"She doesn't deserve the treatment she's getting, she's not a real noble." Daniels complained for what seemed like the hundredth time. Even as the two forces lined up for battle he didn't relent on the issue.
"You did good work, Daniels," Henry responded, "but abusing the Princess is no longer producing results. The orcs learned their lesson and won't make any more tactical mistakes on her behalf. Continuing her mistreatment serves no purpose." The King tore his gaze away from the maneuvering orcs to look at the Queen's former footman. The campaign had been hard on him, even if he had been enjoying Jasmara to relieve it. His beard was already white, but deep lines had formed beneath the ivory whiskers that seemed to be developing into ravines.
"It doesn't need a purpose!" Daniels snarled. "She's an orc, and Jeanette's daughter to boot. She has it coming, the whole family does! Fucking her is a small way of repaying them for the way they've fucked the Kingdom."
"Their reckoning will come when the war is over, but first we have to win it. When your strategy fails, you adapt or get overcome. My Queen's velvet glove may bring greater success than your mailed gauntlet."
"Orcs only understand steel" Black Pete interjected, "I don't know what velvet is, but it sounds too soft to get an orc's attention. You need to show 'em strength, and to teach 'em harsh lessons before the teach you."
Henry glanced at the Catabrian, who also was older with a white beard. But where Daniels was ossifying, Black Pete was like a rock: solid, hard, and eternal. The King didn't like dealing with the Catabrians, but he couldn't deny that they hated the orcs and were willing to fight hard to prove it.
"You cannot paint all the orcs with the same brush," stated Etienne, the new Thestan commander, "they are not all like Augras. We shouldn't give them any excuses for reprisals."
"Hah! You only say that because Grotok's army is in Thesta" Daniels said, "and you don't want them coming down on your people. But they already are, and there's nothing we can do about it."
There's truth to that,
Henry thought. "The decision has been made. There's no point in discussing it further." Henry said abruptly. "We have more important issues before us. The orc vanguard will be here soon, and we still don't know where their main body is. Etienne, take the cavalry and screen our flanks. Take a more defensive posture: we won't score a decisive victory with only their vanguard in play and I don't want to risk getting encircled by their main body."
Etienne nodded, "Yes Your Highness" and then road off to follow the orders.
"Daniels, take the Hesten infantry and meet their vanguard and pin it in place. 'Black Pete', use your light infantry to flank the orcs once they're engage. I'll stay back with the Thestan host to engage Belkor if he shows himself. Does everyone understand?"
When the commanders signaled their agreement, he dismissed them to follow their orders before turning back towards the battlefield. His brow furrowed in consternation as he watched the small block of orcs maneuvering into position.
Where are the rest of them, and what are they planning?
****
The leather of her cuirass creaked and pinched her breast as she swung off her horse. For some reason it wasn't fitting right today and kept crushing her breasts.
There are worse problems to have though,
Amelie thought,
and it's too late to do anything about it now.
The orc rear guard waited for them up the road, lined for battle.
Her mounted troopers could have bypassed them, but she didn't want to leave an enemy in her rear while chasing a larger battle. She did have to push through them quickly though. Amelie had received another letter from Anne bringing bad tidings. Refugees from the orc advance had already reached Orlais. While it wasn't yet putting a strain on the food supply, the increased numbers in the capital would be harder to feed if the orcs arrived and besieged the city before her and the Sandoran army could stop them.
Amelie pushed the image of Anne from her mind. Though she wanted nothing more than to ride home and see her daughter and care for her people, she had to make the tactically and strategically wise decisions, and that meant fighting the orcs here, not going around them.
Besides, I'm the 'Princess-Knight'; I have a reputation to uphold. Sending their rear guard fleeing back into their main force will only increase the fear they have of me.
Amelie smiled in grim satisfaction at the heavy infantry arrayed in front of her.
They had half again her numbers, but it wouldn't matter. Nor would the fact that they had heavier armor. Her own troops were elite, hardened veterans and well trained. She knew just how to smash armored ranks, orcs or not.
Plus I have my new sword,
Amelie thought with a grin as she grasped the blade,
I was powerful before, now I'm unstoppable!
She shook herself, trying to dispel the overconfidence. Being sure of yourself and your abilities was key in a fight, but never start thinking you're invincible.
That's how you get killed.
It took only a minute for her dragoons to be lined up for battle after dismounting from their horses. Amelie Stepped in front and drew her sword, raising it above her head. "On me, wedge formation!" Without waiting, she immediately stepped off, knowing her men would fall in behind her. The sword seemed to thrum in her grasp, as if she could feel it radiating magical power down her arm.
The Mincenntti weapon was heavier than her normal blade, but the strength it granted her more than made up for the increased weight. The blade, her shield, and her armor seemed almost weightless as she marched down the road towards the waiting orcs.
They're holding it together well,
she noticed,
staying in ranks, in formation, not rushing to meet us. Either they've been well trained or have a harsh commander. No matter.
"Wait for my order to launch the javelins!" She called out. "My order, not a signal. Leave them in your quivers until you hear me expressly order you to throw. Understood?" Her high pitched voice carried well down the ranks, and her men cheered in affirmation of the order.
Typical Thestan strategy was to throw them at the beginning of the battle to soften up the enemy, but she didn't think that would be effective against heavy infantry in tight ranks. No, she had something better in mind. Amelie grinned in anticipation, and began moving faster towards the rank of orcs ahead. Amelie was lined up with the middle of their column, and as she approached she could make out the individual orcs. She peered through the ranks until she made out a sergeant exhorting his men to prepare for the coming battle.
She passed her sword to her shield hand, then pulled a javelin from her quiver. The orcs were lined up in a shield wall, braced for the javelin fire but that didn't dissuade her. She took her aim, then flung the javelin forward. The missile flew through the air, brushed against the rim of an orc's shield then slammed through the sergeant's eye socket.
The orc stumbled back and collapsed, and his men growled in anger at the sudden death. The line rippled, but angry shouts from further back in the ranks steadied the orcs and kept them in formation. Amelie tried to pick out which officer was restoring order, but he must have been too far back for her to see.
It doesn't matter, it was the front line leader that I needed to take out, and now that's done it's time to shatter them!
"Forward! Thesta!" Amelie cried and began charging forward.
"Princess-Knight! Princess-Knight!" The Falcon Guard chanted as they joined her in the attack.
After she switched her sword back to her main hand, Amelie closed the distance with the nearest orc. He raised his shield to block her attack, so she slightly adjusted her aim as she swung it down. The magical blade impacted the wooden shield with a resounding crack, and then shredded the wood as it cut right through. The orc screamed in pain as the sword cut through his hand.
Amelie quickly drew it back again and thrust past the orc's lowered guard, skewering him through the throat. As the orc gurgled and fell to the earth, she raised her shield to block the attack of the next orc in line. Instead of countering, she slashed to the side, destroying the shield of the orc to her right and allowing her trooper to dispatch the foe.
Then she chopped to the left, severing an orc's arm and releasing a gush of blood. The power of the sword surged through her as she laid waste to her enemies.
