Chapter 21: Drums of war

Sounds of iron clashing rang out in the training ring, now empty as almost everyone sleeps and the circle muted to not disturb them, as Sofia is pushed on the defensive against Soloman.

She then lunged at an opening but was quickly parried followed by him moving behind her and delivered the coup de grace as the paralysis of defeat caused her to fall.

Soloman then sheathes both weapons and gives her a hand.

"Your speed and accuracy are good. But you need to learn when to strike."

"Yes, Mentor," she replies and pulled herself up with his hand.

They then sit on a bench to take a rest when Soloman spoke up.

"But you were reckless and rude when you insult our guest by challenging him."

"Why should I care. He was a knight. And you know how they are."

"Sofia. How many times must I remind you that not every knight are stuck-up glory hounds."

"But Mentor! You saw the knights of Leona and their treatment of the people. Using their noble ranking as excuse for their crimes. And their hypocrisy on 'honour' and promises!"

"Yes. I saw many knights from my youth that are cruel. But I have also saw knights, whether paladin, grey knight or darkguard, helping the innocent and asking no rewards. When are you going to stop your assumption on the rich and nobility."

Sofia then touch her scar, a large burn on left shoulder back and a memory of her mother's death, and the tattoo of the butterfly that hides her slave mark.

"Nobility and knights are nothing but monsters who used their reputation to abuse others for their amusement. And most men aren't much better as they abuse the weak and pretend to be brave to attract others."

Soloman sighs, wishing he could remove the trauma that cause her to have that hateful view, and replied.

"Listen, Sofia, there are those who uses such power to cause harm to others. But there are also those who help. There is more beyond Leona and you-"

His speech was then interrupted the door flying open, slamming against the wall, with Wolfgang, covered in sweat and panting heavily, who speaks.

"Lord Brundol is mustering an army to attack the sewers."

with a flurry the alarm rang and everyone was quickly roused from their slumber with the news.

Left and right, men and women quickly donned their gambesons, and armed themselves with crossbows and maces before assembling at the main hub.

It was then where Soloman beckon Ardent and his group to quickly meet him.

Ardent and the rest quickly follow Soloman to the lab, meeting with the everyone else alongside, to their surprise, the trio.

"Why is it important that we follow you rather then join the rest of your soldiers?" Ardent ask.

Soloman tells him he'll answer that later.

"I'll be brief. From what Ignatz had shown alongside Delilah and her mages is that, contrary to what we thought, all of Leona felt the tremor and lord Brundol guess it was us and or the Obrilon."

"The reason why I invited your group and the trio here is that all of you have seen it's vision. And I want all of you to know. And help us."

Ardent nods and ask about the situation.

Wolfgang then replies.

"From what I've gathered topside. Is that Bryan had mustered the army when the tremors hit, about two thousand or so against our five-hundred. And he is currently making preparation, from guessing where we are to how to transport his army through, to attack. Which, by estimates, means will have about a week and a half to prepare."

Soloman the shows the map of the sewers, including their hidden entrances which they went through and another which lead outside, and orders.

"Ekon. Raise the levy. All men and women at least sixteen must train how to fire and reload a crossbow or fight in a phalanx. Ignatz. You and your sappers set up the traps in the tunnels and try to funnel them into kill zones. Wolfgang. Go back up and use a runner to keep track of his army and secure the secret exit. Delilah. You and your mages set your magic traps and detectors and ready for combat."

"What about us mentor?" Sophia pipes up.

Soloman smile.

"The three of you will do the most important mission. Your goal is to escort the children, pregnant, and elderly, with the sixteen years old conscripts, old soldiers, and husbands of the pregnant to the secret exit and meet up with Wolfgang."

The trio then gapes at him in disbelief.

"But we want to help you fight against them. Not escort other, especially since they already have guard. Is it because you think we can't fight." Sophia snaps back.

Soloman then frown.

"No, far from the contrary, I trust that all of you know how to fight but you don't know what war is like. It's not like the training rings as you will truly die. And what your doing is important. You are protecting those who can't fight."

