บท 537: Friend or Foe

It was the third day, as we were swinging west of Hattan (for reasons I've already said, though I didn't know them at that time), when everything went wrong. Or right, I suppose.

I'd thrown up a lean-to within a wrinkle in the earth, and was busy trying to get to sleep.

There were horns. Two short blasts, two long. Some manner of inspiring blatting. Two short blasts, then two long.

I sighed, then rose enough to stick my head over the edge.

There was another force of soldiers marching toward the company I was shadowing.

Some three hundred soldiers, gauging by the banners. Banners which were white with a red axe upon them. Beneath that, a black hawk-head on red.

What were troops from Rakkal's Glory doing HERE?

I grew suspicious, but curiosity had the greater hold on me. The battle had been joined by the time I came into view of the rear guards.

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Mike_Kochis

So yes, this was always in the outline. I said to myself "How would Hortiluk defend the capital, when it looked likely to fall?"

Yeah, I didn't think he would do it, either. He has multiple levels, and is at this stage of the story a hero in his own right - but Hortiluk is never going to be a warrior hero.

But... he's also not willingly going to anger Rakkal at this point. So, he manufactured a reason to just happen to be outside the city as the hobgoblin army surrounded it. So sad! Such (cough) such bad timing!

But, before I write an entire chapter about Hortiluk (I promised myself I'd do one on Rakkal and minotaur psychology first):

Thank you for your readership, it keeps me writing. Even the parts I detest, like outlining and going over past chapters to see what Rhishi's cultivation reserves actually look like.

Okay, I can't argue that they've both made my writing BETTER; but they aren't my favorite parts.