Waiting for Spring - Part I

Chapter Twenty-Five

"We ought to be happy if such a peace holds for more than four winters"

- Lady Sophie of Yellowlake, Ward

"They are retreating."

A horn sounded in the morning light. Sara dashed out from her tent and ran across the camp. In the far distance she saw the bulk of the host retreating eastwards. A scout ran past her, hitting her shoulder. She grabbed hold of her scabbard to steady herself.

"Felix! Come here!"

A heartbeat later the redhead emerged by her side. He too stared over the horizon. A group of soldiers rallied behind a fluttering banner.

"Rally the men, have them meet me outside the commanders tent."

"Of course," Felix said and turned his heel.

Luther was leaning over a war table surrounded by Captain Miles and Captain Harken. Sara was surprised to see the first of them.

"Captain Miles, I heard you were trapped inside the capital," Sara said.

"Me too. It would seem Windsor cannot honour their promises. They were fast, too fast for any of us. They sieged the Highland Hall. Then they sacked the market." The captain turned to Luther. "We slipped out here," he continued and pointed at the map. "We managed to secure Southward Bridge, the Gilded Gardens and Northbound Gate." He moved a crude piece of wood painted blue over the parchment.

"My scouts just reported a retreat near the northern docks. No reports of the southern yet, but the ships are leaving. It is with great regret I say this, but we have few means of chasing them. They burned a dozen galleys in the northern port." Captain Harken scratched his beard when he was done.

Luther stared at the map for a while, and then he pointed at the northern gate.

"My scouts have reported a large retreat here to the west. Whatever they came here to do, they've done it. A small number of men seemed to be headed into the city however, under a yellow banner with a black and white dog."

"Ashwick," Harken was quick to add.

"We could chase them, take back the docks before they can leave. King Archibald must have a ship waiting on him," Sara said.

"True. But can we take the castle?" Luther nodded and threw Sara a gaze. The captains shook their heads in unison.

"The gates to the castle are closed. The northern bridge we can take, but to push through the castle may prove hard unless someone opened the gate. And even so, we have no idea what the situation are on the south side. This attack left us all in confusion."

"Archibald's clever. His ship must have docked here. The other way over the river is through Fisherman's Isle."

"We have the bridge, but there is still turmoil on the island. Scouts reported soldiers on the southern bridge and beyond."

"Do we at least have enough men to take over the northern city?"

A long silence was the answer. The two captains gave each other menacing glares. Miles leaned over the map again and moved the pieces about.

"If we've successfully held this part of the wall, we can send some hundred men through this gate. It will take hours to sweep the whole area too. Captain Harken can take his men through this gate and shortcut the northern market and make sure the Hill is secure."

Sara felt her brow get hot.

"Ploughing nobles. They have their own wall, you said they sacked the market. We should focus our efforts to push through here and further on towards the docks." She smashed two wooden pieces on the table.