Ch7-9: Baronian Assault
The first wave of the enemy army rushed the city walls just a little before noon. Being a fortressed city, Baron was built to withstand siege and warfare from invading ground troops for a moderately long time. That’s why when the army’s first advance absolutely shattered the Baronian defense, it came as an unthinkable shock.
“What the…?” Kain Highwind watched the spectacle from his station upon the upper ramparts, his face growing more and more grim by the moment. Below, he could hear the barks of the Red Wing commanders demanding that the men hold the defensive line. But something was scattering the soldiers like leaves in the wind.
“Captain Highwind!” a bug-eyed Baronian soldier called over the sound of battle and retreat, motioning wide with his hands. It took him a moment to catch his breath between wheezing coughs before he could speak again. “They’re breaching the gates!”
“I can see that. How is that possible?” Kain turned on his heel, a scowl painted across his face. One hand tightened around the haft of his spear grip. “We had those gates completely fortified!”
“I… I don’t know, Sir! But they seem to be able to…” the soldier struggled with his words again, “Move… over things?”
“Move over things?”
“Over as in above, Sir!”
“Above? They have air troops?” Kain’s face darkened. That was a possibility they hadn’t counted upon when they had seen the wavering form of the approaching army on the horizon from the Baron battlements.
“No, Sir. Above as in… just… above?” the man broke into another round of coughs, seeming at a loss to explain it anymore.
And Kain was at just as much a loss to comprehend, “Are you trying to say that the approaching army is…”
“They seem almost ghost-like in appearance, Sir,” the soldier’s face was growing paler by the moment, beads of glistening sweat dotting his brow. “The gates aren’t stopping them. Neither are the walls.”
The Dragoon dropped his head for a moment of thought. “I see.”
“We don’t know how to fight these creatures, Sir,” he continued. “Our weapons don’t seem to hurt them at all.”
“Where are the Mage troops?” Kain grimaced. “Didn’t we have some Mysidian backup in the turrets?”
“I’m not sure, Sir. A lot of the troops broke in the first wave of the attack… when the enemy came above the gates,” the soldier looked somewhat ashamed. But the fear was still there, painted upon his white-tinged face. Fear more than anything else.
This is all really bizarre…
“Ghosts…” the Captain scoffed to himself. “Whoever heard of ghosts in the daylight?”
“That’s what I thought, too, Sir. But I don’t know what else you can call them.”
What would a bunch of ghosts want with storming the gates of Baron? Did Cecil go and piss off a bunch of dead guys by tromping over their graves or something?
There had been no warning. No demands of war. Nothing at all. Simply a silent army of ghostly blue-green mounting the crest of the hill. And then their glide down towards the city, a wave of light and shadow that seemed too unreal for words.
Dammit, Cecil. You would have to be out of town right now… when we could use you the most.
There was no doubt that Cecil was the one person that could have made the Red Wings troops stand their ground. The young Paladin had that effect on his men – courage and morale always ran high whenever Cecil was at the forefront of his troops. And despite all of Kain’s abilities and recognitions, there was nothing the Dragoon Captain could ever do to fill that space when Cecil was not there.
We can’t just buckle and give in… we’ve gotta round the men up and get defenses back on track.
Kain turned, a serious tone to his voice, “Soldier, I want–”
The soldier stood, half doubled over, breath wheezing through his lips. One hand clutched at his chest. It was the first time that Kain paused to think that maybe something was more wrong with the man than the simple winded-breath.
“Hey… you doing okay, Soldier?” the Captain asked, voice hinting concern.
“Yes, Sir. I just had a bit of that summer cold that’s going around. I’ll be fine, Sir,” the soldier turned with a rather dull glimmer to the darks of his eyes. A sallow color was spreading over his features, despite his denial. “Just tell me what you want me to do, Sir.”
“Alright,” Kain attempted to hide the hint of reluctance that colored his voice.
It really does look worse than a summer cold… but if the man is up to it, we certainly need all the swords we can get on this one.
“I want you to go down to intersection A-12 and C-15 and round up as many men as you can along the way. We’ve gotta get the commanders together and start spiking up another set of inner defenses,” Kain began, pointing out the areas from their overlooking spot. “The townspeople have fallen back inside the castle itself, so no civilians should be out on the streets at this point. If there are, we need to get them back where they should be. No militia heroes out there, do you understand?”
