309 Chapter 30The next morning both camps decided to deal with their wounded first and have them healed till the next confrontation as the day went by with no mobilization from both armies. Ounephes was still trying to figure out what was blocking his scrying spell inside his camp since they needed every information that they can get their hands on of their enemies. He felt that there is a veil of mystery covering the camp of their enemies and he must uncover the truth to avoid any surprises from their foes. But no matter how he is strengthened his spell, he wasn’t able to penetrate to the mysterious protection of their enemies against his spying activities through magic.

Khao’khen had been observing the wards that were lit up from time to time meaning that they have been activated and warded any attempts of their foes from figuring out what is hidden from their view by the walls of the fortifications. He was glad that the two shamans from their side provided him with a way to counter the spying of their opponents with but just one encounter of that method.

The third day went by peacefully as both sides rested with the exception of the sentries and spies who were still duking it out against each other in the shadows. Trot’thar was amused that their opponents still continued to send out spies to try and gain some information of their camp despite them not even getting close to the walls of the fort without being spotted by him and ambushed by the sentries from their side with his help. No matter during the day or at night, no enemy espionage missions from the Ereian side found success.

On the fourth day, seeing that their opponents still had no plans to give battle, Khao’khen prompted for the Drakhars to take the initiative and force their foes to react. A few hours before dark, the tranquility of the place was disturbed with the deployment of the Drakhars who began to form their battleline. After an hour of arranging their ranks and making sure that everything is in order, the Drakhars marched downhill onto the fields down below.

The sentries on the side of the Ereians who were on post began informing their superiors of the mobilization of their enemies. A few moments after the sentries from the Ereian side informed their allies of their enemies’ movements, their entire camp became busy as soldiers quickly headed out of their fortifications to form their ranks.

Ounephes was irritated that his slumber was disturbed and a frown has been plastered on his face ever since he had awoken while a slight headache was haunting him after being forcefully awoken from his sleep. He thought that there would be no activity from the enemy side since the day was almost over which is why he retreated to his quarters to rest early but he was mistaken.

Ounephes observed the battleline of their foes for a few moments and figured out that they didn’t almost do any changes in their ranks, ten units of infantry with but just a few meters of distance between them, their miniscule number of riders was still positioned on their left flank and the only difference was that their archers were marching right in front of the ten units of infantry.

After giving it some thought, he arranged for all his archers to march ahead and engage against the enemy archers in an exchange of arrows since they clearly had the advantage in numbers. He copied the arrangements of the enemy army by forming ten columns to match the length of their battleline while deploying a secondary row of three units of infantry right behind their leftmost flank to reinforce their number since they suffered casualties in the previous battle and are not in full strength. Ounephes also instructed them to try and overrun the enemy right flank with their numbers.

He had also deployed four units of cavalry on their right flank to outmaneuver the slow-moving enemy infantry and flank them since the miniscule number of the enemy cavalry won’t be much of threat to them since they would outnumber them four to one. And he had specifically instructed them to eliminate the enemy cavalry first before flanking their foes since he was wary of them being sandwiched by the enemy cavalry and infantry if they don’t get rid of them first.

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The arranging of their battleline took some time and their main line was a bit far off from their archers who had already began exchanging volleys with the enemy missile unit. They seemed to be in luck as the battleline of the Drakhars halted right behind their own archers and let the two missile units fight it out against each other.

Khao’khen once again went out of the camp to observe the progress of the battle and taking with him a ward and donning on a long cloak that hid his entire figure to prevent their foes from finding out about his identity. The two missile units were duking it out against each other but the Ereian archers clearly had the upper hand as they fire more arrows in a single volley than their counterparts.

The chieftain then instructed for Zaraki to make their archers pull back since they are no match against the enemy archers who outnumber them two to one. Banners were waved to convey the order and the archers on the side of the Drakhars disengage from the missile battle while the Drakhars began their march forward to get up close and personal with their foes.

Ounephes ordered for his archers to continue on with their attacks and try to cut down the number of their foes. The rain of arrows descended upon the Drakhars’ center which forced them to go into battle formation to minimized their casualties which in turn slowed down their march. Seeing that their center slowed down, the one in command of the Drakhars’ left flank ordered for the halt of their advance and wait for their center to catch up to them. But the Drakhars’ right flank continued on with their march in a steady pace leaving behind their center and left flank which crooked their straight battleline and turned it into a diagonal one.

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