Darkspur

Chapter 33 - A Watery Grave

Arkus paced the harbour's edge muttering to himself, annoyance clearly visible on his face. On the breeze he could here the clash of swords and the shouts of men as the battle began somewhere above him. He just simply couldn't believe he was this far away from the action, a back-up in-case the enemy somehow got into the city; he knew the chances of that happening were remote. He kicked out at gull as it walked across his path, narrowly missing the bird as it hopped from the quayside, screeching as it swooped low over the water.

"Arkus," Tasen called to his captain. "I know you're frustrated but working yourself up like this isn't going to help anyone."

Arkus spun, glaring at his first mate, who turn away sheepishly and began to fiddling with the hilt of his sword, pretending as if he hadn't said a word. The rest of the crew lazed around the harbour's edge looking bored; most played dice, some though, tended to armour and equipment that would probably remain unused.

Many of the cities people were now in the harbour ward, a lot of them being housed in the large warehouses that lined the quayside. Most stayed inside, the doors bolted, but there was still a considerable number milling about in the growing dusk, unsure of what they should be doing.

A young girl hesitantly walked up to the warrior, a soft cotton doll hanging from her hand.

"Are you Arkus?" she asked in a sweet young voice.

He knelt down to her level. "Yes, that's me."

"Are you going to keep us safe, they said that's your job," she pointed at a group of teenagers standing a little distance away.

Arkus gave a little laugh. "Yes, I suppose that is my job," he said, standing again. "We will keep you safe, child. You don't need to worry about that."

The girl gave a large grin, happy with the answer.

"Lily, Lily," a woman shouted, hurrying over to where they stood. "I told you not to run off. I'm sorry sir, I hope she didn't get in the way."

Arkus shook his head. "Just needed a little reassurance, that's all."

The noise of the fight suddenly intensified, the shouts and swordplay sounding much closer than before. Arkus slowly made his way over to Tasen, leaving the woman and girl, all the while looking up towards the castle. Tasen to, was peering upward, looking concerned.

"Did the wind shift?" Arkus asked. Tasen shook his head, not taking his eyes from the keep.

The alarm bell started to ring.

"They are in the Keep," Arkus exclaimed. "How did they get into Darkspur so quickly?"

"What do we do?" Tasen asked, the rest of the crew rising, looking to Arkus for orders.

He was caught in two minds. His orders were to protect the citizens, not to get involved in the main fight, but the Darnach were now inside the castle walls; no-one had expected this to happen. There was an explosion from behind the battlement and the alarm bell stopped, whether because the walls were now safe or the one ringing the bell was dead, Arkus was at a loss to know.

"We go and help," Arkus commanded and he started running toward the narrow road that led up to the castle.

But as he neared the cobbled street there was a loud crack, somewhere high and to his right. He and his crew slowed, looking up towards the cliff face that protected the far end of the harbour. Several more deep pops and cracks came from deep within the bluff, loose rock falling on to the roofs below. The buildings were mostly shipwrights and fish stores, all empty but there were still many people standing around at that end of the harbour, all now looking up toward the noise above. The cracking continued from the cliff and the people started running as loose rock and pebbles showered those below.