Chapter 73

Chapter 73

After a good night’s sleep the whole army came together early. They started marching right as the sun began to rise. Everyone that was going to fight today had been told to go to sleep early and those that stayed behind had to pull a double shift on the lookout. Not only that but they were also quite busy, each of the guard camps had caught at least two and as many as four spies trying to infiltrate. The main camp had caught ten and a after a quick interrogation to make sure there were no more they were all promptly stuffed together in a tent.

The tent was quite spacious even for the almost twenty people but it would start getting really cramped if another wave of spies was caught. Their meals also consisted of bland rations and water, not something they would be enjoying, but at least they no longer had to take part as they were considered killed.

Because both sides were inexperienced archers wouldn’t take part in the main battles as the death toll would grow too large. This meant that Ajax was going to fight in melee today unlike yesterday.

Luckily because of his young age and low level both him and Tom were placed in the reserves. Their job was to take the place of fallen warriors and ensure the line was not breached. This also meant they were in the least amount of danger and would also be given a chance to watch the battlefield as a whole until they were needed.

As expected since yesterday the first thing they ran into was an army only half their size, the rest of the enemy soldiers being split off as they weren’t expecting a reckless charge after the vigilance shown only a day before. As soon as they were close enough that they could see reinforcements for the enemy were nowhere close and that they would have enough time to deal some damage to the enemy forces the orders came in concert. They started from the back where the nobles were and echoed from officers all the way to the front.

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

The army had been practising this since they arrived and managed to somewhat keep in step with each other and not break formation as they rushed their unprepared opponents. Ajax could see from his vantage point just how unprepared the enemy were for this development. Despite their leadership reacting accordingly and sounding the retreat, this was easier said than done.

He had learnt a lot about the fight or flight response that humans have even back on Earth, yet what they didn’t teach was there was a third option, one that was useless yet very much a possibility and quite likely the reason why these little wars were accepted and even encouraged. Half of the enemy troops retreated cautiously and in formation. A fifth just turned and ran away for all they were worth seeing the number difference while a tenth charged forward to meet the enemy head on. The remaining fifth just froze.

It wasn’t until the fastest of the ones running to fight had been taken down that the ones who froze broke out of their stupor and made the sensible decision to retreat and quite a few of the ones eager to fight turned around. Yet all this meant that their formation was broken, and Ajax’s side had plenty of time and numbers to get a partial surround on the enemy force.

Watching in the distance Ajax and the leaders could also see the surge of troops rushing from the forest. The enemy had reacted quicker than anticipated and quickly came to reinforce once their tactic was seen through.

Tom P.O.V.

I saw Ajax limp over to the healers tent and felt the urge to follow him and make sure he was ok. At least this was not to be as I hadn’t gotten injured at all and was following commander Grievous to the post battle meeting.

The atmosphere among the leadership was tense. Apparently an enemy assassin had dropped down from the trees and targeted the invited baron’s son. He didn’t quite manage to take out the noble even for the intents and purposes of the war but half of his guard sported wounds close to their necks and were as such removed from any further combat.

The atmosphere was thick with animosity as despite the assassin being slowed by the archduke’s daughter and taken out by her guard the baron’s son called for the retreat out of fear and brought an end to the advantageous fight we had on the relatively open field.

I took my place behind the commander's chair as the nobles and other commanders took a seat at the main table in the centre of which was the receiver from the bug Ajax had planted. Despite the annoyed looks on the commanders and the noble girls' faces they were all eager to listen to what the enemy thought before having their own discussion.

“I told you we shouldn’t have split the army a second time.” The voice of the man who fought commander Grievous yesterday came loudly.

“How was I to expect that they would stop being at all cautious from one day to the next?” a much younger voice complained.

“Because I told you so” the first voice roared followed by the sound of metal impact and numerous things falling.

“You don’t have to kick the table” the second voice sounded after a short silence. “Hey what do you - “

“SHHHH” the whooshing sound came from multiple sources.

“Oh lay off it and tell me what that is?” the second voice said, sounding a lot angrier. “ Wait! Is that a bug?”

“Yes, you idiot, it's a bug. One we now can’t use to give them false information because you told them we found it.” The first voice roared so loudly I could almost swear we didn’t need the bug to hear it.