Belamore: Day 15. Canaday Castle -- WRETCHED STATE

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Date Posted: 10:30:42 08/30/00 Wed
Author: Belamore
Subject: Belamore: Day 15. Canaday Castle

Belamore: Day 15. Canaday Castle

The skies have grown dark in the east, thick with rain. Leaves have
turned and torn from their branches by cold winds from the north, that
carry the smell of death. Troyellen, dead and his army destroyed to the
man by wizardry; the only thing I had not planned on. Even still, 2,000
enemy dead and another 4,000 wounded by Janora and the mighty Griffin,
Jax...at the sacrifice of Janora's life and the griffin, near dead. In
the heat of the fevered battle they had failed to release the avalanche
to trap the northern horde and the Tankan have taken the city of Drice
and have Castle Drice under siege; defended only by elderly, woman and
children, poorly armed and without hope of rescue.

With the dragon, the Griffin and Janora; the skills of Blekengus and
the fierce hearts of the defenders of Tampion the southern battle has
been won, but under heavy cost...349 survivors still able to fight and
the dragon lost.

Magan has taken a light battalion out to harass and stall the enemy and
hasn't been heard from since he left days ago. Nor has any word come
back of the fate of Fayle and Arelle, gone to rescue her father,
Benardo.

The Tancan bridges have been completed and the war engines and catapults
have pounded these walls for days. The armies of Tancan are ready for
the main assaults with scaffolding, ropes and ladders and an army 20
times greater in numbers than mine.

The reinforcements from the western coast will be of no use for Cree is
the only landing site and it is in Tancan hands...I have no way to warn
them of the trap they sail in to without Janora and the griffin to fly
to the ships.

"Scribe, take these scrolls and place them beneath the courtyard stones
with the others; that one day the world would know of the last days of
Canaday and how well we died." I handed the scrolls over and watched
Pallaus approach.

"General Acarl, commander of the catapults is at the central eastern
gate under a flag of truce, Belamore. Shall I let him or will you not
hear his terms of surrender?" Pallaus cast his eyes over the wall at
the slain bodies of the prisoners who had worked on the bridges. Mayan
Tankan had executed them for days in front of the walls in horrendous
torture until I ordered the archers to kill our people to save them
the torment.

"Let him in." My eye narrowed. The first volley from one hundred
catapults was fodder of children dashed against the walls of this
castle. "By all means, bring the commander of the catapults to me...I
will hear his terms." I could still hear the screams of the children
and the laughter of the Tancan soldiers.

Wheezing and drenched in sweat after the long climb up the stairs to the
catwalk, General Acarl managed an arrogant bow before the 'stable King'.

"King Belamane, or Belmore, I am told is correct now. Mayan El Tancan
sends his respects to his life-long enemy. In brief, my friend,
Canaday is lost. You are defeated." He paused to wheeze and cough.

"And his terms?" I answered, looking at Pallaus.

"His terms are generous, considering the slaughter of his soldiers at
Tampian. Your people will be allowed to live, to return to the fields
and their shops and trades...to serve El Tancan of course. You will
seal this bargain with your execution and your Generals will swear
allegiance to My Lord, El Tancan or die with you in honor. You have 24 hours
to reply."

"You leave me little choice. I need not 24 hours." I looked at my two
royal totes, Molto the blacksmith and Carmon the thresher. "Throw
General Acarl over the wall."

Before the General new what was happening, he was screaming to his death
200 feet down.

"Belamore, I would gladly give my head to the executioner to save the
people of Canaday...you should have considered Tancan's offer." Pallaus
said, his weary eyes in pain and in hatred.

"It is a Tancan offer. It means nothing. Tancan will not settle to
rule over a kingdom of farms. He is a conqueror and a warrior. He would
have slaughtered those within these walls as he has with the others
outside. Kill his escort."

"But the flag of truce..."

"The flag of TRUCE is the bloody undergarments of a child!!! You honor
that!!! I will not!!!"

....continued

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