Ferdinand was one of the Telmarine scouts, he was far from the main body riding his swift horse, and he only had a dagger for protection as a sword tended to get in the way. The scout's nerves were on edge he knew how dangerous it was to be a scout if he was to be captured the enemy would no doubt torture him for information, Ferdinand shivered at the thought. The Telmarine scout kept close to forests and any natural cover he could find, he was constantly observing his surroundings and pausing to listen for any unusual sounds, Ferdinand also watched his horses reactions.
A smell drifted to Ferdinand a smell that sent his stomach growling "Is that bacon frying?" Ferdinand wondered, dismounting he moved slowly thru the woods crouching low. Moving past shrubs and bushes Ferdinand suddenly spied the enemy. Rows of tents and pavilions lay just within bowshot of his current position. Remembering his training Ferdinand took notes mentally taking in every detail, he could see the sentries pacing weapons held erect, he could hear the brays of horses and the clanging of a blacksmiths hammer.
Unknown to Ferdinand two Calormene soldiers were approaching him, they had ventured into the woods because one of them needed to relieve himself, because they had been given specific orders not to travel alone he had asked his friend to accompany him. The two Calormenes came across Ferdinand suddenly, "Look Zavid a scout!"
Ferdinand leapt to his feet, the two soldiers drew their swords, "Get, him! We can't allow him to report back!" Ferdinand made a mad dash to his horse the two Calormene troops right behind him; he quickly sprang into the saddle and spurred his horse away. The two Calormenes stared after the fleeing scout, the one named Zavid spoke, "Come we must report this to our Kara." "Yes but I still need to go." The other one responded.
Haytham shook his head after receiving the report about the encounter with the Telmarine scout, if only the two soldiers had run a little faster they could have captured the scout and maybe the scout could have been persuaded to reveal information, but then again maybe not. Based on reports from his raiding parties and the direction the scout had fled as well as sketchy reports from his own scouts, Haytham estimated exactly where the enemy army was and in which direction it was going, Haytham knew that a confrontation was inevitable; his force was far too large to go around the enemy, battle was his only option if he wanted to continue his campaign.
After calling a general staff meeting to his tent, general Haytham unrolled the campaign map, it was a detailed map of Narnia, the terrain, troop movements and spots where skirmishes had been fought. "Gentlemen, the time for battle draws near, the enemy are headed straight towards us." Haytham pointed at the map, "We will meet them here, satyr's field. It is the ideal place for battle flanked by forests, even terrain for cavalry and sure footing for infantry." The assembled officers all nodded, "Our enemy has no choice but to meet us there, break camp in an hour, we will march there as soon as possible."
Within hours the Calormenes had packed the camp away and were on the march once again headed to Satyr's field, it was dusk when they arrived. The Calormenes were just setting camp up when an alarm was raised, Haytham trained his field glass on the other side of the field, a large army at least the size of his own lay before him. "Orders, general?" "Double the guard, the enemy won't want to fight us today, they're tired at the light is growing too poor. They may attempt a night raid on us though." "Yes general."
On the other side of the field Tertias viewed the Calormene encampment, "Tomorrow we will face the enemy." Tertias said to his assembled officers. Tertias projected confidence to his men but inside he was scared to death. Tomorrow would be his first full scale battle, men's lives depended on his decisions, he could make a wrong decision and have them all killed; suddenly Tertias didn't want to be a general he wished he was anywhere else but on the eve of battle. Tertias chided himself it was far too late for him to be thinking about that now, he had to succeed tomorrow his career and the lives of his men depended on him.
Night spread her wings over the land and the men settled down around campfires, sharing each other's company trying to bolster their confidence; the soldiers spoke their minds and expressed their fears, for some this would be their last hours alive.
On the Calormene side of the field Haytham strode thru the encampment thinking, so many men, how many would survive the battle tomorrow? Would tomorrow be his last battle? The ghost's warning nagged at Haytham, he tried to brush it aside and think about the coming trials to come but the thing persisted. Haytham always hated the time before battle the apprehension the ever present question of, "What if?" After giving some words of encouragement to some of his men Haytham went to his tent and tried to sleep. Hours dragged by until Haytham finally drifted to sleep.
A mass of clamoring men, curses shouted, weapons clashing all surrounded Haytham, it was a scene Haytham had seen time and time again a battle. But this time it seemed different something wasn't right about it, it seemed to be a constant loop over and over only some of the combatants would change but it was all alike. Somehow Haytham knew he was dreaming, or was it something more? All the battles he saw he remembered all of them he had taken part in one way or another, then finally one came he had not seen before, and Haytham saw it thru to the end, the end that sent Haytham bolting upright out of bed. It was nearly dawn, and a feeling yet something more than a feeling told Haytham that he was going to die.
Kamal entered Haytham's tent, "Sir…" "I know Bash-Kara it's time." Haytham got dressed buckled on his sword and strode out, and he couldn't shake the feeling that it would be the last time, "Please, let me be wrong about this feeling." Haytham pleaded, "Please.." The Calormene general pushed his fear aside, "it wouldn't do for him to act this way in front of his men, and he remembered the young soldier he had met and the advice he had given him. "Courage, Haytham." He told himself.