The Song and the Serpent

“No!” Layla shouted, throwing her shawl aside and plunging into the water.

Adan dropped the oar in his hand and leapt to his feet. He drew his sword and dropped it in the boat. Then he dove after Layla.

The water was warm and invigorating. Adan opened his eyes under the murky water, but all he could make out was the a white blur of Layla’s night shift. With no way of seeing Matilda in the water, Adan swam toward where she had jumped in.

He soon drew level with Layla under water, and made out a dark shape in the water below them, sitting perfectly still under the water.

Hoping it was Matilda, Adan kicked and pulled through the water and made for the dark form.

Layla reached the dark form first and grabbed a hold of what Adan thought might be a hand. There was a struggle in the water and Layla seemed to be having difficulty with shape. Adan reached out and grabbed at it, and his hand connected with Matilda’s outer coat. He grabbed it and tried to pull it up, toward the surface.

Matilda’s hand tried to swat Adan’s away and force him to let go.

No you don’t! Adan thought, tightening his grip and yanking upward. His lungs screamed for air and he pulled with all his might as he kicked out.

With Layla’s help, Adan pulled Matilda up to the surface, kicking and fighting the whole way.

Adan’s head came above water and he heard Layla gasping for air as they crested the water. Adan shook his head to dispel some of the water in his face and looked at Layla. He could feel Matilda floating between them, but her head remained submerged under water, still thrashing and kicking to dislodge them.

“The boat,” Layla said, inhaling a mouthful of water and coughing.

Adan looked around and found Matilda’s boat floating behind him, less than five paces away.

He lunged for it, letting go of his grip on Matilda and quickly swimming to where it drifted.

Grabbing the edge, he paddled himself and the boat toward where Layla was desperately trying to pull her aunt’s head above water.

When he reached them, he hauled himself up into the boat.

“Take my hand!” Adan shouted to Layla, extending a hand from the boat.

She looked up from the water and grabbed his hand while keeping Matilda firmly in another.

Matilda’s head came out from the water, sputtering and coughing as she struggled against Layla.

“Auntie!” Layla shouted as she pulled her aunt closer to Adan.

When he could reach her, Adan grabbed Matilda by her outer coat and hauled her into the boat, still hacking and coughing.

As soon as Layla’s aunt fell into the bottom of the boat, she stopped thrashing and fighting, although she continued coughing and hacking up water.

Layla remained outside the boat, hanging onto the side, and breathing heavily.

Once Adan was convinced that Matilda wasn’t about to jump overboard again, he picked up an oar and began paddling back to shore. Layla let go of the side of the boat as soon as they reached the shallows, and waded ashore with her teeth and fists clenched. She waited until Adan had brought the boat to shore, then they both helped Matilda out of the boat.

Matilda fell to her knees as she was placed ashore and remained still in the tall grass, looking at the ground with the same dead-eye stare Adan had seen before. Layla knelt down in front of her aunt and stared into her face. They knelt there for many moments, breathing hard and dripping water, Layla staring at Matilda’s eyes were downcast.

Layla slowly raised a hand and pointed one finger in the air in front of her aunt’s face.

”Don’t ever do that to me again,” she said in a low voice. Adan could tell she was holding back tears. “Don’t waste what life you have left by throwing it away, like that. I haven’t cared for you these last months and years just for you to give up.”

Matilda continued to stare at the ground, not meeting her niece's eye. After a moment of silence, Layla pulled Matilda into a hug and put her face on Matilda’s shoulders.

Adan climbed back into the boat and rowed to the vessel he and Layla had jumped out of. He brought the second boat back to shore, retrieving his sword and Layla’s shawl, which he wrapped around her as soon as he returned to shore.

“Thank you,” Layla said as he wrapped the dry garment around her wet shoulders.

“Let’s get you both back to the hut,” Adan said.

Together, Adan and Layla helped Matilda to her feet and led her gently back to the hut.

“She left the cabin while I was in my deepest sleep,” Layla muttered. “I sleep by the entrance to our hut. Usually she wakes me up, but I was up late thinking about today and so when I finally went to sleep… I was so tired… she got past me.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Adan said as they reached the hut.

“Then whose fault is it?” she asked. “I’m responsible for her now. Who else could have stopped her?”

Layla stooped inside the hut and guided Matilda into her seat at the table.

“These things happen,” Adan replied, ducking and stepping into the hut. “Berating yourself about it doesn’t help anyone.”

