Captain Bridgewater and the rest of the Peacekeepers had begun preparations for a hasty evacuation of Oaken Meadow. He had sent five riders out to warn the farmers on the outskirts of the city and to see if the prisoner was being truthful about the size of the approaching forces before he took his own life. Only two of them had returned and they confirmed what he had said. The captain started his plans by commandeering the transport barges that were still at port and emptying them of anything that was of no use for an escape. He and his men set out to gather food and provisions for the three week voyage it would take to reach the capital city. There were three small ports between Oaken Meadow and the capital city, but the Captain was uncertain if they would be able to make port.
He had acquired six large barges and four fishing vessels that were anchored at the docks to help with the evacuations. There were a few smaller vessels that had made port that day and agreed to help out with the evacuation. His men had gone door to door in the city telling everyone the plans to leave before nightfall and instructed them to only bring what was necessary. A few clothes and some food, nothing more. Once everyone was informed of the evacuation, his men began to reinforce the gates at the main roads into the city and the walls around the city before their upcoming departure. He only had about two hundred men left in his ranks, but they each did the work of three men that day. He was proud of what they had done in such a short time.
The Peacekeepers along with several of the men from the city had dug trenches around the walls and placed sharpened stakes in them to deter the use of ladders. They covered them so they went unseen. They dug several rows of ditches that were waist deep further out from the walls and poured them full of crude oils. They laid thin branches over the tops and covered them with sackcloth and then covered the cloth with a thin layer of dirt. The trenches were to be lit by archers after the attack began. The group then built two rows of small walls with sharpened tips outside the main wall using timbers from the nearby woods in an attempt to funnel the attackers to the main roads and keep them from surrounding the city. They strengthened to the main gates by adding timbers to them to help slow a breach if the enemy brought a ram to assault the gates.
It was about an hour until sunset and his scouts reported the enemy advancing. Most of the citizens of the city and the neighboring farms along with most of the peacekeepers had already loaded onto the barges and fishing vessels and had set sail for the capital city. The captain wanted to seek aid from the king and his men. They were loading the last of the farmers, along with more supplies, when the scouts reported in. Captain Bridgewater and a select few of his best men stayed behind with one small fishing boat for their escape. He wished that Jeremiah was with him and he hoped that he was safe. He had left with the scouts and had not returned from his mission to bring his wife and family to safety inside the walls.
The captain placed his three best archers atop the walls near the gates with night arrows and a small brazier with fires burning so they could light them in a hurry. They tied ropes to the top of the walls and dropped them to the streets below for a quick retreat. They coated the walls with oils and after the attack was to begin, they were to knock over the braziers before they retreated. He left one man to guard their escape vessel and to prepare it to sail. Captain Bridgewater, with two of his men, were atop the bell tower in the center of the city. From here they could see the entire city and the advancement of the army from outside the walls. They waited for the enemy to arrive.
They stood in silence, always on guard and waited for the enemy to strike. The captain saw the first wave as it came quickly down the roads leading to the gates. The archers waited until they had begun falling into the trenches that were filled with oil. The advancing soldiers struggled to climb out, but they continued to draw nearer. The more of the enemy soldiers that entered the ditches, the more difficult it became for them to climb out. The sides of the trenches became slippery and they started sliding back in. The archers waited until the soldiers, who were now dripping with oil, to enter the final row of trenches before they loosed their arrows laden with flames.
In a flash of fire that began to encircle the city, half of the first wave began screaming in agony as the flames tore through their ranks. They began climbing over one another trying to escape the inferno and helping it to spread even faster than the captain had hoped and he began to shout, “Hurrah! We’ve done it boys!” He watched as the remaining troops fled back the way they had come. Some were still on fire, screaming as they went, and trying to remove their armor. The captain saw the wall of fire that was surrounding his city and for the moment he was content.
They watched and waited for any sign of movement from the enemy. The remaining men of the Peacekeepers heard drums in the distance as the enemy began their second advance. They could hear the approaching soldiers shouting taunts as they came towards the city. Then they heard screams of rage growing closer to the city. The captain watched as two hoards of men marched down the main roads from the north gaining speed. Men carrying ladders began to run toward the walls through the gaps in the trenches. The men coming towards the city screamed with fury and the first part of the wave crashed into the spikes and fell dead before they could raise their ladders.
The next group of the wave quickly came behind and began to raise the ladders. Many of them fell to the ground owing to the arrows raining down from above. A few groups managed success in getting their ladders raised, but the archers poured oil on them and set them ablaze. The second wave failed the same as the first and the men began their retreat with arrows flying at them, unseen, through the darkness. The captain was pleased that his defense was working, but he wasn't sure how much longer they could hold out.