The soldier had fallen completely silent and motionless, his eye glazing over in a strange hooded expression. They seemed darker, yet more translucent at the same time.
“Soldier? I said do you understand?” the Dragoon asked, brow furrowing as he took a step closer.
A trickle of black froth suddenly appeared at the corner of the soldier’s mouth, a low, rasping sound gurgling from the back of his throat. An instant transformation took the man, eyes darkening to hollowed, with only a pinprick of pale blue light burning from behind them. His skin was a sickly yellowed color, as if decaying right there before Kain’s startled stare. One hand slowly drew the tarnishing blade, fingers showing blackened nails under plates of rancid, rusting armor.
Holy… SHIVA!
Kain stumbled back as the odor of death filled his senses. Shock was written across his face, his hands trembling on the haft of the spear — it took him a moment to realize that he was now facing a threat from one of his own men.
He just… just… became a…
That’s when the screaming rang out from below. One glance was all that Kain was afforded. But it was enough to realize what was happening. Soldier was turning on soldier down in the streets below. As if triggered by some unseen, unknown malady, about two thirds of the Baronian army had just defected, joining in a mindless rampage on their own comrades with the ghostly creatures that now swarmed the city streets.
“Mrraaah….” the soldier made a lunge for him only seconds later.
The dim blade flickered inches away from Kain’s startled face as the Dragoon reeled back, catching the blow on the stalk of his lance. With a hiss, he threw back the attacking soldier, springing up to the nearest overhang on the roof of the adjacent building. A pulse of panic flickered through his mind, momentarily as he fought to regain some sense of composure.
How are we going to fight this? An enemy we know nothing about… who can overcome walls… and avoid physical damage from our weapons?
He found himself moving rapidly over the shingled rooftops. One leap had lead into a sprint and a chain of jumps that drove him forward.
Our men were already scattered at the breech in the defense at the gates. And now something’s causing them to turn on each other?
The sound of pained wailing rose from the alley way below. Kain could just make out the shadows of men running, chased down by the spectral invaders… cornered and speared faster than human eye could behold.
What the hell are these things?!
A whizzing sound of an arrow shot past his ear. The Dragoon spun on his heel, face to face with one of the creatures. Hissing, Kain backed away, spear ready. But the ghost already had another arrow ready to fly.
It looks like an… Elf of some sort?
Though Kain had very little experience with the Elven race, the slender features and pointed ears was enough to identify the figure that stood before him. Yet… this was like no Elf he had ever seen before. Slanted eyes burned with an internal, hungry light. The once-smoothed skin seemed sunken and gaunt over bones. There seemed to be some strange sort of spectral glow surrounding its form, like an energy shielding.
It’s that shielding… that’s what’s keeping our weapons from hitting it.
Up close, the Dragoon could see this was no actual ghost… it was the shielding that gave it a spectral visage. However, the feeling of darkness and decay that radiated from the creature still choked his senses.
You picked the wrong target today, long-ears.
Gagging, the Dragoon just managed to spring away as the arrow was released. He twisted in mid-air, jump changing to a dive. Streaking forward, he gave a mighty thrust with his lance. Blue holy light burst from the cool metal. Kain’s teeth bared tight as he braced himself for impact.
The creature reared back as the holy energy struck. The shielding shattered, sliced clean through as if it was nothing more than water. With a hoarse cry, it jolted back, the point of the lance bulleted straight into its chest.
Obviously… it didn’t think to move because it didn’t think I could hit it.
The creature gave a few more writhes before Kain deftly kicked it from the end of his lance. Already, it had begun to melt away into a pile of rancid decay. The Dragoon quickly covered his nose in defense.
Smells like Cecil’s dirty socks…
As if on cue, a familiar thrumming sound sputtered over the skies. Kain lifted his head, eyes turning from the bloodshed below with hope. There was an airship on the horizon. And it was no other than the Barnburner. The very ship that the Paladin King had left upon.
Cecil! You’re back!
Kain’s mouth fell open, his feet already carrying him over the rooftops to the castle.
I take back the dirty socks comment. Just… get your butt in here and turn the tide of this battle!
