Bernard walked with hands tugged behind on his Geraldine. His peers called Geraldine an old and creaky galley. That might have some truth to it. Geraldine was built many years ago and was actually first captained by his uncle. Now Geraldine belonged to him and the flagship of his squadron. But soon, Geraldine might rest at the bottom of this river.
"Praise to the Omniscient lads!" Bernard declared to the crew of Geraldine "Anyone wants to piss first before we start the battle?"
"I'll just do it here sire. It'll just drip into the river anyway"
"Oi! Geraldine's deck is not for pissing"
Laughter followed and Bernard smiled. He pointed to the knights advancing towards the fort. "Gift our guests a single barrage. Be careful not to hit the defenders instead"
"Hellfire barrage!" The artillery officer of Geraldine shouted. Similar orders were received by the other galleys.
"Three hundred and a half paces from the trench" The artillery engineer mumbled while looking at his measurement table. He looked towards the sails "Wind going east, moderate speed. Give it seven clicks and forty degrees"
The two catapults mounted on Geraldine's deck were angled forty degrees towards the advancing knights. The springs were heaved seven clicks. The other galleys also adjusted their aims with their own distances and angles from the targets. The pots of hellfire with burning wicks were loaded into the catapults and with Bernard's order, the whole squadron released their wrath. The projectiles arched and then fell into the knights. Bernard couldn't help but praise his sailors. People think that hellfire was the reason of Vanadis' dominance at sea. They often forget that the primary reason were the sailors themselves. His sailors are professionals. The engineers were taught with the latest theory in mathematics. Their measuring tables were accurate and their minds were sharp. The sailors were one with the galleys, handpicked among recruits.
"Well that's all we can spare them" Bernard said. He looked towards the approaching Lutani galleys "Fire when they are in range"
The artillerymen again adjusted the aims of the catapults.
"Nine clicks and thirty-five degrees" His siege engineer shouted to the crew manning the catapults.
"Ten clicks, twenty degrees" Bernard heard the engineer of the neighboring galley.
The creaking of torsion was loud as the crew adjusted and loaded the catapults. The Lutani ships were heaving their oars, splashing the river as they go. Their hulls made creases in the river, long and straight. The sails were raised as the wind turned in their favor.
Bernard bit his lips but maintained his unafraid demeanor. He must not show fear, not in front of his sailors he will not. He looked to the fort. The pretty girl inside should be suffering even worse problems than him. This was her first time taking personal command. He will not dishonor the Vanadian navy by showing a hint of his fear. If she could do it, so could he.
The catapults kicked their projectiles high. Bernard had seen meteors before and the projectiles look just like that. But unlike meteors which bring awe and wonder, the burning hellfire pots bring death and destruction.
Eleven Lutani galleys were hit. Three of them burned and were sinking while the others were damaged. Poor show, Bernard thought. The earlier barrage against the knights had a better accuracy. He couldn't blame his engineers though. The Vanadian navy longed for the ocean. The river wasn't their field.
"Reload!" Bernard ordered, shouting in his coarse voice.
The catapults again adjusted their aims. Some were quicker than others. The result was more satisfying to watch this time. Six more Lutani galleys burned while more than a dozen were damaged. The Lutani sailors jumped into the river to avoid a fiery death. But true to its name, Hellfire doesn't permit respite.
"Continue the barrage and sail upriver!"
The Vanadian galleys oared upstream. It was grueling and slow as the flow was against them. Several more Lutani galleys were sunk by the catapults but the distance had shortened. If caught, the Lutani sailors would throw grapnels and board them. While this battle would surely degrade into hand to hand in the end, Bernard wanted as many Lutani galleys sunk by the hellfire as possible.
The steady beating of drums was the steady heaves of oars. The nearest Lutani galleys loosed bolts upon them. Some Vanadians were hit but they retaliated with their own arrows. This remained for a while until four Vanadian galleys were grappled. The Lutanis began to board the four galleys.
Bernard knew that their advantage in range had disappeared. It was time for some old time hand to hand combat.
"Reverse course" Bernard announced. The order was repeated to other galleys through flags.
