Tales of the Vangen: The Siege of Middengard (Book 2)

Chapter 61: Anticipation

(Sometimes the wait is worse then the battle.)

-Chronicler Biblius, an excerpt from, "The Irony of War" 

"They've got soldiers manned along the gatehouse. It seems our sources were correct about Lord Marshal Kalocin still being alive." Libro lowered the spyglass and handed it over to Civis. The man lifted it, observed, hummed out a disapproving tone as he snapped the mechanism shut.

"So they have. I hope you took this into account as part of your plan."

"As a matter of fact, I did." Libro gave the man a coy little smile. Five years ago this would have felt like an angry back and forth. Now it felt more like an honest debate. A testing and retesting for any signs of error. He wanted to say it was because he finally understood how the man worked, but deep down he also believed Civis was taking it easy on him. "I figured since the Lord Marshal's corpse wasn't found after our last assault, he would most likely resurface eventually. The Jotuns retreat from the outer courtyard probably gave him an inkling of what was about to happen."

"They're not exactly subtle creatures, are they?" Civis lifted his brows skyward. Towering over them like furry, brooding trees was Beslog and her children, eyeing the horizon towards Ferrus Keep beneath nests of nettle-like hair and wild fury manes. At a glance it was hard to wonder what the creatures were thinking about, their alien intentions hidden to him, but at the very least Libro was grateful they were on his side. At least, for now.

"It will still be difficult," Libro said. "I've learned by now that no amount of planning can prepare us for something like this. There will be mishaps. There will be mistakes. And we will have to adapt."

"We've got this," Elba said as she stepped up beside him. She slapped an arm around him, pulled him in close, made his bad leg twinge ever so slightly. "You've got this," she added under a whisper. "Now, go make your boys proud. Say something heroic and cheesy. They like that kind of shit."

Libro turned around. Beside him, on the raised platform he stood upon, was the noble entourage that would accompany him on his final assault. Regis, Culter and Nox stood at attention to his right in their natural Tribunal order, a mixture of bright smiles and stern looks flashing towards him. On his left was Rune and their two scheming entourages, an odd set of expressions intertwined between them. Curious smiles and watchful eyes. Wondering no doubt how the calamity would end in their favor. It was, after all, their city. And he the foreign invader.

Behind him, Brand stood further back beside Beslog, a strange companionship that Libro could never hope to understand, let alone the alliance weaved between the two of them. Hatred for a common enemy truly was the strongest bond, but for how long he could not say. What hope was there to keep an alliance for an enemy already gone?

His paranoia would have to take a backseat though as his eyes drifted upward, towards the massive formation of soldiers standing at attention. There were columns of Vangen lined up in tight, little rows, repurposed Star Steel armor glinting dully in the rare sunlight. Dark metal pike heads poked out above white speckled shields. Blackened ax heads held close at the haft. It seemed Hoardie had been busy stealing what he could of Raylein's defeated forces. Their weapons and armor would make a fine addition to the Vangen collection.

Behind them stood a massive rabble of mismatched soldiers that Libro could only guess they were the larger part of the Chainbreaker forces. Most were still in the lower parts of the city cleaning up what was left of the cut off Warhost, but Rune had been kind enough to supply some of their own for the raid. Most appeared to be keen veterans. Hard, grizzled men with enough dents and scratches to prove otherwise. Plenty to mop up what was left of Raylein's army. Dux would have been proud.