Tales of the Vangen: The Black Ministry's Betrayal (Book 1)

Chapter 61: A Magnificent Plan

The battering ram was an ugly, massive, heavy thing. Made of solid wood and banded iron, it rolled on wheels pushed by the rebel forces. A roof of tattered leathers and makeshift shields covered the top of the siege weapon. The face was fashioned into the shape of an iron bull with long, pointed horns—a crude and brutal thing.

Libro stood on the parapet alongside Lady Kent, overlooking Gate Tertius. The tunic and breeches she'd hastily thrown on before had been replaced with a much finer leather jerkin and a heavy lamellar coat. She clutched at her pointed helm to one side, fingers drumming anxiously against the metal.

Civis stood opposite fielding the standard raiment of chainmail and leathers. He leaned heavily on a makeshift crutch, an ax sheathed at his side where his iconic weapon had once been.

Libro wondered where the sword had gone but felt best to leave it be. Now was not the time to satisfy curiosities, not when the rebels were quite literally knocking at the door.

"That ram is going to be troublesome for my archers." Lady Kent said. "Those shields look thicker than a man's wrist."

"It is impressive, I'll give you that," Civis leaned on his crutch to look over the parapet. "But will it even be able to break through Gate Tertius? Damn thing's made of solid iron for Nido's sake."

"It's not the gate we need to worry about. It's the beam holding it shut," Libro pointed out. "If that thing snaps from the impact, then not even the counterweights will keep the gate shut for long."

"Then what do you propose we do then?" Civis asked. Libro held back his glibbed response. After their little talk on the balcony, before they'd almost been blown to pieces, he thought better to hold his tongue this time. After all, they were brothers, even if the other was still a massive pain in the ass sometimes.

"We should try and hold them back for now," Libro said before turning to Kent. "We'll need your levies at their best, my Lady."

"As if you have to ask," Kent chuckled. "Fighting beside the Vangen Guard has truly inspired my men as of late. You guardsmen really are a cut above the rest."

"You honor us," Libro said, not knowing what else to say. He bowed low.

"If you two are quite done," Civis cut in. "It appears the rebels have reached Gate Secondus."

"Let's give them a warning shot then," Lady Kent said. She raised a fist into the air. Nearby, her First String mimicked the gesture before raising a warhorn to his lips. A mournful tune bellowed into the air.

Kent's levies reacted instantaneously. Nearly a hundred bowstrings thrummed in unison as they were pulled back. With a loud twang, a flock of arrows sailed over Gate Secondus and plunged into the courtyard beyond. The sounds of screaming came up from a distance.

"That got their attention it seems," Civis smiled, "But I doubt it's going to stop them."

"The first arrow is never the last," Lady Kent said. She raised her arm again. Another flock of arrows came down, and another racket of screams spilled out. Black-robed rebels slipped through the crack in the doors of Gate Secondus, trying fruitlessly to push it wide enough for the battering ram to slip through.

"Give them one more volley," "Libro said. "Then hold your fire. If the ram can't get through, then we've already won." He held his breath expectantly as another salvo of arrows rained down into the crowd of rebels. Time ticked away painfully as more and more of the rebels gathered around the stone doors like ants, working together to do the impossible.

And then the gate exploded. Stones and rebel bodies careened into the courtyard of Gate Tertius, smashing against fountains, pillars, and cobblestones. Libro flinched and covered his ears as the eruption ripped through the air. Only once the dust settled did he take a peek, and what he saw made his heart sink into his chest. The doors to Gate Secondus lay in pieces on the ground, and the ram was advancing.