Author's Note: Last Chapter. Thank you Tim413413 (editor) for slowing it up with your insane insistence I hold to some reasonable reality in my fiction. I have removed all references to the space aliens and vampires. Hopefully, it will still be entertaining.
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"Uri is not coming." I said to Hamund and to the world. "We did not renew the alliance, my Son." The last directed at him with less volume. "All is as it has to be." Hamund's eyes were wide, and I saw anger flare. A mix of Douderson and Southerson burnt through his face.
"Uncle is coming. I break my vow to tell you. He is coming!" Hamund yelled at me. I watched his posture, that of a future king. There was no doubt in his words. He believed it as fact.
"What vow?" I asked.
"You would not ask Uncle Uri," Hamund chastised, "so I put it to him. I took a knee with him in your stead. He did not wish you to know. I promised we would send word at the first sign of problems. He promised me the same." Hamund was moving down the stairs. "I have told you he is coming; I said so often." My mind was working hard, trying to digest the information.
"Uri is coming?" Angelica's surprise was more apparent than my own.
"Your brother would not leave you unprotected, Mother," Hamund stated as if it was obvious. I wondered if his love for his uncle was misplaced. "He is stubborn, that is all!"
"Uri does not know," I said. It was best to preserve my son's love of his uncle. He would need it to make it through, "our messengers were caught, my Son." I tried to sound sympathetic.
"Mine was not," Hamund said, "my uncle is coming." I stared at my son. He was a rock of confidence. The men near me were talking, Boris was trying to speak to me. My mind was ignoring it and concentrating on Hamund.
"What...when...your message?" I floundered for words. It was a less than a kingly response.
"First sign, I promised," Hamund said, "I sent Torrance when I heard the patrol report." I thought back, it was before the Wolf had turned. Where would that put Uri? I heard Boris this time.
"Gods! That boy is green. Do you think he knew the way?" Boris asked. Hamund blanched as his own mind envisioned his messenger lost. My mind reeled at the news. Hope invaded where there was only loss before. I looked at the commander.
"We must give Uri more time," I stated the obvious revelation to Boris.
"The engines still need to come down, Sire," Kancraft returned, "it would give him ten days or more." I looked to the men, their determination unwavering, but their grimness was replaced by smiles.
"What say you?" I addressed them with spirit in my voice. "Shall we burn down the Wolf's toys, and see if we cannot weed him out in the process?" It was good to hear their loud approval.
"You cannot lead them now, my King!" Boris shouted. "It is my duty."
"Fire!" was shouted loudly from the gatehouse. All eyes turned to the voice, though the darkness hid the man. I ran toward the warning with my raiders in tow. "The engines are burning," the excited sentry yelled. I took the stairs two at a time, and reached the top platform breathing hard.
All three engines were burning bright. Uri, was my first thought, then I discounted it. He was not one for subterfuge. I could barely make out dark figures running toward the castle. I shielded my eyes from the intensity and saw four figures, the flickering flames silhouetting them as they ran.
"They will not make it, my King," the sentry said sadly. I saw bands of men forming behind them and giving chase. Soon, horseman would follow.
"Open the gate!" I ordered loudly while bounding down the stairs. Thunder was waiting, prepared for an unnecessary raid. I pointed at my fellow raiders, "To horse," I ordered, "'tis a rescue mission now." Thunder accepted my weight, and his muscles shifted with excitement. I leaned and prompted him forward.
"Archers to walls!" Commander Kancraft yelled as he ran to the gatehouse. I ducked under the portcullis that was only half raised by that time Thunder went under. I gave him his speed, and rode hard toward the blazing trebuchets. I heard the horses following behind me and saw an army before me. They were frantically adjusting their ranks, orders being shouted and groups peeling off. From behind the flames I made twenty horse pulling about. It would be tight if we made it at all.
I passed the first runners and made for the last. I trusted my men to know my mind as more enemy troops barreled down upon the scene. I found the last, fifty paces behind the lead, a gasping man well overweight. He was no soldier. I dropped my hand, and he missed it on the first pass. I swung around and slowed, hearing enemy armor coming on my flank as I turned.
"My hand, man!" I yelled. He barely had the strength to reach for it. We clasped wrists, and I kicked Thunder toward the castle. I half pulled, half dragged the chubby raider up Thunder's side.
"I cannot make it," he gasped. I was not going to let go even though Thunder was almost running sideways. I needed him on Thunder's center so I shifted, and tried to pull him across the front of the saddle. His weight fought me, but he finally grabbed the saddle and pulled. I compensated by moving my weight to the far stirrup and yanked a final time. His large ass now lay in front of me, his limbs hanging down both sides. I pointed Thunder toward the gate and prodded him to speed. I turned my head to see a wave of horses coming down on us.
I leaned onto my new load and kicked Thunder anew, urging him with my yells. The gatehouse seemed too distant, I had gone too far. I heard my fat man grunting with each of Thunder's bounds. The sound of the horses, and the yells of their riders was nearer than I hoped. I gritted my teeth, and did all I could to let Thunder run his best. With a fat man almost across his neck, I could feel his awkward stride. We were not going to make it.
I smiled when I saw dark riders entering the gatehouse ahead. The others had made it. I, the king, killed by a fat man. The humor of it made me laugh, and I prepared to turn and draw my sword. I figured I would take one or two down with me.
"Fire!" Boris yelled. I ducked as arrows flew from the wall. I wondered what they could see in the flickering darkness. I was as bound to be hit as the enemy. I heard a rider go down behind me. "Fire at will!" Boris yelled. The pursuing horses turned away as I continued toward the gatehouse. I was not worth their death, in their minds.
The portcullis slammed down behind me as I rode back into the bailey. I dumped my charge, unceremoniously, off Thunder. He fell on his backside with a thump that sounded painful. Thunder shifted sideways, flexing his legs now that the extra weight was off. I dismounted and kissed Thunder on the muzzle. What a fine animal.
I approached the fat raider who was being helped up by another. I recognized the other.
"Sir Balen! What were you thinking?" I exclaimed.
