The Hero At the Gates, Part Ii

II. But the Hrethwite mob was ready for blood, and threw ropes up on the city walls, in their rage they meant to take it by storm which was not that smart an idea at all. They had no ladders, and no siege towers, even with their numbers, they weren’t prepared, the city garrison came to the gate, six hundred men who would make a stand there. Korlan ran along the wall with his sword, slashing any rope that he saw appear, warriors plunged to the masses below, but the savages just kept pushing near. Then the archers opened up on them all, this close it was impossible to miss, dozens fell, but the clamor kept coming, the barbarians refuse to desist. Scorpions fired big bolts from the wall, boiling oil rained down on their heads, rope and rope fell when they were thrown up, by this point hundreds of the foe lay dead. A few Hrethwite did summit the big wall, but only could do so one-at-a-time, and soon found themselves fighting with four men, no victory could these forlorn hope find. Even some of the King’s Guard did appear, and pressed their skilled blades right into the fray, those who topped the wall soon were all cut down, in a brutal, bone-hacking melee. And when near a thousand lay dead below good sense seemed to overcome their furry, a leader in horns ordered a retreat, then the horde rode away in a hurry. A cheer went p from the gate and the walls, the city sighed and drew a relieved breath, the only sadness from their victory was that they couldn’t have saved the princess. Korlan and his mates went to a tavern the minute new troops came to relieve them, the inn-keeper gave them free ale in thanks, and Korlan found him a sweet, little bar wench. The hero was having some fun with her, when into the room came six royal guards, they tossed her aside and lifted him up, and fastened iron shackles to his arms. “Hey,”he cried,”What the hell are you doing?!” “Shut your mouth,”said the guards,”and just walk. The King has ordered that you be brought forth, he much wishes to have a little talk.” Wondering what they could have against him, Korlan was aggressively marched through the town, people popped their heads out, looked at the scene, and soon all sorts of rumors went around. They came upon an inner set of walls defending the city’s high citadel, he swallowed as he was led to its doors, feeling there was no way this could end wall... CONTINUES IN PART II.