Part 26

In the morning several platoons of scouts moved out, dividing up into smaller and smaller groups until it came down to pairs.  They had started off with a meeting around a map.  Richkurk divided the areas that needed scouting into sectors and assigned units different sectors. 

“We have to find the enemy and we have find them quickly,” Richkurk said.  “They’re invading our client’s kingdom and if they find us first, they get the initiative.  Once we find them, we do everything to disrupt their logistics.  They outnumber us but that just means they have more mouths to feed.  That makes them more vulnerable.” 

So they followed their assigned path and broke off into small and smaller units.  It was just Onata and her then.  Onata carried a large crossbow on her back, larger than any matchlock she’d seen.  She had hatchets and knives all over her and she only wore the breastplate: no chainmail or helmet.  Greza just did as she did. 

Onata ran through the woods without making a sound and noticed things Greza would never have seen on her own.  Onata pointed out deer tracks, edible mushrooms and berries and signs of other animals passing through.  All while on the move. 

“You know what Richkurk calls us?”  Onata asked once they took a noon break.  “He calls us the Thousand Cuts.” 

“Why?”

“No matter how large the animal, it will die of a thousand cuts.  That’s our job, to cut and cut until the beast bleeds out.”

Onata sat down beside a stream and refilled her canteen. 

“You know that speech they give about how important socks are?” Onata asked, then held up one of her hoofed feet.  “That lesson was lost on me.”

“Onata, do you follow a religion?”

“Religion?  The gods don’t have time for me so I don’t make time for them.  Why?  You religious?”

“I am.”

“You ever get an answer why your gods made us into slaves?”

“No, but my gods promised to end slavery one day.”

“What gods are those?”

“The Divine Lights.”

“Aint they the ones that lost some holy child?”

“Lost temporarily.”  

Onata laughed.

“That’s one way to look at it.”

They slept that night under a tree with only their blankets as comfort.  They lit no fire and kept constant watch. 

“When you escaped…I’m assuming you ran, did you leave anyone?  Family? Lover?  Child?”  Onata asked as they ate their small dinner.

“No one.”

“No friends?”

“I left no friends. You?” 

“I have a sister and brother somewhere, but we were separated when I was sold to a baron that took a fancy to me.  Have no idea where they are.”

Greza told her all about mother and Erinad and her escape. 

“You were a toy as well?”

“Not in the same way.  Erinad protected me from the worst of it.”

“Sounds like your gods were watching out for you.  They didn't seem to take a liking to me though.”

The Divine Lights were watching out for her.  That was a comforting thought.  She wondered how far that protection went.  Would it stop an enemy bullet? 

“Maybe they just like you better,” Onata said before rolling over and going to sleep. 

They traveled for three days without seeing any trace of the enemy.   On the fourth day Greza was as filthy as she had ever been.  The days were getting warmer and between the sweat and the dirt she doubted if she’d ever be clean again.  She couldn’t imagine how she smelled.  Onata was positively a mess, but on her it seemed more natural and respectable. 

Then they heard three sharp whistles. It was the signal that another scout unit was approaching.  A few moments later another team appeared.  They were running through the trees but not with the frantic pace of fleeing. 

When they approached they slowed down.

“Enemy movement spotted,” one of the men said. 

Then they handed Onata a canister. 

“That has all the details.  Go back and give this to the Duke,” the man said. 

“Right,” Onata said. 

Without further discussion, they turned and began running back towards friendly territory.  When they stopped that night they read and memorized the information the scroll carried.

The entire time back all she could think about was the fact that her new position moved her closer to the Duke.  She might be able to see him.  Perhaps there would be some sign that she was correct about Verin.  Maybe she’d see an angel or hear a voice.  She silently prayed that she’d receive something to show her she was on the right path. 

Two days later when they arrived back at camp they were ushered directly to the Duke’s tent.  A guard went in to announce their return. 

“Bring them in,” she heard the Duke’s voice say from inside

She knew that voice and loved it. 

The guard reappeared and opened the flap for them.

Inside the tent was a round table covered in maps and papers.  Officers stood around the table and their quiet conversations ceased when they entered. Richkurk was among them and gave them a nod. The Duke was standing at the far side with his arms folded.  The Minotaur stood behind him, his head almost touching the top of the tent.  The raven sorceress was sitting on a cushioned chair painting her nails and eating grapes.  She had to keep herself from staring.  

They both saluted and then Onata stepped forward and handed the scroll directly to the Duke. 

“Thank you, scout,” Verin said as he opened the canister. 

Everyone was silent as he read the paper.  Greza kept her eyes on the Duke.  He was beautiful.  His intelligence shone through his eyes.  She didn’t see any angels or saints, but if this man wasn’t meant for great things then no one was.    

