Chapter 255 – War (2)

Chapter 255 – War (2)

"Record and transmit! The enemy is heading towards the second crossing point to the south of our main base. The enemy's troops are ten times what our intel suggested, with a flying ship guiding them. Repeat, our intel is off; our enemy's force is in the multiple thousands––"

"This is the full recording, Major." Polo explained, standing there nervously as his Rook was what had received the urgent message from their scouts, relayed in haste. Without hesitation, he rushed to present it to him; there was no time for any delays.

"Is this all?" Pion asked, his face dark. He was looking at the small CC, which contained the voice of his scouts.

"Yes. The accompanying message has confirmed this was all that came through before the transmission was silenced."

"Tell them to try making contact with them in person before retreating to Grayback! We break camp now!"

"Where are we going?" Polo asked, following him out while the others who were with them in the tent began running, shouting orders at everyone. "Are we going to march out and get to their backs?"

"No. A flying ship? Ten times the army size? That means we are facing an invasion force. We alone won't stand a chance. We are retreating to Lothlia! We will defend the city, where we will have ample coverage and the support of more cannons than what we have now. We will hold out in the city until winter is gone and we can receive reinforcements."

"Should we warn the others...? The crossing points?"

Hearing Polo's question, Pion suddenly stopped, looking around his men, the glowing Edmund Lamps and torches illuminating their border crossing in the dark. Many thoughts were rushing through his mind at that moment, but the cold evening weather helped him remain focused as its frigid air coursed painfully into his lungs. Exhaling it was like expelling all the doubts and guilt, coming to a decision that he knew he would have to live with. But... he believed it is what had to be done to buy themselves time.

"No. They will, even if for a little, force our enemy to stop and besiege them. They will be annihilated, but it will buy us the time to reach Lothlia. We will avenge their sacrifice."

"Yes, Major!" Polo saluted, understanding his decision. He rushed to mount his machine, as it would be the one leading their march, plowing the snow away and smoothing the road for his comrades. They had to reach Lothlia as fast as possible, not just to prepare for the invasion. From there, they could warn their Sovereign, maybe even before the city itself goes under siege.

...

....

The heavy cavalry, wearing their mismatched but tough armor, also began to loosen the straps on their helmets, letting the cold air touch their faces. They, too, knew that they had the advantage in the upcoming fight, but there was still a quiet tension in the air. Even the most seasoned soldiers felt a strange unease before the first clash of swords. Not to mention, they would need to push harder to cut through the heavy snow...

Otto's personal guard, clad in their immaculate silvery plate armors, dismounted last, forming a perimeter around the supply wagons trailing at the rear of the army. They were a reminder to all mercenaries that, for Otto, this campaign was not just a mercenary raid—it was a calculated conquest. If they wanted the gold, they had to do their jobs, or they wouldn't be granted access to it at all. With the flying ship above them, for now, none of the mercenary leaders thought of raiding their employers.

As the massive army settled into its resting place, a group of scouting horsemen returned from their brief foray to the edge of the border. They approached one of Otto's captains, their breath steaming from their mouths and noses in the cold air.

"The outpost ahead has about 2,000 defenders." one scout reported, his voice muffled by the thick scarf around his neck. "Ground troops only. Infantry with spears and bows, mostly. Some of them looked like fresh recruits as they fired at us, even though we were out of their range. They are as green as the grass under the snow!"

Their captain nodded after listening to their words, looking back over his shoulder at the vast army arrayed behind him. "They may still put up a fight, but they won't last long. But never forget! A cornered mouse will bite the cat, too."

"I suppose so." The scout nodded in agreement. "Still, it's a wooden wall, nothing that'll stop the siege engines."

"Let them prepare. We'll give them time to think about what's coming and say their prayers to the Gods above."

As the hours passed, the sky became darker, and the snow continued to fall in thick, heavy flakes. The army, somewhat accustomed to the cold by now, stood by their fires, eating salted meat and stale bread from their packs. There was an odd calmness among the troops—many of them believed that the coming battle would be one-sided with their numerical advantage. The outpost was an insignificant bump on the road to Lothlia, and it wouldn't take much to crush it.

On the Lawbinger, Otto stood near the bow of the ship, watching the distant outpost with his own eyes, not through the magic device of his flying vessel. The wooden walls and thin watchtowers looked pitiful compared to the siege weapons his army had brought along. Below him, the massive trebuchets and ballistae were standing prepared, the engineers checking the ropes and weights with precision, their breath coming in visible puffs as they worked. These grand war engines, capable of tearing down city walls, were overkill for a target like this, but Otto didn't care. He would give them a show of force, a demonstration of what his army could do. His magic was reserved for the real enemy... to this... Sovereign.

Turning his gaze back to his prey, the outpost was a dark silhouette against the snow-covered plains, its people visible along the walls. Some of the defenders had lit torches, their flickering light casting long shadows on the wooden ramparts. They looked small and fragile from this distance, like ants preparing for a storm, trying to stop the waves with their useless bodies.

Otto turned to his lieutenant once more, sending down a mental message. "Tonight, we rest." he said, his voice calm and measured. "Tomorrow, we break them."

The lieutenant nodded, turning to relay the orders down to the men around him while Otto watched as the army settled in for the night. Fires dotted the snowy plain, the glow of embers illuminating the dark forms of soldiers huddled around them. The siege weapons, disappearing in the shadows of the darkening sky, became invisible monsters waiting to be unleashed.

The border outpost remained silent through the night, its defenders staring out at the sea of firelights in the distance. They knew that they would face an enemy far larger and more powerful come morning than they could hope to withstand. There was no escape... They knew there was only death that awaited them.