39. Under siege

Fane and Earon embraced in an awkward hug. It wasn’t that they didn’t get along, but they weren’t exactly good friends or anything.

“Where’s Iliana and Dordan?” Earon asked as they separated.

Fane’s eyes escaped Earon’s as they darted nervously around. “Dordan didn’t make it,” he signed. “And I have no idea about Iliana. The last time I saw her the ground beneath us was breaking apart. When I awoke, I was alone.”

Earon’s heart sank. Was this really all there was left of them?

“And what about all this, you’re some kind of big shot now?” Earon asked, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

Fane shrugged and chuckled. “New Guildmaster of a collapsing city. Some big shot I am.”

“The Witch Hunters?” Earon probed, with narrowed brows.

“Yeah, well, you know I was always terrible with names. And an adventurer’s guild needs a name.”

“And Adventurer’s Guild didn’t have enough ring to it?”

Fane chuckled as another flaming rock flew over the walls. “There’s enough of those across the lands already. I needed something a little less, common.”

“You might regret that when witches come looking for you.”

“Ahem,” Lexi interrupted, glaring at Earon.

“Sorry, meet Lexi. She’s sort of become my companion.”

“Companion, aye?” Fane’s brows bounced.

“Not like that. We’ve got a bit in common, that's all.”

“Sure do,” Lexi nodded.

“The two wayward casters,” Earon said.

“You’re a caster as well?” Fane said, studying Lexi a moment.

Clearing his throat, a knight stomped on the ground beside them. “Forgive my interruption,” he turned to Fane. “Master Fane,” he nodded before turning to Earon. “The commander wishes to speak to you.”

Earon looked to Fane then the knight.

“Go on then,” Fane said with a tip of his head. “Probably best you meet him sooner rather than later. Plus, if there’s something you can do to help, Earon, then I’m all for it. Invested far too much in this city to watch it fall now.”

The Lord’s Keep had seen better days, an entire wing of the expansive square fortress had just about collapsed. Rubble lay strewn across walkways. Once noble rooms were filled with the injured and dying, whilst Priests of Arks did their best to heal.

In front of it, a table and seats had been arranged where the lord gave out vital supplies to those who needed them - in return for tokens that had been given out for work around the city. A barely half-full barrel of wheat and barley grain sat behind it, with two men manning the station.

At first one token had bought a scoop of grain, then two. Now it was at five.

Earon followed the knight past the table and into the keep until they reached an inner courtyard, where Sir Goyat waited.

“I can take it from here,” he nodded to the knight, who bowed and left. “I’m glad you came so quickly, Earon.”

“It sounded important.”

Sir Goyat stood to the side of a stairway leading up and into the keep and extended his hand for Earon to enter. “Right this way. With the Duke, Tyban incapacitated at this time, Lord Caesil, the leader of our chapter, has taken the reigns of the city’s defense.”

“What happened to the duke?”

“I can’t really talk about that,” Sir Goyat frowned. “But our Lord, Caesil is very competent. In fact, he participated in the great hunt of Caedstad, and saved hundreds of adventurers when the cataclysm happened. The Knights of Teyarthia, our order, were quick to send out a chapter here to support the city when Caesil sent word of the situation. Some of our best paladins are amongst the warriors here now, striving to keep the city from falling to the dwarven army.”

“Caesil...” Earon absently repeated. “Caesil Numarder?”

“Yes, you know him?”

“Only briefly.”

“He is a real hero and one of our few prelates.  But our numbers have dwindled, and it is not possible to get reinforcements from the order. He looks to recruit whoever he is able, in hopes of saving the city.” Sir Goyat said, stopping at a grand, double door. “He’s inside,” he continued, stepping to the side and pushing the doors open.

Earon nodded and entered.

Inside were tables covered in maps, weighed down by daggers and helmets. Several men, mostly middle-aged, hunched over them, murmuring to one another as they moved figurines about.

“Hello?” Earon said as he approached.

Stretching upright, was the greying, sharp-jawed man dressed in ornate plate armor Earon remembered. He turned to Earon, and looked him up and down.

“You’re oddly familiar.”

“We met briefly, before the hunt.”

Prelate Caesil nodded. “I do remember you. The unprepared child that headed out into the Clain without the faintest of clues. But you’ve changed.” His brow raised. “And in remarkable time. I assumed your class, based on that ungodly scent you carry, would be closer to that of a mage. Perhaps I was wrong. It seems unlikely you would have advanced this quickly had you been similar to their kind.”

Earon shook his head. “I’m a rune crafter.”

“Really? Most interesting. I’ve had little to do with your kind.” Caesil sneered. “Besides that rat in the capital, but I'd rather not talk of him. You have come at my beckon, so I assume that means you intend to help?”

Earon nodded.

“Great, we need it.” Caesil waved him over. “Look here,” he pointed to a spot of wall on the map. “The enemy has attacked us relentlessly. And I have no free casters to replace the ones I have lost. The men here grow weary, and I fear they will fall soon, should we not reinforce them. It is an outer section of the wall, but if we lose here, the possibility of the enemy taking the city will only grow greater, do you understand?”

“I think so,” Earon nodded.

“It’s a dangerous position, one few want. But if you could take it. Become the caster I need, then we might be able to stop them from taking that section of the wall, and with it, create some breathing room.”

Earon’s heart quickened. Caesil was asking him to be a soldier, and not just any old soldier, but to be the caster for an entire section of wall, one the men there would rely on.

“They’ve their own commander, but in reality, us casters often end up taking up that mantle. Ultimately, their commander is just another mortal with a weapon. We’re the ones that control mana, and with it, often the fates of battles.”

