On the field outside, beyond the range of any of Selgaunt's weapons, an army gathered. Hundreds of men stood arranged around Saerloon's standard. Tamlin could not see the details of the pennons in the distance but he knew Saerloon's symbol well-a single human eye of white, surrounded by a black border, with a pupil made up of two tall, slim gray towers with a gold key between them.
As Tamlin watched, another score of men under Saerloon's colors materialized from nothingness. Then another score, another, then another. He looked to the Shadovar for an explanation.
"A teleportation circle," Brennus observed. "Powerful magics."
"Cadellin Firehands?" Rivalen asked.
Tamlin did not recognize the name and Brennus shrugged. His homunculi mimicked the gesture. He said, "Possible. But Lady Merelith has the resources of the churches of Mystra and Azuth at her disposal. She is using them well."
Tamlin knew that temples of the Magister and Goddess of Magic stood in Saerloon. Anger rose in him, fed by fear. "Our priests ring their bells and cower in their cloisters while Merelith's transport her entire army to our doorstep?"
"So it would seem," Brennus answered, the darkness clinging to him. "She has avoided the need to feed an army on the march and has taken Selgaunt by surprise."
"Why has she not teleported her army into the city?" Tamlin wondered aloud.
Brennus answered, "The risk of an errant teleport would be high, with the quarters so close. Assembling her forces would be impossible. They would have battle before all arrived. No, she is doing exactly as she should."
Tamlin eyed the Shadovar prince sidelong. "Let us not admire her too much."
Brennus chuckled, showing ornamental fangs like Rivalen's. "Be content that I do not."
Rivalen's eyes flared gold and he turned to Tamlin. "Hulorn, if you wish it, I can call upon priests who will fight. A handful only, but powerful. They are priests of Shar."
Tamlin stared at him, considering.
Rivalen said, "Your own priests will balk. Even your people may."
Tamlin looked out on the Saerloonian forces, and back at his own meager defenses. Another two score Saerloonian troops appeared from nothingness and fell in with their fellows. He made up his mind.
"To the hells with Selgaunt's priests. And I will quell any concerns among the people. Call your priests, Prince Rivalen. We need all available assistance."
Rivalen and Brennus shared a look and the shadows about them coiled. Rivalen inclined his head. "Of course, Hulorn."
Together, the three men, surrounded by the soldiers of Selgaunt, watched their enemies gather. Another teleportation point opened, another. There was little the Selgauntans could do.
Saerloon's soldiers appeared a hundred men at a time. Tamlin spotted the standards of a few mercenary bands among their number. Soon there were thousands on the field. The low murmur of the assembling army gathered volume as its numbers grew.
"She has emptied Saerloon of fighting men," Tamlin said softly.
The Saerloonians arranged themselves into loose formations as they absorbed the steady influx of newcomers. Shouted orders carried over the plains. Frequent rat-a-tats of company drums echoed into the night. Horns sounded from distant corners. Standard bearers planted unit, company, and city standards into the earth. Men gathered around them. Thousands of hostile eyes fixed on Selgaunt, its walls, it soldiers. Tamlin watched it all with a growing sense of dread.
Meanwhile, Selgaunt's troops streamed to the walls from other areas of the city and took up their positions. The clink of armor, the thump of boots on stone, and the shouted orders of sergeants and captains sounded all around them. Barrels of pitch and oil were positioned strategically. Men placed ammunition on the ground near them, within ready reach.
Tamlin felt himself in the center of a maelstrom. He found Brennus's homunculi staring at him, smiling.
Brennus said, "Teleportation circles do not allow for the transport of siege engines."
The observation gave Tamlin hope until Rivalen said, "She is no fool. She has something else in mind to breach the walls. Spells."
Tamlin could not imagine spells powerful enough to breach Selgaunt's walls, but he was only a mediocre caster himself. "When will they come?" he asked softly.
Rivalen said, "We will have battle with the dawn. They must know you have Shadovar allies. Merelith knows our power is diminished by the light of day."
The homunculi on Brennus's shoulders sparred with one another as if they wielded blades. Brennus took no notice of them and said, "Agreed. They come with the morn."
The shadows around Rivalen swirled, brushed Tamlin. He found their touch cold but oddly comforting.
"Summon your wizards to the walls, Hulorn," Rivalen said. "I suspect we will need them soon. And I will send word to the temple in Shade Enclave. My priests will be at Selgaunt's disposal."
Tamlin felt a rush of gratitude. He knew that Selgaunt's only hope lay with the Shadovar.
"Thank you, Prince."
CHAPTER TWELVE
29 Uktar, the Year of Lightning Storms
Tamlin sent messengers racing along the walls and back into the city to summon the score of battle mages Selgaunt had at its disposal. None were powerful casters. The most powerful practitioners of the Art had left the city long ago.
Onthul soon appeared, his towering frame wrapped in mail, a sword at his belt. He took the stairs of the gatehouse at a run and reached the top of the wall. His bearded face showed no expression as he gazed out on the gathering Saerloonian army. He turned to Tamlin and the Princes and inclined his head.
"Hulorn. Princes."
"Captain Onthul," Tamlin said. "How do we stand?"
"Four companies secure the docks to repel any attack by the Saerloonian navy. Four more are in reserve, though two of them are militia. The rest of our forces will mass here. Rorsin Soargyl and a company of Helms are wheeling the trebuchets up even now. We will place them there." He pointed to the wide cobblestone plaza behind the Khyber Gate.
"They are slow to reload," Brennus observed.
Onthul nodded. "We will get off not more than one shot each as the Saerloonians advance. Two if the enemy is slow. We will endeavor to make those shots count. Other than that, the fight will be at the walls. I've stationed barrels of pitch and oil along the walls, but there is less than I'd wish."
"And the rest of the walls?" Tamlin asked.
"Those in uniform but too old or young to be of much use with a blade are stationed at intervals around. They are to sound an alert if they notice anything coming from another direction. The reserve forces can respond quickly, if needed."
Tamlin looked out on the Saerloonians, uncertain. He disliked leaving the rest of Selgaunt's wall so sparsely defended.
"If this is a feint, Captain…"
Onthul followed Tamlin's gaze out to the plains.
"If Merelith has thousands of men to spend on a feint, Hulorn, then we are all dead men already."
Tamlin could not deny it. "It is not a feint," he said, and trusted that it was true.
"The seaways are secure," Rivalen said to Onthul. "No naval assault will occur. Use your men at the docks for another purpose."
"My lord?" Onthul questioned.
Tamlin remembered that Rivalen had promised to use the kraken to prevent Saerloon from approaching by sea.
"Do it, Captain," Tamlin said.
Onthul nodded, saluted, took his leave, and issued orders. He moved among the men on the wall, thumping shoulders, offering advice and encouragement, mocking the Saerloonians. Tamlin admired his calmness.
Soon thereafter the creak and clank of the approaching trebuchets sounded from the road below. A cursing Rorsin Soargyl, three score sweating Helms, and four teams of underfed oxen wheeled the wooden siege engines up the road. The machines looked not entirely unlike the cranes used to unload ships at the docks. Tamlin had never seen them fired. Sembia had never seen significant warfare on its soil. Three wagons rumbled behind the engines. Tar-sealed casks of alchemical fire lay within.