Bay of Hundred Islets
The afternoon breeze was soft to Arthur's skin. The rocking of Vulture against the waves felt like a mother's cradle.
"Why did they call this Bay of Hundred Islets?" Ventil asked beside him, eyes on the islands around.
Arthur leaned against a pole in the galley. He looked up, appreciating the beautiful orange glow of the setting sun. "Because there are a hundred islands here?"
"I have been counting and there are more than a hundred. Four hundred sixteen not including the ones I missed. And islets are different from islands"
"How should I know?" He shrugged. "If given the opportunity, I would rename it to Bay of Goat Turds. These islands looked like scattered goat feces as far as I'm concerned."
Ventil smiled to that. "My father would surely croak if he heard you say that."
"He didn't when I had that outburst."
An armored Castonian walked to them. Like all Castonians, this man had an expression of a blank paper. He saluted to Arthur.
"Lady Sylvie wants to relay that she is saddened by her absence. Her condition is draws complication."
"Lady long legs is with child right?" Arthur smiled but his statement drew a frown from the Castonian.
"Sorry" He said.
The Castonian turned around without saying a word. Ventil snorted a laugh after the man was gone.
"Are they all like that?"
"Some are indeed like that. I don't know. I think brooding is in their blood."
Ventil sighed. "Well, may Ashkara's wind blow away their gloom."
"Yes, yes. May..." Arthur shot a look at Ventil. "Did you just say Ashkara?"
"Uh yes. Why?"
Arthur studied Ventil. "You are a believer of Ashkara?"
"Don't tell anyone. My father won't like it. He might croak."
Arthur felt a tinge of worry at that.
"I know what you're thinking Arthur but let Ashkara's wind sweep away your anxiety. You can trust me."
"And... is it alright for you to fight against the Wismarines?"
"The Union warred with Tulosa, Canton, Hadea and Inkit- all nations with the same faith. I don't see why me aiding you against the Wismarines bears problem."
Arthur stared at Ventil. The setting glow of the sun reflected on Ventil's face, slowly easing into darkness.
"You can trust me Arthur"
***
"Set 'em alight!" William shouted.
The Vanadians hurled barrels of Hellfire from the top of the western wall to the Wismarines. The barrels exploded upon impact and spread burning Hellfire flames. The explosion was the final straw that prompted the retreat of the enemies. The Wismarines ran back to their camp under the setting sun.
The Vanadians cheered, raising their spears and swords in the air. But there is nothing to be happy about, William thought. The battle today had been bloody for both sides.
The siege had been ongoing for five days. Ever since the Wismarines made a breach in the gate of the western wall, they had concentrated their attack in the west. The Wismarines huddled their large camp facing the western wall.
The wall was further fortified of course. The gate cannot be repaired but wooden palisades and earthworks were built around it. Nevertheless the Wismarine attacked every day from morning to sunset. The Vanadian defenders had already lost over ten thousand men. The walls were crumbling now and their side was a spent force.
William wiped the blood off his sword. Six men he personally slew today, six enemies, six lives. One was a Falconhead. Those men were not human. Their bodies were but their minds had long been degraded by Wismarine medicine into that of an animal. They fought without fear, without tiring and without thought. Those things were a big problem.
He sheathed the sword on its scabbard and ruffled Wasp's fur. The hound had a bloody snout. William examined Wasp for any injuries and was relieved when he saw none.
"You have fought with ferocity old friend" William said as Wasp snuggled to his neck as if the large hound was still a puppy.
"I know" William sighed. "This is tiring right? Blood, death, war- all of these are tiring. But we must continue this old pal."
Wasp panted to his face, tongue sticking out. William grimaced after smelling the stench.
'A dog is a loyal thing. Train him and you'll have somebody to watch your back at all times' He remembered that merchant who sold him Wasp as a puppy many years ago. It was true though. Wasp had saved his life eight times. Wasp had never and would never betray him.
William trudge down from the wall. The Vanadians were collecting the dead. It had truly been bloody today. The elephants were used earlier to ram the weak wooden fortifications they built around the busted gate. The Wsimarines broke through at one point and slaughtered many of his men. The Vanadians eventually recaptured the gate and rebuilt what was destroyed but the damage had already been done.
