The Lost Emperor, Chapter 5

Commander Gargalash turned at the sound of his name. Rendoo, the mage, was holding open the entrance flap of the command tent. The mage stepped aside as Gargalash approached, ushering the commander inside. The old man looked weary, no doubt having spent all of last night and the majority of this morning working his magic. The results were impressive, as now all their thousands were as fresh for battle as on the first day of their rapid march. Even the ogres who had carried the parts of the just assembled catapults the many miles from Garfarli in East Arkra no longer felt the strain in their muscles.

Inside the tent, in the far corner, was a creature that needed no such assistance as it felt no fatigue. Swathed in black robes, no features were discernible to describe it, save for its impressive height. If there was a face hidden within the black hood, Gargalash had never glimpsed it. The creature was perpetually shrouded in darkness and cold, even in a clear field under the mid-day sun. It mostly stood still, even its robes untouched by any breeze, yet when it moved no one could describe how it moved or when it had moved from one place to another.

Gargalash was careful to maintain a strict distance from the dark creature as he made his way to the rear of the tent, towards a makeshift table with two men standing beside it. General Fheru and Emisar Wurd Bkardto were poring over two maps, one of the border country, and another of the city of Juandar. The larger map had proved invaluable in planning the movement of their forces along various routes across the border to the largely unprotected southern walls of Juandar. Now they hoped the map of the city would prove equally advantageous in planning the assault.

“Commander Gargalash, come. We need the catapults to focus on a new target.” General Fheru was a large man, with shoulders as broad as an orc’s. When he spoke, his deep voice seemed to reverberate in the confined tent. Gargalash knew that the general could have stood at the entrance to the tent and called for him where he had been inspecting the catapults just minutes earlier, and he would have heard the general’s summons.

The commander now looked to where General Fheru pointed on the smaller of the two maps. The general was tapping at a small building sitting almost against the inner walls of the castle compound. Gargalash examined the map to get a sense of the scale, then made some quick calculations. The catapults would have to be moved forward to hit that target, but since they knew Juandar did not have any Imperial longbows to bear against them, the catapults would be safe.

“It can be done.” Gargalash looked at the general and waited for the order.

“Good. See to it. Once we have confirmed the destruction of that target you may begin work on the outer walls.” The general waited for the Emisar’s nod of assent before turning to Gargalash and dismissing him. Gargalash did an about turn, exited the tent and made his way through the ranks contemplating what information the Emisar had about their true target.