Kacper could see through the tree line the wooden fort that Marcus had hastely constructed. He already knew of its existence from his scout’s reports, but Kacper didn’t mind it. ’It’s to buy time for any attack through the forest.’ He could see through it instantly. It made sense to him. They couldn’t have a large pitch battle, and Kacper couldn’t march his troops on any other path. he had to attack it.

Flicking his hand, the lines of men marching behind him moved forward. Kacper blew his horn to put them on edge and ready for battle. He needed the fort destroyed quickly. He couldn’t give time for a stable defense.

The defenders in the fort looked out at Kacper’s force and, with grim expressions, sounded the alarm. It was a hasty mobilisation, and a hundred odd troops took to the thin wooden wall. Kacper’s men spread into the forest, getting ready to surround it. The leader of the fort blew his horn, and from all around the forest, fifty men revealed themselves from behind the trees. Pulling their bows strongs, they released a volley of arrows from both directions into the line, forcing the attacking men to retreat quickly and from a wall.

"HOLD FIRM!" Kacper shouted out before jumping off his horse. He was an open target on it. Arrows flew down from the fort, and whilst many missed hitting the trees, those that did get through were lethal. Kacper watched and wondered what to do. Wait for them to run out or attack. Gritting his teeth, he looked behind him at his stretching line.

He couldn’t bring all his men but still had nearly a thousand. He didn’t want to take any risks. "SEND WORD! THOSE AT THE BACK WILL GO INTO THE TREE LINES AND DEAL WITH THE ARCHERS!" Kacper threw the order out, and it was quickly passed down as the shield wall finally tightened. All he could do was wait for his flank to be clear. While it wasn’t many attacking him, it was enough to cause serious damage and destroy the morale of his troops.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few kilometers away, Marcus sat in the next for tthath ad been hastly crewaed. It was much worse than the first one, but he was happy with the final results for such a short deadline. "Commander." The gates opened, and a messenger ran in. "They have arrived."

Marcus took a deep breath and gave a single nod. The messenger was confused, wondering why he was not getting an order as he saw Marcus sitting silently in deep thought. Marcus knew his next move had to be perfect. The first fort had to die fighting, and with what intelligence he had gathered, he knew they were vastly outnumbered.

"Send word to them. We will send reinforcement." Marcus said sternly, and the messenger nodded, running back out of the fort and saddling his horse. Watching him run off into the distance. His fist curled, wondering if it was the right move, but he couldn’t second-guess himself. Nothing would be sent; he just needed them motivated to hold off the attackers for longer.

Once again, he realised the weight of his words and actions. He realised the decisions he had to make if he ever wanted to be at the pinnacle of the Ammary Military. ’Ruthless Pragmatism.’ It was the only thing he could let guide his actions. A military couldn’t survive on anything else other than that. He had to be the one to make that choice. Walking to the back of the fort, he saw a man waiting by his horse, resting.

Hearing someone approach, the messenger quickly opened his eyes and saluted. "Send word to reserves. Have them mobilise the second defense." The messenger nodded in understanding and quickly saddled his horse, riding off. He skillfully traversed the forest and disappeared into the treeline. Marcus sighed and walked back into the fort. He didn’t need to leave yet.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cries of the archers in the treeline were music to Kacper’s ears. Although they suffered a few losses, nothing could force them to stop, and they were easily replaced. Watching his armoured soldiers running like a band of hunters, concerning and cutting them down, he knew it was time to move. Grabbing the horn on his waist, he blew into it, and the convoy moved once more, splitting and encircling the fort.

Arrow fire continued to fly down, and Kacper’s men, now split, fell quicker, but for every man that died, two more replaced them. He had the numbers; he could sacrifice them. He simply had to win. This battle was everything. He needed to win it to have any hope of pushing forward and proving his plan could work. A loss would deveste his his entire army and put his leadership into jeporadry.

The attack through the forest was always a risk, after all. Kacper marched forward with his men. His armour stuck out like a sore thumb for the defenders, but they could never get a good shot, Kacper always making sure to be behind another man. "LADDERS!" Kacper cried out, and from behind, rows of men came and began to scale the walls. Half the defenders gave up with their bows and pulled their swords out, pushing the ladders to slow the attack down, but it was never enough. They lacked the men.

Kacper followed in behind, scaling the wall. Jumping over, the platform was thin and felt like it would collapse at any second. It showed how hastily the fort had been put together, yet he couldn’t let it distract him. Blocking an attack with his sword, he stabbed forward, killing one of the defenders. The attack was slow as the defenders threw themselves forward without regard for their lives.

The platform shook with every extra man that jumped on, and Kacper lost his footing twice, nearly fell off. He knew he wouldn’t die from the drop, but once down, it was just a question of whether he would get up.

"AHHHH!" A cry from tens of men echoed from the east wall. Sparing a glance, he saw the platform give out as bodies lay crumbled over one another, their pained moans becoming background noise.

"whoa." An attack flew his way in his moment of distraction and cut across the armour plating on his chest. Gossebumps spread across his entire body, and with a few deep breaths, he realized he couldn’t get distracted. The same attacker threw another strike, and quickly blocking it, he pushed back and threw his own attack, stabbing through the man’s chest.

It was terrifying but exhilerating. Kacpoer couldn’t understand. Every battle was like this. But looking at everything, this wasn’t a war like he knew. It was just a melee. No strategy from either side, just the two throwing bodies and attacks at one another. Was it what Marcus wanted to achieve by making the fort so small? To cram as many people to force a collapse in his leadership?

No one could answer his question as Kacper blocked another attack. From outside the fort, a loud horn blew, almost drowned out by the fighting. Hearing it, the defenders all smiled and cheered. They fought harder, their attacks becoming more suicidal. Kacper knew instantly and gritted his teeth. Falling back to the edge of the wall, he looked down at the men waiting to climb up.

"SEND MEN TO BLOCK THE PATH! REINFORCMENTS ARE COMING!" Kacper gritted his teeth and spun back around, joining the fight again.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marcus looked out into the distant forest. He tried to listen carefully to see if he could hear the fight in the distance, but he couldn’t. It was annoying not knowing what was going on, but all he could do was try and predict. He knew the fort would be lost; it was inevitable. He just hoped no survivors came back. Whilst his own men may understand him not sending reinforcements despite the promise, the Commonwealth rebels wouldn’t. It would be a betrayal to them.

Clicking his teeth, he cleared the thoughts in his mind and left. It was time for him to leave. "If anyone returns, deal with them." Telling one of his men. The man slouched with cold eyes and took Marcus’s place at the front of the fort.

His plan was dangerous, but he knew that it was the only way to get a sure victory and hold the south until the Empire arrived. Exhaust the attackers in meaningless battles until they were lured into his territory. Once they were deep, surrounded them and wipe them out. It was dangerous and risked everything he had, but if it worked, he would have all but secured the southern Island. Walking out the back of the fort, he slipped away into the forest to prepare the third defense.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kacper looked down at the ground. Some of his men had been able to open the wooden gate, and finally, his troops could flood in. The brutal defence had finally broken from it, and many, like Kacper, realised that no reinforcements were coming. Sucking in a cold breath, Kacper couldn’t help but feel scared by the ruthlessness of Marcus’s plan. He finally caught on once everything was finishing.

Morale was everything to soldiers. The promise of help would make them fight harder. Marcus knew this. Kacper sucked in another cold breath. He thought he knew the man he was facing, but each time, he was surprised. Kacper watched as his men cut down anyone trying to flee and could only gulp, looking into the distance. He tried to understand what was happening and what Marcus was planning.