Coil of Worlds

The falling of timber and shouts of his men filled the air, temporarily turning his attention from his cravings. Lukar’s army blocked all three roads coming from Gharra, halting any possibility of Pyrannis escaping what came next. Lukar strode through the rows of tents. Timing was crucial for the success of his plan. Two days ago his army had set eyes on Gharra’s city walls.

On a hill, closer to the ocean than the city gates, the Pyranni stronghold sat like a forbidding presence overlooking the city. The description of the castle his scouts had given him did not do it justice. Made of black stone, it was powerful and graceful in its simplicity.

And it would be his in under two weeks’ time. Tonight, his army would begin the siege in truth. Since marching from the forest to the barren strip of land surrounding the city walls, his commanders set about building ladders and mantlets. The trees for the three battering rams were the first cut down and affixed with metal trappings to protect the men charged with ramming the gates. Because the three city gates were spread out along the wall, Lukar was forced to split his attention across three areas on the field.

Although no battles had taken place since overtaking the far side of the field, bodies already littered the landscape, each one showcasing blond hair. The Pyranni men and women taken captive and swallowed into service within his army slipped away each night for the city’s walls. He sneered at their foolishness. The first night word reached him, he had almost wasted precious arrows on them. By letting them go, it gave his army the false impression of mercy, but then he had looked up at the night sky, noticing how dark it was. One moon had almost disappeared from above, and the other was well on its way.

He had waved away his commanders who were readying to shout orders to the archers. Waiting patiently, he heard shouts in the distance, then the sounds of screams of pain and terror floated to him.

Why waste arrows when the Pyranni guards along the wall did his work for him? He had thought it the last night any Pyranni captives would attempt to escape. How wrong he was. The last two nights had ended with the same outcome. Mentally shrugging his shoulders, Lukar wondered about the level of intelligence the Pyranni people had. The city’s guards’ fear of attack overwhelmed their desire to save their own people.

Seeing the dead on the ground, Lukar’s craving for meat overwhelmed him, and his fingers shook ever so slightly. To hide his weakness from the men around him, he clenched his hands into fists. Lukar had vowed to only eat at night, but he quickly rationalized the early meal he’d soon partake.

Tonight his army attacked the walls of the city. He’d have no time to take his fill once the sun began setting. Entering his tent, he ordered a man brought to his tent. As he waited for his meal to arrive, Lukar hovered over the map, working his way through every possible contingency.

The sound of the flap opening and closing led to the rush of excitement flooding his limbs. The naked man quaking before him was perfect. With no one else present, Lukar allowed his trembling to show for once. Tonight’s offering would never whisper of his weakness to another after he was done. Licking his lips, he studied his meal before him. Lukar’s eyes glittered with anticipation, for the man was readying to run. Lukar let loose a chuckle. His prey jumped toward the entrance, and Lukar was on him.

Several weeks ago, he had learned that chasing his prey filled him with something akin to joy. While the man scrambled for purchase on the floor, Lukar leaned down and sniffed his meal. Sighing at the rich aroma filling his nose, he lifted the man with one hand and threw him to the other side of the large tent. Before his prey could move, Lukar was on him, picking him up to strap him into the frame. Succumbing to his hunger, Lukar pulled his knife from his belt and went to work.

Licking his fingers several hours later, Lukar left his tent prepared for the coming battle. The sun was beginning to sink, casting the grounds in lengthening shadows. Nodding to his silent guards, he moved toward the front of the field. Soldiers bowed to him in various stages of dress. Nearing the field where his army would form lines, his commanders yelled for their troops. He stared across the field and saw a flurry of activity along the wall. Horns blew throughout the city, warning its populace of the impending battle.

Lukar climbed onto the prancing koti and reined it in. The animal snorted, shifting from side to side, unable to contain its nervousness. Lukar checked the formations in front of the most eastern gate, then the west gate. Satisfied his men were almost in place, he jerked the reins, turning his mount to watch the last of his men join the ranks.

Eyeing the sky one last time, Lukar took a deep breath and bellowed, “Malirra!”

