Before heading off to sleep, Varre tasked his commanders with overseeing a large scale headcount of his forces. While the campaign had been short and with no major battles fought so far, the scouts had been engaged in fierce combat for weeks, spilling rivers of blood in the dense forest.

  Multiple small skirmishes happened each day, with their frequency only growing as both goblins and humans expanded their operations. Each one resulted in a couple dead or injured on both sides. Over time, the numbers added up.

  The light cavalry had been depleted, though fortunately thousands of soldiers had answered the call to arms. Four hundred perished so far, with another four hundred too wounded to continue fighting. A thousand others were distributed throughout every corner of the duchy, patrolling the area and sending reports of enemy activities back to the communication mages in the capital for processing.

  Another thousand guarded the extensive supply train. While most goblins had retreated by now and focused on defense, they weren’t the only threat in these woods. Wolves, bears, and other, more dangerous creatures continued to harass the locals. While they avoided the massive armies, such creatures were a problem for the fragile caravans.

  That only left five thousand riders available to join the battle. These would have to be distributed wisely, as many would still be needed to deliver messages between the regiments and to scout the woods.

  The core of the army would consist of nearly four thousand knights, ready to break through enemy formations like a battering ram. Their larger destriers and heavier armor made them less useful for forward operations so far. Most stayed with the infantry, occasionally joining patrols or taking part in limited skirmishes. Their casualties had been minimal.

  Though the cavalry would pack a serious punch during the coming battle, the bulk of the numbers was always made up of infantry. Two thousand halberdiers from the king’s personal retinue were the most powerful of their counterparts. Their equipment was tailor made for combating goblins. Soon, they’d get to prove their worth.

  The rest were simple levies, brought from every corner of the kingdom. Twenty two thousand made it to Northport. Their numbers were impressive, but their actual effectiveness unknown. Their armor was very limited and their weapons makeshift at best. Most used spears and shields, occasionally bringing in tools like axes. A few were better armed, bringing in their own equipment, but that only made the formation less consistent in battle.

  A couple thousand more had been spread out through the duchy, garrisoning the hastily assembled forts and outposts, or helping to defend the caravans. The majority though made it to the battlefield.

  These people normally suffered the bulk of the casualties, enduring starvation and outbreaks of disease. Fortunately, Varre’s insistence on steady supplies of grain from his personal properties and the investments in training new healers alleviated much of these issues. Most levies were in good condition and ready to fight.

  Thought the three individual prongs were brought together to prepare for the confrontation, they’d operate somewhat independently from each other. Delivering exact orders in the thick of battle could take precious minutes. Perhaps even longer, as the troops marched further and distances grew.

  For the sake of the battle, the soldiers were roughly split in three equal parts with the center slightly reinforced. The monarch would lead this section, giving him the best overview of the battle and allowing him more flexibility to react to changing conditions.

  -*-*-*-

  The men woke up shortly before dawn and began packing up the campsite as quickly as they could. The camp followers trudged behind, picking up the remaining pieces. Battles involving thousands of men could stretch for hours and sometimes even days. It was important to start as early as possible and capitalize on every advantage.

  All through the night, the vanguard continued to watch over the enemy, but they appeared calm. They made no sudden moves and their formation remained put. The humans attempted to scout further, exploring the forests around the goblin campsite, but roaming packs of wolf riders kept them at bay. Whatever hid in those woods would remain hidden until the battle itself.

  The march to the front was tense. Everyone knew that the enemy was close. There was no telling what they’d do. If the goblins wished it, they could charge out and begin the battle on their terms.

  Whatever they had planned, it seemed that they were taking their time. The scouts watched as the creatures carefully packed up their campsite. They uplifted the tents and moved them into the tree line. Clearly, more forces were hiding in the forest beyond. Yet the enemy was adamant. The humans would not get to see them early.

  Twenty thousand soldiers, the same twenty thousand seen stationed on the field since yesterday, began to slowly gather and prepare for battle. They took their time. They could clearly see Varre’s vanguard watching over them across the open fields, but they did nothing to deter the observers.

  As the king got to experience several times during the current campaigns, marching thousands of men through wilderness was a challenge all on its own. This time however, with every square inch between him and the site of the battle scouted, he could move a little faster. The troops were spread out into a wider formation and moved in several thick columns. It still took hours to get everyone across this last mile, but it wouldn’t take the whole day.

  Varre, along with his commanders, moved at the head of the army. They had to get there first. While the rest of the soldiers formed ranks, they’d spend the time examining the battlefield carefully and drafting detailed plans.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  They arrived on the scene in the early morning. The vanguard was put on high alert and it had been reinforced by a team of Royal Guards ensuring the monarch’s security.

  The enemy was a long distance away, far beyond the reach of ranged weapons. If something went wrong, the king would be able to escape safely. Once Captain Hakon had seen the situation for himself, he gave the word and the commanders moved through the tree line to take a better look on the scene.

  The ruins of Northport were a sorry sight. Just like every other settlement found in the last few days, every building had been burned to the ground. Piles of ashy logs stood where people once ate their meals and spent time with their families.

  A narrow stream went through the village, coming from somewhere further North. All of the buildings were on the Western side, with only a tiny wooden bridge heading across. The water seemed completely uninterested in the devastation, flowing just like it had always been. It seemed almost out of place, considering the surrounding destruction.

