I can carry 50 men if the netting were strong enough."

"Good, good...and can you bring down the cliffs in the east end and the
western end to trap the horde in between?"

"I can bring the mountain down if you wish."

"No. We'll carry 500 archers to the center cliffs and trap the horde
below. The archers will do the rest. The horde will be destroyed or
surrender." I looked toward the sea and could see all the fishing nets
we would need. "Now fly south to Lake Tampion. If I am right, the
horde should be preparing to cross against The Earl of Tampion and then
Blekangus.

Again Tankan's strategy was predicable. Another 20 banners and his men
were building rafts to float their army and war machines across the
lake.
"To Tampion Sound, Pax. We must stop the Earl from preparing for siege
and get Blekangus to join the Earl and move their machines to the
western shores and destroy Tankan's southern flank as they cross. We
must move quickly."

"Your highness. We thought you dead." Blekangus said and knelt.

"Rise, I am not yet worthy of your grace, Blekangus." I wasted no more
time and told him of my plan.

"I have but 1,900 men and the Earl has but 600 and 20 catapults.
Impossible Belamore, impossible."

"Not if you move fast and catch them in the lake." I touched his high
shoulder. "You forget, Blekangus, this is the Horde. They are fine
warriors but stupidly lead. Tankan depends on numbers not skill and
cunning. You and your men have both. No more time. Jax and I have to
find Tankan's main force and prepare the northern battle."

"You are right, my King. Impossible just takes longer." Blekangus
bowed and began shouting a dozen orders to his captains.

Jax and I flew over Castle Canaday where I assumed Tankan's main force
would be preparing to lay siege to the eastern walls as his northern and
southern flanks moved to complete the encirclement.

And there they were. 50 catapults and 50,000 troops against the high
east wall and 3,000 man garrison of Canaday.

"The wall will hold for three days, perhaps four. We haven't much time,
Jax. To Troyellen after we gather fishing nets."

We delivered the fishnet to Sir Pallaus and his archers. He had 700
total and had gathered more from the countryside of another 200
farmers. Sir Gar with his 19 horsemen would lead 200 of Pallaus'
trained men and the 200 farmers with Troyellens' 1000 to Canaday while
Jax transported Pallaus and the archers to the cliffs. First I had Pax
deliver me back to Bernardo's cabin and joined Janora and Sir Fayle and
sent Jax on his way.

"Janora, with your cunning ways can you find Tri-arconoths' third head?
If we can return the head to the dragon and promise him sanctuary in
this kingdom he may help in this war against the horde. You are the
only one who could persuade Tri-arconoth to join us."

Without hesitation Janora left the cabin. She is a spry old woman.
Breathing easy I looked at Benardo. "Have you my long bow ready?"

"Yes. I hope it works." Bernardo brought my royal garb from the chest
with my powerful longbow attached to a mechanical arm and fist.
He attached the arm with straps and buckles to my right shoulder with
the bow permanently enclosed in the fist. He strapped on the quiver of
arrows. "I pray your left handed aim has improved from the last
practice, your highness."

"As do I." I looked at Sir Fayle. "My friend. Help me sit Benardo's
horse as he straps me on. We ride, you and I to join Magan and
Troyellen to confront Justin at Canaday. Pray the sight of me in my
royal attire astride a horse is enough to win the allegiance of the
castle garrison and the order of six...or we shall be in for one bloody
fight my old friend..."

...continued.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.