Before the third wave began, the captain and his men readied their escape. The archers came down from their posts and met the captain at the bell tower. They rang the bell to signal the boat of their arrival, and went about preparing for their final acts of resistance. They had gathered what was left of the barrels of oil along with as many barrels of raw drink they could find. They poured it everywhere. In the shops, in the houses, and the store houses by the docks. Any building that could be of use to an occupying army was prepped for the torch. Before they left for the ship, the archers pulled the ropes that were tied to the braziers and set the walls ablaze. With the last barrel, they poured a path leading to the docks.
They boarded their vessel and set sail as the captain ordered, “Shove off lads and light it up.” The three archers drew their bows and sent flaming arrows into the city. He had saved the people of Oaken Meadow, but lost the city. He watched as the buildings began to burn. A tear ran down the captain’s face. Then he saw something in the shadows. It was large and covered with black fur. At first he thought it was a bear, but after a moment, he watched as it began to waver in and out of sight. As the flames grew higher, the creature became almost transparent. Only a silhouette of its former self. The captain watched as it retreated deeper into the shadows and then it was gone.
While his men were busy preparing for the attacks, the captain was busy working on his own special surprise for the attackers that he was about to put into action. They approached the mouth of the Kilgor River and the captain had his men steer their boat into it. The only bridge that crossed the Kilgor for another ten leagues was outside of the south gate to the city. The captain had placed the entire Oaken Meadow stockpile of dwarven blasting jellies in jars under the bridge. He had his archers take aim with their flaming arrows. He watched as the missiles pierced the night sky and hit their mark.
Pleased with what they had done, he and the men drifted back downstream towards the Quoe and from there, towards the capital city. The captain turned and watched as the bridge exploded into splinters and became engulfed with flames. The captain’s thoughts turned to Jeremiah and Chloé. He last saw Jeremiah racing across that bridge on his way to her. He wondered where they were and if they were safe.
*****
Jeremiah and Chloé sat in the domicile of Mrs. Clary. She had left through a magic door to inform the Consul of the attack on Oaken Meadow and had left them confused and a little unsettled. She had left them behind, not knowing if outsiders would be allowed in the sanctum. Being where they were, he couldn't tell if it was day or night. She had been gone for three days, at their best guess, and the two of them were uncertain of when she would return. The young couple spent most of their time in boredom, and would often look through the piles of books and scrolls to entertain themselves and occupy their time when they were not otherwise doing what married folks do.
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Jeremiah had begun going stir crazy. He wasn't accustomed to being cooped up like a chicken and was getting frustrated. He was frustrated at himself for not helping with the fortification of the city and not returning to his post to help defend the city. It was driving him mad not knowing what had happened to the city and not knowing the fates of all who were there. He decided that if Mrs. Clary hadn't returned before Chloé fell asleep, he would sneak out to see for himself what had happened to the city.
It felt to him that it was getting late. He and Chloé were both getting tired and they laid down on Mrs. Clary's fluffy bed to get some sleep. Jeremiah pretended to fall asleep and laid there waiting for his bride to fall asleep. When she did, he got out of the bed, dressed himself, and went out the door. It had been a few days since Mrs. Clary had led them through the labyrinth from the cave to her modest home in the tunnels.
He didn't remember the way they had come when they left the cave, but he thought that he could figure it out. At each of the intersections, he marked the tunnel he came out of with soot from his torch so he could find his way back. Mrs. Clary had explained to them about the traps that were set in the other tunnels, and he wasn't too eager to find out more about them first hand. After a long while and a lot of second guessing himself, he made it to the cave wall entrance. He saw the mark his hand had left when he reached back to feel for it in the dark, so he knew he had made it.
He began to feel around the walls trying to find a switch or something to open the secret doorway. He searched and searched, but found nothing. Frustrated, he turned around and sat down with his back against the wall banging his fists into the ground. He tried to think of another way to open it, but couldn't think of anything. Not knowing what to do, he pulled his knees up, and placed his head on them and tried to think. He was already tired when he began his quest, and he fell asleep.
He awoke a short while later to the sounds of footsteps echoing down the tunnels. He quickly stood up and put the flames out on his torch by stomping on it. He waited in the darkness, barely breathing, trying to listen. He saw light as it approached from down one of the tunnels. Then he heard a voice call out his name. It was Chloé. He lit his torch and called back to her.
"You left the door open when you left," said Chloé. "I was trying to let you sleep," he replied. "You're trying to go back, aren't you?" she asked. Jeremiah nodded and said, "I'm worried about them." "I am too, but we can't get through the doorway," she said. "I've searched everywhere trying to find a way to open it, but there isn't any," he said. "You need magic to open it," said Chloé, "neither of us can do it. We tried already," she continued.
Jeremiah sat back down against the wall and Chloé sat beside him. They talked about the people from the city and of Captain Bridgewater. They wondered what had happened to the city and its people. Chloé closed her eyes trying to remember what Mrs. Clary tried to get her to do the day they left. She remembered she had told her to "think 'open' " and she tried it again. Nothing happened. She stood up and faced the wall. She closed her eyes again and stretched out her hand and placed it on the wall.
