After the first day of open marching, we were forced to switch to night marches, which significantly increased our traveling time.
The reason?
Patrols.
Patrols were crawling over the land, and a few hours before we marched, our scouts would slip away and eliminate the enemy patrols before we would quickly make our way beyond them.
The downside to this was that we were being tracked easily.
The upside to this was that we were being tracked easily.
Because it didn’t take a genius to realize that my uncle’s viscounty was our only choice to flee to since it was directly the next frontier garrisoned territory after Draconis City.
That meant we could only have enemies behind us and in front of us.
Which was bad, but at least better than being surrounded in all directions.
Plus, the lack of villages and towns that played strategic importance for the Kingdom of Leon was now a source of relief to us.
We didn’t have to deal with the garrisons of the villages and we could hide off the beaten path and continue after we had beaten off the flies of the enemy.
Which we did, every single day and night.
Looking around the hidden clearing that we had chosen for our rest today - somewhat earlier than usual - I spotted Damon and walking over to him. I sat down and coughed softly to announce my presence.
Startled, Damon looked up before noticing me and flashing a quick smile, “Hail Faustus!”
“Hail Damon! What’re you doing?” I asked curiously.
Wincing, he lifted his foot and showed me the bottom, and I winced in commiseration.
His foot was bleeding from blisters and sores that lined it, running from his toes to his heels.
“Marching?” I inquired, before feeling like an idiot for asking.
“Marching.” He replied with a grimace.
“How are the rest?” I asked, after hesitating.
Gesturing around, Damon gave me a proud look and said, “Worse than me and as silent as me!”
Looking around, I saw the truth in his words. Most of the seedlings were grimly bandaging their wounds with strips of cloth torn from their clothes.
I waved at Ares, who was among them, who responded with a grin. I gestured, inquiring about his condition, only for him to raise his hands and pat his chest as if to say, “I’m fine and good! Worry about yourself”
Looking down at myself, I grimaced, and then I looked at the rest of the seedlings.
Many of them looked quite downtrodden and poor, dressed in the rags of their fine clothing as they were, but intimidating also when the command for falling in formation was given and they put their armor on.
Grunting, I stood in the armor that I hadn’t taken off yet because experience had taught me that an attack could come at any time.
After all, prepare for the worst and act for the best. A lesson that had been drilled into me by Teacher in the few months that he had trained me.
Also, to be honest, after the training runs with the weighted disk leather armor that was basically a very heavy sack, this march with genuine leather armor that was much lighter was nothing in comparison.
But one thing remained constant, the stench of sweat that I emitted back then and the stench of sweat that I emitted now.
The only thing that had changed was the stench of blood mixed in with it. That and the fact that most of the soldiers smelt the same way that I did and after the initial day, you quickly became used to it.
Falling into formation beside Damon, who had followed me, we waited for the signal to start marching for the fourth day today.
Only to hear a commotion as one of our scouts from behind came running as fast as he could toward the clearing.
“Baling sheep” He shouted out as the password.
“Baling shite,” nodded the guard at duty before chuckling, a chuckle that was wiped off as the scout urgently called out, “Enemy at the back!”
Striding forth, Galen held up his hand to silence the scout before taking his arm and guiding him to the makeshift command center.
There the scout spoke animatedly and the more he spoke, the more Galen’s and the rest of the Knights' expressions darkened.
Finally, they turned around and looked at us, the seedlings, who were shifting about anxiously.
Grimacing, they turned back to talk amongst themselves, and finally, Sir Leonidas said something that made them all fall silent.
Nodding heavily, Sir Patrick gave his assent - following which everyone gave their own assent.
Turning toward us and walking with a heavy tread, Sir Galen came to the central part of the clearing and cleared his throat.
Quickly, everyone fell silent and Sir Galen spoke softly,
“The enemy is at our backs, as I’m sure you might have heard. They number close to two companies of men and are all made of professional army soldiers. We are outnumbered, but not outclassed, given that we have so many knights and castle guards in our company. However,” He trailed off before squaring his shoulders and standing taller,
“However, the enemy is in front of us, too. Another 2 companies within a rudimentary fortification located two hours away. We could go around them, except that they guard the water source.”
