O Saga: Part One: Book of Origins
Chapter Eleven: Bewildered

Tsar Miro stands on the Urqu Mountain slopes of Qamata, overlooking the Qumir River Valley. The river flowed to the coastal city of Kwento. The vantage point allowed the Tsar to see for hundreds of miles. Here, his gaze could watch the unfolding of his invasion plans.

The valley was primarily flat and covered by short green grass. The tribes in this area were well known for following buffalo herds. There are few towns in Qamata, as most people are tribal nomads who follow their varied flocks. Some tribes keep sheep, while others keep caribou, deer, llamas, and cattle. Each tribe follows their traditions.

The Tikiya continent looks like an elephant. In this analogy, Ishvara forms what would look like that elephant’s trunk, while Qamata would be the equivalent of the head and back. The lands of Hanwi would be the front chest and legs, with the lands of Nanook occupying the stomach, back legs, and rear.

The Southern border of Qamata, or what would be running through the middle of that elephant, consists of one mountain range after the other. The Northern border is all coastline of the North Sea. Tundra, grasslands, and many vast open plains fill the landscape.

The Urqu Mountains were snow-capped and rugged. It would make it difficult for any Army to get positions behind him. The Tsar had headed North from their capital, Dhara, and followed the Garadan Mountains, which ran through the center of Ishvara.

The Army crossed the borders of Qamata and through the Mauna Pass to the base of the Urqu Mountains. It was an arduous journey, and some of the soldiers became sick due to bad hygiene practices. The Tsar moved quickly to reinstall discipline.

From Urqu, The Tsar can send his Infantry Brigade to follow the river to the targeted city of Kwento. Calvary would accompany them in the rear, commanded by Field Marshall Ramsey. The archers would delay with the Tsar. They will provide a fallback position if they need reinforcements. They will lag a mile behind the central brigade as the Tsar moves on the city.

The Tsar had sent five ships to blockade the city of Kwento. They were to wait until the troops reached the town and keep anyone from coming in or out. Qamata had no navy, only fishing boats. So, the tribes posed zero naval threat.

The Tsar had a leather shirt underneath, with a padded one over it—a full suit of armor. The sun’s reflection on his armor could be seen for miles. It may have looked like an angelic star shining from the mountain. He’d be a beacon of light for his troops to rally.

The Tsar had sent settlers to homestead and claim mines in this area. Field Marshall Ramsey and his troops had fought minor skirmishes in the region for months. The tribes had dispersed and cowered to his forces.

Earlier, Field Marshall Ramsey had brought the Tsar up to speed.

“My Lord, Since the tragic attacks on settlers where they killed women and children, we have been retaliating on every tribe South of the Qumir River. The tribes that haven’t already moved North of the river are heading to the shelter of Kwento. Chief Yachay of the Lwazi tribe in the eastern regions seems to be the leader of what’s left. He and the others are looking for refuge in the city.”

“What is their military force like?”

“My Lord, they don’t have one. There has been very little resistance from anyone. They are mostly farmers and don’t have any weapons. It has only been small groups of warriors striking at us.”

“Good, then this invasion will be over quickly.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“When the soldiers reach the city, Chief Yachay and his small band will either be crushed or forced to head North like the rest. In the aftermath, I want detachments to round up stragglers, create checkpoints and patrols.”

“Won’t we need those forces to move forward with our expansion?”

“Reinforcements are coming by ship. A fleet of twenty warships is heading to Kwento. We will move on with a combined force. The detachments left behind will form the guards and patrols to get every last one of these animals.”

“The women and the children as well?”

“Everyone. These tribesmen are not men at all. They are animals; we always put animals, even women and children, in pens. I once thought weakly like that; those days are gone. The Duma’s treachery has reforged a new blade in me.”

---

Before marching on the long journey to battle, The Tsar had mourned the death of Tsarina Salma for three days; he couldn’t bear it any longer than that. The Tsar had to escape the city, or he may have buried himself in grief forever.

It was one of the longest funeral processions in the history of their great nation. Tsarina Salma had won the hearts of all in their land or foreign ones. Everyone from Peasant to Noble came out to mourn her. It felt as if the whole nation was there to say farewell. She would rest in the Valley of the Kings, waiting for Tsar Miro to join her someday.

