Episode Thirteen: Siege of a Siege

They acquire a few extra horses so that they don’t run theirs into the ground. They plan to leave heading for the abandoned city or Rostock hopefully full of reveants at 4 am. It’s about a 10 hour ride.
Ivetta and Castor break away and talk with Hollinzoller before they leave. He is busy pouring over plans and maps when they ask to speak with him. He acquiesces, drawing them to an abandoned part of the room. “What is it? We've already discussed the plan.”
Ivetta speaks first, “This isn’t about that, I would just like my fathers journal back, please.”
“Quite an interesting time to be making demands,” replies Hollinzoller.
“It’s very important to me, please.”
“Then it’s good insurance for you to come back.”
“What? Why wouldn't I come back?” Ivetta is taken aback.
Castor chimes in, suddenly irritated, “Look, just who are you and how do you know about these journals anyway?”
Hollinzoller looks to her, “You ask a lot of questions.” 
“Of course I do! All you've been is cryptic and yes, you’ve been helpful but you also tried to kill my friend here. Brushing with death has been a theme of today and I'd just like some answers from somebody, anybody please!”
He thinks for a moment, “hmm, I’ve threatened perhaps but I've never tried to kill anyone, certainly not you or your friends. I've already revealed enough, more than you are willing to anyway.”
Disgusted, Ivetta turns on her heel and leaves. Still simmering, Castor follows.
All preparations made, all they need do now is wait. The farm boys recruited to ride, busy themselves cutting the extra tines off the pitchforks to make lances as well as cobble together rough-hewn shields. Castor reloads her gun. Each rider is given a small bell from the church to make lots of noise when the time comes. 
Mr Abot with gilded, ruby- encrusted armor rallies the men, “Men you are the best and brightest riders in the city. We look to you to help us make it through this long siege. With your help the siege will last less time. You be under the command of Mr. König here, I’m sure he has some rousing words for you all.”
Father Tobias steps up and addresses the boys, “It may be your first battle but the fate of this city and the fate of everyone you have ever known rest with you and the results of this mission. I have no doubt you will excel and win the day!” The speech exhilarates them. They cheer and pat each other on the back looking ready to go.
They mount their horses at the gates. Heading out one at a time to lessen the light and noise escaping the gate. They form up in diamond with spare horses trailing behind when all have left the walls. The camps have fires lit. Patrols head back and forth on horseback but are easily slipped past. Castor’s horse rears up and she slides out of the saddle just one of her feet in the stirrup. She barely manages to hold on and re-seat herself and they're away. 
They watch the sunrise and travel in dead silence. The bells nestled in small bags so they don't make any noise prematurely. They tread desolate farmlands and fields keeping away from forests. Finally after many hours they crest a hill and see the town demolished and overgrown and seemingly abandoned. If there are revenants here they're hidden inside.
Father Tobias asks Ivetta, “Do you still have that spyglass?”
She gives him a strange look “...yes.”
“Does it work?”
“I haven't the faintest idea.”
“Might I borrow it?”
Reluctant, she digs in her bag and hands him the golden spyglass. He raises it to his eye but sees nothing helpful inside the walls, a stray dog. Castor asks if she can try, but he doesn't hear her and orders the men to spread out. 
The riders disperse into a semi circle and start ringing the furthest away first. A few trickle out toward them. Moments later a huge groan emanates from the city center. A mass of thousands of revenants pour out of the city and charge toward the riders moving at breakneck speed. Through the careful planning of the formation none of the other riders are caught and are able to ride ahead of the massive horde. They begin heading back to Stralsund. Herding the revenants like cattle, ringing the bells on the way. More come out of the wood running and the horde has slowed so the group needs to circle back and regroup them multiple times. 
On one such occasion, Ivetta falls off her horse a revenant close behind her. Tobias shoots him and knocks it back a moment. Ivetta tries to get up and Castor tries to pull her up but she falls again. It reaches her and bites and snarls at her but doesn't break skin. Tobias shoots at it twice more and it dies falling off Ivetta. Castor pulls her up safe and sound. They both ride catching up to Ivetta’s horse.
