Fort Covenant: Tales of the Seventh by Marc Edelheit

Author:Marc Edelheit [Edelheit, Marc]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

“That is a very welcome sight,” Stiger said, and he meant it. Under the light of a full moon and cloudless sky, he and Pazzullo were gazing down into a large valley. To their backs were the forest and the men. In the center of the valley, around a half mile distant, stood a large square fort. Stiger could see sentry fires and torches flickering in the darkness. Each of the four walls was easily six hundred yards in length, with covered towers on each corner. Off farther to the south, Stiger could see the lights of what he assumed was a small town. “A sight for sore eyes.”

“It sure is, sir,” Pazzullo said and then cleared his throat. “I think it might be better to admire the fort from the inside. Don’t you think, sir?”

“I completely agree,” Stiger said. He turned to look behind at the weary column of men, which snaked back into the forest along the road. “Forward march.”

The column started forward once again, with Stiger and Pazzullo moving alongside.

Stiger was exhausted. His legs trembled slightly with each step, and he now had a persistent headache. He longed to lie down and catch up on some sleep. What kept him going was the example he felt compelled to set for his men. In a way, as long as he kept going, so too would the company. There were times he felt as if he were their willpower.

They covered the distance rapidly, following the road, moving down the hill and into the valley. With nightfall, the hot temperatures had finally eased. With the setting sun had come light gusts of wind. The cooler temperatures were more than welcome and made the long march just a tad bit easier.

Fields of wheat ready for harvest spread out to either side of the road. The wind rippled through the fields like ocean waves. Under the bright moonlight, it was a ghostly scene. Stiger was reminded of the man he had set afire during the assault back at Cora’Tol—an image he would not soon forget. One he knew he would carry to the end of his days.

He felt immense relief as they neared the front gate. Placing one foot in front of the other was becoming a real effort. His men were in a similar state. Stiger was so tired now, he felt as if his mind had become shrouded by a thick fog. Even so, he noticed that despite the late hour, the fort’s gate stood fully open. At night, procedure called for the gate to be sealed.

“There seems to be a lot of activity inside,” Pazzullo said as they crossed a wooden-planked bridge that ran over a deep defensive trench with steep sides. Stiger glanced over the side and saw spikes and obstacles below. “An awful lot of activity, sir.”

Now that Pazzullo mentioned it, Stiger could hear quite the commotion coming from inside the fort. It sounded as if the garrison were being called out.

“I am sure that Hollux’s arrival got their attention, if not the dispatch rider from Ida first,” Stiger said.

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