The General’s horse paced impatiently. “Fools do they truly believe they can bring it down? It will take more than a few holes to stop us breaking down the Gate.”
Brandubh didn’t move. “That is exactly why they are firing General. To create a few holes, that is all they may need. If they get them wide and large enough our men inside will be at the mercy of their burning oil and Gods knows what else once they get to the Gatehouse. Milesian design or not without men to push and pull the Battering Ram is just a rather large piece of kindling for the Druaidíi.”
The General turned to Geara, “Those Druaidíi machines, they are the focus now, tell those on the trebuchets, catapults, everything, focus their aim there and nowhere else.”
The captain galloped off to relay the General’s message. Brandubh remained impassive. the Druaidíi were fighting as only those with everything to lose could, and yet the constant barrage against their walls and the army of siege ladders was taking its toll.
If they continued they would take the wall, Battering Ram or not. A welcome addition though, and one which may speed up the process immeasurably.
Indeed it seemed speed was the only way the Empire could process, everything was already done before it even started and they were already looking onto the next. Admirable in some ways, frustrating in far more.
Brandubh flinched as the unmistakable click of the Druaidíi’s Scytheta fired again, the speed at which they were firing was a cause for concern. Upon the left ramparts Brandubh spied another idle Scytheta becoming manned and was now busy adding its strength to the others.
“Fathach, are they ready?”
“Yes my liege, the men are ready and awaiting your signal.”
“Good. Give it then.”
Apart from the ambush at the clearing the forest had been eerily absent of any wildlife, and in its aftermath the animals had been absent to their eyes. No doubt the Druaidíi had somehow managed to bend them to their will preventing the men from finding or using any of them. It had forced Brandubh to instead order fresh hides brought in for this very moment. At Fathach’s signal 9 riders spurred on their mounts, between them they carried Bear, Elk and wolf hides, all had been left out open to the forest and hung heavy with the night’s rain. The Battering Ram was nearing the Gatehouse and the Great Door, the Druaidíi’s marksmen had indeed succeeded in punching through the ram’s roof, enough at least to leave those inside vulnerable to the Druaidíi’s waiting onslaught from above.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The fresh hides would amend that, the time they would give would be limited, but it would be all they’d need.
So focused on defending the wall and damaging the Ram’s roof that the Druaidíi did not pay attention to the 9 riders until it was too late. One was ripped from his horse by a flash of ice crashing into him but the others made it unharmed. Brandubh had chosen his men well, they expertly threw off the hides covering as much as possible the holes littered throughout its roof. The Battering Ram wasted no time, immediately beginning its attack on the Great Door. To be sure some would perish, the Druaidíi would throw all they had at them as they worked, but once it opened then the battle was all but over. The Great Door was finely decorated, its large ornate doors stood impressive even from here. Yet it was not ready for such an assault no matter what preparations the Druaidíi had made. The Doors rattled and shook as the Ram launched itself against it.
Not long now. “Order the Reserve to be Ready.”
The sound of a tree crashing down somewhere behind him caused Brandubh to spin suddenly around back to the forest. All of the men were to be in line and ready to attack.
Amongst the carnage he alone seemed to have noticed the sound, however before he could request an explanation his attention was forced back just as suddenly to the wall as a great cheer went up from the men. The Great Door was ready to cave. One half of the door was almost fully smashed in, A few more knocks and the day would be theirs. Just a few more.
AAAAAHHHHHHRRRRRROOOO.
This time it was not just Brandubh’s head that turned. He peered into the forest for any sign of life. Something was approaching, something big.
Oh Fuck. “Mount up, Shields, Shields and Spears, The Line, Ready the Line.”