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The Siege of Syrn: Part XVII
Posted by Josiah T., Jan 11, 2008. 364 views. ID = 494
This post was written in 19 minutes.
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 | This post has been awarded 12 stars by 3 readers. |  | This post is Part 17 of a writing series titled The Siege of Syrn. |
They went back toward the gate. Dirk was still uncomfortable in his new position, and wondered how people would take it when he started giving orders when they weren't in a desperate situation.
Dirk and Arem mounted the steps to the wall, and walked over toward the gatehouse. Down below, the light of the fires still burned, making the scene even eerier than it already was. In the streets below, where there wasn't any fire, Dirk could make out the shapes of Thargonites moving here and there, the catapults had been moved into the city, as well as a large battering ram.
Dirk looked at Arem with grim amusement. "They'll have to wait for the fire to go out before they can launch another effective assault. They can't move troops efficiently through that."
Arem laughed grimly, "Caught in their own trap. That give us more time to fortify our defenses."
Dirk walked along the wall. There were six towers along it. Two of the towers were large enough to hold catapults. Dirk instructed a group of twenty men to find rubble and bring it up to use as ammunition.
He had braziers brought out from the keep and placed at intervals along the wall, and he had a group of archers stand at each brazier. These were to be used to shoot flaming arrows.
It was the next evening, however, before the Thargonites made any move. The fires in the town had either died down or been doused with water, and it was enough to move troops effectively around the burnt houses.
A man rode up to the gate. He was unarmed, and bore a flag of truce. He demanded to speak with the commander of the castle. When Dirk was informed of this, he hurried to the gate. The man saw him and sneered, "I asked for the commander, not a servant boy! He spat out the last word with venom.
"I AM the commander of the castle. Speak quickly and begone. What do you want?" Said Dirk, trying to make his voice more authoritative than it really was.
"I'm here to discuss terms of surrender."
"Whose?"
"Yours."
"Forget it. You can tell your general that we will never surrender. And should he reach is hand here again it will be stung."
"Maybe so, but what if he is ready to take that sting?"
"Then he will regret it. Begone!" Dirk turned and left. The man stood for a moment, then he spat on the ground, turned, mounted his horse, and galloped back to the Thargonite encampment.
Copyright 2008 Josiah T.. All rights reserved. FifteenMinutesOfFiction.com has been granted non-exclusive rights to display this work. For permission to reprint this item, please contact the author.
Comments
Katie
Jan 11, 2008 | "And if he attempts to reach his finger here again, it will get stung."
Uh, honestly, I find this threat a little awkward. :-S
~Posted by Katie, Jan 11, 2008 |
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