The war council was over, and a fragile, desperate plan had been made. The leaders gathered in the grand hall of the Vexin palace, where the banners of their new allies hung alongside their own. The time for talking was over; the time for action was at hand. They would not face the King's legions as a single, outnumbered army, but as a complex web of forces, each with a crucial role to play.
Damon, the commander of the entire Vexin alliance, stood before his captains and the lords who had sworn loyalty to him. His force, the largest of the three, was a heavy anchor of 2,600 men—a mix of his swift cavalry, the best of the Vexin archers, and the most seasoned troops of the new alliance. He was to be the main body, the rock against which the King's army would break.
Arion, the stoic and pragmatic general, addressed his own men. His force was a powerful force of 2,000 men, a mix of hardened Vexin infantry and the more cautious levies of the noble houses. He would be the second hammer, striking at a crucial moment to turn the tide of battle.
Kael, his face a mask of fierce resolve, stood before his men. His army was the smallest, a daring vanguard of 1,000 men. It was a testament to his passion that some of the most skilled and dedicated men, a mix of elite guards and zealous young lords, had chosen to follow him. He would be the first to strike, a quick, surgical blow wherever the King was weakest.
In addition to these three main forces, a number of smaller, more mobile units were formed. Each with less than 50 men, they were made up of the best scouts and trackers of the Vexin cause. Their mission was not to fight a battle but to strike at the King's supply lines, to harass the marching legions, and to sow chaos and fear wherever they went. It was a vital, dangerous role that would bleed the King's army dry before the final blow.
In the capital's garrison, a small but critical force of just under 500 men was left behind. Their mission was to protect the women and children, including Isolde, and to hold the city against any stray attacks. It was a role of honor and quiet importance.
As the three main forces prepared to depart, the tension was thick enough to cut with a sword. The plan was a massive gamble. Their combined force of 6,100 men was now separated, making them vulnerable, but also flexible. As the sun set, the armies began to march in three different directions, disappearing into the cold, unforgiving plains. The King's legions were coming, and the Vexin alliance was now in motion, a desperate, divided force with a shared will to win.