The Thick Of It 52.

Winter.

"Hell" mutters commander Tracklen who then calls out "Keep shooting at them!".
As the enemy hurry along the riverbank, heading east as they move more of their soldiers in that direction. To get to the bridge almost a mile from the city.
"Looks like they're still going to try and cross it here too" says the adjunctant Morris, who points at an enemy siege tower that's coming this way.
Then the two of them, along with soldiers from here in the city garrison, as well as guards from the city watch.
All visibly wince, as the trebuchet right down behind them, flings another shot up and over them, at the enemy on the otherside of the river, attacking the city of Kuradum.
The commander of the loyalist forces glances back and down at the trebuchet, which is only about fifty feet from the base of the wall.
Across the street, between two buildings. Manned by engineers in the mercenary army from the lands Farque.
The senior most officer in the army loyal to the ruling council of Kuradum sourly smiles, then mutters "The gods only know how they haven't hit us".
Next to him, his adjunctant who overheard him, grunts in agreement as they see the mercenary engineers quickly reloading the massive war machine.
The loyalist army commander, and his adjunctant are on the south wall of the city of Kuradum.
Down towards the eastern end, near where it meets the east wall of the capital city.
To say they were surprised a little earlier when the city's first bridge about sixty yards to their right, blew up in a series of quick explosions.
Would be an understatement, as they stood there dumbstruck as they watched the cloud of debris mushroom up into the morning sky, on this cold but clear winter's day.
And by the sounds of it, and what they were able to catch a glimpse of. The other two bridges further west along the south wall of the city, suffered similar fates.
The fact that the bridges were full of enemy soldiers didn't alleviate the fact that the bridges being destroyed was a shock to the loyalist army commander and his adjunctant.
The senior most officer in the army loyal to the ruling council of the city-state of Kuradum.
Who wasn't told the complete plans lord Farque and his associates had for the defence of the city of Kuradum.
Was told they would do something that would get the enemy, at least some of them, moving eastwards to the bridge further down river.
Seems like blowing up the bridges along the south side of the city was that plan.
And it seems to be somewhat working. As enemy forces are heading that way. Though it looks like the majority of them are still intent on crossing the river here, and somehow getting through the gates, or scaling the wall.
Commander Tracklen, mutters "Hell". Once again, as another shot from the trebuchet just across the street behind them is launched over them.
It was perfectly fine earlier, even if the shots had a lower trajectory then, as their loads were flung further back amongst the enemy.
Now the black clad engineers from the lands Farque manning and operating the trebuchet.
Have shortened their range a hell of a lot shorter than they had earlier.
And even though the shots fly far above the top of the wall, and the heads of the defenders.
It's unnerving to say the least, as the shots barely make it over to the otherside of the river.
Though the local army commander will admit, they hit the enemy with every shot.
As a particularly large boulder slams down amongst the enemy forces, crushing at least a dozen of them to death, and injuring a similar amount.
Tracklen, who grew up here on the south side of the city, glances away to the left.
Where twenty feet away, stands the black clad spotter, and next to him, the black clad signalman from the lands Farque.
Who have already relayed what they want the trebuchet crew to do with the next shot.
As the engineers manning it, are hooking up a netting full of rocks, rubble, mostly bricks and masonry.
Commander Tracklen finds those loads more unnerving than a large boulder that goes up and over the wall.
As bricks and bits of rubble might fall and hit him, and the other defenders on top of the wall as it passes overhead.
Though to be fair, it's no where near as unnerving as a load of burning barrels full of pitch and naphtha are launched from the nearby trebuchet.
All the soldiers from the local garrison, and the guards from the city watch serving with them along this length of the wall.
All cringe, and duck down when one of those loads go flying up and over them at the enemy.
"Got one" says the adjunctant Morris, who has a bow in hand, and is shooting at the enemy across the river.
The subaltern isn't particularly good with a bow. But he's hell of a lot better than commander Tracklen with one.
The senior most officer in the loyalist army is competent with a crossbow. But he'd freely admit, he's absolutely useless with a bow.
The loyalist army commander nods in appreciation at that shot from his adjunctant.
Then he points and says "Look there" followed by "Even more of them are heading to the east now".
The adjunctant Morris nods when he sees this too, and he says "All those short range trebuchet shots are having an effect".
The adjunctant, who grew up in one of the more affluent neighbourhoods in the city, and whose family is one of the wealthiest to be found in the city-state.
Looks away to their right along the top of the wall, and he spots a runner heading this way.
"Runner" says the junior of the two officers to his superior, then the adjunctant calls out "Runner coming through!" followed by "Make way!".
When the young runner gets to the loyalist army commander, he says to him "Sir, the mercenary field commander Drubine is now in command".
The young runner from the city garrison continues with "Now that the mercenary lord has left the wall".
Commander Tracklen and his adjunctant Morris share a look, then the senior most officer in the loyalist army asks the young runner "Any idea where the lord Farque went?".
"Just that he left with one of their spellcasters" replies the teenager, who continues with "The one in the black hooded cloak".
"The mage" quietly says the adjunctant Morris, the local army commander nods in agreement with his adjunctant.
"Anything else?" asks the commander, who though only in his early thirties, is the senior most officer in the army loyal to the ruling council of Kuradum.
"Just to keep harrying the enemy as they come east" says the runner, who follows on from that with "And to repel any attack upon the wall".
"Will do" says the loyalist army commander, who dismisses the runner with a nod of the head.
