This is it.
This is it...?
We're so close now. It's been a hard-fought week, but, we're somehow managing to make it. The osibindah are within a tight perimeter of the Crack in the Sky and they're not making any moves. I'm cautiously optimistic about all of this.
As far as the regular bugs are concerned, we have them trapped. Reinforcements are pulling in and our noble doctors are patching up most of the wounded. Reinvigorating them to rejoin the line. Every day the bugs are here, they're getting weaker. Every time the sun rises above, we are in a stronger position.
There's only two real concerns left for me at this point. The earth shaman, which has yet to ever take to the field at all. In fact, it only seemed to become ever more reclusive as the days went on. Now I can tell something for sure. It went back beyond the Crack in the Sky. It's cowering behind there, no more troops to call on at all and only Daddy's men to trap it.
I'm not sure it's right to judge it as a minor concern, but it's also not the main thing to focus on. We need to breach this fortress without killing our captured citizens. We need to find a way to force the guard away from the prison while also having enough force to crack the prison right open.
Much as the bugs were focused on me at one point, they've relinquished such efforts. I can't just run in and fight as many as I can, hoping they try to take me. It's not like I have the power for that anymore, either. I need to preserve what I have for the earth shaman. So long as one problem exists, I cannot put my all into helping the other.
Lingering about with artillery isn't accomplishing much, either. The earth shaman's power limits us using any form of quarried rock. And, well... Pitch and fire is only going to get the captives killed.
The only option is looking to be a proper storming of the battlements. An attack I can somewhat support if I call for some doctors to lend me their power. It will at least mitigate my losses. But I'll only be able to use a single blade as well. Such fine, far out control is taxing enough already, especially with this siege and its ongoing fatigue.
I need a clear line of sight, too, and all I have access to is a single watchtower. Borrowing one from the artillery crews is no big deal. But that's not the problem. It makes me vulnerable to those archers of theirs. Ballistas on feet.
We've certainly made a point of targeting those bugs with all we have. Raining arrows and bolts of our own onto them. Though they still keep a small number of them, somewhere. Potshots are still coming out of the fortress, taking out our watchtowers.
Think of the damnation and it shall appear, too...
"Get a doctor there, quickly." I snap, not in the mood to carry on with my typical grandiose speech. The knight at my side rushes off to do as ordered, and I rise to my feet, leaving my chair behind so I can move towards the front. Maybe I can take a few bugs out from afar as practice? Wound them at the very least if it so helps me win.
"LOOSE!" the lines roar sporadically, another endless orchestra of tight strings whipping forward. Heavy thunks fill it out, and it takes no time at all for the iron-tipped rain to wet the earth. Hardly as much blood as such force should have, but it's all we can do.
We've got as many troops as we can realistically field right now. With each step we've taken, their defences have tightened. Every blade of grass we leave behind is one less proper blade we can field. The mathematics is unfair, and it is cruel to all of us involved. Cruel to the soldiers of all postures and births, cruel to those waiting to be rescued.
At this point, we might as well catapult in bundles of weapons and armour. I know full well we have soldiers within those walls and it won't exactly be much effort to have them ready. Easy to fit armour, easy to handle weapons with little risk of them being broken... It'll take time to get something that eccentric ready, however.
Still... Something is part of the anything I should be considering.
"You, stop what you're doing." I call out to an officer who just so happens to be what I'm looking for. He twists and turns, his gruff attitude vanishing at the first sign of glorious royal armour. His knee impacts the mud, and he looks up, the means to take notes so closely clutched to his chest.
"Your Majesty?" he answers, asking me for my orders.
"Rise and take notes." I tell him, gesturing for him to get that knee of his out of the mud. While the loss of the farms around here certainly opens up clean water for cleaning. There's only so much of it and the ground already has had its fill. Never mind the unfortunate rain we have encountered.
"Your Majesty," he repeats, just before I get lost in my thoughts.
"Have the armourers gather what they can. Spare weapons, tools, anything they can find. Have artillery positioned and measured precisely. If we cannot have the walls and the enemy garrison gone, I want weapons and armour thrown right into the prison. We have soldiers in there, knights who probably even still have some of their armour left. Use whatever you can to pad the projectiles. Gambesons, leathers, cloth, spare ropes. Anything that'll keep the weapons from breaking and snapping. Make sure to also let the officers about know they're welcome to offer up their inspiration. We need all the creativity we can muster to win this battle. Dismissed." I explain, sending him off as I carry on towards the front.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" he calls back, heading off with new orders. I have some spare layabouts fill in for what he left behind and carry on my walk. My eyes glancing carefully at the battlements as my one-fifty blades carefully flex their steelish muscles.
