Chapter Seventeen, The battle of Marelle

It would not be until Marelle in the south that she encountered opposition again. but as the second month of her travels ended it hardly surprised her that the Ga-Vok were begining their atacks.

"Call to Arms? No kidding, fishermen sighted a fleet coming down from the coast."
"Then we should ready the defenses."
"The guards are driling the militia in the courtyard. We've stockpiled arrows and weapons. We're ready to fight."
"Then my companions and I will fight also."

On the third day they spotted the Ga-Vok ships. Large cargo ships, refited to carry smaller landing craft, mostly, although she could see a few fishing ships darting around them with small catapults mounted onto their decks.
"Enough capacity on those barges for several thousand warriors."
Alicea looked over at Orion. "Good thing we stockpiled arrows. Ishylde, tell me the second they're in range."
"Yes ma'am, but who's range; the balista, me, the guards, or the other archers?"
"Whichever one will hit them first."

Zack ran up from the walls. "Well, I've delivered the last of those shots. You're sure about this?"
"Are you sure about your ability to use Alchemy?"
"Are the Ga-Vok attacking?"
"Then yes I am. Now call up your Golem and start setting up wards."
"Sure thing your majesty."
"Did Barret tell you about that? I'll have to talk to him about telling that story."

The Ga-Vok landing ships were very simple. A drawbridge of sorts was mounted between two canoes, with the other three sides enclosed with sheets of metal plating. the warriors stood in te middle, ready to rush onto the beaches the moment the ship landed.
Catapults from the ships still at sea battered the steeply graded walls around the town. They did little damage to the walls and killed few of the the defenders but many of the undisciplined recruits fled to their homes under the rain of stone. Most of them stood their ground, and the Ga-Vok warriors were greeted as they disembarked with a hail of steel crossbow darts and iron-headed reed arrows.
Orion's estimate seemed to be accurate as the day dragged on. Wave after wave caried fresh Ga-Vok warriors onto the shore. The sands were dense and reddened with the blood of the invading army; and the beaches writhed with the wounded. Most of the arrows were spent, and all the darts. It would not be long before the Ga-Vok would at last reach the walls, and the rag-tag fishermen and scattered guards would not be able to stand against the Ga-Vok onslaught in a melee.


__--__--__


"Kraulu, what are you doing down there on the deck?"
The shaman looked up in surprise. "General, you should see this."
General Tasand leaned over his nephew. Not an easy task on the rocking barge, but Tasand was not the sort of warrior to be discouraged by a minor challenge.
"That's an interesting combination. Never seen the wolf and the bone connected like that before, who'd you cast them for?"
"The enemy commander. I wanted to see if you'd need to leave the ship to fight them."
"Did you cast the Eight Knuckle Like I asked?"
"I did, that's why I wanted to make sure you were on the ship."
Tasand sighed. He was a warrior, and a general but he was also a servant of the great spirit. He knew that the bones did not lie easily; and his nephew had nothing to gain by casting them falsely. If the fates ordained loss, he would make it a loss by choice rather than rout.
"Order the troops to stand down. We shall return to the mainland. And call the shaman to council, I wish to consider the implications of this new leader of theirs."


__--__--__


"Miss Alicea, they're falling back. The landing ships just stopped half way and went back to the fleet."
"That can't be right. Stay on guard, it's probably a trap."
"Should we try to collect more arrows, or eat something?"
"No, order the ballista to use the alchemist's shot I had you make earlier."
"As you wish."

The landing craft were out of range of the crossbows, and most of the archers were conserving their reamining arrows. Ishylde had a specially enchanted quiver, she could refill it using an alchemical pattern etched into the bottom, and even at this range she could still hit many of the Ga-Vok warriors. The Ballista, on the other hand, were well within range.
"Fire."
"Yes your.."
"Shut up and do it already Zack."
"Fine, your grace"

A half dozen clay pots, shaped like a pill and covered in runic paterns, soared through the air towards the withdrawing landing craft. On impact the jars detonated. Blood red flames rended the steel plating of the small craft. One shot went wide and the ocean rose in a white dome before bursting, washing several warriors out of their transports.
A second volley battered the remaining landing craft. And with a third they assaulted the barges themselves; leaving the Ga-Vok fleet reeling.
A white flag rose over their flagship, and over a small yacht that emerged from it.

They allowed the Yacht to land. Four warriors disembarked first, all were tall and their muscles were clearly defined even beneath their armor. After them came a young shaman, he seemed skittish and his staff was as alive as though it were fresh cut.
But the last to show himself was the face they all feared. General Tasand had come to parlay.