“We have the position of their main force, gentlemen,” Verin said.  Then he turned to them.  “You two, go rest up.  I’ll call for you later so I can send my reply.” 

They both saluted and left the tent.   

“That should give us a few hours of rest before they call,” Onata said. 

Their tents were in wagons with the rest of the scout unit’s possessions so they found a soft spot of grass and laid down for a nap. 

“You did good,” Onata said.

“I didn’t slow you down too much?”

“Not at all.”

And then Onata was out like a candle in a storm.  Even while sleeping Onata seemed troubled.  Her brow creased in the middle and she would frequently fidget and toss around. 

Was this what Erinad had saved her from?  She very well could have ended up like Onata. 

When they were awakened it was mid afternoon.  Richkurk stood over them with his hands resting on his sword belt. 

“Get up, the Duke wants to see you,” Richkurk said.

They scrambled to their feet and followed him back to the tent.  This time the officers were in clumps holding separate conversations and Duke verin was by himself looking over the maps.  The Minotaur and sorceress sat nearby eating grapes.  She noticed the “unimpressed” look the Minotaur gave them as they entered.  The sorceress hadn’t even looked in their direction. 

“Come look at this map,” the Duke said to them without looking up. 

The walked over and looked down at the table.  The map showed the country they were in and all the towns, roads and bridges.  Several red painted wooden markers showed the location of the enemy.  Blue marked their position.  There were a lot more red than blue. 

“Thank you for coming,” the Duke said.  Not like they had a choice but it made Greza warm inside to hear it.  “I need fresh eyes on this.  My officers are in a disagreement about how to proceed.  You scouts often have a different perspective.  I’d like to hear your opinions.”

“Our opinions?”  Onata asked and then quickly added, “my Duke.”

“Yes.  How would you proceed with the campaign?”

Greza looked down at the map.  The Company was still camped around the city and the enemy army was marching down the main highway as bold as could be.  They were probably confident of their numbers.

She tried to think of a similar situation from history, but she needed more information.

“Do they have siege engines, my Duke?”  She asked.

“Please dispense with the titles while in here.  It wastes time,” the Duke said. “Yes, they have siege engines.”  

She remembered a story from the Boshan Wars where the Terinad army marched right into the heart of the First Empire and surrounded the capital.  They outnumbered the Empire by four to one.  Everyone, including the Imperials, thought the war was over in a single stroke.  But the Terinad’s hadn’t brought enough siege engines with them and the quick stroke turned into a two year siege which hurt the Terinad’s far more than the Imperials. 

“Let them come to the capital,” Greza said. 

One of the officers looked up from his conversation and laughed. 

“Let them walk in and take the city.  Brilliant.  We should have more Ork strategists,” the bearded man said.

She suddenly realized that she had spoken too boldly.  She was in a tent full of officers that knew far more about war than she ever would. 

“I…I was just thinking that we draw them in and close trap,” Greza said, reverting back to her slave speech she was beginning to hate. 

“And what trap would that be?  You don’t lure a bear to your position when you have nothing to kill the bear with.  They outnumber us four to one, girl,” another officer said. 

“I thought scouts were supposed to be clever,” another officer said. 

They thought she was stupid.  She wasn’t stupid.  She was smart and her father, Erinad had given her the best education he could. 

“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” Greza said more forcefully than she would have liked. 

All eyes turned to her. 

“Tell us what you’re thinking, scout,” Duke Verin said with a smile she felt was directed at her alone. 

She cleared her throat. 

“We let the weight of their own army crush them,” Greza said.  “Just like the Terinad’s from Juliaton’s Histories of the Boshan Wars, we let them come in.  Let them feel confident.  Then we watch them starve as they find themselves besieged within enemy territory.  On the way in, we ambush them, but only target their siege engines.  Then when they arrive at the city, they’ll have no choice but to siege.  Then our army returns and surrounds them, cutting them off from resupply.  Very little fighting necessary.”    

The Duke chuckled.  Had she said something wrong?  She should have just kept her mouth shut.  People in power had no desire to hear what the lowers thought.  She should have remembered that. 

“Perhaps we should have more Ork strategists,” Duke Verin said. 

“But, My Duke…” the officer that doubted her cleverness started to say. 

“Your idea of fighting them head on in a field battle was better?”  The Duke asked.  Then he turned to face her. “Greza, right?  The reader.  I see your reading has paid off."

Then the booming, low voice of the Minotaur sounded. 

“You humans look at her and see an Ork.  You don’t see her Dark Elf cunning,” the Minotaur said.

“Unless someone has a better plan, I say we start making preparations for Greza’s plan,” the Duke said.