William struck the Falconhead on the chest. His spear bounced off the thing's armor. He ducked, avoiding the Falconhead's poleaxe and leapt to avoid the blade of another Wismarine.
He rolled on the stony wall, gathering dust and blood on his breastplate. He blocked the Wismarine's sword with his gauntlet and smashed the man's face with a punch. The Wismarine staggered to the side but the Falconhead filled his place.
William feigned a dagger stab to the shoulder and angled it up to the neck. The Falconhead quickly saw through it and dodged, ramming the butt of its poleaxe on William's chest at the same time.
Air escaped William's lungs as he took a step back. He held his arm up just in time for his gauntlets to block the Falconhead's axe. He felt his gauntlets break, cutting his arm a little. The dripping of blood confirmed it but the pain was dull.
The Falconhead rushed again. William grabbed the thing by the arm and threw his weight. He failed. The Falconhead threw him instead. His back hit the merlon of the wall.
William was dazed but he heard Wasp's growl. He opened his eyes, whisked away his confusion. Wasp was lunging at the Falconhead, attempting a bite through the thing's armor. The dog's fur was bloody. William feared.
"No" William shook his head. "No!"
He struggled up and sprinted to the Falconhead. He drew his dagger, flashing its tip. The Falconhead noticed. It was too late though. William slammed his dagger on the Falconhead's neck. The thin scale armor broke. The thing screamed in a wheezy but still eerie sound until it fell.
William knelt to Wasp. The dog was whimpering in a sharp tone that gripped William's heart. A gashing wound was on Wasp's side. It was deep bur thankfully not fatal. William embraced Wasp despite the stinking smell of blood on its snout.
"Retreat" He ordered to Wasp as he stepped back to the fighting. The Wismarines were overwhelming the Vanadians without the support of artillery. The wall was about to fall to the enemies.
Wasp followed him nonetheless, limping.
"Retreat boy. Go back to the barracks. Omniscience. You can't fight anymore."
And so am I, William thought. The wound on his arms hurt now. Probably a cut on his flesh just shy of touching the bone.
But the Vanadians needed him. Those at the gate were being pushed back. The defenders on the wall were on the verge of routing. They needed him.
"Reinforcements!" A Vanadian shouted.
William looked and saw banners coming to them from the harbor. There was the palm tree of Borondi and the swordfish of Greenwater.
Omniscient be praised, William thought. Honorable Borondians. They are not traitors after all.
"Hold!" William shouted raising his dagger for he had already lost his sword. Blood from his wound dripped.
The reinforcements arrived with a warcry. The Castonians pushed through the mass of Wismarines trying to take the broken gate. They cut like hot knife to butter.
Most of the Borondians ascended to the top of the western wall. The first person William saw was a man with a cape dressed in fine plate. His arms were as thick as William's and a beard to match.
William found himself fighting with the man side by side after a while. Neither of them talked and just regarded each other with nods. He was strong, able to smash a Wismarine's face with his fist. William was starting to like this person.
The Wismarines retreated not long after. The arrival of the Borondians and Castonians secured the defense today. As always they left their dead behind, not caring about the desecration those corpses could suffer. Well they didn't have to worry anyway. William had commanded the Wismarine dead to be treated with respect.
William slumped on the merlon, exhausted. The bleeding on his arm had stopped but the pain was still there. Wasp laid his head on William's lap, exhausted as well.
"You are William Castonia?" The same burly man asked. He threw a waterskin and William caught it with one hand.
"Ventil Borondi"
"Just Ventil. You foreigners loved having long names. I say one name is enough to be carved in history book."
William couldn't help but smile. He pinched Wasp's ear. "You fought well Borondian."
"And you too Castonian." Ventil looked around. "And these Vanadians too. I've never seen money-grubbers fight so ferociously."
"But the Vanadian navy..."
"Hide behind their Hellfire. That is not war. That is sniping enemies from afar. Cowardly. But this. Oh yes I can respect this." Ventil held out a hand to him. "Let's go Castonian. You need to welcome us, your guests"
A jubilant palace greeted William. The palace of Holm was already grand but the feast served by Edmund made it feel like they were not under siege.
The long table was filled with men now, officers mostly who were still wounded but were already laughing boisterously. Many were still in their bloody armors. Fish was served for tonight. The smoky smell was alluring.
William sat between his father and Arthur Vanadis who, surprisingly, was gloomy. Poor Arthur must have been shaken, he thought.
"Do we have enough to waste food like this?" William asked his father.
"We don't." His father forked a chunk of fish and ate it inelegantly, oil dripping down his beard. "But we have guests. This siege wouldn't last long anyway. Either the Wismarines destroys us or we shatter them. In a few days we'll know."
"It won't be enough. The Borondians and the Castonians of Greenwater are a great help but those Falconheads and elephants are our main problem."
"We should levy from the citizens."
"They won't accept."
"Force them. Execute those who refuse."
William grunted to that. "I think execution is a bit too much."
"Exile then. Kick them out of the city. If they don't want to take up arms against the enemies then they don't have the right to stay and enjoy our protection. You know we must be tough."
"Yes. But..." William bit his lower lip. "Alright. We will discuss this with Edmund."
The meal went on and, as always, wine flowed. William didn't have appetite though. The wound on his arm still hurt.
Edmund then burst into the hall, dragging his long silk robe. He was smiling. Edmund held out a piece of rolled paper for all to see.
"I bring terrific news! Grand Master Henry is coming!"
William's eyes were wide hearing that. He looked at his father. Old Leopold Castonia was the same.
"If that is true..."
"Then we are saved" His father noted.
"Twenty thousand riders!" Edmund exclaimed again "And half are knights!"
His father rose, raising a cup of wine but visibly struggling with his shock.
"Twenty thousand riders would be a great help. I say we crush those Wismarines!"
***
Leopold's head ached the next morning. He had too much wine. He slid off his bed, massaging his knees. He yawned, stretched his limbs and again gloomed in the fact that Margeret wasn't by his side.
He went to the table where a basin of water had been prepared. He dipped his face in it, rubbing the grime on his face. He wiped his face with some smooth fabric. It was too smooth and perfumed too. The smell of lime and gardenias was reminded him again of Margaret.
He whisked the thought. And just pushed the window open. The pretty but battered city of Holm met him with morning glee. The sun was still low and bright yellow.
"Omniscient" Leopold prayed. He wasn't a pious man, some could even call him an unbeliever. But latety, Leopold found himself praying to the Omniscient. "Bring my sons glory. Give Timothy wisdom and William strength. Provide Ivan with repentance. As for me, peace would be enough."
"Sire, William Castonia requests to see you. Should I allow him?" Rupert said after some gentle knocks.
Dammit. Leopold glared at the door. He is my son. Don't treat him like an assassin of sorts.
Leopold opened the door and William was standing with a complicated expression.
"They are gone" He said. "The Wismarines just vanished all of a sudden. All gone."
Leopold felt happy but his happiness soon turned to worry. The Wismarines wouldn't just give up like that. No, they were doing something else.
"Gather everyone" He said. "Fast!"