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."Yes," he replied, "go to battle."She bowed to him, spurred her horse, and rode fast to catch up with the hillman warlord.Then he turned to Sorya with a wry smile."Oh no, not me!" she replied, "Too large scale.I'll watch from here."He grinned his own wolfish grin.Miriana at last spoke, and her voice was clear and strong."There is trouble in Idrona between those who follow the Prophet and those who do not.The others are blaming the Prophet's followers for the devastation by the fire drake.""They're right," replied Talaos.Several thoughts occurred to him.In Idrona, the Prophet's followers were supposed to have been a minority, but a dominant minority, of the total population before the war.With all the exiles and refugees, they were probably now an outright majority in the city.With everything he'd seen so far, he had no doubt those guests, along with the native followers of the Prophet, were now acting like masters.Such a situation could easily become explosive.He'd planned for a brutal assault on the city, but infighting in Idrona itself might quicken things, and save a lot of lives.Lives of those opposed to the Prophet, at least.But, in his current state, how to accomplish it?The tiny amount of power he could take from his murderous armor was enough to heal a fair number of people, though at great cost to his body.It was also enough, at the price of constant pain, to keep lightning in his eyes, for those who needed to see it.It was not, however, remotely sufficient to call wind or lightning, let alone a storm.Not even with clouds already in the sky.He'd tried uselessly to fight his way past the three shades, but perhaps there was some other, more clever way.Whatever that might be, he’d have to discover soon.For this was the time.Far ahead, toward the city, the artillery had reached their positions.He motioned a group of messengers to him, then gave further commands, "Give the word.The artillery are to use fire.Target the walls away from the gate."They saluted and sped off.While it would be bad to have stray fire landing among his own troops in the battle by the gate, fire on the walls would cut down on enemy artillery and archers, and would likely spread.It was rarely used in Hunyos, because the normal way was to pin the enemy down without gratuitous destruction, then negotiate terms.However, he was uninterested in terms.Megaras rode up, returned from duties on the army's right wing.Talaos turned and noted that even with what he'd done to heal him, the general still looked wounded and weary.Even so, he’d unflinchingly returned to duty."General Megaras," Talaos said, in audible range of all the officers around, "I'm going to the city.You are in command of the main force in my absence, including all allied forces save those under Tescani, Adriko, and Kurvan.I command it!""I obey, Storm Lord!" replied Megaras, saluting as he lowered his head in a bow from the saddle.Talaos returned the salute and sped his horse toward the battle at the gates of Idrona.He brightened the lightning in his eyes, using the power meant to kill him, and endured the pain.He rode on and on, past the fighting and slaughter around the now-trapped enemy sortie to his left.Hillmen swarmed all around.Overhead, ballista bolts wrapped in flaming pitch shot across the sky at the walls of the city.Great catapult stones crashed against the towers.Behind him, slow and sure, marched tens of thousands of men in massed formations.Ahead, Adriko's cavalry swarmed around the gate.They’d cut down all nearby.The huge drawbridge over the trench sat lowered and unattended, as the upper levels of the gatehouse above burned.The gates behind stood ajar.Dismounted attackers were attempting to force the gates themselves, while defenders behind tried to push them closed.As they struggled, mounted horsemen attacked the beleaguered defenders with swords and javelins.The top of the gate castle was a burnt ruin, but arrows still rained on Adriko's men from hidden firing positions.Talaos raced ahead and troops rallied around and behind him.He spurred Honor to a full gallop straight at the gates.His men fighting there took heart, while the enemy grew dismayed [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]