Lord Randyll Tarly observed the Stormlander ranks filled with expendable soldiers and issued a new command:
"Order the swordsmen and shield-bearers to break from the pike formation and attack, but they are not to pursue too far. Just clear out the nearby Stormlanders and prevent them from pressing our lines."
"Yes, my lord!" The messenger acknowledged the command but hesitated before asking, "Shall we halt the army's advance for now?"
Lord Randyll didn't reply, instead casting a cold, silent gaze on the messenger.
Realizing his overstep, the messenger quickly withdrew in embarrassment.
Once the order was relayed, the Reach's swordsmen and shield-bearers began their assault. Clad in steel armor and wielding shields and blades, these heavy infantry easily overwhelmed the Stormlander conscripts who had been attacking. What was initially a carefully controlled advance now turned into a massacre.
As the Stormlander conscripts began to crumble, the sound of horns echoed across the battlefield, and more troops charged forth to replace them.
This wave of soldiers was clearly better equipped and moved with greater discipline; they must have been the Stormlanders' regular army.
The earlier conscript charge had partially disrupted the Reach's formations, and now these seasoned soldiers pressed in, causing Reach casualties to mount rapidly.
Many Reach nobles grew concerned, but out of respect for Randyll Tarly's authority and past successes, they didn't dare speak up. Instead, their gazes shifted to Samwell.
Sensing their anxiety, Samwell spoke up, "Father, should we halt the advance and deal with the Stormlander charge first?"
Instead of dismissing his son's question, Lord Randyll responded with one of his own: "What do you think is the greatest drawback of advancing while under attack?"
Realizing this was a test, Samwell didn't answer immediately but instead studied the battlefield.
Though the Stormlanders were pressing hard, the Reach forces still held the upper hand. Most of the Stormlands' elite soldiers were prisoners in Dorne, and even the last of their reserves fell short of the Reach's elite troops in terms of quality and equipment. Their advantage lay in their familiarity with the forested terrain, which, while causing the Reach casualties, was not enough to destabilize the formation. Lord Randyll wouldn't be so calm if it were.
Still, many Reach nobles worried about their soldiers' losses, hence their wish for a more cautious strategy.
Samwell couldn't understand his father's insistence on advancing either. Even if they needed to exit the Kingswood quickly, a brief halt wouldn't make much difference.
Then he noticed the rear of the Reach formation.
It had become the weakest point of the entire army—a predictable issue since, as the army advanced, the soldiers at the rear had to keep pace while fending off enemy attacks, forcing them to fight as they retreated.
Anyone who's been in a fight knows that retreating while under attack is highly challenging, even if it isn't forced. Retreating troops lose momentum, and since humans' eyes face forward, stepping backward requires them to look back repeatedly to avoid colliding with their comrades or trees.
As a result, the rear of the Reach formation was beginning to falter, suffering the heaviest casualties.
Moreover, with Lord Randyll's strict order against separating from the main force, the rear troops, even if they wanted to counterattack, were forced to endure the strain.
Seeing this, Samwell was more puzzled than ever by his father's insistence on advancing.
He was about to speak when he noticed the cavalry gathered at the center of the formation, and a thought struck him: "Father, are you deliberately exposing our rear to lure the Stormlanders into a full assault?"
Lord Randyll's stern face softened into a smile, and he nodded, "Precisely. The more we maintain our advance, the more desperate the Stormlanders become. And desperation leads to poor decisions. If I present them with a weakness, they'll likely take the bait."
Samwell finally felt reassured.
The other Reach nobles, hearing this, also remained silent.
Only Ser Omer Oakheart and Lord Gonser Green looked displeased.
After all, it was their forces positioned at the rear of the formation…
Sacrifice is part of any strategy, but it's a different story when the sacrificed troops are one's own.
However, Ser Omer and Lord Gonser dared not protest. Not long ago, a knight from the House Peake, one of the staunch "Horse faction" supporters, had been beheaded for disobeying an order. These two belonged to the "Deer faction," and they worried that Lord Randyll was deliberately placing their forces at the back to weaken their influence.
With the Horse faction currently in control of the Reach, all they could do was grit their teeth and swallow their frustration.
Noticing their expressions, Samwell chuckled quietly to himself. His father, it seemed, had a penchant for ruthless tactics.
In the original histories, Lord Randyll had pulled similar maneuvers on several occasions, including once during the War of the Five Kings when he covertly cut down numerous members of House Florent, his wife's family, to claim Brightwater Keep. Later, in King's Landing, he had locked the lord of House Mooton in a dark cell, forcing him to marry his daughter to Dickon…
Using this opportunity to weaken the Deer faction was not surprising.
Samwell silently lamented for the soldiers stationed at the rear. Unfortunately, they were caught on the wrong side of the power struggle…
The Stormlanders had also noticed the Reach's vulnerability. Now, more Stormlander soldiers surged toward the army's rear than anywhere else.
Under the relentless assault, the Reach's rear was beginning to buckle.
Lord Randyll spoke again, addressing his son:
"It's almost time. The Stormlanders should be gathering their forces for a decisive assault. Sam, prepare to lead the cavalry and await my signal."
"Yes!" Samwell answered, eager to comply.
Then Dickon Tarly stepped forward and said, "Brother, I'll ride with you!"
Samwell hesitated and looked toward their father.
Lord Randyll gave a slight nod, his expression unchanged. "Very well."
Samwell said nothing more. But just as he turned to leave, Lord Randyll spoke up with a caution:
"Remember, wait until the Stormlanders are fully engaged with our lines before you charge. Don't ride at full speed—our cavalry isn't suited for this terrain. And don't worry about momentum; the Stormlander light cavalry, while nimble, can only harass. They're no match for us in a head-on confrontation."
"Understood."
"After scattering the enemy, don't pursue them. In this forest, we'll struggle to catch the Stormlanders and may even fall into an ambush."
"Understood," Samwell replied again, feeling that his father was saying a lot more than usual.
Lord Randyll wasn't one for excessive words, which hinted that he might be worried despite his outwardly calm decision to send Dickon into the charge.
He paused, seeming as if he wanted to say more, but in the end, he fell silent.
Samwell, however, understood. He struck his breastplate with his right hand and said loudly, "First in Battle!"
Lord Randyll allowed a small smile and replied, "First in Battle."
Dickon joined them, adding in the Tarly family's words, "First in Battle!"
With that, the brothers turned and left together.
Lord Randyll watched his sons walk away, silent for a long while.
Generations of Tarly men had died on the front lines, and many more would carry on that tradition in the future.
It was both their fate and their honor.
(End of Chapter)