A Shore Too Far - By Kevin Manus-Pennings Page 0,30

under the deadliest arrow fire the continent had ever seen.

Of course, it was not just that the metal of their weapons was superior. Their armor was likely better as well, nullifying the potency of our own archers should the Kullobrini approach. Hand-to-hand combat would suffer as well. Since it would take two blows to down the enemy when it should only take one, the mathematics of war weighed heavily against us. Eric was hopeful that we could change that calculation and the smiths of Abringol were hammering away at thicker breastplates and shields. When quality is lacking, Eric reminded me, one must make do with quantity. But as with all of our problems, time became the biggest obstacle and it would take all the metal of Abringol to equip 55,000 men.

In the meantime, the Kullobrini ships were not idle. Our farlooks confirmed that the dark-skinned sailors now carried great bows like their comrades on land and wore light leather armor. Occasional smoke could be seen from some of the Kullobrini ships and Pulgatt surmised they were now testing the volatility of their own Sea Fire.

Eric remained at Abringol and organized the defense of the city, though what navy there could be to help was already deployed in the waters north under Admiral Pulgatt. The merchants of his city had returned, save Gwey, whose lone, luxurious tent stood out from the meager shelters of Eric’s men, a flower in a field of heath. Gwey himself hung about like a scolded dog, remaining only so near as to be seen but no closer.

Eric’s healers had stayed but were moved south and well behind the troops, and the area around them was already being cleared to accommodate the thousands of wounded I was likely to suffer.

What good news there was only puzzled us further. Our riders to the northern forts had returned with nothing to report. Even the northernmost of Eric’s three forts insisted that all was quiet, though they had vouched to send out more scouts. Similarly, Pulgatt’s ships searching for more Kullobrini fleets reported only civilian traffic. I was forced to conclude that either some overarching plan had gone horribly awry for the Kullobrini or their deceptions ran deeper than I could imagine. A heavy feeling in my gut told me which was more likely.

The princes Ujor did not ease that dilemma. Even in the moments after the Cloth of Blessing was revealed to be a ploy, both Eglanna and Eldrazz had insisted they could explain and that they meant no harm. Even as I left them standing in the rain, they called after me to listen, to hear their case. In the three days that had passed, the princes had sent me twelve messages pleading that I hear them out, begging for an audience. I had sent no reply and had no intention of doing so.

Strangely, the rainbow that had appeared the day of our meeting remained over the sea and all I could think about was Eldrazz’s wish that some people somewhere believed it to be a good omen. If it should be so here, I was not wise enough to see the shape of our fortunes.

Instead, the future held only a war plan. We hoped to hold action until my East Guard could arrive, but if the Kullobrini acted before then we would retreat south slowly and carefully and cost them what men we may. We were prepared to be driven as far south as Abringol and then merge with the defenses of the city, though our combined cavalry would ride east at the last possible moment and join with the approaching East Guard. The forts, if that was the Kullobrini goal, could hold out until the East Guard arrived, especially if the Kullobrini attempted to push us south first. Each day south the Kullobrini followed us was one more day farther away from the forts. Whatever happened, however, the North Guard could not let the Kullobrini out of its sight lest our visitors reboard their ships and set sail for one of our other cities. Even in the best scenarios, I would lose more than half my men, an unprecedented loss against an unprecedented enemy.

On the morning of the fifth day since the Cloth of Blessing was removed, I went to Gonnaban’s tent. Gonnaban was always very popular with the men and to have him absent from battle was, I had to admit, one liability that I could do something about. He sat in the doorway of