--- Lowan

Dressed with his trusty battle armour, Lowan girded the sword at his belt and put on a long cloak. Helmet under the arm, the commander came out from his pavilion and was blinded by the rising sun. A few moments later, the other officers surrounded him.

He ordered to prepare the army to move. Wals and his group had been gone since dawn and the scouts were already out in the plains, so the last thing left to do was bringing the soldiers towards the Rien and face the enemy once and for all. On his steed Lowan rode through the ranks of his proud men, who roared of joy at his passage, and headed to the frontlines.

"Lowan!" a voice called for him through that commotion. "Give me a moment!"

Tolwin appeared from an opening between the rows of soldiers, clearly in a hurry.

"Good day, my friend," the commander greeted him. "Everything alright on your side?"

"We'll be right behind you, as always," replied the priest, pointing at the wagons set up to rescue the injured. "But I didn't come here to speak of this."

Lowan got off his horse, bringing it closer and using it as cover to keep their conversation as private as possible.

"I just wanted to be sure that you were alright, commander."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm only saying this because I feel I must, but... Hold back your feelings today. Don't let them jeopardize the result of this battle. It's true, we might have to face your sister when we return, but-"

"I'm alright, Tolwin."

"No, you are not," went on the priest. "I know you too well. Since the day I came back from the castle with those news you have been plotting move after move... I hope that didn't distract you. What if you miss a crucial detail because of your obsession with Leanna?"

This old man! Does he really think that woman holds such power over me?

"I won't lose. That would leave her free to do as she wishes with these lands. When this crisis is over she will pay, I promise, but not now."

"All good then... But be careful," whispered Tolwin. "I have a bad feeling about this battle."

"Any suspicious sign?" inquired the commander.

The other man shook his head, looked around for an instant to be sure that nobody was listening, and spoke back.

"Whatever your sister's plan is, she has been waiting for this day for a long time. When I overheard her talking with Charsa, she still looked confident and I believe there's a reason for that. Something important. Something that we don't know yet."

"You have a point," admitted Lowan. "But don't worry, I took every precaution. The land was scouted in a thirty mile range from the point where we stand. Whatever Ekhar wants to do, it won't be a surprise to us."

Tolwin remained silent for a couple of seconds, then he sighed and bowed his head.

"I trust you," he concluded, turning his back. "Just don't lower your guard."

As the priest walked away, the commander couldn't help but think on his last words. Was the situation really under control, like he was so sure of, or they were all falling into a trap? He had lost count of the many restless nights spent wondering what the terms of the arrangement mentioned by his sister were. Until that day, he had just suspected a surprise attack from one of the other fords, but now he wasn't so sure of that anymore.

I don't think I've missed anything. From every angle I look at it, the outcome of the battle revolves around the use of the terrain. Unless the men of Ekhar know of another way...

He silently glanced at the Vehra, the hill where Wals was going.

No... There's no way. It would take at least two full days to circle an army around. Assuming they still have one left.

He hopped on his horse again, and went on.

***

The army advanced for a couple of hours following the eastern edge of the woodlands, then the Rien came in sight. Its waters shone brightly in the morning sun, marking the boundary between the Republic and Ekhar’s vast plains. A couple thousand enemy warriors, on the southern bank, were waiting for the defenders. Lowan gave word to stop at around two miles of distance, to stay outside of their archer’s range and make the last preparations. In their usual fashion, the clans didn’t send any emissary to talk.

"Our scouts can't go past this point without being seen," noted Ugrin. "We tasked some men with checking the forest, but they won't be back for a while."

"Careful, Lowan," said Palander. "Are you sure that sending Wals up there was the right move? Even if his men can't fight in the frontlines, we could have used them for something else."

"That hill, the Vehra, is the key to our strategy. If the risk of an attack from the other side exists, I bet you'll be grateful to Wals for his service. He is a capable man. I even wanted to give him a couple more people, but he insisted that his thirty were enough."

"I'm still skeptical," stepped in one of the republican officers. "The men of Ekhar are too straightforward and obsessed with honor to pull a similar trick during a decisive battle."

The commander hadn't spoken to the majority of his allies about Leanna and her betrayal, to keep them focused on the war. As things stood, they wouldn't have taken the fact that the enemy had probably been invited to attack very well. Lowan needed to keep up that mask for a couple days more, until the danger was over. Then...

Then we'll have a talk, sister. And it won't be a short one.

"It's just a precaution," he explained. "I have my own reasons to believe that our opponents have some secret strategy."

"How about you share those reasons with us, then?" asked a voice.

Charsa, who was leading Sinen's soldiers into battle, appeared behind the lieutenants. His attitude alone, as always, was enough to get on the commander's nerves. Especially so early in the morning.

"Tell us, commander," he went on, with a confident smirk. "Why would you deliberately keep everyone in the dark? Are you hiding something from us, by any chance?"

He must know what it is. Damn, If only I could grab this worm's throat and force it out of him... His men would probably turn against me. I need to find another way.

"Not at all," answered Lowan. "Let's just call it... A bad feeling."

He glared at the other man, who was noticeably pissed by the fact that he hadn't taken his bait.

