Gant had his Legion ready to march.
With any luck they would be camped and ready to engage Arrin as planned with about a day to spare.
He had scouts deployed already in Dortch to alert him of surprises, and also stationed along the road towards Kanar.
This would be a very different sort of battle.
His warriors would hopefully be dealing with simulations whilst their mages worked attack spellings.
He knew that the only ones who could sustain those for long were Riani, Sil, Teransir, Elen, Hirn and of course Avin.
He and Jan were in a moderate range with a few of the teachers and students.
Avin wanted his mages with the warriors in groups. One mage and seven warriors.
He wanted to have the less powerful mages working in stages healing the warriors if necessary.
Everyone hoped that it would not come to a battle with Legion fighting Legion.
Arrin and the Order of the Elite wouldn’t care if every warrior on the battle field regardless of what side they were on were butchered.
They all did care.
The contigent of mages were all volunteers. Avin hadn’t wanted anyone who felt unconfident.
They had already defeated themselves if they were, he‘d said, and Gant agreed with him.
In the end they had managed to train most of them in some form of self defence and the lessons would continue
on the road and until they were attacked.
Forty were coming with them.
It would very much be a case of tactics because Hirn had told Gant that forty against two hundred of the Elite
would barely make them blink.
It seemed that Sil and Riani had an idea or two about that and as they were the two who had actually fought them,
he was certainly going to listen to them.
They had a few surprises for them. Jan had almost perfected the equipment that interfered with the shields.
Now they could not only prevent them from functioning, but reverse one in an “on” position.
Everyone knew not to feed them, so if they were careless with their attacking spellings, even the huge amount of
energy that they had stored would deplete with nothing to replenish it except their own wardings or simulations.
It was planned to encourage them to be careless with their attack spellings.
It seemed that everything was packed and so he gave the order and a Legion of five hundred marched towards Dortch,
Terin at its head. The City of Strant was as good as defenceless.
They’d decided to put all of their hopes into stopping the assault at Dortch.
Gerard retained a small guard and a band of archers to keep order and that was all.
Lancastre had grumbled, but had agreed in the end it should be a committed defence at Dortch.
Arrin had nothing at all to gain from attacking or destroying what he thought was his own city.
Alena and most of her castle guard were with coming with them.
Five Wishmakers had also asked to join them, dressed in their strange garb of fur and leather complete with
rattles and pouches of powders and potions. “Why not?” Gant had thought. Every little helps, and though he had no
belief that they could really achieve anything, it was good for morale. Many of the warriors believed in their
strange magic. That was enough for him. At worst they would be mascots and at best? Who knew what might turn the
tide in their favour in this fight?
Avin, Riani, Sil and Jan had already arrived with the mages an hour after dawn.
Gant had been pleasantly surprised to see that every one of them looked formidable.
The women had mainly copied Riani’s style of leather leggings and tunic, and sported cloaks of many different colours.
The men were either Avin or Sol look-alikes. They either resembled fairytale wizards or moody heroes.
Gant didn’t care if they were stark naked and had painted themselves green.
It was the attitude that they carried with them that he’d been hoping to see, confident and capable, and he hadn’t been disappointed.
Every mage he’d seen was wearing a short sword, and proudly displaying it.
That had brought applause from some of the warriors who had taught them.
In this battle at least there was now no schism between warriors of might and warriors of magic.
They were all on the same side.
He hoped, unrealistically perhaps, that those weapons need never be used against another human,
but if that became necessary, at least they were not defenceless.
Terin, Gant and Alena led the troop from the camp outside Strant.
Steward Gerard and those left behind stood at the portcullis together with members of the Ducal court and wives
and families of the soldiers.
There was no cheering, and he was pleased about that. It was nothing to cheer about.
Gerard had wished them a speedy and safe return on behalf of everyone. That was all any of them wanted from this.
To be allowed to come home and live their lives in peace.
Riani, Avin, Sil, Hirn and Jan walked beside a cart carrying Avin’s father and mother.
They had protested but Avin and Sil had insisted that their energy be conserved.
Having no illusions about the march and its effects on their stamina, they’d agree.
Behind them came the mages. It really did look like a carnival parade.
