AN: Sorry for the delay guys but this chapter was a pain to write. Took three goddamn rewrites... Anyway, thanks for all the reviews. I hope you like this chapter. Do rate and review...
Chapter 11
The council had been suspended and an emergency had been declared. A meeting of all the commanders and senior advisers along with the visitors was called to try and deal with the empire army quickly approaching them. Magicians accompany each patrol had been contacted and ordered to return forthwith. Meanwhile Ceunon and Narda had already dispatched as many soldiers as could be sent on horseback and in wagons.
Paul was one of the first to speak up," Rufio estimated from the size of the army that it would take them about a fortnight to reach here. I would suggest sending out Rangers to raid their scouting parties and supplies. They will marching in extended lines and the forests provide some excellent ambush spots. The Rangers are as strong as elves, we can easily defeat any force within reasonable odds. "
Eragon nodded, " I agree. The raiding will serve to delay their advance which will buy us more time to prepare."
"And what will those preparations be? Forgive me, but all I have heard is on offensive actions and not defensive preparations, " Roran said.
"We will dig a deep trench running parallel to the outer walls. Evacuate all people into the inner courtyard. Bring out the catapults, the trebuchets and the scorpions. They will prove their worth in the siege. Orik, will you and your companions help us in tending to the siege machines?" Eragon looked at his dwarven friend.
"Of course. We will be glad to help."
"We will post all archers along the walls and in the towers. The scouts too. Their composite bows should serve us well. The gate will have to be warded. I hope that the elves will help?" Eragon turned to look at his mother-in-law who merely nodded in reply.
Eragon turned to look at each man and woman in the assembly, meeting each in the eye before speaking, "I believe that I have a plan to crush the enemy once they have surrounded the castle walls. We will have about two and a half thousand chevaliers and about a thousand hobilars by this week's end. I plan to lead them away from the castle into the higher reaches of the spine. We will wait for the enemy troops to besiege the castle before striking at their backs. Their sheer numbers will mean that they will be close packed which would make it easier to crush them in a single charge."
As everyone mulled over the plan, Eragon could see that some of them had doubts while others were willing to go ahead...
Finally Roran, as usual, spoke first, "As good as your plan is cousin, it has some grave risks."
"Explain yourself Prince, the King's plan is the best one I have heard so far," Orrin said.
"Simple really. First, we are talking of removing thirty three hundred men from the castle. A big number but close to two thousand infantry and a thousand archers will have reached here from Ceunon and Narda by then. Then bigger problem is timing. Suppose that the cavalry leaves in a week's time and the enemy arrives a week after, how will make sure that you turn back at the proper time to be able to reach us at the opportune moment. Your men will have to travel atleast twelve miles to avoid being seen by the enemy scouts. If you travel too far, you will be delayed, perhaps fatally, if you don't travel far enough, the men will be discovered and all will be for naught."
No one had anything to say to that, and Eragon was stymied for a moment. Arya suddenly spoke in his thoughts, Who will lead the cavalry diversion?
I will.
We thought you might say that, Saphira and Arya spoke together. Saphira added, and I guess I won't be coming with you?
No. I was hoping you would let Arya fight from your back as a rider.
Hmmm... I have no problems with that but I worry about letting you go for two whole weeks... It will be miserable for me... Saphira said to him.
And for me too...Arya added.
I will miss you both as well... but we have no other choice.
"I think I have a solution to that. I will lead the men myself. Saphira and Arya will stay here to fight with the soldiers here. They will join our charge once we return. As for timing, I shall use the birds as my scouts. Many great eagles live in the spines. They will listen to me and do as I say, " Eragon said to the gathering.
Ignoring the shocked looks on many of the faces, Islanzadi spoke, "Of course the birds and beasts will listen to you, shrutugal. The rarest of them flock around this place as if this was a meadow of the sweetest wild flowers and they a hive of starving bees. You and Saphira are a true pair if there ever was... I completely agree with your plan and I would request that you will allow some of our most skilled spellcasters who will arrive here in two days time from Ceunon to accompany the Rangers. They will infiltrate the enemy camp and remove the senior commanders and leaders."
