115 A Rue Too Late (1/2)
The air inside the tent was heavy. Bloodstained and grubby, the officers hung their heads low.
”How many did we lose?” Rickard asked the quartermaster.
”Including those who deserted sire?”
Rickard nodded and bit his lips. He waited for a number that would soon give him heartache.
”Eight thousand” the quartermaster said and as expected, it was too high.
Rickard examined the faces of the officers inside his tent and all of them had their brows furrowed. Heavy breathing can be heard.
Rickard tapped his finger on the table. ”So? Who among you can explain to me how this happened? How in the Omniscient's name did you fail to break those Castonians?”
A Knight Prefect raised his hand. Brave, Rickard thought. The Knight was brave enough to answer his question.
Rickard leaned back. ”Go on”
”They just won't rout sire”
”Won't rout?”
”Yes” another Knight prefect confirmed. ”They won't rout. Many times we hit 'em sire. Many times. But they stayed.”
There was a hint of respect on the Knight's voice. Respect for enemies huh? Rickard mused. Respecting one's enemy was dangerous. He made a silent reminder to himself that he will discipline this man later.
”Sire I…” a cavalry Prefect butted in. ”I have something to report”
Rickard cocked his head towards the Prefect. ”Speak then”
The Prefect was lowering his head. ”I… think. I mean I'm not sure but I do think I saw Firstspear among the enemies. He was leading their cavalry.”
The news gathered angry grunts from the officers.
”Traitorous degenerate!”
”Man without honor!”
”In the next battle I will find him first and let him taste a kiss of steel!”
Rickard himself was distraught by the news. Henry was skilled. Yes. With him being the cavalry commander of the Castonians, his men will be in danger.
But the effect of Henry fighting for the Castonians goes more than that. Henry was once the face of the Knights. He was the most popular Tulosan Knight, just behind the Grandmaster himself. Henry was even more popular than Rickard. He was young, full of vigor and he knew how to inspire his men. Many knights still view Henry with respect and awe. For them, Henry was the perfect Knight. This will become catastrophic if his Knights will revolt against him in favor of Henry.
”Nobody shall speak of the Firstspear again. Understand?!” Rickard bellowed. ”From now on, he is not Firstspear but merely a nameless traitor. Anyone who speaks his name again will be punished!”
The officers were silent. Rickard then decided that he had enough for today. Although his army is still intact, he just lost a huge chunk of his forces. Without reinforcements, failure was almost certain. Nevertheless, he would see this through. He will defeat Timothy and then convince the King of Tulosa and the Queen of Calgari to renew the war with Castonia.
”Leave” he ordered while resting his forehead on his palm. The officers left one by one.
”Not you” Rickard said to Luther. He gestured towards the seat beside his. Luther transferred seats.
”General…”
”You're right” Rickard admitted although it breaks his heart. ”Timothy Castonia is someone dangerous. His soldiers are fiercely loyal. He also knows his stuff. ”
Luther pinched a chunk from the bread in front of them and ate it. ”So are we going home General?”
”No. The King will probably execute me for taking his army without his permission. Things would be different if I defeat the Castonians.”
”And how are you going to do that General? I mean, not to put you down. But we are in a bind here. Morale is low, deserters flee the camp as we speak and Timothy Castonia will soon catch up to us.”
”I don't know” Rickard exhaled heavily. ”I honestly don't know. We probably need to make deals or something. But for now we will lick our wounds and fight another day.”
Just then, the cloth of the tent was flapped. ”General! I have something to report” a familiar face almost shouted. Rickard remembered the man to be a Centurion under Luther.
”Learn some manners Centurion Lyn. The General and I are still talking ” Luther reprimanded with a hoarse voice.
”It's alright. Let him speak. I think whatever he wanted to tell me, it's important” Rickard said to Luther.