“To force things when it is not the right time would just invite disaster to oneself.” - Liang Shi-Zu, famed tactician from the Huan Confederation.

“Well, damn. They got smart and took the easy way out,” muttered Reinhardt as he watched the Podovnian soldiers push through the trapped road without slowing down, uncaring of the casualties they took. If anything, it almost looked as if those who were behind the vanguard were pushing the ones ahead with metaphorical spears pointed at their backs.

“Would we do anything about it, dad?” asked Alycea from the side. At the moment a good part of the mercenaries and volunteers on Reinhardt’s side of the battlefield had gathered in one of their larger temporary bases in the forested region south of the road that led to Levain. The exception were the cavalry troops under Ze’phane’s and Soledad’s lead, who had been sent ahead to a different base in the plains south of the city as their role had temporarily ended.

“That would be what these people wanted. Those they put up front are either bait or expendables, not sure which, or maybe just some folks who really got on the nerve of the dear marquis, who knows?” commented Reinhardt as he kept watching the situation on the road while he talked. “Egil can brief you more about it. His folks had been scouting them out every night before they reached the plains.”

“As the Captain said, Young Miss, our foes have been increasing their vigilance. It’s been getting harder to mess with them lately, and we had to stop since there was nowhere to hide in the plains anyway,” said Egil from where he sat cross-legged on the ground. Like most goblins, he was perfectly comfortable in the dense forest and took to it like it was his own backyard. “We still got some tricks up our loincloths though, so we’ll give them a taste of it once they return to the forested roads.”

“That said, what the Captain said is also correct. Our enemies are dangling their current vanguard like a fat piece of meat set in the center of a noose,” added the goblin, who was well over middle-aged by the standards of his race. He was still hale and hearty – and virile – for his age, though. “They want us to attack them. Probably got an ambush of their own waiting and all that. Definitely something, though. If their leader is mean enough he might even have those throwaways carry some brew with them.”

The mention of dragonfire brew caused a frown and a cringe to grace the face of many veteran mercenaries who still remembered the fanatics using them suicidally back at Theodinaz. Most sane people would not be willing to touch the explosive, highly unstable concoction from anywhere inside its blast radius, as even the slightest jolt might set if off it the container was not properly filled and sealed.

“So what are we going to do then?” asked Alycea once more, voicing a question that many of the people gathered – primarily the volunteers, as the older mercenaries already had an inkling to how Reinhardt thought – had in mind. “Are we just going to… watch and let them march towards Levain while we stay in the forests?”

“That is precisely what we are going to do, yes,” replied Reinhardt nonchalantly. “Now, before any of you who volunteered raise your voices, let me explain. We were never meant to stop the enemy headed for Levain. I think you all can understand that it’s an impossible task to stop an enemy army twenty times our size to begin with.”

“Our purpose has always been to hinder, delay, and frustrate these enemies. Buy more time for those in Levain to prepare their defenses, and mess with the enemy’s mind so they wouldn’t be in their best state by the time they get there,” he continued. “We have already bought nearly a week of time and thousands of casualties for those back home, and even if the enemy forced their way through this last stretch, it would just cost them even more casualties.”

“So we’re… just watching from the sidelines, then?” asked one of the leaders amongst the Levainian volunteers, a grizzled old man who used to be an Imperial Ranger, one who was very familiar with the current forest they were in at the moment.

“Not exactly. We will not engage them directly, but I want everyone to redouble the harassment since they’re now back in our playground,” replied Reinhardt with a vicious, toothy smirk on his face. It was a look that would have frightened most people unaccustomed to therians. “I want everyone who’s any decent with a projectile weapon to be waiting for them near the edge of the forest tomorrow. Branka, you’re in charge. Rain hell on them but retreat if they send people into the forest.”

“Understood, boss!” replied the young orcish woman. Branka’s tall, burly stature and her vibrant reddish-orange hair made her easily stand out amongst most crowds. Despite her young age, the Levainian volunteers were perfectly fine with following her orders after they witnessed what she could do with a bow. “Do we just run or…?”

“Alycea, you take the people who aren’t that good with ranged weapons and set up ambushes in Branka’s retreat paths. Anyone who chases after them, you give a stab in the gut, understand?” Reinhardt continued without missing a beat, indirectly answering Branka’s question.

“Yes, father. I will not fail you,” replied Alycea with a salute.

“Egil, I want your people well-rested during the day. The nightly harassment will be mostly a job for you and yours,” said Reinhardt at last. Upon hearing his words, Egil’s wrinkled face perked up with an equally vicious smile that had a strong hint of mischief on it. “Feel free to thoroughly disgust our foes. No holds barred. Let them have a taste of everything you got in store that you think might help with the situation.”

“Sure thing, boss-man. I got just the right stuff for this job.” replied the old goblin.