Chapter 4

Kenosia dove into siege preparations. Day and night the city rang with the shouts of men, of hammer meeting nail, and of lumber being felled. It drowned out all other noise. Lord Pyragos had taken over command of all fighting men in the city and they bolstered his own ranks. He had allowed the Master of War to maintain control of his own personal guard but had otherwise sidelined Lord Theron much to his dismay. Lord Argyros spent his days collecting crop yields and inspecting store houses. It was said many of the finer meats and choice wines had gone missing under the most mysterious of circumstances. All the while Lord Demarcus wandered the city bemoaning the damage to the cities coffers and sending his tax collectors running wild to hunt down even the smallest of debts.

And yet moral was strong. Kenosia’s walls were high and its stores deep. It was said rations could last for at least three years. The men of the city knew there was much to be gained and little risked from such a prolonged encounter. King Thalorian would arrive in time and break the Kyrithon army. He would bestow great gifts upon a city that had housed his beloved cousin in his time of need. They sang with joy as they worked and each night were rewarded well with lavish celebrations hosted by Lord Argyros.

Father had been entrusted with ensuring Kenosia’s walls were maintained, fortified and well defended. There was no time to teach Arios any of the more advanced builder techniques for these tasks and so he had been assigned to digging trenches outside the city’s gates under the apprenticeship of Erykos.

It was hard monotonous labor but Arios was pleased to contribute to the war effort. Try as he might Father could not stop him now. In a siege all citizens would be needed. Even Ilaria worked tirelessly in the medical halls spinning silk into thread.

Outside the walls had once been vast farmlands but over the last week all mature crops had been harvested and stored. The rest had been burned turning the once green lowlands into a charred desert. There was little room in Kenosia so much of the livestock had been slaughtered and salted. The rest had been quartered in the least desirable wards of the city.

Today they dug near the Kallidra. Though harder to spot in daylight the Glintclaw still marched along its banks. Arios starred at them; a trader had once told him the crabs were not found so far inland so why…?

“Arios! Come here lad!” a voice called.

He turned to see Erykos walking towards him waving. He was a young man but already years of hard labor had made his back wide and legs thick. He cam running up to Arios his dark curls drenched in sweat.

“There you are lad, now, there is not much I can teach you in the digging of trenches although there is still much to be learned,” He paused wiping the sweat from his brow and smiled at Arios. “We can use this time to our advantage in speaking of other things. Tell me, what questions do you have of our work?”

He thought for a moment. He had always known his father’s work was important but not in the ways Arios had hoped it would be. But now with Kenosia in peril it seemed paramount. Perhaps he had been wrong to be so dismissive, maybe following in his father’s footsteps was the way to protect his family. He turned back to Erykos, “My father does great work and yet I know little of it, tell me, what is the most vital in preparing for a siege?”

Erykos smiled, “Your father walks the wall searching for its weakest points. The gates of course present the most obvious challenge but would be the most defended in any full assault. There are always other portions that are in need of repair and planning. A wall may initially be built thinner in some sections, there may have been shoddy workmanship or simple erosion in others. In all cases a wall is only as strong as its weakest section. It is of utmost import to find, fortify and plan for these parts.”

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“But how would the Kyrithon identify these weak points? It seems to me the wall looks all the same from the outside.”

“Perhaps they would not. Perhaps they would simply besiege a part of the wall that just so happens to be a weak point. It would make no difference if they are able to burst through. Of course, you must know that the city will already be teeming with spies, many likely came in with Lord Pyragos and his army. This is the way of a siege. There is no avoiding it.”

“Then by locating our weakest sections we are signaling directly to the Kyrithon where to attack!” countered Arios.

“Do you think us such fools?” laughed Erykos. “Your father and Lord Pyragos have accounted for such issues. At all time there are dozens of teams performing a multitude of tasks all over the walls. Some are even just for show. A spy would not know the difference. Only a trusted few Architects know which locations are in the direst of conditions.” He placed a hand on Arios’s shoulder, “Do not worry, your father is too wise a man, he knows who to trust.”

“Then why are you not with him?” Arios felt his stomach coil with guilt as he watched Erykos’s face turn gray. “I am sorry, I did not mean it…”

“No, no you are right I was not selected to join the wall crew.” Erykos was only ten years Arios’s senior but the shadow that darkened his face made him look twice the age. “Your father has given me… other tasks. Some, I hope, indicate his trust in me is as strong as it ever was.” He starred at Arios for a moment then shrugged, “Regardless, had I been chosen I would miss this time together with you. And someone needs to teach you some skill.” He laughed again, clapping Arios on the back. “Some respect for your elders would not go amiss either.”

Arios turned away embarrassed and they worked in silence for some time until the sun had nearly passed out of sight.

“That’s good enough for today.”

Arios pulled himself out of the trench behind Erykos. Looking down the lines he could see hundreds of men doing the same. There was an excited buzz that grew louder as more and more of them prepared for the night’s festivities.

They walked together towards a side gate that would lead to the Artisans Ward. As they reached it, he spotted a tall, broad soldier. He had familiar dark deep-set eyes and a bent nose. Upon his breast was a sapphire eyed griffin, the captain. A third chance. He was standing amongst the gates guard and they spoke in hushed tones. When he saw Arios, his eyes twinkled and he broke into a crooked grin.

“Arios!” he cried. “Just the young man I was in search of.” He walked towards them. “I have just spoken with your father, you did not tell me he was the Master Architect of Kenosia, it is no wonder he wishes you to join in his work!”

“Yes,” replied Arios as looked down. “My father does great work. I only wish he saw other work as being equally valuable.”

“That is the just what I wished to speak to you of.” He replied. “Your father remains steadfast in his desire for you to train as a builder but upon reflection has decided that under these dire circumstances it will also be important for you to train as a soldier. In that charge, I have offered my own services.”

Could this be? His father had actually asked for him to be trained. His heart was full of joy but his head was spinning. “Sir I…”

Before he could respond Erykos cut in. “I am sorry soldier but, who are you?”

“You may call me Darios, I am a Captain in the army of Lord Pyragos.” he replied. “It is a pleasure to meet you…?”

“Erykos. I am charge of the young lad here.”

“Ah, Erykos of course, Daidal mentioned you when we spoke, I was instructed that as long as you found no issue to proceed in his training. Do not worry this will not take away from Arios’s current duties. We will train in the early hours and if this effects his work as a builder we will cease immediately. On this, Daidal was quite clear.”

Erykos scratched his chin considering, “This is what Daidal wanted?”

“Indeed, it is.”

“And this is what you want Arios?”

The voice called out to Arios snapping him out of a daze. “Yes!” he shouted eagerly, then composed himself and followed, “And my work will not falter, I promise you Erykos, I will work twice as hard!”

A small smile crept across Erykos’s face, “Who am I to deny such passion and the requests of my own Master. Not when I am to be receiving double the output. But if you falter even a little, I will inform your father of your failure.” He grabbed Arios tussling his hair. “Now, run and tell your father that I have approved of this.”

Arios ran through the gate heart singing. He was to be trained by a Captain. And not just any Captain. A personal guard to Lord Pyragos. He was going to be a soldier.