Chapter 34 Part 1 of 1 (Patreon)

The tell-tale flash of spell traps didn’t raise alarm anymore as they went off in the distance.

“Waste of resources. Do they have an endless supply of formations?” Onam muttered, rolling with his mount’s gait as he passed over broken trees.

“It is surprising,” Feng Dan agreed, riding on her lizard mount.

“I sense that you have more thoughts on the matter,” Onam asked.

“We do not have reports of the crafters working on these weapons. They were able to get a lot of people into their academy but all crafters are looking to increase their skill level, they won’t waste their time making hundreds of these spell traps. As soon as they can they’ll work on something to advance their level.”

“So they have purchased them from somewhere else?”

“The screaming weapons, they are like trebuchets but must have formations. They’re weapons that burn through money faster than mana cannons. Though they keep using them without caring. They have their own forces to train their soldiers and to create these weapons. Something is not what it seems with Vuzgal.”

Onam opened his mouth as shadows passed overhead.

“Hold in place! Secure the edges of the mana barriers!” Feng Dan ordered, explosions rocked the forest punctuating her words.

Men, women and beasts were torn apart. The trees shattered, collapsing as fire bombs went off, tearing air from men’s lungs, a wave of heat greeting them.

Onam used his reins and legs to control his mount uneasily, shying away from the destruction. All of the beasts had been trained for war but this was beyond their training.

A tree that stuck out of the barrier was struck, it splintered within the barrier, killing or wounding the surrounding fighters.

People jumped from their mounts hiding in the ground and dirt.

Like a curtain of rain the bombs arrived and passed.

Onam watched the birds that had appeared just above the trees, unseen and unheard, circle.

“They’re coming back around!” He yelled.

Groups broke, rushing forward into the trees as if the cover would save them. Others ran to the mana barriers in the cleared sections of forest.

The shadows arrived bringing death behind them once again.

“Mages, hit them!” Feng Dan yelled.

Mages cast spells but they were drowned out by the second rain of destruction before the birds took to the skies once again, a trail of spells followed them as they split apart, weaving and altering their flight path randomly.

Suddenly the explosions and bombs stopped.

Cracking and spitting fire fought against the screams and cries of the wounded and dying.

Onam gritted his teeth.

“Fucking cowards, don’t even face us, just run away as fast as possible!” He gritted his teeth so hard he tasted blood.

“Seems that Marco wasn’t exaggerating how effective they are. At least those other weapons whistle so we know when to expect them.”

Spell traps went off as people at the front found them, returning or running away from the main group.

“Aggh!” Onam spit on the ground, his veins sticking out like pythons.

***

"We face a determined enemy. All morning and afternoon we have attacked them with bombs and mortars, covered their paths in traps." Domonos talked to his Battalion Majors. "They have lost a day in forward momentum. But at the cost of thousands, they have gained entry into the valley. They have pressed forward as fast as possible through every path. Now, they have gathered their dispersed forces once again. With their advance, we have had to pull back our artillery platoons, reducing the pressure on the mountain passes. Our Scouts are being withdrawn from their observation posts and returned to Vuzgal. With the enemy in our sensing formation's net, the artillery platoons will be able to select their own targets increasing their effectiveness. With the enemy out of the mountain passes they are more spread out with mana barrier and tree cover, decreasing the effectiveness of the mortars. They will have a supporting role to harass the oncoming sects while direction actions will fall on the air force. Major Kanoa, could you talk on that more?"

"Yes sir," Kanoa stepped forward and cleared his throat. "With our Kestrel forces harassing the mountain passes with their heavy fire power. Sparrows continue to conduct lightning raids on the enemy's positions. With eyes on target they can inflict greater casualties." Kanoa nodded to Domonos and took a half step backwards.

"There it is. Mortars and the air force will be our weapons in this coming advance. Our enemy has shown cunning and ability. We must be ready for changes as they occur. Problems, issues, queries?"

Major Hall raised his hand.

"Have our targets changed?"

"No, artillery's first target are the camp followers. Second attacking enemy formations as they come together, third laying of traps. Kestrels target the mountain passes. Sparrows take targets of opportunity and have priority, then Kestrels, then artillery."

Hall nodded.

