Bloodstone - Power of Youth (Book 3) by Guy Antibes

Author:Guy Antibes
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: CasiePress
Published: 2015-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

~

“MARSHAL, THE CONSCRIPTS ARE USELESS,” Leef said.

Anchor sat at a long table made of two stout doors held up with wooden boxes. They would serve. The forces of the Red Kingdom had finally decided to muster in the Northeast and it was already mid-summer. The farmers from the surrounding lands had never participated in battle. There were always negative consequences for peaceful kingdoms in time of war.

King Billeas always had a border conflict going on one time or another among his dukes and barons that he had to mediate. Now Anchor knew why the late king always drew local men. He trained them in the basics. Now that training would be used against the very forces assembling to save them from Histron’s iron rule.

It didn’t take many refugees from the Red Kingdom, finding their way over the mountains and into Learsea, to learn of the crippling taxes and brutal tax collectors all but extorting money and supplies from the populace without giving anything in return. How did Sally’s Corner’s fare? It seemed like ages ago and that part of the world was merely a pleasant dream.

He pulled himself out of his thoughts. “Break them down into smaller units. Don’t teach them to become experienced soldiers. Teach them how to fight to protect themselves first. If they can do that, they will stall the enemy. Then you can bring them together to learn how to defend and attack as units. Our expectations just might be too high.”

“Never thought of that before, Anchor. Where do you come up with these ideas?”

Sometimes Anchor wish he knew. “Common sense, Leef. I just let my mind relax and it gives me a solution. Common sense.”

“Uncommon sense, if you ask me.”

“No,” Anchor said. Anyone could have adjusted the training activities.

“I’ll spread the word.”

“Do that,” Anchor said. He glanced at the maps before him. They had left most of the experienced soldiers at the fortifications that now lined ten day’s march. Still, less than halfway from Learsea to the border. Another few keeps and he could begin to unfold his layered traps. He needed more trained soldiers. Perhaps he made a mistake, letting Willom’s General take half of the army to the south.

Shiro walked in. “I suppose Leef told you about the farmers? He’s too hard on them. We know about farmers,” Shiro said, shaking his head.

“How are your people doing on melting the keeps?”

The Ropponi grinned. “A mix of five sorcerers of various strengths can reduce the forts to a pile of dirt in less than two hours.”

Anchor pursed his lips. “And ten wizards?”

“Forty minutes, maybe less.” Shiro’s grin widened even further. “Ask me what twenty will do.”

Anchor had to smile at Shiro’s beaming face. “What will twenty do?”

“Ten minutes. We tested it this morning. I made them build a new one from the pile. They are still at it. That is what they get for doing such a good job.”

“At least something’s going right, my Ropponi friend. I feel I’m missing an element of our strategy.

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