The Top of the Mountain - Part 9

"""SWIFT AND DEVASTATING!" They called out, as General Karstly's horse took to the slopes first.

"Your orders are to remain here, in the centre of the slopes, until the battle is concluded," said the messenger, but Oliver barely heard him. His gaze was cast higher upwards, towards where Karstly had just given his speech.

As far away as he'd been, he felt the subtle Command of that speech as well. Hearing it, just then as it was, he felt as if he'd gained more understanding of exactly what Command was than he'd managed in all his years trying to decipher it at the academy. There was a subtlety, at least, to a Command wielded well that matched the nature of the battlefield flow as he'd come to understand it. And, in a strange sense, the nature of progress too as he'd come to understand it.

"Lombard…" Oliver said. "Why haven't I heard of this man before now?"