POV Smith
The storm finally passed on the fifth day and the troops once more resumed their march. I grumbled softly as the troops struggled through the mud. I'd had them pack extra food and left the wagons behind with a single company as escort. I couldn't let this opportunity pass.
It was around midday when Lodi came into view as I crested the ridgewith the forward elements of the column. The stone bridge over the Lobau still stood, yet the flooded river occasionally rushed over it, making a crossing impossible. I looked to the town itself to see ragged and dawn columns stretching far to the west dragging their wagons through the muddy causeways of Lodi.
A grin spread across my face at my good fortune. I could take apart and defeat the enemy in detail. I had with me two brigades, almost five thousand fighting men and women. Arrayed across the plains was likely twice that number. But as of this moment I had my chance, fleeting as it may be I turned to the battalion forming up on the rise.
"Forward! To victory!"
The battalion lurched forward as it took up the cry, unfurling its standard. I quickly called a messenger and send word to both Isser and Tullio to follow the forward echelons, to keep up the momentum and drive the enemy before them.
I stirred my mount forward. It took a few steps before getting ensnared in the mire of mud. I cursed softly before dismounting and calming the horse. I guided it to a tree and tied it to a branch before I jogged over to the lead battalion and fell into ranks.
Ahead the enemy was crying out in alarm as the battalion shook itself out of march column, but given the difficulty of changing formation they elected to use the only feasible formation one could easily form while on the march, that being the assault column.
A group of several soldiers of the 66th began to form up in front of some of the wagons, but the bristling phalanx of pikes easily forced them aside. I glanced at the battalion commander but they'd already taken heed of the necessity of the situation.
Two companies were ordered to continue blocking the road while the rest of the battalion marched on Lodi itself. I stayed with the rear guard and waited for the next battalion to arrive with Tullio at the head. We exchanged salutes as I sent the two companies back to their parent battalion now fighting in the city outskirts.
"Sir, it seems you've decided to commit." Tullio remarked.
"Catch the enemy off guard and before they can mass. Send the 4th to support the 3rd. The 1st can hold their rear." I replied.
She nodded and issued the necessary orders. "what next sir?"
"Fight your brigade colonel." I replied.
"I must wait for Isser to arrive, take the town and clear it, then sweep north." I gave Tullio her orders and turned to the heights to see the 1st marching down from the summit. 3rd brigade shouldn't be too far behind.
I nodded to Isser before we parted ways, I made my way back to the heights where I met Isser forming her brigade up on the heights.
"Sir, I'd expected you to be saber deep amongst the rank and file." Isser said with a salute.
"We'll commiserate later over my blade's desire for blood. Colonel, you must drive back the enemy approaching from the west." I turned around and gestured at the enemy beginning to form into fighting ranks.
Several small caravans were being abandoned by their troops, the soldiers marching double quick to regroup and form a fighting unit. I grimaced as I beheld the messy battle field, how much easier it would have been to organize this if the enemy wasn't so strung out. But I suppose this was a blessing as well.
I could make out the 3rd and 4th battalions marching through Lodi, clearing the houses as they went. I could trust that Tullio had the town secured well enough from any deserters or ambushes. A brief two hours had passed since the advance guard had gone over the ridge. Now the enemy was forming a true battle line to the west.
I sighed as I examined their lines, the respective colors of the two regiments, burnt orange of the 49th slowly consolidating into a large square around a small procession of carriages while the black of the 66th formed a single long line. Are the two regiments not communicating?
"Isser, move to break the 66th." I passed my orders warily.
If the 49th regiment was content to hang their allies out to dry… I would take them up on the offer. Of the two it was tecothe larger. So while the two brigades combined their power to crush the 66th I watched the 49th for movement, but none came. Even as the 66th put down their arms and surrendered, the 49th stood stock still. Holding their square.
The hell was going on? Did these nobles hate each other? I glanced at the corproal but she shrugged, clearly no better informed than myself on the matter. A few companies were detailed to watch the prisoners and I had the army surround the lone regiment. Near four thousand surrounded almost three thousand, this was not an assault I wanted to press home. Both forces lacked cavalry, and few skirmishes were to be had at all. I cursed that oversight of mine. I'll fix it before I cross the Lobau. The colonels gathered around me as we appraised our foe.
"Sir?" Isser asked quietly.
I shook my head. "I'd rather starve them then lose a single soldier."
Tullio opened her mouth to reply when a small group appeared from within the ranks of the 49th. They raised a small white flag. A flag of parlay no doubt…
"Tullio, stay here. Isser, pick five of your best." The colonels nodded and then with my new group we set off to meet our surrounded friends. As we walked I checked all my weapons… even the ones I kept concealed. My knives were there, the sword at my hip and the pistol I hid away.
We stopped a few paces apart from the knights in their gleaming armor. And appraised the other party.
"I take it you are Smith? Brother of Baron Fulton." One of the Knightess finally spoke and removed her helmet.
"Indeed." I replied solemnly.
"It brings me great shame to be defeated by an unstoried regiment. But my Mistress's words were absolute." She bowed her head and made a warding symbol.
"Were?" I cocked my head to the side and briefly tapped my sword.
"My Mistress was with child, and upon the excitement of battle her water broke, it is with sadness that the child was born still. The exertions and poor accommodations of the Mistress's carriage… she passed as well." She explained.
"What does that mean for all of you though?" I asked slowly.
"My Mistress was the last of her line. Her unborn child the future of her family, with both deceased our regiment is now without purpose." The Knightess explained sadly. Her voice began to choke, and she dropped her helmet.
"We knights failed to protect our lady, but the rank and file did their duty. Please at least accept their honorable surrender." Another Knightess took off her helmet and dropped it. The rest of them followed suit.
"And what of you lot?" I challenged.
"We must seek a new liege… one that may take pity on our failures, or take the ranger's vows." The first Knightess.
"I fail to see your failure to defend your liege." Isser stepped forward. She glanced at me and I nodded my tacit approval before she continued.
"I am Diane Isser, Knightess of the Order of the Block Rose." She introduced herself to the Knightess before her with a salute.
Her salute was returned by the first Knight to speak. "Knightess Rarla Kisk, of the Order of the Silver Chalice."
"Kisk, in no way have you shirked your knightly duties or vows, defending your liege lord in their most vulnerable state." Isser told them.
"Our liege perished in a field of battle. That is our failure." Kisk replied solemnly.
Isser glanced at me with a grimace. "But your liege was never engaged, nor were the troops under her command forced to defend themselves. They were spectators upon another's battlefield."
They shook their heads. Isser sighed and stepped back, having exhausted her supply of excuses.
"What will it be?" I asked the knights before me.
Kisk drew her sword and drove it into the dirt, slowly and with pained faces the other knights did the same. Isser tapped my shoulder. "They cannot hand their blades to one equal or below them. It is how knights surrender their blades to those of lesser stations."
"A bunch of knights without a liege…" I muttered. Wait… I know a lord without any knights. They'd probably take in a bunch of knights, skilled as they were no doubt… at least with the blade. Talent was always appreciated wherever it could be found.
"I think… I know a lord that would take you all in."