Mighty Hammer Down

by David J Guyton

  Chapter 34

  The cool blue light of dawn was already chasing the shadows away when Tannis finally came out of his tent. He had been awake for several hours, bent over maps and meeting with Commanders and other officers to plan for the battle ahead of them. Scouts had finally returned from beyond Burnhamheade where the Bhoors made camp, and the news was not what he wanted to hear. They had confirmed that the force was much larger than the Medoran Legions, and they appeared to be ready to move.

  Although it was not natural for him to think it, he had doubts about this war. He prayed to the gods that his men could not sense his uncertainty, but he knew that the Commanders would probably notice it. As far as he could tell, the entire Vindyri army had been annihilated. None of the scouts had seen a single Vindyri soldier since they entered the land, and that was especially troubling to him. It felt like the cold silence before a terrible storm. As he stared off to the clear skies in the east, a familiar voice came to his ears.

  "It's coming soon, isn't it?"

  Tannis turned to Commander Soterus. "Probably today or tomorrow. Neither army can wait much longer. Our supplies will run out before long. When did you get here?"

  Commander Soterus cleared his throat. "We only just arrived. We were camped not far from here to the south. I'm sure the scouts have told you why we didn't attack the Bhoors."

  "Yes. They can't even give me an estimate of the number of troops. You did the right thing. If you had attacked them I would be short about 40,000 men. Besides, that would have ruined the surprise attack."

  "Do you think they know we are here now? I am almost certain that they didn't detect my forces, but yours is a lot harder to hide."

  "Yes, I think they know we are here. That's why I said I think the attack is coming soon. They have to be watching and like you said there is nowhere to hide."

  "Have you considered attacking them first General?"

  "Of course I have. We will be moving within the hour. If they don't attack us first, we'll attack them."

  Soterus cleared his throat again. "General, why have you come in from the northwest? Why did you not take a more direct route when you got close enough to Burnhamheade?"

  Tannis sighed and cracked his neck. "I did something foolish I'm afraid. I came this way because I honestly believed that the gods were telling me through dreams to head north. Looking back on it, it was probably a serious mistake. I could have been in the capital three or four days ago if I had not paid those dreams any attention."

  "Well perhaps this will fool the Bhoors into thinking you are less intelligent than you really are. It's always good for your enemy to underestimate you. There is a bright side to every problem."

  "If all of my soldiers are slaughtered, I will find it hard to see the bright side of that."

  "So it is true," Soterus said as he clasped his hands behind his back. "We were wondering if we had all gone mad. You seem to be skeptical of our abilities."

  "No my friend, that is not it at all. I do not doubt the Medorans; not their swords or their hearts. What bothers me is the enemy. It does not matter how hard we fight or what we believe in, what matters is who wins the war. No one is going to care what we thought if we all die."

  "I admit that I have a bad feeling about this too, General. Perhaps we should head back to Medora?"

  "No. We are charged with the duty of protecting our people. We will not run. We do not have that option as leaders of men. We must fight and win at all cost," Tannis said as he turned away and went to find his horse.

  "Then can I at least get you to put some armor on this time?" Soterus yelled at his back.

  "No."