Summer, 1423

Forced from the Northern Heights by the surprise night assault, the Arcadians fell back into the city while trying to retain the other ridgelines; however a devastating artillery duel over the following days-with projectiles flying across all three promontories- finally drove the defenders to the reverse slope, barely clinging to their positions as the Imperials gained the crest and soon aimed the siege engines at Triford itself. Jayna and Mera did what they could, and the Imperial batteries paid heavily for their advances and entrenchments, but eventually enough siege weapons managed to emplace themselves to drive the dragon away.

As the noose tightened, the Arcadians were in increasingly desperate straits. Every day projectiles from siege engines rained down on the city, causing death and devastation. Food and other supplies began to fall short. Satisfied by their accomplishments, the Imperial forces seemed content to fortify their lines and build up their encirclement.

Soon enough Jayna was forced to hold a council and discuss the situation with the other Arcadian officers.

Chagraff minced no words as he pointed to the map. “The Imperials have trapped us like fish in a barrel. They could easily ford the rivers north or south of this position and trap us, drive us into the river, or they could set up siege weapons or airships and pummel us to pieces like the Freeland Brothers.”

Jayna sighed. “I fucked up didn’t I? We should have abandoned Triford and regrouped in the Moorlands.”

Chagraff chose to ignore that comment. “The question is how we move from here. The odds were so much in Anderson’s favor, that I don’t think there is a question about him confronting us head-on again. Instead he’s waiting for our next move before he goes for the kill.”

Jayna looked before the assembled audience. “I am open to any and all suggestions.”

Murray slammed his claymore on the ground “Anderson is handing us the initiative. All we have to do is to strike and break out where he least expects it. We can get out of this yet!”

“Is he? If we try to retreat across or down the river, he pursues and destroys us. If we try to hold the North and East banks, he flanks us and attacks our rear. If we stay, he starves us out.”

“What else can we do? Surrender?” Murray spat.

“Our survival hangs by a thread. We probably have to gamble everything on one chance. Let us discuss a good one.”

An awkward silence followed. The Arcadian leader sighed after a few minutes.

“Chagraff, work with Hassan and Murray to organize an evacuation under fire. I want everyone else to come back to me tomorrow with a plan for escape. We'll talk again tomorrow. Dismissed.”

That evening Oevcn quietly went back to the creek, deeply troubled by the news he heard around the camp. He didn’t know what to do. The opposite bank was now guarded by the enemy, though as usual the cyno knew how to keep quiet. The bath he had taken a few days ago had been a wasted opportunity. If only he had been prepared, the cyno could have warned Jayna and stopped this. Now he didn't even have the benefit of cleaning off, with the chaotic fighting that had occurred since then. Oevcn could really use another ba-

The cyno stopped, as he observed a glow in the darkness immediately he slipped into hiding, spear at the ready.

Was it a new Imperial trap? A fearsome new weapon?

A white, equine-like figure walked silently into the clearing, nearly white as snow, with a single horn. Oevcn’s jaw dropped.

A unicorn!

The one-horned equine stared straight at the concealed cyno and with a flick of its head beckoned him over. Clutching his spear, Oevcn took a deep breath and obeyed. The unicorn moved, and the cyno followed. Together the pair wandered silently by the riverbank, the sound of campfires crackling and voices of campsite conversations nearby quietly carried by the breeze.

Then the magnificent white beast stepped into the waters.

The cyno was confused. Was the unicorn leading him into a trap?

Despite his worries and hesitation, Oevcn followed.

The cyno kept up with the unicorn as it smoothly leaped across stones and fallen logs, reaching the other side of the river without even getting a hoof wet. The equine’s companion had less success keeping dry, but nevertheless noticed that the path went through an area of weak flowing current and was shallow enough to only go up to his thighs at its highest. Tensing as he reached the side of the Imperials, Oevcn grabbed his spear firmly and hunched over, as the unicorn stopped at a familiar opening among the rocks.

There lay the old path Oevcn had first seen a few days before.

