Richard Tuttle - 13 Day War

“This is getting us nowhere,” interjected one of the other Baroukan colonels. “We have both had our generals assassinated, and it is ludicrous to think that anyone in this camp had anything to do with either death. Can’t you both see that the enemy is trying to play us one against the other? Instead of marching on Tagaret, we are standing here quarreling while the enemy hurries their defense preparations. Tamora, we need to start marching the 2 ndCorps towards Tagaret. Hershey, you should be leading the 24 thCorps right behind us, but I won’t assume to tell you what to do.”

“He’s right,” Colonel Tamora said in a conciliatory tone. “Our mission is to capture Tagaret. That is something I think we can both agree on. Whatever ill feelings exist in this camp have to be put aside until we return home. Let Grand General Kyrga investigate things and take the appropriate action. Agreed?”

Colonel Hershey sighed and nodded. “Agreed, but I will lead the 24 thCorps as I see fit. I do not acknowledge you as the leader of Team Mya.”

“Fine,” shrugged Colonel Tamora, “but I will be following General Fortella’s attack plan. I will not deviate from that. If the 24 thCorps wants a part of this fight, you will have to follow that plan as well.”

Colonel Tamora did not wait for a response. He turned to his fellow colonels and signaled for them to get ready to march. Colonel Hershey sighed nervously and turned to his fellow colonels. They all looked at him questioningly.

“What are we going to do?” one of them asked softly.

“I am not sure why General Whitman chose not to march towards Tagaret,” Colonel Hershey replied, “but I can guess. I think he wanted the other teams to arrive there first. We have already lost a day here so I think we have fulfilled his desires. I think we should follow the 2 ndCorps, but at our own pace. Have the men prepare to break camp after the 2 ndCorps gets underway.”

The unicorn glided out of the setting sun and set down on the streets of Duranga, a deserted village on the Coastal Highway between Miram and Tagaret. The commander of the fighting forces of the Castle of Man dismounted, and a Red Sword pointed towards the nearby inn. Lieutenant Montbalm nodded silently and walked towards the inn. He opened the door and stepped into the common room. Standing just inside the door, he paused to let his eyes adjust to the dimly lit room. He smiled as he saw Alexander Tork, and he bowed to the king and queen.

“Welcome,” greeted King Arik. “Have the men of Tor arrived?”

“We are camped one league north of the Federation encampment,” Lieutenant Montbalm replied as he crossed the room and glanced at the map spread out on the table. “I camped to the north so that the Federation didn’t see one-thousand unicorns flying over their camp.”

“A wise precaution,” the king responded with a slight smile, “but I intend for them to see your men. Send your fairy back with instructions for your men to form a column in the air. The column is to circle over the enemy encampment high enough to avoid arrows and then return to their camp. If they can circle more than once to give the appearance of more troops, do so, but do not let the enemy know that we are trying to trick them.”

Lieutenant Montbalm frowned. “You want my men to intentionally alert the enemy to our presence?”

“I do.” The king nodded. “I want them to know that any escape to the north will be met by the men of Tor and their flying unicorns. Send the fairy and then I will explain our plan.”

The lieutenant nodded and stirred Tiny to life. He gave the fairy instructions and sent him on his way before returning his attention to the map.

“Are we to attack then?” he asked.

“Tonight,” replied King Arik. “The men of Tor will be responsible for blocking a northward evacuation. I do not want your men to charge into battle. In fact, I want them to primarily use their bows. Do not engage in close combat because the enemy would easily overrun you. If you have to give ground, do so, but make them pay dearly for each pace they take northward. Instruct the unicorns to maintain distance from the enemy, and they will position as necessary. In addition, Theos will be joining your group.” The king paused to wave the Tyronian mage forward. “If the enemy starts to surge towards you, Theos will make them think twice about their tactics. Work closely with him.”

“Are we not trying to gain their surrender then?” asked the heir from the Castle of Man.

“I truly prefer their surrender,” replied the king, “but we are out of time. Team Mya is marching on Tagaret.”

“The men of Tor will hold the line,” vowed Lieutenant Montbalm. “You can depend on us.”

“I know,” King Arik smiled before turning to Alex. “Alex, you and Jenneva will have the western flank. You will have the Alcean Rangers with you. I will not presume to tell you how to fight, but I do not want the Federation slipping away from us.”

Alex nodded silently, and Jenneva gave her husband a suspicious glance. It was unlike Alex to remain quiet during a strategy briefing, and he had not said a word yet.

“Queen Tanya and I will be driving the main thrust up from the south,” the king continued. “David and the Red Swords will be with us.”

“That leaves the east open,” stated Mitar Vidson.

“It does,” agreed the king, “but there is nothing to the east but the sea.”

“The enemy could turn north or south at the coast,” frowned David Jaynes, “and we have no reserve forces to stop them. Your plan is committing every man to battle.”

“I will stop those who reach the coast from turning north or south,” offered Balamor. “Illusions can be powerful deterrents even at night.”

“Excellent,” replied the king.

“Do you really expect to defeat the enemy with this raid?” asked Theos. “The enemy outnumbers us four-to-one. You cannot expect to defeat them all and leave this place with any of your armies intact. Who will you send against Team Mya?”

“I do not seek to kill twenty-thousand men this night,” answered King Arik, “but I will acknowledge that this battle will be costly for our side as well as theirs. We either defeat Team Miram tonight, or we fall back to Tagaret and face forty-thousand men at our walls.”

“The Alceans who will be fighting tonight,” added Queen Tanya, “are among the finest fighters in the world. They will give a good accounting of themselves.”

“Here here!” exclaimed David Jaynes. “The Zarans will rue the day they stepped through those portals.”

Jenneva glanced at Alex again and wondered why he was not speaking up. She frowned and shook her head before returning her gaze to the king.

“Are we looking for confusion among the enemy?” she asked. “Is that why you are staging this fight at night?”

“Confusion?” echoed the king. “I am looking for total chaos, and I expect my mages to help create it. Before the attack begins, I want you and Tanya to create fear and chaos in the enemy ranks. Once you have sufficiently stirred the hornets’ nest, we will push into the camp from the south.”

“What is your objective?” asked Alex.

“To put the Sword of Heavens to the throat of General Bledsoe and demand his surrender,” King Arik answered without hesitation.

Alex smiled and nodded in appreciation of the plan. “That is a worthy goal. Just make sure that a good deal of Zaran blood has already stained the ground before you get to his tent, otherwise he will not yield.”

The king nodded in understanding and continued the briefing until everyone knew their part in the battle. As the sun began to set over Duranga, the meeting broke up and everyone headed for their groups. As they left the inn, Jenneva pulled Alex aside.