Spring, 1331

Mier’s Castle was a massive fortress of thirty-foot walls and eight towers perched precariously on the top of a two hundred-foot promontory overlooking the Tiber River. From its Southern face, this large toll castle dominated two large meanders of the waterway as well as Miers Ferry, from which the Old Volcsian Trace continued South towards Ardea. From its Northern face the fortification loomed over Mier’s Ridge and the Napier Hills, as well as Miers Forest, a dense, tangled wilderness of secondary growth ponderosa that limited large-scale mobility to the trace as well as the Craigslane and Kurast Roads running East to West.

For centuries, the Great House that had provided the area its namesake had amassed great wealth and power extracting a toll for people using the ford or ferry or traveling down the river; a great chain had blocked the river, and toll evaders- whether on foot, horse, wagon or boat -ran a very high risk of being pin-cushioned with arrows from the looming castle. Not until King Hays built the Great Cnaeus Covered Bridge was this monopoly on the Tibur broken. The bridge and the rerouting of the main road gradually reduced the power of House Miers and by the Great War it was little more than an awesomely powerful fortress defending a crumbling town being swallowed by the forest with a ford that few used anymore.

The Great War re-established the importance of Miers Castle, and as fighting between the two armies spread along the Rapidan River front, both commanders focused their attention on it. After the evacuation of the Napier Hills, Miers Castle became the anchor for Field Marshal Dodge’s defensive position along the Tiber River, guarding the Auxian left flank and acting as a continual thorn in Anhake’s right flank. As long as the fortress stood, the Auxian forces had a foothold on the North bank of the Tiber, where, covered by Miers Forest, raiders and guerrillas could roam and raid at will. However if the castle did have a weakness, it was its same strategic strength: being on the same side as the Tassurians. A half-dozen or so smaller, weaker toll castles were scattered for a hundred miles in each direction, but none on the North bank of the river were important enough to defend. Only Mier’s Castle was on the wrong side. And Anhake saw that.

‘Mier’s Castle will be tough to take. The steep hillside prevents the use of heavy artillery and assault shock troops like the ogre and minotaur slave units.’ The Tassurian commander stated to his officers as they assembled on Napier’s Crown, which provided a panoramic view of the enemy defenses six miles away. ‘The castle footprint is large enough for the garrison to hold for months, and the forest allows for the possibility of reinforcement and supply from the river and smuggler trails. Its garrison is about 200 in size, but it could possibly hold up to ten times that number on short notice. Still, Mier’s Castle is an old design castle. There may be some anti-air modifications like covered battlements and ballistae defenses-make no mistake it will be a tough nut to crack-but it is no Alba or even Caldern Castle.’

General Gremenal nodded. ‘I will utilize General Krame Pope’s entire corps for this operation, as well as elements of De Rosseu’s dragon squadrons. The assault can also be supported by Carmel’s troops if needed.’

Anhake turned to his Dragon Division commander.

‘Colonel, what will you provide to support General Pope’s attack?’

Colonel De Rosseu began reading from the notepad upon which he had scribbled various names and numbers.

‘The 56th and 57th Dragon squadrons are relatively fresh and at full strength. They should be able to provide the necessary air support.’

‘Good.' General Anhake gave a casual gesture in the air with his hand. 'Let it be done.’

***

Mera’s unit was called up the next morning by a messenger sent from Colonel De Rosseu. The bronze dragon relayed the Tassurian orders to his squadron.

*We march in with the troops tomorrow and establish ourselves in a clearing within one mile of the castle for maximum surprise. Awerlass wants us to launch our attack with the other squadron on General Pope’s orders in the afternoon. We will be performing aerial assaults against the castle until the Other Men infantry approach the walls. Be careful: there may be a dozen ballistae and hundreds of archers. Just fly in, dive, sweep and get out as soon as possible. We repeat the attacks until the Other Men take the central keep.* Mera finished his recital with a personal wish. *May we get this thing done by nightfall.*

The other dragons nodded. Even Falknir did not comment further, though he gave a rough snort. Like the others, the black wyrm appreciated the difficulty in fulfilling the objective that they had been assigned to.