The last act the Tsar had enacted before departing for the North was to offer all of the diseased Boyar’s lands to the peasants. Land Lotteries would precede immediately, and Commandant Toto would see peaceful proceedings.

Many had been disturbed by the killing of the Boyars and especially the death of the Bishop. Unrest had the potential to grow, but giving the land of the dead Duma members to commoners would go a long way to winning favor.

As the Tsar followed in the wake of his troops, he saw little sign of resistance. There was plenty of open plains of green and gold. The river was wide, and panoramic views let you see for miles in all directions. Tsar Miro was surprised by the vast natural beauty.

His plans were going much better than he had hoped for. Soon, they will secure the first major city. His people will quickly be able to increase their homesteading and help alleviate some of the economic problems.

The cities in Qamata were built around fishing and trade. All the tribes of Qamata used port cities for trade and took refuge there in winter. The tribes spent most of the year following herds and farming.

Most foreign merchants and traders would come by ship as it was easier to haul long distances. So, the tribes would bring animal pelts, woven goods, and farmed goods to trade at the ports. Money was of little value to these tribes as they mainly exchanged it for weapons and ironworks.

Even though the cities weren’t a part of an organized government here, the towns were all walled and gated. It was to protect from pirates, raiders, and the like.

The Tsar had planned for his soldiers to take more losses and bloodshed. He was pleased that more sacrifices were not needed. Too many had already fallen for his ambitions.

The face of his dying wife came back into his thoughts. He could feel tears forming in his eyes, and he had to wipe them in a manner that did not attract attention. It would hardly instill confidence in his men as they marched with him if they saw him crying.

——-

The Tsar had reached the city and found Ramsey and the other leaders inside a makeshift command center tent. When the Tsar and the archers arrived, it was already dark.

Everyone kneeled and bowed as the Tsar entered.

“Ramsey, what’s the situation?” The Tsar inquired.

“My Lord, we have yet to penetrate the outer walls. They are constructed of sturdy stone, perhaps rocks from the Mountains. Without the archers, we couldn’t fire upon them over the walls. So far, we are being patient and cutting off their supplies until we can replace a weakness,” Ramsey replied.

“Things are going according to plan. The men deserve a break, as there is no hurry. We have them trapped. Have we been in communication with the blockade in the harbor?” Tsar asked.

“No, Your Highness. They are still waiting for the siege signal by flame.”

“There is no need to commence the siege as of yet. No one can escape on the boats or leave the city. Our ships have catapults, and we have archers. We will send fire and stone soaring into the air and flush them out soon enough. But starving them to death is also an option. They have no supply lines now.” The Tsar laid out.

“I want you to send patrols and scouts to squeeze the trails leading to the city. Task some of your strongest legions; we can afford to spare them for now. Also, arrange for patrols to keep watch around the city to keep anyone from trying to sneak out in the middle of the night. Keep only the legions that need to be close to the town; the rest can fall back just out of range of arrow fire from the city.”

“I want siege engines to be built and ready for when we make our move. We will need to replace timber and materials. We only brought so many with us.”

The Tsar was playing the waiting game. Patience is the key to success.

—-

After many days of scouting and compiling, Tsar Miro’s forces were starting to grasp the walled city’s strengths and weaknesses.

The Qumir River divided the harbor. The South Harbor was where the shipping docks lay. The docks had rigging to make moving cargo in and out more accessible from larger ships. The local fisherman used a cove even further South to store their nets and rope in the open fields off the coast.

Behind the shipping docks was a flat open area that would be used generally as an open market with pop-up tents and vendors. They had all taken refuge in the city walls, where the Tsar’s soldiers had placed some of their camps.

A small square barbican fortification lay across the river’s main gate on the Southern side. It had a gate and portcullis blocking access to the ramp. The ramp led to a draw bridge and access to the roof of the Barbican. The drawbridge was up, and no one was defending the Barbican. The river flew between the Southern wall and the Barbican freely.

