I had given the order to charge, I was sure of it. And both our militia and new soldiers were all equipped with melee weaponry. We had even drilled the latter on the basics of spearwork. Sure, they’d been using guns and crossbows from within the defenses, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have their close combat equipment still on them. Hell, they could charge with their guns and crossbows in hand, for all I cared. All they had to do was run down the hill, and the enemy would break.
Yet, nothing was happening. I ground my teeth in frustration. I’d admit that we’d focused too much on the idea of fighting from within the defenses, causing us to leave the soldiers’ melee weapons training by the wayside. But the enemy general was right there. One simple charge, and his forces would break. The chance to take his head and present it to me, earning glory and accolades, was right before our men’s eyes.
And no one was running toward it. Had we been too soft on them? Had we paid them too adequately? Or was it just that cowardice had won out over the promise of glory?
Killing the self-proclaimed Duke Raul wouldn’t only win this battle; it would rid the entire Duchy of Raul of a successor, making me the rightful inheritor by law. In other words, it would put an end to the Raul rebellion, right then and there. It would also likely guarantee that the Dozran army threw their lot in with us. Victory was within our grasp. Why wasn’t anyone taking it?
“What is the meaning of this?!”
“The battle between your lords’ forces and the Raul army is fierce,” Count Palatine Vodedt informed me. “The soldiers lack the nerve to join the fray.”
But the exposed flank of the enemy commander in chief’s unit was right before their eyes!
The enemy’s militia had at least been capable of following basic orders: “go forward,” and “go back.” The former had taken the form of a hapless charge, while the latter had devolved halfway into a rout, but they’d still done it. It seemed ours weren’t capable of even moving when we told them to. Instead, they were standing around like scarecrows with no purpose.
To make matters worse, the actual trained soldiers we had on the southern slope weren’t moving either. Sure, they were new recruits, and there were only five hundred of them, but what had been the point of all that training if they weren’t going to follow orders?
“We lack the adequate number of officers,” the Count Palatine continued. “The order isn’t disseminating, leaving our men in a state of paralysis.”
I sighed heavily. “One can have all the numbers in the world, but troops that don’t mobilize when ordered to are less than useless. I knew this, yet for it to happen to this extent...”
At this rate, the worst-case scenario would happen. After all the time and resources I’d invested to get us here, Sigmund would get away.
If we could just rout the enemy, my lords’ armies, battered as they were, would still be able to regroup and launch a pursuit. Any more fighting, though, and their losses would become too great. Fatigue and exhaustion would build, and they’d lose the strength to pursue.
Somehow, some way, we needed to dismantle the enemy’s orderly withdrawal.
Heck, the Dozran army could do it for us, for all I cared. I’d forget about every shady move they’d pulled and welcome them with open arms if they did. But they didn’t.
Should I follow the example set by the Battle of Sekigahara and attack the Dozran army? I thought. No, that would be a fool’s endeavor. I was pretty sure the exact maneuver I was thinking of was a work of fiction, anyway, rather than historical fact.
“In the end, it seems the only choice is to ride out myself,” I muttered, low enough that no one could hear me. If the enemy was holding out thanks to their commander’s presence, well, two could play at that game. “Bally!” I shouted. “Prepare the imperial guard! We intend to ride into battle!”
“Your Majesty!” Count Palatine Vodedt protested. “You cannot!”
It was rare for him to raise his voice like that. And evidently he wasn’t the only one of the opinion that I shouldn’t go, because Keighamer City’s Viscount Orlon was quick to butt in and agree. Given how silent he’d fallen earlier, I hadn’t expected to need to deal with him again. Had the soldiers’ fear spread to him too?
“The good Count Palatine is right, Your Majesty,” he said. “I understand that you are yet young, and eager to pursue the chance to seize glory. But your very presence on the battlefield is merit enough, given your station. Might not any additional prestige be somewhat excessive?”
I wanted to tell him that if he was going to go so far as to lecture me about it, he should ride out to seek Sigmund’s head. It wasn’t like I wanted to charge the enemy. I was well aware that it could result in my death. Even now, a part of my thoughts was dedicated toward convincing myself this was a good idea, while another part was obsessing over which barrier spell would protect me the best while still being mana efficient, as well as the probable range and accuracy of the enemy’s firearms.
I didn’t know if Viscount Orlon was trying to curry favor with Count Palatine Vodedt or what, but I certainly didn’t appreciate him interjecting. In fact, I was just about sick of him in general.
“Glory?” I growled. “Prestige? Since when did we state our desire for such trivialities?! Do not project your base desires onto us, Viscount! Do not forget that it is we who decide who receives such laurels!” Not that I’d be giving any to him or any of the other moronic noble rubberneckers.
“Do you intend to fight, Your Majesty?”
I turned to Count Palatine Vodedt, dismissing the viscount whose mouth was flapping open and shut like a fish now that he was caught at the epicenter of his emperor’s ire. Judging by the calmer note in the Count Palatine’s voice, he’d regained some of his composure. Nevertheless, the edge to his gaze was far sharper than usual.
I knew what he was asking me: Did I intend to make a full display of my magic, like I had during the night raid? Was I going to expose the fact that I could use it in a mana-burnt environment before everyone on the battlefield?
“We do not,” I answered. “We shall rely on you and our other loyal servants.”
Of course, the answer was no. I didn’t need to go all out with my magic; I just needed to ensure that our forces charged down the hill. Besides, if I wanted to fling spells about, I’d need to pull mana from my internal reserves, which were limited.
“This is too reckless an endeavor,” Count Palatine Vodedt insisted.
“Will you do it, then, Count Palatine? We know you are a skilled actor—the men will heed your command. If you go, though, you must make sure you take the self-proclaimed duke’s head.”