Resurrected Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Three (34 page)

CHAPTER 37

The High Mages delivered. They figured out how to transfer those with a resistance after talking with Noam. They acted like the idea had been theirs almost entirely, but I heard from one of the wounded that Noam, all while still treating the injured, practically designed the entire spell the High Mages later wove into the transfer portal as well as the amulet those with a resistance had to wear in order to walk through it all.

Packed close in a tight formation, the army stood on an empty stretch of road before the transfer portal. The loud, rapid popping that usually preceded a portal’s appearance had been a loud boom due to its size. The sound seemed to have surprised even the high mages themselves as they, like everyone else, wrung out their ears with a finger.

I had seen a transfer portal many times, but nothing as large as the one before us. The blue and white flash of radiance had coalesced into an oval of bright light that hung a few inches above the ground as usual. However, it spanned a distance of over one hundred feet across rather than the usual five to ten.

The soldiers around me could not hide their apprehension at having to walk through the portal, especially those with a resistance like me. They shifted their weight back and forth on their heels, worrying the amulets around their necks while their eyes flicked about to see who go through first.

The three high mages and Balak conferred at the portal’s entrance. It looked as if they too were deciding over who would test the portal’s effectiveness as well as the amulets themselves.

I walked toward them. No sense in delaying the inevitable.

But before I could volunteer and keep at my philosophy of not ordering a man to do something I wouldn’t do, Balak sent one of his personal guards in with High Mage Datan. I arrived beside Balak a moment later. He gave me a small nod of acknowledgement as we waited for the results.

It was quite a thing to realize that an entire army held its breath in silent anticipation. I didn’t think so many people could remain so silent. After what was without a doubt the longest ten seconds of my life, Datan came back through.

“He’s fine,” he announced, unable to hide his own relief. “Just a bit dizzy, and that seems to be wearing off quickly.”

Everyone breathed a collective sigh. I swore I felt that release of air from thousands against the back of my neck.

Balak didn’t hesitate another moment. “Move out!”

The transfer took most of the afternoon, the army going through in companies of one hundred men. I had redistributed each group and even demanded that every company go through in the same formation in order to maximize the use of those with a resistance. The last thing I wanted was for someone to die because a person with a resistance couldn’t lay a hand on them in time once on the other side of the portal.

Thankfully, that never became an issue. Everyone survived.

Those who recovered faster were rewarded with setting up camp and scouting. Everyone else did their best to rest and recover from the ordeal.

I helped others recover as I had many times before.

* * *

For once, I didn’t dream. Or, if I did dream, I didn’t remember doing so which was fine by me. Maybe the trick to a good night’s sleep was to use my resistance to the point that it completely exhausted me.

I woke, used the latrine, and broke my fast on biscuits and some sort of fatty meat so greasy it coated the inside of my mouth. It was marvelous.

Boaz and I made small talk while we ate, speculating what our families were up to. Unlike previous times, our discussions were lighter and less dreary. I’m not sure if the extra sleep had brightened our mood or we just wanted to think good things before facing our deaths at Hol.

A messenger interrupted us just as I licked the last bit of grease from my fingers.

He saluted. “Commander, Balak wants to see you.”

I nodded. “Be there in a minute.”

The messenger ran off to relay the word back to the general as if the few minutes it would take me to walk over was too long of a delay.

Etan waited outside Balak’s tent. He looked drained. Balak had him and several others of his personal guard also use their resistance to help the army recover. I guessed from his tired eyes Etan had not had the opportunity to sleep.

We exchanged nods before he pushed the tent flap aside. It was strange, but at some point over the last couple of weeks we had gotten on more pleasant terms again. I wasn’t sure how. It certainly wasn’t anything I did specifically. I guess time and the current threat of the Geneshans had softened any previous failings Etan had blamed me for.

Balak was at the table, yet again. The table was not filled with maps though. Like last time, there were models spread over it.

“Have you slept any, general?” I asked, walking up.

The man looked worse than Etan.

