A man in a fine yellow coat looked out over a field. He pet a small terrier in his arm. From his command tent on top of a hill he could observe the field where todays battle would take place. The camp of Brands Bandits was set in a field on the edge of a wood line. The enemy's sluggishness disgusted the officer.
"First lite is breaking and they have not formed ranks," growled the commander. "Where is the commander of the knights! I want the lancers running those men down in thirty minutes!"
A nearby aid stepped forward.
"Lord Rolling," said the man. "Sir Tarnik disappeared last night."
"Disappeared?" asked the old man.
"Yes your lordship," said the aid. "He was not in his tent this morning. He was not in his tent this morning. He has not been seen by any of his officers since last night. Most of his effects remain in his tent but his horse and his sword are missing. I inquired with last nights centuries to try and find out where he and several officers have gone but it seems half of the centuries from last night have disappeared."
"This sounds like desertion," fumed the old man as he began to shake with anger. He stroked the dog in his arms and began to calm down.
"What about you men," asked the old man. "do you believe this nonsense about an army of dead men and tainted beasts?"
"I see no signs of dead men," said the aid. "That is no more than a camp of men. We outnumber them and we out gun them. We will destroy them today and be in Yourz by next week."
"Good man," said the commander. "Sir Tintree, as I recall you are trained as a cavalry officer. I grant you authority over the lancers. Destroy those laggards."
"Yes your lordship," said the young.
The young man saluted turned around on his heals and began walking to his horse.
"That's a good man isn't he Poof Poof," said the old man petting his small dog. "We will have those vile bandits trampled under hoof soon. Have the Infantry form ranks and the cannons prepared to travel."
"Your lord ship?" asked a new aid.
"I do not doubt the lancer's ability to trample that camp," said the old man. "However, the force is smaller than anticipated. We may also want to use the infantry to clean up. It is also my understanding that some officers have deserted. We need to see how well the army moves without that garbage. I would recommend that if you can't find officers you look for the sergeants."
"As you command your lord ship," said the aid.
He saluted and walked off to begin giving orders.
"I miss having Timmel around to give such orders Poof Poof," lamented Lord Rolling. "It shall be hard to find a man with his experience. Perhaps Blunt would be interested in a transfer. But I have heard he is looking to retire soon. Perhaps I should ask him for a recommendation. Timmel did mention his habit of mentoring the enlisted."
The dog in his arms began to growl.
The sounds of hoof beets thundered from his left. The company of knights had begun to charge. 200 men in gleaming armor rode to glory. The men in the camp seemed to react and began to stir. A raged line began to form just as the lancers reached the camp smashing the disorganized line and began destroying the camp.
The old man looked on in satisfaction as the camp was overrun.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Smoke and fire erupted from the tree line. Men and horses disappeared.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire camp erupted exploded. Bits of dirt from the camp fell on him by his command tent.
"What kind of man sets his own camp to explode?" Screamed Rolling.
"What kind of men don't notice?" asked a nearby aid.
"It's looks like a powder magazine exploded," said another.
The commander stood stunned as the dust settled.
"Your lord ship?" asked a new aid. "Lord Rolling!?"
Out of the smoke stomped three sets of walking statues. They looked like stone slabs lashed together. Behind them a formation of child sized soldiers organized. The wind filled with inhuman shrieks.