The Compassion of a Warlord, Part III
The next several days in Cove bustled with activity. Sir Daelin Firecam, leader of the small group of Paladins recently arrived from the city of bridges, wasted no time in shoring up the defenses of the small farming community. The town had been built so that it nestled into the leeward side of Mount Durncrag, so the orcs couldn't very well approach from the south without going over. Durncrag was notorious for ettin activity, and while the massive creatures had no love for humans, they were violently isolationist and would happily smash an orc's skull to powder if any happened to wander too far into their territory, and the greenskins knew it. The only other way into the village was either by sea via the Bay of Banchala or skirting Duncrag along the coast. The coastal path was by far the shortest route, and Daelin knew that if the orcs meant to attack, their innate impatience and thirst for blood would have them marching along the quickest route possible. Luckily for the Covers, the coast was also easily defended. Flanked by the sea to the south and Durncrag to the north, the trail east was no more than a dozen yards wide at some points. With their only defense a dozen paladins and and the poorly trained militia, the townsfolk were going need all the advantages they could get.
For Adunaphel, who had always been fascinated by knights and fortifications and military tactics, the last two days had been like a dream come true. He was never more than a dozen steps away from Firecam, and luckily the paladin didn't mind the company so long as he proved useful. Currently, the thirteen year old was peering over the paladin's shoulder as he explained the town defenses, referring to the map spread across the table.
"You see, boy, we dig a trench here and then pile all the soil behind it. That way we've a double line of defense; six feet of ditch and six feet of wall makes for twelve feet of earth between us and our enemy. That will slow even the most determined of them! And while they're scrabbling down and over, the archers from the militia positioned here", the paladin tapped the square representing the south guard tower, "will have easy pickings. The militia pikemen will keep them at a distance, so anything that gets past the ditch will be trapped between a wall of earth and a wall of spears, with arrows raining down on top of their heads for good measure. My paladins and I will be positioned throughout to make sure everyone keeps their whits about them. I doubt that most of these men have even seen an actual battle, let alone fought in one. Any one man who panics could cause the rest of them to break as well. We'll make sure that doesn't happen."
Adunaphel, convinced that he was now a military genius, nodded his approval. "And where will I be stationed, Sir Daelin?"
The veteran soldier let out a long chuckle. "You will be stationed in the cellar of your barricaded house like the rest of the townsfolk, boy. Now, now, don't look at me like that! You may have the heart of a bull-ogre, Adunaphel, and I'll admit that you just might have what it takes to fight alongside the best of them when you're grown, but you aren't nearly ready for this. Real battle isn't like the campfire-talk I've heard you trying to impress Alistair's girl with!" He shot the boy a stern, disapproving look. "Your first mistake will get you killed, and plenty of men have died in battle without making any mistakes at all. Sometimes you can do everything right and it still isn't enough."
And with that, Adunaphel had suddenly gone from military genius to scolded child. he turned away in embarrassment.
"Yes sir...I'm sorry."
Firecam rose to his feel and clapped the boy on the shoulder. "You're from farming stock, aren't you? You may not be of any use to me wielding a sword, but that doesn't mean you can't wield a shovel. Congratulations, Adunaphel, I'm making you my personal engineer. Your first order of duty is to start on that trench. I'll have some men from the militia come and join you within the hour."
Adun stared up at the man in shocked disbelief. He didn't know if Daelin was serious, or if he was just putting one over on him.
"I gave you an order, soldier!" Daelin bellowed authoritatively.
With a grin that nearly split his skull in two, Adunaphel ran off to find a shovel.
The paladin just shook his head and smiled.
"Kids..."
For Adunaphel, who had always been fascinated by knights and fortifications and military tactics, the last two days had been like a dream come true. He was never more than a dozen steps away from Firecam, and luckily the paladin didn't mind the company so long as he proved useful. Currently, the thirteen year old was peering over the paladin's shoulder as he explained the town defenses, referring to the map spread across the table.
"You see, boy, we dig a trench here and then pile all the soil behind it. That way we've a double line of defense; six feet of ditch and six feet of wall makes for twelve feet of earth between us and our enemy. That will slow even the most determined of them! And while they're scrabbling down and over, the archers from the militia positioned here", the paladin tapped the square representing the south guard tower, "will have easy pickings. The militia pikemen will keep them at a distance, so anything that gets past the ditch will be trapped between a wall of earth and a wall of spears, with arrows raining down on top of their heads for good measure. My paladins and I will be positioned throughout to make sure everyone keeps their whits about them. I doubt that most of these men have even seen an actual battle, let alone fought in one. Any one man who panics could cause the rest of them to break as well. We'll make sure that doesn't happen."
Adunaphel, convinced that he was now a military genius, nodded his approval. "And where will I be stationed, Sir Daelin?"
The veteran soldier let out a long chuckle. "You will be stationed in the cellar of your barricaded house like the rest of the townsfolk, boy. Now, now, don't look at me like that! You may have the heart of a bull-ogre, Adunaphel, and I'll admit that you just might have what it takes to fight alongside the best of them when you're grown, but you aren't nearly ready for this. Real battle isn't like the campfire-talk I've heard you trying to impress Alistair's girl with!" He shot the boy a stern, disapproving look. "Your first mistake will get you killed, and plenty of men have died in battle without making any mistakes at all. Sometimes you can do everything right and it still isn't enough."
And with that, Adunaphel had suddenly gone from military genius to scolded child. he turned away in embarrassment.
"Yes sir...I'm sorry."
Firecam rose to his feel and clapped the boy on the shoulder. "You're from farming stock, aren't you? You may not be of any use to me wielding a sword, but that doesn't mean you can't wield a shovel. Congratulations, Adunaphel, I'm making you my personal engineer. Your first order of duty is to start on that trench. I'll have some men from the militia come and join you within the hour."
Adun stared up at the man in shocked disbelief. He didn't know if Daelin was serious, or if he was just putting one over on him.
"I gave you an order, soldier!" Daelin bellowed authoritatively.
With a grin that nearly split his skull in two, Adunaphel ran off to find a shovel.
The paladin just shook his head and smiled.
"Kids..."