Summer, 1425

The City of Ragusa spanned the Tiber River, connecting the River Road from Corioli to Ardea. Every single attack from Caldern to the River Triangle had advanced through the city and its great floating bridge before heading Northward.

After Stanley’s forces retreated from Corioli, he took up position on the South bank of the Tibur. And there he waited, leaving the bridge intact.

Jayna watched the Imperial forces fortify themselves along the river from the back of the dragon soaring overhead.

“What do you make of it Mera?” She asked her ride.

The great wyrm frowned at the lines, bristling with artillery and wooden barricades. “It looks like a tough nut to crack. This was the site of a large battle during the Great War, and finally the Other Men only crossed by flanking from the West, through Miers Ferry.”

“We can’t leave the bridge under their control and we don’t have the numbers to defend both the bridge and cross elsewhere.”

“It would be difficult, but I think I can destroy it with artillery support.”

“I think we’ll have to seize it instead.”

Mera turned to look at the Arcadian on his back. “I can destroy the bridge, but I’m not sure how to do that.”

Jayna responded by patting the dragon on the neck. “Okay. Let me talk to the others and see what we can do.”

***

A little later and the Arcadian leadership of Corioli had gathered around Jayna and Mera near Cirrus.

“The Imperials have withdrawn back into Ardea, but they have set up a position directly across the river and are able to cross again whenever Stanley can regroup.” Jayna explained.

Roza nodded. “That agrees with my scouts. Stanley is simply regrouping and waiting for us to make a mistake.“

“Why would Stanley leave the bridge up?” Hassan asked.

“Perhaps he thinks he can defeat us and use it against us again.” Price replied. “If the floating bridge stands, we can’t use the other fords and ferries to cross.”

“Perhaps he set this as a trap.” Roza darkly added.

“Both are possible.” Their commander concluded. “That leaves us with a few options. One we wait on the opposite bank and gradually grow in strength as Chagraff sends reinforcements to us. The bridge can be either taken or destroyed. The latter is better defensively while we wait, the former would be better offensively once we are reinforced. We can also destroy the bridge and withdraw. That prevents us from being pinned here, but also allows that Butcher a free hand in striking against us elsewhere.” Jayna bit her lip. “Finally, we can take the initiative and seize the bridges and the city.”

“How?” The others responded. “We can’t bomb the city if we need it intact to cross into Ardea.” Hassan pointed out additionally.

“We’ll do it by coup-de-main. We can’t use Mera either: Stanley would simply set the bridges on fire himself. So we need to take it by surprise.” She turned to her cavalry leader. “How many horses does the Southern army have?”

“Perhaps 300.” Price replied. “We lost a lot in the Corioli battles before you reinforced us.”

“It should be enough.”

“To charge through? I think Stanley would be prepared for that.” The Cnaeian responded.

“I’m hoping that it won’t matter.”

“How do we get close enough?”

The group was suddenly interrupted by a familiar cyno suddenly appearing before them.

“Sorry I’m late.” Oevcn cut in. “My people aren’t used to keeping together while setting up camp. What are we all up to?”

***

The Imperial forces had a strong defense in depth on the Tibur. A line of pickets held the city gates and patrolled the streets, and several fortified houses and street barricades acted as a second line guarding the approaches to the bridge and the main line directly across the span. The bridge itself was soaked with turpentine and had special braziers lit nearby and there were guards specifically ordered to set fire to the structure if attacked.

The sentries were the first targets. Quickly and silently the cyno force that would become known as Oevcn’s Raiders crept over from the outskirts, climbed the city walls and began eliminating the guards on the North bank.

A pair of Imperial guards posted at the main gateway were physically large and imposing and kept an active lookout for signs of trouble. It still didn’t matter. When Oevcn came across them they were goners. The cyno leader moved like the wind, noiselessly rushing and disappearing into the shadows, then leaping up walls and off roofs before suddenly descending upon one of the startled guards, violently kicking the Imperial in the head before immediately throwing blinding powder in his face. As that guard cried out and staggered, desperately attempting to clean out his eyes, Oevcn tuned his attention to the second guard, who barely even had time to react to this attack before the cyno’s falcuta flashed out and immediately turned red. With barely a pause, Oevcn turned to the opposite direction, his blade descending again with a spray of blood. With barely a gurgle both guards fell dead. The cyno leader calmly wiped the blood from his weapon, then went over to the next group of Imperial guards.

With shocking speed, the cynos cleared the defenses around the floating bridge, their progress marked by the muffled patter of padded feet, the flash of blades, and the clank of falling bodies. While the cynos suffered some losses, and there were some muffled cries of shock and death coming out of the dark, no general alarm was raised.

That left the blockhouses.

The cyno raiders tackled them simultaneously. Sniffing out one of the hidden human positions, Oevcn climbed a nearby residence, rushed across the roof, and leaped into an open window, kicking aside the crossbowman positioned there before his falcuta swung again. The cyno leader -quickly joined by a dozen of his followers-danced in the darkness, his blade cutting down the several stunned Imperial squad members inside in brutal close combat. Finally a random shashka swing got through, striking Oevcn with a glancing side cut. The cyno leader went down, but before the attacker dealt a killing blow he was dispatched in turn by another cyno.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Beimcu helped Oevcn back to his feet as the rest of his raiders cleared the building.

&Are you hurt badly?&

&Luckily no. Have all the blockhouses been cleared?&

&Yes. We have the reports that three of the buildings have been taken. The last should fall shortly.&

&Any evidence of the main Imperial forces being alerted?&

&No. Ywecn says there’s no signs of alarm across the river.&

&Good.& Oevcn felt his side, and tried to staunch the trickle of blood gently dripping down his chest. Noticing, Beimcu glanced at it before pulling out her arm wrapping and using it as a bandage. As she gently put her hand on his side, their eyes met, and Beimcu smiled. Oevcn smiled as well.

&Oevcn?&

&Yes Beimcu?&

&They came damn near missing you, didn’t they?&

---

U2-Surrender

From  osleepyevil

Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43595972/