Murmurs broke out at this and everyone quickly checked their canteens, only to pale.
Continuing on, Sir Galen said, “We will still avoid the water source and take our chances because it simply is not worth it to assault a fortified place with so few against so many. The problem is still the two companies behind us because they are catching up at a pace far faster than we can march!”
“If we do not go to the water source, the tracks that we have left behind will lead all four companies straight to us and we may not survive the ensuing fight. As such, I have decided that we shall take the fight to them!” He said, ending with a shout and a clenched fist raised to the sky.
Muttering ensued before it turned into a subdued growl and then a silent roar as fists and weapons were raised to the sky.
Turning smoothly, we turned our backs on the setting sun and faced the encroaching darkness, and clutched our weapons tighter.
“Move out, Draykes!” yelled Sir Galen.
So we moved. To face the enemy who had double our numbers.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried.
Worried about the many men and women that I had come to have a sense of camaraderie with.
Men and women who might not live past tonight.
But we are soldiers.
We are Draykes.
We will fight.
Ughhhhhh. I like this story a lot. I can't stand how unrealistic it seems though.
1) How is an army that is not the Draykes in their territory? That's not how it works even in wartime.
2) Where are the Draykes forces?
3) Its been nearly a week but no sign of the count/countess/king?
4) How is it possible for the enemy to have such a high degree of understanding of the terrain, secret tunnels, and command over strategic points?
5) The timing is stupid. The Prince decides to begin a civil war at the outbreak of a larger conflict, why?
6) If the King was to be assassinated there are better ways to do it that don't bog the Prince's faction down in a hostile city and triggering a civil war.
7) Too much incompetence to be believable.
Apologies, I thought I explained things enough.
I'll answer one by one.
1) The Draykes are (were) part of the Kingdom, as such, they are part of the army which is hostile and the reason why they're in the territory of the Draykes is that Draconis City is the only staging area from which the Hagarians can attack/ or the Leonids can defend. The political reasons why are given in Chapter 27 Alastor.
2) The Draykes forces have been decimated in the Battle of Pyrrhia (Chapter 4 - Accolade (part 2) which took place 10 years back and they haven't recovered yet. Chapter 29 - war preparations also alludes to this as the common folk have to serve in the army too.
3) Communication is hard and their story and end will be unveiled as the books go.
4) The enemy was not the enemy. They were all in the service of the same king. The kingdom of Leon has been a united militaristic kingdom as has been shown in Chapter 29 - War Preparations where different soldiers kept streaming in and drinking together, though admittedly I should have expanded on the theme a bit more.
5) To seize power, you often do it at a time when it's the most inconvenient - simply because it benefits you the most while the other party doesn't expect it at all. Famous examples are the Battle of Yehuling between Genghis Khan and the Chin, where the aftermath was that the mongols were advancing on the capital city after defeating the army of Chin soundly, and yet the emperor was assassinated by his general for power.
In this case, Alastor was able to gather all his forces and the enemy in one place which was away from the capital, and in one fell move - cut off the heads of the noble houses in disagreement with him and his allies. The further reasons are elaborated on in Chapter 33 - The truth!.
6) If the plan had gone according to what was supposed to happen, it would've been a surgical strike. Faustus' death would have thrown the Draykes into a panic. They investigate and find the hand of the Hagarians and the Prince. The prince pleads guilty to a beatdown but not a murder, which evidence will prove to be true. The King and Prince then come under 'assassination' and the prince assumes control over an army that is hungry for Hagarian blood while the 'King' is secluded because of his injuries that eventually would lead to his 'death'.
A civil war on the other hand is precisely what he aims for as he wants only the factions loyal to himself to be left alive, while the remainder were to be sacrificed to buy peace from the Hagarians at a price that Alastor himself could set with the deaths of the non-aligned.
7) I can't really answer this one because yes, sometimes it feels that way but the backdrop is being seen from the eyes of a child who doesn't have all the answers just yet.
I hope this helped! Apologies for not being able to convey what I had in mind to paper. The future chapters will definitely have their quality increased!
Cheers!
Horizon
@horizon1089 1) It would never happen to a semi-competent leader. You never have the army of other nobles (even friendly ones) stationed INSIDE your city. There would be a camp nearby but it would not be inside.
