Chapter 109. The Only Crossing

The black bolt struck the road where Carlos had been standing. Stone broke beneath it, showing just how much power was behind these weapons.

The iron head entered deep enough that half the shaft remained upright.

Carlos rolled behind the disabled Road Anchor and came back to his feet.

The second mounted weapon turned toward Nessa’s position in the cliff.

"Archers, move!" Kaia shouted.

Nessa had already left the opening before the next bolt struck it. Broken rock fell across the road.

The far station was no longer waiting for them. Soldiers moved onto the bridge behind the raised barriers while the weapon crews prepared another shot.

Carlos opened the conquest panel.

--

[Crossing integrity: 96%]

[Minimum required: 50%]

[Active Road Anchors: 2/3]

--

They could break the mounted weapons with enough force, but every missed attack risked damaging the bridge.

Kaia looked at the barriers.

"My lord, the middle Anchor controls them. I can see it. We need to get rid of it."

"How?"

"We need to make cover."

She pointed toward the convoy’s damaged wagons.

Brann understood before Carlos did. He and Garr tore the side from the final wagon while the other Bearkin pulled free two thick boards supporting its cover.

The shield Guardian stood at the front while Brann and Garr held the wagon wall behind him, creating a moving barrier large enough to protect the others.

Carlos was flabbergasted, but he saw the weakness in that defense.

"That will not stop many of those bolts," Carlos said.

"It needs to stop one," Kaia answered.

Nessa and the two Archers found new positions among the broken rock, and they fired together.

One enemy loader fell right away when their shots struck with perfect accuracy. Another arrow struck the arm of the soldier turning the left weapon.

"Move!" The Bearkin shouted and entered the bridge.

Carlos and Kaia stayed close behind them. Two bounced between Carlos’s feet while the Archers continued firing over their heads.

The next bolt hit the wagon wall, making the wood explode. The bolt passed through and struck the shield Guardian’s raised shield. He was thrown backward into Brann, but the Bearkin remained on his feet. Their physiques were quite sturdy.

But still, blood ran down the Guardian’s arm.

"Still move," he said.

They pushed the broken cover ahead, and enemy guards filled the narrow passage. Only two could fight beside each other, but the same was true for Carlos’s party.

Brann left the ruined wagon wall and met them first. His hammer struck a shield and threw its owner into the soldiers behind him. Garr found the right moment and attacked through the opening.

Carlos stayed behind the Bearkin until Kaia pointed at the left side.

A low maintenance path ran outside the main barrier. It was narrow, without a rail, but it continued toward the centre platform.

"With me," Kaia said.

Carlos followed her onto it.

The ravine opened below them, and water ran far beneath the bridge, striking black rocks hard enough for Carlos to hear it over the fighting.

He kept one shoulder against the barrier.

An enemy guard sneakily leaned over the top and stabbed down, its only mistake being the giggle that came out of its mouth. Carlos noticed and was going to defend himself, but Kaia caught the spear against her shield. Carlos thrust through the gap and struck the guard beneath its ribs.

They reached the centre platform while Carlos thought about how he was protected even when he didn’t need to be. That showed just how good his troops were.

The second Road Anchor stood beneath it, protected by a cage of black metal. Red lines ran from the pillar into the barriers and mounted weapons.

--

[Road Anchor Two]

[Reinforced by Road Anchor Three]

[Direct destruction may damage connected crossing structures]

--

Carlos stopped himself from ordering Brann to break it.

"We need the rings," he said.

The cage had no visible door.

Kaia struck one bar with the edge of her shield and gritted her teeth. "We need to pull it open."

Carlos sent the Chain forward. It passed between the bars, wrapped around the closest ring and tightened.

The Anchor pulled back but not the ring. Instead, the entire pillar moved toward him.

Cold pressure entered Carlos’s arm, and the Chain became rigid. For one moment, he felt something behind the Anchor pulling in the opposite direction. For some reason, it reminded him of the Warden’s Eye.

"My lord..." Kaia said.

"I know."

He released the Chain before it pulled him against the cage.

The Road Anchor returned to its original position, though the red lines were brighter now.

"Two, I want you to go and hit the rings," Carlos said. Two passed through the bars easily before stopping.

"Only the rings, okay?" Carlos ordered. "Hit the rings only."

Water Shot formed inside the narrow space. It struck the lowest iron ring and bent it away from the pillar.

Carlos wrapped the Chain around the damaged metal and pulled again.

The first ring broke under pressure, and the barriers across the bridge lowered slightly. Two hit the second while Kaia quickly braced Carlos from behind as he pulled it free.

The mounted weapons stopped turning this time.

The final ring resisted until Brann reached the platform. He could not enter the cage, so he caught the Chain behind Carlos and pulled.

With his strength, the iron was pulled apart easily.

--

[Road Anchor Two disabled]

[Crossing defenses inactive]

[Crossing integrity: 88%]

--

The black barriers sank into the bridge.

Nessa’s arrows passed over the open road and struck the remaining weapon crew. The Bearkin advanced through the guards without the narrow passage holding them back this time. There were grins on their faces as they finally let loose.

The far station opened its central gate, and they saw enemy soldiers withdraw through it.

Carlos looked at the open entrance, and something didn’t seem right. It was too easy.

"Stop at the gate," he ordered.

Brann stopped with visible effort and a grunt while Kaia looked behind them.

They all saw the barriers rise again. This time, they rose at both ends of the bridge.

Nessa and the Archers had already crossed. All ten members of the party stood on the far side, but the road back to the portal was sealed.

The station courtyard filled with new soldiers emerging from side passages.

Beyond them, Carlos saw a tall figure in black plate walk onto the road. A square stone marker hung from a chain around its neck.

--

[Blackstone Road Marshal]

[Level 8]

[Rare Grade]

[Road authority active]

--

Red lines spread beneath the Marshal’s boots and connected to every soldier around it.

Carlos counted more than thirty. He saw the Marshal raise its hand, and with it, every single soldier’s shield went up. Something was happening, and Carlos didn’t feel quite ready for it.