Return of the Stormcriers

CHAPTER 41 - SHALEPORT

  Dawn was still a distant future when the first reports began to trickle through the ranks of the resistance that the advance units had spotted Shaleport on the horizon. After a week of walking at an uncomfortably fast pace there was almost an audibly collective sigh from soldiers when the announcement came that they were finally nearing their target. Within the hour the dukes gave the order to halt the march at the top of a large grassy hill that overlooked a brief expanse of beautiful flatland. On the far side of the field lay a sprawling mass of a city, made to look miniature compared to the enormous expanse of ocean that stretched as far as the eye could see. A long strip of white sand beach that looked like crushed diamond in the night separated the grassy flatland from the ocean beyond. White moonlight sparkled amongst the distant waves that crashed into the beach; the smell of salt hung heavy in the air.

   Like many of the largest cities in Verden, Shaleport was not a planned city, more of a collection of buildings that had been thrown up wherever they could fit. A large stone wall wrapped around the mismatched buildings, protecting the city from invaders for at least the last three hundred years. In the center of the city a smaller, older wall encircled a tall stone monolithic tower that rose high above the other buildings of Shaleport. Chipped, worn, and weather beaten from centuries of exposure to the sea air, the venerable tower stared down over Shaleport keeping watch over its people. Extending out from the city, unprotected by the large walls, was an enormous port, one of the busiest in Verden. Long wooden docks stood in the calm waters with three large ships, their proud white sails tightly furled as they gently moved with the tide; several smaller ships filled the remaining dock space. Several long, tall buildings stood between the wall and the docks, mostly warehouses where goods from the ships were stored before beginning their overland travels and other warehouses that were used for the reverse of that journey. Many of the goods for sale in Verden passed through Shaleport on their way to whichever market they were purchased from. The night was too dark and the distance too great to make out much detail besides the largest, most obvious outlines, but even so it was an impressive sight.

   "If fighting becomes inevitable, you can expect Governor Bradley to barricade himself in his tower. He is not a brave man in any way, more concerned with his wealth and status than his people," Hal pointed towards the ancient tower in the center of the city with his bound hands as he sauntered into the midst of the dukes. "Apologies for my tardiness, we wished to build our tent first in case you kept us babbling for too long." He gestured toward Ezrael who had approached silently beside him.

"If that is the case there will be poor morale amongst his guard," Duke Carter said looking at his fellow dukes almost eagerly, choosing to ignore the rest of Hal's comment.

"The only problem we will face is that the captain of the guard, Captain Barclay is loyal to the governor, and his men trust him implicitly," Hal cautioned. "As long as he continues to fight, then I am afraid the soldiers will stand with him."

"Then we must convince the captain that it would be in his best interest to side with us. And if violence does become inevitable we must eliminate him swiftly," Carter said. You could almost see the wheels turning in his mind as he formulated his plan.

"How would we make contact with the captain without drawing the attention of the governor?" Duke Percival asked pointedly through wisened eyes as he adjusted his glasses. "If the captain does not agree to join with us he will tell his liege-lord immediately and we will lose any chance we have at a peaceful negotiation." The oldest duke of the resistance waited on his younger counterparts patiently.

   "Either way we must send a messenger to announce our presence to Governor Bradley," Samuel stated briefly, subconsciously holding himself to his full height beside the notably taller Percival. Hal hid a smirk; it was painfully obvious that as the youngest and least experienced Duke amongst the leaders of the resistance, Samuel was desperate to prove his worth and his leadership both to himself and the others.