“In the meantime, we have two Regiment’s worth of reservists that are on their way or will be shortly. It will be their task to prepare our defenses here while our remaining frontline units will coordinate and train as needed. I want them ready for what’s about to come,” Domonos said.

***

“We must increase our speed. These traps and constant attacks from the skies only slow us. The slower we move, the more time our enemy has to hit us. We need to reach Vuzgal as fast as possible.” Marco tapped the map on his lap as his mount carried him forward.

Master Teacher Eva Marino rode beside him.

“Thankfully their focus is on the camp followers instead of the fighters.”

“Yes, their casualties are much higher, without mana barriers we will lose many of them but we will keep most of our fighters.” Marco dismissed them, his eyes focused on other matters.

“Have melee fighters walk ahead of the units. They are to cut down the forest as they move, mages among their ranks will sense the spell traps.”

“The mana barriers won’t be interrupted with so many trees and the mages fearing for their own lives will put their time into searching for the traps,” Eva surmised.

“Yes, also create groups of ranged fighters and mages to attack these aerial beasts. A few random mages and archers won’t have much effect, but a group of them can fill a small area of the sky with many spells and arrows.”

“The whistling formations?”

Marco pressed his lips together.

"We need to find where they come from. If we can find that, then we can counterattack. Have our people spread out more. Keep a spear's spacing between fighters and have them lie down when they hear the whistling. That should kill less of them."

Marco paused. Should we use the teleportation formations now and bring more people into the Valley? The mountain passes are our greatest weakness. Either we use the teleportation formations to bring them forward or have them back out of the passes, use their mana barriers to protect against the larger birds and their mages. The smaller birds bring destruction with them, but the larger birds are like ships of the air. Their mages must be enhanced for them to call down such powerful attacks.

Marco looked towards Vuzgal as if he could see through the hills and forests between him and his goal.

What will their move be?

"For every action there is a reaction."

"Hmm?" Master Marino turned her head to look at Marco.

"Have those in the passes regroup behind the mountains. We will clear areas for teleportation formations in the valley."

"Then they will know we have the teleportation formations."

"We need more people in the valley. We abandon the roads and the passes," Marco stored his map away looking at the afternoon that was swiftly changing to night. "Our first day in the Vuzgal valley."

"They failed in keeping us out," Eva sneered.

“Yes, at the cost of a sixth of our force.”

“Only three thousand were actual fighters.”

“Our enemy has known when we were leaving the cities we rallied at. They knew we were coming through the mountain paths. Cut off the traders and people that we had in the cities to make sure that we had no eyes and ears. Now they attack the camp followers?”

“What does it matter, they are there to support our fighting. Usually we are the ones dying. It is good to lose a few of the hangers on.”

Marco looked around at the people with him. His guards, the soldiers beyond.

Why hit the camp followers? What is there to gain?

He saw a man run up to his lord, a powerful fighter, he pulled out food and drink, holding it for the fighter as he rode, talking to his fellow fighters.

Fighters are treated like gods and goddesses on the field of battle. If they need anything, it is supplied If their gear is worn, it must be repaired and honed. They have injuries, healers and alchemists are there. Frustrations there are ways for them to relieve them.

“Oh you are smart, very smart and devious. You have clutched onto our weakness,” Marco snorted and shook his head.

“Sorry, Master Teacher. I just realized why they are attacking our camp followers.”

“Why is that?”

“First, let me ask you a question. How many people from your household or students do you have with you?”

“Around fifty,” Marino shrugged and waved her hand.

“Now, what if they were dead?”

“What?” Marino frowned.

“Who would erect your tent? Who would you trust to mend your armor, hone your blade? Treat your wounds even?”

Marino’s face darkened.

“Fighters are very powerful, we have tens of people to keep us in the greatest condition. If we remove them, then our force will grow weaker. Sustained march every day, having to put up our own tents, see to the needs of our mounts, the maintenance of our weapons.”

Marino snorted.

“Weaken us through our support. Though what do we do, protect them? They knew the risks. and to give them mana barriers the enemy has been more than gracious with their whistling attacks and the formations that they drop on us.”

Marco’s smile spread in a devious grin.

“Make them fighters.”

“What? That takes years of training!”

“I don’t mean true soldiers. We just give them armor and weapons to wear. Then have them move along like the other units. How will the enemy be able to pick them out then?”