"Thank you your highness. And I have no qualms with your suggestion either." He took a deep breath before speaking loudly, "very well. Paul, Benedict and Rufio, you three will lead the rangers out tonight. Take no unnecessary risks. I am loathsome to lose any men. Luke, you will wait till the elven spellcasters arrive before heading out as well. Stannis, go and talk to the quartermaster and begin preparations for the division. Brom, I think its best if we start planning for the troop placements for the siege."
At that the four men stood, smashed their left fists against their chest and marched out while Brom placed a detailed map of the Castle grounds and started planning troop placements...
As the discussion continued, Eragon noticed that his cousin was unusually quiet and his brow was furrowed. He was clearly deep in thought but about what, he couldn't tell...suddenly his forehead cleared and his eyes met his and he nodded slightly before standing up.
"Forgive my intrusion, but I believe that the time has come to use the Hammers."
All Eragon could say was "Ah!" as he suddenly understood the reason of his cousin's contemplation.
Brom asked, " are you sure that the men are ready?"
"Yes."
"And I am assuming that you will lead them?"
"Yes"
Eragon suddenly shouted, "NO! You won't. Its too risky. If both of us were to put our lives on the line and the worst were to happen, what will become of our people?"
"Nothing wrong is going to happen. Saphira won't let anything happen to you and I won't let death separate me from Katrina. SO relax, cousin. I have full confidence in the capabilities of my men, " Roran replied calmly.
"What are we missing?" Nasuada asked.
"The Hammers were created by me two years ago alongside the Rangers. They are a force of extremely disciplined heavy infantry designed to fight as Shock troops against overwhelming numbers. They fight in maniple of 120 men, ten rows with twelve men in each row. The men are armed with large rectangular shields, long halberds, maces, morningstars and javelins. They use the javelins first, throwing them into enemy ranks before closing ranks in a phalanx formation with the second and third ranks extending their halberds through gaps in the shieldwall while the front rank use maces and morningstars. The Three ranks behind form up in a box formation on either flank with the same configuration if space allows, else they serve as reserves and use javelins and also replace any injured or killed man. As of now I have a thousand such men all fully prepared for this kind of situations. "
"Why are they called the Hammers?", Orrin asked.
"Thats a good question. We call them Hammers because thats their job. They Hammer the enemy troops against the anvil of the chevaliers. You see, we had planned to use them and the chevaliers together. One pinning the enemy in place while the other hammered them into oblivion," Roran explained to the Orrin.
"And thats why I am hesitant about this. You will not have cavalry support and we had agreed to use the two in tandem!, " Eragon argued, his frown deepening at his cousin's stubbornness.
"But the enemy is the anvil itself! They are too any troops packed too tightly for them to outflank us. Besides with Saphira and Queen Arya here, we can always retreat."
I agree with your cousin's logic. He plans and strategizes well, Saphira said and Arya sent her agreement through their mental link.
Not you two as well.
"Very well, thats what we will do." Eragon spoke out loud and the meeting was dismissed.
As he was walking out, he waited by the door until Garrow and Brom walked out. He joined them and spoke slowly, "You two seemed awfully quiet back there. I thought that both of you would have had something to suggest or a good piece of advice."
"It was unnecessary. You are a great King, Eragon and Roran is an expert strategist. I am very proud of both of you," Garrow said as Brom smiled at him before squeezing his shoulder with his right hand and walking away.
Later that night, the first of the raiding companies of Rangers left as reinforcements arrived from Narda. Eragon was there to bid them good luck.
He was riding Roheryn and Arya was by his side on a white destrier that she had named Silvershadow because of its coat colour and its rather silent nature. Saphira had gone off to sleep for it was way past midnight.
"I am going out into the spine. I want to find a good eagle that I can befriend and use as a scout. Do you want to sleep or would you accompany me?" Eragon asked Arya. She turned in her saddle to face him before smiling at him, "I have promised Saphira to take good care of you, dear husband. So I will accompany you."