The cyno was taken aback as he now realized the route was wide enough for wagons, yet seemingly hidden from view by the overhanging cliffs above.

The unicorn had reappeared, now seemingly clad in some type of wooden armor. It reared up, and trotted up the hidden path. Oevcn quickly followed.

Together they worked their way up the winding and switchback heavy road, which nevertheless had a gentle grade, quickly ascending up the ridgeline. The route was rugged and thick with underbrush, but still wide and flat enough for vehicles to use. It was clearly once a road, but why it was seemingly abandoned was unclear.

Oevcn could see glimpses of campfires nearby, hear the footsteps of sentinels keeping watch and the sound of musical instruments being played; the enemy was close by in all directions, yet distant enough to escape notice.

A few hundred feet later, why the path had been abandoned was made clear when his companion abruptly stopped and Oevcn halted as well-and quickly realized that he had nearly stepped off a precipice plunging straight down into the cliffs below. Gingerly picking his way around the chasm, the cyno next came upon a massive tangle of downed trees and underbrush, and then clambering over those obstructions, a large mountaintop swamp. The unicorn led the way through the marshland. Trudging through was muddy, but actually more stable than could be expected. Finally the equine stopped and turned back after climbing a steep, rolling hill.

Sticking his head out from beside the unicorn, Oevcn saw the lines of the Imperial Army arrayed behind him. The rocky and tree-blown entanglement of the steep ravine had evidently deterred the Imperial forces from building fortifications or positioning troops across it, leaving a narrow, but covered gap between the Imperial lines.

Shocked, the dark cyno quickly scouted around to make sure that the route was indeed open. Confirming that it was, Oevcn gratefully turned to his equine companion.

&Mother's milk! Thank you! How can we ever-&

The dark cyno blinked, finding himself completely alone.

***

Scratching his head the cyno carefully made his way back to the city.

Jayna woke up to find the eager young cyno eagerly standing by her cot.

“I found a path through the ridges. I think it’s unguarded!”

“What? Where?”

“At the eastern end of Northern Heights-a half mile from where the Rapidan joins the Great River.”

“How did you find this path?”

“A unicorn showed me-” Oevcn paused as he saw Jayna frown. “-I found it while bathing by the creek. It’s invisible unless you cross the ford and look directly at it.”

“And the Imperials don't know of this path and can't detect anyone on it. Remember Oevcn, you’re better at infiltration than most of us.”

“I swear it's hidden-I checked! Most see it as a ravine choked with underbrush. They completely ignore it.”

“Is it accessible for wagons?”

“The brush should be able to be cut. There is also a gap about 10 feet in diameter that needs to be filled for wagons to cross, but I think that can be accomplished. There is also a swamp that appears impassable but the bottom is hard enough I think for the trains to pass.”

“Get Athur and you two go see Hassan, see if he can back up your route being workable. At the very least, we can infiltrate some troops through there instead of my tentative plan of floating everyone downstream.”

“Sounds good!”

“You’re a good boy, Oevcn.”

“Thanks!” The cyno turned and left with his tail wagging.

***

“The path is surprisingly usable. ” Hassan reported after scouting the trail. “The path is covered, and winds along the edge of a ravine that the Imperial troops seem to have no interest in checking. The road is overgrown but usable. Brush can be cleared and dumped into the collapsed section, and a bridge can be overlaid atop it.”

“Where does it go?”

“It leads East around the Rapidan and then up into the Kern Fields.”

“Can our army make it through?”

“The infantry and cavalry can. The wagons and artillery might-it’ll be close. We may have to prepare for a defensive battle.”

“Very well. I want you to send all of your engineers. Build the bridge. Clear the brush.”

“Cutler, lead a demonstration to the East. Roza, do everything you can to scout the enemy and tell of Anderson’s intentions. Price, do what you can to deafen the road. We’ve probably got one chance at this. Let’s make it count, and let us pray to the Heavens.”

“Yes ma'am.”

"Understood."

"Best of luck."

---

Gordon Lightfoot - Race among the Ruins

From  tf-sential!