Blood Nobles by Joshua Done

Author:Joshua Done [Done, Joshua]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Harback

The view from the top of Stonehill was breathtaking. My bullfrog skidded to a stop at the start of the switchbacks leading down from the hill to the open expanse on the opposite side of the river, Blackfield, and the massive Tchakkush city. This road had been cut into the mountain for two reasons. The first was because it would take an additional twenty minutes to drive around the huge hill, and the second was that if an enemy wanted to assault the hill from the far side, it would channel them into a single culvert where they could be easily suppressed by a single unit of heavy firepower.

“I’m glad you could come,” Jakush said beside me. He rode on a wide hover skiff that had harnesses locked around his legs. I always thought the Gyllecar vehicles looked ridiculous, but I wasn’t about to judge them for just trying to get around like the rest of us.

“Of course,” I said. “Lead on.” We wound our way down the paved switch back road, switching to a rough-hewn dirt path when we reached the bottom. After that it only took us fifteen minutes to round a patch of the bio-warrior’s forest and peak another small hill. Down in the crook of a valley stood three wide buildings. They had huge doric pillars, wide patios, and high balconies. It was truly expansive—at least three times the size of the capital building.

“Wow. Someone has been busy.”

Jakush gave me a quizzical look. “All of us have been busy. Your people building your towns and securing the city, the K’Chillik with their tunnels and science, and us with securing the perimeters and building this.”

“It is impressive,” I said, nodding. “Show it to me.”

We reached the edge of the walls and begin circling around the fortifications. The walls were high and pointed like the sides of a many pointed star. Each point gave several soldiers on top the vantage point to fire on anyone on the road below. Fortunately, all the Gyllecar on patrol did was wave or salute.

Before we reached the main gate the road narrowed against the side of a cliff. It was clear that it hadn’t been a cliff until recently. A small hill had stretched partway into the Gyllecar compound, and the huge quadrupeds had chopped it off to make room for their fort and to create the choke point. A single high capacity plasma round could stop an entire division in that pass. It was impressive. I had a brief moment of worry that an especially strong enemy could jump from the cliff to the walls, but as I scanned the ridge above I saw a series of towers with high capacity weapons pointing out. It was a very well-designed trap.

“Expecting an attack?” I asked.

“Of course we are. As you are expecting attacks on Stonehill, Blackfield, and the capital. It would be utter foolishness not to.”

“True enough,” I said. “And I love your ambush spot.”

“I thought you would appreciate it,” he said.

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