The Silver Kingdom was in a rushed state of mobilization. Men were rounded up and drafted into the army in every village and town. They were given whatever weapons were available, whether it was swords spotted with surface rust, spears to crude bows and arrows. The men, mostly peasants with little to no military experience, were untrained in the basics of warfare, with the fate of their kingdom thrust rudely into their hands.

The newly drafted soldiers, if a passerby would even deign to call them that, were led by more experienced captains and generals, who knew they were a disposable tool in the battles to come. Slowly, in sloppy columns, they set out on the long march towards Unity, their hearts fearful of what lay ahead.

–

As Jason sat in the war room, surrounded by his command team, he couldn’t shake the feeling of nervousness that had settled in his gut, but he didn’t let it show. “We know we can’t face them head on,” Jason reminded his team, his mind racing to make sure it hadn’t missed anything. “We can’t match their numbers, and they’ll just crush us. We need to use our superior weaponry to our advantage.”

“We will start traveling today in small groups of 25 men each and implement constant raids on various sections of their army and their supply line,” Jason said, his voice growing more confident as he spoke. “Hit and run tactics. We’ll take out their supplies and disrupt their movement. That way, we’ll slow them down and make them think twice about continuing this march.

“Those conscripts don’t want to be marching in this direction any more than we want them here. The more scared, tired, and hungry we can make them, the more likely they’ll quietly slip away and head home. And the fewer we’ll have to face later.”

“And what about when they reach our borders?” asked Tyler, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

“We’ll use our mobility to our advantage,” Jason replied. “We’ll hit them hard and fast and then retreat before they can regroup. We’ll keep them guessing and make it impossible for them to launch a full-scale attack.”

There was a moment of silence as the command team considered his words. Finally, Tyler spoke up. “I don’t know, Jason. It’s risky. But we’re running out of options.”

“I know it’s risky,” Jason said. “But it’s our best chance. Trust me.”

The command team looked at each other, nods of agreement slowly spreading around the table. “Alright,” said Tyler, standing up from his seat. “We’ll do it your way. But the fate of our kingdom rests on your shoulders, Jason.”

“I know,” Jason replied, a determined look in his eyes. “From the moment you called me king, it was on my shoulders. And I won’t let you down. This will work, but stay alert. Stay cautious, and don’t let them trap you.”

As the command team dispersed to begin preparations for the raids, Jason couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with fear. He knew this was a gamble, but it was their only chance. He just hoped that his plan would be enough to save their kingdom from the doom that was marching ever closer.

—

“Your Majesty, may I speak with you for a moment?” A surprisingly timid Victor approached the place where the group of men was adjusting their packs, wringing his hands together and shifting his weight from foot to foot.

Jason turned to him, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. “What is it?”

“It’s about the war,” Victor said, hesitating for a moment before continuing. “Or, more specifically, the weapons. I’ve heard the stories the locals tell and saw the effect on the straw targets. Would you consider selling me a few?”

Nearby, Tyler snorted. “You aren’t the first to ask, and you won’t be the last. We don’t have nearly enough for ourselves, so how could we give them up? What would you use them for, anyway?”

Jason stood nearby, content to watch this play out.

Victor addressed both of them this time, blurting out, “I want to win the competition for the princess of Brighton’s hand in marriage. The one who provides the most value to the Kingdom will win and get her hand in marriage. I love her, your Majesty,” he pleaded, addressing Jason again. “Is there anything you can do to help me?”

It took a considerable effort of will not to allow the corners of Jason’s mouth to tick up. The young noble was just too earnest, and seeing that sincerity was like watching a puppy’s tail wag its whole body. It didn’t take long for Jason to realize the potential benefits of helping this young man get something so important to him. If I help him in this, he’s either going to be my most ardent ally and supporter, Jason thought, or he might curse me every time we wakes up in the morning a few years from now. Hopefully, she’s easy on the eyes and with a pleasant personality. There’s a lot more upside to this gamble for me than there is a downside, though.

Jason stepped forward and kindly gripped the young man’s shoulder. “I’m going to help you, but I can’t give you these weapons for several reasons. What I will do, though, is help you win both the competition and the princess’s heart. Sound good?”

A wide, relieved smile broke out on Victor’s face. “What do I need to do?”