Ares shifted the earth around the area in front of the mountain so that the arrows were placed closer to the entrance of the fort, not by too much, but by about five metres or so. Then he began to create small bumps on the outer edges of the area that wasn’t in front of the path so that it would be awkward for anyone to traverse such an area, and then he created small walls, not even a metre high, around the area as well as if to make it obvious what he had planned.

Then he returned back to the oxfolk who had all packed up and were making their way up through the widened gaps. Morak had arrived back with about a hundred drums, all of which were varying sizes. Ares looked at them all. Most of them were small and he smiled. “I would like to keep about forty of these small ones, then maybe five of the larger drums, is that alright?”

“They are all yours.” Morak replied.

“Then I will accept this, thank you.” Ares flashed a child like smile as he grabbed each drum. “Marching Blades!” The thirty six soldiers all stood tall, and so did the six that had accompanied them. He looked out to Mala and then he swallowed, thinking about what he would do with the other six youngsters. ‘Oh crap…’ “Each of the thirty six members, no, thirty five members will keep a hold of a small drum.” He then handed out drums to each soldiers. “One of you, whichever wishes to volunteer, shall hold onto a larger drum. You will be in the back line and you will have the largest drum. This isn’t a fun position, you will be in charge of making sure to take charge of the rhythm, and everyone else will follow your lead. Whoever is the most skilled or enduring of you, please take it. If you already have a drum, swap it out for this. I ask for you to not let your ego get to your head, you are a Marching Blade. Such a thing like ego is irrelevant. I want the one who is the most skilled, not the one who thinks they are.” He warned as he then turned to the six youths.

He sighed. “I don’t really know what to do with you.” Ares frowned but then something sparked within his head. “You are to protect Rori and Torak. They are ambassadors, civilians, and though they might be powerful, it is not their role to fight. You are soldiers in training, and though you may be in relative safety, I do not know what will happen. As such, I will task you to look after the pair. Now, salute your Consul!” He exclaimed. The Marching Blades had been still figuring out the drum situation, but they had stood tall and then saluted their consul. Ares laughed.

“I wasn’t talking to you guys, I’m talking to these youngsters. Now. Salute your Consul!” They all moved in tandem with one another. “Good.” Ares nodded. “If there is an issue, please do speak to me. I know you must be tired though, so go with the Consul and Torak to rest up. Your duty begins at sunrise.” He waited to see if any of them had anything to ask. “Oh right, one of you will also have a drum.” He then motioned a hand to one of the smaller drums. “Right now you don’t have to do anything with it, just keep it. I want the best skilled out of you. Take a couple and then play for the Consul, he will pick which of you is most skilled.” Five of them dispersed to check the drums as Mala remained behind.

“Is anything the matter?”

“Stay with you.” She replied back.

“You can’t.”

“I will.” She stared up at him with fierce eyes.

“No. You won’t. You will listen and you will protect the Consul and Torak. This is a battlefield and you are a soldier. You will obey the general, as is your duty.”

“I stay.”

Ares dropped down to a knee. “Look. I don’t really know the other five, but I know you. I know of your family too, and I know you’re someone I can trust. Torak and Rori, they are both extremely important.”

“Rori-kin.”

“Right, exactly. Rori-kin. Look Mala, I know it doesn’t sound like the best thing ever, but I really need you to do this. If you were anyone else, I would have dismissed you, but I know you’ll listen. Is something wrong?”

Mala stared up at him, her facial expressions shifting between frustration, envy, sadness, and more. “Protect King.”

“The Consul and Torak are both going to be surrounded by others. I would be worried if the six of you weren’t at their sides. I will remember what you have done for me. Mala, will you do this for me?”

Mala stared up into his eyes and then nodded her head slowly.

“Good, thank you.” He smiled and then ruffled her hair. She slapped his hand away and then ran off to the others to grab a drum and then darted to Rori’s side.

He sighed out and then rubbed the back of his hand where she had struck him. ‘What a damn brat…’ He sighed. He couldn’t help but like her though, she was quite adorable.

He then made his way to Morak who turned to face him. “These will be the archers at your command.”

Ares eyed them up. There were close to two hundred of them. “You gave me more than even I expected, are you sure you have enough to protect the others if you hand all of these over?”

“We have more than enough, this isn’t even half of the archers we have. Each of these are pure blooded archers, they may hold some melee weapons, but their archery is what sets them apart from the others.” Morak then motioned a hand to one of his oxenblut that had accompanied Ares before. “This is Armal, he will be the oxenblut that will give out the orders under your command.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Armal.” Ares reached over and then shook Armal’s forearm, though the man did not respond.

“He does not speak much, but he will listen to your commands.”

“Thank you.” Ares nodded towards Morak.

“I will leave this area in your care. We won’t be too far if you need our aid. I will leave a handful of our scouts behind in case you need to relay any messages.”

Ares nodded and then Morak was off with the rest of the oxfolk, as well as the six youngsters, Rori and Torak. Ares threw a look and caught Mala staring at him. He nodded and she looked away. Ares sighed.

Then he turned to his new allies. “Well, let’s do our best to protect the entrance.” He chuckled as he walked over to the Marching Blades. “Do any of you have anything you need from me?” He looked expectantly towards the Captain. An oxen woman by the name of Gantal. She was fairly curvy, though with plenty of muscle as well. She was tall, taller than almost any other oxfolk that he had seen, to the point that they needed to shift around the armour so that it would have fit, and she used her own long spear that was at least a foot longer than any other.

She shook her head. “Nothing to report.”

Ares nodded and then looked out in the distance. It was still light out and there was no sight of the enemy. “I want six people on watch at all times. Four hour shifts, and make sure that everyone does their training, though reduce it by half. I don’t want everyone winded, just warmed up. Train quietly, I don’t want the others to be disturbed.”

She bowed her head and then went to relay the message as Ares returned back to Armal to speak with them about the various orders that would be needed for his tactic to be employed. He was hoping that the enemy would send only a thousand soldiers, but he doubted it would be so easy. In the distance he could see a few scouts making their way nearby, carrying large bundles of arrows.

“I’ll leave it to you.” Ares shook Armal’s forearm and then placed down a large drum. “Morak said that you don’t like to talk, but I’ll need you to shout the orders clearly and slap this drum when it comes to firing, alright?”

Armal nodded their head and Ares waited. Even now the man would not talk. He rubbed his forehead. “Alright, fine. I’ll put my faith in you since Morak has.” Armal nodded and then Ares left them be. He had felt heavy all day so went to sleep first, informing one of the Leitenants to wake him up when his watch was up.