The southern city wall and gate were on the northern banks of the Qumir River. The wall stood at least fifty feet above the river. It was made of sandstone and had five towers. A parapet with battlements ran between each tower. The drawbridge gate sat about thirty feet from the river.

The city’s Eastern wall ran along the Northern coastal harbor and was fifty feet off the water—seven more towers and parapets. The Northeast corner formed a bastion, most likely for firing upon attacking ships.

The Northern wall ran a straight line to the West from the coast. It had a series of three walls. A wavy lower wall was about thirty feet, a secondary straight fence was about forty feet, and a third was about fifty. More towers and parapets ran along the taller wall.

The Eastern Wall was where the Tsar and his main camp were. The wall system was precisely like the Northern Wall. It was all open, hilly grasslands, but it had the best vantage point to observe the city.

Based on information from soldiers who had been there before the invasion, a large area of trade shops was inside the wall on the lowest level—a series of ramps leading to the Keep and City apartments. Most of the people would be there.

The Tsar didn’t see guards or people in the towers and parapets. He could hear activities in the city, but they rarely glimpsed anybody moving around. He guessed they spied on them at night when it was easier.

There was no need for alarm or hurry. The Tsar figured they’d surrender or starve, and either way, they’d have the city.

Scouts had informed the Tsar of a large merchant vessel sailing from the South. Miro thought it was only natural that this would happen. Kwento was a trade post, and foreign ships might be coming occasionally. He wasn’t looking to drag another Kingdom into this, so as of now, he didn’t want to destroy it. He figured the ship would take the hint when it saw the blockade and move on. He should have been more alarmed.

——

The Tsar had sent men to communicate with the five ships in the harbor. Two of the Tsar’s large frigates, the Archeron and the Ocnos, anchored parallel, facing the city. Sitting in front of them were three corvettes, the Whiro, the Kiwa, and the Motoro, facing east and the open seas.

Each of these vessels was more than a match for the merchant vessel. If the ship wanted to trade, the Tsar could offer more than a generous amount for its cargo and send it on its way. If the ship merchants had other things in mind, he’d send those merchants to the abyss.

The Tsar was lying comfortably in his cot when an unusual noise shook him. He thought he was just being silly until he heard another strange noise. He quickly came out of his tent to see one of his Corvettes, the Motoro, was on fire. The other Corvettes had left the harbor and were in pursuit of the merchant vessel. It must have been hidden attackers on that ship. How did they manage to set the Motoro on fire, the Tsar wondered?

It was early evening, but the stars and moon were bright in the cloudless skies. You could still see for miles out to sea as the light reflected on the water.

Ramsey and other leaders ran to the Tsar, but the city walls became alive with activity before they could say anything. Flaming arrows were flung from the Eastern and southern walls, and some of the soldiers’ tents were on fire.

“Wake up all the men, pull the camps back, and get me the archers.” The Tsar commanded.

Was this a coordinated attack? Did they sneak into communications with each other? Why would merchant ships help them? There were too many questions rising.

The Tsar’s archers had formed lines and were firing back to little effect. Aside from setting tents on fire and hitting the occasional soldier, the arrows from the city weren’t much of a threat. The siege had begun.

The Tsar had given the two Frigates the sign to begin targeting the city with catapults. The anchored ships hurled stones and large objects at targeted weak points in the walls; the Frigates would have to face the city with their sides exposed to it. It didn’t matter as they were out of most arrows firing range.

The only real threats were a giant catapult and a Ballista firing from the city bastion. The vulnerability was from an attack from the sea.

The Corvettes were supposed to protect the Frigates for this very reason. One Corvette was already lost as it sat burning in the harbor. The crew either burned to death or jumped into the sea.

The Tsar focused on watching what was happening at sea. He was still baffled by how the merchant ship had surprised them. The Tsar moved to a higher position in the hills to watch the vessel with his brass field glasses.

The merchant ship had turned away from the harbor and headed north up the coast- a hit-and-run tactic, it seemed to the Tsar. The Whiro was on an intercept course, with the Kiwa in a flanking position behind it. They would need to get close to the ship to fire upon it. If the merchant ship got too far from the harbor, they’d have to let it go.

