Stops barrels

With the coming of dawn, one of the lookouts spotted barrels rolling down the hillside toward them. They were under no sentient guidance or control but just tumbled down the mountainside toward the fort.

Lovisa gave a questioning curse, but Jodah knew what they were. His suspicions were confirmed when one of the barrels struck a stump and exploded, the goblin powder within the barrel blasting out a black cloud of noxious vapor.

Jodah waved his arms in a rough arc, and the ground before the palisade walls sprouted with thick, green shoots that quickly twined upward and jutted with bristles and thorny spikes. The cascading barrels were caught in the brush but were cradled by the vines and did not explode. Instead they came to rest gently in the thick, magically enchanted vegetation.

Surging down the hill now, following after the barrels, was another sortie of Kjeldorans. They let out a bellow that would strike fear into the hearts of all but the most resolute of opponents.

Jodah waited until they were almost at the brush wall. Then he mentally pulled a lever— a lever attached to the spell that summoned the brush wall in the first place.

The line of vines ignited in a hot, red line, flames flickering from one end to the other. Each of the goblin bombs caught in the now-blazing brush exploded, spewing splinters and fire against the assailants. The besiegers, hoping to find a hole in the wall, instead screamed as its forward leaders caught fire, and the entire front was repulsed with heavy losses.

Jodah shook his head, watching the retreating forms and the smoking remains still on the ground.

***

The Shattered Alliance, Chapter 10