A tremor cascaded through Earon as he tried to steady himself. He wanted to sound firm, a quiver in his voice was the last thing he needed. “I’ll do it.”

“You will,” Caesil turned from the map to look at Earon, his eyes wide. “I didn’t think you would be up to it. At least not without any convincing.” He shrugged. “Didn’t have much choice but to ask, though.” Caesil extended a hand to Earon. “Welcome aboard this sinking ship.”

Fane had invited Earon to his new guild house, where Lexi waited. And Earon had agreed to come by after the meeting with Caesil. And whilst he had expected some kind of recruitment offer, he hadn’t expected one that seemed as important as where he had been placed. If these soldiers would be relying on him, Earon figured he owed it to them to visit the wall first.

The wall walk was a pitiful sight. Rubble lay sprawled across the narrow ledge, with battered soldiers hunched below the parapet. Just about every one of the two dozen soldiers had something bandaged, along with missing or damaged armor. Wide stares pierced straight through Earon and followed him as he walked by, interrupting dice games and cold meals.

He passed uncomfortable nods at the unchanging expressions of the soldiers he would soon be fighting beside whilst he made his way to the corner tower at the end of the wall section.

Inside, a beleaguered commander stood over a map sprawled across a timber table. His hair was clumped and dirtied, and his once shining armor was a dirtied and battered mess.

“Commander Tyan,” Earon said upon entering and straightened at the door.

The commander passed a disinterested glance over his shoulder. “And you are?”

“Earon Valdora, apprentice caster. I’ve been assigned to this section of the wall.”

“Have you now?” The commander turned. “We lose our prelate, one of the strongest casters within this shithole of a city to one of the enemy's strongest assaults, and this is our replacement?”

“I-I, I may be an apprentice, but I have multiple combat-ready spells.”

“So does every caster on the front. You’re a novelty, spent here to keep us quiet whilst we slow the enemy. The outer wall has been given up on.”

Earon remained quiet, not sure how to respond.

“Apologises,” Tyan sighed. “We’re both going to suffer together, may as well be on good terms.” He said, waving Earon over. “I warn you though, the men probably won't be so forgiving. They’ve been through the planes of shit and piss, lost most of their friends and now they are essentially being left to die. Can’t really blame them. Anyway, look here.” he added, pointing to a spot on the map just beyond the wall. “They’ve manlets scattered all across here, providing good cover all the way up to the foot of our section of wall. It’s made us a prime target for their assaults. However, see these walls here and here? Well, they provide great covering fire from above. If you’re directly engaged in melee combat, not even the best marksman will be of much assistance, but if we can hold the wall here, here and here, then they can greatly assist us with their missiles.”

“I see,” Earon nodded along.

“Our last caster was effective both in melee and at range and had held our lines together by standing at the front. But I have no interest in getting you killed straight away. So, where do you think you’d be best suited?”

“As of now, my ranged spell seems more effective.”

“Spell?” Tyan’s brow raised.

“Ah, yeah,” Earon scratched at his neck. “It’s effective, though.”

“I guess I’m not really in a position to be picky.” The commander sighed. "Keep to these positions," Tyan said, pointing to spots at the edges of the wall. "You should be able to get some clean shots from here."

"Understood."

“Oh, and Earon, If you have anything you want to get done, it’s probably best you go now. We landed a fairly significant blow to the enemy when we lost our previous caster. It will likely take some time for them to recover from that. However, once they do, I might not be able to give you leave from the wall for a while.” 

“Understood,” Earon nodded. “I do have something.”

“Well, off you go. I expect you here by nightfall. We’re short on men and shifts have been long. Your addition will give someone extra sleeping hours tonight.”

Earon could barely believe his eyes as he looked up. A sign read – Witch Hunters Adventuring Guild, across the moderately sized townhouse.

The boy, Mika opened the door as he approached. “Master Fane and your companion are upstairs. Let me guide you.”

Earon agreed and followed up the rather decorative stairway. Shields and swords were on display besides monster trophies, including a cyclops.

“You actually got him,” Earon mouthed between a smile as he passed the trophy.

The door to Fane’s office was wide open, and he sat across from Lexi on the lounge.

“Master Fane,” Mika said, stopping at the door.

“Is it Earon?”

Mika nodded.

“Well, let him it,” he urged with bulging eyes. A second later, Fane exclaimed, “Earon!” and jumped up from the sofa chair as he entered.

“Fane,” Earon tipped his head and turned to Lexi. “Glad made it here safely.”

“I’m not helpless, Earon,” Lexi crossed her arms, holding back a smile.

“Take a seat,” Fane said.

Earon moved around the small coffee table and sat beside Lexi.

“I can’t believe you’ve taken on an apprentice already. It wasn’t long ago that you couldn't even cast a spell.”

“I didn’t know I had,” Earon said, narrowing his gaze on Lexi.

“There’s something going on here,” Fane said, waving a finger between Lexi and Earon. “But we can leave that for another day. What I really want to know, is what you’ve been through.”

“That makes two of us,” Earon replied, and the two of them exchanged stories.

Food and drinks were brought to the table, and soon the sun began to set. Earon explained his situation, much to Lexi’s disapproval, and prepared to leave for the wall.

“I’ll take good care of her,” Fane said, as he packed a few treats into a bag for Earon.

“Can’t I come, Earon? I’m more capable than you realize.”

“I know you’re capable, Lexi. But you’re not a soldier, not yet at least. Fane can probably get you into the Arks temple, where they have a massive library. You should use this time to learn whatever you can. Oh, and if you do, can you get my ring back?” Earon added, turning to Fane.

Fane nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“Fine. But they better have some useful material.” Lexi huffed.