Haytham was glad to leave the haunted fortress behind as was the rest of the army; it was a beautiful morning the sun's rays gently warmed their backs and the terrifying night before seemed like it was just a bad dream.
Haytham almost found the morning enjoyable were it not for his ghostly warning last night and the knowledge that he would soon be dead, Haytham tried not to dwell on the subject and focused on the task at hand; Haytham was distressed by the fact that they had already taken a casualty.
One of the Calormene soldiers during the chaotic night had stumbled and fell down the steep slope that the ruins were built on, the fall killed him and thus he had become the first casualty, Haytham lamented that he would not be the last casualty either; they had already buried him right at the foot of the hill where they hoped he would rest in peace and not join the many restless spirits of the ruined fortress.
"General." It was Kamal Haytham's aide, "What is it Bash Kara?" "One of our scouts has returned." Haytham had sent scouts ahead to scope out what lay ahead of them. "What has he found?" "Two villages several miles apart." "Fortifications?" "One of them is surrounded by a wood palisade, the other has no defenses." Haytham considered this, "Tell captain Zufiqar to raid the unprotected village just a quick hit and run; we'll go on to the fortified village."
"Very good sir." The Bash Kara trotted his horse off to one of the cavalry companies. "So now I finally meet the enemy." Haytham mused, an hour later and the main force found itself not far from a walled village, it only had one gate for passage in and out and was surrounded by a palisade of wood walls; Haytham could spy a few defenders mounted on the walls.
One of the scouts drew up to Haytham, "General," the scout saluted, "What are we up against soldier?" "Looks like a hundred fifty defenders; militia by the looks of them." "Weapons?" "Mostly spears but a few have crossbows; the gate is bolted shut and it appears that the rest of the citizens have locked themselves away in the grand hall at the center of town."
Kamal was once again atop horse and next to Haytham, "Send the rest of our cavalry to the rear of the village in case any of them try to flee over the walls." "Yes, sir." Haytham's forces were assembled outside the town just out of bowshot; Haytham rode with his retinue of aides and bodyguards; they were considered the best Calormene soldiers everyman a veteran of one war or another. Haytham ran a finger over where his ear right ear had been sliced off a mannerism he had developed over the years usually when he was deep in thought.
Haytham had his forces arranged exactly how he wanted them; his archers were up front since all the enemy were holed up behind walls there was little risk to the archers being attacked except by other ranged weapons. Behind the archers were the spearmen and the hand infantry, behind them was the halberdiers and finally Haytham and his retinue; Haytham hated being in the back he longed to cross blades with a worthy foe even though he knew his time was nearly up.
Earlier Haytham had sent a small group of men with a couple of axes into the surrounding woods they had now returned with a fairly large tree they had felled and stripped the branches off of. "It will make a serviceable battering ram." Haytham thought to himself. "Time to start." Haytham said, "Yes, sir." A quick signal and the archers started forward running at a quick pace until they knew they were within range. A sudden shout and they drew forth arrows and knocked them.
"Ready!" The Kara in charge yelled, the archers drew back their bows, they kept the weapons pointed at the horizon, the idea was to shoot arrows over the walls; "Fire!" The Kara roared, the bows strummed and a shower of arrows cascaded over the wood walls and into the village beyond. If the barrage did any damage Haytham couldn't see, but the true goal was to provide cover for his light infantry, the spear, sword, and axe-men, even now a group of soldiers were making their way to the gates carrying the battering ram.
The men were little over a halfway to the gate when the crossbow bolts struck; they were aiming for the ram and the men carrying it, a soldier was thrown back from a bolt, he struck the ground without a sound, but no sooner had he fallen then another took his place, another caught one in the leg he reeled back releasing the ram and rolling off to one side clutching his injured leg; there was a gagging sound as one soldier had a bolt hit him in the throat. The crossbow bolts whistled thru the air as they caused so much death among the Calormene ranks; and still the ram came on, one of the bearers winced as a bolt pierced his shoulder he gritted his teeth as he kept his grip his gaze never leaving the gates.
Another signal from Haytham and one of the two archer companies struck flames to their arrow heads, as the other group continued to fire normal arrows, the fire arrows arced towards their target and struck with deadly results, Haytham was satisfied to see two thatched roofs catch fire, a loud shriek was heard from behind the walls which had to be one of the defenders being struck by a flaming missile; several of the burning objects had imbedded themselves in the wood walls, but the wood didn't seem to be catching fire.
By then the ram had reached the gates, it struck the wood with a loud crash, the gates shuddered but held. The defenders were now more desperate than ever to keep out the invaders, but now the ram was to close for the defenders to use a crossbow effectively so instead they resorted to chunking stones; they were large stones most the size of a man's head. A Calormene yelped as a stone crushed his hand which was on the battering ram, another was struck down by a rock that landed square on his head.
The ram kept battering the gates which were growing weaker with each stroke; soon they would be through the gate. But the defenders concentration on the gate was a mistake; one should have noticed that only half of the light infantry were assaulting the gates, one should have watched the other sides of the wall, for from the left side of the village and the right; the rest of Haytham's light infantry came, carrying ladders.
The ram was almost through the gate large jagged splinters had appeared on the other side, the two ladder teams quickly threw up the ladders bracing them against the walls, quickly men ascended the ladders and made their way towards the militia men who's attention was entirely focused on the Calormene soldiers attacking the gate.
The gate came crashing down, the battering ram was thrown as side as the spearmen surged forward the Telmarines met them in a fierce shoving match shield and spear clashed. The Calormenes who had taken the wall suddenly sprang upon the unsuspecting defenders on the walls; there was a cry as one of the Telmarines was tossed off the wall, the Calormenes slashed with axe and sword rapidly clearing the walls of all opposition, soon they were making their way off the walls and striking the town militia in their unprotected flanks.
The towns defenders found themselves surrounded Calormene soldiers pressed them from the front and the sides men were falling at an alarming rate, the morale broke they were clearly beaten, these were soldiers who had never had any combat experience aside from the odd tavern brawl they were ill prepared to fight a hardened force. A retreat was called and the once defiant defenders fled the Calormene on their heels.
The men of the town were fortunate enough to flee into the great hall as the doors shut behind them just in time. By now every soldier in the expedition was in the town and were now tearing the town to pieces looking for anything worth looting. Haytham sighed; he had better restore some order before there was complete chaos. As Haytham and his officers made their way thru the fallen town trying to regain order he couldn't help but notice the acts of destruction just for the sake of destruction.
A garden had been torn up; several furniture pieces were laying in the street legs broken off. There was the shattering sound of glass as the soldiers found the tavern and were now indulging themselves of its contents, "I'll have any man caught plundering executed, get these fools back into something resembling an army." "Yes, sir."