The sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky, its golden rays warming the earth below. Egil reclined on his horse, lying on his stomach over the beast's strong back with one arm draped lazily over its neck. The horse, a sturdy creature with a glossy black coat, trotted steadily beneath him, seemingly accustomed to its master's unconventional posture. Behind Egil, a line of ten riders followed, their horses kicking up small clouds of dust as they moved in unison.
It had been three days since the letters were sent out, and the tension among his men had shifted into a kind of restless anticipation. Egil had sent out a quarter of his forces as scouts, and their efforts had paid off. They had successfully located the enemy army without being detected themselves. Their reports confirmed that the enemy force was still two days away, moving at a fast but predictable pace.