All three of them then stare at him. Then sighs and accepts.

"Why can't all of you evacuate to the other base?" Ardent ask.

Ignatz then speaks up with sigh.

"We would if we could Ardent. But, unfortunately, moving all the equipment's needed to find about the Obrilon would take about a month at least. Not only that but the new area will have less space. Meaning we can't properly use the equipment's there."

"So then how do we factor into this?"

Soloman sighs.

"I summoned you here because I want to give you a choice. In the end you gave us the orb without expecting a reward. Now you can choose to either stay and help us. Or follow the children and elderly out of here and leave. Brundol doesn't know any of you so you can leave without trouble. And you will be given a small reward for helping us earlier."

Silence then fell as the group ponders. Before Ardent speaks up.

"I will gladly aid your sir Soloman. As it is my duty, as a knight and follower of Nazareth, to help the good and destroy evil."

Then Erhardt.

"I'll also help. It would be dishonourable and monstrous of me to let a kingdom of slavery live."

Louise.

"From the many visions I saw. Not helping you will lead to our doom."

Solaina.

"I guess I'll help. Mainly to make sure he doesn't get that orb."

And finally, Kurgren.

For about a few seconds Kurgren pondered, whichfelt like minutes for him. A part of him wants to leave, to get away from this mess and return to normal like last time, with the money possibly giving his mother a better life.

Yet, like when Curtis offers of riches, his memories of his happiness with his father and his word rings through his mind, a code of chivalry that he tried to forget years ago.

"A true hero is one who protect the innocent and face evil head on. And, above all else, stand for what's right even when given the chance to run."

Kurgren grits his teeth, wishing he could just leave, the teaching of his parents ringing through his head telling him to help, even if he knows there is no reward.

And with a mental yell, and a sigh, he replies.

"I'll help."

The five of them then smiles, Soloman and Wolfgang shedding a few tears, before Soloman shakes their hands.

"Thank you. All of you. Words can't say how grateful I am."

And afterward his expression changed, from a worried but happy smile to a frown of determination.

"The five of you decide on how you'll help. Ekon, Ignaz, Delilah, Wolfgang and the three of you know what to do. NOW MOVE OUT!"

A week and a half past by like a blur. Kurgren and the rest moving to and fro to help.

Ardent and Ekon began training the conscripts, mainly on how to form a phalanx quickly and move in sync.

Ignatz and Erhardt, alongside a crew of Humans and Halflings, quickly arm the many traps in the sewers while blockading the tunnels, in a way that that force the opposition to go another way while still allowing the sewage to flow, and laying a few more traps and alarms.

Louise and Delilah, and their small group of Elves and Human mages, quickly cast sensor and scrying spells along trap runes until the last day where they rest to be at full power.

Solaina, alongside a few crossbow and musket veterans, had train the crossbowmen how to aim and fire in sync while making sure the crossbows, and muskets, are in top condition.

Wolfgang and the trio had lead the non-combatants to a safe zone they set for times like these, and after finishing it on the fourth day, began spying to find out about the army and buying supplies, mainly quarrels and paper cartridges, for the rebels.

During which Soloman quickly make sure everything goes smoothly, taking funds they accumulated from the past years from the vault to give to Wolfgang and planning on where they will fight the vastly superior army.

And Kurgren had mainly helped everyone, from delivering heavy items to the groups, helping Ignatz and Erhardt build the blockades, to helping Soloman relay orders.

During all this the rebels had, until the last day, had only three hours of sleep and meals of oatmeal, dark bread and pottage. Until the last day where they had a big dinner.

And now he stands atop on the bridge connecting the sidewalks, side by side with crossbowmen and Ekon with his bow, with three men and women three ranks deep holding spears and shields with two ranks of three muskets in front of them behind short stone covers made by the mages. The rest somewhere else in the large canals.

On his and Ekon's neck are a necklace which had a spell that transmit words to their mind. With Soloman giving the orders.

While waiting for the enemy he began to hear distance yells and echoes of pain. The traps the sappers set going off.