The warriors marching in disciplined formation, followed by the mages in rows of four, involuntarily keeping
in step, the Wishmakers dancing up and down the lines.
Sil and Hirn both knew that the Order of the Elite would be cloaked in black battle robes, and had told everyone that.
The symbolism of these brightly cloaked individuals facing a sea of black was obvious to both.
“Life versus death” Sil had said to Hirn when she’d first seen the marching rainbow. “
Hirn had nodded “ Or Life challenging the absence of Life” had been his comment.
Though there was a lukewarm feel to their exchanges, the cold anger had gone from Sil, also the hot possessive need
from Hirn when they talked now. If necessary he would die for her in this fight.
He would have been surprised, and a little worried, to know that the feeling was mutual.
When they reached Dortch Gant set about billeting them in the now empty town.
“and don’t forget, you untidy shower, that somebody lives in these houses.
Might be a friend of your mother. Don’t mess this place up.”
The scouts reported that Arrin’s army would reach their position by mid morning the following day.
Arrin hadn’t bothered to send out scouts. At least his scouts had detected nobody doing the same job for the other side.
The surprise wouldn’t be spoiled.
Good.
Presumably his army marched with wards preceding them.
The guard that night was joined by Jan for a while. He’d adjusted the proximity sensor to a wider range.
He wanted to be certain that they had every method possible for detecting an early arrival.
Gant had asked Avin to see him in his quarters, a house near the road out of Dortch leading to the Stronghold.
He’d been determined to be the first to see Arrin‘s forces and this was a prime position.
“What’s wrong?” asked Avin, knowing that Gant must have something on his mind to request a formal meeting alone.
“Nothing yet.” Gant had replied. “Just this Avin. We’ve been friends for a long time.
Nearly twenty years.
I know you.
You see that lot out there? Your magicians? Well they emulate you.
They are able to keep confident because of you.
The Avin I knew on Minthrall…it wouldn’t worry me because I could count on you. Now…”
“Is this about Riani?” Avin said, feeling anger start to rise within him.
“Of course it is! You’ll be on a battlefield with her.
I want you to respect her enough to do your job and let her do hers.”
“You think I won’t!” Avin exploded.
“I don’t know.” Gant replied unemotionally.
“I just know that if she falls, you might forget the people who also depend on you, and abandon them.
Either in grief or simply to avenge her. I‘m asking you to remember that many people are depending on you,
and that all of those mages will be watching you to know what to do next. Don‘t let them down.”
Avin was speechless. Gant was out of order…but then…had he changed so much?
He remembered his argument with Riani, and the uncontrollable fury that had risen in him when he thought she’d put herself in danger.
As annoying as this was, Gant had a point.
He kept his head clear and tried to answer from the best of himself.
“I hear you, and I know what you’re saying is from your big heart or I’d call you out for that.” he said managing
to raise a smile. “I wont desert them, no matter what happens, but I won’t desert her either.”
Gant put an arm round his shoulders. “My friend, half this legion is a little in love with her too.
The ones that saw her fight, the ones that fought with her and the ones that they told the tale to.
I doubt if she needed a handkerchief in that battle that you’d get there first with one if you tried.”
“Well there is that.” Avin couldn‘t help but smile.
He’d seen the pointing fingers and waves cast in her direction on the march here.
He couldn’t be jealous of a whole army, so he’d just accepted that people liked her.
He’d forgotten that her group’s battle with Sevaren had been one of the things that had finally buried the distrust
that the warriors had felt towards mages.
When they had seen that she was both , working as a team with Alena and the rest of them, and never losing her nerve,
it had caused an increase in respect for all the magic wielders amongst the warriors.
“Its you too of course, to be fair our whole Northern Edge group has a sort of folk tale charm effect on people,”
Gant added “but over two thirds of the troop are men, and she’s better looking than you.
I‘m sure the women are waving at you, but you only see Riani.”
Avin tried to think back. Yes, perhaps a few women had been waving at him. A nice thought.
“I’ll do what I always do and try to do the right thing. Anyway,“ Avin went on “who says anyone is to going to
fall? We may be outnumbered, but we aren’t outclassed, and we don’t need to follow a script to live.
