Chapter 34: Tactical Maneuvers (rewrite)

Tactical Maneuvers

"Damn it!" Vortigern's curse echoed through the battlefield. It was unclear whether he was cursing Merlin, who had left the field, King Uther on the castle wall, or his underperforming troops.

Frustrated, Vortigern mused to himself, Sacrificing these men is proving more effective than just relying on them for increased combat power.

Meanwhile, on the walls of Chalk City, King Uther wore an expression of grim survival, holding onto hope amidst the chaos.

Comfort and Strategy

In stark contrast to the turmoil in Chalk City, Lott and Morgan were enjoying a more peaceful moment. The contrast was stark: while the battle raged on, they relaxed in luxury, enjoying the spoils of war.

Lott reclined on a plush bed, and Morgan leaned against the headboard, her gaze fixed tenderly on him. The atmosphere between them was intimate and relaxed, a stark contrast to the battlefield.

Morgan's touch on Lott's smooth back elicited a satisfied response from him. Oh, my wife is truly amazing. She knows exactly where to scratch. It looks like we've got our routine down pretty well.

Morgan, though amused, was slightly annoyed. This shameless man—can't he see that communicating openly would be better? Instead, he's making it sound like I'm the one who needs adjustment.

In a playful retaliation, Morgan grabbed Lott's ribs, causing him to flinch with surprise. Hiss!

Lott sprang up, startled. His physical strength did not shield him from his ticklish spots, a vulnerability Morgan was well aware of. She smiled brightly, enjoying his reaction.

"Why did you suddenly scratch me?" Lott asked, pretending to be aggrieved.

Morgan responded with a smirk, "Humph!" Then she turned serious, asking, "By the way, there's no trouble with my father, right?"

Lott reassured her, "Don't worry. Your father is strong. He'll be fine." He lay back on Morgan's lap, casual about the situation. "The chaos in the rear makes it hard to believe he can keep fighting, but if we win here, it will be a major victory for Camelot."

Despite his outward calm, Lott's thoughts were filled with concern for Uther. Even though I've asked Merlin to be cautious, my father-in-law's safety isn't guaranteed. But I must keep Morgan calm and focused.

Lott continued, I can only stop Morgan from worrying by focusing on our battle strategy. We need to ensure our soldiers can defeat Vortigern's forces effectively.

In a moment of lighter distraction, Lott suggested, "Rather than dwelling on this, let's think about our future children. I believe they will play a key role in our victory over the king."

Morgan was taken aback by the shift in conversation. This man—always avoiding serious topics. She rolled up the quilts and enveloped her head in them, trying to hide her emotions. I am not a fragile girl who needs protecting. I will show no weakness.

Tactical Considerations

As Lott pondered their next steps, he focused on strategizing against Vortigern. Since confrontation is risky, we need to exploit our advantages. He thought about his homeland's saying: "Poor tactics are covered by rich firepower; rich tactics are covered by rich firepower."

If we were truly wealthy, we could deploy a large force of archers and mages to overwhelm Vortigern's army. But given their current resources, Lott planned a different approach. We must capitalize on the opportunity to conduct a surprise attack during their retreat.

He formulated a plan to exploit the enemy's weaknesses. Our soldiers, accustomed to the sea, have less night blindness. We'll use this to our advantage, making us appear like ghosts in the night.

Lott considered logistical sabotage, such as disrupting the enemy's food supply. When their food runs out, their morale will plummet. He even entertained the notion of poisoning water sources to cause dysentery but quickly dismissed it as too extreme. It's a dirty tactic, and the risk of plague outweighs the benefit.

Merlin's Arrival

After their brief respite, Lott and Morgan prepared to take action. Merlin, holding an apple, approached them. "Oh, Your Majesty Lott, I've done as instructed," Merlin said, taking a casual bite of the fruit.

"Alright," Lott responded, glancing at Morgan. Damn Merlin, what if Morgan asks him questions? He hoped Merlin's words would reassure Morgan, despite his lingering concerns about Uther's situation.

Turning to Morgan, Lott said, "Go check on the soldiers. Ensure they're prepared. We'll wait until evening to execute our plan."

Morgan, understanding the underlying strategy, gave Lott a knowing look. She headed towards the barracks, her mind filled with thoughts of the upcoming battle.

With Morgan out of earshot, Lott turned to Merlin, grabbing his clothes with a stern expression. "Merlin, your sense of humour is quite heavy. What's your real plan?"

The scene closed with Lott's frustration and Merlin's calm demeanour, hinting at further intrigue and tactical manoeuvres to come.