Chapter 139 Crossing
AN: And we're back! Regular posting will resume as per usual, same time and schedule!
Lucien leaned back in his chair, arms folded as he regarded the lever crossbow before him while deliberately ignoring the stare coming from his window. On his table, the map they had been using to track the orcs’ movements was spread out.
Without looking up, he let out a breath. "I am not going to switch to a crossbow, Sera."
A soft sound of someone shifting answered him.
Finally, he lifted his head to glance at the hunter sitting on his windowsill. When he met her eyes, she reached for a parchment near her.
After a few deliberate strokes, she turned it toward him.
Why train then?
Lucien rubbed his chin. "I am not exactly training with it. There is a reason I have been trying out all three crossbows these past few weeks."
At his words, the hunter tilted her head before giving a light shrug and turning to look back out the window again.
"...You could at least be curious about it."
Perhaps it was just like her, but as long as he wasn't planning to abandon the bow, Sera didn't seem inclined to press any further.
In this case, Sera’s indifference was almost a mercy. He had a feeling the hunter knew more than most about his and Talia's secrets.
His thoughts were interrupted when Sera stiffened, her head turning to the door. Not long after, a knock sounded.
"Enter."
Dorian stepped inside his study, gaze flicking to the hunter still seated by the window. He gave her a slight nod, to which Sera responded in the same motion.
Sera had grown somewhat used to the captain's presence now, though she still tended to avoid wherever the man was. At least she no longer seemed as tense whenever they were in the same room.
"My Lord."
Lucien gestured to the chair in front of him. "Take a seat, Dorian. We have much to discuss."
The captain gave a nod before seating himself, a slight frown on his face. "They're growing bolder, My Lord."
"How close did they get last night?"
Dorian exhaled through his nose. "Close enough that the men could see them from the towers. Three of them, like the last few times."
At some point, Sera had gotten up from her spot to stand beside Lucien's chair, her pale eyes fixed on the map.
The captain's gaze shifted to her. "Sera, you were at the other side of the river last night. Did you hear anything besides the three orcs at the signal fire?"
Sera gave a nod, as though she had already expected the question. Without hesitation, she placed a finger at the northern treeline closest to the signal fire, then dragged it back a little.
When her finger stopped, Lucien leaned forward to regard the spot. "So the three are scouts...the rest of them are waiting behind."
"It's been the same pattern since they began destroying the signal fire."
"Yes, My Lord. The first time, they did nothing and watched from a distance," Dorian replied, the furrow on his face deepening. "When they finally tried to break it, the ones sent out rushed forward, destroyed it, then retreated back into the trees."
"Last night...they walked, My Lord."
Lucien inclined his head before turning to Sera. "Did they attempt to cross the river at all?"
She shook her head, placing a finger on the spot where the signal fire was. After lingering there briefly, she slowly moved it back to the northern treeline.
"The same thing then, just slower this time," Lucien muttered, his brow creasing.
After a brief moment, he looked back up to meet Dorian's eyes. "Are orcs usually this cautious? Or is this because of the variant commanding them?"
The captain didn't respond immediately, his gaze lowering to the map. "If a band survives under the same leader for long enough...then yes, they might learn to be wary of traps."
"I haven't seen them myself, but from the reports of those on duty, the ones they sent out are younger and weaker. The variant is likely keeping the older, more experienced ones near it."
"So, we're dealing with a cautious beast then," Lucien concluded, his hands resting against the table.
At his captain's nod, Lucien considered the matter for a moment before speaking. "They've grown bold enough to take their time destroying the signal fire, but not enough to attempt a crossing. At least for now."
His fingers tapped lightly against the table. "But why are they so focused on trying to cross the river?"
"It might be food, My Lord. A band that large would need a great deal of it, and orcs do not make good hunters."
At the captain's words, Sera gave a nod.
Lucien's brow creased. "You mean they are aiming for our eastern fields? But the western fields would be an easier target for them."
"Yes, but the fields there are more exposed to our arrows from the walls. Even if they attempted to raid the ones further west, it likely wouldn't be enough for them to last," Dorian replied before his expression grew darker.
"And they aren't just raiding food for themselves, My Lord."
Lucien's eyes widened slightly. "...They mean to deny us grain while stuffing themselves as well."
"Yes. A band that has lasted this long would know the vulnerabilities of settlements by experience alone."
For a time, neither of them spoke before the captain cleared his throat.
"But we know they can't retreat back toward Helvarn's direction. Lord Rathenfell has placed a forward watch near the crossing closer to them, which means we know where they would likely strike first."
Dorian pointed at the other side of the Easthollow River. "If we station men there with crossbows and wait for their crossing, we could win that fight, My Lord."
Leaning back on his chair, Lucien exhaled faintly. "But it won't be without casualties, and it leaves the initiative to them."
Slowly, the captain inclined his head. "Yes, My Lord. We can't have our full force there, not without leaving the northern walls unguarded. And we don't have enough crossbows to arm everyone."
