Under Siege (The Godmaker Saga pt1): The Esfah Sagas, #9

Under Siege

The Godmaker Saga part 1: 9

Christopher D. Schmitz, Steffen Larken

TreeShaker Books

Copyright © 2024 by Christopher D. Schmitz

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

Other Esfah Stories

Under Siege

About Esfah

Appendices

About the authors

The Game

Other Esfah Stories

The Esfah Sagas is a large universe—here are other stories you might enjoy!

(stories with an *asterisk are novellas)

The Relic Quests

Ashes of Ailushurai

Rise of the Champions

Drakuwar

*The Clockwork Castle

The Cyrean Songs

Chill Wind

Eye of the Storm

Secrets of the Shadowlands

*Thunderfist and the Dragon

Tales of the First Age

Rise and Fall of the Obsidian Grotto

Cast of Fate

Army of the Dead

*Tome of the Tarvanehl

*Heart of Stone and Flame

The Godmaker Saga

Time of the Champions

The Magestorm Wars 1: Godmaker (coming soon)

The Magestorm Wars 2: Godbreaker (coming soon)

Special Invitation

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The Godmaker Saga: Time of the Champions

Black Dragons and Blue Elves

The Pale Gunner

Strength of the Gwich'in

Bearer of the Shield

The Sword of Aeschere

Calling of the Champions

Slow Burn

Scales of Death

Under Siege

The Burning of Lurneville

Bastard of the Death God

The Pursuit of Madness

Under Siege

Year 132 First Age

The field sprawled wide, strewn with bodies. Gnome ones, for the most part, and quite a few human. There were also some morehl here and there—those were easy to spot, even at this great distance. Steam leaked with their blood, producing a smokey effect when wounds met the air—but the red-skinned casualties were sparse.

Klagend frowned as he considered the scene. It had gone quiet now; the battle had reached a standstill. Only small groups of raiders remained, holed up in improvised stone shelters they had built in a semi-circle north of the gnome stronghold, with nowhere left to go. Their ships had already been sunk by the Lurneville navy, and they were surrounded by selumari troops to the east and north, and a mix of human and dwarven soldiers to the west...

Stronghold was a gracious term, but it was what the gremmlobahnd called it. Gnomehome was a collection of six massive cities built underground and connected by a long web of transit tunnels, each with its own governor. Gnomish politics had grown increasingly unstable since the death of the peoples’ de facto leader, Slimwych Potentus, just prior to the early days of the siege of Gnomehome. Potentus had been one of their heroes who emerged in the race’s escape from Leguin, their original home.

The Gods’own had traveled to the south-most gnomish installation. Site Six overlooked a huge firth that formed a gulf connecting to the Broken Crown and the Tarvenish Ocean. Its main entrance dug in the flank of a hill and the city was built into the tallest mound in the area. Many smaller portals served as windows, and it was through one of these that the dwarf contemplated the battlefield.

He turned and, with a grumph, rejoined his companions, who were discussing logistics with the gnome governor and his advisors—the High Council of three, Site Six’s ranking gnomish councilors.

Aeschere, who stood on one side, threw him a glance.

Why the long face? he asked.

The vagha’s frown deepened. It doesn’t feel right, is all.

What doesn’t?

The others around the table fell quiet, turning their attention toward him.

Klagend pointed over his shoulder at the window.

Why are all the raiders human? What is their business attacking you? This is not what we expected!

The Governor—a gnome named Garwych Bardanus—tilted his head, looking at Klagend curiously.

"And what did you expect?"

They had arrived in the middle of the battle and hadn’t had time to discuss such details until now.

Melkior responded, staring thoughtfully at the maps laid on the table. We thought the morehl wanted to capture and enslave more of your people.

Bardanus grunted. It still is the most likely motive for this mess.

Klagend crossed his arms, scowling. Then where are the damn morehl?

We know these humans, remarked another gnome—one of Bardanus’s high councilors named Odened Gorlind. We’ve hired them before. They got rid of monsters that roamed nearby.

And now they turned against you? Ailushurai sounded outraged.

Mercenaries. Klagend spat out the word in disgust. Give them enough gold and they’ll slit their own mothers’ throats!

How can you be sure these are the same ones? asked Arfetsus.

We recognized their leader, said Bardanus. Kraglesh is hard to miss. He always wears brightly colored clothes... But don’t let his appearance fool you, he’s the most vicious human I’ve ever met! He fights like a Teldrim warrior, but with no conscience.

Well, it doesn’t matter anymore, said Aeschere. They’re trapped. This will all be over soon.

Melkior