With a vast, vaulting leap, the Dragoon made the final jumps from the top of the inn roof to the big leaning tree to the edge of the castle wall. A feat that he had been able to do since he had been 17… much to his instructors’ ire.
Dropping down into the courtyard, Kain’s eyes fell upon a glimmer of pale pink. He broke into a bounding jog, narrowing his distance quickly, finally landing next to the rushing form of Queen Rosa.
She turned with a pale-face startle, eyes wide for a moment before she recognized him. “Kain!”
“Rosa… you’re alright?” he found the words hard to come from a dry throat.
“Kain, people are just going crazy…!”
“Then it’s happening in the castle, too?”
“Y-yes?” Rosa reached for him, eyes tearing up. And much to his surprise, she clung.
An uncomfortable look crossed the Dragoon’s face. One which he managed to shove out of the way… afterall, first and foremost, Rosa was his Queen. And long before that, she had been his friend.
Kain wanted to embrace her. To take her up in his arms and get her out of the middle of the terror that had broken across the city. But instead, he calmly put a hand on her shoulder, offering a composed sense of support. “The Barnburner came in for a landing.”
Rosa pulled back slowly, a grateful look on her face. Then she nodded. “Cecil… it’ll all be better once Cecil’s here.”
A bitter twang sounded in the back of his mind.
No. Stoppit. Not now. There’s no place for this in the middle of battle. Get it together, Highwind!
He schooled his face into blankness and nodded, “Yes, of course it will be.”
It seemed to work because Rosa nodded slowly as well, tucking a stray lock of hair behind one ear. She swallowed, face flushing a bit when she realized the position she had put herself in, backing a step away from Kain. “I’m sorry…”
“Forget about it… let’s just go meet Cecil,” he pursed his lips with a soft frown.
Rosa nodded again, hitching up her skirts as she made her way quickly through the courtyard, out to the landing station. By now, the Barnburner had already touched down and was secured in the field. Only a few wayward gusts kicked up as the final rotations of the propellers cast up a breeze.
The two stopped, keeping the required distance from the ship as the heavy-planked door dropped open. Hands folded together, Rosa unconsciously leaned forward, a look of longing shimmering in her bright blue eyes.
Captain Silver was the first to disembark. A few of the crew followed after her as the blue-haired girl swathered her way up towards them. “Damn, we’re too late! We didn’t have no idea that the Daear army would move in so fast. They weren’t joking, were they?”
“Daear?” Kain echoed, giving Silver a furrowed look.
“Yeah, that’s what I heard they call themselves. They were swarming all over in Troia, too,” she leaned back with a flick of her fingers. “Bastadges to kill, I’ll tell you what. But we figured out how to cut them down.”
“Cecil?” Rosa leaned forward breathing,
“Your Majesty?” Silver paused, face questioning.
“Where’s Cecil?” the young Queen’s expression grew more concerned.
“Well you see…” Captain Silver gave her a long look, “Cecil didn’t exactly come back with us.”
“What?” Kain’s eyes widened in shock. “Why not!”
“He decided to go on to Fabul, to intercept the Crystal thief, I think,” she replied.
Rosa stood, a numbed gleam to her eyes. As if she was looking down into a long, vast drop and had no idea how to avoid the dangers that yawned wide in front of her.
Shrewdly, the pilot nudged in, “Hey, I know we can’t take the place of Mr. Holy Boxers… but we’re here to help. We know how to take them down. And we won the battle against the Daear in Troia.”
The young Queen’s eyes flickered up to study Silver’s face.
“You heard me. We creamed them in Troia.”
“I sure hope you’re right… after what I saw out there…” Kain’s words spoke volumes of doubt.
“Cecil may not be here…” Silver planted her hands on her hips, “But the two of you are. You’re both every bit the heroes of the Crystal Wars that he was. So get yourself together and start acting like it.”
Rosa’s mouth dropped open for a moment, as if not used to being talked to so sharply. When it closed, there was a sudden more determined gleam to her eyes. When she spoke again, it came with firmness, “Kain… let me get my bow and arrows. Lady Silver… you’ll have to show us how to take these Daear down.”
A wide grin crossed the pilot’s face and she gave a knowing wink. “With pleasure, Your Majesty.”