SEVEN
Treachery
SUMMER 965 MC
Richard Fitzwilliam, Baron of Bodden, stared at the monstrosity that sat before him. "You say this thing can hit the walls from this distance?"
"So my experts tell me," said Herdwin. "It's called a trebuchet. In a sense, it's only a giant catapult, but it uses a counterweight—"
"I know what a trebuchet is," said the baron, "but I don't see how it will reach the height of that fortress. It's up a very steep hill."
"Ah well, we Dwarves have made a few modifications to the design."
"How many will you have?"
"This one here's almost complete, and two more are under construction."
"And how long before we're ready to begin the siege?"
"I would say a week at the most. I have my Dwarves stockpiling stone, but we can just as easily bombard the place with burni
