Moth Saga 02: Empires of Moth by Daniel Arenson

Author:Daniel Arenson [Arenson, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9781927601181
Publisher: Moonclipse
Published: 2013-12-12T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

THE GAUNTLET

After nearly a moon on the river, their supplies dwindling, Koyee and Torin reached the southern coast and beheld the buffalo banners.

Koyee stood at the prow, hand resting on her sword's pommel. Her breath left her lungs like a deflating bellows.

"Sinyong," she whispered into the wind, watching the port city grow nearer. "The southern jewel of Qaelin. The city burns."

The Water Spider still sailed several miles away, but it was close enough for Koyee to see the carnage. The hosts of sunlight surrounded the city. Their ships sailed upon the river ahead, pushing into Sinyong like worms up an artery. Their ground troops surrounded the city walls, sprawling across the plains—footmen, horsemen, and charioteers, thousands in all. Their banners rose high—not the raven banners that had flown in Pahmey, but ones sporting the crimson buffalo, its horns long.

"Mageria," Torin said, standing beside her. His eyes darkened. "We followed their path of rot to this pulsing heart."

"The city still fights." Koyee's hand trembled around the hilt of her sword. As their boat sailed closer, more details emerged. "There is still hope for Sinyong. Look, Torin! Elorians still stand upon the city walls."

Two halves formed Sinyong, semi-circles clasping the river between them. A hundred pagodas rose here, their tiled roofs topped with statues. Several towers crumbled before Koyee's eyes. As she watched, a catapult upon the plains hurled a boulder into a pagoda, sending statues, tiles, and bricks crashing down. Walls surrounded the city's two halves, and upon them stood Elorians in armor, firing arrows and cannons. Lights blazed like lightning. Cannonballs crashed like thunder.

"How will we sail through?" Torin said. "Damn it. Is there another way to the sea?"

Koyee stared grimly. Their boat still sailed two or three miles away, but soon the river would take them through Sinyong and its raging battle. Where the river flowed between the city's halves, the combat blazed brightest. Fifty ships or more sailed there; a few were Elorian junks, but most were the carracks of Timandra, the crimson buffalo upon their sails. Walls and towers rose along the riverbanks, many soldiers upon them, forming a canyon. Arrows and cannonfire crashed down onto the enemy ships, a gauntlet of flame and steel and blood. Bolts of black fire blasted out from Mageria's vessels, dark magic that crashed into towers and sent them crumbling. Koyee couldn't even glimpse the sea beyond the port; the battle curtained the view.

"We'll have to sail through," Koyee said, feeling the blood drain from her face. "It's the only way to the sea. It's the only way we can row south to Ilar."

Torin winced. "It's a damn bloodbath in there. We'll wait until the battle ends at least." He pointed ahead. "Nothing can survive that gauntlet. Look at it. Every ship sailing through the city is being pelted with arrows, fire, and death from above."

Koyee raised her chin. "When the battle ends, Timandra will seize this city. They will inspect every boat that sails through." She gave Torin a wry smile.

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