Darin blows out a tense breath. He glances down before shifting his gaze toward the rear of your forces. Elya and her bodyguards, including Velinor, remain mounted in the back. "Let's go and tell yer sister that we're all ready."
You nod, and the two of you head up your line. You pass levies and mercenaries. Veterans and fresh-faced recruits. Knights in their dazzling armor and peasants wielding cudgels.
Boys staring down the abyss.
As you head around the edge of your line and pass to the rear, Elya motions for you to approach. You and Darin do so, riding up to her. Velinor watches as you approach.
She asks, "So… is everything ready?"
You nod. "Aye. Just give the order."
Just give the order.
Next
Elya closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. She gives the order, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Advance…"
Darin brings the trumpet to his lips and sounds the horn of war.
And the men move forward.
Immediately, your thoughts are captured by the faces of men you've seen throughout the camp. Men like those who accompanied you across the marsh. Who fought in the Atiming.
Men who fought with you through The War.
The ones lucky enough to have survived battle after battle. Perhaps they will fall on this field after so narrowly avoiding death on the others.
Your mind shifts to Obren. Despite his injuries, the knight insisted upon joining the battle. He's riding in the rear of your knights, too injured to fight on the front line.
You shake your head to clear your thoughts.
There's a battle to fight.
Next
The sound of marching echoes across the plains. Equipment rattles. Men shift uneasily as your army approaches Rade's.
Seeing this, a horn sounds from the rebel line. The two great hosts approach one another.
You scan over your lines, occupying your racing mind.
You analyze your formation, focusing first on your cavalry, which mirrors Rade's own.
They're detached from the main bulk of the army, in two separate groups. Each is maintaining a position nearly forty yards past your flanks. Here, they can be called upon to charge, outflank the enemy, or even intercept the enemy's own riders.
Your light riders, however, are holding a position just behind the archers. From here, you can quickly dispatch them to flank the enemy or exploit any gaps in their lines.
You turn your attention to your infantry. Your men are numerically inferior, but the superior grit and training of your retinue may prove decisive.
Men trained in offensive action would best be focused and concentrated; piercing the center of an enemy's line would cause an immediate victory. Men drilled in order and discipline would best be spread throughout the line to maintain its strength.
Keeping this in mind…