  The forest around the Northport had been cut down, resulting in a huge open area. The crops had been gathered down months ago, leaving bare earth in their place. It didn’t look pleasant to the eye, but at least it made for a good place to maneuver large forces around.

  The farmland skirted the edge of the settlement, creating a large circular bowl. The area was rugged and hilly, with both the North and South at a bit of an incline compared to the valley below. The stream turned and curved Eastwards past the village around the Southern side, giving Varre’s men even more space.

  The enemy stood across the open plain. The king could finally see what they’d prepared for himself.

  The goblins had arranged their forces into nearly perfectly symmetrical squares. Each was made up of around a thousand soldiers, though considering their discipline and attention to detail, it wouldn’t be surprising if the number was exact.

  Ten of these squares stood on each side of the stream, armed and waiting for some unknown signal. On each bank, five thousand of the frontal soldiers were armed with their signature spears and shields, while the ones behind carried slings.

  Even with the slight advantage of higher ground, their weapons wouldn’t reach all the way to the other side. One of the armies would need to move closer together to fully engage.

  The goblins were stationed a fair distance away from the forest, leaving empty space behind their backs. As if expecting reinforcements to join them. Varre finally understood his scouts’ reports. While the heavy foliage beyond obscured visibility, it was almost certain that the bulk of the enemy army remained in hiding.

  “How many do you think they really brought,” the king turned to Duke Jan.

  “No idea,” the head commander smirked, “probably more than us, though.”

  “Any reason for that guess?” Varre insisted.

  “They always have the advantage in numbers,” Jan grimaced, “they wouldn’t accept this battle if they didn’t. But I think the information they’re giving us is important too. They want us to think that we have the upper hand.”

  “They can’t possibly believe we’d buy that, can they?” the king raised an eyebrow.

  “Who knows?” the duke shrugged, “either way, they are waiting for us to make the first move.”

  “Do they want us to charge over the open field?” Varre asked.

  “If that is their wish, then we shall oblige,” Count Gregory cut in with a smirk, “our knights will trample them under hoof and the battle will be over in time for lunch. But even I know they’re not that simple.”

  “I can’t really see what the trap would be in such case,” Jan admitted, “we can run them over. Even if tens of thousands more come out of the woods, our knights will have the time to retreat and regroup before the goblins reach them. And if the creatures pull back, trying to get us to follow them into the forest, we’ll slow down and wait for the infantry.”

  “Then let’s force them to make the first move,” the king suggested, “we can advance, slowly, and then pepper them from a distance.”

  “And their slings?” Gregory reminded him.

  “Our shield mages will finally get a chance to shine,” Varre replied, “but I know that their numbers are finite. Let’s focus on the best ranged weapons we’ve got. Let’s take the elves and the wizards, plus whatever sharpshooters we can find.”

  “The archers can fire on the defenseless slingers, while the mages can use their spells to break through the spearmen,” the duke added, “it could work.”

  “Now, the last time we tried this, they just stood there and took it,” the king chuckled awkwardly, “but I doubt they’ll let it happen here.”

  “If they do, that’s all the better for us,” the count rubbed his hands, “but what should we do about the river, your majesty?”

  Though all of the human forces were currently on the same side, the goblins had deployed half of their army on the Eastern bank. While the stream was narrow, it was a little too wide to reliably cross on foot. Especially in the thick of battle. The soldiers would need to swim across and not all of them would make it.

  “We have enough planks on the carts to deal with it,” Jan noted, “we could build some crossings, right there,” he pointed to an area nearby, “should be done within twenty minutes. And it’s well out of the goblins’ range.”

  “Let’s do it,” Varre nodded, “I don’t like splitting my forces in half, but we have to hit them somehow. The bridge in Northport is far too narrow for this many troops.”

  As they made their plans, the rest of the army formed up behind them, obscured by the woods. Thousands of men arranged themselves into lines, waiting for the signal to advance.

  Small teams of infantry, followed by wagons, rushed down the soft incline and headed towards the stream. The men were clearly stressed, worried about the goblins deciding that this was too much and starting the battle, but it seemed that they took no issue with this maneuver.

  The bridges were assembled hastily and nervously, but since thousands of soldiers needed even more time to arrive on the scene, the workers were allowed to continue in peace. Within the hour, they constructed several wide and reinforced crossings. They were all well within Varre’s area of control, on the very edge of the forest and far away from the range of goblin slings. Even the ruins of Northport were a fair distance away.

  The men returned to their posts. There was no more doubt. The goblins were willing to stand there, in the open fields, and wait for the humans to make the first move.

  The king decided to act. Cautiously, the first ranks peeled away from the tree line.

  Most of the mages moved forward. Archmage Kadmos along with his entire guild would serve as the main push of the offensive, while the commoner students would add some additional numbers. Only Elvira, along with her two assistants stayed behind to advise the monarch.

  The elven archers combined with their human counterparts and organized three thousand bowmen to deal with the slingers. They followed slightly behind, eager to take advantage of the wizards’ magical protection. Unlike the mounted sorcerers, they proceeded on foot.

  The formation was joined by several hundred knights. They spread out all around their allies. Some marched on the front, ready to intercept any sudden and unexpected charges by wolf riders. The others stayed back, defending the sides and rear.

  The rest of the humans didn’t stay idle. The army slowly advanced into the open fields, ready to capitalize on whatever the ranged troops managed to achieve.

  The wheels were now in motion. Both sides were eager to begin the battle, but only one could come out victorious.