Conductivity

"Check, I believe" said the mage, turning to Mordekei and raising an eyebrow.
"Indeed" he replied, with a smile, putting down his cup.
"Well played."
Behind them was a crash as another ballista launched its missile through the night towards the keep.
From the field below, a young aide rode up, stopping only to fall off of his horse a few times. The two men watched with some amusement.
"My lords, the Commander is to launch the attack imminently and asks for your assistance"
"Assistance!?!" cackled Aurbun. "Feels like besieging the keep for a month, does he?"
The four guards with them began packing up the little table, board and pieces while the two men gathered their possessions. Carefully, keeping to the hedge lines, the six made their way towards the soldiers waiting on the east flank, partially hidden from the tower by the slope down to the river and the night.
The officer, a Captain by his markings, nodded at them.
"The Catapult and Ballistae have weakened that section of the wall detween the Towers, my lords, such as we hope it will be liable to you magiks. The men are ready, and will go once the wall is down"
Mordekei surveyed what little of the wall he could see in the gloom. Over to the west, the sound of the main attack could be heard.
"Let us rock, so to speak" he said, turning his sleeves slowly up such as, to the uninformed observer, it might appear that he was demonstrating there was nothing hidden therein.
Aurbun cackled and began fishing about in his pockets.
Then, with a nod, the two faced the wall and began to chant. For a full minute they continued, sprinkling some clay and water, before finishing and looking expectantly at the target. Nothing happened.
The two looked at each other and shrugged. The Captain looked worried.
There was a gasp from one of the men...slowly, a full twenty or thirty yards towards the tower, there were signs of movement. Gradually, the wall began to move, building up speed, until it collapsed, in on itself with a great roar.
"That shouldn't happen" muttered Mordekei
The men charged, but were only a short distance when a huge white cone sprung out from the walls, enveloping the front ranks and causing instant havoc.
"Opposition!" cackled Aurbun gleefully.
Mordekei shot him a disdainful look.
The Two began to climb up the embankment, hoping to get a clearer view of the other mage's position. Suddenly from their left,came war cries and, before they could react, the sounds of battle were upon them.
Aurbun turned and began to incant a spell - a magic missile by the looks of it. Suddenly, there was a roar and the sky brightened. He looked up, just as the column of fire struck between him and Mordekei, throwing them both to the ground.
Mordekei was first to his feet. Of their guards, only one was still alive, a situation quickly remedied by one of their opponent's judicious use of a mace.
Aurbon was burning merily, Mordekei noticed, and he was badly injured himself. Surmising the state of play, he legged it as quickly as he could downhill and away.
The cleric saw him, and shouted to his men. Following him and gaining all the time, Mordekei splashed across the shallow river, falling just once.
The opposite bank sloped steeply up, affording little opportunity for escape. Upstream was a gravel bank where he might be able to see another escape route.
Mordekei reached the bank, the enemy just a hindred yards behind him. Turning, he realised he would have just one chance to let off a spell. Muttering the incantation, he knew that he could only take out a few of them but hoped to buy himself a minute or two in the confusion. He raised his arms and finished the spell.....

************

Mordekei came to a short time later, and staggered to his feet. Lying face down in the water just ahead of him were all nine men including the cleric, surrounded by a few equally inanimate fish and a smell of burning. Of the the usual blast marks where the lightening bolt might have impacted, there was no sign.
Mordekei looked down at the water running only fovr to six inches from his feet.
"Better remember not to do that again" he said, then slowly limped off back upstream towards the camp.

************