She began to focus every fiber of her being and all of her thoughts. She remembered the door to her room at the tavern and she imagined herself opening it and stepping through. She opened her eyes and she was standing back inside the cave and Jeremiah was gone. She turned around and did it again. She was back with a panic stricken Jeremiah who was glad to see her. She explained to him what had happened. Then she reached for his hand and said, "We can do this," with a smile on her face. She grasped his hand and placed the other on the wall. She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she and Jeremiah were standing on the other side of the wall together.
The two of them emerged from the tree and found that it was early morning. Chloé found the horse that Jeremiah had sent her and Mrs. Clary away on; where she had left it. It had broken free from its tether and was grazing in the clearing. The horse that Jeremiah had rode in on was there as well. Together they rode towards the city and when they got within sight, they rode close to the treeline. Nothing could have prepared them for what they saw.
As they neared the city, they could see smoke coming from everywhere. Most of it had been burnt to the ground. Soldiers in crimson armor were hurriedly trying to clear the charred debris away and rebuild the wall that once surrounded the city and salvage what was left of some of the buildings. Jeremiah and Chloé pulled their mounts into the timber and dismounted.
"They burnt it down," said Jeremiah in shock. They crept along the edge of the woods and neared the bridge. They were dumbstruck when they discovered that it was no longer there. All they could see of it was the charred skeleton of a small section that once spanned the river. Chloé began to feel weak and dizzy.
Jeremiah led her to a tree where she sat down. Her head began to spin with more dizziness and her eyes rolled back. Jeremiah became frightened for her, seeing what he saw, but Chloé had gone into a trance. In her state, she saw the city under attack, and she saw the escape of the people. Before her trance ended, she saw the captain and his men floating down the river in a boat firing the arrows that blew the bridge.
When she came out of her trance, she began to tell Jeremiah everything that she had seen. A smile came across her face as she told her tale. She embraced him and with tears of joy coming from her eyes, she said, "They burnt it down, Jeremiah. The captain did it, and everyone left the city before the attack. They got away!" she said excitedly.
They snuck back to their horses and returned to Mrs. Clary's home in the tunnels. When they came through her door, she was standing there looking upset. Jeremiah and Chloé told her about everything they had seen and then she reopened the magic doorway and they went to the Sanctum of the Magi together to make another report.
*****
The captain and his small fleet of refugees had been on the Quoe for three full nights and most of two days. They had dropped anchor near the first port between Oaken Meadow and the capital city. He had sent one of the small fishing boats, with her crew and a few of his men into the port to find out if there had been word about the enemy attack on Oaken Meadow. They had returned with news of birds coming in from nearly every large city of the northern part of the realm. The news was dire. They had all been attacked the same night as Oaken Meadow. They were all requesting aid.
For now, it appeared that the captain's gambit to destroy his city and the bridge into the southern portion of the realm had paid off. The enemy was stranded north of the Kilgor and it would take weeks for them to reach the nearest crossing on this side of the Quoe. He knew from the reports that some of the enemy had made it east of the Quoe, but was unsure how far south they had ventured. The Quoe was a vast expanse of water and the only bridge across it was far to the north, connecting the two dwarven realms. It connected the dwarves that lived inside Attikì Mountains to the smaller group of dwarves that had colonized the smaller mountains of the Crescent Mountain Range which was rich with gold and gemstones over eight-hundred years ago.
Captain Bridgewater gave everyone in the fleet the option to stay behind and take their chances with the approaching armies. No one wanted to leave the group and they gained even more refugees. There were other barges at port that were headed north to Oaken Meadow, but decided to join the fleet and head to the capital city with the others. The captain wondered if it would be like this the entire way. They spent the night in the port town, but by first light they were on their way again. It would take them a week before they reached the next port along the way.
They took on more people at the next port. The captain heard more reports of attacks scattered all across the northern parts of the realm. None of the reports came from anywhere south of Oaken Meadow and there were no new reports of attacks since the first strike. For now, it seemed as if the enemy was waiting to advance further south. Captain Bridgewater was slightly relieved at this news, but he knew he had to make it to the capital city as quickly as possible.
The voyage that had begun with six barges and four fishing boats was now an armada containing twelve barges and sixteen fishing boats filled with refugees heading towards the safety of the capital city. They had been on the waters of the Quoe for three weeks and four days, but the gates of the capital city port were in sight and a feeling of relief washed across the members of the group and cheers began to ring out from the vessels as the gates opened for their arrival.
As the captain's boat neared the dock, he saw a familiar face in the throng of people awaiting their arrival. It was the face of a man that he thought he would not see again. A proud smile filled his face and before the boat came to a stop, he leapt from it and landed on the pier. He ran and grabbed the man in a giant bear hug, and standing beside the man were his wife and the king himself.