But the merchant ship wasn’t fleeing the battle, as the Tsar was shocked to see it turning to the East. It looked to be turning into an attack position, but it didn’t have the firepower to match the other two vessels. At least, that’s what the Tsar believed.

The merchant ship didn’t need to wait to come along the side of the Whiro to fire upon it. Some astonishing weapon was firing from the front of the boat, and the Tsar caught his breath momentarily in sheer awe.

It looked like lighting or something shooting out at the Whiro. A strange kind of energy the Tsar had never seen before. The Whiro’s sails were beginning to catch fire. The surge of energy blasts from the merchant ship kept coming in waves at the boat. The Tsar felt shivers crawling up his body and couldn’t help but gaze silently at what he was seeing.

“My Lord, are you seeing this? What kind of weapon is that?” Ramsey came running towards him with a baffled look on his face.

“I have no idea.” The Tsar said softly.

The Tsar, for the first time on a battlefield, felt fear. He was increasingly looking at the ships in horror. The Whiro was engulfed in flame now. The Kiwa looked to be breaking off, but a vessel that size was slow to turn. The merchant ship was now closing in on the Kiwa’s port side and stern.

Is this the devilry and witchcraft Miro had heard about and believed to be false? It went against what he had ever considered, but he saw it with his own eyes. How can you fight this, he thought?

Soon, the Kiwa was also lost, and the merchant ship didn’t seem content with its victories. It was heading for the harbor, and it set the Frigates as its following targets.

The Frigates now had a war on two fronts to regard. With a dangerous ship bearing down on them, the Firgates would have to forget about the city for now. The Tsar felt helpless to change the outcome.

The catapults from the Frigates had been doing considerable damage to parts of the city walls. It hadn’t created a breech but was likely the outcome. Now, they’d have no choice but to halt their bombardment or risk destruction.

The merchant ship was finally close enough that the Tsar could see the weapon with his field glasses. But a man in gold armor stood in the front with a sword, was all to be found. He didn’t see any other weapon.

The Tsar leaned forward and looked through his field glasses. He saw something impossible: the man was shooting blasts of energy through his sword. The Tsar realized he hadn’t moved a muscle for a minute.

This strange man was attacking the Archeron and winning the battle. This demon of a man was losing power and frequency, at least as far as Miro could tell. It might be their chance to salvage this battle.

The Tsar was intently watching this strange man’s every movement. He had moved to his knees and called someone to sit beside him. It was someone of similar racial makeup. They both looked to be from Anahiti. The Tsar didn’t have time to ponder why men from Anahiti would be attacking them as he regained his wits.

The Tsar watched as this man sent one last blast of energy at the Archeron before appearing to pass out. The stranger had succeeded in that final blast, starting a fire on the Archeron, and another ship was lost.

The Ocnos was all that remained.

The merchant ship suddenly became alive with archers on their main deck. The much larger Ocnos and the merchant ship were now in a firefight. They were now both parallel to each other and firing a steady barrage of arrows.

The city’s bastion had not been destroyed and was now firing at the Ocnos. The Tsar told his archers to move along the north wall immediately and fire at the bastion.

The merchant ship had gotten close enough that they had fired ropes from their ballistae at the Ocnos, pulling the vessels together. The enemy planned to board the Ocnos. Before Miro could adequately react to that, a new noise erupted to the North.

“My Lord, attackers from the North. They have calvary.” Ramsey came frantically to tell him.

“Divert our calvary to intercept. Divide half the archers to fire upon the new attackers. Move the infantry into attack formation to stop these Northern raiders.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

It was getting out of control. Who were these new assailants?

The Tsar turned his attention back to the harbor, only to see that the enemy was on board the Ocnos and overtaking her. They were starting fires and throwing men over the sides. The attack on the new Raiders was not going well either. The people in the city were coming to the Northern Raider’s aid. Tsar Miro was losing.

“My Lord, we must regroup and move towards the mountains, or we might lose the city for good,” Ramsey said frantically.

“Order a retreat immediately. The fight is not over yet. We will regroup and plan. Now we know what we are up against. We will not fail a second time.”