Then he hears it. The loud beats of war drum as the Leona army emerge, all wearing chainmail hauberks with a mixture of muskets, pistols, swords, and spears.

First the infantry armed with pistols and sword charges. But as they charge toward them the traps began to set off.

Pieces of stone tied on string begins to fall down. Cracking the skulls of the soldiers through the helmets and knocking them to the sewers. Followed spears shooting out and impaling them before being cut down by the rest.

Then Ekon orders.

"CROSSBOWS! AIM! LOOSE!"

Quarrels filled the air before striking true, few piercing through the soldiers chainmail but most bounced off, followed by Kurgren and Ekon arrows, theirs pierced through their chainmail and breaking bones with ease, as they fire in repeating volleys.

Scores of the soldiers began to fell under the crossbows, Kurgren even seeing some of Ekon's arrows piercing through one soldier and striking the other, before rows of infantry armed with kite shields form a wall and reduce most of their damage.

The Leona musketman then follows behind. But when they reached effective range plumes of opaque, poisonous clouds burst from the ground, the mages traps, and blocking their sights and choking them.

And the rebel musketman leader, through the dins of the war drums beating and the battlecry of the surviving soldiers, yells out the order.

"FIRST RANK! FIRE!"

And a cacophony of explosion echoes throughout the tunnels as the muskets fires, their padded cap enchantments preventing the echoing noise deafening them.

It was then followed by shrieks and yells of pain, a few pistolier and shield infantries briefly charging out of the smoke before falling from their wounds, followed by a second order.

"SECOND RANK! FIRE!"

The first rank then moves behind and reload as the second rank move forward, aims, and fire.

Another score of soldiers fell, only a few shield infantries survived when their wooden shield managed to deflect or stop the bullets, as the musketmen, now out of the smoke, returns fire.

The rebel quickly ducks, with three or six being unlucky and killed, with the bullets bouncing off the barricades or bridge wall.

The volley is then followed by the infantry charging forward, only fall for their final trap.

The charging soldiers then shrieks in pain and stumbles, having stepped on the caltrops they've hidden, followed by the crossbow and musket infantry firing.

It's then where Kurgren and Ekon pull out the guns, now that the enemies are within range, and fires.

With an explosive roar Ekon's carbine fires, shooting a glob of plasma, which effortlessly burns through the soldier armor and struck the one behind her, leaving a bloody cavity where their heart or lungs should be, before twisting the barrel, now a red hot piece of molten iron, out with the handle and toss it to the waters, causing a hiss and explosion upon touching the surface, and puts in a new one.

And for another hour they fought, taking down at least a hundred soldiers, until the muskets were out of ammo.

Ekon then sounds the horn to withdraw. Where their one of their escape tools, an even larger plume of smoke to cover their retreat, erupts from the ground and blocks the musketmen view, where the surviving musket infantry runs behind the phalanx infantry who skewers any soldier who charged out of the smoke.

The phalanx then quickly kills any infantry, now charging in an unorganized mob, when another phalanx emerge.

It was then where the Ekon and Kurgren group pulls out their alchemist grenades they got from Ignatz and his engineers and throws them behind the Leona phalanx.

The soldiers not in formation then panics and run before the grenades go off with a roar.

The shrieks of the soldiers then echoed through the tunnels as they get ripped apart blast,disembowelled by the shrapnel or having their limbs blown off.

Their phalanx managed to hold. Many of their grenades bouncing of the shield spell they made when in formation, with only a few shrapnel's managing to lightly cut a soldier or two but none managed to kill.

But soon their phalanxes formation shield began to break, under the constant barrage of bullets, quarrels, and grenades without support, before felling to the grenades and forced to retreat as more troops charge in a shieldwall and continue fighting.

Then ten minutes past. The smoke beginning to dissipate, while the sound of footfalls continues to come towards them, where Ekon sound two short blast.

The crossbow infantry throws one last salvo of grenades. Before they and the remaining phalanxes retreat, knowing that they out of traps while the enemy still has numbers, and move to phase two of the plans.