“Close reconnaissance is risky, but sometimes you really need to know more about the people you’re fighting and there’s just no better alternative to get that information.” - Dezan Arevok, former mercenary from Elmaiya.

“They don’t seem too keen on continuing battles into the night, at least,” noted Erycea as the invader army withdrew along the sunset. The Kolitscheian fortification was quite battered, but they managed to hold the walls thanks to judicious use of flammable oils that they liberally applied on the enemy’s siege ramps. For their part, though, the invaders didn’t seem too put off by the losses they took and just carried on as if nothing happened.

They even took the damaged siege ramps – the invaders broke off the burnt parts themselves to prevent the flames from consuming the entire thing – and patched them back together, at times combining two damaged siege ramps into a single functional one. It was not the sort of patchwork repair job Erycea would have liked to see on siege ladders she was to use, but clearly these invaders either had more confidence in their carpentry skills, or simply didn’t care all that much.

What passed for their military camp, however, looked rather shoddy to Erycea’s eyes. The enemy camp was simply a collection of tents at a safe distance away from the fort, the tents likely housing the officers and the more important people. The majority of the invading soldiers simply slept in the open on the ground, with several watchtowers set in the perimeter of the camp as their only real means of defense.

Perhaps they were relaxed because they were not expecting much resistance from the enemy they faced – which had been the case so far if the reports Erycea received were right – or maybe that was just how they went. As it was, the important people were clearly safe in their tents, in well-patrolled areas, and even if a night attack were to happen, at most it would harm the low-ranked soldiers on the outside of the camp.

Probably something the invaders considered acceptable losses, given their manpower advantage.

“How is it, are you confident that you’ll be able to get close enough unnoticed?” Erycea asked to Egil. Their first attempt at closer reconnaissance would be done by members of Egil’s platoon. The goblins were smaller in build, and had an easier time concealing themselves, and besides, they had excellent night vision which allowed them to navigate the night as clearly as the day.

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The invading army was entirely human, as far as Erycea could tell, while Hannah corroborated on their numerical estimate at approximately a hundred thousand people. Several members of Hannah’s platoon had also flown off to the north and south to take a glimpse at the invading forces there, while another few went west to get a deeper look at the conquered territory.

It was something they were uniquely suited for thanks to their ability to fly well above arrow range, and something only they could do amongst the forces gathered by the Border Duchies. Since she had been sent out to scout out the enemy, Erycea planned to do her task comprehensively and leave nothing out if she could help it.

“It’ll be a bit hard since it’s wide open ground, but we should manage. We have our tricks as well,” said Egil with a nod. The old goblin himself wouldn’t be participating in the operation, but some of his descendants were. The goblins who would be going out already mostly stripped themselves to their loincloths and rubbed their skin with dirt, grass, and soil, which stuck on their skin in clumps and patches. “They’re humans, they can’t see shit in the dark, and besides, I doubt any of them can smell better than feather lizards.”

“Just make sure your people take care. Abort and retreat if you suspect that you’ve been found out. We want to keep them unaware of our presence until the final night, should that be a possibility,” said Erycea with a nod. Her platoon was less skilled in such subterfuge, so she knew better than to gainsay those who had far more experience in the matter.

The little foray from Egil’s platoon was mostly to test the enemy defenses, done in order to see how watchful the enemy sentries were, and how attentive their guards on duty had been. If they managed to get close enough, the group would also watch for the enemy patrol routes and the like, anything that could be used for a repeat foray with deadlier intent.

“Right, the kids been informed of that. They’ll prioritize leaving no traces behind at all costs,” said Egil with a nod as the group of goblins saluted towards him and Erycea before they slunk away towards the enemy encampment. Even with her sharp vision, Erycea soon lost sight of the goblins after they walked a hundred paces away or so.

“Quite impressive,” she praised. While they were still near the outskirts of the forest and there were some trees and other undergrowth the goblins could use for camouflage, Erycea’s eye was also much sharper than a human’s and her night vision was also a good bit better. That even she lost sight of them at a hundred paces spoke a lot of the stealth skills of the scouts who went out just now.

“Like I said, Little Boss, these kids know their business,” said Egil with some pride evident in his voice. “Some of them might be born and raised here outside of our home jungles, but we have plenty who know the way and can teach it to them. Got to make sure to keep passing down the important skills, you know? Those always come in handy every now and then.”

“A good attitude to have, especially since I assume that means you and yours plan to continue working with the Company for the foreseeable future,” praised Erycea as she nodded, satisfied. Her father had been clear that she would inherit the company from him when he retired, so Erycea had been putting some thought into future matters as of late.

“Well, things are looking promising so far, and you’re definitely following along your old man’s footsteps well, Little Boss. That gives us plenty of confidence,” stated Egil with a toothy grin in reply.