Paladin - the path north volume one

Chapter 12

Sah'rah watched on as the bombardment continued, yet still, after months of attacks, they hadn't made so much as a dent. The massed rubble, however, had created a ramp up which they could now attack the fortress. It was, in fact, the only reason Tar'mon hadn't been forced into an all-out assault thus far. As she had promised, a message had been sent to Tar'vid, summoning him to camp in order to visit Dagarn, at what had been dubbed 'Shadow Cliff castle'. Many Paladins, soldiers and Mages had been sent there to help repair and garrison the fortress. Tar'vid, however, hadn't returned yet, and she wondered whether Dagarn would begin to resent her not living up to her end of the bargain. Tar'mon had pulled her up on her return, asking where she'd been the last day or so. She had simply told him that they had found a Paladin keep, guarded by a war-bred Orc. Tar'mon had been emboldened at such news, sending scouts out to the other marks upon the map she'd found, though these other castles had been razed to the ground years ago, being little more than piles of rubble now.

"What are you thinking about?" Sah'eca asked, trudging up behind her and watching as another volley launched from the catapults.

"Too many things, perhaps I need to focus on myself a little more," she replied, watching the rocks impact ineffectually against Kendral's walls once more.

"Perhaps, have you spoken with Tar'gelth yet?" her friend asked with concern.

Sah'rah had put him from her mind, and cut him from her life, they had exchanged a few words at the council, but that was all.

"Not really, that part of my life is done now... I moved on."

She looked over at Sah'eca, forcing a smile for her friend. It had been strange at first, but she had become rather fond of Sir Godwin, the knight was a refreshing change of pace for her.

The two of them walked back towards the siege camp, passing by the relentless catapult crews, who unceasingly loaded their war engines and fired, again and again, they must have felt humiliated, knowing their great war engines were essentially building a ramp. Kendral's garrison had realised this tactic several days ago, they tried clearing the rubble once, though the unceasing bombardment had killed the entire crew and now they seemed happy to wait. As Sah'rah reached the camp, Sah'eca bid her farewell, leaving for the main camp where she was recording the history of the siege. Sah'rah entered the siege camp alone, passing through the mass of soldiers that watched the bombardment with apprehension. The crowd thinned out quickly as she came to the command building.

"My lady," Sir Godwin said with a bow. "We have a visitor."

"Who?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sir Godwin shook his head, opening the door for her as he always did.

She entered with a sigh, looking around the room for who it could be.

"Right here lass," she heard from beside her and turned quickly, smiling as she saw Tar'gorth standing by the doorway.

"It's been too long... is Tar'vid with you?" she asked quickly, they could catch up later, but Tar'vid had to meet Dagarn as she'd promised.

"Not yet, he's travelling with an escort... should be here by tomorrow though," he replied, stroking his long beard... she was sure it had gotten whiter since they had last met.

"How have things been with the Jakken?" she asked, offering him a seat at the planning table.

Tar'gorth shrugged and took a seat next to her. "Good and ill lass, on the one hand, they've accepted the young lad as the ruler... on the downside, they fight amongst themselves to control him. The previous ruling family have their claws into him deep, though he doesn't see it of course..." he trailed off, looking tired.