He shook his head. “We’re so close. Too many factors at play and I’m constantly making sure I didn’t forget anything like I did with the transfer portal and people with a resistance.” He paused. “Maybe when this is all over, I can sleep.” He gestured to the model. “Do you recognize it?”

I studied the structure. “Pretty obvious. I haven’t been to Hol, but from what I know of the city, this is it. The shape of what remains of the outer walls and gatehouse gives it away, if nothing else. Is it really this bad?”

“Yes. I created this based on reports from Amasa.”

“I take it you’re going to finally let me in on your plans?”

“Yes. And I want you to pick them apart.”

“Yes, sir.”

Balak began, “Our latest intelligence reports say that over fifteen thousand soldiers are camped just outside of Hol, here. Another seven thousand will join them tomorrow morning. After that, there isn’t another large force of the enemy within a week of the city. Just some smaller squads and companies coming up from the south. If we begin our approach tomorrow as planned, we’d face twenty-two thousand.”

Balak took a deep breath. “Given our lack of numbers, it makes little sense to attack in a wedge. Even if we sliced through their center, they’d envelop us from the sides. And if we were to draw them in to our center by presenting stronger flanks, we’d have to thin our lines too greatly to encircle them. Therefore, we’ll keep a solid line of infantry straight across. We’ll split our cavalry and have them on our left and right flanks just behind our infantry lines, using them only to ensure the enemy doesn’t encircle us.”

“So, you’re going to go straight in and try to pound away at them?” I asked.

“Yes. Ahead of the infantry, I’ll have our archers and mages. As we advance, they’ll try to soften up the enemy lines. Then right before the lines clash, I’ll pull them back, have the infantry step forward, and the archers and mages will either continue their attack from the rear with higher arching rounds, or act as reserves to shore up any weaknesses in our lines.”

“I assume you’re placing our spears out front among the infantry?”

“The first line will be spears, second line swords, and then alternating thereafter.”

“So any Geneshans who slip through the spears will face someone who can fight up close. I like it.”

He grunted.

I scratched the growth on my neck. “Still risky though. Our lines would need to make a dent in theirs quickly. If the Geneshans gain the upper hand early or even just hold their ground, their numbers and fresher troops will win out. A more ideal solution would be to break up our regiments and attack from multiple angles. That way we could move in, strike, and retreat. That was my original thought these last few weeks by training the army in smaller companies and squads. We might be able to split their forces like that and try to beat them in smaller numbers. We have the advantage in maneuverability, why not try it?”

Balak smiled that unsettling smile of his. He knew something he wasn’t telling me and was pleased with himself for knowing it.

He ran his finger across several thin lines that overlapped the entire left flank of the Geneshan army. “This is why. It took them some time, but they are expecting us to do just that and so they’ve built a large network of ditches, many of them spiked along this flank. We attack them here without either pushing them back, or drawing them forward, and we will be trapped.”

“And slaughtered. So, someone’s leading this group with a head for strategy.”

“Very much so from what I know. He’s structured his camp so that it would be protected against many of the tactics you’ve recently employed since our fighting with the Geneshans began. This is partly why I want to employ the strategy I suggested. I think they’ll be so worried for one of your ideas or tricks that they’ll least expect us to attack them straight on.”

“You’re probably right. I’ll have to keep their commander’s expectations in mind.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Sir?”

“I’ll be commanding the army for this engagement.”

I blinked. “Sir, please don’t take this the wrong way, but you can’t do that. The men are used to seeing me watch over them. The last thing you want to do is change command before the biggest confrontation they’ve ever faced.”

He straightened as if accepting some grave task. “I must. The other reason why I chose this strategy is because I need to buy you and the other elite units time.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“You’re going to reassume command over your unit. Then you and the other four units you’ve developed will infiltrate the city and support Amasa and Datan as they attempt to recover the artifact. The Geneshans have a couple hundred men there, some of their best fighters from what I can tell. There are also quite a few sorcerers, Master Sorcerers among them. Amasa and Datan will need all the support they can get to succeed.”

