Two Brothers Pt.2

Athan Geldstein Month 11, Day 22, Year A.F 652. Road to Ivrid, Kingdom of Rosalia.

The ground trembles as my army marches behind me. I feel my hand sweat in fear and anxiety as the situation before me almost makes me tremble in fear.

The army was twice our size, with fresh troops and knights twice our size, all of which was directed against me. I know with odds like this, there's nothing left for me to do but hope for the best.

"Your Highness, we've taken control of the hill." An officer ran back towards me and I nod.

"Send all available regiments there. We'll be using the vantage point to push the battle into our favor." The officer salutes as he started shouting orders.

After he left, I rode for the hill with the commanding tent situated atop it. It's simple designed was filled to brim with activity as hundreds of men passed to and fro, preparing for the upcoming.

I grab the reins of my horse and spurs it forward, gritting my teeth as it I ride through the lines of marching soldiers, all of which looking forward, unfazed.

I reach the top of the hill, seeing the view before me. The grassy plains extended for kilometers, with the occasional trees dotting the view.

We expect the treeline before me was where they will come from. And with the defenses being dug and spikes being built up all around the hill, the defenses should hold long enough.

An officer runs up to me, "Sir, the defenses are halfway finished."

"Have all the knights stay in our position. They'll use support fire to help our center break through."

A different cabal of officers then asks from behind me, their uniforms reminiscent that of Duke Vincent's men, "Is it really alright that we attacked the center with the full might of our knights. Our flanks would melt under the demon knight's attacks."

"I am aware, our other option instead would be to fight a battle of attrition with knights twice our numbers, a surefire way to lose." I reply to them in contempt and they look down in shame.

If they had helped last night and came up with a different plan, then I wouldn't be forced to do something this risky. If we couldn't come up with a plan before this, how would they do it now.

They look amongst themselves, a bit hesitant of my plan before one speaks up, "But sir, wouldn't this leave us susceptible to attacks in our command."

I grit my teeth as I gesture around us. I can't believe I have to explain this.

"Why else would we build defenses on this hill? We will defend this with two thousand infantry, form a defense against their attack, one which is directed at me." I said to them as I watch four thousand troops arrange themselves in an orderly fashion.

"But sir how can our center stand if the knights melt through our infantry." The officer ask.

"They won't stand, they're just there so I we could break through their center and end them once and for all and once the battle goes sour, they'll be sent to retreat."

They stay silent for some time and taking that as a sign I spoke with a glare, "Are there any more questions?" They shake their heads before shouting with a salute, "No, Sir."

They leave me alone as I watch an army come across the tree line. One which could neatly swallow my men in a heartbeat.

Lenard Geldstein

The moment we stepped out of the tree line, we came across an army of seven thousand men. Four thousand of which built a wall of weapons in a line standing before us.

And the other three thousand were standing atop a hill, filled with trenches and spikes turning it into a seemingly unconquerable area.

Belford rides beside me as he spoke. "My Prince, I advise you to use our numerical superiority to decimate that army, spreading out our forces as we push them forward."

"Leave some reserves, we can't take chances on a desperate enemy." I say to him as I watch in curiosity, curiosity about what those knights are up to.

"Of course," He nods as he notices the unusual formation of knights riding through the hills behind the line formation of their infantry.

"Their knights seem to have decided to stay behind. The most probable use of which could be supporting fire for the infantry." I say to him as we both watch their armies spread out."

"What do you think we should do?" I ask as the view filled him with thoughts.

He looks to me as he replied, "A knight not using their horses for mobility and power will be lacking during battle. There's only so much a barrage of fireball could do."

"Then what do you advise us to do?" I ask him, his experience now showing itself in the battlefield.

"I would also advise you to send our knight to flank them and once a rout begins, it would be hard for them to regain control and we can direct our forces through their defenses."

I look at it before nodding. "I see."

"Lord Ivid, scout out the terrain surrounding us. I don't think they'll make a decision as risky as this with no intention of a trap." I said and Lord Ivid immediately rode out, bringing with him a scouting party.

I then look to Lord Mirs as I spoke, "How much supply do we have left?"

"Enough for five days," He looks to the enemy before us, "Though, they seem well supplied, so I'm sure we could scrounge up enough from their supplies to get us by as we return."

"That's good, have the men at the ready for that. We can't allow this battle to last longer than a day." I say to him as the clock tick down on our supply lines.

Lord Belford then looks to me and nods before he rides to the officers shouting out his orders, "Extend the line! Envelope their location!"

The officers then salute before scrambling back to their regiments, preparing for the battle ahead. The knight commanders standing behind, waiting for our orders.

"Have the knights harass their infantry. Let's see how long they'll last." Lord Belford spoke as we watch the armies move.

"And once the infantry collide, flank them and take them out." I said to them as they both rode back to their sides, ready to harass their infantry.

Athan Geldstein

"The enemies are moving, SIR!" an officer shouts.

I can fucking see that! No shit! I glance at the man to see him panicking. I sigh at the thought, one cant really blame a man against a sight like this.

The four thousand infantry looked meek compared to the behemoth before us. I then decide to give the orders once I noticed their knights ride to the center.

"Have the infantry pull back! We can't afford to get showered by a barrage of fireballs! So early in the battle," I shout to them as the knights rode to their destination.

The messengers run to the regiments, riding and weaving through the defenses we've set up through the hill's entirety.

A messenger runs behind us, "Sir! Message from the scouts."

I gesture my hand as my focus were concentrated to the battle before me. I look down as I read the letter, reading with the officers in my vicinity.

"Scouting report. The enemy vanguard has broken off. With almost eight thousand knights, they ride to our destination. Estimated time of arrival, five hours."

The number weighs heavy on me, the officers listening in has turned their expression turn into fearful. The atmosphere weighs heavy as they look to me for guidance.

I brush it off, ignoring the clock ticking behind me as I shout, "Tell the left flank to stop retreating. They're leaving an opening behind them!"

Another messenger runs and all I could do was look at the battle as a three thousand army of knights rode closer and closer.

Some of the infantry though didn't just retreat but has entered the trenches, leaving their formations behind and a gaping hole in the army.

A messenger then runs up, "Sir, some of the officers are refusing to return, they wish for you permission to enter our defenses."

My anger flares as I shout, "This is TREASON!"

The messenger lowers his head and I grab my head in pain, "FINE!"

"Have all infantry retreat to the defenses," I shout with a gesture as the remainnig messenger scrambles bearing with them their messages.

I massage my head, I'm sure we could push through them, even without the line but we can't continue with the plan if hundreds have already decided to disobey me. It seems I asked too much from them.

Though before I could think of anything else, they then filled the sky with a bright light as hundred fireballs then smashes through the defenses, hitting it and creating craters.

Good thing they haven't targeted the retreating men.