Haven 4 Dragon Magic (Haven Series 4) by Larson B. V

Author:Larson, B. V. [Larson, B. V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-07-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

A Wurm Disturbed

The kobolds continued the siege. There had been flare-ups, certainly. Occasionally, the Kindred had made forays down the tunnel, firing crossbow bolts into the black unknown at any eye they saw or thought they saw. The kobolds, for their part, pulled back, tossing darts and hiding in side-tunnels. Their tactics were simple but effective, lure the miners into traps and come out of the side-tunnels from behind.

Modi and his team were very aware of their enemy, however. They were veterans of the Everdark, and had already seen two of their members die on this trip. They sent forward a squad of four with crossbows, but then kept back the majority a dozen paces behind, without lanterns. When the hiding Kobolds sprang out from side-tunnels to backstab the four crossbowmen with stone daggers, Modi and his team fell upon them from behind in turn.

A vicious fight had ensued. One of the brave crossbowmen had taken seven stab wounds and bled out. There were a dozen kobolds left on the tunnel floor, which was slick with mixed bloods.

After the battle, Modi called his team back to build up barricades of rock, more than half-blocking the tunnel. There they waited, and the siege continued.

Sieges tend to work upon the minds of men and of Kindred alike. Many grow complacent, taking the situation as a new condition of life. They adjust to it, and philosophically wait it out. Others are not so lucky. For some, a siege is the height of frustration. They know they can’t end the tension, but they want to and each passing day makes the situation swell in their minds. They grow restive and desperate.

Modi was one of the latter types. He understood a siege, the tactics and the appropriate response. In fact, it was by his order they had halted and allowed it to begin. But he had seen no sign of aid arriving. Each day ate at him, and he suspected he had made a mistake. He suspected his mission was dissolving into a colossal failure. The same failure this father had so glumly predicted when Modi had first brought the idea to him.

Where in the nine hells was Gamal? He had sent the fool up into the chimneys a week ago. Had he died up there? Had he found a wife and started a new family farm?

Modi could have led another advance. Perhaps, if they killed another dozen of the Kobolds they would lose heart. But he might well lose another miner, and there were precious few of them left. The Kindred were much better fighters, but there were always more of the enemy. For the same reason, he didn’t want to send another man up to the surface. If Gamal had failed, what chance did the second man have? Besides, sending another man up meant one less down here to protect their hoard of rubies.

And so, Modi needed another outlet for his energies.

The great plug, as black as iron, made lumpy and burnt centuries ago, squatted at his feet.

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