General Harfad stood respectably before the king, who had jettisoned his robes for a shirt of mail. It did not surprise the Royal Assembly that the king wanted to lead the Valencian troops against the safrohi. After all, he had done it before. His victory following the Great War, which led to his coronation, was evergreen in the minds of the older folk.
"Savitro Zhan," muttered the king, taking his fingers across the detailed map, "utter north," he looked up at General Harfad, "how many men have you been able to gather?"
"Eighty thousand. Ten thousand archers, forty thousand calvary. The rest are foot soldiers."
"What about the prime minister?"
"He refused to see me after the last Assembly gathering," General Harfad replied, "Left Minister Saarzad figures that he wants to avoid this all out war against the safrohi,"
"The prime minister having a change of heart?" The king scoffed, "is he not sworn against the safrohi?"
"Without his support, we are at a disadvantage," General Harfad reminded.
"I'm glad." The king replied, "what I really do not want is the prime minister's support,"
A messenger hurried in, bowing.
"Your majesty, Prince Coran sent a message via pigeon-- he has arrived at the border garrison."
The king nodded non-committally and focused his attention on the blank parchment before him, quill in hand.
"I have never really been to the Northern Border garrison," the king said suddenly, "therefore, I will not lead the troops all the way to where the enemy is strongest. That is what Zarin expects me to do." He put down the quill, "Harfad, divide the men you gathered into companies of a thousand, with a captain over them, and have them march ahead beyond the capital gates."
"My king, you want to lure the safrohi to the capital?" General Harfad looked dubious, "is that not--- too dangerous?"
"Its not the safrohi I'm luring-- it's Zarin. If I'm right, and the situation is just like the Great War, then I know that the safrohi are more powerful on their own land. That's why we couldn't utterly defeat Savitro Zhan back then. They remained at the North. Taurus it was who led the calvary against them. You know the outcome,"
General Harfad nodded grimly.
"That's why the prime minister suggested to lead a sneak attack on the other clans."
"And was victorious. But still lost a lot of soldiers."
"So the safrohi will remain in the north, but Zarin will bring his troops down to the capital," General Harfad mused, "but, my king, he still has over two hundred thousand men, if not more!"
"It doesn't matter," the king said resolutely, "as Valencia will not fight this battle alone,"
.....
More stories! More art! More intriguing content from the author herself!
Show support for Through War and Pestilence by following @official_rynna on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/official_rynna/