“The captain just let them have it!” Dorrin exclaims jubilantly. He turns back to the others, points to the north and says, “Colton lies a little over an hour north of here. Be careful, the Empire has patrols moving all along this area.”
“We will,” James assures him. Offering his hand, he says, “Thanks for your help.”
Taking the hand, he gives it a shake and says, “Glad to be of service.” Turning his horse back the way they’d just come, he kicks it in the sides and he bolts away, soon disappearing among the trees.
Looking out past the trees, they see open plains once again. The distant sounds of fighting can be heard coming from where Captain Alerin is attacking. “Almost there,” says James as he glances to Jiron.
“Never thought we’d even come this far,” he replies.
“We’re not there yet,” Miko adds.
“Come on!” Fifer urges. “This is not the time to be sitting and talking.” Kicking the sides of his horse, he breaks into a run as he leaves the shelter of the trees. The others get their horses moving quickly and catch up with him.
“Which way?” asks James when he comes abreast of him.
“There should be a road just ahead of us that runs east and west,” he explains. “It lies on that road, where a road from the north intersects with it.”
“Riders!” Miko yells.
Scanning the horizon, James sees a group coming toward them from the northeast. “Are they from Madoc?” he hollers to Fifer.
“Can’t tell,” he says, squinting in an attempt to see better.
“Should we wait to see?” asks Jiron as he watches the eight riders approaching quickly.
A moment later, Fifer exclaims, “No! They’re the Empire’s men!”
“Damn!” swears Jiron as they turn to the west and ride hard to keep ahead of them.
Riding fast, they maintain their lead but aren’t successful in widening it. “A road!” Miko cries as he sees it appear ahead of them.
“Which way to Colton?” James asks Fifer.
Pointing east he replies, “That way, I think.”
If they moved down the road to the east, the riders behind them would easily move and close with them. Giving up on that idea, they take the road to the west.
As they race westward, a river begins to come into view. A rather large army stands on this side of the river, facing to the west. Easily a thousand men strong, they stand before a bridge spanning the river.
On the other side of the bridge is another army, one from the Empire.
Horns begin sounding from both sides as the Empire’s troops move forward to claim the bridge, a hail of arrows flies from the defenders, mowing down the first line.
They slow their horses, James glances back at the riders behind them. When the riders see the army ahead of them, they come to a stop and then quickly turn around. No longer threatened from behind, they pause and take in the situation ahead of them at the bridge.
Bolts and arrows fly from one side to the other, bringing men down. The crossbowmen of the Empire outnumber their counterparts on the other side to devastating effect. Half of them appear to be targeting Madoc’s bowmen while the others are being more selective, helping to clear the bridge so their footmen can advance further across.
“I don’t think they’re going to keep them on the other side of the river for long,” Jiron says.
“They should’ve destroyed the bridge,” James adds.
“Probably didn’t have the equipment nor time before they showed up,” reasons Fifer. He glances to James and asks, “Can you do it?”
“Probably, but that would kill everyone from both sides who’re on it,” he replies.
From the rear section of the defending army, they see men begin pointing to where they’re sitting, watching the battle. A squad detaches itself and makes its way toward them.
“Recognize any of them?” James asks Fifer.
Shaking his head, he replies, “No, I don’t think so.”
Sighing, James says, “Let’s go meet them and hope they won’t immediately attack us.” He takes the lead, Fifer next to him as they move forward.
The leader of the approaching group comes close then raises a hand, indicating they should stop. “What’s your business here?” he asks.
“Busy?” asks James as the sound of the fighting by the river intensifies. The amount of arrows striking the attackers is beginning to decrease as the Empire’s crossbowmen continue taking out Madoc’s archers.
“Sort of,” the man replies. “Now, what’re you doing here?”
“We’re here to help,” Fifer explains, causing the man to gaze in his direction.
“Help?” the man laughs at them. “How can you possibly help?”
“If that bridge was gone,” Fifer asks as he points over to it, “would they be able to cross?”
Shaking his head, the man replies, “They’d not be able to ford the river for several more miles down stream.” He gives them a closer inspection and continues, “But I don’t see how that can happen.”
Fifer glances to James who resignedly nods his head and says, “You get us close and we’ll take it out.”
He points back to the bridge and says, “Look! They’re almost on this side. We would’ve pulled out long ago but we got word they’re evacuating Colton and need time to get everyone out.”
“Nevertheless,” James tells him. “You get me close and that bridge is history.”
“Do you even need to be close?” asks Jiron.
Looking surprised like the thought had never even occurred to him, he gives him a weary grin and replies, “I guess not, but the closer I am the easier it will be.”
“Then let’s move closer,” Jiron says as he starts to move forward past the squad of men.
James follows him and the squad joins them as they move toward the river. When they reach the rear guard of the defenders, a place where the bolts of the Empire can’t reach, he stops.
“Now what?” asks the squad leader.
“Just wait,” says Jiron with a smile, “and watch.”
The squad leader looks to James as he closes his eyes. A cry erupts back at the bridge, he turns his attention to the river and sees that the attackers have reached this side and more are pouring across the bridge.
The defenders are being mowed down by the bolts sailing through the air and the swords of the men. What’s left of the order and discipline the defenders had is now gone as they turn and begin to flee the battlefield.
Crumph!
Suddenly, the bridge explodes. A mass of men and stones sail through the air before landing among the soldiers on both sides.
The fighting halts momentarily as both sides stare in startled shock at what remains of the bridge. Then, the defenders who had been in a complete, panicked rout, erupt in a cheer as they see the enemy’s route cut off. The once routed defenders turn on the enemy who’d made it to this side of the river and begin attacking them with renewed determination.
Jiron looks to James and is glad to see him not slumping over or passing out as he usually does after such a display.
The squad next to them stares at James in awe and Jiron can hear “A mage!” being whispered among them.
Eyes still closed, James again concentrates…
Crumph! Crumph! Crumph!
…three consecutive explosions on the other side of the river rip through the ranks of crossbowmen as their deadly hail of bolts comes to a stop.
This time, he does begin to slump over. The past days of hard riding and little sleep is really taking its toll.
Calls to fall back can be heard from the other side of the river and the defending army begins to move back. An officer rides over to Jiron and the others, the squad leader salutes as he approaches. “What the hell happened?” the officer asks.
The squad leader points to James who’s sitting crooked in the saddle and replies, “He just showed up sir, and well, he blew up the bridge. He’s a mage!”
“A mage? And he just happened by when we needed one the most?” the officer asks.
“Yes sir,” the squad leader replies.