"I have to remind you that I'm here in service of your sister, and only her," pointed out Charsa. "Our forces may not have great numbers, but you'll need them to win. So, cut this charade and be serious."

Lowan knew he couldn’t trust that thug, but the way he used his military help as leverage in such an important moment was definitely unexpected. The others looked at Charsa, puzzled. There was a serious possibility that they would have been forced to fight him after uncovering Leanna's ploy.

Why is this man even here? To assist us or just to make sure that Sinen has some form of representation in the defeat his mistress planned long ago?

Still, time was short and the captains were clearly starting to think there was something weird going on.

"Charsa," said the commander. "You know better than me that your countess appreciates when her men are well prepared for every contingency. Trust me, we won't let her down."

His sister's pawn gave him a surprised glance, and Lowan smiled. There was now no way for the other man to reply without damaging the image of his Lady or compromising her plan. After a few awkward moments, he mumbled an apology and bowed his head. So, Lowan took the word once again.

"Our enemies are acting strangely, you can all see by yourselves. The men of Ekhar are brave and aggressive and they would usually charge forward without thinking twice. Still, for unknown reasons they are just staying there on the Rien. It's like they are waiting for something to happen."

"Let's attack and pressure them," suggested Palander. "If we can put enough strength in our first strike, no strategy will be enough to save them."

The others nodded, humming in agree.

"Do you really think so, old friend?" asked the commander. "As things stand, it looks like it's what they want us to do. I wonder-"

"Commander! Commander!" yelled a voice in the distance.

A man rode towards them, approaching from South-West. He seemed to belong to the patrols on the edge of the forest. Lowan waited for him to get closer and demanded for explanations.

"Horns. In the woods, very far but distinct. We heard them and went to check, finding enemy tracks. I don't know how, but someone crossed from the North side."

"Impossible!" stated the republican officer. "Are you sure you weren't deceived? Even if those dogs somehow managed to climb the cliffs, there's no way they knew how to traverse the forest without a map of the paths. And even after that, they would need to know-"

"That there's an unguarded road that heads directly to Sinen," whispered the commander. "It's a raid party! They want to destroy the town while we are busy here!"

"Cowards!" thundered Ugrin. "We need to stop this, and fast."

This must be Leanna's plan. She wants to divide our attention so even if I win this battle I'll come back to a destroyed home. How cruel!

After all those years, he still couldn't bear the thought. Yet, there was one hope left. The men of Ekhar were already in the forest, but Wals was also there. Would he have resisted? It depended on how many enemies were coming.

He might be in some serious trouble. We have to help him.

"Palander," he ordered. "I need the aid of your Red Lances. You all, listen to me! We'll march towards the river at a steady pace, pretending we don't know. Then, at my signal, me and the Lances will split and head into the woods to rescue Wals. All clear?"

"What? Are you mad, commander?" inquired the republican officer. "You would risk taking away our best riders just to save a handful of men?"

"Those people are the only thing that stands between Ekhar and Sinen's destruction now. Close to no soldiers are left there"

Palander gave a concerned look to the trees.

"I'll rally my warriors," he said. "We won't abandon Wals."

"Ugrin," Lowan called. "Take command of the army in my place. Lead them forward without rushing. Ekhar must have hidden a part of their forces on this side of the forest too, where the trees are closer to the Rien."

The republican captain stepped in, proudly hitting his own chest. "I'll charge at them with my light cavalry when they show up, then! We'll get them by surprise and allow the others to proceed without being flanked."

That was a suicide move, and that man must have known it well. Once spotted by the hidden enemies, the riders would have been done for.

Still, it's not like we have many alternatives. I'll let him do his thing for the greater good.

"Remember, wait for my signal," repeated Lowan. "We go together for a mile or so and then we split. Let's show our enemies what we are made of."

All the lieutenants nodded, this time. Charsa was the only one who seemed to disagree.

"Have no fear," the commander told him. "We'll get back to Sinen as winners."

"We surely will," hissed back the man, before turning away and going back to his soldiers.

A couple of minutes later, after spreading out the new orders, the army finally moved.

***

The defenders marched slowly, as planned, towards the mass of enemies near the Rien. Then, when he decided it was time, Lowan waved at Ugrin and all the horns sang together.

"Now!" he shouted.

The Red Lances dashed sideways like a single man, joining him in the matter of seconds. Meanwhile, the rest of the defenders roared and charged forward. From the corner of his eye, the commander caught a glimpse of the republican cavalry, riding ahead of everyone else under a rain of arrows.

You won't be forgiven. Even if you just drew the fire.

Side by side, Palander and his men opened a path through the trees trampling the few Ekhar scouts who were spying on them and had failed to move away in time. The Lances broke through their line and dove deep into the woods without slowing the pace.

"Follow me!" yelled Lowan. "I know the quickest way to the road, but we must hurry!"

"Don't get lost in the trees! Turn South! Follow the commander!" ordered Palander.

The game was set. The real fight, the one that Leanna couldn't predict, would have been in those ancient forests. Wals and his men had to hold their position, or all that would have been for nothing. Had they lost, the outcome of the battle of the Rien would have been completely irrelevant.

Hopefully, the Turtle was the right man for that job.