The bridge was on fire but the ram went forward. The bridge cracked, but not before the ram was able to smash into the middle gate. It broke open, and the men who had been following behind, climbed over the log ram and their comrades in order to pry open this small gap.

“Fall back!” The Londean commander yelled, waving everyone towards the inner defensive wall. Archers retreated first, then covered the retreat of their fellow soldiers. The enemy pushed forward, widening the hole, clambering over the ram sticking out of the pit at an angle.

Just as the Londeans pulled back to their inner defense, the commander stepped forward into the doorway. He held a burning torch, and with a casual toss sent it flying towards the bridge. Then he backed up and shut the last gate.

Hitting the bridge, the torch began to grow hotter. A sniff alerted one of the Nilbuzinian soldiers to the danger. “Fire! Back!”

Although he turned, his way was blocked by his fellow soldiers attempting to force their way in. The gas caught fire, seemingly at once. The men who were inside were caught. Caught and damned. A few who were near the gap were able to pull back, but the others who were inside were left with no choice, but to die.

Seeing the blazes rising the Nilbuzinian commander shook his head in disbelief, then gave a half nod towards the enemy defenses. He hadn’t expected it to be easy, but it was turning out harder than he had first thought.

The flames roared for a moment or two, but the accelerants had nothing to burn besides the trapped enemy, and quickly died down.

When it appeared safe, the Nilbuzinian commander sent in a scout, who confirmed that the fire was out. However, the Londean archers were on top of the walls, ready to kill anyone who entered.

He took a moment to consider his options. Tear down the walls, or leave them up as their own defense? At the very least he’d widen the path. He set the men to constructing another bridge and clearing and widening a path. It had been a few days, and they needed to get inside the defenses as soon as possible.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Once the charred wood and bodies had been cleared, and the path arranged, they formed up once more. A shield held above by each man would shelter them from the arrows. Then some axes would make quick work of this last gate.

His nose recoiled at the smell of burnt flesh, but he carried on forward, not allowing his expression to change. Once his men were formed up, he gave the order to advance.

The Nilbuzinian contingent trotted across the new bridge and aimed right for the gate. A cry went up as a soldier fell out of the formation, a spike sticking from his foot. An arrow ended his life.A second cry, and another arrow. Another man down. There were spikes all over. He cautioned his men to be careful. They looked down, and finding a few, they gingerly kicked them out of the way.

The archers moved around on the top of the wall, angling for the best shots. The few men without shields were tasked to begin chopping down the wall with their axes. A race began, the sound of chopping wood versus the sound of bow-strings.

The light glinted off the axe blade as it finally managed to cut through the wall. It was clear, the defenders were on their last legs.

A lone horn rang out, followed swiftly by others.

‘Bugles!’ The thought of the Londean commander and the Nilbuzinian commander were the same, but with different emotions. The attacking commander called for a scout to report what the approaching force looked like. A hundred men on horses, and behind them, a hundred men with spears. The cavalry was charging ahead, while the infantry began to trot.

The Nilbuzinian made a small grimace, but gave his order immediately. “Retreat!” No hesitation. And his men showed none either. An instant turn around and an immediate sprint, they took off back across the bridge and towards the relocation point their commander had designated earlier. The men fell in together, all running at top speed, but somehow maintaining a formation. By the time the cavalry made it to the encampment, the Nilbuzinians were disappearing over the hill.

The lead rider held up a hand, and the others pulled their horses to a stop. The Londean commander didn’t emerge, instead waiting until he was sure the approaching forces were friendly.

The pikemen arrived and spread out in formation around the Londean encampment. Then, a scout was sent in, to identify the force that had approached. It was the force from the city. The commander was relieved and smiled. Opening up the gate he met the leader of the cavalry. The cavalryman dismounted, and they shook hands.