found a place around the big map table to listen to General Markos brief Alexander on the position and strength of the enemy forces and the friendly forces.
General Markos spoke with precision and care in his presentation. His officers filled in details here and there. In broad terms, a force of fifty thousand enemy soldiers was less than a week away from the outskirts of New Ruatha. Their forces were mostly infantry, with only a couple thousand cavalry and few archers. New Ruatha had thirty thousand infantry, ten thousand archers with ample arrows and well-made longbows and another ten thousand heavy cavalry in addition to the ten thousand Rangers that had just arrived. General Markos expressed confidence in their superiority given the current enemy forces but also expressed concern about the rest of Headwater’s army that was being assembled. Once they joined the battle, New Ruatha would be outnumbered nearly two to one.
“Thank you, General,” Alexander said. “I believe I can add a small piece to your map. I’ve ordered Commander Perry to take the hillock here.” He pointed to the little hill northeast of New Ruatha that had a commanding view of the valley where the battle was likely to take place. “I’ve assigned half of his original force to garrison Blackstone Keep, so he’ll need additional troops to bring his regiment back up to strength. Please see to it that twenty-five hundred soldiers are dispatched to his command tomorrow morning. Wizard Sark, do you have a wizard you can spare to assist Commander Perry?”
“Of course, I have just the man for the job. He’ll depart with the soldiers in the morning,” Wizard Sark said.
General Markos nodded. “That’s a good position. If we draw our battle lines here in this valley,” he pointed at a space just south of the hillock and due east of New Ruatha, “the enemy will have to defend against our front and protect their flank from Commander Perry on the north. The further they advance, the more exposed their flank will become.”
“That’s my hope. Prepare the valley for battle. Deploy the infantry to form a shield line here, supported by pikes.” Alexander traced a line north to south on the map between the Ruatha River and the hill that Commander Perry was busy fortifying. “Assemble the archers and wizards behind the shield line. Deploy half of the heavy cavalry to the north of the hill so we can use it as a flanking force. Their target is the command leadership, any wizards they can find, and the enemy food and water supplies. Hold the remaining heavy cavalry in reserve to serve as a rapid-reaction force and use them to respond to any unexpected enemy movements.”
“Where would you like my light cavalry?” Duncan asked.
Alexander appraised his father for a long moment. “I’ve been giving that some thought. Gentlemen, have any of you commanded men in a large-scale battle before?”
He already knew the answer. The last real war fought anywhere on Ruatha was the border war between Highlands Reach and Southport on one side and Kai’Gorn on the other. Aside from that there had only been minor skirmishes.
The officers all shook their heads—all except Duncan.
“Father, you commanded a regiment in the border wars. I need that experience now. I’m assigning you as Commanding General of the Ruathan Army. All territorial forces will report to you.” Alexander paused for a moment to give his father an opportunity to respond.
Duncan nodded thoughtfully. “Duane is my Second. He’s a bit headstrong, but more than capable of leading the legion of cavalry I brought from Glen Morillian.” He looked at Alexander a bit suspiciously. “If you want me to command your army, that must mean you have other plans.”
Alexander smiled at his insight. He had never been able to hide anything from his father. “I do. I have a vitally important task that can’t wait. This battle will be fought without me.”
Several of the officers looked at each
General Markos spoke with precision and care in his presentation. His officers filled in details here and there. In broad terms, a force of fifty thousand enemy soldiers was less than a week away from the outskirts of New Ruatha. Their forces were mostly infantry, with only a couple thousand cavalry and few archers. New Ruatha had thirty thousand infantry, ten thousand archers with ample arrows and well-made longbows and another ten thousand heavy cavalry in addition to the ten thousand Rangers that had just arrived. General Markos expressed confidence in their superiority given the current enemy forces but also expressed concern about the rest of Headwater’s army that was being assembled. Once they joined the battle, New Ruatha would be outnumbered nearly two to one.
“Thank you, General,” Alexander said. “I believe I can add a small piece to your map. I’ve ordered Commander Perry to take the hillock here.” He pointed to the little hill northeast of New Ruatha that had a commanding view of the valley where the battle was likely to take place. “I’ve assigned half of his original force to garrison Blackstone Keep, so he’ll need additional troops to bring his regiment back up to strength. Please see to it that twenty-five hundred soldiers are dispatched to his command tomorrow morning. Wizard Sark, do you have a wizard you can spare to assist Commander Perry?”
“Of course, I have just the man for the job. He’ll depart with the soldiers in the morning,” Wizard Sark said.
General Markos nodded. “That’s a good position. If we draw our battle lines here in this valley,” he pointed at a space just south of the hillock and due east of New Ruatha, “the enemy will have to defend against our front and protect their flank from Commander Perry on the north. The further they advance, the more exposed their flank will become.”
“That’s my hope. Prepare the valley for battle. Deploy the infantry to form a shield line here, supported by pikes.” Alexander traced a line north to south on the map between the Ruatha River and the hill that Commander Perry was busy fortifying. “Assemble the archers and wizards behind the shield line. Deploy half of the heavy cavalry to the north of the hill so we can use it as a flanking force. Their target is the command leadership, any wizards they can find, and the enemy food and water supplies. Hold the remaining heavy cavalry in reserve to serve as a rapid-reaction force and use them to respond to any unexpected enemy movements.”
“Where would you like my light cavalry?” Duncan asked.
Alexander appraised his father for a long moment. “I’ve been giving that some thought. Gentlemen, have any of you commanded men in a large-scale battle before?”
He already knew the answer. The last real war fought anywhere on Ruatha was the border war between Highlands Reach and Southport on one side and Kai’Gorn on the other. Aside from that there had only been minor skirmishes.
The officers all shook their heads—all except Duncan.
“Father, you commanded a regiment in the border wars. I need that experience now. I’m assigning you as Commanding General of the Ruathan Army. All territorial forces will report to you.” Alexander paused for a moment to give his father an opportunity to respond.
Duncan nodded thoughtfully. “Duane is my Second. He’s a bit headstrong, but more than capable of leading the legion of cavalry I brought from Glen Morillian.” He looked at Alexander a bit suspiciously. “If you want me to command your army, that must mean you have other plans.”
Alexander smiled at his insight. He had never been able to hide anything from his father. “I do. I have a vitally important task that can’t wait. This battle will be fought without me.”
Several of the officers looked at each
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