Winter March

The forces of Westmark, Dullerm, Tarmard and the Dwarven army encounter Redburr's forces at the Fallow River.

54.

         Winter March

 

 

 

For three days they marched through the snow, yet the weather cooperated with their advance, much to the relief of all those involved.

 By the second day, the snow on the ground was a mere dusting, which enabled them to increase their speed.

None challenged their advance and they saw no-one on the road, but it was evident that Redburr’s forces had occupied the area recently.  

For a time, moving with ease across a sunny landscape in early winter, the forces of Westmark and its allies actually relaxed.  The camps  were cold at night, but the wind did not blow, and, with plenty of furs and warm fires, it wasn’t too bad.

 

It was mid-afternoon of the third day when they reached the Fallow River Bridge on the King’s Highway.

 

But standing between them and the bridge was a long line of Redburr’s infantry.    They wore the armor and carried the weapons of the Southern Legionnaires.

“They’ve no cavalry supporting them!”   King Kylheilm told the other leaders of the Westmark army as they observed the enemy forces guarding the bridge.

“It could be a ruse.”  General Luca speculated.

“Yes, but we can see the river behind them, so any cavalry would have to be on the opposite bank.   So they’d have to come across the bridge to support their infantry and we could contain them on the bridge if they tried this.”   Aeric commented.

“So shall we engage them?”   King Eiolmoel asked Aeric.

Aeric looked at the Kings and General Luca, “Gentlemen, we must reach King’s Reach on schedule.   I vote that we engage the enemy.”

The others agreed, so Aeric sent his son Aaron and Captain Bruce to marshal the forces from Westmark, while the Kings prepared their troops for their parts in the battle.

 

Less than an hour later they charged the enemy line.    Redburr’s men launched javelins and spears in true legionnaire fashion, but the Dullerm archers and King Eiolmoel’s bowmen countered them.    Though they wore the armor and carried the weapons of legionnaires, they obviously were not from the Southern Empire’s armies, for they fought in a battle line unsupported by auxiliaries and cavalry.  

The Dwarves of Forgestone drove the main wedge into their line, going straight up the King’s Highway, as the militia of Westmark - including a unit of refugees that had been quickly assembled just before they marched, guarded their right flank.   

To their left flank, Aaron and Captain Bruce led the cavalry and the Queen’s Orc Honor Guard into the fray.  

 

It was a terrific rout.   The seasoned Dwarven troops broke the determination of Redburr’s army.    Trapped by the river behind them, Redburr’s men had no place to retreat to and were forced to try to escape over the bridge, which immediately created a bottleneck.   

Many fell that afternoon, and Abigae, who was watching the massacre with her parents, had to turn away.  Even her mother seemed almost sympathetic to the frenzied enemy as they desperately tried to retreat.

“It’s too easy”, Aeric told his wife and General Luca.   Luca nodded, having the same thought.

“It does not make sense, strategically.”   Aeric told them, “They set themselves up for failure, by not engaging nearly enough men, and then by putting the river behind them like that.”

“It could be a ruse to try to get us to overextend ourselves chasing after them - then they flank us from the rear, cutting off our escape and surrounding us on all sides.” Luca suggested.

“I suspect that as well.   Let’s allow them to withdraw.   We won’t pursue them over the bridge.   Then we’ll send out scouts to see if any army waits to ambush us.”

 

So the forces of Westmark allowed Redburr’s men to flee over the bridge.    To their surprise, the disorganized men went to camp on the opposite side of the bridge and immediately began caring for their injured.

“Odd.”  King Kylheilm told Aeric, Luca and the other Kings, “I’ve never seen a routed army retreat so short of a distance.”

“They’re protecting something.”   Luca commented, “They may have just been feeling us out " to see what we’d do and what we would bring against them.”

“Doubtless the rest of Redburr’s army lies across the bridge.   But if we try to advance across the bridge and clear the camp, we’d be open to flanking maneuvers.”   Aeric added.

“We need an airship for reconnaissance.”  Alis said.

“We have no way of knowing when the Autumn Maid will return from Orc Pass.  Likewise, The Phoenix could be anywhere, right now.”   Aeric told his wife, “I don’t know of any other airship that could assist.”

“So what do we do?”   She asked.

“I’d say stand our ground for tonight.”   The Dwarven King suggested, “We don’t want to get hemmed in this close to nightfall.    They could cut off our supply wagons if we cross that bridge without knowing what lies before us.    Tomorrow morning, I’d take my cavalry and ride across, through the camp and reconnoiter north and south of the road for several miles.   If none oppose our crossing, then we’ll just march on toward King’s Reach.”

Everyone liked Kylheilm’s idea, and so Aeric ordered for them to go into camp, with heavy pickets guarding the bridge.  

 

 

Reviews

[Elina]

"The camps at night were cold, but the wind did not blow and with plenty of furs and warm fires, it wasn’t too bad." It may sound better as "The camps were cold at night, but the wind did not blow and, with plenty of furs..."

[Eddie Davis]

Thank you, Elina, you are greatly appreciated.