Picked up quite a few revenants anywhere from 9,000 to 10,000. Just before they are within viewing distance of Stralsund they see smoke clouds rising up. 
The army has begun their assault on the city. Tall ladders set up on the walls. Which are systematically pushed over again by those on top of the walls. 
“We’re going to charge and split off and lead them to the camps.” Tobias calls to the men.
A huge bang sounds from the wall. They managed to dredge up the canon! Big holes mar the ground in front of the camps. 
Tobias uses the spyglass again and looks to the camp closest to them. Smartly not employing their muskets yet.
They begin the charge.
Ivetta falls off her horse again. Two riders veer off narrowly miss her. Another man behind her is launched off his horse and also lands on the ground yet he lands on his neck which snaps and his body gets trampled. Sore and scared, Ivetta runs after the group of charging riders and away from the revenants. 
Castor breaks off arcs back, riding like the wind to get her. She shouts back to Tobias who begins to follow her, “keep going!”
He does not listen, shouting to the group, “follow the planned path!” Castor grabs up Ivetta smoothly onto her horse and they book it. They hear the horde trampling and snarling just behind them.
Revenants break off and rush the camps and the wall. Some fall into the trenches and impale themselves. People at the bottom of the wall are slammed into and their screams echo in the noon day sun. Zealous Catholics made it worse for themselves, amid the chaos someone grabbed a rifle and shot it drawing more to the noise. 
Tobias shouts, “Castor, keep heading toward the forest.”
“Where are you going?'' She shoots back.
“We need to draw them to that last camp and you don't have a gun.”
“Yes I do, I just can't shoot well.” 
“Just go get Ivetta to a spare horse.” 
She nods reluctantly and breaks from the father. Just then a group of riders in black robes and hoods sets off from the last camp making a b-line for Father Tobias. 
Riders immediately take two shots from Father Tobias who turns around in the saddle to aim at them. Two riders fall to the ground, both their horses having been shot in the head. He turns back around and shouts something toward the trees. The black riders take out their own pistols and let loose at Father Tobias. His horse drops out from under him as both he and it, take a bullet.
The riders then ride past him without giving him a second glance, their attention now focused on the two girls riding away as fast as they can.
Seeing them, Castor, terrified, tries to push them all off their horses with magic. She throws out her hand. 
All the warmth drains from her body and her energy is sapped. Her eyelids droop, exhaustion washing over her whole being. She almost falls from her horse but Ivetta grabs her and she's able to remain conscious. The riders come ever closer, unphased.
Tobias shoots at their backs taking down another two. Castor shoves the pistol into Ivetta’s hand breathless, saying, “do something!”
Ivetta lowers the pistol and hits one of the robed men dead on in the chest; the shot would have killed any regular man or an unarmored one but he manages to remain upright. 
They're catching up despite Castor’s attempt to speed up.The rider’s horses, huge beasts bread for riding, close the distance. They’ve since reloaded their guns and shoot at their horse; they both, to Castor’s relief, miss Azur. 
The lead rider drops a chain with a hammer from his sleeve and begins swinging it. The ringing returns to Castor’s ears. He whips it at them, hitting Castor in the chest who takes Ivetta off the horse with her. They both land on the hard earth, Azur rearing up and running away. 
Three horses circle them, preventing escape from all sides. The masked man dismounts his massive steed and walks toward them, seemingly with all the time in the world.
Seeing them both terrified he laughs and speaks in his distorted metallic voice, “there's nowhere to run little Castor, not like last time. Surrender yourselves.” swinging the hammer in wide, lazy, unperturbed, circles.
“Or what, you're going to kill us?!?” Castor cries.
“Not me, him,” he chuckles.
“But why?! I don’t know you!” Several tears flow down Castor’s cheeks as he laughs again. Ivetta hugs her. Castor, shaking, holds her knife up toward him, trying to protect Ivetta; she's not about to lose another friend.
