“The birds have stopped singing,” she warned, drawing her sword.
“Can you smell that?” Castimir asked, turning his head. “It is smoke.”
Theodore turned his mare quickly off to the right, climbing a small hillock where a parting in the trees gave him a good view to the north. As he mounted the summit he gave a startled cry that brought his friends to his side
For to the north a column of black smoke rose into the sky.
Taverley was burning.
From as far south as Falador, the citizens on the walls could see the smoke rising from the direction of Taverley. They knew that war was inevitable. Men shared dark looks with one another, comforting their wives, who in turn held their children.
Some of the citizens had already left with their families, but now Sir Amik had sealed the city, and those who were left were trapped. From his chamber the leader of the knights looked toward the dark column with a peculiar sense of relief. His course was now clear-war had been declared on the citizens of Asgarnia and he had a duty to act.
He turned from the window.
“Our decision is made for us” he said firmly. “Are the knights gathered?”
“The army slipped out before first light” Sir Tiffy replied. “Over a hundred of the city guardsmen went with them. Our total numbers are eight hundred strong. A small reserve of old men and young peons are now all that is left of our fighting strength here in Falador.”
“Then I shall join the army in the swamp this evening,” Sir Amik said. “At first light tomorrow, under the cover of the mists, we shall attack from the west, taking them by surprise. No one except us knows the paths through the swamp. Sulla must believe that it will guard his flank.” He thought for a moment. “Perhaps that is why he has left his weakest troops there-the goblins-for his cannons point to the south and the east.”
“You are certain the Kinshra do not know of the hidden pathways?” Bhuler asked, his expression troubled.
“I am certain. A swift attack will restore the confidence of the citizens and take advantage of the Kinshra position. If we delay even a day, then they will have fortified their encampment, making any subsequent attack harder. Even now the goblins are digging a trench to the south of their position.”
The three men looked to Taverley once more, their faces grim.
“At least the waiting is over,” Sir Amik remarked quietly.
Campfires burned on the plain. The sounds of the goblins working under the direction of the Kinshra officers could still be heard, for Sulla was aware that his camp was vulnerable and he was driving his men hard to ensure that their defences were erected as soon as possible. Already a long trench ran the entire southern length of his camp, several yards deep and as many yards wide. Its northern bank was coated in sharp stakes that had been hammered into the firm clay ground.
Behind them stood his cannon, ready to turn the field south of the trench into a killing ground, should anyone be foolish enough to launch an assault. Tomorrow his men would start work on another trench, to the east of the camp.
Accompanied by Jerrod, who had become his constant companion, Sulla rode three miles south in the darkness, toward the small group of men who kept a watch on Falador, looking for a single light in the high window. Dropping to the ground silently, he crept up behind their leader.
“Well, Gaius?” he said. “Has our mysterious benefactor had anything to say?”
The young officer glanced at his commander with a sly smile.
“He has said something very interesting, my lord,” he answered in a low voice. “Something you will be extremely glad to know.”
For a long moment Sulla said nothing. He listened to Gaius’s report, thinking hard. When the officer had finished, he smiled, pointing to the west and to the swampland.
“We shall redeploy the men tonight. They shall be armed and ready before first light, waiting in suitable positions.”
“Are you sure that you can trust this source, Sulla?” Jerrod asked doubtfully. “Could it not be a ruse to lure you into a trap?”
“If it is, it is not a very good one, my friend. If they come from the east we will see them in plenty of time to redeploy. From the south they would be forced to brave the trench and our guns, and they cannot come from the north, for our scouts are watching the roads. If they can indeed negotiate the swamps then the west makes perfect sense.”
He mounted again, flicked his reins, and turned his horse back toward his encampment. He had long hours of work to do before the dawn.
FIFTY-EIGHT
It was dark when the companions reached the outskirts of Taverley. The town was eerily silent and as they moved through the streets, they passed several corpses, their outlines just visable in the shadows.
“There are fewer bodies than I expected” Theodore observed.
“Is it safe for us to proceed?” Castimir asked.
“I can’t see anyone,” Doric said. “But I can feel it-we are being watched.”
“I can feel it too,” Kara agreed, drawing her sword.
A small blackbird flew down into their midst, chirping a few inches in front of Castimir’s face. It flew back to a nearby branch, chirped again, and nodded its head.
“Bold little chap, isn’t he?” Castimir said, grinning.
The bird once again ducked off its branch and landed on the wizard’s shoulder, chirping more urgently. It flew back to the east, landed, and again nodded its head.
“I have never seen a bird behave with such intelligence,” Doric said.
Suddenly Castimir stopped grinning.
“Kaqemeex the druid! He could talk to the birds. Remember, Theo?”
Theodore nodded, realising what the bird had been trying to tell them.
“We must follow him. He will be our guide, for he and his friends see everything that occurs.” The squire took his mare by the reins and led her quietly forward, travelling to the east. His friends followed.
Within an hour, with no sign of either goblin or druid, they came upon two lines of great oak trees whose boughs formed a natural arch. At its centre a bubbling spring cascaded from some ancient rocks that rose from the gentle turf as a cathedral might have an altar. In the grove were many druids. At their head was a man in a green cloak, his fraught countenance etched with a smile.
“So you have come,” Kaqemeex said, smiling at Gar’rth especially, and the youth bowed his head in respect. “Many of us are here. The goblin attack was known to us beforehand and a few dozen of our older members volunteered to stay behind to satisfy the attackers’ need for violence.”
Theodore frowned in disbelief.
“They volunteered to wait for the goblins, knowing they would be killed?” Such bravery was rare, even amongst the knights.
“Yes. The goblins would have continued to hunt us if there had been no one there. Now their anger is sated and they have left Taverley, for a Kinshra messenger demanded that they head south to rejoin the army.” The old man’s eyes focused on Kara. Suddenly he looked more fraught than ever.
“Then the way to Ice Mountain is clear?” Theodore asked, hoping that another day’s journey northeast would see them safely within range of the dwarf mines.
“Not quite,” Kaqemeex said. “Supplies are being moved to the south. It will not be easy crossing the road to get to the mountain. Without my help, you are doomed to failure. Therefore I offer you my aid, and the aid of my many friends.” The druid pointed to the nearest oak, where a dozen birds perched on the heavy branches.
“Why help us, druid?” Doric said, curious. “I thought you were followers of neutrality, worshippers of Guthix.”
“We are neutral, but neutrality requires balance, and the balance has been upset.” Again his eyes focused on Kara. She blushed and avoided his gaze. “The gods are playing their little games again, and it is we mortals who suffer the consequences. Therefore, we must take the side of Saradomin to ensure that the balance is restored.”