September 11th, 948

Viemen Market District

Late Evening

“That’s good, leave it right there!”

The men pulled hard on the ropes one final time and brought the cart to a halt. With this, the last of the old siege weapons from Rhoden’s War had been brought to the town square.

Before the war’s end, several siege towers had been built in Viemen in preparation for a final ground assault on Boginsklad. Luckily, the war had ended with a peace treaty before the siege had begun. Weapons and constructions alike were mostly dismantled and the wood re-purposed; but there were some that had remained. One ballista had remained in town on display as a memorial, and two other unfinished ballistae had been stored at Sir Perry’s barracks with other weapons of war.

“This is what you give me?” an old man sighed. “You ask too much of your elders, Sir Perry.”

“I am sorry to ask so much of you, Master Erron. But you are the only one we can turn to.”

Master Erron grunted in response.

“Can you have them operational by tomorrow?”

The old man made a sour expression.

Master Erron was the only carpenter in town who was trained in the construction of siege weaponry. Most others had left immediately following the end of the war as none of them were native to Viemen. However, although skilled, Master Erron was well into his seventies and the prospect of working to make three ballistae operational was no easy task, even for an able bodied man.

“It’s a lot to put on these old shoulders…but with some help, I should be able to fix the two of ‘em.”

“And what of the third?” Perry asked.

Master Erron tapped his chin thoughtfully.

“We shall have to see. Dependin’ on the men you send my way, we might’nt finish any.”

“Then I shall see to it the men are capable and willing.”

Perry left Master Erron to his work as he began examining the forgotten constructions, muttering to himself and shaking his head.

“Send someone to the shop to get my tools, will ya!?” he called out.

Perry found the nearest of his men and sent them to the market district to fetch Master Erron’s tools. After that, Perry began another patrol down the main street.

Men were at work clearing the roadways and erecting makeshift watch towers. Perry had no idea of how effective they would be, but the higher they could get, the greater chance their arrows could reach the dragon. Dozens of men sat in a clearing sharpening poles into long piercing stakes. All the scrap metal was gathered, but with only one master smith and three apprentices, few metal arrowheads had been made. Plenty of swords had been brought to the town square to arm the men, but most had dulled from years of disuse.

Would they even pierce it? Perry wondered.

He had heard precious little of dragons, even from the old story books he had found as a child in his family home.

Perry smiled to himself.

Reynard would know where to look…

Reynard Rhoden IV had loved the old legends. Perry would listen to him recount their epic tales by fire light, accompanied by a cup of ale. But Rhoden was gone. The fate of Omnirius — and of Viemen — rested with the living.

Perry looked around him.

These men are not soldiers…

Between his Starspawn, Rothwell’s Militia, and the men sent from Eadenfros there were just shy of one hundred. Not an insignificant number of men, but not nearly enough to fortify a town this large; and certainly not enough to face off against such a beast. The rest of those being outfitted were simple farmers or laborers. Young men and boys who had never even held a sword were now being fitted for armor and having burdensome steel thrust into their arms.

“Sir Perry!”

Perry turned to the familiar voice with a shock.

“Julian! What are you still doing here?”

Mayor Rothwell walked briskly over to Perry.

“So this is what we have, then, hmm?” Rothwell looked around. “Will it be enough?”

Perry remained stone faced. He then pulled Rothwell to the side.

“What is it?” Rothwell asked.

Perry struggled to answer. But Rothwell was not so oblivious as to let the situation confound him.

“You do not think it will be enough.” Rothwell inhaled sharply, then leaned in close. “Perry, if you think there is no hope then we should take this chance to—”

“We cannot run,” he cut in. “We will not be allowed.”

“What!? What are you talking about?”

Perry pulled Rothwell further away from the men.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“I was suspicious of Millner’s company since the moment they arrived,” Perry started. “That Zorren should approve so small a force…”

“Could they truly risk sending more?”

“Zorren is not the type to a enter a battle without the means by which to win it. If he has sent so few…”

“Then it means that he has no intention of winning,” Rothwell finished.

Perry nodded.

“Captain Millner’s orders were to remain in Viemen until they are retrieved by the Royal Military in an official capacity.”

“So Julius was correct…they were sent to die?”

“Perhaps…” Perry said, “But Zorren is also not one to waste resources so carelessly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Soon after Millner’s company arrived, I sent a scout from my ranks to ride to Riverden.”

“To solicit aid?”

“Yes, or, at the very least, to prepare them to accept our citizens should this area no longer become safe.”

“And what did they say?”

“My rider never made it into Riverden.”

Rothwell became tense.

“Killed?”

Perry shook his head.

“There was a blockade…a Royal blockade.”

