Tremors of Fury by Sean Hinn

Author:Sean Hinn [Hinn, Sean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780998096032
Publisher: Bobdog Books
Published: 2017-09-18T23:00:00+00:00

END OF PART THREE

THE DAYS OF ASH AND FURY, PART FOUR

XXIV: THORNWOOD

Sir Marchion’s interpretation of events had been met with skepticism; not even the queen’s support lent it much credibility in the eyes of Nishali, Kender, and Tobias. The Second Knight had spoken the first passage of prophecy and relayed his analysis with conviction, but without the ceremony of Provari to give his words context, the idea was far too implausible.

Nevertheless, they all agreed that their current doom had likely initiated in G’naath, whether through the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy or the employment of some powerful, unknown magic. Action was required. Queen Evanti had long ago learned that to be a queen was to be a pragmatist. Privately, her heart was riddled with arrows of doubt and guilt as she ordered the elven army to prepare for an assault on G’naath. She could not name the gnomish people her enemy, not with certainty. But neither could she deny the logic of the notion, and to remain idle could spell the end for her people. The face she wore before her councilors as she gave the order had been resolute. She had been grateful for Kender’s pleas, as they had been sufficient to sway the others against an outright attack; Thornwood would marshal its forces within the Maw and attempt a parley with the gnomish people, but if that parley proved fruitless, the elves would invade.

Tobias and Marchion met separately after the meet had concluded and decided upon the tactic of advance. Marchion’s knights would depart immediately, in full strength, following the road south to the Grove, turning east at the Morline, making all haste for the Maw and carrying the army’s provisions. The Guard would remain in Thornwood. Tobias’ army would follow the Rangers. Nishali’s rangers would Swarm.

A Swarm was a specific elven tactic of troop deployment, designed and practiced to achieve a surprise advance on an enemy target over rough terrain. Unlike a forced march, a Swarm of elven rangers would not conform to any specific formation. Instead, each elf would dash for the objective at his or her own fastest pace, taking whichever route each deemed suitable. A ranger would run when they could run, climb when they must climb, swim when confronted with a body of water, and rest when they must rest, all while maintaining a telepathic Link with no fewer than a score of their brethren. The squads would be arranged in half-scores called Tenths, and the links would overlap; ten elves would depart, followed quickly by the next Tenth. The first Tenth would be Linked to the second, the second Linked to both the first and the third, the third to the second and forth, and so on.

If the first Tenth encountered an obstacle during its advance, the next Tenth would be warned to avoid it, and would relay a warning to those that followed. If an enemy position was sighted, or resistance was met, a strategy would be decided upon, and the necessary number of elves would fragment off from the main Swarm to deal with the threat.

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