Mageborn The Line of Illeniel by Michael Manning (top novels of all time TXT) 📗

the nature of their supply line will be vitally important. An army lives and dies on its stomach.”

“If this becomes a protracted campaign we’re more likely to starve than they are. Our supplies are getting thin after the winter. The spring planting needs to be done soon. If we’re besieged we’ll starve long before they do,” I said.

“Facing that many we wouldn’t hold out long enough to starve,” Cyhan observed.

I could see men shifting uncertainly at the dark tone our conversation had taken. I raised my voice, “Attend me!” Using a bench as a step I got onto the table. An unfortunate loaf of bread was spoiled but I ignored it. “Today our fight starts! You may be asking yourselves if we can win. You’re probably wondering if a bit of land and a new start is worth the risk of your life. Am I right?” I paused to see if anyone would answer. I could see my words had struck a chord with many of them but none spoke.

“Many of you were with me in Albamarl. Others among you were there when we fought the cultists in the duke’s castle. Some of you don’t have a goddamn clue what I’m capable of, though you may have heard some wild stories,” I said loudly. A few men chuckled. I took that as a good sign.

“A good friend of mine explained to me a while back that true power, doesn’t come from money or magic. I thought he was a fool! Do you know what he told me?” I paused again before continuing, “He told me that true power lies in the people that follow you.”

“But there’s a damn sight more people on their side!” someone shouted from the back.

“You’re right! But those men down there aren’t our real enemy. They’re people, just like you, men trying to carve out a living for themselves. Do you honestly think they want to be here? They’re conscripts, forced to serve by the theocracy that rules Gododdin now. We have a hell of a lot more reason to fight than they do. The real enemy is Vendraccus and the dark god he serves. Forcing those men into this fight is what really pisses me off. Do you know why?”

No one spoke. The room had gone utterly silent as I spoke and I could see the question in their eyes.

“Because I am going to kill every damned soldier that marches into our valley! I have never been a man that likes bloodshed, but today will be the day history remembers me by. The day Mordecai Illeniel became the greatest butcher the world has ever seen,” I stopped, staring at them for a long minute.

“There’s something I need you to do for me,” I cast my gaze across the crowd. “When today is done thousands upon thousands will be dead, but there will be more. The dead will pile upon themselves from one end of this valley to the other, but some will remain. Those that do may well be driven to assault us here. They may still outnumber us. Our women and our children wait on us in Lancaster. I will not be able to protect them. I leave that trust to you. Can I count on you to do that for me?”

The room was silent for a long moment before one man near the front answered, “Yes my lord.”

I put my hand to my ear, “What did you say?”

“Yes my lord!” he repeated more loudly.

“I hear your voice, are there any others?” I replied.

“Yes my lord!” several men shouted.

“Louder goddammit!” I admonished them. Soon the room was echoing with cries of “Yes my lord!” They took it up and it slowly became a chant. At some point it changed and before I realized it they were chanting my name. Another day I might have been embarrassed, but not today. They needed hope, and I needed their trust. Chances were that I would lead many of them to their deaths, and for that I certainly needed their trust.

They were still pounding the tables and shouting when I left the room. I stood listening in the empty corridor and each booming cry reminded me of a marching drum, driving me to my doom. Penny walked up behind me, “You were magnificent Mort. They truly believe in you.”

The emotions swirling through me were too much, and I began to laugh. An ugly hysterical laugh, a reaction to the tension coiled inside me. “You really think so?” I choked out.

A worried frown creased her brow, “Yes I do.”

“We’ll see how they feel when the crows and vultures come to feed. We’ll see how the survivors feel once they’ve gained some perspective,” I replied.

“You really worry me sometimes,” she responded suddenly.

“You’re not the only one. Come on, let’s go see how the enemy is progressing,” I said and we headed for the teleportation circles I had prepared.

***

We sat on two tall destriers near the manor house of Lord Arundel. A large circle was etched in the cobbled patio behind the house. I had created several throughout the valley. With a diameter of fifteen feet they were large enough to allow me to bring both of us along with our horses. Not having access to a better means of viewing the valley I had placed them at spots I thought would prove useful in observing the enemy. The circles that matched them were placed in a large barn we had constructed near the stable in Cameron Castle. I would need good information on the enemy’s position to use my iron bombs most effectively.

I had taken us there knowing that the soldiers of Gododdin would already be passing by Arundel... or scouting it. There was a high possibility they would divert to make certain there was no enemy waiting to flank them from the baron’s estates. As we rode around the side of the house I spotted two men on horseback in the front yard, their eyes grew wide