The evening meal soothed our souls and sleep came, thankfully, easily afterwards. It wasn't as restful as it could have been since I, like most others, slept in armor but that was a small price to pay to be prepared in case the enemy were to launch a surprise attack during the night, no matter how unlikely that might have been. That safety measure did prove unnecessary in the end but not by much. I was still busy stretching to work out some of the kinks while the cooks had some more mashed ashroot cooking as the first of Gothol'uin's army arrived on the field of battle.

They must have marched all night, not stopping to make camp at all, to get here this early. We sped up our own preparations as well in response. Well, what little preparations we still had to make anyway. The scouts were already hidden in the forest and most of the heavy hitters concealed within the wagon fort. I took my time finishing my morning meal, to ease the tension that was spreading among my men and women at least a little. I did so not without keeping an eye on the enemy though.

It was hard to tell in the light of early morning with mist rising from the meadows but the enemy army seemed to be exclusively human this time around. If there were any elves or dwarves I wasn't able to spot them. They were in a pretty sorry state as well. I actually could relate to them a little in that regard. Getting ready for battle after a forced night march was not fun. They had to be exhausted and it showed as the first infantry units started forming up along the treeline beyond the open field and the road.

At the same time the fact that they formed up there told me that someone with at least some experience was in command. A less experienced commander might have been tempted to form up further away from the treeline in the open field. That would have left more room for other units to form up behind them but at the same time it would have left them vulnerable out in the open. Either way it meant that we still had a little time to get ready ourselves, at least half an hour but probably more, thus I didn't rush my men and women.

As I took up position at our seemingly weak fortifications together with Gash'zur more and more soldiers, mostly equipped with various polearms, reached the enemy staging area, forming up in dense squares for the better part. The first units eventually moved out into the open, at least a little, to make room for the new arrivals to form up behind them. I had to admit that I was a little impressed. At the same time I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about them.

It was my giantess banner woman who eventually put it into words. “Light and heavy infantry as far as I can tell. Well, what passes for heavy infantry with them at least. No support units, no supplies at all.”

I bit my lips. “No signs of their heavy cavalry so far either.” I pondered that point for a moment. “I wouldn't be surprised if they were to try and draw us out into the open with their infantry so they can launch a charge into our flank.”

The giantess nodded. “Quite possible. It might be a tactic they use out of necessity though. Their heavy cavalry can't move through the woods like the infantry. They might arrive late because they have to stick to the roads.”

I nodded and let my gaze wander across the woods surrounding our camp on the other three sides. “Another possibility would be, that they might move their knights further around into our back. They might be best known for their cavalry charges but they certainly can fight on foot as well. Either way, we will have to keep our guard up.”

Gash'zur grunted in reply and pointed out across the field. “We'll keep our eyes and ears open. Anyway, here they come.”

She was right of course. The formation had started moving. They were not in a hurry though. At their current pace it would be a little more time until things would get serious. Either they were really exhausted or they were inexperienced and the officers and sergeants kept the pace low to keep the formation from breaking up. Quite possibly it was not just one or the other but rather both. The city had probably sent its best to fight at the gap. Those we were facing today probably were only their second choice or worse. It was surprising that they were ready to join battle at all after a night march.

I looked over at the giantess. “Got your shield ready?”

She nodded and lifted the shield briefly before setting it into place again. “Not that it will see a lot of use. There is only a rather lackluster line of archers behind the infantry.”

I nodded and let my gaze wander to the edges of the field for a moment. I was slightly worried that they might try to flank us with their archers. They didn't actually have to get close enough to stumble across our units hidden in the woods in that case. I couldn't make out any movement there though. If there were enemies in those woods they were awfully quiet.

Well that was something I would have to deal with if it ever came up. First I would have to get my warriors ready to face the massed weight of the enemy's line of battle though. I channeled some Mana into Lion's Roar to enhance my voice. “Form up! Shields ready!”

Even with the last stragglers from the camp joining the line at our makeshift fortification our line of battle still looked a little lackluster. That was as intended. The shout had been the signal for the still hidden trolls and giants to get ready as well though. I would let the enemy formations draw a little closer, then I would give the signals for them to open up with volleys of heavy stones.

At the same time my loud signal had another effect as well. The enemy's formations shifted ever so slightly as I revealed, or rather confirmed, that I led my army from the front, presenting me myself as an inviting target. My heart sped up a little and I readied my own shield as well.

It was a tense few moments until the approaching enemy reached the optimal range for their few archers. The rest of the approaching infantry didn't slow down though as the archers took aim.

“Cover!” Again Lion's Roar enhanced my voice. Again I drew additional attention my way using it like this. I want down on a knee and lifted my shield to protect my head. Gash'zur took cover behind her over sized shield as well. All along our line others reacted in a similar way, everyone protecting themselves best they could.

I had gotten ready just in time. The next moment arrows bounced off my shield. Some hit my scale mail as well. None penetrated but I was sure to have a few more bruises once this was all over, despite the padded cloth armor I wore under it. The giantess' shield caught plenty of arrows as well, as she cowered behind it.

There were a few screams along our line as people were hit despite their best efforts to protect themselves. There weren't many though.

I peeked past the rim of my shield for a moment and glanced left and right as well to take stock of the situation. I didn't give up my protected position though. More arrows rained down on me and the rest of my line only moments later, proving me right.

I was not in a hurry to counterattack anyway though. My signal to take cover had been the signal for the Wall Breakers as well. I didn't look back but I could hear them break cover, spinning up their slings already to return fire.

And return fire they did, a rock the size of a human's head for every arrow. The first volley was aimed at the enemy archers. It should be enough to send them running. The volleys that followed plowed straight into the blocks of mixed infantry in front of the archers.

The result was a bloody mess. It was a damn bloody mess that should have sent any ill trained militia running within moments.

Imagine my surprise as they didn't. Not even the archers stopped firing as I found out in short order as more arrows bounced of my armor and my shield as I raised it again in a hurry.

Even as the Wall Breakers switched to buckshot the shambling approach of the enemy didn't falter. And finally realization dawned upon me as I could see that even those who had lost limbs kept creeping towards us. Only very few of them actually lay still and dead. I channeled Mana into Lion's Roar one more time. “Ghouls! Decapitation strikes! Aim for their head if you can!”

Even as I shouted my orders more arrows came raining down around me, forcing me to take cover once more. At least Yath'zur and his company kept up the bombardment. More of the shambling horde went down and although most of them kept crawling towards us the veritable forest of polearms that had been pointing at us started showing some holes at the very least.

I looked over at the giantess at my side and she gripped both her shield and her war hammer tighter. I made sure to have a firm grip on the shaft of my glaive as well. “Charge!”