From what Hirn says, if we deviate even slightly from what Danid has guessed we’ll do, they’ll be lost for their next move.
Turning up here should cause him a bit of re-evaluating.”
“You’re right.” Gant nodded “but I meant what I said Avin.
If you look like losing your grip out there tomorrow, I’ll take you from the field myself. Don’t think I can’t.”
Avin doubted it, but didn’t argue.
If Gant was talking like this, then he had seen a reason to.
He felt angry, misunderstood and like he’d just been admonished in advance for something he hadn’t done yet,
but he understood why.
“Gant, I will stand like a wizard warrior from the old tales, and you will wonder at my might and composure.
Seriously, I know what you mean and I wont let us all down.”
“Glad that’s settled. Fancy an ale? We’ve got few barrels down in the Inn for tonight.”
“No thanks.” Avin’s head and stomach would still not allow the thought of it. “Is that wise?”
“It’s traditional. Don’t worry, no one’s getting drunk, just a couple.”
“Good for morale” they both said together laughing.
Gant held out his hand and Avin shook it. They clasped palms in the warrior fashion.
Still friends. Still liking each other.
Avin was just about to leave when a scout almost fell through the door without knocking.
“Commander…they have three of the King’s legions following about a day behind them.”
“What!” Gant bellowed.
“Why?” asked Avin quietly.
The scout told them that he didn’t know.
They could be simply heading in the same direction or joining them.
It seemed too much like good luck for them to be coming to Terin’s assistance.
“Warriors? or are there mages with them?” Gant asked.
“All warriors as far as we could tell.”
“Hmmm… “ mused Avin. “Now what’s that about I wonder?”
Gant asked an orderly to find Hirn and bring him to them.
He arrived about ten minutes later.
“Trouble?” he said looking at first Avin then Gant.
“Maybe” Gant told him the news.
“Very odd. Danid hasn’t infiltrated the King’s Mage courtiers yet as far as I know.
They have a few very experienced people who would detect a glamour from a hundred yards.
That was always going to be difficult, and they looked like living forever.
That’s why he wanted Arrin, well any corruptible Duke would have done, to depose the King,
so that Arrin would be able to control them.
The Order of the Elite would control Arrin, and so that would be then more simply dealt with.”
“You mean he’d execute them.” Gant remarked.
“We’d have drained them first but…well…yes.” Hirn confirmed his suspicion.
“So…we can take an educated guess that they’re possibly not hostile to us?” Avin suggested.
“What’s the alternative? Ask Danid to postpone things until next Saturday?” Gants voice was booming.
Hirn sat and tried to think like Danid for a few minutes.
Then he said “Yes, I think it’s a coincidence.
I think if Arrin and Danid look behind them, they’ll have as big a surprise as we did.”
Gant addressed the scout.
“Go get some rest, but first and send someone fresh to keep watch on that army’s movements.
At least four scouts.” The scout saluted and went about following his orders.
“Business as usual” was Gant’s summation.
“If Arrin slows his troops down, we know they’re waiting for the three legions to join him.
If he doesn’t, we just have to have some evidence for the King’s Commander in Chief as to why we’ve deposed one of
the King’s darlings. Assuming of course we have deposed him by then.”
“Standing right here” said Hirn smiling.
“It’s not as if we can’t prove it. We also have Sol, Sil, Riani, Marg, you two, not to mention Jan and his gadgets
in addition to any testimony I can make.
I don’t think we have a problem.” Hirn looked restless and said “If that’s all do you mind if I go now?”
“No, of course not.” Gant said looking searchingly at him.
Then he groaned realising he had another “lover“ on his hands.
“Don’t you let me down tomorrow Hirn. You know what I’m talking about.
Sil has proved she can beat even you in an unequal fight where you had the advantage.
She doesn’t need cow eyes and you watching her every move tomorrow.”
“No, of course.” Hirn agreed. “I just thought she might like supper, and its in the oven.”
He rushed off to attend to his cooking and Avin suppressed a grin.
Gant was looking after everyone or trying to.
All animosity he’d felt about the confrontation earlier disappeared with Hirn.
Gant was a sergeant in a commander’s uniform.
He just wanted to look after his people.
All of them.