Chapter 2: Approach

[Forest Edge 2 to Command Center: Multiple enemies spotted.]

[Riverbed Entrance to Command Center: Enemies approaching. Number: over 300.]

[Riverbed 2 to Command Center: Enemy movement. Entering riverbed.]

[Riverbed Entrance to Command Center: Enemy detachment remaining in position.]

[Riverbed 1 to Command Center: Riverbed 1 in pursuit.]

[Command Center to Scout 2, Scout 3: Investigate enemy.]

The Kingdom received a report from a lookout and burst into a flurry of activity, but not panic. This was partly because everyone there fully expected another attack to be coming, and partly because their new spirit-speak system made early detection of the enemy and information sharing easy for them.

"The enemy combatants number between three hundred and three hundred fifty. There are also carts and people carrying supplies. A group of them have set up camp at the mouth of the riverbed, but...the majority are proceeding down the river." Hopping Rabbit summarized the spirit-speak reports.

"Thank you," Sashalia replied, returning her gaze to the map. "So they've entered the forest."

She was seated in the command center, which was now taking on the purpose it had been built for. With her were Gaius, Darke, Dwaemon, and the remaining kobold warriors, all gathered for a war meeting.

"Will they come straight to the village?" Red Eye asked Sashalia, seated where he wouldn't be in the way of the housewife alliance.

"No. They didn't make camp at the forest's edge, which means... it's likely that they plan to spend a night in the forest, despite the risks. The sun would set before they reached the village, and humans don't like to fight in the dark. Especially in the forest, they'd never want to attack at night."

"So we'll attack them while they're asleep?"

"As much as I'd like to say yes, I imagine they'll be expecting that and plan accordingly. It would be dangerous to pit our smaller numbers against their main force as well. And if we don't draw them farther in, we can't use our traps. We'll have to hold off this time."

Red Eye smiled at the words "this time." The fledgling general was planning to win. Win and fight again.

"However, that doesn't mean we have to let them get a good night's sleep. Rain Grass?"

"Yes'm!" Rain Grass answered vigorously from beside Gaius.

"Take five soldiers from our attack forces and hit them a few times before dawn. But avoid close-range combat at all costs. They wouldn't camp inside the Greatwood completely unprepared. They'll have watchfires and hidden sentries. You shouldn't get too close."

"We can't attack 'em even if they're vulnerable?"

"Absolutely not. It'll be enough to just fire arrows at them randomly. Then you can just hoot and holler at them; make them think you're attacking. All we want to do is prevent them from getting a sound sleep."

"Yeah, if it's hollering you want, Rain Grass is your man." A laugh went through the kobolds at Red Eye's words.

"I'm gonna remember that after the battle, ya jerks!" Rain Grass threw his fists up, promising revenge. Gaius picked him up and set him on his knee, holding him down and petting him vigorously.

"Wehehehehahahaheeheehee!" The flax-colored soldier squirmed, hollering with laughter, which just set off the crowd watching once more.

"When the meeting is over, take your soldiers and get some rest, Rain Grass. You'll want to withdraw quickly and rest briefly after your night attacks, too."

"Weeheeheehahaha!"

"Unlike last time, we're facing a large, well-supplied force. They're marching slowly, alert for ambushes, and so the fighting will probably begin around noon tomorrow."

Everyone nodded.

"Wehehahahahoohoohoo!"

"Sir Gaius, Rain Grass, please be quiet!"

"Sorry," they said together.

"...Now, we'll take the formation I went over two days ago." Rabbit quickly began lining up stones on the map, Sashalia dictating their placement.

There were three major combat units with different roles: the riverbed unit, led by Gaius, tasked with holding off the enemies coming down the river; an offensive unit led by Darke made up of the most capable warriors among the men; and a kobold unit to intercept the enemy in the forest. Furthermore, the riverbed and kobold units were divided into smaller squads, each with a leader and spirit messenger.

"We're getting detailed reports of the enemy's movements, so we don't need to worry about a surprise assault. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day, so I want everyone to get an early rest tonight. You may also drink, in moderation. Report back at dawn. You are dismissed."

"Yes, ma'am!" replied the kobolds, heading home for the night.

"Want to come to my place before you turn in? I made some honey wine that's just perfect right now; my wife's filtered some."

"Ooh, sounds good. Count me in."

"Man, the stuff I made went bad."

"You're always trying to make more of it, so you put in too much water."

It was a merry scene. They all understood the devastating difference in fighting power between them and their enemy, but there was no sense of grim determination or fear in the room. This was likely due in part to their life in the Greatwood, of which some amount of sacrifice was always a natural part. But they also had faith in Gaius and Sashalia, and the optimism their leaders displayed.

The general watched as her soldiers left, then turned back to the map, muttering "Okay," to herself. The board already displayed the locations of her enemy in black stones and her allies in white, and the army of adventurers moving down the riverbed was being adjusted every time a report about their movements came in.

...They would have to mobilize the entire Kobold Kingdom. Their numbers would be a bit larger than last time, since this time they would be including boys and female hunters. But their defensive strategy required a good amount of personnel acting as scouts and spirit messengers, so their actual fighting kobolds numbered forty-five. With the addition of Gaius, Darke, and Dwaemon, the Kobold Kingdom's full fighting strength was forty-eight people.

As for their enemy, more detailed reports had come in, estimating their numbers at three hundred thirty.

Forty-eight versus three hundred thirty.

The historical record had examples of armies facing such disadvantages and repelling their enemies. It had plenty. But though Gaius and Darke were skilled fighters, the forty-five kobold soldiers couldn't be measured on the same scale as humans. And the battlefield was not a fortress or confined terrain that would make up for the difference in numbers. If this situation were an assignment at the Knight Academy, the instructor who proposed it would likely have his teaching qualifications questioned.

Sashalia let out a slow breath. And if I were a student, I'd be the first to complain to the instructor.

She'd conferred with Gaius, Darke, and everyone else, and come up with a plan. She was confident in it. She thought she was, at least.

No, I am.

Her spirit-speak information network was functioning better than she'd imagined it would. They were able to set many more traps than they'd initially planned to, and they'd had enough time to finish their secret weapon, too. She'd received a report from the hunters that they'd captured a crucial component to her plan as well. Even better, morale among the kobolds was high due to their friendships with and trust in Gaius and Sashalia.

And they're going to die for my plan and my orders. She'd prepared herself for this to some extent, but it was hard to face now that it was right around the corner. She didn't mind fighting herself, but this was different. She had never experienced sending her comrades to their deaths before, and it made her heart ache to do so. But everyone's already resolved themselves to this. I'm the only one still having second thoughts this late in the game.

Gaius made a point to speak to her as the king sometimes, making it clear that she worked under his will as leader. She appreciated the thought. In a military organization, responsibility lay with the highest-ranking person, and that wasn't Sashalia. Logically, she understood all this, of course. But still... She bit her lip, nails digging into her upper arms. No, that's exactly why. I have to make the most effective use of them. The lives of the kobolds.

And in this situation, the only one who could do that was Sashalia. She would expend the lives of the kobolds because that was how she could repay their friendship and trust.

I will defeat the enemies of Sir Gaius and the kobolds. I can't stand on two feet and wield a sword anymore, but I can support everyone from here. No, I can thrive here. I can stand beside him, here.

Just try it, enemies of mine. However many hundreds of you come, you will all fall. Right here, this command center, this board... This is my battlefield.