July 7th, 1693 – Republican Stronghold near Fort Serrant
General Lucien Marceau stood on the walls of the Republican stronghold, watching the distant ridges through his spyglass. Smoke drifted over the horizon, and the low rumble of cannon fire echoed across the valley. The Royalists were coming.
Marceau had expected Bruno to strike, but he hadn't anticipated this level of force. The reports had been consistent—Bruno's forces possessed advanced artillery that could strike beyond conventional range. The destruction of the Republican army at the last battle had already proven that. Yet, Marceau had still managed to extract a portion of his troops, retreating toward Fort Serrant and entrenching in a defensive position nearby.
But Bruno wasn't giving him time to recover.
