Bab 87: Road to Rosalia
Lenard Geldstein, Month 11, Day 15, Year A.F 652. Road to Rosalia, Kingdom of Rosalia.
The soft rumble of the horses riding through the dirt road was a relaxing, one that removed the anxiety for the upcoming battle.
Though as we rode through the dirt road on the way to Rosalia. We came up to a range steep hills, Lord Belford rode to my side, "Should we send the scouts?"
Lord Mirs came from behind him as he said, "I believe it would be wise to do so."
I nod to both of them before shouting for my men, "Send the scouts!"
Lord Mirs and Lord Belford then watched as a hundred men rode past the three of us, though a few hours pass and no reports of enemies were received and returned.
Perhaps there really is none waiting before us. With that in mind, I raise my hand forward and once more ordered our advance.
Lord Belford looks around in suspicion as he asked the scouts about the uneasy feeling he had, "How far did you check?"
They saluted to him as they replied, "Up to five hundred meters, Sir."
He looks to the treelines, the uneasiness, never fading, "Try to extend your range,"
"But, sir. If we do that, we would have to go slower. Our scouts wouldn't be able to keep up with the army, It'd take more time to scout such a large area."
I listen to this before interrupting, "Lord Belford, I know that you feel uneasy, but time is of the essence, we need to take the capital now. And besides, the range of our scouts have been enough to consider the range of their best knights."
With that in mind, Lord Belford nods with disgruntlement as he whispers to his men, something indecipherable. As long as it doesn't impede our current speed, I'll be fine with whatever he has planned.
With that thought in mind, we rode on.
The travel has been ideal, though Lord Belford has been less than enthused as he looked around the tree line, checking and double checking for any enemies.
"Lord Belford, it seems that you really insists on the presence of an ambush." Lord Mirs spoke to him as they both rode behind me.
"Arthen isnt a man that would let anything go easy for his enemies. I know he'll have something planned, either here or back in the capital." He replied with conviction.
"That is true, but I don't think your men can keep doing what you're asking off of them. And we'd need fresh troops not exhausted men." Lord Mirs chastise him a bit as they rode forward.
A cacophony of screams and shouts interrupts them both. A large fire spreads through the rear and Lord Belford looks back at us in frustration. "He's already started."
He rans to the rear as a rain of fire starts, one that seems to be weaker than most barrages of fireballs.
"All men, halt your advance. Remain vigilant for ambushes." My officers passed my shout on, resulting in the defensive formations, waiting for an enemy to arrive.
I probably should've brought Orvin with me. But he told me, his supposed master summoned him. Something which felt different, It doesn't matter anyway, the magic he taught me should be more than enough.
With such thoughts in mind, I rode to the erupting fire, one filling the rear and the other creeping through the trees. I ready my sword in hand, ready for battle.
Only to come up in a view filled with fire as the men around scramble to put it out, but with the utter lack of water, we will leave the supplies burning.
Good thing I at least learned the elementary levels of water magic. I raise my hand as I close my eyes, envisioning the ball of water appearing before me, and as I open my eyes, it was already there.
"Have every available rear personnel take a bucket of water to douse every fire." I shout out, trying to calm the panicked army.
Lord Belford rides to me, bringing with him a hundred knights. "We can't see any signs of the enemy. Though the fireballs remain relentless, coming from all sides."
I look at him in bewilderment. "What? How? The fireballs haven't stopped landing in our direction, yet you cannot see where it comes from?" Another fireball erupts behind us, one landing with no explosion, only disrupting my horse, resulting in its consequent panic.
The horses panic, neighing out of fear from the fire, erupting behind us. I look around as I struggle to pull back the reins, pulling it hard enough to assume control.
Another barrage then follows as fire crawls from the treelines, and the grassy hills were consumed in flames, resulting to the consequent smoke consuming the army.
Lord Belford then shouts, noticing Arthen's strategy, "Prince! We should leave. He has no plans for fighting us directly, only to destroy our morale and stall for time."
I take in his words before nodding quickly and turning my horse to ride in front all the while screaming to my men, "Advance! Advance! Advance!"
The men looked around in confusion before relieving themselves from their formation and immediately marched forward, descending the road in haste.
The endless barrage of weak fireballs were irritating, but did minor damage other than destroying our supplies and the surrounding grass tres lighting up in flames, though the smoke was a screen, hiding away any that might have gotten close.
Though the same could be said for the enemy, after all, the more smoke around the area resulted to more cover. One which we enjoyed as the army hurried out of the burning forest.
Though with it came the unfortunate circumstances of the smoke, suffocating some of my men, resulting to a chaotic tide of retreating me. I try to bring back some order, but even the knights spurred their horses forward, leaving the army as they rode with reckless abandon.
"All men escape this forest!" I shout to all of them, aware of the worsening situation, I give them the orders of retreat, to at least establish some semblance of control.
The men take my words in and ran with reckless abandon, leaving their weapons and supplies, running to where no smoke chokes the air.
Knowing I've lost any semblance of control, Lord Mirs and I ran along with them.
Arthen Rivider
"Sir! The enemies have exited the forest!" An officer runs up to me. telling me the lates reports.
The good news puts a smile on my face as I stand up. I look down at the burning forest before replying to the men, "Signal our retreat, we can't afford to die here."
I look down at the burning forest. The smoke was rising high in the sky and the fire was bright, only seen through the little openings the smoke left for me to view.
The man salutes as another barrage of fire lands on the road, fire weaker than most are used to but useful all the same.
It might be true that fire at this range should be barely an inconvenience, but with enough concentration and mana, a fire could at least burn what it could burn and spread chaos through their ranks.
Though how big of an impact this will cause depends on the enemy. The supplies at least would be compromised, one which would take them quite a while to replenish.
Something the nearest village could help with.
And with that thought in mind, I took the reins of my horse and pulled. I started my journey along my guards, intent on returning to the rally point and once more leave the capital to the rebels.
Hopefully, they'll live long enough to see what I have planned for them
Lenard Geldstein
I watch the men in trepidation. The hundreds of men through the great wall of smoke as the seeming endless fire rages on.
This lasts longer as hundreds keep running through and Lord Belford rides beside me, "The fire swallowed our rear. I believe little supplies survived."
"Truly? I believe the water I splashed could've at least prevented such utter devastation." I replied to him as I watch the fire consuming the forest and hills.
"How about our men? Are there any casualties? Would they be able to fight in short order?"
Lord Mirs ride to the other side, "The recent reports lack a few hundred me. It seems some couldn't take the smoke and choked by the roadside while most died in the ensuing retreat."
I tap my chin in thought, "This has turned our plans in it's head."
We still do not know the extent of damage our supply suffered, even then we cant really risk a siege dwindling supplies, yet a siege might not even happen.
If I make a mistake in my decision, we could suffer irreparable damage. I hold my head in pain and frustration, hoping that some kind of answer would appear before me.
Hadiah
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