The Siege of Ultopja 6 – Perfect Lines [Tang]

Tang opens his eyes and sits up in his bed. Out of pure reflex, he grabs his right upper arm where Ulal had replaced his old bone. Ever since receiving it he feels so very awake. Like part of him just waited for this power. His stamina increased immensely. When he had started the training running from the tower to the gate and back took all his breath and at least an hour. Now he can run the same distance several times in the same duration without even feeling tired.

“Mhm….” A small movement at his side as Alratha’s hand searches for him. She doesn’t find anything at her side as Tang slowly moves out of the bed and tries to get up without disturbing her further. After all if he does that means…

Just as he is about to stand about Alratha finds his wrist. Tang closes his eyes and resigns to his fate. A sudden pull and he lands back in the bed. How Alratha can pull a giant like him back with such ease is still abnormal to him, even after finding out that she received roughly seven times the amount of Dragonbone he has. “You are going nowhere.” The assassin mumbles in her sleep as her arms wrap around him. “I have you TANGled. He-he-he.”

One of the less terrible parts of morning is that Alratha pushes her breasts into his face. The greatly terrible thing though is that he will be late if this continues. “Alratha.” The assassin doesn’t answer, instead continuing to cackle in her sleep. “No, not there.” She whispers, “On second thought though, yes right there.”

“Awaken.” Tang says. She groans and shakes her head. “Just twenty-five more years.” “No.” Alratha sighs and slowly opens her eyes. Pouting she says, “Have it your way then.” And shoves him backwards. Tang rolls out of the bed and lands on the hard floor. Another part of his morning routine.

“You and your discipline.” Alratha says and stretches her arms. She jumps on her feet and stands on the edge of the bed, looking down at Tang with a wide smile. “See this? This is what you could fuck right now.” She says and stems her hands into her hips, pushing out her chest at the same time. “Later.” Tang promises. It is a promise he very much intents to keep. He stands up and walks over to the closet containing his uniforms. Right next to it stands a life-sized mannequin of himself wearing his armour. A gift from Alratha, she had Catherine create it.

“What if I am not in the mood later, huh?” Alratha asks playfully angry. “Doubtful. You are always in the mood.” Tang replies as he steps into his pants. “Ding. Correct answer, that gets you twenty love points.” Alratha jumps of the bed and rolls over the ground until she arrives at her own clothes. Unlike what one might expect, they are ordered and folded perfectly.

Tang is about to leave when Alratha grabs him and pushes him against the wall. He wants to tell her that he really is out of time when she puts a finger on his lips. A mischievous smile later she starts to moan excessively without reason. Of course, with the occasional laughter because that is just who she is.

Then she suddenly stops and rips open the door. Two girls on the other side squeak and fall into the room. “If you spy on anybody do it right.” Alratha says and picks up Erica and Reinal by their collars. “But…how?” Erica asks as they get dragged away. “Because I can hear you breathe when you get that turned on. Look if you want to fuck my man I am willing to share but first you will have to get your urges under control.” Alratha glances over her shoulder and gives Tang a last wink before stepping into a side corridor.

Just as the feet of her students get dragged around the corner Tang hears footstep behind him. He turns to see his second in command, Linut, walking up to him. “General.” He says and salutes. “Major.” Tang gives him a respectful nod. Neither of them say another word as they walk to the stairs.

The sun hasn’t even risen yet as they cross over the bridge that connects Imperja to the main street. Their goal is the gate, or to be more exact: The wall above it. Per Tang’s order they are one hundred people operating the wall at any given moment. Seventy of the lower class soldiers, twenty-five of the professional ones and five of the Hundred.

The view in the distance is a weird one. Boulders hang at differing heights. General Helena had quickly understood that the defences are completely automatic and is now testing the limits. Tang cannot help but be impressed by the adaptability of both her and her troops. They quickly found ways to catapult the projectiles at different angles, using constant modifications. Some boulders have come a bit closer to the wall but there is still no danger to the city.

As Tang walks up the stairs to the top of the wall, he hears a loud crack followed by a deep ‘THUMB’ as a boulder hits the ground below. Another pillar of ice just collapsed. Tang is just thankful that the boulder hit the dirt. Sometimes the stones land on older projectiles and the resulting grinding noise is very unpleasant. Best he likes it when the boulders hit the midday mud caused by the large influx of water from the crumbled ice that melts during the warmer hours of the day.

Up on the wall he taps the fellow Elite on the shoulder and takes his place. Linut does the same and so do the three other that come up over the next few seconds. No one is too late, guard change happened without a single problem. ‘Perfect.’ Tang thinks and keeps his eyes stubbornly on the enemy camp.

The rest of the army is less enthused about their work. They chat with shaking voices, barely covering their fear with bad jokes. Their lack of trust in Ulal’s city fills Tang with resignation, but he can’t just tell them to shut up and concentrate on the enemy. The common soldiers need a bit of entertainment. What he can call them out for however is their lack of discipline.

“Your line is imperfect. Correct it.” Tang says, his deep voice sending shivers down the spine of the soldiers as they hastily try to correct their formation. Tang walks up and down the wall to correct the stance of other guards. The mindless chatter soon stops as they concentrate on looking presentable to their general. It takes half an hour until he is happy with the results and returns to his own post.

In the distance, he can see Estara prepare the next attack. The catapult is pulled down and loaded. The rope is cut and the projectile flings towards the city. No, not a projectile, the projectiles. Estara has loaded the catapult with several hundred small rocks this time instead of one big boulder. Unsure murmurs go through the guards as the rocks fly over the field towards them. “Hold line.” Tang growls.

A sheet of ice erects in front of the wall. A shower of rocks of varying sizes crashes into it and although the protective layer cracks at several points there is not a single point where the wall got penetrated. The guards visibly relax and deep breaths go through the lines. “Trust the Lord.” Tang shouts, “He protects!” “YES!” The guards shut back in unison and the sound of shifting metal echoes over the wall as they take form.

Tang doesn’t even realize the small smile on his face as the perfect line in front of him stands as a bulwark against uncertainty.