The cry was picked up, spreading like a wave across the field to the flanking army at the other gates. Raising his sword, he motioned his men forward, and a deep horn from his kingdom sounded its call, the first horn was soon joined by a multitude of others.

The men carrying the ladders and protective shields surged ahead, followed by the archers. The men carrying torches marched forward; their task to assist the archers. The battering ram lumbered down the road on huge, wooden wheels, pushed by a squadron of men. The tramp of feet hitting the ground and the clang of armor against armor resonated through Lukar, and his blood hummed with excitement.

Lukar had a passing thought that many in the front lines wouldn’t survive the night, yet theirs was a necessary task. When the lines were halfway across the stretch of land, stones rained from above, having been launched from the ramparts. Screams filled the air when they hit their mark, but the lines reformed around their fallen before they broke into a run for the walls. Archers set up behind the mantlets, and burning arrows flew toward the wall upon order after order. Pyranni warriors fell from the battlements, dying on the hard ground below.

With the setting sun in the city defenders’ eyes, Lukar’s men received some relief. Arrows and spears rained down on his men from above, but many missed their mark, giving his men the chance to reach the walls. With Malirran archers laying cover fire, men charged ahead with their ladders. Many of the ladders were quickly knocked away from the wall, but a few stayed upright, only to have cauldrons of burning oil land on the men climbing them.

Time passed, and the sun sank behind the horizon. Cries from both sides rose and fell, and Lukar watched, yelling out orders when needed. Booms resounded through the night; the battering rams hit the thick gates with a steady beat. His commanders kept his army moving forward, the ebb and flow like an undulating snake.

Turning toward Colm, Lukar ordered, “Have the archers fire the arrows past the wall and into the buildings beyond.”

“Yes, My King,” the war advisor replied with a bow. A messenger was dispatched, and Lukar watched in satisfaction as half the archers shot arrows into the city.

Pandemonium would reign.

He could only hope the flames would spread from one building to the next. Even if it didn’t, its citizens would scramble to douse the fires. The city was bursting from the number of Pyranni citizens packed within its walls. Surely at least some of the arrows found their marks.

Two of the smaller gates opened, and several squadrons of Pyranni warriors thundered toward the front lines. Lukar motioned for the flag bearers to signal the waiting troops forward. Spears were levered into the ground, and shields were braced against the impact of the oncoming kotis. The clash overpowered the rest of the battle. Screams of dying animals merged with the clang of swords against swords. The front line held, but not for long.

“Flank the swordsmen with archers, and squeeze the Pyranni warriors. Let none retreat behind the walls,” Lukar yelled over the din.

This time, Lukar joined the fight, pushing his animal hard. His bodyguards and war advisors kept pace. He killed his first opponent by skewering him from behind. Semnac’s power was rampaging its way through his body, and her strength and speed made him no match for the Pyranni warriors before him. Many of the blond-haired warriors were without their mounts, placing them at a disadvantage to his higher position.

Entering the melee gave his troops momentum, and their war cries flew through the ranks. Lukar’s army moved forward with renewed energy. He cut down two more of the enemy before he was surrounded by his guards. It didn’t matter. The opposing force had no chance to retreat. They were killed all too soon in Lukar’s opinion.

The hum of an arrow flew toward him, and he dipped his head to the side in reflex. He watched in bemusement as the arrow found its mark in a Pyranni. Realizing their king was in danger, his archers rallied and shot with unerring accuracy at the men above.

But no sooner was a hole created along the rampart than it was replaced with another, and another again. There was an excess of Pyranni warriors within Gharra’s walls. A fact that Lukar and his commanders hadn’t anticipated. They should have known better. It made the success of his plan all the more important.

The battle was in the capable hands of his commanders. Lukar returned to his original position and scanned the length of the battlefield.

A runner tumbled to a halt before him and gave him a jerky bow. Taking a deep breath, the boy reported, “My King, the west gate is splintered, though it still holds. It is possible we’ll breach the gate by morning.”

