Chapter Four: A Fated Encounter
I
Having disposed of Supreme Commander Osvannes and annihilated the Steel Chargers, Olivia’s forces made their way west on Olivia’s new orders, tidying up all remaining enemy soldiers they met on the way. They left the Plains of Ilys and entered the plateau that led to Fort Caspar. There, they rendezvoused with the logistics officers that Otto sent, who restocked their food and medical supplies, as well as replacing lost weapons and patching up their battered armor.
“It truly is an honor to spearhead the recapture of Fort Caspar,” said Claudia. She squatted down and looked up at the clear sky. Her chest felt full to bursting with an inexpressible joy. She was sure her parents would be proud too.
“Is it?” said Olivia, frowning where she lay on the grass. “I don’t get it. I’d rather have a book or tasty food over honor any day.” Ashton, getting food ready beside her, looked annoyed.
“While we’re on that topic, it feels a bit like I’ve become your chef lately,” he said.
“It’s just that that special mustard of yours is so good, Ashton!” grinned Olivia, and Ashton froze for a moment. “I can’t help asking you to share.”
“Well, um. I mean, making enough for two people isn’t really any more work, so it’s fine,” he replied, his face softening as he sliced the brown bread. That boy is an open book, thought Claudia. Probably can’t lie to save his life. She raised a finger to get Ashton’s attention.
“Hey, could I get one of those too?”
“Huh?” He looked over at her. “You mean you took a liking to it last time, ser?”
“It was amazing. That mustard is simply marvelous—you’ll have to tell me the recipe sometime.”
“Yeah!” said Olivia, excited that someone agreed with her. “Claudia thinks so too!” She flashed Claudia a smile. Ashton, on the other hand, looked doubtful.
“What?” she asked. “Did something I say bother you?”
“Not at all, Warrant Officer Claudia. Er, you’re a knight, is that right?”
“Yes, that is one of the titles they gave me. What does that have to do with anything?” The title of knight was bestowed upon those amongst the nobility who displayed exceptional valor. Claudia couldn’t see where it tied into their current conversation.
“I just thought... As a knight, you can have all the good food you want, can’t you?” Ashton asked hesitantly.
“Oh, is that it? Yes, I suppose compared to a commoner, knights probably do have rather more opportunities to eat good food. But your mustard is up there with the best of it, Ashton.”
“R-Really? I never thought... Er, I’ll make you one right away, ser. Just give me a moment!”
With something closer to a smile, Ashton happily pulled the jar of mustard out of his bag once more, and started humming to himself. An open book, thought Claudia again. She reflected on the orders Paul had given her as she tucked into the sandwich. She’d been left in charge of the vanguard, but they only had twenty-two hundred soldiers left. Assuming Fort Caspar had a garrison of five thousand, a siege was impossible. A reasonable plan would have seen them field three times as many soldiers. Capturing Fort Caspar, however, was not the mission they’d been assigned. They were to carry out an extended assault on the fort and wear down the enemy—weakening them before the main force of the royal army arrived. Paul didn’t expect the detached force to topple Fort Caspar alone.
“Lieutenant Olivia, do you have any thoughts on our strategy for Fort Caspar?”
“Stwashajy? Weh, acshwy...”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” interjected Ashton. Olivia nodded, and gulped down the bite of her sandwich.
“Actually, I thought I’d work it out later, after we get a look at the enemy. Why? Did you have an idea?” she asked Claudia.
“Not so much an idea, I just... I’m honored to be in the vanguard and all, but given our mission is to wear down the enemy before the main force arrives, I was wondering what we can do to keep as many of our soldiers alive as possible,” Claudia replied. She looked over to where the other soldiers sat eating their lunch, untroubled and carefree. Ashton nodded emphatically in agreement, but Olivia made a dissatisfied noise.
“That’s so passive though...” She paused, before a smile blossomed on her face, and she said, “I’ve got a better idea! What if I just take the fort myself?” Claudia stared at her, wanting to believe that this sudden insanity was a joke, but there was no hint of humor in Olivia’s eyes. She sighed.
“Lieutenant Olivia, even you couldn’t manage that,” she reprimanded the other girl. “We don’t even have any siege weaponry.”
If they had a battering ram, that would be a different story, but penetrating the closed gates without one was nigh on impossible. Even if they had one, they didn’t have the numbers to use it effectively. On top of that, the enemy would without a doubt do everything they could to stop them. Their chances of success would only be around fifty-fifty.
“I guess, but I feel like there’s a whole bunch of options even without siege weapons... Ashton, do you have any ideas for taking down Fort Caspar by ourselves?”
“Huh? You’re asking me?” said Ashton, alarmed. Even so, he crossed his arms, and appeared to be thinking hard. Claudia couldn’t hold back a derisive smile. Officers just didn’t ask rank-and-file soldiers for their input on matters like this.
“Hmmm...” mused Ashton. “Fort Caspar was constructed in the early warlord period, correct?”
“If you say so. All I know is that it’s old.”
“Well, if I’m remembering correctly, I have a plan that might just work.”
Claudia felt a little like she’d been hit in the head after listening to Ashton’s explanation. Olivia, who’d been silent throughout, beamed with pride and said, “Didn’t I say Ashton would make a good tactician? Didn’t I?”
Imperial Army, Fort Caspar
Colonel Blum, commander of the garrison at Fort Caspar, received a message about the royal army’s advance.
“There’s no chance this could be mistaken?”
“No, ser. All our lookouts have confirmed it,” said the officer flatly. Blum felt a cold sweat break out down his back.
“How many are there?”
“The lookouts report around two thousand.”
“Two thousand? The vanguard, then. What’s behind that?”
“B-Behind that, ser?” the officer stammered, his face growing pale.
“Yes, after that. Stop gaping like an idiot and answer the question.”
“Sorry, ser. The lookouts were, er, in such a hurry, they didn’t manage to...” The officer’s voice grew smaller and smaller before trailing off completely.
“Imbeciles!” shouted Blum, slamming a hand down on his desk in rage. “Don’t waste my time with excuses. I want answers, right now!”
“Y-Yes, ser! Right away, ser!” said the officer, and scurried from the room. Blum glared after them, then picked up the bell on his desk and rang it. The door to the neighboring room opened silently to reveal his aide, Major Lanchester.
“You called, Colonel?”
“Relay the news of the royal army’s advance to all our troops, then have them commence battle preparations.”
“Of course, ser,” Lanchester said, raising one eyebrow. “If I may ask... Does this mean that the southern army was defeated? It’s only been a week. I find that very hard to believe.”
“I, too, am loath to believe that Lord Osvannes could have been defeated, but we don’t know anything for sure yet.” Not only Osvannes, but the Steel Chargers under his command, he thought. Just as Lanchester had said, it all felt too ridiculous to be real.
“How many troops do they have, ser?”
“We have solid reports of two thousand,” he said. Lanchester’s eyes narrowed.
“Very well. I’ll see to the battle preparations.” He turned, clicked his heels, and strode from the room.
Blum was troubled by the reports brought to him later. They had detected neither hide nor hair of a rear force, leaving only the two thousand soldiers of the early reports.
Are they mad? Do they really mean to try and take Fort Caspar with only two thousand soldiers? he brooded to himself. It’s no good. I don’t have enough information.
Two hours later, the fighting between the Fort Caspar garrison and Olivia’s force began.
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