“Don't make this harder than it has to be. Give up!”
Out of the corner of their eyes, they spot him-- Father Tobias with the group of fighters from the forest yelling as they charge full tilt at them.
The other riders rush them in return. Masked man grunts in anger and changes himself at the two before him. He aims for Ivetta who brandishes her spear. She falls to the ground fully dodging his swipe. He drops the second hammer from his sleeve.
Castor stabs him with her dagger in the thigh. It comes out bloody but he takes no notice.
Ivetta stabs at him with her spear drawing blood from his stomach. He draws his hand to the wound, upon seeing the blood he laughs again. He rushes them once more. 
His hammer comes down with a sickening crack on Ivetta’s shoulder. Ivetta grabs it, shrieking. He then pivots and swings the other hammer, hitting Castor in the stomach, knocking all the wind from her (that's going to leave a mark). She doubles over in pain, gasping. Both are bloodied and bruised, hope of winning diminishing by the second.
“And here I thought killing you would be more fun. You disappoint me.” 
Regaining her feet, quite livid, Castor spits, “I don't live to please you!” She stabs up into his neck. She misses the first time. He's not taking the fight seriously but the next time she gets him good in the neck. A gurgling sound emits from under the mask, blood gushes over her hand and blade. Ivetta stabs at him as well but he grabs her spear doing no damage. 
Tobias takes down two riders with two more shots. He tries to ride down the masked man but  the man dodges at an inhuman speed. Tobias says, “I’ve killed many men but seldom have I killed one man twice. I hope this time you will stay dead.” 
“You'll never get the chance again.” He snaps his fingers. They all, simultaneously, feel the need to vomit, thankfully no one does. In the time it took to blink the man has disappeared. 
The ringing in Castor’s ears fades but not suddenly as the masked man did but slowly.
One of the lads asks, “Father, who was that how could he just…disappear?” 
“You see now these Catholics who claim to be servants of the Lord tamper in dark ways but you have triumphed over them!”
Castor shoots a furtive look at Ivetta when he says that.
Ivetta insists on immediate medical attention, on the verge of passing out. She applies some herbs to her and Castor’s wounds then they all move quietly into the small forest. They set up a small camp there. They decide it is safest to sleep in the trees that night. 
Ivetta hobbles over to speak with father Tobias, “thank you for coming to help us. We both would have died without your intervention.”
“I've only had your best interests at heart even if you did not always agree with me. I promised to protect you and that is what I will do.”
Ivetta smiles at him, “You remember that spyglass I handed you earlier, might I have that back?”
Tobias looks like he wants to say something else but replies “yes, of course. I don't know that it does anything beyond being a spyglass but it is important to you and I don’t have a reason to keep it.” He hands it back, Ivetta looks immensely relieved and tucks it away in her bag. 
Castor pipes up, “y-yes thank you for saving us. How are we getting back into the city exactly?”
Tobias responds, “We’ll draw them away again to some forest and leave them there. Outpace them and return.”
“Since the whole riding thing didn’t work so well last time I think Ivetta and I will just stay here until you come back.”
“Yes, I was reluctant to leave you in the city while it was under siege but it should be safe enough now.” He draws his coat closer to himself, hiding a stain on his shirt.
Suddenly remembering, Caster asks, “Are you alright? You- you were shot!”
In a hushed tone he replies, “Yes I was but the men don’t need to know.”
“But you still need medical attention. Ivetta has herbs…”
Begrudgingly, Tobias patches up himself, a few men, Castor, as well as sets Ivetta’s shoulder. 
They retire, climbing trees to rest. The task proving more difficult for some, but they all make it up. Watch is handled by the other men, who insist their leader take a break.
The screams and howls permeate the night. Catholics are slaughtered at the wall. Trampling each other. Long since, has the canon fallen silent. Burning oil lit dropped on the mass at some point during the night lighting the sky a deep orange. The sheer magnitude of an unorganized mass of wildness eerily organized sends shivers down the spines of many.
