Chapter 74 : Whispers in the Dark

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Whispers in the Dark

For days, the relentless cannon fire shook the walls, challenging the old splendor of the stone fortifications. Once flawless and imposing, the walls now resembled a crumbling relic, patched and reinforced, yet unable to regain their former strength. Wooden beams propped up broken stones, fresh mortar replaced the old, but the defensive line had lost its resilience.

At night, the top of the walls was cold and silent, but the silence was deceptive. The sentries stood watch with spears and bows in hand, occasionally peering over the edge to scan the darkness for movement. Flickering torches cast pale lights on the stone, making the shadows dance in an eerie display. Some soldiers grumbled quietly, others fought off sleep, while a few leaned on their shields, trying to rest.

Ali Bey's unit was nearly invisible in the dark. Their black armor blended into the night, and their weapons, dulled to avoid reflections, gave off no shine. The moon was hidden behind clouds, aiding their stealthy advance. Stones crunched faintly underfoot, but no unnecessary sound was made. Ali Bey signaled his men forward with hand gestures.

His most trusted soldier, Hafız Mehmet, whispered,

"Commander, reaching the walls in silence is one thing, but how will we move inside?"

Ali Bey kept his gaze fixed on the walls as he replied,

"We'll reach the gate unnoticed. But silence is our greatest weapon. We must slip inside before they hear us. Remember, the night is our ally."

The soldiers pulled out their ropes and grappling hooks. The hooks latched onto the stone with barely a sound. Carefully, Ali Bey and his men began their ascent. The stone was cold, and their feet occasionally slipped, but their trained hands prevented a fall. They climbed, avoiding the sentries' gaze, inching closer to the top.

Just then, a gunshot rang out from the direction they had come. The sharp crack of the shot shattered the night's stillness, drawing all attention to them.

"Night raid!" a sentry shouted.

Sentries unsheathed their swords and lifted their torches, trying to illuminate the area. Chaos erupted atop the walls as soldiers rushed to secure the gates and stairways. Archers took aim toward the source of the gunshot.

Ali Bey's expression darkened with anger. Why had there been a shot? Had one of his men made a mistake, or had the enemy spotted them and launched a counterattack?

"What's happening?" he whispered to Hafız Mehmet. "Our men were ordered to stay silent. Who fired?"

Mehmet shook his head. "I don't know, Commander, but things are getting complicated. Is the plan ruined?"

Ali Bey had to decide quickly. If the enemy fully mobilized, the night raid could end in disaster. As he searched for a solution, another scream echoed from the top of the walls. There was no time left.

He took a deep breath. Retreat was not an option. If he fled with his men, how could he explain such failure to the Khan? Worse, it would demoralize his soldiers, making a second attempt far more difficult. The only choice was to take the risk.

"Forward!" he whispered. "No turning back. We take the walls!"

The raiders drew their swords and attacked the sentries. The sentries, caught off guard, were overwhelmed at first. The silence of the night was shattered by the clash of steel and muffled cries. Ali Bey swiftly cut down one guard, then turned to another. Hafız Mehmet and two others took down an archer before he could fire.

Within minutes, most of the wall was in their control. Ali Bey's forces pushed the enemy back, tightening their grip on the fortification.

Then, war horns sounded from below, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps. One of the sentries cried out,

"Reinforcements are coming!"

From the courtyard below, armed soldiers rushed toward the walls. Now joined by additional fighters, the surviving sentries formed a line of defense. Torches in hand, their furious eyes turned upward.

Ali Bey clenched his jaw. There was no turning back now. They were truly in a difficult position. The fight had to continue.

One of the sentries cut down a raider, and blood splattered onto the cold stone, glistening in the torchlight. Ali Bey gritted his teeth and parried an enemy strike. His opponent wore light armor, marking him as an infantryman. With a swift motion, Ali Bey drove his sword into the man's chest.

Just then, the sound of fast-moving boots echoed from below. Ali Bey turned sharply. Enemy troops were scaling the walls, joining the reinforcements above.

"Commander, there are too many of them!" Hafız Mehmet shouted. "What do we do?"

Ali Bey quickly surveyed the battlefield. Their current position gave them an advantage, but if the enemy reinforcements fully reached the top, his men would suffer heavy losses. There was no time to think.

"Clear out those in front of us! Don't let them advance!" he ordered. "We must reach the gate at all costs!"

The raiders tightened their formation, preparing for a fierce defense. Arrows whistled through the darkness, narrowly missing them. One soldier let out a scream and collapsed. Ali Bey rushed to his side, checking for a pulse—he was already gone.

Ali Bey shut his eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath. They had to end this before more lives were lost. But the enemy was growing more coordinated, striking with increasing force.

"Press the attack! Cut through them!" he roared.

His men were ready to fight to the last drop of their blood. Enemy troops reached the stairs, pushing upward. The battle intensified.

Ali Bey tightened his grip on his sword and charged into the fray.