"LOOSE!" goes out again, the canopy of arrows casting their extensive shadow over me for longer than I am comfortable to admit. There's a certain terror one realises even when disproportionately powerful, like I am in this land. Arrows are dangerous. Thousands like that are a word I don't even think exists. But there's certainly a bedrock that sounds an awful lot like 'lethal.'
I tuck my magic in and slip in through the gaps in the line, the weight of my presence opening up the lines more than any crowbar or the like. Those here offer what respect they can, but I expect nothing more. We're in a siege, a simple, tired gesture is more than enough. Almost too much in reality.
"Mmm... What a mess." I can't help but let out as I reach the limits of the trenches. The physical prowess of the bugs hardly makes them useful. But, siege tactics are what they are and at least the stakes below add to our defences. The bugs tried a counterattack here and there, but grit and a line of pikes held the line. A few slings, javelins and all sorts over the top sprinkle in what they can.
We have what we need to invalidate our defences, though. Some holes are being filled in while others have bridges being built for them. We can rush and retreat as is necessary. Hopefully, though, the latter option will never see the light of day.
I went into this whole affair preparing for the worst, and the worst has yet to come. We're managing. The failure of skirmishers and isolated garrisons proved to be a false fear. I don't want to get cocky, but the mood is certainly better than what was to be expected.
Filling out my mouth with a thoughtful noise as another 'LOOSE!' fills the air, I cross the trenches. Lingering on the forwards side of the trenches, the men around me for as far as the eye can see form up. Their lady-king is on the front, and they will join her when it becomes needed. Luckily for them, I expect nothing of them for the time being.
I suppose I'm just here to tease the enemy with anything as my thoughts occupy my efforts. Turning towards the horizon, I stare at its uncanny looks. To most of the people of my kingdom, they're not to be anywhere near here. I intentionally have monsters put around here for that purpose. Protection on the inside from anything to explosively pushy.
Only the knights who patrolled forests like this really knew the reality. Now, the rumours are going across the army. Our troops are pushed right up against the solid rock of the sky and they're confused. Focussed, but confused.
It's an odd thing to hear, and I will handle the consequences of it as is needed back at my palace. Now is not the time, neither is it the place, and the army recognises that. All our attention must be on the monsters. The beasts at our door, pouring from the Crack in the Sky.
A smile comes to my lips, an image of a dripping faucet on my mind. That's all it is now. A silly tap with but one sponge wipe away from having no water at all. We're almost there. Victory is awaiting us, and I shall greet it with open arms, embracing it well. With all the scraps of strength left in me so that I might find joy amongst the despair.
Of all the things to happen when this is all over, I want the army to cheer. I want to see weapons jostle in high-held grips and the air to whistle with flying hats and ruinous helmets. The ground will shake with the thunder of a jumping party. Victory will be all the air hears, for that is all the men will say.
Victory for the kingdom, victory for their loved ones. In Her Majesty's name and for all those who depend on them. We will turn our backs on this affair, leaving only what is needed to secure the Crack in the Sky. Then, as Daddy finally comes back to me...
Mmm...
"Daddy is unlikely to come. Not until after this is all said and done." I realise, tripping over my words just barely as it settles in. We did all of this without Daddy and I can probably finish it without him, too. I hope it means nothing bad has happened to him... I will need his help at some point just to make sure I can properly fix the biggest problem of all.
The Crack in the Sky, the ominous portent that has certainly lived up to its expectations. Nothing like the osibindah has ever interacted with me before this point. So it's certainly done its job. Whatever made it, too, it puts much-needed faith in the stonework surrounding my kingdom. Daddy did a good job getting everything readied for me.
Shaking my head clear of future-aimed thoughts, I refocus my eyes on the present. The siege before me, the siege surrounding me. My main blade comes out into the open and I hold it close. Urging for the knights closest to follow me.
I might not be able to waste too much magic right now, but there's nothing cheaper on one's power than to just head out and fight. The Valkinvar conquered an empire using witches armed like knights. I can win this siege much the same way. I will win it this way.
"TO ME, MY BRAVE KNIGHTS!" I call out, my eyes glimmering with restrained power as I go ahead only modestly without them.