The Beacon: Blayne (5)

Episode 28: "Break Out"

Mar 11, 2025

Cooled by the rain and a gentle breeze, the late-summer night passed quietly and swiftly. The crew’s hour-long watches rotated through the night, and none of them saw or heard any sign of Leitani activity nearby. During her shift, Gamila cast her senses wide, seeking a barn owl, and she soon found one hunting not far away. Making contact, she coaxed it to circle the abandoned garrison barracks several times and saw nothing but scurrying rodents, stealthy cats, and lazy dogs. She released the owl to continue its nocturnal hunt.

An hour before dawn, Adon woke Mast, who, grumbling, put together a quick breakfast of fried sausages, leftover pan biscuits, and tea. The sausage’s savory scent woke Mat, and he asked for water, eating a little biscuit from Mia’s fingers. His exhaustion was still so profound that he could barely lift his head to drink, but after his meager meal, his color improved. He rolled onto his side and soon drifted back to sleep.

Conversation was nearly nonexistent as everyone prepared to leave, each lost in his or her thoughts. No one knew what to expect, but Adon’s sighting of Genubah put them all on edge. During their two previous encounters with him, he had acted with murderous aggression, and expecting anything less could prove fatal for some or all of them. They all feared he would try something. Their discussion had occurred the evening before, and they had hashed out a simple plan that relied on stealth and as much speed as they could manage with their two wagons. Using an old crow Gamila had conscripted for the job, Adon sent a brief message to Sir Lyle, alerting him to their intentions.

After eating, Bandrick and Ren left first on foot to scout and secure the planned route, their horses left behind for Adon to lead. To move as quietly as possible, the young women tied cloth covers to the horses’ hooves, and Mast greased the wagons’ axles and springs liberally. Through a narrow alley at the barracks’ rear, the captain guided the two wagons and the horses to a quiet street of packed earth, doing his best to avoid every pool of light along the way.

Ahead, Ren waved them toward another alley that deposited them at the north wall about fifty yards east of the gate, where they halted in the blackness of a moon shadow. Sunrise and the opening of the gate were still a quarter-hour away. The small square behind the gate appeared empty and still. Opposite the gate, Bandrick slipped into a dark passage between two close buildings, scanning the doorways and rooftops for watchers. Although the moon was full, it had nearly set, casting long shadows that could conceal enemies from even his sharp eyes.

When light tinged the eastern horizon, a loud clamor rose from outside the wall: a tumult of hoofbeats, wagon squeaks, teamsters’ shouts, and men barking orders. At this, Bandrick slipped from his cover and, keeping to the shadows, stole silently toward the gate. Sprinting back from his advanced position, Ren mounted Breeze, taking Bandrick’s Sugar from Adon, and the convoy moved forward.

About halfway to the gate, they heard a stentorian voice cry, “Open the gate in the name of the king!” The crew recognized it as belonging to Captain Manton, drawing every eye to him as he sat in his polished armor atop his tall mount, about ten yards in front of the gate. Two sleepy guards emerged from a small shack, shambling forward to raise the portcullis. The older of them said, growling, “Keep your shirt on! We’re coming!” Soon, the sound of clanking chains echoed from the gateway.

Adon and Ren drew up before entering the gate’s short tunnel, allowing the wagons to go through first. Bursting from a shadow, Bandrick vaulted into his saddle and accompanied Mast’s wagon into the tunnel. They swept through as fast as they dared.

Scanning the square for threats to their rear, Adon and Ren shouted in unison, “Archers behind!”

Artema’s wagon entered the gateway. From its covered bed flew a wedge of what appeared to be a shimmering wave moving at the speed of a swift flitting across the square. Passing through the Leitani archers perched on balconies and rooftops, the wave split bows, snapped bowstrings, and shattered arrows. A laugh erupted from the back of the wagon, followed by Mat’s croaking voice shouting, “Take that, you demon-worshipers!”

Then, the crew emerged from the gate and pounded up the road toward the north. According to plan, half of the First Platoon and its wagons followed in its tracks, while the other half remained at the gate as a rear guard, backing away slowly as they watched for pursuit. From behind the wall, a shout arose, and another line of bowmen stood from their hiding places atop the gate. Arrows flew wildly over Sir Lyle and his soldiers’ heads, and a horse screamed and reared as an arrow grazed its flank. Captain Manton shouted for his troops to hold the line steady.

The Leitani prepared to fire a second volley when a full-grown golden eagle shrieked menacingly as it passed just inches over their heads, scoring a few of the archers’ scalps with its wickedly sharp talons. One bowman, braver than the rest, shot an arrow at the bird as it flew away, missing by yards. When it swung around for a second pass, the entire line scattered for cover, some dropping their bows as they shielded their heads with their arms. The tawny-headed eagle swept upward and began circling above the conflict, screeching its defiance at the archers.

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A few dozen Leitani warriors surged from the gate. Riding at their head on a dappled horse, his face painted with red and black stripes, Genubah thrust his spear skyward and shouted orders to attack. “Take down the straw-head! Kill the Margonni chief!”

“Lances!” Sir Lyle called firmly in response. “Wedge! We attack! Sweep left! Bonewood, shoot the leader!”

Riding behind the captain, Rafal Bonewood, an excellent archer, loosed an arrow at Genubah. The arrow flew true, but at the last instant, the horse’s head came up, and the dart tore through its eye. The horse died immediately, and its rider tumbled forward onto the road. Unhurt, the Leitani jumped to his feet and shouted for his men to attack.

Most of the Leitani carried javelins in their hands, with hatchets or long knives thrust into their belts. At twenty paces from the charging horses, they hurled their javelins. Private Barnhill died when one ripped through his throat, and Private Tiago Foon spun off his horse when another pierced his shoulder. Several javelins struck the chest and neck of Sir Lyle’s horse, and the captain went down with his mount. The other three horsemen tore through the line unscathed, killing several Leitani as they swept left through the disorganized, unmounted attackers.

Led by Genubah, the remaining Leitani converged on Sir Lyle, howling and yipping like coyotes. From the ruin of his horse, the valiant knight rose, shield on his left arm, sweeping his sword from its sheath. A bleeding Private Foon also struggled to his feet with the aid of his lance, and drawing his sword, he staggered toward his captain. But before he could reach him, another javelin struck him under the arm, and he went down.

Swift arrows from Private Bonewood hit their marks, and the diving eagle rejoined the fray. Together, they dispatched several Leitani as they rushed toward the captain. But there were simply too many.

At first, Sir Lyle cut down a few foolhardy warriors who ran at him one or two at a time, clubbing them with his shield and cutting or stabbing them with his sword. A small pile of bodies began to rise near his feet, proving a hindrance to his attackers, but before long, he was surrounded. The First’s three remaining horsemen wheeled and charged back toward their captain, lances knifing into the backs of the warriors encircling Sir Lyle. But the press of bodies was too thick. Before they could get to him, under the weight of a half-dozen Leitani warriors, Sir Lyle Manton fell to the earth, hacked by many strokes.

With their leader gone, the remnant of the half-platoon fled north. The screams of an eagle followed them from far above.

The Beacon: Blayne (5)

Episode 28: "Break Out"

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