TOPWL 206

At Yudit’s words, the soldiers hurried to set up the catapults. Since they had crossed several mountains, the catapults were made of lightweight material that could be disassembled. They had brought them from Devlin Castle, and since there were many hills in the area, these catapults were said to be used often. When the soldiers made noise setting them up, Breda Castle also responded. Bells rang endlessly, and archers lined up densely on the walls. Then one soldier ran up pale-faced and spoke.

“The envoy… was found murdered.”

Yudit bit his lip. Killing an envoy during war almost never happened. He had not demanded unreasonable conditions either. Killing such an envoy meant they too were prepared for death. The soldiers of Breda Castle raised their arrows. Noban shouted loudly.

“Prepare for incoming arrows! Raise your shields! Do not let your comrades die!”

Before long, a rain of arrows poured down. Like a heavy downpour, the arrows fell, and someone shouted for the shields to be held straight. Thud! Arrows hit the shields with dull noise. They blocked almost all of them, but one soldier setting up a catapult staggered from the weight of an arrow stuck in his shield, lost his balance, and fell. It was only about three stories high, but the place he fell was unlucky. He fell onto a spot covered with arrows, and one pierced straight through his abdomen. When the soldiers rushed to help him at his painful scream, Noban shouted.

“Do not move!”

While the soldiers hesitated at his command, another wave of arrows rained down. Thunk! Arrows mercilessly pierced both the fallen soldier and another clinging to the catapult. Yudit could not keep watching and turned his head away. Then Noban signaled, as he judged it was safe now. Medics rushed around, carrying the wounded to the tents.

“Speed up the catapult setup! Where are the soldiers who went to fetch rocks!?”

“They are visible a hundred steps ahead!”

At those words, Yudit turned and saw soldiers carrying rocks for the catapults emerging from the forest.

“Raise shields and cover them! Is the catapult setup not done yet?!”

“Catapult number one is complete!”

“Number two will be done soon!”

“Good! Once set, go down and wait under the shields for orders!”

“Yes!”

In the meantime, the soldiers carrying the rocks gathered in front of the catapults. Luckily the area was rocky, so it was not hard to find stones. More arrows rained down, though fewer than before. Instead of coming from all sides, they targeted the catapults and the soldiers carrying rocks. They had stationed more shield-bearers around them, but there were still casualties.

Even so, it was still manageable. Standing still when someone nearby was dying or injured was harder than one would think. He felt he could at least support the wounded or lift a shield. Looking with pity at a soldier who had an arrow stuck in his calf, Yudit asked Noban.

“Isn’t there anything I can do?”

Noban, shouting orders until his throat was raw, glanced at Yudit and replied.

“Staying unharmed here is the greatest help you can give.”

“……”

“A commander is that kind of existence. Soldiers are affected far more than you expect when their superior is injured or killed. So please, stay safe.”

At Noban’s earnest words, Yudit could only nod.

“All catapults are set!”

“Do not give them a chance, keep firing!”

The loaded catapults launched at once. Boom! Huge boulders flew and smashed against the wall. But the wall did not budge. How could stone against stone be so solid. Yudit gritted his teeth. But he was not disappointed. Their goal was distraction. Make noise, draw attention to the catapults, and while the enemy focused there, have the soldiers hidden at the wall’s side climb up and open the gate.

The arrow rain continued, and the catapults also did not stop. But neither side achieved much result. Had their men succeeded in approaching? While Yudit anxiously stared at the wall standing firm, one scout came running, wounded.

“Urgent news! Breda’s soldiers were lying in ambush on the castle’s side! Around four hundred! Fighting has broken out, requesting reinforcements!”

Noban clenched his teeth. They already had fewer soldiers there.

“First, second, and third battalions, all deploy! Tell the soldiers on the mountain to leave only a portion and descend!”

“Yes!”

At Noban’s command, the centurions led their men toward the side of the castle. The soldiers moved in perfect order, like a living creature writhing. Breda’s soldiers timed their volley, and arrows flew. Horses neighed wildly in surprise and reared.

“Stay calm! Control the horses!”

The skilled riders calmed the horses and charged toward the castle’s side. The soldiers also lifted their shields toward the arrows and advanced quickly. With half the numbers gone from the front, tension filled the air. Yudit asked with worry in his voice.

“Won’t they enter from that side first?”

“It will be fine. To get in they would have to open the gate, and that is risky for them too. The catapults are of little use, and we have no way to enter from that side, so they will not come in first. The problem is elsewhere.”

“You said soldiers were lying in ambush.”

“Yes, that is the problem. If it turned into a melee, then a considerable number of soldiers must have been hidden.”

The soldiers approaching from the side of the castle had covered themselves head to toe with grass, so unless one looked closely they could not be seen at all. It was more likely they had known our men would be there and were already lying in ambush, than that they were simply discovered.

“Spies?”

“The chance is… high.”

Noban spoke, he was ashamed. But it was not something he should feel guilty for. The one who leaked information to Breda Castle was most likely a spy working for Reginald or Azil, or else among the Devlin soldiers. Yudit clenched his fist until his nails dug into flesh. He could accept attempts on his own life. If it meant killing Reginald or Hiore, he would have done the same. But this was war. Someone had leaked information that could kill the soldiers who had shared life and death beside him. Yudit could not forgive such a thing.

While he was obsessively thinking about who the spy might be, someone pulled him back. It was Shane. Arrows were pouring down through a gap in their formation. Thwack! Three arrows buried themselves mercilessly where Yudit had just been standing.

“Be careful.”

“Sorry, thank you.”

His cheeks burned hot. While worrying about spies, he had nearly died. This was war. Solving what was right in front of him was more urgent.

Before long, the soldiers who had gone down the mountain were returning one by one. But all of them looked panicked. One soldier with sharp eyes shouted.

“Enemies are chasing us from behind!”

At the same time, more Breda soldiers came out from the side, their bodies covered with grass. They were not the only ones who could use camouflage. Now they were surrounded on all sides with space in between. The soldiers looked around with despair in their eyes. The veterans already knew how serious this situation was.

But the enemy did not rush to attack or close the encirclement. They only drew the ring tighter. Then Noban shouted.

“Behind! Watch for arrows from behind!”

Even before his words ended, a storm of arrows rained down from the wall. Compared to earlier, it was so merciless that the first volley now felt like nothing.

“Raise shields toward the direction of the arrows!”

Meanwhile, the Breda soldiers they had been facing advanced with spears. The perfectly surrounded soldiers were packed into a single point, which made it even easier for the archers to attack. Shields gradually broke under the hail of arrows, and the soldiers on the outermost ring were about to be skewered.

“Do not lose your calm…!”

Swaaak! The tearing sound of arrows ripping the air echoed horribly loud. At the same time shields shattered, and Noban collapsed. An arrow had pierced straight through his shoulder. Yudit shouted his name like a cry.

“Noban!”