Proofread By Thomas F
Aya Bandstone
"They are splitting up," said Colonel Galin and quickly marked the places on the map.
"They know direct engagement would take a lot of time, with uncertain results. So, they are separating into groups to breach into the territory." Replied Lt. Colonel Daravaz.
"The keep may be well defended, but it still could be breached." Added Lt. Colonel Trobo.
Colonel Galan didn't say anything, kept looking at the map, while talking to the mage and the scout leader.
I cannot hear them, nor any captains—only the Lt. Colonels.
I remained quiet with most of the captains, not that I have anything important to add other than a bit of indignation about my current level and rank.
"We will split as well." Colonel Galan decided finally.
"Lt. Colonel Yzura and Lt. Colonel Daravaz will be with me with their two battalions; we will stop the big group."
"Lt. Colonel Trobo and Lt. Colonel Halprin, you will move to stop the other two groups with your battalions ."
"Lt. Colonel Gorband, you will take two companies and will reinforce the town and the keep, while Captain Volmon, you will guard Fernfall Village, and Captain Bandstone, you will guard Stoneback Pass," he ordered.
He had covered all the strategic points of Hartholm Barony while keeping most of the force mobile.
Still, I couldn't help but be disappointed. I would have liked to be with Colonel Galan or Trobo, anyone but Colonel Gorband, who is assigned to reinforce the keep's defences.
Hell, I would have even preferred Fernfall Village that Volmon got, than Stoneback Pass.
It is quite behind the front. The enemies would need to be quite sneaky to avoid all the other battalions or defeat them to reach us; the chances of that are pretty slim.
"Remember, the plans could change. Be ready to respond immediately to any command," Colonel added.
A few seconds later, I walked out of the tent when I felt a tap on the helmet.
"Don't die too early," said Trobo. It wasn't long ago when both of us were lieutenants. We were promoted to captain at the same time, but now he is a Lieutenant Colonel, while I am still a captain.
I am happy for him, but also a little envious.
"You worry about yourself, with the place I will be, I'm unlikely to see any combat," I replied, to which he grinned and walked away, while I walked toward my company.
A minute later, I reached them.
One look at them, and anyone could see that they were slightly different from the rest of the soldiers of the brigade. The 32nd Brigade is an armoured Brigade, but the members of its 9th brigade are even more heavily armoured.
They are one of the heaviest armored groups of the whole army. I coordinated the armor for each of them myself.
It was not easy; I had to request the Colonel's approval countless times before he agreed, and securing funding from headquarters was another struggle, but I succeeded.
Everyone in the company is fully armoured, with the lieutenants having enchanted armor.
It's only a single-layer enchantment armor, but even that is a lot. This level of gear is beyond even most armies; even captains don't have this level.
I stopped in front of my company, and they all came to attention. "We have been assigned a command to guard the Stoneback Pass," I announced, and I could see disappointment appearing on their faces.
I am disappointed as well, but the order is an order. I have to follow it.
"Let's move," I ordered.
The enemies are already moving, and with how close they are to the boundary, they will cross it soon.
I mounted the horse, while the company followed behind me. I activated Smooth Travel and covered them with it.
I don't have marching skills; Smooth Travel is a skill used by a small travel group, not an army skill, but after nearly a year of hard training with it, I can now envelop my whole company in its power.
Its effect on the company is small, but every little bit of help counts, especially when we are marching with the armor that is not light.
Half an hour passed quickly, and we walked out of the forest road and began walking along the road between the farms. There was even a small village ahead of us.
At this time, farmers from the village are working on these farms, but there is not even a single soul to be seen.
Not in the farms or in the village.
They are not in the village, but sheltering in the town where the keep is. Currently, it is the safest place in the whole barony.
Though the Baron isn't present in the keep, he is in Lauryl, along with his family.
"Lt. Colonel Daravaz had started engaging with the enemy," informed Lt. Pollin. I nodded, but I wish I had been there.
Daravaz, too, was a captain like me, not long ago, but he also advanced in rank and level.
Many of my colleagues had advanced to Lv. 30, but I remained stuck at Lv. 29. I had fought the same battles and did very well, but I did not advance.
Advancing into Lv. 3o is hard. Most people never reach that level.
Sometimes, I feel like it is not my fate. I am lucky to be fighting in the state I am in. Hell, I am even fortunate to be alive, given my condition, which is stable thanks to the medicine.