Commander Tracklen looks at the nearby east wall of the city. Which is far easier to defend even though the river doesn't run along it.
The city's east wall is built far more sturdier than the south. And it only has one set of gates in it.
Then Tracklen looks at his adjunctant, who as he takes an arrow from his quiver, quietly says to him "Wonder where he and that mage went to?". Referring to lord Farque, and the mage named Mira.
The senior most officer in the army loyal to the ruling council of the city-state of Kuradum, slightly shrugs his shoulders, then says "I have no idea".
The loyalist army commander, continues on with "Though i guess we'll find out in due time".
Then he mutters "Hell" and he and his adjunctant crouch down. As expletives can be heard by the soldiers and city guardsmen near them who do the same.
As a load of burning barrels in a net flung from the nearby trebuchet. Go flying up and over them, and the top of the wall, on it's way to the rebel forces just across the river form them.
"Where are they?" quietly asks lord Farque as he stands at the mouth of an alleyway.
"Up there" replies Helbe the elven thief with a nod of his hooded head at the tower across the street.
It's a tower of the city watch, the only tall one in the poorer quarters of Kuradum.
"Some of them wanted to watch things from up there" adds the elven magic user.
"The rest went back to the council buildings" continues the young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel.
The undead warlord nods his full helmed head, then he glances at Mira Reinholt the mage who asks "Think they'll attack into the city?".
"Maybe" is the reply of the large, heavily armoured deathlord, who follows that with "I'm not putting it past that Hirrye".
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque briefly pauses before adding "Especially with that sorceress he's got working for him".
The undead being, who has the name of Draugadrottin that the people of his lands also know him by, says "If he does, I'm guessing he'll do it at the council buildings".
The lord of the death realm then tells the elven masterthief "You go there and watch that lot".
Gesturing at the watchtower across the street, the deathlord of Farque says "We'll keep an eye on this lot".
The elven master assassin in the white hooded cloak nods his head at that.
Then before the young elven noble who is a member of the royal family that rules the island principality of Laerel departs, the undead warlord asks him "Which one's are over there?".
The elven master archer tells lord Farque which councilmen are at the top of the tower. Who include councilman Sammis. The defacto leader of the ruling council of the city-state of Kuradum.
As well as councilman Kolmar, one of the more influential members of the ruling council.
"That Kolmar is still in shock about his assistant" states the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel.
"No surprise there" dryly says the mage who is from the city-state of Vexil, his homeland that he's in exile from.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque nods his full helmed head at that, then the large heavily armoured deathlord tells the highly talented elven magic user "Get going".
The grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel nods, then blurs himself and shifts away.
Draugadrottin then quietly says to the once powerful mage "Hide us".
The spellcaster, who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, lifts a questioning eyebrow at that.
But he doesn't say anything, he just casts invisibility on himself and the undead warlord, who allows himself to be effected by the spell.
Then the undead being, who has the elven name of Des'tier, which means, The Destroyer, says to the mage Reinholt "Can you get us up there?".
Looking up at the tower across the street, the Vexilian mage, who is a member of lord Farque's personal council, says "Hmmmm can't see the roof, or into that window up there, I'll have to".
"Never mind" sourly says the undead warlord, who then grabs the mage come swordmaster, and leaps across the street and up.
"Fuck" mutters Mira Reinholt, who then quietly adds "I hate when you do that".
As they went fifty feet up, and through the open window, more than halfway up the eighty foot tall watchtower.
The Vexilian mage in exile, who through the quirk of his invisibility spell, can see who he's cast it on.
Looks at the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, and quietly tells him "There could of been someone in here, and we could of landed on them".
Draugadrottin barely spares the member of his personal council a glance, as he dryly says "Fucking Idiot".
The spellcaster, who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
Until he was stripped of most of his powers when he went offworld, after accidentally casting a rift/void spell he went through a number of years ago.
Winces as he realises the undead warlord would exactly know if someone was in this tower room or not.
Then the large, heavily armoured deathlord says to the highly skilled swordmaster "Come on, they're on the roof". Des'tier continues with "No doubt watching the battle".
As this tower of the city watch in the southern quarter of the city, is just a couple hundred yards from the south wall of the capital city.
With the lord of the death realm leading the way, the invisible undead warlord, and the invisible mage make their way from the room.
And head up the stairs to the rooftop of the watchtower. Once up there, the invisible pair find members of the ruling council of Kuradum, and their assistants.
As well as some of their personal guards, and a pair of city watchmen. All of whom are looking away to the south. To the wall that's under attack by the forces of the rebel councilman, the self styled duke of Kuradum, councilman Hirrye.
Looking over at councilman Kolmar, who still has a look of utter bewilderment on his face after finding out that his assistant Nahor was a traitor.
Lord Farque quietly says to the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster "Read everyone's minds again".
The large, heavily armoured deathlord then quietly adds "I want to know if there's anything we've missed".
"Will do" quietly says Mira Reinholt the mage, as they stand at the back of the roof, as everyone is on the south side, watching the battle.
On what's a cold, but clear and sunny winter's morning here in the city of Kuradum.
As the invisible mage does so, the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, keeps one eye on those on the tower's roof with them.
Especially two of the members of Kuradian ruling council, councilmen Kolmar and Sammis.
And the other eye on the progress of the battle away to the south. As the rebel forces continue their attack upon the city of Kuradum this winter's morning . . . . . .