The bloodied member of the Black Halberds halted, turned to the black Halberds accompanying the marching troops, then he pointed towards an opening near the rough roads. The men stared at the direction that the bloodied Black Halberd was pointing.
Shrubberies and thick trees block their view.
After a nod, the bloodied black halberd left, heading deeper into the wood lands.
As the men stared at the leaving figure in confusion, the Black Halberds accompanying them, heads for the dense shrubbery and hack their way through it.
Soon… A fortified wooden camp caught the eyes of the men.
Wooden palisades, a top raised earth with moats dug around it. Four tall wooden watch towers around the four corners of the camp were filled with one or two watchmen, observing the situation of their surroundings. The camp's gate, with standing torches on both side. Had a dozen or more guards manning it.
In just a day or two, the men of Zalsac, built a fortified camp in the middle of the cross road woodlands.
"Elder Hugh, we're here…" Ivan, addressed the elderly man beside him, gulping as he felt the depressing aura around the camp.
"Yes, lad… we're here…" Hugh's eyes full of nostalgia. How long had he last stepped in a army camp. It's been too long, his hair still auburn when he left his job in the castle.
This time as a balding old man. He once again entered a military camp. This time not as a young soldier, but as an old veteran, hoping to guide his young counterparts in this upcoming war.
"Halt!" The marching troops halted, as a mounted man, wearing a chain mail and a barbute helm, stopped before them. "Where's your commander?"
"I'm Ivan, the deputy of Ser Wiegraf, along with me is the troops from Waldr and Reztel. This is the proof." The pudgy Ivan, steered his horse to approach the mounted soldier. Handing a latter with the stamp from Wiegraf.
"You stay here. I'll have to consult my superiors." The mounted soldier nodded, he already knew that this marching army in front of him was the forces from Waldr and Reztel.
They were expected to appear here any time today. It's just that formality must be followed, and those above him must be informed.
"Okay…" Ivan, nodded, he watched as the mounted soldier entered the fortified camp.
"Hmmm…" Hugh beside Ivan tilted his head. Staring at the fortified camp with a confused look.
"What is it elder Hugh?" Noticing Hugh's movement, Ivan turned to the elderly.
"It feels off, the camp it feels very off."
"Huh?" Turning from Old Hugh to the fortified camp, it's now Ivan's turn to be confused. Mumbling in low voice as he stared at the fortified camp. "Doesn't seem odd to me…"
In Ivan's eyes it's just an ordinary military camp with slightly more defensive fortifications.
Hugh shook his head, he can't stop that feeling that he's missing something. A piece to unravel the puzzle that has been giving him that nagging feeling he had at the moment. "This doesn't feel like a temporary camp to me… more like a hastily made fort…"
Guessing the purpose of the temporary camp's existence, Hugh turned to Ivan. "Do you think it is possible that the Baron will create a settlement here?"
Ivan shook his head, unsure regarding Old Hugh's question.
It isn't impossible for this woodland camp to become a permanent settlement, it's just the population of Zalsac has long been divided. Unless the Baron purchased slaves or opened Zalsac to refugees, there won't be anyone to settle here.
Another thing is that even if the Baron did open Zalsac to the refugees, which sane men will jump on the opportunity to take a monster infested land as their home.
Considering these, Ivan shook his head and told Old Hugh his opinion regarding the woodland camp."Settlement? If the baron did turn this area into a settlement, who will inhabit this place then?"
Hugh still in deep thought with his puzzled face. Then with a final shake of his head, he gave up using his brain on the matter. "I don't know… its just… never mind."
As the two were having a conversation, the mounted soldier from before made his way back towards them. Facing the two, the mounted soldier informed them of the baron's will and the arrangements of the soldiers. "Follow me the baron wishes to see you. The rest of your men will be arranged shortly."
Without another word, he began to trot his horse towards the fortified camp.
Seeing the soldier's action, Ivan, turned to Old Hugh, with an apologetic face he asked the elderly men for his assistance.
Ivan, knew that beside him only Old Hugh, can lead the men he brought from Waldr and Reztel. Despite Hugh's shameless nature, he can be relied on, especially at times like this.
After all, the old man possessed both expertise and knowledge in such a task. "Elder Hugh, please help me supervise the men."
Hugh nodded, to him being the village elder and a supervising officer makes no difference.
After seeing Hugh's nod, Ivan followed the mounted sergeant deep in to the camp.
______
Tempory Camp
Central Tent
A map lay a top the table. The baron and his trusted butler gathered around, looking at the map of Hatr.
"Hatr, is in an open field. It'll be difficult for us to approach it without getting noticed." Prewell, explained the problem that is currently troubling him to the experienced Ecish.
Nodding at his Lord, Ecish thought for a moment before sharing his idea. "Hmmm, my Lord, how about using the black halberds to clear out the way before we proceed with the entire army?"
After a pause Ecish turn to look at Prewell's expression. His idea is good, but the Black Halberds is his Lord's most priced troops. He treats them with extreme secrecy… if given another option and situations, he wouldn't recommend such an idea to his Lord.
After a moment and seeing no change in Prewell's expression he continued, and explain the reason for using the Black Halberds. "The Black Halberds are masters in concealment especially if they're alone. With the skills they displayed and their extreme ability to follow commands."
"They'll be able to take out the groups of goblins along our way. The goblins wouldn't even know what hit them."
"This way we will to approach Hatr silently without attracting much attention. I doubt the goblin chief will notice one or two groups of goblins missing."
Prewell stared at the map. Ecish, idea is feasible, no rather, his idea is perfect for their current situation.
The Black Halberds are perfect for working alone, they do not need anyone to convey commands to them. He can just will them to do his commands, and they will do it in the most efficient manner. They can go deep into the enemy lines and wreak havoc, as he stays in the camp and commands them mentally.
With a final thought regarding the matter, Prewell agreed to Ecish proposal. "Yes… I'll have the Black Halberds go ahead of us."
Picking up a piece of wood painted Black, he placed it near Hatr on the map. Around the black wooden piece are multiple wooden pieces painted green.
Prewell stared deeply at the map, as mumbled out loud.
"We need to catch them off guard. Allowing the goblins to regroup will cause us to be at a disadvantage." With his fingers, he began pushing multiple wooden pieces painted in black. The direction they were pushed at is close to the green painted pieces.
"Only with the element of surprise can we catch them off guard… by then… the goblin chief wouldn't be able to use their numerical advantage on us. Before our organized army, their offense will be like a rabble trying to attack a well-disciplined army…" Dragging the green pieces to the black pieces, both pieces now attached to each other.
"As their army is attracted by ours… you'll have to kill the goblin chief." Prewell picked up a piece with Ecish's name written on it, placing it beside a piece of wood painted green, with chief written in it.
"The moment their leader is gone, as long as we dealt a huge enough blow to their army, they will more than likely collapse on their own." Then, Prewell slowly began removing the pieces of wood painted with green. One by one until all that is left is the Black Pieces.
Watching his Lord's actions, Ecish nodded, he knew his mission and part in the war.
The death of the goblin chief, that's his goal and one of the most important part to beat the overwhelmingly numerical superior goblin army.
"The only variable now is the lack of Intelligence regarding Hatr's status… but as long as the goblins main force remains outside its walls it means that the men are still holding…
What we need to do now, is to maximize the use of time left to us. Before we head out, we must arm enough arrows and javelins for the troops. Only by using range projectiles can we avoid a situation where the troops' life needed to be traded for a goblin's." With the end of Prewell's words, the tent turned silent. Both men thinking over the plan, trying to find loopholes.