I quickly pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the skill I needed to control actively.
Finally, we reached Stoneback Pass. It is between two hills; behind them are two large artificial lakes.
If an army wants to reach the keep quickly, it will need to go through this pass.
Now, it is our responsibility to guard it.
We moved through the safe path. We have made arrangements here. Those who will try to come through here forcefully will have to pay a price.
There are even cannons here on the hill, with other traps and mines throughout the way.
"Take your positions," I ordered.
"What's the use? It's not that we are going to see any fighting," muttered a soldier softly. When I looked at him, he shut up and quickly went to his place.
"You know, they are right, Captain. With all the training you have put us through, we were hoping to fight a battle, not guard a pass that is never going to be attacked." Said Lt. Holr.
"This is an army lieutenant, and our job is to follow the orders," I replied to him, while the man simply sighed.
He is slightly older than I am, and his body build is massive. Even for an orc, he is quite large.
That is why it took a while for the army to get armor for his size.
I walked away and looked at my men's position and preparation. They might complain, but they follow the orders and are very good at it.
They are in their position and ready. If the enemy teleports in front of us in the next moment, we will fight them instantly.
I had trained them hard. Inspired by the training I got at Colonel Orok's and my own experiences. They have become good enough to handle a force twice their size.
Minutes passed, and I patrolled around while Pollin kept me informed of what was happening around.
Everybody is engaging with the enemy.
The only ones that are suffering the same fate as us are Captain Volmon and his men, but that is the fate the man loves. He might be brave, but that doesn't mean he likes to fight.
If he could avoid it, he would.
I am not bloodthirsty, and I don't want to fight if there is no need, but here, there is a great need. They have attacked my home; yes, the dominion had become home.
Without a decisive and proportional answer, their attacks will not end—only multiply—each one demanding more bloodshed and death.
Pollin kept me updated on the battle, not only on this barony but also on others.
"It must be great to be the sister of Lord Silver. Best gear, artifact, position," said Lieutenant Borla. I glared at her, as did Lt. Pollin. She can be an idiot sometimes, but at least she is an intelligent idiot.
She used privacy before uttering those words. If found out, disciplinary action would be taken against her.
"That's not true. Every General responsible for the cities has the artifact. General Azalia, General Trask, and now Baroness," refuted Pollin.
"You can't say, being his sister didn't play a part in getting that artifact?" he asked. Pollin opened his mouth, but closed it.
I wanted to interject and say that the relationship between Lord Silver and his sister isn't good, but I only heard that and don't know if it's true.
Most importantly, I shouldn't gossip with my junior officers.
"I wonder if I will ever get to touch an artifact. I am not greedy; I do not hope to get one, but I hope I can touch one one day," said Borla dreamily.
Even Pollin's eyes turned dreamy.
I can't say; I haven't thought about the artifacts. They are the tools of greater power. I have seen the power one could use through them.
I had also seen how the tools of these great powers could be defeated.
The memories of fire and that burned man killing bandits as if it were nothing are still fresh in my mind.
I was in my thoughts when Pollin's ring lit up, and her expressions changed drastically. I could feel genuine fear appearing on her face.
She is not the one to be scared. If the fear appeared on her face, then there must be a reason behind it.
"What is it?" I asked. "The scouts have informed me that the battalion is coming toward us," she replied, and a fear couldn't help but rise in my heart.
A battalion means four companies of soldiers; it means four times our numbers coming.
It isn't just the numbers, but also the power, as there will be at least one Lv. 3o leading them. My men are good, and the location is favourable, but it is still more than we can handle.
"Colonel Galin wants us to hold them here. He is directing Captain Volmon and another company from the town to reinforce us." She informed.
"How far is the enemy?" I asked. "Thirty minutes away," she replied with a bad expression.
"Captain Valmon will take an hour and twenty to reach us, an hour, if he hurries, while company from the town will take one and a half to two hours."
"We will have to hold them off on our own for at least thirty to forty minutes."
"Even when they came. Our numbers will still be less than the enemy's," said Borla with a shudder running through his body.
"I had prayed for the battle, but didn't expect the god would throw something like this on us," she stated and laughed. I laughed with her before my expression turned sombre.
I stood up and turned to my men.
"Attention, everybody," I said with my voice booming across the pass, turning every soldier toward me.