Moonstone, Magic That Binds (Book 1) by Guy Antibes

Author:Guy Antibes [Antibes, Guy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: CasiePress
Published: 2015-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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AFTER A SET OF SKIRMISHES, RESTELLA DROPPED into her leather campaign chair, sitting by a small campfire as others made camp. She rubbed her neck and looked at the rising dust as tents were erected. The summer’s day still had a few hours left.

Her hands hurt from all of the use she had put her sword. Ashdown’s men had ambushed the column as soon as they were halfway through Forthwith’s former domain and they ended the day spreading out to keep from being attacked on their flanks.

Silver approached. “We’ve suffered half of the casualties that Ashdown has, but it’s still too many. By the time we get to Ashington, his castle town, our soldiers will be dead on their feet… those who can still use a weapon.”

Restella let her hair down and twisted a strand with her sore fingers. “We need to plunge into his lands without worrying about his dogs nipping at our heels. You’re the scout, what if we took a small column of the army and headed straight to Ashington and cut the head off of the beast. We did it when we took Louson.”

“It’s a mistake to use the same ploy every time, Captain. But this time, the wrinkle is to have the bulk of the army as a decoy, is that your thinking?”

She nodded. “It is. However, I’ll be staying with the decoy and you will lead our men to Ashington, as much as I am loath to give the order. I’d like nothing better than to mix it up with Duke Ashdown. Tomorrow, we will proceed as we have today, not marching as one long column, but will spread throughout woods as we come to them. That way peeling off a substantial force won’t be so obvious. Call in the officers and I’ll set up the maps myself once the tent is raised.”

By the time her officer corps entered the tent, Restella had set up the folding tables herself and spread out three maps of Ashdown’s domain. Silver had brought along a few sergeants, as well.

She fought off fatigue and listened to all of her men as the sergeants had all come from Forthwith and Ashdown and knew the land better than the maps. The plans went on for a few hours as deployment strategies to keep skirmishers from impeding their progress were bandied about. She rubbed her tired eyes and looked at her red-eyed officers doing the same.

“Enough. We have a plan. I suggest that you all get a good night’s rest. Today was a trial, but it was only the first. Dismissed.” She watched them file out. None of them seemed agitated or doubtful about their plans. Would disagreements come out as they walked to their tents? Silver might be able to tell her. He returned after a few minutes.

“All of them are in line. No grumbling about the orders, just about Ashdown’s strategy. It’s not easy to travel in an enemy’s lands in a single column. It would be better to have an army three times our size and take over the entire country.

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