As of now, Ashridge had forty stirrups and three windlass crossbows. He had halted production on the latter for now and instead asked Joren and Harlon to focus on making as many lever crossbows as they could.
With all the construction happening and even the development of the scorpion, the craftsmen had only managed to finish thirteen, and that was with the aid of their trusted apprentices.
The journeymen smiths were still too new to be trusted with the newer design, so they had been left to handle the forging work needed for the houses and other ongoing projects.
"We can't afford casualties, not when this year's Tithe will likely be more dangerous with the number of people we have now," he said at last.
Dorian glanced at the lever crossbow that he had placed at the side of his desk. "Then we go with the plan we had discussed?"
"Yes. I tried it this morning and I believe it might just work. How goes the training for the men we have picked out?"
The captain's mouth opened for the briefest moment before closing again, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Sera.
At that sight, Lucien turned to see that Sera had gone very still, her head facing the window.
It wasn't long before an urgent knock sounded on the door.
His call of "Enter" had barely finished before it swung open.
Will stepped into the room, his face pale. "My Lord, Captain. Orcs have been sighted."
By the time Lucien reached the northern palisade, a line of guards had gathered along the wall.
Along the way, word had already begun to spread. While the village had not fallen into chaos, the people he passed cast nervous looks toward their group.
Lucien kept his expression calm, just as he had during the Tithe, and it seemed to help a little. Villagers who had been rushing only moments prior began to slow their steps.
Or more likely, it was the sight of Dorian and Sera following behind him.
The captain halted his steps at the sight of Merek, who had been in charge of the drills at the sawmill site.
Lucien gestured for him to go while he continued toward the northeastern tower.
"Join us up at the tower when you're done, Dorian," Lucien called even as he made his way up the stairs, Sera trailing behind him.
When he reached the top, the woman stationed there with a windlass crossbow attempted to salute.
"It's fine. Keep your eyes on them," Lucien ordered, his own gaze already moving to the signal fire.
Or what was left of it.
The raised basket had been knocked over, its frame broken and scattered near the waterline. Dark scraps of burned wood lay across the mud, still giving off faint wisps where the damp earth had failed to smother them completely.
But it was the sight around it that drew his attention.
Three orcs stood near the ruined fire.
He had read of the beasts before, both in this world and his former one. And in a way, the orcs of this world were as he had come to expect, yet so very different as well.
At first glance, they looked almost like men, though that impression did not last long.
Sickly green skin showed beneath coarse hides and mismatched scraps of leather. Their heads sat low on thick necks, with protruding jaws and short, flattened snouts that gave them their famous pig-like reputation.
Even from the wall, Lucien could tell they were about as tall as grown men, though their hunched posture made them seem shorter at first glance.
It was the way they stood that struck him most. Unlike goblins, who always seemed restless, these beasts barely moved at all, their large hands wrapped around crude, scavenged weapons.
That did not last long. Almost as one, their heads turned toward the tower where he stood.
A faint movement came from beside him, drawing Lucien's attention. The hunter's hands gripped the tower railing tightly, her pale eyes gone dull as she glared at them.
Before he could speak, the woman holding the windlass cleared her throat, her breath uneven. "M-milord. I might be able to hit them from here...no, Sera could definitely reach them."
She raised the weapon in her hands, her grip tight enough that her fingers had turned white.
Sera's gaze flicked to it, only stopping when Lucien cut in.
"No."
When she turned back to him, Lucien shook his head slowly. "We don't want our prey to know what we are capable of yet, Sera."
At his words, she grew still for a brief moment before giving him a firm nod. Immediately after, her attention went back to the orcs.
The woman had fallen silent as well, her grip still white-knuckled around the crossbow.
When the sound of boots came from the stairs, she jumped slightly, turning to face the stairway only to relax when Dorian appeared.
The captain glanced at her and gave a slow nod. She saluted, turning to face outward again while Dorian came to a stop beside Lucien.
It wasn't long before the orcs seemed to grow tired of waiting. They grunted at each other before slowly lumbering back to the northern treeline.
"Sera. Are there any within the trees?" Lucien asked, turning slightly toward her while keeping the orcs walking away in the corner of his vision.
She inclined her head, then pointed at the left side before moving her hand across the treeline.
Just like what the hunter had indicated in his study, it seemed there were more spread across the entire treeline.
"It's how they hunt, My Lord," Dorian spoke up next, his own eyes fixed on the beasts.
At Lucien's questioning look, Dorian gestured to the orcs that had already begun to fade into the forest. "They can't run for long, so they don't chase their prey. Instead, they lie in wait to circle around them."
That fit what Lucien had learned of their movements these past weeks.
"How about the variant, Sera? Is it there?"
Without hesitation, she gave a firm nod before pointing further within the forest.
Lucien leaned forward, watching the trees for a long moment. "Dorian, wait until Sera can't hear them any longer. Then build the signal fire again."
"And get the men involved in the plan ready soon."