“I nearly lost her…” Layla choked and grimaced, holding back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her.

Adan waited as she fought to control her emotions and regain her composure.

“I’m going to get fish for breakfast,” He said, after a moment. “Rest here and look after her while I do. I’ll be right back.”

In less than half an hour, Adan returned to the hut with two fish he had managed to catch and gut. The small lake was indeed well stocked. When he returned, Layla had donned her brown dress and managed to get the fire going again. Adan skewered the fish on a makeshift rack of twigs and placed it over the fire to roast.

They sat next to each other in silence while the fish grilled over the fire and sunlight began to trickle over the tops of the trees on the ridge.

“I feel as if the whole world has gone wrong,” Layla said, staring at nothing.

Adan sighed. “As do I.”

“I want to be angry at Matilda,” Layla continued, “but deep down, I know why she did it.”

Silence reigned for a moment.

Adan looked over at Layla and saw the pain in her eyes, pain that had accumulated year after year. First Layla lost her parents. Then, Adan’s father, who had been like a second father to Layla, died a horrible slow death and she was forced to leave the only home she knew. Then her Uncle, her caretaker and guardian had passed away, leaving a wife who would slowly descend into madness. And now they all stood on the brink of destruction, waiting for an army that would soon come bearing down on them like a tidal wave.

Adan felt an overwhelming pity for Layla and he put his arm around her.

“She did it because she doesn’t know what she has,” He said. “Matilda cannot see or appreciate what you do for her, day in and day out, returning the gift of care that she once gave you. But I know it. I see it, and I’m glad to know you.”

A small smile touched her lips and she grabbed his hand, giving it a small squeeze. “I suppose the whole world hasn’t gone wrong,” she said, looking up at him.

He gazed into her green eyes before leaning in and giving her a soft kiss.

“No it hasn’t,” he said after pulling away. “At least not for now. For this moment, everything is perfect.”

He looked out over the lake as the dissipating mist rose into the sky, touched by the bright morning rays that slowly brought warmth and light to their surroundings. Birdsong rang around them and the smell of the fire mixed with roasting fish filled their nostrils.

Everything is perfect, Adan thought. At least for now.

After finishing his breakfast and giving Layla one more kiss, Adan left the lakeside and climbed the hill that overlooked the fortress.

Arfon had completed his trebuchet with nothing but the axes in his belt and a large hammer. He had used wooden pegs to secure the four legs together and connect them at the top to create a fulcrum. A long beam, thicker than a man’s waist, ran down from the fulcrum and connected a series of chains to a large stone the size of a small barrel. On the other end of the beam, suspended in the air, a box hung on several chains that ran through the beam for support.

“I took some supplies from Kellessed the smith,” Arfon explained. “That box is full of stones and will drop the moment we release the crank.” He pointed to a large hand crank that had a thick rope wrapped around it.

Adan nodded, understanding. As soon as the heavy box dropped, it would send the stone hurtling through the air on the opposite end.

“Well done,” Adan said. “I hope it will at least give the Undelman’s some hesitation before coming too close. I was curious if you’ve seen Kian this morning.”

Arfon had not seen Kian, so Adan tried to spot his friend from the hilltop. He saw a numerous gathering of men on the northern side of the fortress, nearly three or four hundred of them from what he guessed, and decided to make for the group.

After trekking through the fields and crossing the stream, he arrived on the outer edge of the gathering in the same field where he and Layla had planted beans only days before. Dozens of other men seemed to be congregating from across the city alongside Adan, curious to discover the cause of the assembly.

Adan found his way through the waiting men, who parted to make way for him as he tried to see the cause of their attention.

Even as Adan looked, he saw Kian stand above the other men in the center of the group.

“You have all been given a troop and leader, and you will be informed of who that is shortly. Your leader will assess your skills and give you what training and instruction he can give you in one day. Return to your homes and await instruction from that leader. We can do nothing while standing on top of each other here.”

The crowd began to disperse and Kian climbed down from the barrel he had been standing on and Adan fought his way closer.

“Took you long enough,” Kian said as Adan arrived. “Did you fancy a morning swim?” He gestured to Adan’s wet clothes.

Corthenu stood by Kian, as well as Hurst and Laxander.

“It’s a long story,” Adan replied, unwilling to describe Matilda’s suicide attempt at the time. “I’ll tell you later. I see you’ve been busy.”

“You can say that,” Kian replied. “I’ve had to make some immediate changes to make sure things are done in an orderly fashion.”

“Such as?”

