Tides of Blood and Steel by Christian Warren Freed Read Free Book Online Page A

bits of information leading up to the battle. Prost found him with a queer look when he returned with the horse.
     
     
    “The army performed brilliantly,” Rolnir congratulated his adjutant.
    Piper gave a modest nod. He was not the one to do his job for recognition or glory. He did it for Delranan and the honor. Nothing more. “Thank you, General. I do not deserve such credit, however. Field Commander Prost developed the strategy and led the men. If anything I was in his way. He should be so honored, not me.”
    Rolnir feigned a smile. He expected such from his friend. “Ever humble, eh Piper?”
    Piper rubbed the stubble on his chin. “They were in a static defense. I doubt they were in position very long. All of the wooden obstacles were fresh cut and green.”
    “And their numbers?”
    “Manageable. They didn’t have more than two hundred. We killed or wounded one hundred twenty-seven and took sixty-three prisoner. I allowed the rest to escape to spread the word of our coming.”
    Rolnir approved though his gaze darkened slightly. “Our numbers?”
    “Twenty-four dead. Thirty wounded.”
    Higher than he had hoped or anticipated. Sadly, there was nothing for it. War was as unpredictable as the direction of the winter wind. Men died and the battles continued. The only way to stop the dying was through ending the war. Rolnir knew the end was too far away to begin thinking about.
    “Why did they stand? Your force was strong enough to wipe them from the field in less than an hour. There must be some ulterior motivation,” Rolnir mused, echoing Piper’s earlier misgivings.
    Piper threw up his hands. “The only conclusion I came to was that we had them cornered. Cut off from Rogscroft, they had no choice but to stand and fight.”
    “Against impossible odds? They are fine enough fighting behind rocks and laying ambushes, but they’re not battlefield quality and you know it,” Rolnir scolded sharply. “Could be Aurec just wanted to see the full measure of what he’s facing. Even if meant sacrificing a few hundred men.”
    “Prince Aurec was not on the field,” Piper added.
    “He is not my main concern. Every day takes us deeper into enemy territory. Our supply lines are getting stretched and more difficult to maintain. At some point we will be forced to take an operational pause for resupply and refit,” Rolnir told him. “The prince will be brought to task in due time. I need you to stay focused on the task at hand.”
    “Does that mean we ignore what just happened? I somehow doubt Aurec is foolish enough to waste valuable resources so blindly.”
    Rolnir stalked over to the wall map and pointed out a series of positions. “We’ve engaged and destroyed three enemy outposts in the last day and a half. King Stelskor is no fool and neither is his son. He is not about to sacrifice his men for no reason. I believe these outposts are designed only to slow us down, nothing more.”
    “I agree. The king must have a plan. Trying to figure it out has been most infuriating.”
    “Until we know what that plan is, we remain cautious. I share your uneasy feeling about this affair, Piper,” Rolnir reluctantly admitted. “My gut tells me Aurec’s using these forts to draw us in, but for what I don’t know.”
    Piper waited patiently. They’d worked together long enough to understand each other’s moods. Rolnir was clearly deep in thought and anything Piper had to say would only disrupt his train of thought. As in any military affair, the campaign progressed at varying degrees. The initial deployment was slow thanks largely to the treacherous crossing of the Murdes Mountains. Once they managed to get the full weight of the army in the field, the advance moved rapidly, only slowing for smaller fights and shadow attacks. Rolnir didn’t know what to expect from Aurec and that unsettled him, so he directed the army to advance with all haste towards the capital. Take the castle and the rest of the kingdom would