Geraldine's oarsmen rowed towards the Lutani galleys. The wind blew south, a welcomed gift from the Omniscient. Geraldine angled its bow towards a single Lutani galley.
The creaking was loud when Geraldine hit the side of the Lutani. It was like an explosion with splinters of wood flying high. A huge gaping hole was inflicted upon the Lutani. The whole ship rocked like a bamboo. Some sailors fell into the water. Looking at the hole, Bernard knew it was over for the galley. One fewer enemy to deal with.
Geraldine tried to waddle back and find another target but another Lutani caught eye of it. The Lutani sailed closer and grapnels were thrown onto Geraldine's deck. Geraldine was pulled towards a Lutani and a plank was laid between the two ships. The Lutani sailors started to board.
"Swords!" Bernard shouted. The Vanadians, except the artillerymen who were still raining hellfire upon the enemies, rushed towards the plank. The first foolish Lutani to step onto Geraldine's deck was cut immediately. The next three also suffered the same fate. But the next ones were able to present a solid assault. Clash of steel rang on Geraldine's deck.
Bernard held on to his sword. He wasn't good at this with his heavy steps and awkward movements. But like any other sailor in the Vanadian navy, he was prepared to do his duty to Her Majesty Lucia. He was afraid, he was honest enough to admit that. But the Lutanis would have to bite though his blade before he gives up Geraldine to them.
The melee was fierce. Blood began to smear the wooden deck. Vanadian blood, Lutani blood- all of them hued red, all had the smell of iron in them. Geraldine's crews were being pushed back and Bernard had sent all his reserves. Two Lutani galleys were now trying to board Geraldine. Outnumbered and fighting on two sides, it would only be a matter of time before Bernard's flagship falls. Emily owes him a chance of courtship in the afterlife, he thought.
He looked around. Three of the twelve Vanadian galleys had fallen. The others, just like Geraldine, were being boarded by multiple Lutani galleys. He just sighed and accepted his imminent death.
Bernard then looked towards the melee on his ship. He gripped his blade firm and rushed towards the fighting. His personal guards joined. They ran with fury in their eyes and the sharpness of their sword in their hands. Bernard would have to cut down as many as he could. They wanted Geraldine. He wasn't willing to give it to them without a steep price.
But before they made contact, horns sounded. They belonged to the Lutani galleys. The long and shrill melody was familiar to Bernard. It was a signal for a retreat. The Lutanis trying to board Geraldine retreated to their ships. The grapnels were cut loose and the two galleys backed away.
Confused, Bernard started looking around for answers. As his look angled west, he saw the reason.
**********
Emily doesn't know what to do. The first trench had fallen. The gate fell after just a few hit of their rams. The knights then burst into the gate with their rams. Emily's men tried to hold but were slaughtered. Hundreds of her men lay dead and many more were bleeding. Only the Castonians and some courageous lads were fighting until the bitter end.
"The Omniscient is with us!" Emily shouted while gripping the flag of Tulosa in her hand. She doesn't know if her act was helping boost their morale but those who routed were again defending the gate. Her hand was tired and her throat hurt from shouting.
"It is over for us right?" She asked secretly to her Royal Guard, begging for the cruel and grim confirmation.
"We will defend you to the end Your Majesty"
Many of her people were being cut down by the knights. She did this to them. She didn't know anything about defending a fort but she did anyway. She was a stupid little girl who thought that she could match Erik and Henry. In the end their efforts would be in vain and she would either be captured or executed. Emily wondered what Erik and Henry's reactions would be. They would probably think of her as foolish. Maybe they would feel pity for her. It doesn't matter now. She wouldn't know anyway.
Several blasts of horn both sounded from the attacking knights and the Lutani ships. Even though she was still new to this, she knew that the signal was to retreat. The knights attacking her men retreated to whence they came. They were in haste.
Confused, Emily looked to her veteran guard for answers. The aged guard was looking to the west with eyes wide. Emily traced the guard's look and soon she shared the shock.
They lined as far as the eye could see. They filled the horizon like stars in a dark night. They were fast, charging in their horses. They were endless. All of them were on horseback and flying different banners.
"We held" Emily said in her little voice.