In the morning Tobias and the men lead the revenants away to some far off town and leave them. Upon their return the group head back into the city walls. Inside the walls there is no celebration, only stark quiet. Everyone is inside. The only ones out are on the walls dropping oil and fire. 
They all head to Abot’s estate, the gates open. Abot, Hollinzoller, the mayor, and a few guards come out to greet them. Mr, Abot jogs down the stairs, arms outstretched, “Father, it is a most welcome sight to see you return!” He motions to hug. Tobias reciprocates. Abot then pulls back and shakes his hand vigorously. “Amazing work Father, you saved the city, saved us all!”
“Your plan worked without a hitch.” Hollinzoller adds. 
Tobias smiles and says “I wouldn't say that but when you do the work of the Lord, that is its own reward.”
“Yes, yes, you'll all be rewarded handsomely!” Says the mayor. Hollinzoller shakes all the boy’s, now men’s, hands. 
Mr, Abot puts his arms around Tobias and Castor leading them all inside. “Time to get you all your rewards!” 
The war room where they end up smells of sweat. The mayor says, “Now obviously you will all be given awards and the entire city will celebrate. You'll be named heroes and given rewards.”
Hollinzoller says, “and?”
“And? What else would you like? What can we give our brave heroes? We can procure most anything.”
“Before we negotiate for ourselves,” Tobias begins, “once the countryside is cleared of revenants the men who rode with us should be given first pass over the remains of the camps and a supply of wine or mead.”
Of course, of course, the boys will be accounted for.” 
“As for us,” he pauses gesturing for Ivetta to speak. 
Holding her shoulder she says, I would like armor and to see a doctor please.”
Abot says, “of course my dear, you may see my personal physician, please.” He bids Hollinzoller to lead the way. They both leave.
Father Tobias says, “If possible I should like a ship, perhaps one from a nearby town since yours are… indisposed.”
The mayor hesitates a moment, “ah yes, well sailors are quite hard to procure nowadays.” Abot gives him a glare. “But- but of course we shall do our best to find you a ship and a crew.”
“And what of you Castor, what would you like lad?” Abot asks in a somewhat softer voice.
“I-It was all Father Tobias. I-I suppose I could use more bullets? I should also see a doctor? I-I don't need anything, really.”
“If I may speak for Castor,” Tobias says.
“Of course the lad is all too modest.” 
“A blunderbuss or a canister gun of some kind would prove useful.”
“Another hard to come-by request but of course we’ll get that to you right away.” Abot tells Castor she too may see his personal doctor. He'll be sent to her room. “I must thank you both again for saving the city.”
“It's good that there were brave men enough to man the walls and protect it.” 
I hope you see now why I call Stralsund my home.” 
They are both led out and to their rooms. Tobias catching Castor in a conversation before they separate. “I hope you don't mind me asking for something on your behalf, but I felt that you should have some defense. Should you ever encounter the masked man again.” 
“It was all your plan Father, I don’t need much but I do hope we never see him again. I pray for that.”
“All you need do is put that in any normal man’s belly and pull the trigger.”
“He is no normal man he did come back from the dead.”
“Well, a shot to the head did slow him down. Before we retire, we came here in search of the spyglass. Now that you have it, do you have any idea of what it is you need to find next?”
Suddenly nervous, Castor chooses her words carefully, “No, I’m not sure what we need next but it will come to us. Ivetta and I will know, I'm not sure if you will yet. But we will learn when we leave this place.”
“Hopefully we can procure a boat and go from there. Make the journey without revenants.” 
“I would like that. I pray never to see another.”
“Unfortunately all you need do is look over the wall to see them. But we will be leaving them behind soon.”
“Yes, leave but Ivetta needs to heal and I’m not sure how long that will take.”
“Yes we all need a good rest. Speaking of rest, I don't mean to keep you from yours.”
“R-right, thanks again for saving us, Father. Really, that man was not going to let us go.”
“I’ve spent many years taking life so it feels good spending these later years saving it.” 
Castor gives him a genuine, crooked smile and says, “Goodnight Father. I'm glad to have you on our side.” 
