Border - Chapter 4, part 2.
And while Hugh was not privy to every single inner working of the high commands plan, he knew that the overall strategy was based around holding each of the fords long enough to move the bulk of the army to counter main thrust of the army before him. If the enemy had free passage over one of the fords already then the entire plan would be for naught as the Grimsbok could run rampant over the land, and perhaps gain a foothold over the river strong enough to turn the Usina line.
Cursing the knight signaled for his troop to get ready to ride. “Sergeant Jurgen, split the troop. Half will accompany me back to the encampment immediately; we have information that must reach the Marshalls as soon as possible. The rest of you stay with the scribe and continue with the count. Return when finished.” Waiting for his second to respond in the affirmative Hugh glanced once more at the distant banner and spit a thick wad of phlegm in its direction. That done he wheeled his horse and sped off towards the distant base, not bothering to look back to see if his men followed.
-_-_-_-_-
Hugh waited outside the command tent, standing stock still. Within he could hear muffled shouts as the generals of the joint Usina forces discussed the developments that the knight had brought to them. He had seen the turmoil written plainly on the Lord Seene’s face upon the word of his sons rebellion, to the point that he was glad he had been sent to wait outside while what to do was discussed.
Around him the camp was awash with activity as units to the fair weather as an opportunity to drill or complete any of the hundreds of other duties that needed doing around the camp. Within this encampment were over thirty thousand men, the bulk of the Usina forces with most of their vassals’ armies as well. Nearby the five thousand men of the Sixteenth Legion were encamped as well, on loan to the Lord Usina from General Kelton. Another twenty-five thousand or so men were spread among six camps along the border as well, all anxiously awaiting the coming war. Over sixty thousand men, one of the largest armies every assembled in the history of the southern branch of House Usina, and it was still dwarfed by the Grimsbok forces. A scramble to scrape up more levies and mercenaries was underway in the Usina heartland, but it was yet to be seen how successful such an attempt would be.
At last Hugh was called back inside the tent. Walking stiffly, he came to a halt before a series of map covered tables which were surrounded by a dozen men. His grandfather Eof, the brother to the House Lord Gunn, looked up from a map of the area around the tower of Kenis. “Lad, when you were young you were raised alongside Wellum yes?” Hugh nodded. “You summered at Kenis together to hunt qwarbuck before joining the Third if I remember correctly. Since you know the man, and you know the land we are tasking you with retaking the ford. If his banner is at the camp you saw today he will have likely brought most of his troops there as well. We had stationed three hundred men at Kenis, all House Seene guardsmen, that he has seemingly turned, though how we obviously couldn’t say. Actually there has been no communication from there in a couple of weeks, which we had thought strange, but had just written off to the boy being too busy hunting to take the time to send any messages. But all that is moot now. What matters is we secure enough troops at the ford to slow any thrusts through that avenue long enough to move sufficient troops to counter it. Too much bloody border, too few troops. Anyway, to that end you are to take your troop of the Third, and along with a two hundred men of the Fifth Usina Royal Halberdiers, retake the tower by any means necessary, and hold the ford until further orders. You are being promoted to Captain for the duration of the action, and upon your success you may as well consider the promotion permanent. The minutia will be covered in a briefing by General Unger later but for now any major questions?”
“Just one sir. What are my orders should the traitor Wellum be found there?
Cursing the knight signaled for his troop to get ready to ride. “Sergeant Jurgen, split the troop. Half will accompany me back to the encampment immediately; we have information that must reach the Marshalls as soon as possible. The rest of you stay with the scribe and continue with the count. Return when finished.” Waiting for his second to respond in the affirmative Hugh glanced once more at the distant banner and spit a thick wad of phlegm in its direction. That done he wheeled his horse and sped off towards the distant base, not bothering to look back to see if his men followed.
-_-_-_-_-
Hugh waited outside the command tent, standing stock still. Within he could hear muffled shouts as the generals of the joint Usina forces discussed the developments that the knight had brought to them. He had seen the turmoil written plainly on the Lord Seene’s face upon the word of his sons rebellion, to the point that he was glad he had been sent to wait outside while what to do was discussed.
Around him the camp was awash with activity as units to the fair weather as an opportunity to drill or complete any of the hundreds of other duties that needed doing around the camp. Within this encampment were over thirty thousand men, the bulk of the Usina forces with most of their vassals’ armies as well. Nearby the five thousand men of the Sixteenth Legion were encamped as well, on loan to the Lord Usina from General Kelton. Another twenty-five thousand or so men were spread among six camps along the border as well, all anxiously awaiting the coming war. Over sixty thousand men, one of the largest armies every assembled in the history of the southern branch of House Usina, and it was still dwarfed by the Grimsbok forces. A scramble to scrape up more levies and mercenaries was underway in the Usina heartland, but it was yet to be seen how successful such an attempt would be.
At last Hugh was called back inside the tent. Walking stiffly, he came to a halt before a series of map covered tables which were surrounded by a dozen men. His grandfather Eof, the brother to the House Lord Gunn, looked up from a map of the area around the tower of Kenis. “Lad, when you were young you were raised alongside Wellum yes?” Hugh nodded. “You summered at Kenis together to hunt qwarbuck before joining the Third if I remember correctly. Since you know the man, and you know the land we are tasking you with retaking the ford. If his banner is at the camp you saw today he will have likely brought most of his troops there as well. We had stationed three hundred men at Kenis, all House Seene guardsmen, that he has seemingly turned, though how we obviously couldn’t say. Actually there has been no communication from there in a couple of weeks, which we had thought strange, but had just written off to the boy being too busy hunting to take the time to send any messages. But all that is moot now. What matters is we secure enough troops at the ford to slow any thrusts through that avenue long enough to move sufficient troops to counter it. Too much bloody border, too few troops. Anyway, to that end you are to take your troop of the Third, and along with a two hundred men of the Fifth Usina Royal Halberdiers, retake the tower by any means necessary, and hold the ford until further orders. You are being promoted to Captain for the duration of the action, and upon your success you may as well consider the promotion permanent. The minutia will be covered in a briefing by General Unger later but for now any major questions?”
“Just one sir. What are my orders should the traitor Wellum be found there?