William headed to the palace after giving instructions to the officers on what to prepare for tomorrow's defense. A crowd again gathered in the center of the city when he passed by with Wasp.
"They will come you fool!" William heard his father's voice.
"Then why are they still not here?" Asked one of the Vanadians. "It has been five days and the western wall is already battered."
"You overreact! The gate has been dented, that's all."
"Dented? My son saw it and it was destroyed!"
"Your son is a fool then. Or blind. Or both!" His father showed a mocking smile. "I assure you, there is nothing to worry about. Go back to your homes."
"Liar!" Someone from the crowd shouted.
"He's lying!"
Several more shouts sounded. His father's lies were starting to unravel.
"Believe what you want. Believe in false rumors if that's what makes you happy. There is nothing to worry about! I am done with you fools"
His father walked away with Rupert behind. William met them in one of the corners.
"You cannot hide the truth from them forever" William said.
"Truth? What truth?"
"That apart from Greenwater, nobody else is promising aid. That the western wall is in peril every day. That the gate is utterly destroyed."
"The gate is destroyed? Who said?"
William looked at his father. The old man then grinned.
"Of course some of them know that I am a lying bastard." His father said. "And most of them don't believe me."
"Then why are you still talking to them?"
"Fear creates panic. Panic breeds crime. If I can prevent even a single person from causing us trouble then the time I wasted talking to them would be worth it."
To that, William could only smile. He may have disagreed with his father countless times before but he could see his reason. The walk to the palace was filled with banter and occasional philosophical mumbling of his father.
Edmund Vanadis was all smiles when they arrived at the palace. He went to them, almost hopping.
"Borondi" Edmund said, short of breath. "Borondi is coming in our aid!"
"Are you certain?" William asked, a little reserved in believing such pleasant news.
"Yes! And Greenwater's galleys are coming with them." Edmund produced a letter with a crooked penmanship. It was Arthur's. His father took it and read.
"Forty-six galleys in all" Edmund continued. "Now I did tell you that I had my doubts regarding my son's capability but Arthur did it."
His father, on the other hand, seemed unhappy. "Are you sure that this is from Arthur?"
"I am sure."
"And the Castonian navy in Greenwater is joining them?"
"That is right. You seem troubled Leo"
"Yes, I am very much troubled. It is good that they are coming but now comes the hard part- getting them inside our port. Three hundred Wismarine galleys are blockading us."
Edmund and William gloomed to that. Even though the Wismarine galleys were undermanned, they could still pose a threat. They wouldn't allow reinforcements to enter Holm's port.
"We could move our artillery pieces to the edge of the harbor. Our engineers are talented and could cover the approach of our allies' ships." William said and rubbed his beard. "But we need those artillery in the defense of the western wall. The moment the enemies see that the artillery had been moved, they will attack in force."
"A dilemma" Edmund said.
"No" His father looked up from the letter. "We have another problem."
"Which is?"
"You didn't read the whole thing, did you?" His father eyed Edmund and then pointed at a line in the letter. William went closer to see it. The part was near the end of the letter.
'Oh, I have to mention that Ventil seems to pray to Ashkara. I don't know what to make of it so I'll leave that to you.' Arthur wrote.
"The Vice Duke is a believer of the Wismarine God." Edmund said. "You think..."
"I don't know. This piece of information casts a doubt on the Vice Duke's credibility as an ally. You've heard what happened to Marquis Benedict right? He trusted reinforcements and the reinforcements betrayed him. "
William paled. He had heard about the sad way Marquis Benedict Connel died. He let mercenary allies inside Knightsend and those men betrayed him. The Borondians could also do the same to them.
"And so what are you suggesting? We don't let them in? Arthur is with them. He will be captured by the Wismarines!"
His father was silent for a while. "Decisions have to be made and fast. Let's vote. I personally vote to just let the Castonians in. Arthur would have to smuggle himself into one of the Castonian ships."
"I vote to let them all in. The Borondians sailed here to help us." Edmund said and heaved a look at him. "What about you William?"
William cast his head down. "I think we should.." he started but struggled to find a decision.