Lukar nodded once and waved him away. Glancing to the west, the activity surrounding the gate was difficult to see. He said to no one in particular, “The plan in place may not be necessary.”

“My King?” Alux asked.

Lukar arched one brow, shooting a satisfied look in the man’s direction. “We didn’t expect the walls to fall so early in the siege.”

“And leave those still at sea out of the battle? Semnac’s teeth! I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“How much did you wager?”

“Wager?” Alux snorted. “Nothing. But Tair will complain for the next year if we don’t leave him a few to kill.”

He chuckled, returning his gaze back to the west gate. “You needn’t concern yourself with Tair’s wrath. I’ve no doubt the gate’s defenders are repairing the damage as we speak.”

“I admit I’m enjoying our plan’s execution. It’s devious in its simplicity.”

Lukar twisted his head to study the barrage of lit arrows arching toward the east gate’s wall in a constant stream. He sneered at the thought of Pyran’s king. The man would be an idiot to agree to his terms; but by all accounts, the man was a fanatic of his faith.

The goal wasn’t to breach the city’s walls tonight, or even tomorrow night. The city was too well fortified with the kingdom’s warriors. Although the city was filled to the brim with its townspeople and the city’s outlying villagers, it was also well stocked with supplies. Too many of his men would die, and it was not his intention to cause his men’s death for no reason. His own army would run out of supplies long before the city did. No, the plan he had devised was essential for cultivating the Pyranni king’s assistance.

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Lara’s eyes snapped open when the sound of brakes hitting rubber screamed its approach. Seeing a black sedan’s headlights almost on top of her, she leapt to the side of the road, hitting the curb with a curse. Pain lanced through the right side of her ribcage, and her lungs seized.

“Oh, God-oh God. Ma’am, are you all right? I swear I didn’t see you,” a boy’s adolescent voice called to her.

Sucking in air at last, Lara rolled over with a drawn-out moan. She lifted her head and saw the car idling where she’d stood not a moment before. Of all the places to return to on Earth, the middle of a road at night had never crossed her mind. A snicker escaped at the absurdity of the situation. Clearing her throat, she said, “I’m okay. I’m all right. It isn’t your fault. I didn’t see you when I started across.”

Lara half-heartedly waved away the kid when he tried to help her up. Hugging her right arm to her side, she struggled into a sitting position.

“My mom’s going to kill me. I didn’t hit you, did I?”

Lara cast a look in the boy’s direction. He hovered a few feet away, worry plastered all over his countenance. She sighed slowly, afraid the movement would cause pain. She shook her head in answer, then glanced around.

Her heart raced for an entirely different reason. Her parents were only a street over. Despite having almost died by car, she couldn’t help the elation that spread across her face.

“I’m okay, really,” she repeated, afraid the boy would stand there forever if she didn’t send him on his way. Holding up her hand, Lara asked, “Help me up?”

Once she was standing, the boy edged toward his car. “Are you sure you’re all right? I don’t need to take you to a hospital?”

“No, I’m fine. I don’t need a hospital. I apologize for scaring you. I wasn’t thinking when I stepped off the curb.”

The slam of the car door was his only response. She watched as the car sped away before grimacing. This wasn’t how she wanted to see her parents after they thought the worst had happened. They were two days away from the training school, and days spent in the tunnels without the benefit of a bath had her reeking from sweat and grime. The only good news was she didn’t have her sword.

Hm. Lara tilted her head back in regret. The weapon would have made the story she was about to tell them all the more believable.

Taking a slow, deep breath, Lara was relieved to know she hadn’t broken a rib, though she’d end up with an ugly bruise.

Her childhood home called to her, and she took her first step down the sidewalk. At first every jolt made her whimper, but the pain eased with each additional step. Half a block later, she could walk without curling over.

A few minutes later the pain was forgotten, overpowered by the surreal feeling that she stood in front of her house. Her feet were frozen on the porch; her hand poised to ring the doorbell. Lara shook off the fleeting feeling of being out of rhythm with this world and pressed the button with a trembling finger.