For now she worries to herself. She pushes open her door and closes it behind her. 
----
Entering her room, Castor inspects the lush decorations and large space. It is far more impressive than anywhere she's stayed in her life. She makes a point to touch nothing with her filthy fingers.  She finds a bath in the immense washroom and begins to fill the tub with water, heated no less! She peels off and pulls away Ivetta's muddied dress, dropping it with a wet squelch on the tile. She'd wash it when she could. She studies herself in the grand mirror on the wall, taking in every detail, unaware when it was the last time she'd really looked at herself. 
She meets her own eyes before her gaze wanders around her own face. She looks older, she thinks, more worn but still plain. She picks up a strand of hair between her fingers, limp and muddied. If she wants to stay disguised as a boy she'd have to cut it again soon... 
She finds the usually pale skin on her stomach and chest is mottled purple and black with bruises. She brushes her fingers tenderly over it and winces, sure there's a cracked rib in there. Her shoulder too is blackened but less so than the rest of her. A flash of memory returns her, momentarily, to the library. In the dark, stalked and hunted. She shudders back to the present and turns around to see the triangle burn between her shoulder blades. It shines white in the bright lights contrasted by the rest of her muddied skin. She contemplates her life, her quest, the fact she was chosen. Chosen to find God. 
Self doubt begins to creep into her thoughts. 
After a few more moments inspecting, she sighs, turns away from the glass, and gets in the now filled bath. She sucks in a breath and grits her teeth, hissing with relief and pain as she lowers herself fully into the water. The clear water muddies in moments but Castor soaks for many minutes all the same, relishing the warmth and easing the aches. A knock comes at the bedroom door when she's just about doze off.
"A moment." She calls. Toweling off she adorns clean pants. She delicately pats her torso dry and painfully pulls a fresh tunic over her head. Her hair drips onto her dry shoulders as she moves gingerly to the door and answers. The lanky, bespectacled doctor introduces himself as Hans and is permitted entry. Castor steps back and closes the door behind him. All business the doctor asks, "What seems to be your aliment, my boy?"
"If I may, have you attended Ivetta and- and Father Tobias? Their wounds were far more grievous than mine–"
"Yes, yes, lad they've been cared for, not to worry. Now, let's patch you up, son. What are your injuries?" 
A relief spreads over Castors face hearing her friends were healed. A slight worry shadows her face only briefly when attention is returned to her, "I- well… it's easier to show you. But, um," She hesitates, "I'm not–not a, um, I'm not a boy." She finally manages. He gives a nod and looks slightly confused, still with a warm smile on his face, before gesturing for her to continue. Castor lifts up her tunic, all her bruises on full display. The doctor gasps slightly. He tells her to sit so he might inspect them. He pokes and prods gently. Castor manages to hide her winces as he does so. After several moments probing, he determines she has several cracked ribs. He explains there's not much to do but wrap them to prevent them getting worse. Castor nods in understanding and he proceeds to do so, Castor raising her arms as far as the pain will permit to help him. He tells her to get lots of rest and that he’ll be checking in on her every so often.
She thanks him as he rises to leave before asking, “doctor? Do you have anything that would help me sleep? I… it feels like thoughts are stampeding through my head like wild horses.” He smiles gently and opens his bag, procuring a powdery pill. 
"Here my dear this should help." She takes the pill and lies back with the doctor’s help. He leaves, Castor’s eyelids already drooping. 
She fights it a moment thinking she saw movement from the corner of her eye. She blinks again. The masked man’s face inches from her own. Another blink and he’s gone. 
She screams, startling up, jarring her ribs, making her again scream-in pain. Looking around through watering eyes she sees no sign of him, her breaths mere pants. No one enters the room and nothing moves for a long time. Castor feels the pull of the sleeping pill but she resolves to stay awake. Sitting in a fairly uncomfortable position to offset the comfort in a vain attempt to deny the inevitable. 
Eventually, she nods off.
TBC
Episode Fourteen: Allies and Adversaries