He knew she was teasing him so he didn't reply. Instead he galloped out through the gates with her at his heels. They rode for close to fifteen minutes through scattered woodland before Eragon slowed to a halt and pointed to a cliff ahead, its face facing east. "Thats where many eagles nest. I think it will be rude to wake them up so late. Sunrise is only an hour and a half away so I think we should wait till they wake up... that is if you are alright."
"Its fine by me."
Eragon gathered some firewood and taking it to a clearing on a small knoll, he built a fire. The knoll had an unobstructed view of the steadily reddening eastern sky. As he sat down, so did Arya, who sat right next to him. Without hesitating the least she leaned against him and laid her head on his shoulder, sighing contently.
"I am very proud of you, iet shrutugal. You have shown great maturity and wisdom in the last few days. I was initially very worried about you, knowing that this would be the first great challenge after becoming king. But I need not have, you have created an ingenious plan which has a very high chance of success."
"I am still worried... what if the empire throws some surprises? What if the Rangers are captured? What if our deception is revealed to them? What if Roran fares badly while I am away? What if ...you fare badly while I am away? If anything were to happen to you or Saphira, I would be destroyed Arya."
"Hush, nothing of the sort will happen, I promise. The sun is rising and let us not waste such a beautiful sight by thinking pessimistic thoughts." She reached up and kissed him, gently at first, but it soon became a deep passionate one.
As he broke away breathless, he smiled, all morbid thoughts pushed away from his mind. Arya and Saphira were the only two people in the entirety of the world who could have such a calming effect on his mind. They sat there together, watching the sun rise slowly before getting up and heading to the cliff.
AS he stood there, Eragon marvelled at the sheer number of eagles crisscrossing the skies. He wanted to find the dominant male and said so to Arya. "Look! That one, the big golden one on the ledge there."
As he looked up to where she was pointing, Eragon grinned. That eagle had to be the dominant male by it sheer size. Its wingspan was an amazing 3 metres and it must have been atleast 4 feet tall.
"Its a female, Eragon. Female eagles are typically bigger than males. Call to it in the ancient language, she will listen to you."
O great eagle! I mean you and your kin no harm, but I require your help, Eragon said out loud and also in the eagle's mind. Immediately all eagles in the vicinity looked at him but that bird dived from the cliff face, its wings curled close to its body. Just as it was about to hit the ground, it snapped open its massive wings and beat them thrice to swiftly glide over to where he stood. Eragon extended his left arm and the eagle landed on it. He stroked the eagle's beak and smiled as the eagle nudged his arm. As Arya tried to do the same, the eagle snapped its beak at her. "Fricai" Eragon said, pointing at Arya and only then did the eagle allow her to approach. Eragon reached out with his mind to the eagle and conveyed his need. He was wondering how the eagle would respond when he felt a sense of agreement and willingness flow from the bird's mind. Apparently, the eagle was ready to follow him. She has agreed to help you, Arya spoke with her mind. "I name you Razorwings, my friend.", Eragon said to the eagle and it nudged his arm once again. Eragon showed the eagle images of his balcony and conveyed to it to wait for him there. The eagle immediately took off and disappeared into the clouds heading for the castle.
When they arrived later that day at the tower, Eragon was pleased to find Razorwings sitting on a railing, its golden eyes staring at Saphira. The two were seemingly in deep conversation about... flying on thermals... Great! Another flight lover. Now all that I will see in my head will be images of thermals and clouds drifting over vale...Eragon said to Saphira. She chuckled before saying, she is a good flyer. Eagles always held my respect but this one is very good at flying. I would enjoy spending some time with her in the air.
Shaking his head, Eragon made his way over to the bed, slipping underneath the covers and wrapping his arms around Arya's slender body. He couldn't sleep yet. His mind was full of all sorts of possible scenarios in the days to come. He was supposed to lead the cavalry group in two days time and so he was very anxious. "Sleep Eragon, such thoughts will cause nothing but headache." Arya whispered to him as she saw his thoughts and felt his discomfort.
"Alright. Goodnight, iet Drottningu."
"Goodnight. iet shrutugal."
Do tell how you found this chapter. And also suggest a name for the chapter. I couldn't come up with anything satisfying.