Beast Attack

"Nathen, we have already had this discussion before. I am the lord and you are my vessel, I don't need your permission to do anything. I said that I am going down then I am going down. No one can stop me." Alfred decisively said and left his study.

Nathen unable to persuade Alfred, followed behind him closely. Soon the duo made there to the fortress walls.

The scene just as was chaotic as Alfred had expected. Commanders were baking orders loudly trying to take control of the situation, troops were moving towards the walls and rushing to take positions. Archers were climbing to the high grounds and were getting ready to fire. Everyone who was present near or on the walls were gearing up to fight.

But what surprised Alfred was that the serfs had not fled as he had expected, in fact it looked like they had taken initiative on their own to help the levies to reinforce the fortress walls. Different groups of serfs were taking position on the walls in stand of running and hiding like they previously did.

Even Nathen was very much surprised from the back bone shown by the serfs. Never in thousand years, he had seen such a scan. Usually, these serfs will just run and hide even before laying eyes on the beasts. But now the very same serfs seem to have filled with brim with courage just after lord made the changes. No, not magically. It's because lords so called reforms. It looks like the changes introduced by lord really seem to be effective in raising the moral of the serfs.

As Nathen was still drowned in his inner sea of thoughts, Alfred on the other hand and accepted the result. Although it took him a moment to accept the current results, after the initial shock was over, to say he was happy would be undermining his current mood. It was as if his whole body was filled to the brim with a sense of accomplishment.

Well he had every reason to be so. After all, he could what he achieved was no small feat. In his mind he could see a clear picture depicting how the scene was in last beast attack and how it is now.

Back then, Alde and the vessels struggled to find enough numbers to even man the wall properly. The situation got so bad that even Alfe had to take action personally and was killed in the process. Lucky for everyone, he took over Alfred's body in nick of time. And somehow within a he was able to put together enough or form a proper defence.

Although luck did happen to paly a major role, in the end it was his own efforts and planning that actually bore results.

Soon the duo climbed up the walls and came upon Rudolf barking several commands to his retainers in succession. Looking at the situation, both of them realized in an instant that what had happened. It appears that Rudolf had beat both of them to the wall, and upon his arrival, Rudolf had assumed command.

Well, to be fair, Rudolf was always the unofficial vice leader of rickety band of vessels. Apart of Alfred or Nathans, Rudolf's words have the highest voice among his knights. Hence, on the absence of both Alfred and Nathen on the wall, it was natural for Rudolf to take command of the situation.

As for Redhead, he never had any interest in leadership nor was he greedy for power. For Alfred, Redhead was the always the one most content with what he already had. Although he would also risk his life fights for him and would always be ready to brave danger along side him, he never was the one to embroil himself in politics or any kind of power struggle.

Even now, Redhead was quietly standing next to Rudolf, and waiting to take action in a moments notice. This quality of Redhead really impressed Alfred. And one of the reasons he greatly appreciated this knight of his.

Alfred and Nathen quietly watched from the side. From what they saw and heard, both of them were content with the orders given by Rudolf. Alfred was the more content one of the two. Alfred was satisfied, how Rudolf listened to the plans he had discussed with his vessels and taken action accordingly without diverging much from his plan.

Nathen on the other hand, apricated the calm and steadiness, Rudolf was showing under current circumstances. As a veteran who had braved many winters in Everwinter fortress, Nathen knew what panicking would lead to in this kind of situation. Rudolf's clear headedness and ability to command had really impressed Nathen.

As Alfred and Nathen continued to watch, Rudolf on the other hand, was so busy giving order that he had not noticed Alfred and Nathen's arrival. It was only when Redhead signalled, that Rudolf finally saw Alfred and Nathen waiting in the side. Instand of rushing to greet Alfred, Rudolf first dismissed the man he was talking to and only then he approached Alfred.

"My Lord." Rudolf knelt on one knee and saluted Alfred.

Alfred nodded and told Rudolf to stand up.

"How is the situation the situation outside?" Alfred asked.

"For now, surprisingly good." Rudolf replied. "Only a little time ago, the serfs working outside the wall noticed the increase in beast activity in the near by woods. Upon receiving the information, I and Redhead were near by and rushed to the walls to take command. After that, as a precaution I have order all the serfs outside to withdraw and come back inside the fortress walls. I have also dispatched few hunters from the levies, as scouts to check the situation in the forest. They will come back any time now."

"Good job taking command of the situation." Alfred praised. "Looks like you are quite adapt at such jobs."

"Not really. I am just following the lord's plan." Rudolf said in a humble manner.

Alfred sook his head.

