Chapter 41

Year 163 – Fall – Quintus Mensis – 12th day

Avem, town of House Valmai, land of the Vale

Nelis was placing large iron nails onto the ground around the trebuchet to mark its position. Once it was ready, he stepped back and gave the signal.

Nelis – “RELEASE!”

Jurren then pulled the lever of the trebuchet. As the counterweight fell, releasing the projectile toward the northern fort of Avem, the siege engine moved slightly. The rock boulder flew to the upper right side of the fort before falling to the river.

Egmond – “Did you ever use a trebuchet in the past?”

Nelis – “I’ve used a ballista. The aiming is a little backward, but I think I’ve got the hang of it.”

Jurren – “It moved above the third nail.”

Lanaya – “Alright, let’s move it back into position.”

Together, the 18 members of the Silver Lining realigned the trebuchets to the markers.

Egmond – “Ah, I see. You’re using nails. That’s smart.”

Nelis – “Well, it solves one problem, but my barrels don’t weigh the same as these rocks.”

Egmond – “Sculpt a rock to be the proper weight and give it to me. I’ll ask my men to prepare more rocks for you.”

Lanaya – “You would do that?”

Egmond – “I don’t consider you a friend, nor will I ever consider you a Kalator, but you’re still my ally and if you succeed, we succeed. That’s what I care about. Bring me a sculpted stone of the proper weight, and I’ll take care of it.”

Lanaya – “I must say I respect your ethics.”

Egmond – “Had you been worthy of respect, I’d be flattered.”

Lanaya – “Is saving your life not worthy for you?”

Egmond – “You’re a sellsword with no allegiance other than your own, following the highest bidder and changing tide as you see fit. I don’t know where you’re from, but you aren’t a Kalator. Today, you fight for us, but next year, when we face the Union, what honour will be left within you, I wonder.”

Lanaya – “Do you dislike every sellsword in this army?”

Egmond – “I don’t dislike you. I appreciate your help. I’d rather have you as an ally than an enemy. No. What you lack in my eyes is a sense of pride for your legacy.”

Lanaya – “With the rumours surrounding the demise of your late father and your ascendance to the Kalator crown, many would question these words of yours.”

Egmond – “My father disrespected the legacy of our people. You would be wise not to share the same mistakes as he did.”

Lanaya – “You are stubborn and prideful, Lord Egmond, but that pride will one day be your demise.”

Egmond – “The day you renounce your pride is the day you renounce yourself. Without pride, you are no different from a slave who obeys and adapts to survive. Pride is what makes your life worth living. Without it, you are but a shell of yourself. We Kalator live up to our name to be worthy of its meaning. You, on the other hand, usurped the name of the sixth angel of Aya.”

Like a knife in her heart, his words opened up an old wound she had yet to heal from.

Lanaya – “I didn’t choose my name, but I won’t betray it either!”

Egmond – “I believe you, but whether you want to call it a curse or a duty, I’ll respect you the day you’ll be worthy of your name. Until then, you are but a sellswords who lacks respect for Aya.”

Nelis – “We’ll bring you that stone. I believe you have a siege to attend to.”

Egmond – “I do, indeed.”