“Well, Corthenu is now my Battle Chief, and Hurst and Hammund my primary advisors regarding everything not involving warfare. Each of the Othelli warriors has been made into a troop leader, and they will each command a group of twenty or more men. They will communicate with Corthenu and myself if necessary. Calden has also been officially made captain of the guard, and will command the remaining men at the gate.”

“Yes, now that he has a lord to swear fealty to,” Corthenu said, rolling his eyes, “we won’t have to worry about the old crow refusing to follow our orders.”

“Good,” Adan replied. “Because we need everyone in this fight, and it would be a shame to have one of our warriors tied up in the citadel again.”

“I don’t know,” Corthenu said. “I rather enjoyed that part.”

Kian cracked a smile before continuing. “The women, children, and elderly will be moved to the citadel by tonight, and I’ve sent a trio of scouts to Cellion on horseback. They will ride back as soon as the enemy is spotted and give us some idea of the time we have.”

Adan nodded again. “Very good. Anything else?”

“Yes, I’ve decided to take my stand on the hill overlooking the fortress. It provides the best vantage point, it’s close to the gate, and we can oversee Arfon’s trebuchet easily from there. Riders will be given the few horses we have to ensure that we can communicate quickly, and we have a few horns for the troop leaders to signal distress along the walls.”

“You have been busy,” Adan replied. “Shall we make for the hilltop then?”

As they left the field Kian asked Hurst about the horses he and Adan had arrived with, Arrow and Havoc. Hurst sent Laxander to discover their whereabouts from Governor Fagus, who had promised to care for the animals.

They ascended the hill and Kian inspected Arfon’s trebuchet as Adan had, nodding with approval at the war machine. Laxander arrived at the hilltop, leading Arrow and Havoc by the reins.

“Fagus had them kept with some of the other horses from Estanik,” he explained. “They’ve been working with the rest of the horses, but nothing too strenuous. They’ve been kept for you.”

The mare and stallion seemed to sense the anticipation in the air around them. They danced and pulled on their reins as if eager for a gallop. They seemed well brushed and no skinnier than before. Adan and Kian mounted the horses and allowed them to trot around the top of the hill to help curb some of their excitement.

The rest of the day was spent on the hilltop, overlooking the training and preparing that was taking place all around them. The hot sun rose above them, sending its relentless rays down on the city.

An hour after midday, the trio of men returned from Cellion, reporting that the first Undelman scouts had been spotted by the river, making their way toward the tower, and would likely arrive after nightfall.

“So they are coming after all,” Kian said. “I suppose it was too much to hope that they would miss us and go the wrong direction.”

Hammund arrived not long afterwards, reporting that all the food had been moved to the citadel, and that if they tightened their belts, the entire city would eat for over five days.

“Then we shall pray that this fight is shorter than those five days,” Kian replied. “

“And that it ends in our victory,” Hammund added. “It may very well be a short fight, but not in the way we want.”

The rest of the afternoon was spent in answering questions regarding the placement of warriors on the wall and in the reserves. The gates were shut on Kian’s command and everyone was ordered to withdraw inside the fortress. Corthenu, Hurst, and Hammund retrieved horses of their own and sat mounted beside Adan and Kian while the inevitable end of the afternoon approached. As the shadows began to lengthen, a steady stream of people could be seen entering the citadel. Women escorted children and the elderly into the stronghold where they could be kept safe.

Adan tried to spot Layla among the crowd, but they were too far away for him to make her out. He hoped he would have one more chance to see her before the fighting started, but he couldn’t leave Kian now.

A stillness fell over New Esta. Troop leaders ceased coming to the hill, the fields and villages emptied as everyone found their place, and the walls grew crowded by the men standing atop the ancient battlements.

They are coming.

“I hope we’re ready,” Kian said after many moments of silence.

“All we can do is hope now,” Hurst replied.

This might be the last evening we ever see, Adan thought as he watched the sky change color above. Another moment of peace, before a thunderstorm of war.

Adan glanced at Kian, who sat mounted on his left. He knew this might be the end of his short life, a life that had been riddled with pain and suffering, but all Adan felt in that quiet moment was gratitude. He was thankful to have Kian beside him. His friend had always been there, right beside him, even through the darkest valleys of Adan’s life.

If we die tonight, Adan thought, we die together, just as we have lived.

A horn sounded from the gatehouse. Adan’s head snapped forward as he heard the signal blast.

“They’re here,” Kian said in a quiet voice.