"You really did handle the situation correctly." Alfred told Rudolf. "Being prepared for something and actually facing it is completely different. Although I have laid out the plans for any possible attack, I am impressed with how you have implemented it. Good job Rudolf."

Just as Rudolf was about to reply, two rough looking man appeared behind him. Both of then knelt and saluted Alfred first and to others.

"Speak, how the situation outside?" Rudolf asked after turning.

"My lord, the serf's reports are true. The beasts outside gathering in masses and are preparing to rush towards the fortress." One of them reported.

"This is bad news." Nathen said anxiously. "What is the size of group? What is the level of the strongest beast? Is there any flying type? How long before they attack."

"My lord by our estimate the group is a medium sized one and might attack any moment now. As for the strongest one, we think all are level one beasts and there is probably no flying beast among them as far as we know." The other scout replied.

After listening to what the scouts had to say, Alfred dismissed them and instructed to keep watch.

"A medium sized beast group. Not a good sign." Nathen said from the side.

"Well we can't do nothing about it now." Alfred said. "The only thing we can do is fight them. We have made our preparation. We can only wait for them to attack us."

Just as Alfred had finished speaking, a sudden sound of bell ringing attracted his attention. He knew very well what that sound meant. And so did the others.

"The beasts are attacking." Someone shouted.

Out of everyone, Rudolf was the one to spring into action first.

"Everyone don't panic and hold your position. Archer draw your arrows and prepare to fire them at a moments command. Slinger get ready to throw stones when the beasts enter your range. Do not wait for my order. Remember, throw stones as the beasts enter your range. Levies and spearman secure the front entrance. Make sure to hold your ground if the beast's beak through. Do not let them come inside the fortress. Everyone get ready to battle." Rudolf barked orders one after another in a clear order.

At the side, Nathen ones again urged Alfred to get to the safety.

"My lord, you should get back. Its no longer safe here. Let and Rudolf take care of the situation on your behalf." Nathen urged.

"Nathen do you know what will happen if I run now?" Alfred asked Nathen. "Not only the plan will fail miserably, when the serf see he run and hide they will be the first to follow suit. They will turn cowardly again and abandon their position without care for consequence. As a result, the beast will easily break through and kill many innocents in northern land. As such I cannot retreat." Alfred explained.

"But my lord?" Nathen did not know what to say now.

"Don't worry. If the situation turns too much against us, I will surely retreat. But till then I have to stand firm and raise the moral of everyone." Alfred said. "In the meantime, I think you would be enough to protect my safety. I trust you can do a good a good job right?"

Nathen nodded making up his mind.

With that out of the way, Alfred made his way to highest point in the wall and looked towards the forest to see the beasts. Alfred noticed that the beast tide was largely made up of Jackals and medium sized creatures numbering less than a thousand. But the key difference from the jackals from his last life, was that these beasts were huge. Many large as 4 ft tall. Although they were not big as the eagle, they were big enough to surprise Alfred.

With there large frames and strong bodies, the beasts looked menacing to the extreme. They only had one thing in mind, food. After all the lack of food in winter had driven them mad because of hunger and forced them to march south.

With out regard for anything the jackals and other beasts, ran madly towards the fortress walls not noticing a unusual vine tied to tree trunk. As soon as the first jackal ran past it, it triggered Alfred's first trap, a swinging tree trunk which knocked out a few beasts.

Then came the pitfall trap. Disguised with common grass, the pitfall was hard to detect, even through smell. Alfred smiled as many jackals fell into his pitfalls and were stabbed with wooden stakes.

But still more than half were able to jump over it and continued to run towards the wall. Out of traps, there was only one way left to stop the beasts. Lunching ranged attacks.

The singers and archers atop the wall, started to throw stones and fire arrows one after and created a massive barrage that outnumbered the beasts many times. Nearly four hundred singers kept throwing stones at such speed that the massive number of stones gather was used up in fifteen minutes.

In the end a hundred or so jackals made it to the walls but they were severely injured. Still in one last attempt to break through the beasts gathered neat the entrance to the fortress.

Alfred looking at the situation, smiled. This was just what he wanted.

"Bring it." Alfred ordered.

Soon, two strong orcs carefully brought a big iron pot, filled with water so hot that even the toughest meant would cook in matter of seconds and carried it just above the place on the wall where the jackals gathered.

"Throw it." Alfred said closing his eyes.

The two orcs nodded and using a thick piece of cloth, they carefully lifted the iron pot and throw the extremely hot water at the jackals.

Soon painful cries of jackals could be heard from down below the wall, making ones unable to comprehend how much pain they were suffering. Many died instantly with only a few able to escape with severe burns. Alfred was sure that those who survived, only a few would be able to make through the night.