Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

The men manning the sections of spikes were instructed to judge the situation and not to necessarily pull the spikes up just as the cavalry ran up to them. In some cases it would be better to wait until some of the men had already charged past. If there was a large number of cavalry this would allow the defenders to split the enemy force, not only spreading confusion among the attack, but breaking it apart, severing the lines of command, making it lose its advantage of unity, and making it easier to deal with the fragmented force. Decisively eliminating the cavalry was essential to stopping the invasion.

Nicci knew, though, that in the panic of facing a frightening wall of charging enemy soldiers screaming for blood, such careful plans tended to be forgotten. She knew that at the sight of such fearsome soldiers with weapons raised, some of the men would flee, failing to raise the spikes before they did. Nicci had seen such terror before. That was why she had placed redundant sections of spikes.

Nearly everyone in the city was committed to its defense. Some would be more effective than others. Even women at home with children had supplies of things, from rocks to boiling oil, that they intended to throw down on any invading soldiers. There had not been a lot of time to make extravagant weapons, but there were men everywhere with stacks of spears. A sharpened pole wasn't fancy, but if it took down a cavalry horse or impaled a man, it was fancy enough. It didn't matter if it was cavalry or foot soldiers, they all had to be defeated, so there were men of the city by the thousands with bows. With a bow, even an old man could kill a vigorous, muscular, hulking young soldier.

An arrow could even take down a wizard.

It would be futile to have the men of the city trying to fight experienced soldiers in a traditional battle. They had to deny the Order's soldiers everything they were used to using.

Nicci's object had been to make the city one big trap. Now, she had to draw the Order into that trap.

To that end, she saw Ishaq's wagon rumbling toward her. People scattered out of the way. Ishaq pulled back on the reins and drew the big horses to a halt. A cloud of dust boiled up.

He set the brake and leaped down off the wagon, something she wouldn't have expected he could do with such agility. He held his hat on with one hand as he ran. He was holding something else up in his other hand.

"Nicci! Nicci!"

She turned to the men with her. "You'd all best see to the things we've discussed. I don't think we have more than a few hours."

The men looked surprised and alarmed.

"You don't think they will wait until morning?" one asked.

"No. I believe they will attack this evening." She didn't tell them why she thought so.

The men nodded and rushed off to their assignments.

Ishaq came to a panting halt. His face was nearly as red as his hat.

"Nicci, a message." He waved the paper before her. "A message for the mayor."

Nicci's insides tightened.

"A group of men rode in," he said. "They were carrying a white flag, just as you said they would. They brought a message for 'the mayor. How did you know?"

She ignored the question. "Have you read it, yet?"

His face went red. "Yes. So did Victor. He is very angry. It is not a good thing to make the blacksmith angry."

"Do you have a horse, as I requested?"

"Yes, yes, I have a horse." He handed her the paper. "But I think that you had better read this."

Nicci unfolded the paper and read it silently to herself.

Citizen mayor,

I received word that the people of Altur'Rang, under your direction, wish to renounce their sinful ways and bow again to the wise, merciful, and sovereign authority of the Imperial Order.

If it is true that you wish to spare the people of Altur'Rang the total destruction we reserve for insurrectionists and heathens, then as a token of your good intent and willing submission to the jurisdiction of the Imperial Order, you will bind your lovely and loyal wife's hands and send her to me as your humble gift. Fail to turn over your wife as instructed and everyone in Altur'Rang will die.

In the service of the merciful Creator,

Brother Kronos,

Commander of His Excellency's reunification force.

Nicci crushed the message in her fist. "Let's go."

Ishaq replaced his hat and scrambled to catch up with her as she marched toward the wagon. "You don't seriously intend to do as this brute demands, do you?"

Nicci put a foot on the iron step and climbed up onto the wagon's wooden seat. "Let's go, Ishaq."

He muttered to himself as he climbed into the wagon beside her. He threw off the brake and flicked the reins, yelling for people to get out of the way as he swung the wagon around. Dirt and dust spiraled up off the wheels as he turned the wagon around in the road. He cracked his whip above the horses' flanks, crying out to urge them away. The wagon slid around and finally straightened as the horses threw their weight against the hames.