The next morning, Meratezatgh’s squadron waited as the Tassurian infantry columns, fronted by a heavy screen of skirmishers which included chattering goblins, nervous satyrs and wary cynos, plunged into Mier’s Forest, followed by the Trasgu heavy infantry. The metal from the ranks of thousands of veteran soldiers glimmered in the morning sun.

*Maybe this will be easy.* Thergamoth stated hopefully as the Other Men ranks disappeared into the woods ahead of them, the tramping of tens of thousands of feet still echoing throughout the area.

However, the attack was slow going. It was clear that Dodge had correctly assessed the threat to his flank and had thrown out a very strong force of skirmishers to contest Gremenal’s advance. At home in the forests, the human foresters and Sabines constantly sniped, ambushed and harassed the advancing Tassurians, increasing the casualty lists and slowing the march to a crawl. The dragons kept to the rear, out of sight of any Allied skirmishers, though the distant din of clashing arms and singing arrows made the wait tense and uncomfortable.

*There is too much death in these woods.* Raphrsah finally muttered under her breath, as Mera and Thergamorth silently watched the glacial advance of the Northerner infantry and the large clusters of dead and wounded being carried back past the dragons. Hearesecha pretended not to notice the fighting, idly twirling a stick, while Falknir calmly slept.

By early afternoon, it was clear the attack on Mier’s Castle would need to be postponed. Pope’s troops were still mired in the middle of the forest, and had not yet reached the clearings that were to be the launching points to the castle itself. General Pope was besides himself in anger, but could do little about it but throw in elements of Michaelis’ command into supporting Plaesb’s advance. Occasionally, the dragons would come across the body of a human or Sabine sprawled where they fell. They seemed but a small appendage of this nightmarish tangle of trees. Towards late afternoon the Tassurian army finally reached the clearings in the middle of forest that were supposed to serve as the assembly points for the main assault upon Mier’s Castle. After a few weak counterattacks easily driven back, the Auxian Coalition ceded the exposed ground and melted back into the woods. As long shadows began casting from the trees and the singing of frogs and crickets began to erupt, the Imperial troops began cutting down trees and erecting defensive abatis and earthworks.

Finally, sunset came and the visibility in the dark woods fell to less than a dozen feet. Though a few skirmishers continued to blindly exchange projectiles in the darkness, the armies began to wind down. In the distance they could hear the Northerners of the Red Hand Division stacking their arms, and fires quickly appeared in the distance like so many stars.

Mera’s squadron, still hidden from the enemy and also slightly isolated from their allies, found one of the emptied fields and settled in, digging shallow bedding nests and creating a camp fire of their own.
The army’s logistics train found their position soon enough; meat and water was provided and messengers arrived with fresh orders from De Rosseu. Mera eventually translated them for his squadron.

*Only minor revisions to our orders. Tomorrow at noon we will initiate the direct attack upon the castle. Simple bombing raid. We fly in, knock out any emplacements we find, swoop back up before the humans know what hit them. We will then support the general assault after it begins by picking off any troop concentrations or strongpoints the Tassurians can’t take.*

*Sounds simple enough.* Thergamoth repeated hopefully.

Hearesecha stared warily into the dark woods ahead. *I don’t like this. Something feels off.*

*We’re all a bit nervous.* Mera reassured her.

*Not that. This night. The Auxians would be fools to not prepare for a major attack that they know is coming.*

*We can’t help it. Which is why our appearance needs to be a surprise. I don’t want us to face the full might of a position bristling with air defenses.*

*No one can do much in these woods, in this darkness.* Raphrsah mused. *The trees provide us some protection.*

*These damn trees.* Falknir finally grumbled. *Hate it. These aren't dragon lands.*

*Regardless, we are here. We should get some rest.* Mera finally ordered.

As the fire began to burn out, one by one, the dragons curled up and slept in their bedding. Gentle snores began to fill the field, blending with the drone of night insects and animals. As Hearesecha took to bed as well, she gave one final look around. All around, trees loomed like a sea of thorns.

The black dragon frowned.

---

Carl Orff & Gunhild Keetman: Musica Poetica - Passion

From  Chickenzaur!

Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/60480599/