2) Somewhat believable but not really. 10 years is plenty to recover. Losses of 70% are high but if I remember correctly, the rest of the army suffered higher casualties as well. Also in this world 10 years is more than enough for children to become decent soldiers (particularly in Drayke).
3) Fair. But a week is more than enough. It should not have happened that the Prince's faction could behave as it did. Doesn't make any sense so it throws the rest of the timeline of events off.
4) Again, doesn't matter. It would not have been like that. Soldiers that are non-native to the territory would not be allowed entry to a city. A hard no. Even allies, or those from the same kingdom. If the King insisted he would be dethroned. Nobles had the highest rights in their territory. A centralised Empire is different. And even there, not by too much.
5) True. But usually not so that it causes a civil war. Also, it usually takes place in the Palace of the capitol where just a few important people are killed and power changes hands without the military/border guards knowing. NOT a coup AT the frontier where you cripple your own military's capability in front of a larger foe.
6) Meh. Even still not a great plan. Paul was killed, proof that things are more complicated. Secondly, MC has people looking out for him. Even if he doesn't, Prince should have assumed he would. Prince was humiliated and then pleads guilty to being involved in the 'accidental death' of the margrave's son in wartime? Yeah no. Death.
7) ugh
@miscjt
1) I would agree in most cases, but this one is an exception. The terrain around the city is not conductive to camps. Again the map comes into issue without which it is just my word alone with the book not going into detail on the same. Apologies for that. The map will be uploaded as soon as possible. Also, this is not truly a decentralized feudal society. Imagine it more like a centralized feudal society with traces of decentralization during peace.
2) I can't go into details but the Draykes have a hard time with this and yes, the children would mature but they'd be iron ranks at most with sparse few knights.
3) Read chapter 27 - Alastor again for a hint as to why there is no news from the count and countess.
4) 100% I agree. In our world, it would be so. But in their world, it's a bit different. As I said, it's centralized in times of war and traces of decentralization in times of peace. it's a different model and the whole world of Protos would not be following the same models.
5) There are efficient ways to gain power. There are inefficient ways to gain power. For one who needs power at all costs, he can sacrifice anything and anyone. Losing a few troops for a war that he thinks he's going to win is probably a good outcome for Alastor. Taking it to chess again - sacrificing the queen to checkmate the king.
6) Oh it would've been death for sure. But if he had plans to deflect the blame away, he would just be someone meant for punishment at a later time - that was too stupid for his own good. Then he could sit in the shadows and plot and scheme till his schemes became reality and there was no choice but to forget his misdeamenours and make him King. Plus, by that time, the people who would disapprove of what he had done would mostly be dead and which King does not have a portion of infamy to their name?
7) Ugh indeed xD
@horizon1089
Hm. Its less about the map and more about the story. It just does not make sense to me. An army inside the city? It just does not happen... There are garrisons and specialised units but never an entire army. I understand that apparently Draconis is meant to be sieged and is a fortress city. But that makes no sense from a tactical point of view. The enemy army can effectively 'tie down' the entire army in a siege while sending smaller units around to pillage and kill.
I do remember you saying that the Hagarians HAD to go through Draconis. But surely you meant if they were marching 50,000+ soldiers, not that the terrain is impassable for smaller groups of units?
Also its hard to reconcile it all from a logistics point of view. Is Draconis able to handle 50,000+ soldiers stationed there for weeks at a time? How does that work. Why meet them in the field at all if all Leon needs to do is put 30 - 40,000 defenders in Draconis and let the Hagarians smash their egg faces against the Rock
@miscjt I meant that the Hagarians HAD to go through Draconis, irrespective of small units or large units. You can imagine it as being a city that's like a great wall across an unclimbable canyon with a wide field of view.
As for the logistics, they have farms, water sources, cattle ranches, and basically everything required to outlast a siege with the civilians inside to tend to things.
The labyrinth existed to escort the citizens to safety should things go belly up.
That was precisely the issue that the nobles had with Casimir. Why would he give up sound strategical defense for an offense just so that "Not one Hagarian foot steps on Leonid land".
A brilliant warrior, a poor King. I, as the author, have done him dirty.