I frowned. “Why only a couple hundred when they field twenty-two thousand outside of the city?”

“Probably because of the condition Hol is in. The streets and avenues are packed with debris. Most of the buildings still standing could fall at any moment. It will be hard for that many men to effectively and safely move about without suffering losses from the dangers of the city itself. Much easier for smaller units to operate which is why I’m taking that same approach. Also, based on what I’m getting in from reports, I think they’re a bit afraid of us. We’ve won against everything they’ve thrown at us these last few weeks. I don’t think they want to commit too much to the city and underestimate us again in the field.”

I wasn’t sure how much I believed either of his explanations, but there was no way to know for sure the reasons behind the Geneshan strategy without actually asking them. I decided it was best to move on.

“And High Mage Gidel?”

“He will support the main body.”

“I’m still confused. Recovering the artifact is important, I agree. But if the entire army is wiped out, then what good will it do?”

“Amasa has convinced me that he can access the power of the artifact and turn it against the Geneshans.”

My mouth opened in surprise. I couldn’t believe what I had heard. Balak had been paranoid about high mages from as far back as I could remember. To change that attitude now seemed preposterous.

“General, are you insane? You saw what happened last time someone tried to access that power.”

“And Amasa said he learned from that mistake.”

“And if he’s wrong?”

“Then we all die as we would have likely died the next time the artifact erupted anyway. Which according to Amasa could be within the next week. At least this way, we’ll take the Geneshans with us.”

“I don’t like this. Even if Amasa succeeds, what’s to stop him from using the artifact against us afterward and assuming control of Turine.”

“You.”

“Sir?”

“I’m assigning him to your unit, specifically for that reason. Hamath will be attached to Datan. My two best units. I’ve told them both it is to offer the best protection. That’s true. However, it is also to kill them the second it looks as though they will double cross me.”

“And how are we supposed to stop them if they have the artifact? It’s hard enough killing a High Mage without it.”

He balled his hands in obvious frustration. I believe my question had hit a nerve. “I really don’t know, Tyrus. But I hope you’ll think of something.”

For someone who had spent months alone in his tent thinking and strategizing, Balak had not impressed me with the extent of his plans.

* * *

“Molak-be-damned,” I muttered a few steps after exiting Balak’s tent.

“That bad, huh?”

I looked to my right. Hamath stood just out of my peripheral, leaning against a post with arms folded. He pushed himself off the post and fell in next to me.

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting. Tried to get in, but Etan said I wasn’t allowed,” he spat.

I grunted.

“Exactly. It seems like we’re right back to where we were. The great Tyrus is in Balak’s favor, and all else must pick at the scraps at your feet.”

I gave him a look. “Are we really going to get into this again?”

He sighed. “No. Sorry. So, what’s this big master plan of his? I overheard a few pieces of it, but couldn’t get close enough to catch it all.”

I explained.

“That’s it? He basically tries to hold for as long as possible while we act as bodyguards to the High Mages who are going to get the artifact?”

“Pretty much. And if the High Mages fail to carry out their end of the bargain, we’re to take care of them.”

“But he didn’t say how.”

“Said he trusted I’d think of something.”

Hamath began to laugh, loudly.

I scowled. “Something funny I’m not aware of?”

“All of it. You know, I was beginning to think that Balak had changed and he was fine with giving you credit. But this just proves that old snake in the grass is just as much of a piece of garbage as ever.”

“How so?”

“Well, he’s let you be the face of the army up to this point. Therefore, if something bad happened you’d get the blame. But as he hoped, you didn’t let that happen. He’s mostly kept to his tent, and he’s had you meet with him over and over. That makes it seem like he’s feeding you information, possibly the strategy that you later employ. He can prove that theory out if we win at Hol, because at the largest battle, he’ll be out where everyone can see him commanding the main body while you’ll be off with only a handful risking your life for an artifact few really understand.