Wyrda: Father of Dragons (Eragon Book 5)

Part 39: Clash of Swords

   Gold light escaped from within the dark clouds as the morning light replaced the darkness of night. An eagle flew above the city of Dras Leona and the Empire encampment, flying in circles, until finally it too disappeared, towards Leona Lake. The bright lake water had already started to freeze with a thin layer of ice, and the cold was already forming a layer of frost on the roofs of the houses and on the tall towers of the city.

Roran looked at the neat rows of soldiers as they had formed in perfect formation, the archers in the front, and the swordsmen and spear men behind them. In front of the archers, large catapults and two massive battering rams, as well as four siege towers were positioned, ready to form the fake main attack towards the city of Dras Leona. The plan was good, but it needed perfect timing if it was going to work, and Roran knew that this was very hard to achieve in a battle. He was commander of the army now and there was no room for mistakes.

On the two flanks, the cavalry was positioned, so as to protect the men from encirclement and be able to quickly go for an attack on the enemy. Roran shivered from the cold air, and the small flakes of snow that had already started to fall from the sky. Even the best trained of the horses stamped their hooves powerfully on the ground, and neighed loudly, their heads moving around nervously. It was as if the horses could feel the upcoming violence and were preparing for it.

Soldiers cursed and shivered from the cold, or perhaps from anxiety for the upcoming battle, and the potential loss of their lives. Spears shook, and every man made his pre battle ritual, remembering their loved ones, what they were fighting for and forming strategies of how to survive, or praying to whatever God they believed in. Generals shouted and men obeyed. Roran knew he had to make a speech so he went in front of the army, looking at each and every one of their faces, remembering the soldiers names, knowing who followed him. He was their General and the soldiers were prepared to go to the Gates of the underworld itself with him if necessary.

"Men, we come here today to show the Surdans they cannot invade our country! They cannot destroy our cities and kill our loved ones unpunished! We fight to show them we are not afraid, to show that we will not accept Orrin as our King! I've had my share of power hungry kings.  I'd rather kiss a shade than  serve him! We fight to protect our loved ones from the Surdan invaders. Let's drive them back to where they came from. Give them steel! Give them a beating they won't forget in the ages to come! For Nasuada! For the empire! For Glory!" Roran shouted and men echoed his cry, shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Attack!" Roran shouted. In a few seconds, rocks were hurled from the catapults towards the city walls, crashing on them with loud sounds. For a few minutes, the sound of rocks crashing on walls was all anyone could hear. A few rocks hit men on the city walls, their screams heard for miles.

Men rushed forward, still in formation. It was very important to make the Surdans believe the main attack came from this side of the walls. Arrows rained around Roran and a few men died with arrows through their necks, or various parts of their bodies. Still, they carried on, towards the walls. The siege towers moved, towards the city walls, filled with men, as burning arrows from the city tried to stop them, in vain. In few spots, the towers caught fire, but they were quickly put out, before permanent damage could be done to them. Smoke filled the air, and dust and Roran could barely see. As they reached the walls of the city, Roran's archers fired a volley of arrows towards the walls, killing many of the defenders, before they too were shot from the walls. Bodies filled the ground and bursts of flame and other elements could be seen as magic was used in the battlefield.

Men shouted, and held their wounds, while others rushed past them. They finally reached the city walls. Men carrying the battering rams moved for the gates, while others tried to climb the walls with the help of wooden stairs. Pots of boiling oil were thrown from the walls and men died, a horrible way to go. The siege towers arrived too, opening their gates for the men inside to climb the walls. Then, the true battle for the walls started, as men from Surda and the Empire fought each other man to man. Arrows flew everywhere. Roran climbed the wall from one of the wooden stairs and was greeted by an ax that almost took his head off. With a jump and rolling on the ground, Roran avoided another blow from the gigantic man. Roran shouted and kicked the man on the leg, as he swung his hammer, hitting him on the arm with a loud cracking sound from the bone. The man looked at his wound and barely showed any emotion as he grabbed Roran from the arm and swung. Roran couldn't avoid the blow entirely but his wards saved him from the worst. With another two swings, on the man's head, the gigantic soldier fell on the floor finally.