Rothwell clenched his jaw in frustration.

“These men are not our allies, they are our executioners!”

Perry grabbed Rothwell’s shoulder in a gesture of understanding.

“They will be dealt with,” Perry assured, “Should the need arise.”

Rothwell looked at Perry with wide eyes and a touch of fear.

“What are we to do? If we cannot kill the beast and the way north is blocked—”

“Listen to me carefully,” Perry whispered, “We will do our utmost to fell this creature. But should we fail to do so, you and your men are to lead the people south, following the river.”

“South?”

“Yes. The forest is thin but it should be enough cover if you travel in tight formation. Continue south until you are a far enough distance from Viemen. When the terrain dips down, move along the main roads as fast you can towards Edge.”

“A caravan that large will surely draw attention from marauders.”

“It may, but if you take your militia and your Iron Titans…your force should be large enough to deter attacks and small ambushes. It should not take more than a few days to reach Edge once you cross to the roads.”

“And what of you?” Rothwell asked suddenly. “You and your men? Should the need arise, you must ride with us and—”

“We will stay.”

“That is suicide!”

“We must stay, Julian,” Perry insisted. “To deter Millner’s men from pursuit…and to keep the dragon occupied.”

Rothwell hated the idea of someone as useful as Perry throwing his life away on a fool’s errand, but he knew that it was in his best interest to let him do so. Without such a sacrifice, they would likely loose all chance of escape if the dragon should overwhelm them.

“You are a good man, Sir Perry Mannigold,” Rothwell said with a wry grin, “I hope for all our sakes that this doom passes us without incident.”

“As do I,” Perry said, returning the smile.

“Well then? What more do you need to prepare yourself?”

“We have all we can ask for here,” Perry started, “But I would ask one thing of you.”

“Name it, and it is done.”

“After nightfall, you must be gone from here.”

Rothwell narrowed his eyes at Perry.

“What exactly are you suggesting?”

“It is too dangerous for you to be anywhere near town should the dragon descend.”

“Then I will stay with the others in the campgrounds by the river?”

“That will not do. Millner’s men are there as well.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

“You and your men should find somewhere safe further south, just outside the camp grounds. Have your men secure the route as far south as possible, as a precaution. Millner’s men are stationed closer to the town. If evacuation becomes necessary, I will send my Starspawn to engage Millner. Amidst the fray, your men should be able to lead the citizens away and ambush Millner’s men. But more than anything, you need to stay safe. If you are anywhere near Millner’s company when the evacuation starts, they will hunt you down first.”

Rothwell smiled.

“I see you have lost none of your prudence.”

“Nor have you lost any of your pragmatism.”

Rothwell and Perry shook hands, then Rothwell departed down the main road.

The rest of the day proceeded as planned.

Master Erron worked arduously with his apprentices and the help of willing but inexperienced men. They managed to fashion two of the ballistae into working condition by nightfall, with Master Erron continuing to work by torchlight on the third, despite Sir Perry’s disapproval. Rothwell’s militia men — only thirty-five strong— had finished fortifying the street with tall wooden stakes secured into the ground to act as a deterrent should the dragon attempt to land. Well over one hundred swords had been gathered, and the men continued to work through the night to have them all sharpened and prepared by morning. Millner and Rothwell’s men remained at the campsite on their patrols while the citizens of Viemen slept begrudgingly in darkness, huddled beneath their blankets. And Perry’s Starspawn, with its twenty-three remaining members, had returned once more to their barracks…

In the wavering shadow, a single measly flame burned in the hearth of Sir Perry’s great hall. Basking in its timid glow were the faces of Perry’s men, stoic with consideration.

“The choice is yours,” Perry said calmly. There was no hint of conniving in his words. “I would command that none of you take so foolhardy a risk. If any so wish…”

“I will not abandon you, Sir Perry.”

“Eadig, this is not some trifling escort or petty raid. This is a beast of legend.”

“If you should face it, then so shall I.”

“As shall I.”

“And I as well.”

Perry looked around him as, one by one, each of his trusted and valued companions rose with their swords at their chest. And despite the impending conflict, Perry found himself overcome with the warmth of companionship.

“You all know what this means?” Perry asked.

They nodded at him.

“We shall face any and all obstacles together, Sir Perry.”

“Aye,” Perry answered with a slight grin, “That we shall.” He then turned to the men as he spoke. “For we are brothers!”

“Aye!”

“We are family!”

“Aye!”

“We are Starspawn!”

The men erupted into a billowing cheer that filled the great hall.

Yet despite this moment, concern still weighed on Perry’s soul.

What of Ellis and Mary?

Wherever they were, he hoped — prayed with all his might— that they were safe and far away from harm.