Strange Movements From Batur

The people of Moldamir were scared. They did not like their situation. Not only had they suffered an abysmal defeat to their enemy, but they had also lost their young king.

The city was now stuck surrounded by enemy troops. No one could leave or enter. Public security and sanitation were at an all time low while morale was virtually non existent. The soldiers and citizens mourned their king, while the mercenaries were getting rowdy. Calling for their money everyday.

But the rulers Moldamir refused to pay. How did they know that the mercenaries would still fight after getting paid? There was no guarantee.

'They might even open the city gates if we pay them, just to end their suffering. I know how these fools think. They are greedy and only move for wealth.'

Gavin Barry was the Head General of Moldamir's armed forces and the pseudo Ruler of the city. He was currently stuck in a nasty power struggle with the very mercenaries that his king had hired.

'I told his majesty that they would turn into a knife pointed at our backs, alas...'

Allen Pierce was no doubt the last name Gavin wanted to hear. Let alone work with.

'Because those cowards didn't hold the flank, our King is dead.'

Gavin slapped the table in front him, breaking it up into blocks of wood. The blast from the shockwave travelled across the hall. Gavin was seated in a hall that only elders could access. He was having a meeting with the city elders on what to do. He had reached his limits.

Allen and his men did not make things easier. That was the main problem.

"Old friend, let's shift the mercenaries to the South and Eastern walls. The enemy is never going to attack from there. That way we can avoid having them hold us back. Even if they open those gates, the enemy would never be able to go there." Said a skinny elder with a monkey-like face. A hint of cunning flashed in his eyes as he listed his messy mustache.

"Lord Malvin is right."

"I support that idea."

"So do I."

"Lord Gavin, how about you calm down first so we can resolve this."

"It's been 4 days since Prince Ulysses has arrived. That brute hasn't run. We can't afford to take our time. Please calm down Lord Gavin."

Gavin's outburst had stunned the old man, but who did not know how he felt. Poverty and lawlessness ran amok within the city they loved. Every man in that room felt as if he had failed his ancestors. This city was their only home, alas, it was under siege, but an unforgiving enemy. One they could never compromise with.

If you were seated at that table, you were either a powerful warrior or you had rendered great service to the military in the past. Who here had not lost family, friends and comrades to Batur? The grudges were so steep they could create rivers of blood. There was no forgiveness between the two. Once Batur entered, they had no doubt that their people would be enslaved. Because if they were the victors, that's what they would have done.

"I will negotiate with Allen. I will have him guard the southern and eastern walls. But we still need to keep a lookout. Ulysses is a wild one. He was close to his father. Although he wanted the throne, he is a loyal son. I'm confident he will want revenge. Even if it means losing many of his own men." Gavin calmed himself and sat down.

The rest of the men in the room sighed in relief at Gavins sound words. They were happy that he was still capable of reason. His words had logic to them and were worth listening to.

It was at this moment that a messenger burst into the room and rapidly knelt in front of the table.

"My Lords! I have urgent news to report."

Gavin getsured for the messenger to speak with a grave face.

"Yes Milords. As you have ordered, we have been monitoring the enemy's movements and have noticed some odd behaviour."

Malvin sat up, his face now more invested in the conversation, "Young Man, what do you mean odd, be specific, do not leave a single detail out!"

"Yes Lord Malvin. The enemy is gathering wood at the base of the wall."

"They are doing what?" Gavin had thought he was hearing things."

The messenger shook in fear and said, "Wood my lord. The enemy built rafts. They have started to transport large amounts of wood across the Kariva river using rafts. Once they cross the river they will be within a kilometer of our eastern gate. Shoot I give orders to fire arrows upon them?"

The elders were gobsmacked, trying to understand what was happening. Gathering wood? For what purpose?

"Don't be hasty. We already used up a lot of arrows during our last war. This could be a ploy by the enemy to get us to finish our arrows. They should have spies sending them information on our logistical supplies. Even if they used that wood to start a fire, it can do nothing to our walls. How many men are they sending each trip?"

"Only 50 my lord. They have made two trips so far, depositing the wood a few hundred meters away from the eastern wall. Just outside the range of our archers."

The city had placed all of their anti siege weapons on the northern and western walls. They had absolute faith that the enemy would not succeed in breaching them from behind.

A mountain was impossible to climb in armour, even worse with numbers, so the southern gate was safe. The eastern wall was enclosed by a river that traveled parallel to the wall itself. Crossing the currently flooded river would take time. Time that Gavin and his troops could use to pick them off one by one.

"We can't risk opening our gates for only fifty men. But I feel that something is up. Ulysses is brash but not stupid. I feel that something is amiss."

"For now there isn't anything we can do but wait. Observe their situation. If the number of men transporting the wood exceeds 50 then come back to us and report." Said Gavin after hearing Malvins thoughts.

"Yes Lord Gavin."