It was morning an hour after sunrise a small detachment of Calormene cavalry rode ahead of the main body traveling along a well trodden path, unknown to them a small group of Telmarine cavalry was riding towards them. The Telmarine cavalry were in the service of Lord Alfredo; Alfredo had heard reports of strange invaders and that several of his villages had been attacked so he had sent his cavalry to investigate.
The two groups of horsemen didn't see each other at first, the Telmarines were rounding a bend in the road and the Calormenes were several yards away from the bend, almost as if appearing by magic the two groups spied each other; for a moment the two groups just stared at one another, then orders were shouted as both sides brought lances to bear, at a signal from the officers in charge the two groups charged.
There was a quick and sudden crash as the two forces met, men and horses alike screamed, lances pierced thru armor and flesh alike, men were tossed off their horses to be trampled, then just as suddenly as it began the fighting stopped, with a signal the two groups drew apart after taking a few more slashes at one another and regrouped; instead of fighting it out again both turned their mounts and rode away.
The Calormene cavalry galloped back to the main force, the Bash-Kara left in charge of the cavalry delivered a report to Haytham, "Well they definitely know we're here now." Haytham thought, the game just got harder.
At the capitol the Telmarine king had called an emergency meeting of the council of lords, the topic invasion. All the chairs of the council chamber were filled the chairs were arranged in a square with the king at the very front, One of the Telmarine lords was speaking, he was lord Alfredo whose lands had been attacked, "This is a crisis we must act against these invaders!" "Maybe if you maintained your borders better we wouldn't have this problem?" One of the other lords said, Alfredo exploded. "I don't have to take that from you! You arrogant…." "Gentlemen, please." The Telmarine king was speaking, "We are here to find a solution not discuss how it came about. The solution I think is obvious we must send an army to crush these invaders." "Aye!" The lords agreed, "Lord Alfredo, your troops will join my own." "Your majesty, who is going to lead them?" The king thought for a moment he had a problem his best general had recently died in a horse back accident the only general in position was inexperienced a young man who had made his way up thru connections.
But if the king appointed one of his lords to lead the campaign it could have negative consequences, the lord could turn on him. The king thought a long while, "General, Tertias will lead them." "But your majesty he is so young." "He will have experienced men to guide him and I have faith in his abilities to lead my men, if there is nothing more than this council is adjourned." The council of lords departed and the king sent for the young Tertias.
The young general strode into the throne room a fine cut-and-thrust sword at his hip; he took a knee before his king. "General Tertias, we have been invaded by men from the south, I am giving you command of the army." "Yes, my king." "Do not fail general I'm putting a lot of faith in you, do not disappoint me." "I will not fail you my king." "Good you are dismissed." Tertias could not believe it he was to command an army! He was the youngest Telmarine general in history, and though they thought he was ignorant of it he knew that many mocked him, now would be his chance to prove them wrong.
Ever since he could remember Tertias he had been groomed for command, his father Delgado a high ranking officer, had taught him much. As a little boy he knew what flanking meant he knew so many maneuvers and strategies. Tertias had also been taught how to fight, with his father he learned to box, wrestle, and fence and to shoot a crossbow. Tertias made his way to his residence located in the castle it was a lovely chamber with a view of the mountainsides. Tertias looked at himself in a mirror and spoke, "All my life, all my training has prepared me for this."
Tertias didn't have much time the enemy was drawing closer and he only had a few days to prepare and meet them. Tertias spent the day prepping himself for the troubles to come. Tertias set about cleaning his sword, inspecting his armor, making sure his horse had proper shooing and practicing his fencing forms.
The next morning found Tertias busy overseeing his troops that consisted of, crossbowmen, pike-men, halberdiers, swordsmen and cavalry. They were well trained and magnificent to see, Tertias also met his advisors, battle hardened men all of them but it was glaringly obvious what they really thought of Tertias; they thought he was a joke.
Tertias could tell by the way they spoke of him when they thought he wasn't looking, by the way they addressed him with mock respect, and it made Tertias's blood boil, but there was only one way he could stop this and that was to prove to them that he actually knew what he was doing, to not let them run things as they expected, to actually do his job.
It was on the second morning upon assuming command that Tertias lead his army out to meet the invaders. Yet another town had fallen to the Calormenes, just 35 miles from, Tertias' current position. Tertias knew that it was only a matter of time before he made contact with the enemy; he always kept scouts ahead of the main body. Scouts were the eyes and ears of the army, Tertias knew their importance and how dangerous their assignment was, he kept a rule that if a scout was gone for too long without sending some signal back, assume they were dead or captured.
Tertias knew how most thought he was unfit for command so he made a great point of observing his men and the march, making changes if needed he knew that the enemy might try to harass them on their march to slow them down, cripple their force and lower morale; it was an age old tactic and Tertias planned to do the same to them, if he could find them which was why the scouts were so important. Tertias was now at the rear of the column where the supply caravan was.
Simple wagons drawn by oxen they were the life blood of the Telmarine army, food, clothing, spare-weapons, everything the Telmarines needed to fight a war. Tertias was accompanied by a retinue of cavalry not large but enough to give the general protection. Tertias watched the wagons drag by a small number of soldiers marched alongside the wagons some of the Waggoner's carried crossbows. "One of our most important assets." Tertias aid, "Yes sir." His aide simply said barely managing to cover the contempt in his voice. It pained Tertias to see that so many thought of him as incompetent. Unknown to Tertias a small detachment of Calormene cavalry were hiding in the outlying woods. They were commanded by none other than captain Zulfiqar, who specialized in raids.
A Kara watched the wagon train thru a field glass, he didn't see Tertias and his party though. "Eight wagons, light escort of infantry, a few crossbows among them." Zulfiqar ran a hand thru his beard, "We'll rush in, they will probably scatter then we can take whatever supplies we'd like." Zulfiqar mounted his horse, and drew his saber, around him the rest of his raiders readied, lances and sabers. With a few quick hand gestures, Zulfiqar fanned his riders out and charged.
Tertias was startled by the wild shouting of the raiding cavalry, the wagon drivers and escorting footmen were taken completely by surprise as they were cut down or trampled, a few more stout hearts fired crossbows at the attackers. "Form a wedge!" Tertias ordered, "But sir." "No arguing, we will take them by surprise." Drawing swords Tertias and his small band charged into the flanks of the attacking cavalry.
Zufiqar was taken aback by the sudden counter attack, one of his men went down then another and another. He hastily ordered the men to pull back.
Tertias took advantage of his opponents withdrawal he ordered the wagons to form a circle where the defenders took positions behind. By the time the enemy had reformed they found themselves facing a wall, swords and crossbows and a few spears, glinted behind the wagons. Zulfiqar had to few men to risk attacking the caravan again he gave the order to retreat.
Tertias watched the enemy go, not a bad skirmish he had saved the supplies and many more lives, and one other thing it showed that he knew how to lead.
So concludes this chapter, I chose to give the Calormene cavalry sabers instead of scimitars because a saber is a weapon meant for cavalry, a scimitar is intended for infantry.